July 23, 2025 • 35 mins
Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Nove McBee, author of a young adult action-adventure series called Calculated—and a keynote speaker at this year's WriterCon!
Opening Thoughts
Bill announces his new book scheduled for release in 2026: The Superman Wars: The Battle for Truth, Justice, and the American Way. And everyone shares their excitement about this year's WriterCon.
News
1) BookCon will return in 2026!
2) Marginalia Mania ("Tabbing") is a Hot New BookTok Trend.
Interivew
Nove McBee talks about traveling the world, using math to fuel fiction, and juggling many irons at once so she's ready when the right publisher comes calling.
Parting Words
WriterCon 2025 takes place in Oklahoma City on August 29-September 1. Over 60 speakers. Over 100 sessions. Free pitching. Contests. One-on-one consultations. Manuscript reviews. Book vendors to help authors. And much more. At thehistoric Hilton Skirvin in Oklahoma City. Come join us and take your writing to the next level!
Until next time, keep writing, and remember: You cannot fail, if you refuse to quit.
William Bernhardt
www.williambernhardt.com
www.writercon.com
Opening Thoughts
Bill announces his new book scheduled for release in 2026: The Superman Wars: The Battle for Truth, Justice, and the American Way. And everyone shares their excitement about this year's WriterCon.
News
1) BookCon will return in 2026!
2) Marginalia Mania ("Tabbing") is a Hot New BookTok Trend.
Interivew
Nove McBee talks about traveling the world, using math to fuel fiction, and juggling many irons at once so she's ready when the right publisher comes calling.
Parting Words
WriterCon 2025 takes place in Oklahoma City on August 29-September 1. Over 60 speakers. Over 100 sessions. Free pitching. Contests. One-on-one consultations. Manuscript reviews. Book vendors to help authors. And much more. At thehistoric Hilton Skirvin in Oklahoma City. Come join us and take your writing to the next level!
Until next time, keep writing, and remember: You cannot fail, if you refuse to quit.
William Bernhardt
www.williambernhardt.com
www.writercon.com
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This week on the writer Con podcast, I get asked this.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Quite a bit, and one of my top pieces of
advice is don't rush the process. Practice your craft, get
your craft down so that when you enter this very
competitive ring that you can be a contender.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Welcome to writer Con, a gathering place for writers to
share their knowledge about writing and the writing world. Your
hosts are William Bernhardt, best selling novelist and author of
the Red Sneaker books on writing, and Laura Bernhardt, Award
winning author of the want ln Files book series.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Thank you, Jesse Ulrich he their writers, thanks for joining us. Well,
big announcement for me today. Although I've been teasing this
for a couple of episodes, I was supposed to wait
until there was an official announcement in publishers Lunch because
that's a big deal in the book world, I guess.
(01:03):
But it's out now, so I'm free to talk about
my forthcoming book, which is a real change of pace.
This is nonfiction titled The Superman Wars The Battle for Truth,
Justice and the American Way. Now, as we're recording this,
the new Superman movie is about a week away, so
I'm not going to get close to that. Sorry, enjoy
(01:25):
the movie, and then come back next summer when my
book is released, so you can learn where this character
came from. It's a book I've been writing and researching
for a long time. We're taking a deep dive into
the life of Jerry Siegel, the writer, the seventeen year
old eleventh grader who came up with the idea for
a Superman brought in his best friend Joe Schuster to
(01:48):
draw it. Superman was the first superhero and launched an
entire genre, which is obviously still very popular today. Plus
he created a boom for the barely off the ground
comic book book industry, which is of course also huge today.
But sadly, Jerry found himself severed from his character by
(02:10):
his publishers and not of work, which led to seven decades, yes,
seven decades of litigation. This sounds like a book. Maybe
somebody with a legal background should be writing. Also, somebody
geeky enough to really love Superman. So watch for that
summer of twenty six though. I'm sure I'll be talking
about it constantly between now and then, And I've got
(02:33):
another thriller coming out between now and then too. But
now you know the big secret I've been working on. Now, Laura,
you're somebody who has actually read an early draft of
this book, and you are not, would to be fair
to say, remotely interested in comic books remotely, so I
won't ask you if you liked it. Some people might
(02:54):
feel you're not completely objective there. But did you learn
anything from reading it?
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Gosh?
Speaker 4 (02:59):
Yeah, it reads, you know. I love I love documentaries,
and I like I like true crime, which isn't necessarily this,
although it is kind of a crime how they were
treated in my opinion, So yes, this reads like a documentary.
It was fascinating. It's very gripping. When I wasn't reading it,
(03:19):
I wanted to get back to it that evening so
I could see what happened next. And I'm still thinking
about it. I still think of the characters in it, characters,
the people in it. They're not characters. The people in
it almost like someone that I knew and I am
being cared about, Yeah, cared about, and I was very
(03:42):
unhappy with how they were treated. And I think most
people can can probably connect with that, being that that
underdog and wanting better.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Right, Well, that's that's why it's the Superman Wars Jesse.
Just so you know, I was thinking about doing this
in the lucasfilm universe, but the Star Wars Wars just
didn't sound right.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
So well, I like how you know, like the fight
over Superman set a present for every other comic book
character that also seemed to have a lawsuit between It's
true and then other people.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
It is literally only because Jerry and his family kept
fighting that Eventually, many years later, other comic book creators
like Jack Kirby and others started to see some justice.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Yeah, happened with Batman too, right.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Similar story with Batman. But we'll save that for a
different part after I write that book. Then we'll come back.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
To it's touched on in this book. I can say
I know about that. Is it touchdown?
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Bob Kane benefited because Siegel and Schuster went first, But
of that way, Okay, this is the time of year
when we always focus on our annual writing conference, writer Con,
which is Labor Day weekend at the Hilton Scurvin in
Oklahoma City. If you listen to the last podcast, you
heard us interview Laurie L. Dove, best selling author of
(05:07):
Mask of the Dear Woman, and she's keynoting at the conference,
and today in this episode we're chatting with another writer
con keynote speaker. See we have one at the end
of each of the three days of regular sessions, and
on Sunday, No, it's on Friday. You're going to hear
from Nova McBee. Nova is the author of a young
(05:30):
adult action adventure series called Calculated. Three books have been
published so far to great acclaim, and there's a film
adaptation of the first book currently in pre production. But
we will talk to Nova about all that and much more.
But first the news news story number one. As a preface,
(06:06):
I should point out that last episode we took a
very deep dive into AI and now we're all sick
of it. So no one is allowed to mention AI today. Okay, team,
If you do, you have to put a quarter in
the swear jar or something like that. Our lead story
this time is much happier news Book con will return
(06:27):
in twenty twenty six. I'm particularly excited about this. I
think this is great news. Just to be clear, this
is not the same as book Expo, which is the
annual trade show for professionals in the industry. This is
for fans. This is the equivalent of a Star Trek
or Comic Book. You a fan convention but for people
(06:47):
who like to read. This show started I think in
around twenty fourteen or so, but it disappeared during the
pandemic and never return But now it's back bay Be
April eighteenth to nineteenth and twenty twenty six going back
to New York City and the Javit Center, Laura, you
and I have been there a couple times, right, yep.
(07:09):
It is the best convention space in the world, and
they're going to have book signings and discussions, book club meetups,
workshops on sprayed edges a hot topic these days. They're
having a Fantasy Ball and much much more. And it's
being hosted by Reid Pop, the same people who put
on the annual New York Comic Con, which is now
(07:32):
the most highly attended comic con in the USA, so
they probably know what they're doing. What's motivating this, of course,
is this huge surge with book talk, the section of
TikTok where people actually talk about books that has put
many people and books on the bestseller list and basically
(07:52):
has reshaped modern genre publishing. So well, many people on
TikTok earning their book fandom into a profession, tapping into
the energy and enthusiasm of legions of young readers. Laura,
I think we should go. How about you?
Speaker 4 (08:12):
I'm in, Yeah, I'm in. I mean, let's be honest.
Any excuse to go to New York. We've gone to
Comic con before and absolutely loved it. I enjoy a
good convention.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
But we will probably go again now that I have
a Superman book to talk about.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
Yes, we should, and we should. But now book book
X well, yes, a conventional about books. Of course we
should be there. I'm totally in. Plus also new York City,
you know, an excuse to get up to New York City.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
See what would it talk to take to get you
out there?
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Listen as listeners and watchers of the show. Now, I
might not be a writer, I'm an avid reader, so
I'm down. I mean, I guess it depends on which uh,
I guess who's coming to talk?
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Maybe?
Speaker 1 (08:56):
But like a book convention sounds awesome.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Yeah, I know that you're exactly who this is for us,
not professionals. He's the speaker at Author Nation, you know,
in November, which is the new thing for essentially the
self published. And so why their speaker is the guy
who's furthest from self publishing on Earth. I don't understand,
(09:21):
but apparently he's doing that, so maybe he can come
here too, but I doubt it. Okay, news item number two.
Here's a phrase I never thought i'd say before, marginalia mania.
Speaker 4 (09:34):
Now didn't.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Yeah, try and say that three times fast. I won't.
Marginalia mania, which has gone big on the aforementioned book talk,
the part of TikTok where people talk about books. You
already knew that, But how you're going to feel about
this story depends on probably what kind of reader you are.
I know some people would sooner die than actually dog
(09:56):
ear a page in their books, much less in the margins.
I've got to admit that I have done both on occasion,
like when I'm doing research or when I was studying
for a test, and it didn't really traumatize me. But
now people are doing it to their books and talking
about it on book talk or books to gram, which,
(10:18):
as you probably already guessed, is the same thing. But
on the Instagram world they've got entire subgroups devoted to
people talking about what they call tabbing, meaning annotating books,
and the degree of intensity that some people bring to
this is remarkable. Some book talkers have like color coded
(10:40):
systems where they go through highlighting their books, you know,
pink tabs or highlighters for the romantic moments or blue
highlighter foreshadowing. Some people scribble in the margins when they're surprised,
like holy smokes, I guess or whatever, exclamation points, or
(11:01):
they draw hearts around the really spicy or romantic passages.
And apparently for some people this annotation is just as
essential to them now as sharing shelfies, that is, showing
what's on their bookshelf, or writing reviews about books. Laura,
(11:22):
does this sound like something you would ever do? Or
does this just sound like homework?
Speaker 4 (11:28):
And I would never take away from someone's joy of
experience reading a book, So if that is how someone
enjoys it, they should absolutely do what makes them happy.
But no, not for me. When I start reading, I
just hop in and I read and I unless I'm
a textbook is different. So sure when I was working
(11:50):
on my degree it might be a little different, but
I'm just not want to not want to write in
a book that feels wrong to me.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
Well, I mean, when you are studying for your test,
you underline thing. It's just I think in part because
the very act of underlining kind of causes you to
think about it again, so you're more likely to remember it.
But uh, and are these people going to read these
books a second time?
Speaker 5 (12:19):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
But or is it just that they're all book professionals
now as influencers and it gives them something to take
a picture of.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
That seems more likely to me. I just like to
be submerged in a book like I just I just
read it and experience it, and it's all. It's all
in here. I don't mean something external to be able
to enjoy a book.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
But that's that's it for.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
That's the thing I think what Bill is saying, Maybe
it's to share it online. It's and the younger generation
does so much more, sharing images and memes and videos.
They share so much more, not even necessarily on socials.
I think that they text to each other a lot more,
(13:09):
so they could have a group chat book club. And
maybe that's kind of how they're discussing it. Remember, they
were in COVID lockdown for a long time and had
no choice but to move everything online, so maybe it
shouldn't be a surprise that we're seeing this develop. But
I think maybe also what you think and Bill, that
it's something to post on the socials and be able
(13:31):
to share in that regard.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
Well, what I like best about all of this, both
of these stories relate to basically, young people are reading
books and talking about it because it's a cool thing now,
and that makes me very happy. Okay, well, yeah, it's
just that not everybody else knew it, but yes.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
We knew it.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
All right, let's talk to Nova McBee no the m B.
Welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
Thank you so much for having me, happy to be.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Here, So glad you're here, and so glad you're coming
to writer com this year too. Okay, traditional first question,
if you could offer writers one piece of advice, what
would it be.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
I get asked this quite a bit, and one of
my top pieces of advice is, don't rush the process.
Practice your craft, get your craft down so that when
you enter this this very competitive ring, that you can
be a contender, you you can stand out. And so
(14:41):
for me, I took years perfecting my craft and learning
about the industry, learning about which path I wanted to take.
So when I stepped in, I got noticed really quickly.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
That's a really great message to give too, because I
think a lot of people and you know, kudos to
you for having confidence, not you, but people in general.
But then it doesn't happen overnight, because it almost never
happens overnight in the writing world, and people get frustrated.
Better to just don't expect it to happen overnight. Probably
(15:11):
not the way it's going to work.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
It does craft.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Nothing happens overnight. I worked years to perfect my craft.
I waited years for an agent, but I did get
noticed the minute the day I started querying, I had
top requests the day I sent out grade because I
studied the industry, what a query should be, what a
first chapter should be, what a book should be, and
(15:37):
I was I excelled at just practicing and reaching that
high standard.
Speaker 5 (15:43):
But it did not happen overnight.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Years to perfect those things, to learn those things, and
then once I stood into it, this is the first
book it has proven that taking your time matters, because
it's one countless of wards. It's going to film it.
For me, I was like, wow, I'm so glad I
didn't rush the process because I had years of other
(16:06):
books or other ideas. So yeah, that's kind of my
great message.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
So I think you're currently in Seattle, right, but I
read in your bio that you've lived it says more
than half your life in the Middle East, Europe and Asia.
What's sent you traveling all around the world?
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Oh gosh, that is that's such a long question.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
But you weren't collecting research for a book then?
Speaker 5 (16:37):
Lovely eventually I was, and I've done quite a few things.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
But you know, I really believe we each have a
very unique calling on our life, and that was mine,
and I stepped into it. I was eighteen, already had
a year of university under my belt because I did
an advanced program. So when I graduated high school, I
was done.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
In a shall.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
I had no peace to just go straight to university,
and I felt the voice of God saying leave the country,
and I did, and it was the best decision I
ever had in my life. It sent me on the
biggest adventures I could possibly. That's why I write adventure
stories all over the world mission if possible, because I
have lived a life that I love, and I think
(17:21):
it's just because it was that was what I was
supposed to do. And I love languages, culture, food, of
all kinds and really a fantastical life.
Speaker 5 (17:30):
I did go to college, eventually did get into great.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
And probably all that travel has been more useful for
your writing, but.
Speaker 5 (17:39):
You never know, absolutely, and opportunities all over the world
and traveling and encountering different peoples in the way they
think world views. It sharpens you, it keeps you young.
You're like a child because you have to relearn all
kinds of things like even like how do you use
the bathroom again?
Speaker 1 (17:59):
You know, what is that?
Speaker 5 (18:00):
Or how do you take the bus?
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Like You're just constantly learning, and it's such it's so good.
I think for the heart, for the brain, for just
understanding people. It's been an amazing line.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
Agreed. Okay, you were holding these up a second ago.
Tell us about your trilogy Calculated.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Yes, Calculated, simulated Activated. Well, as I mentioned, they're very
much a mission impossible type series. Prodigies, high stakes, billionaires, smugglers,
forbidden romance, love, you know, family, loss, It has it all,
and it takes place in you know, Shanghai and Seattle,
(18:41):
because I'm from Seattle, Tunisia and Seattle, Finland and Seattle
and all over the world. The fourth one is I
can't disclose the location. It's secret for the fourth book,
of course, Yes.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
I get back when that comes out, so you can
talk about that.
Speaker 5 (19:00):
Love to talk about that. It is.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
It is by far the most anticipated book of the series.
And but yeah, essentially the first book is Count of
Monte Cristo meets Mission Impossible, So it is a it's
a math prodigy who can do things that no one
else can do, and because of that, bad guys really
want her. And then she has to understand why she
even has this gift and how to use it and
(19:23):
find a way to escape.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
But a lot of things happen along the way, you know.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
Isn't that always the way with novels.
Speaker 4 (19:30):
This sounds absolutely brilliant, Like what what sparked this? Where
did you? Where did you get the idea for this series?
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Well?
Speaker 2 (19:38):
I was living in China at the time, of course,
because you know Shanghai and Seattle, and I was reading
The Count of Monte Cristo, which is a fascinating classic.
I don't know if you guys have ever taken the
time to read it, but you're kind of mild.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
Took about a month, but yes.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
It takes a while, and it takes you so deep
into the psyche that you're like, you can't stop thinking
about it for months, Like it's sort of like you've
binged this epic life.
Speaker 5 (20:08):
And I was. I was sort of thinking about.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
How similar it is to the classic story of Joseph
in the Bible. Right, you're betrayed, You're then you're put
into this place of power, and you have choices do
I take revenge or not?
Speaker 5 (20:23):
Why was I there? Who am I?
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Why?
Speaker 5 (20:25):
Like I thought I had a different life.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
You know, and like, and I was just putting these
things together, and I was like, what would that look
like if it was today? I was like, probably China,
And like it wouldn't be a boy, it would be
a girl, and it would be it would be traffickers,
and it would be this and and it would be
and it was just like who and why? And like
I really came up with that whole idea in a
morning and just got obsessed. I wrote out an entire thing,
(20:50):
and then, to my to my pain, I decided the
character should the main character should be a math prodigy.
Speaker 5 (21:01):
Not being a genius.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
I didn't realize how I would ruin myself, I should say,
torture myself. I ended up doing countless hours, I mean
hundreds and hundreds of hours now on research of math.
You know, later on we get down fractals, electromagnetic spectrums, satellites,
you name it. And you can't have a simple plot
(21:23):
with a genius character. So and I wanted her gift
to be based on real math, real concepts, real and
you don't need math. But it's like, the way she
sees the world is super unique. And that was actually
one of the biggest critiques I got from all over.
It was like, this is the most unique protagonist we've
seen in years, And that was what the movie producer said.
(21:44):
They're like, she's so unique the way she sees the world.
People are going to want to follow this character. But
it took a tortured mind to do the research to
make her realistic.
Speaker 4 (21:55):
You are very kindly referring to her as a math prodigy.
I probably would have said math and whatnot. But yeah,
that's not something that we usually tend to see. It's
usually the you know, the cool person what and now
you've said it. Even it even prompted a lot of research.
(22:16):
I cannot even imagine that does that play into the
the plots? I mean, what, what was it that prompted
you to think she's got to be this math prodigy
for this to work, or do we just have to
read it and find out is there?
Speaker 5 (22:29):
Well, you should definitely read it. I would love that.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
Yes, But the math is a huge, huge part of
the plot because the things that she can do with
math is almost it's almost supernatural, right, she can predict
all kinds around, She can predict things with math and
the things that that's why these bad guys want her
to basically enrich their empire. She has this incredible gift.
(22:54):
But when she's taken, you know, sort of like an
Edmond Dantes type of moment, you know, into this deep
underground because we're talking underground syndicates.
Speaker 5 (23:02):
Bad guys, bad guys, and she's taken to.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
The lowest low and and you know, she hates her
gift at this point, She's like, why don't we even
have this?
Speaker 5 (23:11):
If I didn't have this, I wouldn't have this horrible life.
I wouldn't be here ruining other people's way.
Speaker 4 (23:16):
Born this way man. That's and it's.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
Yes, but she has to learn why she was given
this gift and how can she actually use it for
good and not for evil? And it's an incredible transformation story,
but we need to see the way she sees and
it's super I mean anything to like she knows if
a boy likes her or not using this gift, or
if he's going to touch her, you know, to like
I can determine what's going to win on the stocks.
(23:43):
You know. It's like it's everything from small details to
huge life details. And so it's super unique.
Speaker 5 (23:50):
And when when.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
We first shared this in Hollywood with like the different screenwriters,
they were saying, you know, this is the type of
hero we want to see. We don't want to you know,
this person doesn't need to blow up the world to
save the world, like she's using her mind. And they
just said, this is such a unique character today. So
that was fun to hear.
Speaker 4 (24:12):
Very nice.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
Well. I mentioned, of course earlier that you're coming to
writer Con this year. Youre are Friday afternoon keynote if
I remember correctly, and I do because I put together schedule.
But you're doing some other talks too, right, you remember
any of your other topics?
Speaker 2 (24:33):
Yes, I actually had it on my list over here.
Of course now my phone is nowhere to be seen.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
I got it on way it goes.
Speaker 5 (24:41):
I have a couple different talks.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
I'm going to be teaching obviously on the craft of
writing and publishing. I love talking about the craft. I
love talking about becoming a contender in the publishing industry.
My books are incredibly high stakes and fast paced, and
it's I love teaching those ticks on those tricks on
how to build tension and suspense and mystery. So yeah,
(25:05):
we have a lot of good stuff to talk about
on writer Con. I love talking with authors and writers,
so it'll be exciting and.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Fun, fantastic. And you mentioned there there's some kind of
film activity going on with this series, right, Can you
talk about that at all?
Speaker 2 (25:22):
Yeah, Yeah, it's very public at this point. One Door
Studios option the books, then they bought the rights to
the books, then they started developing the screenplays, and now
they're moving into production and Belle Avery joined One Door Studios.
Wonder Studios has produced a lot of different kinds of
movies the different producers there like Polar Express, Rocky Balboa,
(25:45):
The Shack, Narnia, Crouching Tiger, Hid and Dragon. They have
a long list of movies they've produced. And then Belle Avery,
who produced The Meg franchise. She signed up to do
the production, so it's it's moved me quickly now. And
they optioned all four books in the series. They've they
love each one of them, and I mean they are
(26:07):
attempting to make this the next young adult franchise. And
of course in Hollywood there's no guarantees. Yeah, there are
no guarantees in the film industry. There's no guarantees even
in the book industry.
Speaker 5 (26:19):
But that's their goal. So it's it's exciting.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
Very nice. How do you approach a new project? Do
you do you work from an outline? Do you we
we call it? Are you a planner or a hanswer?
Do you do you identify with one of those?
Speaker 2 (26:39):
I would say I am very much a mix of both.
I do love to plot. I have all the major
beats in my head already. I know how the story
is going to go, I know what's gonna happen, but
until I really really find the emotion of the story,
the beat that that emotional beat of the story, the
(27:01):
deep themes of the story, which takes quite a bit
of fanagoning. You know, I'm a non linear writer, so
I write out of order. Sometimes I might write first,
I write a middle scene. I'll write a scene just
to capture the emotion because I need to understand the
purpose of the story and the depth of the story. Really,
(27:22):
an idea starts sparking, and if I can write some
kind of an idea and if it comes together quickly,
I'll outline it. But then once I go in, I
leave a lot of room for new ideas.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
I do not lack for ideas. It's it's time to
write them all.
Speaker 3 (27:42):
Yeah. Yeah, I never understood why. The main question is
where do you get the ideas? Yeah, get your ideas?
How do you not? I just don't have enough time
to write them all.
Speaker 4 (27:53):
That's very relatable. Yes, yeah, So speaking of finding the
time to write, what does it typical writing day look
like for you?
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Like?
Speaker 4 (28:02):
What is your process?
Speaker 5 (28:05):
I am a very I'm an early bird.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
I would love to wake up before the sun and
so I'm a four am, five am raiser. That's where
I get a lot of my writing done, a lot
of my creativity. I do have three kids and a
husband and we do a lot of other things. So
once the kids get out of school, I kind of stop,
but then I will set up I will set aside
(28:29):
time to leave the house for several hours, like at
least three or.
Speaker 5 (28:34):
Four times a week, just to write in the afternoons
for two to three hours as well. Okay, but I
never write at night. My brain does not work at
night time.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
So yeah, well you can, you can relate to that
bill that sounds like you.
Speaker 3 (28:51):
I can. There's a point when or maybe this is
just my excuse, but I keep telling myself, no, this
is not the time to write. You're tired, it's not
going to be any good. Go to bed, get up
the next morning.
Speaker 5 (29:02):
Now. Deadlines.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
Deadlines are different, Yes, fame day sixteen hour days for
thirty days once.
Speaker 5 (29:11):
To finish this one.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
Were you slacking for eleven months or did it come
down to the last thirty days?
Speaker 5 (29:20):
Just that is the way it is.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
I knew this book was so this book was so
important to me, I could not turn it in until
it felt right. And again, these books, if you read them,
or even read the reviews, you find that they're super
layered and complex and everything has to fit together perfectly
to make it work. There's like my producer who's read them.
(29:43):
They said, there's no fluff, there's nothing unnecessary. Everything fits
together perfectly. And as you know, that.
Speaker 5 (29:50):
Takes a lot of time.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
And I refuse to turn in a book until I
know it's ready, and I'm a deep feeler, until that
gut instinct says this book is not ready.
Speaker 4 (29:59):
No, yeah, I know exactly what you're talking about. When
you can read from beginning to end and nothing knocks
you out of the story and you get to the
end and you think, there we go. There it is there, Yes.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
And I have until I felt that, and it took
It probably wasn't thirty days straight, but it was a
whole month of sixteen hour days where I was waking
up at like three am and I was going until
like eight pm.
Speaker 5 (30:25):
And then it's just there were some days off in between.
But this book. WHOA. I don't know what happened.
Speaker 3 (30:32):
But now you've got the book and it's great and
you're holding it in your hands.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
So and I love it right, Yes, because I love it.
And I think all authors should take the time that
they need so that at the end they they say,
I love this book.
Speaker 5 (30:48):
I'm proud of it.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
Yeah. Ext One last question, I'm going to ask what
you're working on now or what we can expect next
I think you're already hinted there's a fourth book in
this series. But I think you've got some other irons
on fire, too, don't you.
Speaker 5 (31:03):
I do.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
And it's sometimes hard to talk about because the fourth
is a hint.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
Don't violate any contracts.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
But no, no, no, it's just it's hard to talk
about because I don't know when they'll be out. That's
more than the issue. Liberated is done. I got to
share a couple excerpts with some very faithful readers and
that was super fun.
Speaker 3 (31:27):
There's the fourth book in this calculated series.
Speaker 5 (31:30):
Right librated.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
There's some fun goodies that will be released when that
is released, too, and all the readers know what they'll be.
And then I'm also working on a new fantasy series
and a contemporary series and those of one of them
is already on submission, and one of them is in
edits right now. So have a couple used to come.
(31:53):
Just as you know, publishing is weird. You don't know
when those books will actually meet the right home and
get on.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
The right schedule, right right, Well, this has been a
delight Nova thanks so much for being on the podcast.
Speaker 5 (32:08):
Thank you so much, An I.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
Can't wait to see you this fall Labor Day weekend
at Ryder Con in Oklahoma City.
Speaker 5 (32:15):
We can't I can't wait either, all right.
Speaker 3 (32:17):
Thanks for being here. To see you later. Yeah, just
one parting word, and I bet you already know what
I'm going to say. I'm going to talk about writer
Con some more. It's August twenty ninth through September one.
That's Labor Day weekend. It's in Oklahoma City at the
(32:39):
Hilton Scurven, a beautiful, historic and of course haunted hotel.
We're going to have more than sixty speakers, more than
one hundred sessions. This is the biggest conference we've put
on yet, and if early registrations are any indication, it's
going to be the best attended one two and it
(33:00):
to all that. We've got contests, we've got pitching, which,
by the way, no additional cost. All you got to
do is sign up pitch agents, publishers, whoever you want
to talk to. You can have one on one consultations
with people of your choice, manuscript reviews, and a bunch
more stuff. You need to check it out at writercon
(33:20):
dot com. And here's a tip, because we ran out
of T shirts last year. Now We've got the merch
store on the writer Con site, so you can get
your T shirt beforehand and wear it like I do,
and I won't be the only person. Don't let me
be lonely, Lara. You going to wear a T shirt?
Speaker 4 (33:42):
I'm wearing a T shirt right now. Well, I'm wearing
a Pulo right now.
Speaker 3 (33:45):
But yes, absolutely, T shirt, polo ball cap, mugs, whatever,
we got it.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
You can never type of shirt, that's true.
Speaker 4 (33:54):
That's true. But yes, I'm already wearing one. I'm so
excited for it. And there's a there's a beautiful one
that I didn't get last.
Speaker 5 (34:01):
Year that I need.
Speaker 4 (34:02):
I probably need Katie to hook me up with. Maybe
I'll just go buy one off the merch store.
Speaker 3 (34:07):
That sounds good. And of course, you can never have
too many mugs, right so I have.
Speaker 4 (34:13):
I don't have a mug problem. You have a mug problem.
Speaker 1 (34:16):
I'm going to buy those Amazon things where you can
put it's like a cover on top of one mugs,
you can put another mug on top of.
Speaker 4 (34:24):
Right now, I already stack mugs about that. It's bad,
But I'm kind of as bad with T shirts too,
because I really enjoy all my writers T shirts writing.
Speaker 3 (34:33):
I've got a few too, all right, one way or another,
you need to come to writer Con this year, and
I hope you will. I'd like to meet you. All right.
Until next time, keep writing and remember you cannot fail
if you refuse to quit. See you next time.
Speaker 1 (35:00):
Out of a
Speaker 2 (35:03):
Time
This week on the writer Con podcast, I get asked this.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Quite a bit, and one of my top pieces of
advice is don't rush the process. Practice your craft, get
your craft down so that when you enter this very
competitive ring that you can be a contender.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Welcome to writer Con, a gathering place for writers to
share their knowledge about writing and the writing world. Your
hosts are William Bernhardt, best selling novelist and author of
the Red Sneaker books on writing, and Laura Bernhardt, Award
winning author of the want ln Files book series.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Thank you, Jesse Ulrich he their writers, thanks for joining us. Well,
big announcement for me today. Although I've been teasing this
for a couple of episodes, I was supposed to wait
until there was an official announcement in publishers Lunch because
that's a big deal in the book world, I guess.
(01:03):
But it's out now, so I'm free to talk about
my forthcoming book, which is a real change of pace.
This is nonfiction titled The Superman Wars The Battle for Truth,
Justice and the American Way. Now, as we're recording this,
the new Superman movie is about a week away, so
I'm not going to get close to that. Sorry, enjoy
(01:25):
the movie, and then come back next summer when my
book is released, so you can learn where this character
came from. It's a book I've been writing and researching
for a long time. We're taking a deep dive into
the life of Jerry Siegel, the writer, the seventeen year
old eleventh grader who came up with the idea for
a Superman brought in his best friend Joe Schuster to
(01:48):
draw it. Superman was the first superhero and launched an
entire genre, which is obviously still very popular today. Plus
he created a boom for the barely off the ground
comic book book industry, which is of course also huge today.
But sadly, Jerry found himself severed from his character by
(02:10):
his publishers and not of work, which led to seven decades, yes,
seven decades of litigation. This sounds like a book. Maybe
somebody with a legal background should be writing. Also, somebody
geeky enough to really love Superman. So watch for that
summer of twenty six though. I'm sure I'll be talking
about it constantly between now and then, And I've got
(02:33):
another thriller coming out between now and then too. But
now you know the big secret I've been working on. Now, Laura,
you're somebody who has actually read an early draft of
this book, and you are not, would to be fair
to say, remotely interested in comic books remotely, so I
won't ask you if you liked it. Some people might
(02:54):
feel you're not completely objective there. But did you learn
anything from reading it?
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Gosh?
Speaker 4 (02:59):
Yeah, it reads, you know. I love I love documentaries,
and I like I like true crime, which isn't necessarily this,
although it is kind of a crime how they were
treated in my opinion, So yes, this reads like a documentary.
It was fascinating. It's very gripping. When I wasn't reading it,
(03:19):
I wanted to get back to it that evening so
I could see what happened next. And I'm still thinking
about it. I still think of the characters in it, characters,
the people in it. They're not characters. The people in
it almost like someone that I knew and I am
being cared about, Yeah, cared about, and I was very
(03:42):
unhappy with how they were treated. And I think most
people can can probably connect with that, being that that
underdog and wanting better.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Right, Well, that's that's why it's the Superman Wars Jesse.
Just so you know, I was thinking about doing this
in the lucasfilm universe, but the Star Wars Wars just
didn't sound right.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
So well, I like how you know, like the fight
over Superman set a present for every other comic book
character that also seemed to have a lawsuit between It's
true and then other people.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
It is literally only because Jerry and his family kept
fighting that Eventually, many years later, other comic book creators
like Jack Kirby and others started to see some justice.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Yeah, happened with Batman too, right.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Similar story with Batman. But we'll save that for a
different part after I write that book. Then we'll come back.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
To it's touched on in this book. I can say
I know about that. Is it touchdown?
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Bob Kane benefited because Siegel and Schuster went first, But
of that way, Okay, this is the time of year
when we always focus on our annual writing conference, writer Con,
which is Labor Day weekend at the Hilton Scurvin in
Oklahoma City. If you listen to the last podcast, you
heard us interview Laurie L. Dove, best selling author of
(05:07):
Mask of the Dear Woman, and she's keynoting at the conference,
and today in this episode we're chatting with another writer
con keynote speaker. See we have one at the end
of each of the three days of regular sessions, and
on Sunday, No, it's on Friday. You're going to hear
from Nova McBee. Nova is the author of a young
(05:30):
adult action adventure series called Calculated. Three books have been
published so far to great acclaim, and there's a film
adaptation of the first book currently in pre production. But
we will talk to Nova about all that and much more.
But first the news news story number one. As a preface,
(06:06):
I should point out that last episode we took a
very deep dive into AI and now we're all sick
of it. So no one is allowed to mention AI today. Okay, team,
If you do, you have to put a quarter in
the swear jar or something like that. Our lead story
this time is much happier news Book con will return
(06:27):
in twenty twenty six. I'm particularly excited about this. I
think this is great news. Just to be clear, this
is not the same as book Expo, which is the
annual trade show for professionals in the industry. This is
for fans. This is the equivalent of a Star Trek
or Comic Book. You a fan convention but for people
(06:47):
who like to read. This show started I think in
around twenty fourteen or so, but it disappeared during the
pandemic and never return But now it's back bay Be
April eighteenth to nineteenth and twenty twenty six going back
to New York City and the Javit Center, Laura, you
and I have been there a couple times, right, yep.
(07:09):
It is the best convention space in the world, and
they're going to have book signings and discussions, book club meetups,
workshops on sprayed edges a hot topic these days. They're
having a Fantasy Ball and much much more. And it's
being hosted by Reid Pop, the same people who put
on the annual New York Comic Con, which is now
(07:32):
the most highly attended comic con in the USA, so
they probably know what they're doing. What's motivating this, of course,
is this huge surge with book talk, the section of
TikTok where people actually talk about books that has put
many people and books on the bestseller list and basically
(07:52):
has reshaped modern genre publishing. So well, many people on
TikTok earning their book fandom into a profession, tapping into
the energy and enthusiasm of legions of young readers. Laura,
I think we should go. How about you?
Speaker 4 (08:12):
I'm in, Yeah, I'm in. I mean, let's be honest.
Any excuse to go to New York. We've gone to
Comic con before and absolutely loved it. I enjoy a
good convention.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
But we will probably go again now that I have
a Superman book to talk about.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
Yes, we should, and we should. But now book book
X well, yes, a conventional about books. Of course we
should be there. I'm totally in. Plus also new York City,
you know, an excuse to get up to New York City.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
See what would it talk to take to get you
out there?
