The Bestseller Experiment

Latest Episodes:

EP370: Lizzie Pook — A Long Old Slog to Publication Feb 28, 2022

Show notes

Lizzie Pook is a long-time listener of the podcast and Patreon supporter whose debut novel Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter was inspired by her time in north-western Australia researching the pearl-diving industry. The novel is being published by three major publishers on three continents with three very different covers, but the road to publication was a long slog, with Lizzie facing life-changing events with her health and career. Also, the Two Marks get distracted by their memories of the glorious town of Leatherhead in Surrey. Yes, really. Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

EP369: Deep Dive — Making an Independent Horror Movie with Bethany Clift and Peter Handford Feb 21, 2022

Show notes

Bethany Clift and Peter Handford take us through the making of their 2012 independent horror movie HERETIC, from the first spark of the idea, to financing, pre-production, filming, post-production and how they got the DVD in the supermarket bestsellers and the lessons they’ve learned. This is fascinating and honest breakdown of just how challenging it is to make an independent movie. Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

EP368: Bethany Clift — Feeling Fine at the End of the World Feb 21, 2022

Show notes

Bethany Clift’s debut novel The Last One at the Party is hilarious, moving, cathartic and set in an utterly terrifying pandemic. She tells us how writing and reading horror is great for mental health, how seeing E.T. at an impressionable age inspired her, and how writing a novel with only one living character allowed her to dig deeper than ever before. This episode has an accompanying Deep Dive episode with Bethany and her husband Peter Handford where they tell us about the making of their indie horror movie Heretic. Deep Dives are exclusive to our Patreon and Academy members. To find out more: https://bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

EP367: Jeevani Charika — The “Aah” Factor Feb 14, 2022

Show notes

Jeevani Charika (aka Rhoda Baxter) is an award-nominated author of women’s fiction with heroines of colour. Her latest novel, Playing for Love, is set in the world of online gaming, giving the classic mistaken identity romcom story a fresh makeover. We discuss how to write a convincing rom com, and why 2022 could be her year! And the Two Marks get into the pros and cons of Wordle, the joys of cosplay, and how one young lad got his book into a local library. Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

EP366: Beth Miller — The Spine of the Story Feb 07, 2022

Show notes

Beth Miller is the bestselling author of six novels, one of which took 12 years to write, another just 8 months. Beth tells us why the most important part of the process of her is finding the spine of the story: the thing that moves both her and the reader. We also talk about titles, publishing when young, and when to stand your ground as a writer. Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

EP365: Samantha King — Enjoy the View Jan 31, 2022

Show notes

Samantha King returns to the podcast to reveal how her latest novel The Secret Keepers’ Daughter was inspired by a “worry box” and how our darkest and most terrifying fears are found in our own homes and in everyday life. We also discuss the career of an author beyond the debut and how she’s learned to endure the peaks and troughs and enjoy the view. Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

EP364: Shona Kinsella — We All Help Each Other If We Can Jan 24, 2022

Show notes

British Fantasy Award nominee Shona Kinsella tells us about her new book Outlander and the real Jacobites, which digs into the real history behind Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. Shona’s career has been an extraordinary rollercoaster, and she talks openly about the highs and lows of crowdfunding, flash fiction, writing and editing a novella in 30 days, and how helping others has helped her writing. Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

EP363: Lori Ann Stephens — Ignore the Fear Jan 17, 2022

Show notes

Have you ever wanted to tell a story, but been too scared to write it? Lori Ann Stephens’ near-future thriller Blue Running covers a whole range of contentious topics, but Lori tells us how she overcame such a fear to tell her story, how she had dealt with the reactions of readers and her own family, and why she thinks the best writing comes from fear. Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

EP362: Simon Beckett — All Change Jan 10, 2022

Show notes

International bestselling author Simon Beckett returns to the podcast to tell us about his new novel The Lost, in which he starts a whole new series. He offers tips on character, tension, and how to develop a great thriller. And the two Marks discuss how theme and endings can help you when you’re stuck, and the importance of a great opening. Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

EP361: Daniel Rigby — Just Start Doing It Jan 03, 2022

Show notes

BAFTA-award winning actor Daniel Rigby tells us about his Audible original debut Isaac Steele and the Forever Man and how his background in comedy and improvisation helped create his protagonist and his extraordinary world. Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected