The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston

Paula Lafferty used a successful kickstarter campaign to raise funds for her self-published debut (gorgeous deluxe editions included!), for which she later landed a trad-pub deal.

Her Queen Guinevere time travel fantasy, THE ONCE AND FUTURE QUEEN, came out first as a self-published novel and was later rereleased traditionally and became an instant USA Today and Indie Bestseller. The second and third books in The Lives of Guinevere trilogy will be traditionally-published.

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:

• Follow me onSubstack or subscribe to mySubstack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me onInstagram andBlue Sky.
• Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston
• The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books: https://www.wonderlandbooks.com/
• Long Road to Publishing Index on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DdGvqV5FTIt/?img_index=1

PAULA LAFFERTY:

• Website: http://paulalafferty.com/
• tiktok: @paulalafferty
• instagram: @paulalafferty_writes
• threads: paulalafferty_writes

Show Notes:

• Self-publishing A to Z on Medium by Travis Baldree
• The website where Paula found her cover designer is 99 Designs
• The instagram of the cover designer Paula used is Dauphine Dopamine https://www.instagram.com/dauphinedopamine/
• Books Mentioned: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey, Lightlark by Alex Aster
• Shoutouts to: Liz Gilbert, Alex Aster, Rebecca Thorne, Kensington, Travis Baldree, Dietrich Stogner, Kickstarter, Merrick Bookshop, Julia Whelan, Audiobrary

Credits:

The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books. The show is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

After racking up an impressive number of rejections, Chital Mehta’s manuscript won the AWP Novel Prize (judged by R.O. Kwon) and was published by University of Nebraska Press.

Chital and I discuss getting her MFA, setting herself a “rejection challenge,” and finding a balance between writing and motherhood.

HAVE YOU SEEN ROMIT? (out now!) is about a middle-aged Indian woman who sets out to find her missing son and discovers, in the searching, the full force of who she is.

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:

• Follow me onSubstack or subscribe to mySubstack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me onInstagram andBlue Sky.
• Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston
• The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books: https://www.wonderlandbooks.com/
• Long Road to Publishing Index on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DdGvqV5FTIt/?img_index=1

CHITAL MEHTA:

• Website: https://chitalmehtajey.com/
• Substack: https://substack.com/@chitalmehta
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chitalmehta/
• Chital poses with her book: https://stumblingyetwriting.substack.com/p/book-photoshoot-chapter-one-sneak

Show Notes:

• Courtney Maum's book and Substack are both called Before & After the Book Deal: https://courtneymaum.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips
• Jane Friedman's website: https://janefriedman.com
• Shoutouts to: AWP, Grubb Street, University of Nebraska Press, R.O. Kwon, McCormack Writing Center, James Alan McPherson Prize, Huxley and Hiro Bookstore

Credits:

The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books. The show is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tara Goedjen has had three agents and has pivoted three times in her writing career. She had her YA debut in 2017, and now she’s getting to debut again with her adult gothic suspense novel, PLEASE ENJOY YOUR STAY.

In this episode we talk about her time in academia (she has an MFA and a PhD), finding inspiration in setting, and her experience doing a “launch team” for PLEASE ENJOY YOUR STAY. Plus so much more!

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:

• Follow me onSubstack or subscribe to mySubstack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me onInstagram andBlue Sky.
• Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston
• The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books: https://www.wonderlandbooks.com/
• Long Road to Publishing Index on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DdGvqV5FTIt/?img_index=1

TARA GOEDJEN:

• Website: taragoedjenauthor.com
• Instagram: @taragoedjen www.instagram.com/taragoedjen/
• Facebook: Tara Goedjen - Author https://www.facebook.com/TaraGoedjenAuthor
• Substack: @TaraGoedjen https://substack.com/@taragoedjen
• PLEASE ENJOY YOUR STAY: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Please-Enjoy-Your-Stay/Tara-Goedjen/9781668217115

Show Notes:

• Long Road to Publishing Index on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DdGvqV5FTIt/?img_index=1
• Shoutouts to authors Ruth Ware, Lucy Foley, Riley Sagar, Amy Tintera, Tiffany Crumb, Jessica Payne, and Gillian Flynn
• Books mentioned: The Haunting of Hill House, Listen for the Lie, Gone Girl, and This Story Might Save Your Life
• Other shoutouts to: ThrillerFest, Bouchercon, and Nichole Cunningham

Credits:

The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books. The show is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode with Irish author Oran Doyle is the most emotional and tear-filled so far!