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Listen as listeners and watchers of the show. Now, I
might not be a writer, I'm an avid reader, so
I'm down. I mean, I guess it depends on which uh,
I guess who's coming to talk?
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Maybe?
Speaker 1 (08:56):
But like a book convention sounds awesome.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Yeah, I know that you're exactly who this is for us,
not professionals. He's the speaker at Author Nation, you know,
in November, which is the new thing for essentially the
self published. And so why their speaker is the guy
who's furthest from self publishing on Earth. I don't understand,
(09:21):
but apparently he's doing that, so maybe he can come
here too, but I doubt it. Okay, news item number two.
Here's a phrase I never thought i'd say before, marginalia mania.
Speaker 4 (09:34):
Now didn't.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Yeah, try and say that three times fast. I won't.
Marginalia mania, which has gone big on the aforementioned book talk,
the part of TikTok where people talk about books. You
already knew that, But how you're going to feel about
this story depends on probably what kind of reader you are.
I know some people would sooner die than actually dog
(09:56):
ear a page in their books, much less in the margins.
I've got to admit that I have done both on occasion,
like when I'm doing research or when I was studying
for a test, and it didn't really traumatize me. But
now people are doing it to their books and talking
about it on book talk or books to gram, which,
(10:18):
as you probably already guessed, is the same thing. But
on the Instagram world they've got entire subgroups devoted to
people talking about what they call tabbing, meaning annotating books,
and the degree of intensity that some people bring to
this is remarkable. Some book talkers have like color coded
(10:40):
systems where they go through highlighting their books, you know,
pink tabs or highlighters for the romantic moments or blue
highlighter foreshadowing. Some people scribble in the margins when they're surprised,
like holy smokes, I guess or whatever, exclamation points, or
(11:01):
they draw hearts around the really spicy or romantic passages.
And apparently for some people this annotation is just as
essential to them now as sharing shelfies, that is, showing
what's on their bookshelf, or writing reviews about books. Laura,
(11:22):
does this sound like something you would ever do? Or
does this just sound like homework?
Speaker 4 (11:28):
And I would never take away from someone's joy of
experience reading a book, So if that is how someone
enjoys it, they should absolutely do what makes them happy.
But no, not for me. When I start reading, I
just hop in and I read and I unless I'm
a textbook is different. So sure when I was working
(11:50):
on my degree it might be a little different, but
I'm just not want to not want to write in
a book that feels wrong to me.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
Well, I mean, when you are studying for your test,
you underline thing. It's just I think in part because
the very act of underlining kind of causes you to
think about it again, so you're more likely to remember it.
But uh, and are these people going to read these
books a second time?
Speaker 5 (12:19):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
But or is it just that they're all book professionals
now as influencers and it gives them something to take
a picture of.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
That seems more likely to me. I just like to
be submerged in a book like I just I just
read it and experience it, and it's all. It's all
in here. I don't mean something external to be able
to enjoy a book.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
But that's that's it for.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
That's the thing I think what Bill is saying, Maybe
it's to share it online. It's and the younger generation
does so much more, sharing images and memes and videos.
They share so much more, not even necessarily on socials.
I think that they text to each other a lot more,
(13:09):
so they could have a group chat book club. And
maybe that's kind of how they're discussing it. Remember, they
were in COVID lockdown for a long time and had
no choice but to move everything online, so maybe it
shouldn't be a surprise that we're seeing this develop. But
I think maybe also what you think and Bill, that
it's something to post on the socials and be able
(13:31):
to share in that regard.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
Well, what I like best about all of this, both
of these stories relate to basically, young people are reading
books and talking about it because it's a cool thing now,
and that makes me very happy. Okay, well, yeah, it's
just that not everybody else knew it, but yes.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
We knew it.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
All right, let's talk to Nova McBee no the m B.
Welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
Thank you so much for having me, happy to be.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Here, So glad you're here, and so glad you're coming
to writer com this year too. Okay, traditional first question,
if you could offer writers one piece of advice, what
would it be.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
I get asked this quite a bit, and one of
my top pieces of advice is, don't rush the process.
Practice your craft, get your craft down so that when
you enter this this very competitive ring, that you can
be a contender, you you can stand out. And so
(14:41):
for me, I took years perfecting my craft and learning
about the industry, learning about which path I wanted to take.
So when I stepped in, I got noticed really quickly.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
That's a really great message to give too, because I
think a lot of people and you know, kudos to
you for having confidence, not you, but people in general.
But then it doesn't happen overnight, because it almost never
happens overnight in the writing world, and people get frustrated.
Better to just don't expect it to happen overnight. Probably
(15:11):
not the way it's going to work.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
It does craft.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Nothing happens overnight. I worked years to perfect my craft.
I waited years for an agent, but I did get
noticed the minute the day I started querying, I had
top requests the day I sent out grade because I
studied the industry, what a query should be, what a
first chapter should be, what a book should be, and
(15:37):
I was I excelled at just practicing and reaching that
high standard.
Speaker 5 (15:43):
But it did not happen overnight.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Years to perfect those things, to learn those things, and
then once I stood into it, this is the first
book it has proven that taking your time matters, because
it's one countless of wards. It's going to film it.
For me, I was like, wow, I'm so glad I
didn't rush the process because I had years of other
(16:06):
books or other ideas. So yeah, that's kind of my
great message.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
So I think you're currently in Seattle, right, but I
read in your bio that you've lived it says more
than half your life in the Middle East, Europe and Asia.
What's sent you traveling all around the world?
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Oh gosh, that is that's such a long question.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
But you weren't collecting research for a book then?
Speaker 5 (16:37):
Lovely eventually I was, and I've done quite a few things.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
But you know, I really believe we each have a
very unique calling on our life, and that was mine,
and I stepped into it. I was eighteen, already had
a year of university under my belt because I did
an advanced program. So when I graduated high school, I
was done.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
In a shall.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
I had no peace to just go straight to university,
and I felt the voice of God saying leave the country,
and I did, and it was the best decision I
ever had in my life. It sent me on the
biggest adventures I could possibly. That's why I write adventure
stories all over the world mission if possible, because I
have lived a life that I love, and I think
(17:21):
it's just because it was that was what I was
supposed to do. And I love languages, culture, food, of
all kinds and really a fantastical life.
Speaker 5 (17:30):
I did go to college, eventually did get into great.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
And probably all that travel has been more useful for
your writing, but.
Speaker 5 (17:39):
You never know, absolutely, and opportunities all over the world
and traveling and encountering different peoples in the way they
think world views. It sharpens you, it keeps you young.
You're like a child because you have to relearn all
kinds of things like even like how do you use
the bathroom again?
Speaker 1 (17:59):
You know, what is that?
Speaker 5 (18:00):
Or how do you take the bus?
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Like You're just constantly learning, and it's such it's so good.
I think for the heart, for the brain, for just
understanding people. It's been an amazing line.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
Agreed. Okay, you were holding these up a second ago.
