Edith and Teri discuss summer plans and share book recommendations, including Heather Walter’s Malice and Misrule, a duology retelling the Maleficent–Aurora story from Alice/Malice’s first-person perspective with romantic elements and multiple twists. They talk about how strong writing helps readers “become” a character regardless of narration style and how state of mind affects immersion. Edith describes teaching One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus, its shifting viewpoints, and creative student assignments such as a funeral letter from the deceased and a school newspaper article, plus flash fiction work in English as a foreign language. The conversation shifts to publishing advice: revising multiple times, letting manuscripts rest, using tools like Autocrit, and the value of editors. They also cover author visibility and marketing—podcasting, consistency, avoiding overwhelm, marketing the author brand rather than a single book, and starting platforms early in a saturated market.

00:00 Welcome and Summer Plans

00:47 Fantasy Duology Pick

03:49 Becoming the Character

04:51 First vs Third Person

08:52 Teaching a Mystery Novel

10:58 Creative Test Assignments

14:00 Flash Fiction in ESL

16:03 Learning Languages and Dreaming

21:27 Editing Before Publishing

26:29 Editors Make Books Better

31:48 Description vs Story Pace

41:26 Interview for Story Impact

43:32 Visibility Book Origins

44:44 Podcasting For Exposure

47:19 Avoid Marketing Overwhelm

51:25 Market Yourself Not Books

53:39 Start Early Stay Consistent

55:14 Branding With Thumbnails

01:00:23 Podcast Guest Confidence

01:06:21 Finding Readers In Saturation

01:12:45 Reading Like A Writer

01:18:38 Writing Reality And AI

01:21:15 Closing Thoughts Farewell

Music: artlist.io

On the Teri and Edith Show, Teri recaps a Weymouth, North Carolina writers’ retreat where she chose activities beyond writing, including library visits, a retirement village book club, an author talk, a craft fair book table, a poetry group, a bookstore event, and a local podcast, gaining networking and submission tips and selling books. She discusses feedback on Daughters of Green Mountain Gap (noting it won a major North Carolina award) and her new, funnier book Pagan Hinged, and warns listeners about Netflix scam emails, especially those from Gmail addresses. The conversation shifts to reading: library audiences skew older; many young people prefer fantasy or avoid reading, influenced by phones, instant gratification, and shrinking attention spans. They argue reading builds vocabulary, imagination, critical thinking, and cultural understanding, praise reading aloud and audiobooks for kids, criticize flat AI narration, and share current book recommendations.

00:00 Welcome Back Intro

00:10 Retreat Goals Tradeoffs

02:14 Readings Libraries Events

03:45 Networking Author Lessons

05:54 Artsy Southern Pines Vibe

07:53 Greece Roots Dreams

09:15 Netflix Scam Emails

12:12 Audience Feedback New Book

13:53 Herbal Remedies Disclaimer

16:04 Who Reads Today

19:56 Kids Reading Habits

21:58 Books vs Movies Debate

23:28 Is Reading Coming Back

25:36 Instant Gratification Worries

30:18 Why Reading Matters

36:55 Phones Attention Spans

38:15 Text Speak and Vocabulary Loss

39:32 Reading Builds Young Minds

42:01 Phones Replace Conversation

44:09 Reading and Math Foundations

46:58 Stories Over Screens

50:43 Why AI Narration Falls Flat

55:02 Future of Reading and Patience

01:00:08 Book Talk and Recommendations

01:05:21 World War I and Learning History

01:11:04 Read and Write Goodbye

Music: artlist.io

Teri shares feeling overwhelmed by multiple upcoming projects and events, including a book launch in April, an anthology short story release in May, a recent short story collection printing delay, a two-week writers’ retreat, becoming a grandmother again, and a July residency in Greece with travel through Barcelona and Rome. Teri and Edith discuss Teri’s humorous contemporary novel Unhinged, scheduled for April 7, and the challenges of writing sustained humor and maintaining a consistent narrative voice. Edith describes using strict word-count flash fiction prompts with 13-year-old ESL students and a school collaboration with a nearby retirement home, prompting talk about compiling student work into a booklet. They also cover author feedback and reviews, the “characters talking” writing process, scheduling challenges, Amazon pricing differences across markets, and how publishers and designers affect pricing, covers, and interior formatting, including Teri’s work on the Carolina Tides local-author anthology.

00:00 Welcome Back

00:25 Launch Season Chaos

01:34 Travel Plans and Meetups

03:57 Unhinged Release Talk

06:23 Writing Humor and Voice

08:34 Women of a Certain Age

11:02 Teaching Flash Fiction

15:09 Prompts and Student Stories

19:52 Publishing Kids Work

23:24 Reviews and Creative Flow

28:53 Writing Life and Workspace

33:34 Book Pricing Sticker Shock

38:28 Pricing Books Right

39:45 Amazon Market Differences

42:55 Tracking and Shipping Costs

46:02 Author Control and Covers

48:10 Cover Trends and Branding

53:56 Designers and Interiors

59:01 Anthology Teamwork Challenges

01:04:55 Editors and Reader Clarity

01:12:35 Book Recommendations Wrap

Music: artlist.io

In this episode of the Teri and Edith Show, Teri and Edith share their struggles and stories about surviving the harsh winter weather across different locations, Vienna and North Carolina. They discuss their personal experiences with snowstorms, freezing rains, and finding alternative heat sources. They also dive deeply into book recommendations that span historical fiction, crime mysteries, and poignant memoirs. Exciting updates about meetups with other authors and upcoming novels are shared, alongside amusing and frustrating experiences with book cover design. The episode is sprinkled with humor and insightful conversations about human nature, the importance of reading, and reflections on teaching students. Join Teri and Edith for an engaging discussion packed with storytelling, book recommendations, and a peek into the lives of authors.

