Courtney Peppernell on Pillow Thoughts, Self-Publishing, and Her Debut Novel The Last Poem

Writes4Women host Pamela Cook chats with internationally bestselling author Courtney Peppernell,  about her path from early “lightning writing” and a supportive family to self-publishing novels and then poetry, and now her debut novel.

Courtney describes self-publishing, and creating Pillow Thoughts from blog-style reflections, her poems going viral and landing a deal with a traditional publisher. Her latest release is The Last Poem, a multi-POV small-town Colorado story about grief, friendship and love.

An inspiring episode for writers at all stages of their career.

 

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

02:07 Early Writing Spark

03:54 Family Support and Creativity

05:41 Self Publishing Beginnings

08:05 Pillow Thoughts Goes Viral

13:25 Signing with a US Publisher

15:57 Series Strategy and Branding

21:15 Life Changing Success and Tours

25:26 Setting Up Poem Readings

26:18 Reading From Thinking Of You

26:58 Writing Poetry As Characters

29:17 Modern Versus Traditional Poetry

30:50 Why Online Poetry Boomed

31:58 Algorithm Changes And Reach

33:35 Turning To The Last Poem

35:27 Plot And Grief Group Setup

36:34 Crafting Multiple Viewpoints

40:37 Favorite Characters And Libraries

43:58 Why Wren Is A Poet

45:49 Traditional Publishing And Events

48:57 Upcoming Books And Music

 

SHOWNOTES:

Writes4Women

www.writes4women.com

Facebook @writes4women

Twitter / Instagram @w4wpodcast

 

W4W Substack

Click here

 

Courtney Peppernell

Website: click here

Instagram: click here

 

Pamela Cook

www.pamelacook.com.au

Facebook @amelacookauthor

Twitter @PamelaCookAU

 

This episode produced by Pamela Cook for Writes4Women and recorded on unceded Dharawal land.

 

 

 

 

 

Courtney Peppernell on Pillow Thoughts, Self-Publishing, and Her Debut Novel The Last Poem
Writes4Women host Pamela Cook chats with internationally bestselling author Courtney Peppernell,&nbsp; about her path from early &ldquo;lightning writing&rdquo; and a supportive family to self-publishing novels and then poetry, and now her debut novel.
Courtney describes self-publishing, and creating Pillow Thoughts from blog-style reflections, her poems going viral and landing a deal with a traditional publisher. Her latest release is The Last Poem, a multi-POV small-town Colorado story about grief, friendship and love.
An inspiring episode for writers at all stages of their career.
&nbsp;
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
02:07 Early Writing Spark
03:54 Family Support and Creativity
05:41 Self Publishing Beginnings
08:05 Pillow Thoughts Goes Viral
13:25 Signing with a US Publisher
15:57 Series Strategy and Branding
21:15 Life Changing Success and Tours
25:26 Setting Up Poem Readings
26:18 Reading From Thinking Of You
26:58 Writing Poetry As Characters
29:17 Modern Versus Traditional Poetry
30:50 Why Online Poetry Boomed
31:58 Algorithm Changes And Reach
33:35 Turning To The Last Poem
35:27 Plot And Grief Group Setup
36:34 Crafting Multiple Viewpoints
40:37 Favorite Characters And Libraries
43:58 Why Wren Is A Poet
45:49 Traditional Publishing And Events
48:57 Upcoming Books And Music
&nbsp;
SHOWNOTES:
Writes4Women
<a href="http://www.writes4women.com/">www.writes4women.com</a>
Facebook @writes4women
Twitter / Instagram @w4wpodcast
&nbsp;
W4W Substack
Click <a href="https://writes4women.substack.com/">here</a>
&nbsp;
Courtney Peppernell
Website: click <a href="https://www.peppernell.com/about">here</a>
Instagram: click <a href="https://www.instagram.com/courtneypeppernell">here</a>
&nbsp;
Pamela Cook
<a href="http://www.pamelacook.com.au/">www.pamelacook.com.au</a>
Facebook @amelacookauthor
Twitter @PamelaCookAU
&nbsp;
This episode produced by Pamela Cook for Writes4Women and recorded on unceded Dharawal land.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Writes4Women is all about celebrating women's voices and supporting women writers. It's about writing the voice, reading the voice and being the voice. Every week host Pamela Cook, or a special guest host, interviews an outstanding female, trans or non-binary author about their books, writing process and life. Transcript available via the Writes4Women website. Video of most episodes available on the Writes4Women youtube channel. You can find out more about Writes4Women at www.writes4women.com