Tell us about your trilogy Calculated.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Yes, Calculated, simulated Activated. Well, as I mentioned, they're very
much a mission impossible type series. Prodigies, high stakes, billionaires, smugglers,
forbidden romance, love, you know, family, loss, It has it all,
and it takes place in you know, Shanghai and Seattle,
(18:41):
because I'm from Seattle, Tunisia and Seattle, Finland and Seattle
and all over the world. The fourth one is I
can't disclose the location. It's secret for the fourth book,
of course, Yes.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
I get back when that comes out, so you can
talk about that.
Speaker 5 (19:00):
Love to talk about that. It is.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
It is by far the most anticipated book of the series.
And but yeah, essentially the first book is Count of
Monte Cristo meets Mission Impossible, So it is a it's
a math prodigy who can do things that no one
else can do, and because of that, bad guys really
want her. And then she has to understand why she
even has this gift and how to use it and
(19:23):
find a way to escape.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
But a lot of things happen along the way, you know.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
Isn't that always the way with novels.
Speaker 4 (19:30):
This sounds absolutely brilliant, Like what what sparked this? Where
did you? Where did you get the idea for this series?
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Well?
Speaker 2 (19:38):
I was living in China at the time, of course,
because you know Shanghai and Seattle, and I was reading
The Count of Monte Cristo, which is a fascinating classic.
I don't know if you guys have ever taken the
time to read it, but you're kind of mild.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
Took about a month, but yes.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
It takes a while, and it takes you so deep
into the psyche that you're like, you can't stop thinking
about it for months, Like it's sort of like you've
binged this epic life.
Speaker 5 (20:08):
And I was. I was sort of thinking about.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
How similar it is to the classic story of Joseph
in the Bible. Right, you're betrayed, You're then you're put
into this place of power, and you have choices do
I take revenge or not?
Speaker 5 (20:23):
Why was I there? Who am I?
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Why?
Speaker 5 (20:25):
Like I thought I had a different life.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
You know, and like, and I was just putting these
things together, and I was like, what would that look
like if it was today? I was like, probably China,
And like it wouldn't be a boy, it would be
a girl, and it would be it would be traffickers,
and it would be this and and it would be
and it was just like who and why? And like
I really came up with that whole idea in a
morning and just got obsessed. I wrote out an entire thing,
(20:50):
and then, to my to my pain, I decided the
character should the main character should be a math prodigy.
Speaker 5 (21:01):
Not being a genius.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
I didn't realize how I would ruin myself, I should say,
torture myself. I ended up doing countless hours, I mean
hundreds and hundreds of hours now on research of math.
You know, later on we get down fractals, electromagnetic spectrums, satellites,
you name it. And you can't have a simple plot
(21:23):
with a genius character. So and I wanted her gift
to be based on real math, real concepts, real and
you don't need math. But it's like, the way she
sees the world is super unique. And that was actually
one of the biggest critiques I got from all over.
It was like, this is the most unique protagonist we've
seen in years, And that was what the movie producer said.
(21:44):
They're like, she's so unique the way she sees the world.
People are going to want to follow this character. But
it took a tortured mind to do the research to
make her realistic.
Speaker 4 (21:55):
You are very kindly referring to her as a math prodigy.
I probably would have said math and whatnot. But yeah,
that's not something that we usually tend to see. It's
usually the you know, the cool person what and now
you've said it. Even it even prompted a lot of research.
(22:16):
I cannot even imagine that does that play into the
the plots? I mean, what, what was it that prompted
you to think she's got to be this math prodigy
for this to work, or do we just have to
read it and find out is there?
Speaker 5 (22:29):
Well, you should definitely read it. I would love that.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
Yes, But the math is a huge, huge part of
the plot because the things that she can do with
math is almost it's almost supernatural, right, she can predict
all kinds around, She can predict things with math and
the things that that's why these bad guys want her
to basically enrich their empire. She has this incredible gift.
(22:54):
But when she's taken, you know, sort of like an
Edmond Dantes type of moment, you know, into this deep
underground because we're talking underground syndicates.
Speaker 5 (23:02):
Bad guys, bad guys, and she's taken to.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
The lowest low and and you know, she hates her
gift at this point, She's like, why don't we even
have this?
Speaker 5 (23:11):
If I didn't have this, I wouldn't have this horrible life.
I wouldn't be here ruining other people's way.
Speaker 4 (23:16):
Born this way man. That's and it's.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
Yes, but she has to learn why she was given
this gift and how can she actually use it for
good and not for evil? And it's an incredible transformation story,
but we need to see the way she sees and
it's super I mean anything to like she knows if
a boy likes her or not using this gift, or
if he's going to touch her, you know, to like
I can determine what's going to win on the stocks.
(23:43):
You know. It's like it's everything from small details to
huge life details. And so it's super unique.
Speaker 5 (23:50):
And when when.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
We first shared this in Hollywood with like the different screenwriters,
they were saying, you know, this is the type of
hero we want to see. We don't want to you know,
this person doesn't need to blow up the world to
save the world, like she's using her mind. And they
just said, this is such a unique character today. So
that was fun to hear.
Speaker 4 (24:12):
Very nice.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
Well. I mentioned, of course earlier that you're coming to
writer Con this year. Youre are Friday afternoon keynote if
I remember correctly, and I do because I put together schedule.
But you're doing some other talks too, right, you remember
any of your other topics?
Speaker 2 (24:33):
Yes, I actually had it on my list over here.
Of course now my phone is nowhere to be seen.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
I got it on way it goes.
Speaker 5 (24:41):
I have a couple different talks.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
I'm going to be teaching obviously on the craft of
writing and publishing. I love talking about the craft. I
love talking about becoming a contender in the publishing industry.
My books are incredibly high stakes and fast paced, and
it's I love teaching those ticks on those tricks on
how to build tension and suspense and mystery. So yeah,
(25:05):
we have a lot of good stuff to talk about
on writer Con. I love talking with authors and writers,
so it'll be exciting and.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Fun, fantastic. And you mentioned there there's some kind of
film activity going on with this series, right, Can you
talk about that at all?
Speaker 2 (25:22):
Yeah, Yeah, it's very public at this point. One Door
Studios option the books, then they bought the rights to
the books, then they started developing the screenplays, and now
they're moving into production and Belle Avery joined One Door Studios.
Wonder Studios has produced a lot of different kinds of
movies the different producers there like Polar Express, Rocky Balboa,
(25:45):
The Shack, Narnia, Crouching Tiger, Hid and Dragon. They have
a long list of movies they've produced. And then Belle Avery,
who produced The Meg franchise. She signed up to do
the production, so it's it's moved me quickly now. And
they optioned all four books in the series. They've they
love each one of them, and I mean they are
(26:07):
attempting to make this the next young adult franchise. And
of course in Hollywood there's no guarantees. Yeah, there are
no guarantees in the film industry. There's no guarantees even
in the book industry.
Speaker 5 (26:19):
But that's their goal. So it's it's exciting.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
Very nice. How do you approach a new project? Do
you do you work from an outline? Do you we
we call it? Are you a planner or a hanswer?
Do you do you identify with one of those?
Speaker 2 (26:39):
I would say I am very much a mix of both.