Oran Doyle started out in screenwriting and script-editing before writing middle grade and YA. His debut YA novel, GIVE ME 'TIL MIDNIGHT is Before Sunrise meets Groundhog’s Day, set during a single day in Dublin.

In this episode Oran talks about “the wilderness years” when he felt stuck, and how he had to learn to get in touch with his own emotions in order to find the real emotional core of his stories– and how that has made all the difference.

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:

• Follow me onSubstack or subscribe to mySubstack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me onInstagram andBlue Sky.
• Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston
• The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books: https://www.wonderlandbooks.com/
• Long Road to Publishing Index on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DdGvqV5FTIt/?img_index=1

ORAN DOYLE:

• Website: www.orandoyle.com
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/doyle_oran/
• GIVE ME TIL MIDNIGHT from Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/give-me-til-midnight/oran-doyle/9781911427537

Show Notes:

• The film Oran couldn't think of the name of is Rye Lane
• Other films mentioned: The Map of Tiny Perfect Things, Edge of Tomorrow, Palm Springs
• Shoutouts to: Everything with Words, Kirsty McLachlan, Darren Romney, the East Timor solidarity campaign, The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, CeCe Lyra, Lisa Jewell

Credits:

The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books. The show is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amy True negotiated the contracts for her first two books (and explains why she wouldn’t recommend that!). We also discuss her long publishing journey over four different agents, “book bibles” for series writing, and her pivot from YA historical to adult romance.

Amy wrote award-winning YA historicals under the name Amy Trueblood before pivoting to adult romance. She wrote the Ivy Falls series, and is now at work on the Harvest Moon series. Book 1, CLEARLY CHARMED (a Practical Magic inspired speculative romance), is out now.

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:

• Follow me onSubstack or subscribe to mySubstack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me onInstagram andBlue Sky.
• Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston
• The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books: https://www.wonderlandbooks.com/

AMY TRUE:

• Website: https://www.amytruebloodauthor.com/amy-true/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atruebooks/
• Newsletter: https://substack.com/@amytrueblood
• CLEARLY CHARMED: https://bookshop.org/p/books/clearly-charmed-an-enchanting-small-town-enemies-to-lovers-romance-amy-true/302a67da7ae70abb?ean=9798217270255&bkshp-astro=t

Show Notes:

• Wonderland author showcase info: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeY0xi7yzwyeAhn71_JA-LkBWWCt6tfAy64zJF_2N5Tg8Z08g/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=105952951926281779403
• Shoutouts to: The Author’s Guild, Flux (NorthStar Editions), and Courtney Maum

Credits:

The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books. The show is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lisa Lee got both an MFA and a PhD in creative writing! Now, after many, many years (and many revisions!) her debut literary novel, AMERICAN HAN, is receiving oodles of accolades.

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:

• Follow me onSubstack or subscribe to mySubstack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me onInstagram andBlue Sky.
• Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston
• The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books: https://www.wonderlandbooks.com/

Lisa Lee:

• Website: https://www.hellolisalee.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisaleehello/
• AMERICAN HAN: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/lisa-lee/american-han/9781643757254/

Show Notes:

• Wonderland author showcase info and application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeY0xi7yzwyeAhn71_JA-LkBWWCt6tfAy64zJF_2N5Tg8Z08g/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=105952951926281779403

Credits:

The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books. The show is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kathleen Barber’s bestselling debut, TRUTH BE TOLD, was turned into a TV series with Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine company. Her sophomore novel… didn’t do so well. But she kept on writing despite many disappointments, publishing books in both the thriller and romantic comedy genres. Her latest novel is SISTERHOOD ABOVE ALL: A #RUSHTOK NOVEL, with Amayah Shaienne.

