I’m often asked how I do all the things—the books, the audiobooks, the podcast, the constant creation—without burning out.

And beneath that question is usually something deeper: Am I doing enough? Am I falling behind? Am I missing some secret?

In this episode of Miles Beyond the Page, I’m pulling back the curtain.

Not with hustle culture advice.

Not with productivity hacks.

But with the honest truth about what’s really happening behind the scenes—and why it looks like a lot when it’s actually very intentional.

In this episode, I talk about:

• Why creative work often looks nonstop from the outside
• The seasons of creation no one sees
• How I layer projects instead of doing everything at once
• Why I stopped treating books as separate jobs
• How thinking like a business gave me more creative freedom
• What I don’t do—and why focus matters more than hustle
• Letting one good story become many doorways

If you’re an author, creator, or creative entrepreneur who feels pressure to do more, this conversation is for you.

This is the first From the Author’s Desk episode—where we go behind the book and talk honestly about creativity, publishing, and building a sustainable creative life.

You can find links to my books, audiobooks, and podcast resources in the show notes.

If this episode resonates, let me know in the comments—and tell me what you’d like to hear more about.

ABOUT ME:

MICHELLE MILES writes fantasy and paranormal stories full of magic, adventure, and swoony romance. From cursed princes to time-traveling rogues, her books feature fierce heroines, epic quests, and the kind of heroes worth falling for. She’s also a narrator and the host of Miles Beyond the Page, a podcast about the writing life. A Texas girl who loves books, movies, and wine, she believes every great story starts with a little bit of magic.

FIND ME ONLINE:

Direct Store | Website and Blog | Newsletter Sign Up

Amazon | Facebook | Instagram

Podcast Website

In this episode of Miles Beyond the Page, host Michelle Miles welcomes Mark Mustian—award-winning author of The Gendarme, The Return, and the newly acclaimed Boy With Wings. Mark’s work has been recognized internationally, with The Gendarme a finalist for the Dayton International Literary Peace Prize and published in ten languages. His latest novel, Boy With Wings, earned the Grand Prize for Fiction from the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and continues his tradition of exploring humanity, memory, and redemption through powerful storytelling.

Beyond writing, Mark is the founder and president of the Word of South Festival of Literature and Music in Tallahassee, Florida—a celebration of the intersection between art forms—and also serves as president of Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson, P.A., one of Florida’s largest local government law firms.

🎧 Join Michelle and Mark for a rich conversation about the craft of writing, the influence of history and culture, and the pursuit of peace through story.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe for more inspiring author interviews and creative insights on Miles Beyond the Page!

ABOUT MARK:

Mark Mustian is the author of the novels The Return and The Gendarme, the latter a finalist for the Dayton International Literary Peace Prize and shortlisted for the Saroyan International Award for Writing. It won the Florida Gold Book Award for Fiction and has been published in ten languages. The founder and president of the Word of South Festival of Literature and Music in Tallahassee, Florida (https://wordofsouthfestival.com/), his new novel, Boy With Wings, has been named the winner of the Grand Prize for Fiction from Next Generation Indie Book Awards, among other honors. Mark is also the president of Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson, P.A., one of the largest local government law firms in Florida.

WHERE TO FIND HIM:

Website | Facebook | BlueSky

WHERE TO FIND HIS BOOKS:

Website

#MarkMustian #MilesBeyondThePage #AuthorInterview #WritingCommunity #LiteraryFiction #BoyWithWings #TheGendarme #Storytelling #Books #Podcast #WritingLife #Creativity #WordofSouth #AwardWinningAuthor

In this episode of Miles Beyond the Page, host Michelle Miles welcomes Christine Shuck—a multi-genre author, occasional artist, chaos gardener, short-term rental host, and mother of four. Christine’s creative life is as vibrant and multifaceted as the stories she tells.

Together, they discuss how Christine balances writing across genres, the inspiration behind her diverse projects, and how she channels life’s beautiful chaos into art. From exploring the craft of storytelling to finding harmony between creativity and everyday responsibilities, Christine offers a candid and inspiring look into her world.

🎧 Tune in for a lively conversation about imagination, persistence, and the joy of creating in every form.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful author interviews and creative discussions on Miles Beyond the Page!

ABOUT CHRISTINE:

Christine Shuck is a multi-genre author, occasional artist, chaos gardener, short-term rental host, and mother of four. When not busy with the aforementioned, you might find her shooting pool competitively in an APA league.