I do love to plot. I have all the major
beats in my head already. I know how the story
is going to go, I know what's gonna happen, but
until I really really find the emotion of the story,
the beat that that emotional beat of the story, the
(27:01):
deep themes of the story, which takes quite a bit
of fanagoning. You know, I'm a non linear writer, so
I write out of order. Sometimes I might write first,
I write a middle scene. I'll write a scene just
to capture the emotion because I need to understand the
purpose of the story and the depth of the story. Really,
(27:22):
an idea starts sparking, and if I can write some
kind of an idea and if it comes together quickly,
I'll outline it. But then once I go in, I
leave a lot of room for new ideas.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
I do not lack for ideas. It's it's time to
write them all.
Speaker 3 (27:42):
Yeah. Yeah, I never understood why. The main question is
where do you get the ideas? Yeah, get your ideas?
How do you not? I just don't have enough time
to write them all.
Speaker 4 (27:53):
That's very relatable. Yes, yeah, So speaking of finding the
time to write, what does it typical writing day look
like for you?
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Like?
Speaker 4 (28:02):
What is your process?
Speaker 5 (28:05):
I am a very I'm an early bird.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
I would love to wake up before the sun and
so I'm a four am, five am raiser. That's where
I get a lot of my writing done, a lot
of my creativity. I do have three kids and a
husband and we do a lot of other things. So
once the kids get out of school, I kind of stop,
but then I will set up I will set aside
(28:29):
time to leave the house for several hours, like at
least three or.
Speaker 5 (28:34):
Four times a week, just to write in the afternoons
for two to three hours as well. Okay, but I
never write at night. My brain does not work at
night time.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
So yeah, well you can, you can relate to that
bill that sounds like you.
Speaker 3 (28:51):
I can. There's a point when or maybe this is
just my excuse, but I keep telling myself, no, this
is not the time to write. You're tired, it's not
going to be any good. Go to bed, get up
the next morning.
Speaker 5 (29:02):
Now. Deadlines.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
Deadlines are different, Yes, fame day sixteen hour days for
thirty days once.
Speaker 5 (29:11):
To finish this one.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
Were you slacking for eleven months or did it come
down to the last thirty days?
Speaker 5 (29:20):
Just that is the way it is.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
I knew this book was so this book was so
important to me, I could not turn it in until
it felt right. And again, these books, if you read them,
or even read the reviews, you find that they're super
layered and complex and everything has to fit together perfectly
to make it work. There's like my producer who's read them.
(29:43):
They said, there's no fluff, there's nothing unnecessary. Everything fits
together perfectly. And as you know, that.
Speaker 5 (29:50):
Takes a lot of time.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
And I refuse to turn in a book until I
know it's ready, and I'm a deep feeler, until that
gut instinct says this book is not ready.
Speaker 4 (29:59):
No, yeah, I know exactly what you're talking about. When
you can read from beginning to end and nothing knocks
you out of the story and you get to the
end and you think, there we go. There it is there, Yes.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
And I have until I felt that, and it took
It probably wasn't thirty days straight, but it was a
whole month of sixteen hour days where I was waking
up at like three am and I was going until
like eight pm.
Speaker 5 (30:25):
And then it's just there were some days off in between.
But this book. WHOA. I don't know what happened.
Speaker 3 (30:32):
But now you've got the book and it's great and
you're holding it in your hands.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
So and I love it right, Yes, because I love it.
And I think all authors should take the time that
they need so that at the end they they say,
I love this book.
Speaker 5 (30:48):
I'm proud of it.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
Yeah. Ext One last question, I'm going to ask what
you're working on now or what we can expect next
I think you're already hinted there's a fourth book in
this series. But I think you've got some other irons
on fire, too, don't you.
Speaker 5 (31:03):
I do.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
And it's sometimes hard to talk about because the fourth
is a hint.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
Don't violate any contracts.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
But no, no, no, it's just it's hard to talk
about because I don't know when they'll be out. That's
more than the issue. Liberated is done. I got to
share a couple excerpts with some very faithful readers and
that was super fun.
Speaker 3 (31:27):
There's the fourth book in this calculated series.
Speaker 5 (31:30):
Right librated.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
There's some fun goodies that will be released when that
is released, too, and all the readers know what they'll be.
And then I'm also working on a new fantasy series
and a contemporary series and those of one of them
is already on submission, and one of them is in
edits right now. So have a couple used to come.
(31:53):
Just as you know, publishing is weird. You don't know
when those books will actually meet the right home and
get on.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
The right schedule, right right, Well, this has been a
delight Nova thanks so much for being on the podcast.
Speaker 5 (32:08):
Thank you so much, An I.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
Can't wait to see you this fall Labor Day weekend
at Ryder Con in Oklahoma City.
Speaker 5 (32:15):
We can't I can't wait either, all right.
Speaker 3 (32:17):
Thanks for being here. To see you later. Yeah, just
one parting word, and I bet you already know what
I'm going to say. I'm going to talk about writer
Con some more. It's August twenty ninth through September one.
That's Labor Day weekend. It's in Oklahoma City at the
(32:39):
Hilton Scurven, a beautiful, historic and of course haunted hotel.
We're going to have more than sixty speakers, more than
one hundred sessions. This is the biggest conference we've put
on yet, and if early registrations are any indication, it's
going to be the best attended one two and it
(33:00):
to all that. We've got contests, we've got pitching, which,
by the way, no additional cost. All you got to
do is sign up pitch agents, publishers, whoever you want
to talk to. You can have one on one consultations
with people of your choice, manuscript reviews, and a bunch
more stuff. You need to check it out at writercon
(33:20):
dot com. And here's a tip, because we ran out
of T shirts last year. Now We've got the merch
store on the writer Con site, so you can get
your T shirt beforehand and wear it like I do,
and I won't be the only person. Don't let me
be lonely, Lara. You going to wear a T shirt?
Speaker 4 (33:42):
I'm wearing a T shirt right now. Well, I'm wearing
a Pulo right now.
Speaker 3 (33:45):
But yes, absolutely, T shirt, polo ball cap, mugs, whatever,
we got it.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
You can never type of shirt, that's true.
Speaker 4 (33:54):
That's true. But yes, I'm already wearing one. I'm so
excited for it. And there's a there's a beautiful one
that I didn't get last.
Speaker 5 (34:01):
Year that I need.
Speaker 4 (34:02):
I probably need Katie to hook me up with. Maybe
I'll just go buy one off the merch store.
Speaker 3 (34:07):
That sounds good. And of course, you can never have
too many mugs, right so I have.
Speaker 4 (34:13):
I don't have a mug problem. You have a mug problem.
Speaker 1 (34:16):
I'm going to buy those Amazon things where you can
put it's like a cover on top of one mugs,
you can put another mug on top of.
Speaker 4 (34:24):
Right now, I already stack mugs about that. It's bad,
But I'm kind of as bad with T shirts too,
because I really enjoy all my writers T shirts writing.
Speaker 3 (34:33):
I've got a few too, all right, one way or another,
you need to come to writer Con this year, and
I hope you will. I'd like to meet you. All right.
Until next time, keep writing and remember you cannot fail
if you refuse to quit. See you next time.
Speaker 1 (35:00):
Out of a
Speaker 2 (35:03):
Time
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