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:

• Follow me onSubstack or subscribe to mySubstack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me onInstagram andBlue Sky.
• Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston
• The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books: https://www.wonderlandbooks.com/

Kathleen Barber:

• Website: kathleenbarber.com
• IG: instagram.com/katelizabee
• Substack: kathleenbarber.substack.com
• Sisterhood Above All by Kathleen Barber with Amayah Shaienne: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250400055/sisterhoodaboveall

Show Notes:

• Amayah Shaienne IG: https://www.instagram.com/mayahshai/
• Eva's Babysitter's Club Fan-Fiction on IG: https://www.instagram.com/p/DcdbYj5FeRP/
• With shoutouts to Lisa Grubka, Ashley Spivey, Jennie Nash's Author Accelerator, Bouchercon, Mystery Writers of America, and Hello Sunshine
• Wonderland author showcase info and application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeY0xi7yzwyeAhn71_JA-LkBWWCt6tfAy64zJF_2N5Tg8Z08g/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=105952951926281779403

Credits:

The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books. The show is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Griffin Brown and Michelle Barker have both been on long journeys to publishing their novels. Now, in addition to being editors at The Darling Axe, they are successfully self-publishing their co-authored craft books.

Between the two of them, David and Michelle write and publish in nearly every genre: picture books, YA, fantasy, sci-fi, satire, historical, nonfiction, and even poetry. We talk about their experiences with agents and traditional publishing, as well as their experiences with small presses and self-publishing. And, of course, we discuss David’s decision to found his company, The Darling Axe, which provides editing, novel development, and other services for writers.

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:

• Follow me onSubstack or subscribe to mySubstack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me onInstagram andBlue Sky.
• Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston
• The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books: https://www.wonderlandbooks.com/

David Griffin Brown:

• The Darling Axe: www.DarlingAxe.com (Michelle and David's co-authored books can be found here)
• Website: www.SeptimusBrown.com
• @SeptimusBrown and @DarlingAxe on most platforms

Michelle Barker:

• Website:www.michellebarker.ca
• https://substack.com/@michbark
• https://michellebarker.ca/books/

Show Notes:

• Book Broker Agent Interviews: https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/tagged/agent-interviews
• Book mention: Story Genius by Lisa Cron
• Shoutouts to Orca Books, Annick Press, Victory Co-op for Netgalley, Storygraph, Invisible Ink Editing, Gail Anderson Dargatz, and The University of British Columbia MFA

Credits:

The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books. The show is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journalist Mimi Montgomery signed with the first agent she queried (!!), and is using her dog as part of the guerrilla marketing campaign for her debut novel, MURDER BITES, which is a satirical murder mystery on the set of a reality TV show about dogs.

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:

• Follow me onSubstack or subscribe to mySubstack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me onInstagram andBlue Sky.
• Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston
• The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books: https://www.wonderlandbooks.com/

Mimi Montgomery:

• Website: https://www.mimimontgomerywriter.com/
• INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/mimi_montgomery/
• SUBSTACK: https://mimimontgomery.substack.com/
• MURDER BITES: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/798842/murder-bites-by-mimi-montgomery/

Show Notes:

• "Half the People Who See This DIY Promo Go On to Preorder My Book" by Jo Piazza (Substack article): https://andibartz.substack.com/p/guest-post-half-the-people-who-see
• Book recs: Story Genius by Lisa Cron, Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody, Before & After the Book Deal by Courtney Maum
• Movie and TV recs: A Simple Favor and Bad Sisters
• Shoutouts to: The Writer’s Center, Carl Hiassen, Virginia Evans, Courtney Maum, Emily Jane, Jo Piazza, Andrea Bartz, The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Credits:

The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books. The show is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

After brainstorming over 100 ideas, Amy Tern came up with a Hitchcock-inspired premise for a middle grade novel… and finally landed both an agent and a book deal with Holiday House for her debut novel SNEAKS.