WHERE TO FIND HER:

Website | Facebook | X

WHERE TO FIND HER BOOKS:

Universal Buy Link

#ChristineShuck #MilesBeyondThePage #AuthorInterview #WritingCommunity #Storytelling #Creativity #IndieAuthor #MultiGenreAuthor #Podcast #WritingLife

In this episode of Miles Beyond the Page, host Michelle Miles welcomes back AK Nevermore, an award-winning author of spicy dystopian science fiction, urban fantasy, and paranormal romance. With a career spanning traditional, digital, and indie publishing, AK brings a fearless, irreverent voice to every page she writes.

The conversation dives into AK’s latest release, EXILE, her writing process, and the dark, provocative worlds she’s known for creating—stories that are unsettling, profound, and wildly entertaining. From balancing a full-time writing career to navigating the publishing industry, AK shares insights with her signature sharp wit and honesty.

🎧 Join Michelle and AK for a bold and insightful conversation about craft, creativity, and writing stories that refuse to behave.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe for more author interviews and behind-the-scenes writing conversations on Miles Beyond the Page!

ABOUT AK NEVERMORE:

AK Nevermore writes a lot. An award-winning author of spicy dystopian science fiction, urban fantasy, and paranormal romance, she’s been traditionally, digitally, and indie published. She enjoys operating heavy machinery, freebases coffee, and gives up sarcasm for Lent every year.

Unable to ignore the voices in her head, and unwilling to become medicated, she writes full time around a nest full of ravens. Her books explore dark worlds, perversely irreverent and profound, and always entertaining.

AK belongs to a bunch of industry associations, volunteers for far too many committees, teaches creative writing, has been featured in Blush Magazine, made the Bookbub blog roundup, has spoken on NPR, and on the rare occasion, sleeps.

WHERE TO FIND AK:

Website | Facebook | Twitter/X | Instagram | TikTok | BlueSky | Threads

WHERE TO BUY HER BOOKS:

Amazon

In this episode of Miles Beyond the Page, Michelle sits down with award-winning journalist Michele C. Hollow, whose work spans animals, health, mental health, and the environment. With bylines in The New York Times, The Guardian, Next Avenue, and more, Michele brings deep curiosity and compassion to every story she writes.

We talk about the heart of journalism—asking the right questions, understanding the “why,” and giving voice to issues that matter. Michele shares how she approaches sensitive topics like mental health, what fuels her reporting, and why empathy is one of a journalist’s most powerful tools.

Whether you're a writer, reader, or simply curious about the world, this conversation is a reminder of the impact of storytelling rooted in truth, research, and purpose.

🔔 Subscribe for more interviews with journalists and authors who write to inform, connect, and inspire.

ABOUT MICHELE C. HOLLOW:

Michele C. Hollow is an award winning journalist. She writes about animals, health, mental health, and the environment. Her byline has appeared in The New York Times, New York Daily News, New Jersey Monitor, Next Avenue, The Guardian, and Symphony Magazine. She’s a member the Association of Health Care Journalists.

Her favorite parts of being a journalist are researching events, interviewing people, and understanding the whys of how things work.

Michele lives in New Jersey with her husband, Steven, their sons Tishon and Jordon, and their rescue cat Chai.

WHERE TO FIND HER:

Website | BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

WHERE TO FIND HER BOOKS:

Jurassic Girl is available at most bookstores, online book sites, and some history and science museums.

Ulysses Press | Bookshop.org | Amazon | B&N | Booksamillion

#MicheleHollow #JournalismMatters #MentalHealthWriting #AwardWinningJournalist #WritingPodcast #MilesBeyondThePage #MichelleMiles #AuthorInterview #HowToWriteNonfiction #StorytellingWithPurpose #EnvironmentalJournalism #AnimalWelfareWriting #WomenInJournalism #BehindTheByline #CompassionateReporting

In this delightfully witty episode of Miles Beyond the Page, Michelle sits down with David Hankins, award-winning author of Death and the Taxman and other laugh-out-loud tales of speculative fiction. Broadcasting from the cornfields of Iowa (with two dragons disguised as cats), David shares how he blends humor, heart, and a touch of absurdity into stories that entertain and uplift.