Writes4Women is all about celebrating women's voices and supporting women writers. It's about writing the voice, reading the voice and being the voice. Every week host Pamela Cook, or a special guest host, interviews an outstanding female, trans or non-binary author about their books, writing process and life. Transcript available via the Writes4Women website. Video of most episodes available on the Writes4Women youtube channel. You can find out more about Writes4Women at www.writes4women.com

Celebrating Women's Voices and Supporting Women Writers

Writes4Women

Writes4Women is all about celebrating women's voices and supporting women writers. In weekly episodes women's fiction author Pamela Cook and an all-star cast of guest hosts talk to women writers about the craft, business and heart of writing, along with a monthly feature on a new release author. If you're a writer you'll love the writing conversation and tips shared by the talented guests and if you're a reader you'll get a great insight into the writing process. Subscribe to the PamelaCook/Writes4Women mailing list via the website and check out the Patreon bonuses while you're there. And don't forget to follow the podcast on your favourite platform or find the audio and video wt writes4women.com

Writes4Women is all about celebrating women's voices and supporting women writers. In weekly episodes women's fiction author Pamela Cook and an all-star cast of guest hosts talk to women writers about the craft, business and heart of writing, along with a monthly feature on a new release author. If you're a writer you'll love the writing conversation and tips shared by the talented guests and if you're a reader you'll get a great insight into the writing process. Subscribe to the PamelaCook/Writes4Women mailing list via the website and check out the Patreon bonuses while you're there. And don't forget to follow the podcast on your favourite platform or find the audio and video wt writes4women.com

On The Convo Couch with Courtney Peppernell

Hannah Richell on Writing Memoir, Grief, and An Ocean and a Day

Join host and author Pamela Cook as she  interviews author Hannah Richell about her memoir An Ocean and a Day, which explores the sudden death of her husband Matt in a surfing accident at Tamarama Beach in 2014 and the long journey of grief that followed.

Richell discusses journaling as a survival tool, shaping years of writing into a memoir, and choosing a circular, tidal structure that moves between past and present to show what was lost and reflect how grief is experienced. She shares key influences and also talks about narrating the audiobook herself, deciding what to include about her children, and how touring and reader responses have been unexpectedly uplifting.

00:00 Level Up Writing Courses

01:39 Episode Updates and Memoir Intro

05:15 Memoir Overview and Loss

08:38 Beach Bookends and Ending

13:22 Writing Grief Into Words

17:30 Tidal Timeline Structure

24:02 Journaling to Memoir Draft2

9:38 Visitation Dream Story

32:56 Host Family Grief Reflection

36:42 Kids as Anchors

38:05 Writing Through Nights

38:42 Books That Held Me

42:34 Quoting and Permissions

44:18 Narrating the Audiobook

49:10 Shaping the Memoir

50:51 Privacy and Boundaries

56:20 Swallows and Tattoos

01:00:27 Touring and Reader Connection

01:03:39 Wrap Up and Farewell

 

SHOWNOTES:

Writes4Women

www.writes4women.com

Facebook @writes4women

Twitter / Instagram @w4wpodcast

 

W4W Substack

Click here

 

Hannah Richell

Website: click here

Facebook: click here

Instagram: click here

 

Pamela Cook

www.pamelacook.com.au

Facebook @amelacookauthor

Twitter @PamelaCookAU

 

This episode produced by Pamela Cook for Writes4Women and recorded on unceded Dharawal land.

