Today on the Bookum Author Talks Podcast, we are joined by author, story coach, and YouTuber Abbie Emmons, author of the new book “Make Your Story Matter.”

In this conversation, we discuss the psychology of storytelling, writing unforgettable characters, building internal conflict, creating compelling plots, romance tropes, first chapter mistakes, world-building, false beliefs, and what truly makes readers emotionally connect with a story.

Abbie breaks down why internal conflict matters more than plot alone, how to write layered protagonists and antagonists, the psychology behind storytelling, and the techniques writers can use to keep readers flipping pages late into the night.

We also discuss:
• The Enneagram and character psychology
• The Open Loop Method
• Three act story structure
• Writing layered romance characters
• First draft advice
• Writing process and routines
• Dual POV stories
• Why stories emotionally resonate with readers

Follow Abbie Emmons:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AbbieEmmons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeyourstorymatter/

Get “Make Your Story Matter”:
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Make-Your-Story-Matter/Abbie-Emmons/9781637748909

Download the Bookum App to join our book club and listen to more author conversations:
https://www.bookumapp.com

Timestamps:
1:03 - Writing Recklessly
3:29 - Switching to Nonfiction
5:01 - Psychology of Storytelling
6:42 - What Makes A Story Unforgettable?
8:03 - Build Internal Conflict in Characters
9:52 - Character Profile and Backstory
12:01 - The Enneagram for Character Inner Conflict
14:02 - Giving Your Characters Flaws
15:03 - Characters False Beliefs
16:23 - Avoiding Perfect Characters
17:21 - Writing Quality Antagonist
20:25 - Developing Plot
22:01 - Three Act Story Structure for Plot
25:12 - Balancing Character and Plot
27:01 - Character/Plot Mistakes
27:40 - Plot Driven Story Mistakes
28:42 - Writing Side Characters
29:25 - Writing Connected Stories
31:11 - World-Building
33:58 - First Chapter To Do’s
36:35 - First Chapter Mistakes
38:33 - How the Subconscious Mind Works During Stories
40:22 - The Open Loop Method
43:11 - Helping People Write Their Story
45:32 - Questions Authors Should Ask Themselves When Stuck
47:23 - Advice on the First Draft
49:02 - Writing Process and the Perfect Writing Day
50:12 - Favorite Romance Tropes
51:32 - Writing Layered Characters in Romance
53:21 - Writing Dual POV Stories
55:01 - What Should Be in a Writer’s Toolkit?

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

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Today on the Bookum Author Talks Podcast, we sit down with Shellye Archambeau, former CEO of MetricStream and one of Silicon Valley’s first African American female CEOs.

Shellye has spent over 30 years in business and technology with leadership experience at major companies including IBM, Blockbuster, and Loudcloud. She is also a Fortune 500 board member, serving on boards such as Verizon and Nordstrom Inc.

She is the author of Unapologetically Ambitious, where she shares how she built a highly strategic and intentional career path from IBM to becoming a Silicon Valley CEO.

Shellye is also the founder of Ignite Ambition, a nonprofit and community focused on helping early to mid-career professionals gain clarity, build strategy, and achieve their career goals.

In this conversation, we explore ambition, career strategy, leadership, and what it truly takes to become a CEO in today’s world.

We also dive into her journey through IBM, Blockbuster, Silicon Valley in the early 2000s, and leading a company through the 2008 financial crisis.

⏱️ Timestamps

1:22 - Family Legacy
2:38 - Being Organized // Resourceful
3:30 - Little Girl with Ambition
4:18 - "Life is not fair"
5:44 - Wanted to be CEO at 16
7:08 - Imposter Syndrome
10:12 - Setting and Achieving Goal
11:02 - Taking the right steps to win
13:12 - Being strategic
13:56 - Letting People Know what You Want
15:21 - Can you be too Unapologetically Ambitious?
16:23 - Courage Muscle
17:30 - Doing Business in Japan & Internationally
21:02 - Leaving IBM
23:01 - Working at Blockbuster
24:23 - Silicon Valley in 00s and AI
25:23 - Working at Loudcloud
26:34 - Core Principles of Marketing
27:33 - Becoming CEO of MetricStream
30:00 - Market Crash of 2008
31:10 - Leading as CEO During Uncertainty
32:21 - The Role of the CEO
33:10 - Bill Campbell and Mentorship
34:08 - Silicon Valley Leaders (Vinod Khosla, Marc Andreessen, Ben Horowitz)
35:34 - Phase II and Ignite Ambition
37:12 - Ignite Ambition App and Community
38:45 - Measuring Success of Ignite Ambition
40:12 - Family Life Integration
43:01 - Writing Process and Perfect Day
45:01 - Writing Real Holistic Business Books
46:25 - Unapologetically Ambitious Toolkit

Resources

Get Shellye Archambeau’s book: Unapologetically Ambitious

Join Ignite Ambition:
https://shellye.com/ignite-ambition/

Join the Bookum community and book club conversations:
https://www.bookumapp.com

Topics Covered

CEO career path, how to become a CEO, IBM careers, Silicon Valley leadership, ambition mindset, career strategy, leadership lessons, corporate growth, Black female CEO, MetricStream, Ignite Ambition, Unapologetically Ambitious book, executive leadership, business strategy, mentorship in Silicon Valley

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

This week on the Bookum Authors Talk Podcast we sit down with writer, producer, and author Angela Nissel to discuss her powerful new memoir 'Good Grief, Pass the Bread, Mom is Dead'.

In this conversation, Angela opens up about grief, caregiving, family secrets, humor as a survival tool, and what it means to process loss while becoming the caretaker of a parent.

We also talk about her work on The Boondocks, the emotional weight of writing a memoir, loneliness in adulthood and aging, and how storytelling helps us make sense of life’s hardest moments.

📚 Book discussed: Good Grief, Pass the Bread, Mom is Dead by Angela Nissel - Get your copy today!

Timestamps:

01:05 - The Boondocks
4:40 - How Humor Helps us Deal with Life
8:24 - How the Title Came to Be?
10:02 - Christmas Stories and Family Drama
11:03 - Withholding Information from Family about health issues
12:20 - Keeping family secrets
15:20 - Caretaking for a Love One
17:45 - How to be a good caretaker
19:40 - Loneliness Epidemic in Elder Ages
22:10 - How Older People Are Getting Scammed from AI
23:01 - What to Share and Not Share in a Memoir
25:10 - The Craziness of Life
25:44 - The importance of sharing stories with each other
26:44 - Dealing with grief and losing
28:09 - Honoring her Mother with the book
30:22 - Enjoying the small things in life
30:33 - On Religion and Rev Bill
33:01 - Becoming the Matriarch
35:20 - Dealing with Mother's Day after loss
36:58 - Managing Emotions for Grief
37:54 - Writing Process for the Book
39:32 - Writing a Memoir
41:08 - What Should Be In A Writer's Toolkit?

Join our book community and discover more conversations like this:
https://www.bookumapp.com

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!