00:00 Welcome to the Teri and Edith Show

00:18 Winter Woes: Weather Updates from Vienna and North Carolina

04:28 Exciting News: Kimberly's Visit to Vienna

06:01 Feisty Deeds and Short Stories

13:08 Book Recommendations and Literary Discussions

16:19 The Impact of Historical Events on Literature

28:15 The Art of Reading: Personal Preferences and Recommendations

22:44 Analyzing the Craft of Writing

37:25 The Joys and Challenges of Reading Nonfiction

38:39 The Temptation of Buying Books

39:21 Podcasting and Book Consumption

43:59 The Reality of Teaching

48:19 Encouraging Children to Read

57:11 The Frustrations of Book Cover Design

01:13:45 The Importance of Reading

Music:artlist.io

In this episode of 'The Teri and Edith Show,' Teri and Edith delve into the nuanced challenges and joys of writing, editing, and launching a new book. Teri shares her experiences from a recent retreat where she completed the draft of her upcoming book 'Peg Unhinged.' They also discuss the difficulties of balancing multiple writing projects and the rigorous editing process. The conversation touches on how personal experiences and societal issues influence writing, the complexities of separating art from the artist, and the role of controversial topics in literature. The episode concludes with a lighthearted discussion about the personal and commercial aspects of Christmas, making it a well-rounded conversation for viewers interested in the world of writing and beyond.

00:00 Welcome to the Teri and Edith Show

00:17 Teri's Writing Retreat and New Book

01:29 Edith's Writing Struggles

02:26 Editing Challenges and Character Development

06:02 Peg's Character and Middle-Aged Women in Literature

11:24 Generational Perspectives and Personal Reflections

18:26 Christmas Stories and Writing Preferences

22:29 Separating Art from the Artist

31:32 Sharing Personal Moments on Social Media

31:45 The Intersection of Art and Politics

32:31 The Role of Fiction in Addressing Social Issues

34:20 Different Approaches to Art and Controversy

36:10 Generational Perspectives in Storytelling

41:16 Human Nature and Historical Parallels

54:08 The Struggle for Recognition in the Arts

57:43 Holiday Traditions and Reflections

01:02:11 Concluding Thoughts and New Year Wishes

Music: artlist.io

In this episode of 'The Teri and Edith Show,' hosts Teri and Edith discuss the importance of writing and share insights on why continuing to write can be both fulfilling and beneficial. They delve into their personal experiences, including Teri's participation in the 'Feisty Women' anthology, the joys and struggles of the writing process, and sharing recommendations for historical fiction books. The duo also shares thoughts on flash fiction as a useful exercise for writers. Tune in to hear about inspiring writing habits, engaging book recommendations, and the exciting collaborative effort behind the 'Feisty Women' anthology.

00:00 Welcome to the Teri and Edith Show

00:25 The Joy of Writing

03:12 Immersing in Historical Fiction

04:30 Cultural Differences and Norms

06:58 The Writing Process and Challenges

14:49 Editing and Improving Your Work

22:26 Upcoming Writing Projects

34:55 Book Recommendations

36:46 Introduction to the Author and Book Series

36:58 Exploring 'Kitty and the Music Hall Murders'

37:57 The Fascinating Character of Lady Ginger

39:25 Kitty's Role in the Music Halls

40:24 Introduction to 'Feisty Deeds'

42:27 The Writing Process and Challenges

43:47 The Editing and Publishing Journey

49:52 Personal Reflections on Writing

58:32 The Joy of Flash Fiction

01:00:51 Creative Writing Exercises and Prompts

01:10:37 Conclusion and Future Episodes

Music: artlisto.io

In this episode of The Teri and Edith Show, Teri shares her enriching experience at a writer's retreat in Woodstock, New York. Teri describes the serene and inspiring environment that allowed her to reconnect with her passion for writing. She recounts her time at the Bird Cliff artist colony, where she wrote flash fiction pieces, short stories, and amassed over 50,000 words towards her next manuscript. Teri discusses her daily routines, the community of diverse artists she engaged with, and the creative workshops they participated in. From the memorable communal meals and local market visits to the rejuvenating walks in the woods, Teri found new inspiration and productivity. The dialogue also touches on the broader themes of writing practices, genre flexibility, and the publishing world. Don't miss this insightful conversation filled with valuable insights and advice for writers and creatives alike.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Episode Two

00:17 Teri's Writer's Retreat Experience

01:11 Life at the Artist Colony

07:47 Daily Routines and Writing Process

10:15 Challenges and Joys of Writing

20:14 Publishing and Genre Discussions

35:14 Exploring Historical Crime Fiction

36:20 Diverse Reading Interests

38:07 Surprising Enjoyment of Vampire Stories

39:10 Broadening Reading Horizons

40:23 Book Recommendations

43:31 Writing Outside Personal Experience

45:52 The Importance of Historical Accuracy

47:43 The Role of Fiction in Reflecting Society

01:02:28 Education and Society in Historical Context

01:05:51 Final Thoughts and Advice for Writers

Music: artlist.io

Welcome to the Terry and Edith Show! In this episode, we dive deep into the world of books, writing, and podcasting. Join us for a lively author interview as we discuss indie author journeys, book recommendations, and the realities of self-publishing. We explore the writing process, the importance of character development, and the latest literary trends in historical fiction and crime fiction.

Find out more about Teri and Edith here:

https://book-lovers-companion.com

https://www.terimbrown.com

Music: artlist.io