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:

• Follow me onSubstack or subscribe to mySubstack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me onInstagram andBlue Sky.
• Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston

Amy Tern:

• Website: http://amytern.com/
• Sneaks: https://bookshop.org/a/91104/9780823461622

Show Notes:

• Eva's interview with Rebecca Lehman on This Mama is Lit!: https://literarymama.substack.com/p/rebecca-lehmann-resurrecting-anne
• Eva's online Substack workshop, How to Catch and Keep a Reader: https://evalangston.substack.com/p/how-to-catch-and-keep-a-reader-workshop
• Shoutouts to: SCBWI, Sally Morgridge, Holiday House, Shanna Upchurch, Kids' Indie Next, American Booksellers Association, Indies Introduce program

Credits:

The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

When former FBI agent Jerri’s crime novel died on submission, she “accidentally” started self-publishing. And after a long and emotional road (and some work as a TV consultant!), she’s finally landed her first traditionally-published contract: a two-book deal with Sourcebooks: Poisoned Pen Press.

Jerri produces and hosts the podcast FBI Case File Review, and her popular FBI for Armchair Detectives nonfiction series debunks misconceptions about the FBI found in books, TV, and movies. Her work helps authors, true crime enthusiasts and aspiring FBI agents learn how the FBI investigates crime.

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:

• Follow me onSubstack or subscribe to mySubstack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me onInstagram andBlue Sky.
• Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston

Jerri Williams:

• Website: https://jerriwilliams.com/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jerriwilliams1/
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JerriWilliamsAuthor/
• LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/jerriwilliamsauthor
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@FBICaseReview

Show Notes:

• Shoutouts to International Thriller Writers (and ThrillerFest), Sisters in Crime, and Mystery Writers of America
• Shoutouts Isabella Maldonado and Joseph Wambaugh
• Craft Books Mentioned: The First 50 Pages, Story Trumps Structure, Plot and Structure, The Anatomy of Story by John Truby, Conflict and Suspense by James Scott Bell, Story Engineering by Larry Brooks, The Story Grid by Shawn M. Coyne, and Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maas

Credits:

The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau started out writing books for teens in French for a French publisher. She now writes in English, and has had four novels published in the US: two YA rom-coms and two adult thrillers. In this episode we talk about her experiences with book packagers, her three different literary agents, her love of screenwriting, and so much more. Anne-Sophie’s latest book is We Would Never Tell.

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:

• Follow me onSubstack or subscribe to mySubstack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me onInstagram andBlue Sky.
• Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston

Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau :

• Website: https://www.asjouhanneau.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asjouhanneau/
• Substack: https://asjouhanneau.substack.com/

Show Notes:

• Shoutouts to: Gotham Writers, Austin Film Festival, Alloy Entertainment
• Eva as a background extra: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZhlxVxFava/?img_index=1
• My Somewhat Bonkers Publishing Journey Part 1: https://asjouhanneau.substack.com/p/my-somewhat-bonkers-publishing-journey
• " " Part 2: https://asjouhanneau.substack.com/p/my-somewhat-bonkers-publishing-journey-ca9
• " " Part 3: https://asjouhanneau.substack.com/p/my-somewhat-bonkers-publishing-journey-191

Credits:

The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bestselling author Eliza Knight self-publishes romance novels and traditionally publishes historical fiction and contemporary thrillers. Her latest novel TRADWIFE, coming out in August under the pen name Michelle Brandon, will be her 99th published book! Her journey has been long and twisty… and wildly prolific!

We talk about her latest historical noel, LOST IN THE SUMMER OF ‘69, and how she manages to successfully juggle so many publishing balls at once!