 

 

 

Hannah Richell on Writing Memoir, Grief, and An Ocean and a Day
Join host and author Pamela Cook as she&nbsp; interviews author Hannah Richell about her memoir An Ocean and a Day, which explores the sudden death of her husband Matt in a surfing accident at Tamarama Beach in 2014 and the long journey of grief that followed.
Richell discusses journaling as a survival tool, shaping years of writing into a memoir, and choosing a circular, tidal structure that moves between past and present to show what was lost and reflect how grief is experienced. She shares key influences and also talks about narrating the audiobook herself, deciding what to include about her children, and how touring and reader responses have been unexpectedly uplifting.
00:00 Level Up Writing Courses
01:39 Episode Updates and Memoir Intro
05:15 Memoir Overview and Loss
08:38 Beach Bookends and Ending
13:22 Writing Grief Into Words
17:30 Tidal Timeline Structure
24:02 Journaling to Memoir Draft2
9:38 Visitation Dream Story
32:56 Host Family Grief Reflection
36:42 Kids as Anchors
38:05 Writing Through Nights
38:42 Books That Held Me
42:34 Quoting and Permissions
44:18 Narrating the Audiobook
49:10 Shaping the Memoir
50:51 Privacy and Boundaries
56:20 Swallows and Tattoos
01:00:27 Touring and Reader Connection
01:03:39 Wrap Up and Farewell
&nbsp;
SHOWNOTES:
Writes4Women
<a href="http://www.writes4women.com/">www.writes4women.com</a>
Facebook @writes4women
Twitter / Instagram @w4wpodcast
&nbsp;
W4W Substack
Click <a href="https://writes4women.substack.com/">here</a>
&nbsp;
Hannah Richell
Website: click <a href="https://www.hannahrichell.com/">here</a>
Facebook: click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hannahrichellauthor">here</a>
Instagram: click <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hannahrichell/">here</a>
&nbsp;
Pamela Cook
<a href="http://www.pamelacook.com.au/">www.pamelacook.com.au</a>
Facebook @amelacookauthor
Twitter @PamelaCookAU
&nbsp;
This episode produced by Pamela Cook for Writes4Women and recorded on unceded Dharawal land.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Hannah Richell on Writing Memoir, Grief, and An Ocean and a Day

On The Convo Couch with Hannah Richell

Belinda Alexandra on The Italian Correspondent, Research, and Writing Through Rejection

This week on The Convo couch Pam chats to Belinda Alexandra, author of 12 bestselling novels including her latest release The Italian Correspondent. Belinda discusses her storytelling roots in her mother’s White Russian/China wartime experiences and her father’s Australian life, her early writing, travel influences, 10 years of rejections before White Gardenia was published in 2002, and a whole lot more.

Pam also talks new releases and gives an update on the Writes4Women Main Character Deep Dive challenge.

 

00:30 Podcast Updates and Festivals

02:56 Substack Writing Challenge

05:22 New Books on the Shelf

10:55 Meet Belinda Alexandra

13:35 Family Stories and Writing Roots

21:54 Travel Letters and Inspiration

25:54 First Novel and Rejections

31:33 Imposter Syndrome and Craft

34:07 Pushing Through the Dip

34:55 Inside The Italian Correspondent

39:35 Plotting vs Characters Taking Over

42:30 Writing Better Men on the Page

44:55 Three Loves Romance Twist

51:23 Drafting Perfectionism and Mess

56:07 Longevity in Publishing

57:51 Perseverance Through Industry Change

01:00:28 Quality Over Speed

01:02:01 Wrap Up and Bonus Chat

 

SHOW NOTES:

Writes4Women

www.writes4women.com

Facebook @writes4women

Instagram @w4wpodcast

 

Belinda Alexandra

Website: click here

Instagram: click here

 

Pamela Cook

www.pamelacook.com.au

Facebook: click here

Twitter: click here 

Instagram: click here

Fiction Feedback @ Writing NSW: click here

 

This episode produced by  Pamela Cook for Writes4Women on unceded Dharawal country.

