Wish I'd Known Then Podcast For Writers
Welcome to the Wish I'd Known Then podcast. Join authors Jami Albright and Sara Rosett as they interview authors about lessons they've learned about writing and publishing.
Episodes
338 episodes
Substack for Fiction Authors: How Jolie Tunnell Serializes Mysteries and Builds Reader Community
315 / How can authors find their reader community on Substack while balancing life’s big changes? Jolie Tunnell shares her transition from years of blogging and waiting for permission to publish to indie success and serializing mysteries.
How Kickstarter and Shopify Changed Tee Harlowe’s Author Career Plus Instagram Tips
314 / Tee Harlowe, a fantasy romance author, shares tips for successful Kickstarters as well as how she’s adapting to market shifts and why diversification is key to surviving income drops. ✨ This week’s sponsor is Vellum:
Navigating Writing, Marketing, the Day Job, and TikTok with Finley Daniels (New Author Series)
313 / How do you balance the demands of a full-time job with launching a romance writing career? Finley Daniels shares her lessons learned in writing and marketing.✨ This week’s sponsor is Vellum:
Building Resilience and Creative Lies Writers Tell Themselves with Katherine Collette
312 / What are the creative lies writers tell themselves, and how can reframing your mindset lead to a long-lasting, resilient writing career? Katherine Collette shares her insights and lessons from both podcasting and publication.✨ T...
More Truth about Book Marketing: 5 Publishing Myths
In this post-show supporter episode, we continue our conversation about misconceptions around book marketing. We bust five stubborn publishing myths that pressure authors into chasing perfection, speed, and “rule-following” instead ...
The Truth About Book Marketing: Ads, Social Media, and Discoverability Myths
311 / Think you need to be on every platform, spend big on ads, or release a book every month to succeed as an indie author? We’re busting some of the most common publishing myths. ✨ This week’s sponsor is Vellum:
I'm a Real Human, Not AI: 20 Ways Authors Can Signal Humanity and Build Reader Trust
310 / AI is getting better at producing words, audio, and even video, which raises the question for authors: how do readers know there’s a real person behind the book?In this episode, we talk about how writers can stand out in a sea of A...
How to Market Books on TikTok and Instagram with Lona McCombie
309 / Lona McCombie, social media marketer for authors, unpacks essential strategies for authors looking to promote their work, especially on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.✨ This week’s sponsor is: Reedsy
How to Write Serials: Finding Your Voice and Building Steady Income with KimBoo York
308 / Serial fiction expert, Kimboo York, joins us to discuss building long-term reader relationships, letting go of perfectionism and fan fiction, including insights on transitioning fan fiction to original works. We also talk about balancing ...
Post Show Greenroom Chat with Chelle Honiker
In this post-show supporter episode, we continue our conversation with Chelle Honiker:Dealing with fear around AI and tech changesResources for learning about AILinks:
Automation Tools for Authors: How to Adapt and Save Time in 2026 with Chelle Honiker
307 / How can automation, AI, and genuine relationships help you thrive as an author? Chelle Honaker shares her insights on blending creativity and business, building community, and navigating the ever-changing publishing world.✨ This...
How to Cross-Promote, Grow Your Newsletter, and Use Beta Readers to Boost Sales with Evan Gow
306 / How do you get your first reviews? And what do you do about collating feedback from multiple beta readers? Evan Gow, creator of StoryOrigin, has solutions to these author problems. Plus we explore why building your mailing list is the num...
Kickstarter for Beginners: How to Start Small and Launch Successfully with Ember Mae
305 / Ember Mae shares lessons learned about starting small with crowdfunding as well as managing fulfillment. We also talk about marketing without succumbing to the pressure of conventional social media wisdom.✨ This week’s sponsor i...
Using Grammar as Your Creative Toolbox with Patty McGee
304 / Are you curious how understanding grammar—not just as a set of rules but as a tool for creative expression—can transform your writing and help you find your unique author voice?✨ This week’s sponsor is Vellum:
How to Take Feedback Without Losing Your Author Voice with Nicole Meier
303 / Are you curious about how to find your writing voice, handle feedback without losing your vision, and thrive in today’s ever-changing publishing world? Nicole Meier shares what she wishes she’d known as both an author and developmental ed...
Tips from Jennifer Hilt and Sara Rosett: Mystery and Thriller Tropes that Hook Readers
302 / We’re talking about the power of tropes in storytelling with Jennifer Hilt, uncovering why elements like scars, secrets, and shame drive compelling mysteries and thrillers—and how they show up in every genre. Jennifer shared ...
Simplify Your Writing Life: How to Embrace Artisanship for a Sustainable Career with Belinda Kroll
301 / In this 301st episode, hear from listeners (thanks for the voicemails!) about their favorite topics and takeaways and another long-time supporter, Belinda Kroll joins us. Belinda is a cozy fantasy romance author and illustrator, and share...
Pen Names: What Jami Wishes She’d Known
Jan 2026 Supporter Episode. Thanks to all our supporters who made this episode possible! 🩵In this supporter-exclusive chat, Sara interviews Jami about her pen name. Get an inside look at the pros and cons of using a pen name ...
Indie Publishing in 2026: How to Navigate Changes and Thrive with Parker Finch (300 Episodes Special)
300 / In this 300th episode, we take a walk down memory lane, sharing behind-the-scenes stories from the early days of the podcast and reflecting on how far we’ve come—with over 500,000 downloads and listeners tuning in from all around the worl...
How to Market Your Books Without Without Losing Your Originality with Nat Connors
📌 Send us your favorite moments and lessons learned for our 300th episode: https://www.speakpipe.com/WishIdKnownThen299 / Do you ever wish you had a clear, actionable ...
Jami and Sara on State of the Industry
In this supporter-exclusive chat, we talk about marketing and the state of the author community. Using Written Word Media’s yearly author survey as a jumping off point, we discuss:What’s working for marketingMarketing spend...
2025: Year in Review for Authors - Part II
298 / We continue our discussion about what’s working in the indie author space. We join Douglas Pratt and Nicholas Harvey and share insights on navigating newsletter platforms, maximizing translations, and adapting to the changes in audiobooks...
2025: Year in Review for Authors - Part I
297 / How are authors adapting in 2025's changing publishing world? Sara Rosett, Jami Albright, Nicholas Harvey, and Douglas Pratt share lessons learned, trends they’re seeing, and practical strategies from their own writing careers.
Crafting Irresistible Book Pages Readers and Bots Love with Thomas Umstattd Jr.
296 / Do you want to leverage your author website, use AI tools efficiently, and prune your tasks strategically so you can sell more books and focus your creative energy where it counts? Thomas Umstattd Jr. shares insights on optimi...
Matthew J. Holmes on Building a Sustainable Author Business (Even If You Write Slowly)
295 / Curious how authors can build thriving, sustainable careers—even without rapid releases or a huge backlist? Matthew J. Holmes shares how he transformed his wife’s books into a six-figure business, the realities of book adverti...