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:

• Follow me onSubstack or subscribe to mySubstack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me onInstagram andBlue Sky.
• Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston

ELIZA KNIGHT:

• Website: https://elizaknight.com/
• Instagram and FB handle: @ElizaKnightFiction
• Podcast: https://historybooksandwinepodcast.buzzsprout.com/
• Lost in the Summer of '69: https://bookshop.org/a/91104/9781464255113
• Tradwife: https://bookshop.org/a/91104/9780063470538

Show Notes:

• Middlemen: Literary Agents and the Making of American Fiction: https://bookshop.org/a/91104/9780691256160
• Mentions of Novelists, Inc; Romance Writers of America; Historical Novel Society; Women’s Fiction Writers Association
• Vellum Software: https://vellum.pub/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17767505168&gbraid=0AAAAAowUQB2cN9QMg6n9bFOxx7x4m9Pki

Credits:

The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lawyer and bestselling author Emily Jane has penned an incredible pile of genre-bending manuscripts, and her publishing journey is just as unconventional as her books.

It wasn’t until her 6th manuscript that Emily landed her amazing agent, and her debut novel was actually the 17th book she wrote. Plus… you won’t believe the mind-blowing reveal that comes towards the end of this episode!

Her latest novel, MR. YAY, released on June 2, 2026, and her fifth novel, GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT, OR HOW OUR DAD CAUSED THE FUNPOCALYPSE, is coming out in March of 2027.

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:

• Follow me onSubstack or subscribe to mySubstack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me onInstagram andBlue Sky.
• Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston

EMILY JANE:

• Website: https://www.emilyjaneauthor.com.
• Books: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2282824/emily-jane/
• Instagram: @emilyjane.author
• threads: @emilyjane.author
• Bluesky: @emilyjaneauthor.bsky.social
• GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT, OR HOW OUR DAD CAUSED THE FUNPOCALYPSE: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/give-the-people-what-they-want-emily-jane/1150359820?ean=9781368116053&irclickid=WvBSwhwl-xyZWiQwKeQDZ3sCUkuTyMWNsSwYwM0&sharedid=&irpid=128773&irgwc=1&afsrc=1

Show Notes:

• Emily’s camper van IG video: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYSbsnbR7BI/

Credits:

The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Moniza Hossain had FOUR middle grade novels die on submission before landing two picture book deals. Now she also has a middle grade horror novel coming out. After a brutal 10-year journey, it’s finally her time to shine!

Her two picture books, Street Puppy, Masjid Cat and Ritu in the Sun, are out now. Her middle grade novel Bad Things Happened Here is coming out this September.

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:

• Follow me onSubstack or subscribe to mySubstack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me onInstagram andBlue Sky.
• Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston

MONIZA HOSSAIN:

• Website: monizahossain.com
• Ritu in the Sun: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/740790/ritu-in-the-sun-by-moniza-hossain-illustrated-by-merce-lopez/
• Bad Things Happened Here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/825012/bad-things-happened-here-by-moniza-hossain/
• @monizahossain on Instagram

Show Notes:

• We Need Diverse Books: https://www.diversebooks.org/
• Triada US Literary Agency: https://www.triadaus.com/

Credits:

The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

April Henry goes to extreme lengths to research her mystery/thriller novels, like allowing herself to get kidnapped!

She has published 31 mysteries and thrillers for teens and adults, with more to come. Her latest YA novel is called IN THE BLOOD.

In this episode we talk about where she finds inspiration, her adventures in co-writing, and, of course, the ups and downs on her long road to publishing.

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:

• Follow me onSubstack or subscribe to mySubstack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me onInstagram andBlue Sky.
• Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston

APRIL HENRY:

• Website: http://aprilhenry.com/
• Instagram and Threads: @aprilhenrybooks
• Facebook: @aprilhenry
• BlueSky: @aprilhenry
• TikTok: @aprilhenrywritingadvice and @aprilhenrybooks
• IN THE BLOOD: https://annieblooms.com/april-henry-signed-books

Show Notes:

• Rules for Liars by April Patten and Debra Garfinkle

Credits:

The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tara Sexton landed a 3-book deal with her sports romance series... but it didn’t come easy! She had a 10-year marathon of close calls, TONS of unpublished manuscripts, and a crazy submission process before scoring this big win! The first book in the End Game series, THE GREATEST GAME, was just released in the UK and will be published in the US on May 19.