 

 

 

Belinda Alexandra on The Italian Correspondent, Research, and Writing Through Rejection
This week on The Convo couch Pam chats to Belinda Alexandra, author of 12 bestselling novels including her latest release The Italian Correspondent. Belinda discusses her storytelling roots in her mother&rsquo;s White Russian/China wartime experiences and her father&rsquo;s Australian life, her early writing, travel influences, 10 years of rejections before White Gardenia was published in 2002, and a whole lot more.
Pam also talks new releases and gives an update on the Writes4Women Main Character Deep Dive challenge.
&nbsp;
00:30 Podcast Updates and Festivals
02:56 Substack Writing Challenge
05:22 New Books on the Shelf
10:55 Meet Belinda Alexandra
13:35 Family Stories and Writing Roots
21:54 Travel Letters and Inspiration
25:54 First Novel and Rejections
31:33 Imposter Syndrome and Craft
34:07 Pushing Through the Dip
34:55 Inside The Italian Correspondent
39:35 Plotting vs Characters Taking Over
42:30 Writing Better Men on the Page
44:55 Three Loves Romance Twist
51:23 Drafting Perfectionism and Mess
56:07 Longevity in Publishing
57:51 Perseverance Through Industry Change
01:00:28 Quality Over Speed
01:02:01 Wrap Up and Bonus Chat
&nbsp;
SHOW NOTES:
Writes4Women
<a href="http://www.writes4women.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.writes4women.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1614498304853000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGsoqHkpPpyoq3HyqGd7t_wqWjIxA">www.writes4women.com</a>
Facebook @writes4women
Instagram @w4wpodcast
&nbsp;
Belinda Alexandra
Website: click <a href="https://www.belinda-alexandra.com/">here</a>
Instagram: click <a href="https://www.instagram.com/belinda_alexandra_author/">here</a>
&nbsp;
Pamela Cook
<a href="http://www.pamelacook.com.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.pamelacook.com.au/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1614498304853000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHX6jiL_wYjUMAktl7S_8rTUNUAEw">www.pamelacook.com.au</a>
Facebook: click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PamelaCookAuthor?ref=hl">here</a>
Twitter: click <a href="https://twitter.com/pamelacookau">here&nbsp;</a>
Instagram: click <a href="https://www.instagram.com/pamelacookwrites/">here</a>
Fiction Feedback @ Writing NSW: click <a href="https://writingnsw.org.au/whats-on/courses/online-feedback-fiction-2/">here</a>
&nbsp;
This episode produced by&nbsp; Pamela Cook for Writes4Women on unceded Dharawal country.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

This week on The Convo couch Pam chats to Belinda Alexandra, author of 12 bestselling novels including her latest release The Italian Correspondent

On The Convo Couch with Belinda Alexandra

This week Pam reports in from Lille in France with some exciting news about her upcoming release Because You're Mine!

She also chats to debut memoirist Lindsay Bartels about Imogen in Waiting, which follows Lindsay and her husband as they wrestle with whether to use a stored female embryo that carries the BRCA mutation Lindsay has, after Lindsay’s breast cancer diagnosis in her 20s.

Lindsay discusses her path from filmmaking and architecture to writing via blogging, and explains drafting the memoir longhand using a four-notebook, three-act structure, then transcribing, revising, cutting scenes, and deepening interiority with editors at Third Rail Press.

This is a thought-provoking, uplifting conversation for both readers and writers.

