On this episode of Way-Word Writers, hosts Heather Cashman, Stephanie Bearce, and Nicki Jacobsmeyer talk with longtime collaborators Christina Boufis (fiction/nonfiction author and author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Nonfiction) and Victoria Olson (author of biography, fiction, and nonfiction; former university writing instructor) about how their co-writing partnership works and what it was like to use Kickstarter in their publishing journey.

They outline major hurdles and what they would do differently, share outcomes, and note Kickstarter is better suited to genre, niche, and quirky projects than many memoirs or standard domestic thrillers. The episode closes with where to find them (somdarkforest.com, christinaboufis.com, Penny Dreadful Media on TikTok) and what’s next: completing the sequel by spring and planning additional collaborative books (including titles Dark Circles and Dark Science) alongside their solo projects.

00:00 Welcome to Way-Word Writers (Meet the Hosts & Mission)

00:36 Today’s Guests: Long-Term Co-Authors + Kickstarter Publishing

02:03 How Their Writing Partnership Began (Dickens Camp to First Project)

03:27 Drafting Together in One Google Doc (Discovery Writing + NaNoWriMo Sprint)

05:20 Editing, Roles, and the ‘Jazz Improv’ Collaboration Style

06:50 Pros, Cons, and Keeping a Unified Voice as Co-Authors

10:30 Staying Motivated Through Life & Rejection (Why Partnership Helps)

12:01 Why They Chose Kickstarter (After a Small-Press Offer)

15:16 Kickstarter Reality Check: Visual Assets, Video, Swag, and New Skills

18:17 Running the Campaign: Backer Swaps, Reward Tiers, Stretch Goals & Fulfillment

19:21 Backer Demands & Going Physical: Paperback, Hardcover, Collector Mindset

21:14 When It Stops Feeling Overwhelming: Mastermind Support & Campaign Vetting

22:44 Kickstarter’s Built-In Community Engine: Updates, Requests & Reader Connection

24:12 Results & Aftermath: Low Goal Strategy, 400% Funded, Early Reviewers

25:23 Social Media Spillover: Promoting Beyond Kickstarter + Why TikTok

27:09 Kickstarter First Steps: Finish the Book, Find Community, Study Other Campaigns

29:49 Design, Video & Reward Strategy: Outsourcing, Swag, Special Editions, Signed eBooks

32:16 Would They Do It Again? Time, Energy, and the Real Learning Curve

33:42 Is Kickstarter a Fit? Genre vs Memoir, Niche/Quirky Books & Physicality

36:15 What’s Next + Where to Find Them: Sequels, Solo Projects, Websites & Farewell

​Find more about Christina Boufis at christinaboufis.com!

​Find more about Victoria Olsen at victoriaolsen.com!

​Some Dark Force, a Victorian thriller, by Christina Boufis and Victoria Olsen.

In this episode of Way-Word Writers, hosts Heather Cashman, Stephanie Bearce, and Nicki Jacobsmeyer interview Chloe Ito Ward, a Japanese American children’s author with a background in education. They discuss Chloe’s new and upcoming books, the thematic elements in her writing, and the inspiration and process behind her stories. Chloe shares how her personal and professional experiences influence her work and provides insights into the challenges of writing for a young audience. The conversation also touches on the importance of diversity, cultural representation, and authenticity in children’s literature.

00:00 Welcome to Way-Word Writers

00:31 Introducing Chloe Ito Ward

00:45 Chloe’s Teaching Background and Inspiration

02:06 All the Ways We Learn

08:49 Made For More: The Story Behind the Book

11:39 Writing for Young Readers

16:40 Author’s Note and Reader Engagement

19:52 Reflecting on Parental Influence

20:07 Introducing Chopsticks Are....

20:37 Cultural Touchpoints in Chopsticks Are....

21:05 Expanding the Scope of Chopsticks Are....

23:51 Research and Writing Process

25:11 Conversations Around Chopsticks

28:04 Balancing Authenticity and Accessibility

29:33 Creative Writing Process

31:09 Themes and Identity in Writing

34:10 Avoiding Didacticism in Picture Books

36:45 Lightning Round Q&A

37:55 Conclusion and Farewell

Find out more about Chloe Ito Ward on her website here!

On Tuesday February 17, see our companion deep dive article about adding hooks and layers to your book to increase depth, universal resonance, and commercial viability:

EPISODE 105 DEEP DIVE: Layering Hooks and Themes Into Your Manuscript

​In this episode of the Way-Word Writers Podcast, hosts Heather Cashman, Stephanie Bearce, and Nicki Jacobsmeyer share updates on their current writing projects and discuss the exciting changes in their creative journeys as they step into 2026. They open up about their writing seasons, upcoming goals, and how they are planning to sustain their creative passion while balancing various aspects of their lives. The episode also introduces changes in the podcast's release schedule and the addition of new, in-depth content on their Substack to better support their writing community.

​PLEASE NOTE: Our schedule will change to a podcast every other Tuesday and a DEEP DIVE companion article on the Tuesdays in between.

​Workshops for our Substack Summit Club level will be released periodically, at least every other month.

00:00 Welcome to Way-Word Writers

00:31 Introduction to the Podcast

01:34 Hosts Share Their Current Writing Projects

02:53 Stephanie's Exciting New Ventures

04:45 Nicki's Writing Journey and Goals

12:42 Heather's Writing and Life in Costa Rica

17:48 Balancing Writing and Promotion

19:43 Changes to the Podcast Schedule

25:45 Workshops and Community Engagement

28:11 Final Thoughts and Farewell