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:

• Follow me onSubstack or subscribe to mySubstack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me onInstagram andBlue Sky.
• Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston

TARA SEXTON:

• Website: http://www.tarasexton.com/
• Preorder The Greatest Game: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/833386/the-greatest-game-by-tara-sexton/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writerta13/
• Find her on other socials at @writerta13

Show Notes:

• Tara's unboxing video on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXiDzG8jfNK/

Credits:

The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Amin Ahmad lost his agent and his editor, his crime novel series was cut short. But now he’s back in the game with a brand-new thriller called A KILLER IN THE FAMILY. In this episode Amin talks about teaching creative writing, and how he writes his novels the same way he used to design buildings.

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:

• Follow me onSubstack or subscribe to mySubstack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me onInstagram andBlue Sky.
• Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston

AMIN AHMAD:

• Website: https://www.aminahmadbooks.com/
• IG: @aminahmadbooks
• A KILLER IN THE FAMILY: https://bookshop.org/a/91104/9781250394897

Show Notes:

• Writer's Center in DC: https://writer.org/
• New School in NYC
• StoryStudio Chicago
• Grub Street in Boston

Credits:

The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Credits:

The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ruth Knafo Setton was told there was “no chance” her book would get published, but after parting ways with her agent, she sold the book on her own and won some awards for it along the way!

Ruth writes her novels the way a magician creates an illusion, and she combines creative intuition with a regular writing practice, lots of revision, and a healthy dose of tenacity. Her novel Zig Zag Girl, about a sisterhood of female magicians, was released in the UK in the fall of 2025 and in the U.S. in March 2026. It won Grand Prize for ScreenCraft's Most Cinematic Book, and the screenplay for a pilot episode of Zig Zag Girl won 1st prize in the LA Crime & Horror Film Festival.

In this episode, we talk about Ruth’s long road to publishing her two novels, her fascinating creative process, and how she fell in love with screenwriting.

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:

• Follow me onSubstack or subscribe to mySubstack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me onInstagram andBlue Sky.
• Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston

Ruth Knafo Setton:

• Website: www.ruthsetton.com/
• Substack: www.ruthsetton.substack.com/
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/rksetton/
• Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/122004.Ruth_Knafo_Setton
• ZigZag Girl: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/ZigZag-Girl/Ruth-Knafo-Setton/9781917788038

Show Notes:

• Substack article by Vicky Weber: https://vickyweberbooks.substack.com/p/what-nobodys-telling-querying-writers
• VCCA: https://www.vcca.com/
• Andrea Bartz's article about Ruth: https://andibartz.substack.com/p/guest-post-being-sawed-in-half-taught
• Black Spring Press's Crime Series: https://blackspringpressgroup.com/collections/black-spring-crime-series
• Manuscript Academy: https://manuscriptacademy.com/

Credits:

The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beekeeper and kidlit author Shanna Upchurch got orphaned by her editor and dumped by her agent within a 48-hour period. But she kept things professional and a few weeks later landed a 6-figure deal at auction!

Shanna has always taken her writing and publishing career seriously, even during her many (many!) years of rejection. Her debut picture book, The Honeybee Highway, was just released in April 2026, and she has two middle grade novels coming out in 2027 and 2028.

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:

• Follow me onSubstack or subscribe to mySubstack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me onInstagram andBlue Sky.
• Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston

Shanna Upchurch:

• Website: https://www.shannaupchurch.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sdupchurch4/
• The Honeybee Highway: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-honeybee-highway-shanna-upchurch/7526ed79e126c673?ean=9781368116022&next=t

Show Notes:

• Highlights Foundation (now called Boyds Mills): https://boydsmills.org/
• SCBWI: https://www.scbwi.org/
• The Manuscript Academy: https://manuscriptacademy.com/

Credits:

The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.