00:18 Podcast Welcome And Travel Update

05:56 Host Updates And Subscriber Perks

09:03 Meet The Guest Lindsay

09:41 Lindsay’s Creative Path

15:36 Writing The Memoir Framework

17:58 Notebook One Cancer Diagnosis

19:59 Notebook Two IVF And The Embryo

21:01 Notebook Three Sydney COVID And Legal Hurdles

26:44 Letting Go And The Emotional Toll

27:53 Notebook Four Return Home And Surgery

32:27 Writing to Imogen

33:55 Transcribing and Revising

36:25 Early Readers Feedback

38:21 Querying and Developmental Edit

40:05 Third Rail Press Origin

43:36 Final Revisions and Trust

45:58 The Big Ethical Question

47:56 Family Gene Background

50:31 Keeping the Memoir Human

51:41 Holding the Finished Book

53:08 Events and Writing Community

56:51 Where to Buy and Farewell

 

SHOW NOTES:

Writes4Women

www.writes4women.com

Facebook @writes4women

Instagram @w4wpodcast

 

Lindsay Bartels

Website: click here

Instagram: click here

 

Pamela Cook

www.pamelacook.com.au

Facebook: click here

Twitter: click here 

Instagram: click here

Fiction Feedback @ Writing NSW: click here

 

This episode produced by  Pamela Cook for Writes4Women on unceded Dharawal country.

 

 

 

This week Pam reports in from Lille in France with some exciting news about her upcoming release Because You're Mine!
She also chats to debut memoirist Lindsay Bartels about Imogen in Waiting, which follows Lindsay and her husband as they wrestle with whether to use a stored female embryo that carries the BRCA mutation Lindsay has, after Lindsay&rsquo;s breast cancer diagnosis in her 20s.
Lindsay discusses her path from filmmaking and architecture to writing via blogging, and explains drafting the memoir longhand using a four-notebook, three-act structure, then transcribing, revising, cutting scenes, and deepening interiority with editors at Third Rail Press.
This is a thought-provoking, uplifting conversation for both readers and writers.
00:18 Podcast Welcome And Travel Update
05:56 Host Updates And Subscriber Perks
09:03 Meet The Guest Lindsay
09:41 Lindsay&rsquo;s Creative Path
15:36 Writing The Memoir Framework
17:58 Notebook One Cancer Diagnosis
19:59 Notebook Two IVF And The Embryo
21:01 Notebook Three Sydney COVID And Legal Hurdles
26:44 Letting Go And The Emotional Toll
27:53 Notebook Four Return Home And Surgery
32:27 Writing to Imogen
33:55 Transcribing and Revising
36:25 Early Readers Feedback
38:21 Querying and Developmental Edit
40:05 Third Rail Press Origin
43:36 Final Revisions and Trust
45:58 The Big Ethical Question
47:56 Family Gene Background
50:31 Keeping the Memoir Human
51:41 Holding the Finished Book
53:08 Events and Writing Community
56:51 Where to Buy and Farewell
&nbsp;
SHOW NOTES:
Writes4Women
<a href="http://www.writes4women.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.writes4women.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1614498304853000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGsoqHkpPpyoq3HyqGd7t_wqWjIxA">www.writes4women.com</a>
Facebook @writes4women
Instagram @w4wpodcast
&nbsp;
Lindsay Bartels
Website: click <a href="https://www.lindsay-bartels.com/">here</a>
Instagram: click <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lindsaybartels_/#">here</a>
&nbsp;
Pamela Cook
<a href="http://www.pamelacook.com.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.pamelacook.com.au/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1614498304853000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHX6jiL_wYjUMAktl7S_8rTUNUAEw">www.pamelacook.com.au</a>
Facebook: click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PamelaCookAuthor?ref=hl">here</a>
Twitter: click <a href="https://twitter.com/pamelacookau">here&nbsp;</a>
Instagram: click <a href="https://www.instagram.com/pamelacookwrites/">here</a>
Fiction Feedback @ Writing NSW: click <a href="https://writingnsw.org.au/whats-on/courses/online-feedback-fiction-2/">here</a>
&nbsp;
This episode produced by&nbsp; Pamela Cook for Writes4Women on unceded Dharawal country.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Pam chats to debut memoirist Lindsay Bartels about Imogen in Waiting, which follows Lindsay and her husband as they wrestle with whether to use a stored female embryo that carries the BRCA mutation Lindsay has, after Lindsay’s breast cancer diagnosis in her 20s.

On The Convo Couch with Courtney Peppernell

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