We dive into the origins of Death and the Taxman, his love for writing lighthearted fantasy, and why he believes the world needs more laughter—especially in fiction. David talks about balancing wanderlust with writing, how humor can deepen emotional impact, and why speculative fiction is the perfect sandbox for asking “what if?”—with a grin.

If you’re a fan of Terry Pratchett-style wit, clever storytelling, or speculative fiction that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

🔔 Subscribe for more fun, insightful author interviews that go beyond the page (and make you laugh along the way).

Watch Full Episodes + Subscribe for More ⁠⁠Here⁠⁠.

ABOUT DAVID HANKINS:

David Hankins is the award-winning author of Death and the Taxman and other humorous tales. He writes from the thriving cornfields of Iowa where he lives with his wife, daughter, and two dragons disguised as cats. Afflicted with incurable wanderlust, David devotes his time to his passions of writing, traveling, and finding new ways to pay his mortgage. He writes lighthearted speculative fiction because that's what he loves to read and—this is the important bit—there's not nearly enough humor in the world. David aims to change that, one story at a time. You can find him at https://davidhankins.com

WHERE TO FIND HIM:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | BlueSky | X | Threads

WHERE TO BUY HIS BOOKS:

Universal

OTHER BOOKS MENTIONED:

How to Write a Howling Good Story by Wulf Moon

Click here

Kickstarter for Authors by Anthea Sharp

Click here

Welcome to Part Two of the Miles Beyond the Page Season 2 Highlight Reel!

This episode features even more unforgettable moments from an incredible lineup of writers, creators, and storytellers who joined Michelle throughout Season 2. From bestselling authors to fresh new voices, these guests share powerful insights into writing, publishing, creativity, and the stories that drive them.

In this highlight reel, you’ll revisit standout clips from:

• Julie Rowe
• Wren Valentino
• G. Michael Hopf
• J.F. Monroe
• Kathy Wheeler
• S.E. Howard
• Elizabeth Hobbs
• Max Shippee
• Megan Mary
• Avily Jerome
• Janis Patterson
• Danielle Hutchinson
• Allison Wells
• Stacey Frazer
• David Hankins

From discussions about process and perseverance to heartwarming and hilarious stories behind their work, this episode is packed with inspiration for readers, writers, and anyone who loves storytelling.

About the Podcast:

Miles Beyond the Page is a weekly author interview show hosted by fantasy author Michelle Miles. Each episode dives into the craft of writing, creativity, worldbuilding, the author journey, and the power of story.

If you enjoy this highlight reel, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and click the notification bell so you never miss a new episode or upcoming season.

Subscribe to the official newsletter here.

Join the official podcast Discord channel here.

In this encouraging and empowering episode of Miles Beyond the Page, Michelle sits down with Stacy Frazer—fiction writer, Author Accelerator-certified book coach, and host of The Write It Scared Podcast. Stacy has helped countless writers overcome self-doubt, strengthen their stories, and finally finish the books they've been dreaming about.

We chat about the emotional ups and downs of the writing life, how coaching can transform not just your story but your mindset, and why writing it scared is sometimes the bravest and most authentic thing an author can do. Stacy also shares her favorite tools for staying creative (and sane), her coaching process, and what it really takes to move from “someday” to “The End.”

Whether you’re knee-deep in a manuscript or still waiting to start, this episode will inspire you to keep going—with heart, courage, and a little help along the way.

🔔 Subscribe for more honest conversations with the authors, coaches, and creatives who help bring stories to life.

Subscribe to the official newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

Join the official podcast Discord channel ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

ABOUT STACY:

Stacy Frazer is a fiction writer, Author Accelerator-certified fiction book coach, and host of The Write It Scared Podcast. She helps writers work through self-doubt, shape stronger stories, and actually finish the novels they’ve been dreaming about without losing their voice (or their sanity) in the process. When she’s not writing, reading, or cheering on writers, you can find her crafting with her daughter, hanging out with goats, or on the trail with her goofy love-pups.

WHERE TO FIND HER:

Website | Sign up for newsletter

#StacyFrazer #BookCoach #WriteItScared #AuthorInterview #WritingPodcast #MilesBeyondThePage #MichelleMiles #HowToWriteANovel #CreativeWritingTips #WritingSupport #FinishYourNovel #AuthorAccelerator #StoryStructure #OvercomingSelfDoubt #FictionWriting #BehindTheBook #WomenWriters #WritingJourney