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The TufFish Show

The TufFish Show

By Jennifer Milius

Welcome to The TufFish Show! A pond where coach, author, developmental editor, and host Jen Milius interviews authors from different genres and businesses, but with one thing in common – they had a message or story they wanted to tell, courageously got out of their own way and made it happen. Topics include: writing, book marketing (book signings, speaking engagements), publishing, mindset, and business tips.

To learn more, visit www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish
Get your copy of Author Stylist Guide: Own Your Greatness, Get Visible, and Share Your Message: https://a.co/d/90U3q3t
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Currently playing episode

How to welcome feedback with Anastasia Zadeik

The TufFish ShowSep 06, 2022

00:00
28:08
The beauty of small steps and beginnings as an author with Jen Milius

The beauty of small steps and beginnings as an author with Jen Milius

Recently I had the pleasure of speaking about courage and confidence with an amazing group of women in Winchester, Virginia. As I was driving home, I got to thinking about small beginnings and small steps. When you think about the micro decisions that you make to help you get to where you want to go, you'd be amazed at how many there were. Sometimes we can only see the starting point and the result, but not all the smaller steps to get from point A to point B.


Sometimes those smaller steps and beginnings have to do with trying something new and us managing our expectations.


If you've been in your head because you "only sold 3 books" or "only had 1 person" sign up for your newsletter or "only had 10 people" attend a workshop, I invite you to check out this episode and get a different perspective.


Jennifer Milius is an entrepreneur, coach, developmental editor, author, and host of The TufFish Show who helps creatives bring out their inner greatness so that they get comfortable using their voice, sharing their message, and being visible.


Whether it’s speaking to elementary school students about courage and confidence; helping authors and creatives move to their next level through coaching, developmental editing, refining keynote speeches, instructions through course or workshops; or even having them on The TufFish Show, Jen believes when you share your gifts and message, you bring joy to others and show what’s possible for them.


Visit - www.jennifermilius.com/stylist

Get free resources at http://www.jennifermilius.com/start

New book - Author Stylist Guide: Own Your Greatness, Get Visible, and Share Your Message

Book bonuses: www.jennifermilius.com/books

Mar 26, 202406:53
How editors help you strengthen your book with Meg Welch Dendler

How editors help you strengthen your book with Meg Welch Dendler

Welcome Meg Welch Dendler to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.


What a pleasure to welcome back my friend and also editor for Author Stylist Guide, Meg Dendler! We had a fabulous conversation that centered around how involving editors help to strengthen your book and how to choose the right person or people to work with, so it’s your voice that’s in your book.


Meg Dendler has considered herself a writer since she won a picture book contest in 5th grade and entertained her classmates with ongoing sequels for the rest of the year. Beginning serious work as a freelancer in the '90s while teaching elementary and middle school, Meg has over one hundred articles in print, including interviews with Kirk Douglas, Sylvester Stallone, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. She has won contests with her short stories and poetry, along with multiple awards for her best-selling "Cats in the Mirror" alien rescue cat children's book series. Bianca: The Brave Frail and Delicate Princess was honored as Best Juvenile Book of 2018 by the Oklahoma Writers' Federation. Meg is also an editor for independent and self-publishing authors.


Visit - https://megdendler.com

Book purchase links - https://www.amazon.com/stores/Meg-Welch-Dendler/author/B00BBNY5O2


Get the Author Stylist Guide and book bonuses here: https://www.jennifermilius.com/books

Visit - https://www.jennifermilius.com/stylist

Get free resources at https://www.jennifermilius.com/start

Mar 19, 202441:46
What to cut and what to keep in your book with Mary Camarillo

What to cut and what to keep in your book with Mary Camarillo

Welcome Mary Camarillo to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.


As a writer, do you appreciate the boundaries that writing can create? Sometimes when there’s so many ways you can take a story, and Mary Camarillo suggests that setting some parameters can help. We also talked about how to work through feedback when you may conceptually understand what is being suggested, but not necessarily how to execute it. We also talked about why it’s ok for characters not to be likeable.


Mary Camarillo is the author of the award-winning novels Those People Behind Us and The Lockhart Women. Her awards include the 2022 Indie Author Project Award for California Adult Fiction, the 2022 Willa Literary Award Finalist in Multiform Fiction, and the 2021 First Place Award in the Next Generation Indies for First Fiction. She currently serves on the advisory boards of Citric Acid, An Orange County Literary Arts Quarterly, and LibroMobile, An Arts Cooperative and Bookstore in Santa Ana, California. Mary lives in Huntington Beach, California with her husband, who plays ukulele, and their terrorist cat Riley, who makes frequent appearances on Instagram.


Visit - https://www.marycamarillo.com

Book purchase links:

Those People Behind Us

The Lockhart Women


LINKS FROM JEN:

Free Resources: https://www.jennifermilius.com/start

Get your copy of Author Stylist Guide: Own Your Greatness, Get Visible, and Share Your Message - https://a.co/d/90U3q3t

Mar 12, 202429:49
[REBROADCAST] - Being highly intuitive with Lauren Sapala

[REBROADCAST] - Being highly intuitive with Lauren Sapala

Welcome to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.


One of the main messages in my business is about owning your space and letting your light shine. I wholeheartedly believe that there's only one YOU, and your gifts, message and story need to be shared. And I get how nerve wracking that can be.

In this rebroadcast I have a deep conversation with Lauren Sapala, and we talk about being highly intuitive and how that affects your writing or creative process. One of the biggest things when you are running a business or working on a creative project is getting as comfortable as you can with not knowing all the answers and being uncomfortable. If you are stuck with your writing, are highly sensitive or highly intuitive, then let Lauren’s wisdom offer some ways through it.

Lauren Sapala is the author of The INFJ Writer, Firefly Magic: Heart Powered Marketing for Highly Sensitive Writers, and The INFJ Revolution, as well as The West Coast Trilogy, an autobiographical fiction series. She is also a writing coach for writers of the INFJ and INFP personality type and blogs about writing, creativity and personality theory at http://laurensapala.com.


Visit - http://www.jennifermilius.com/stylist

Get free resources at http://www.jennifermilius.com/start

Get your copy of Author Stylist Guide: Own Your Greatness, Get Visible, and Share Your Message - https://a.co/d/90U3q3t

Mar 05, 202433:05
 The spiritual journey of the author and business owner with Jen Milius

The spiritual journey of the author and business owner with Jen Milius

Welcome to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.


Today is an important day in my world, and it is also the inspiration for today’s episode.


Today is Author Stylist Guide: Own Your Greatness, Get Visible, and Share Your Message release day! The Author Stylist Guide is your toolbox for the steps to make the most of speaking engagements, book signings, and podcast interviews when they arise, so you grow your readership and create a buzz about your catalog of work and message.


Part of what this book did for me was strengthen and deepen my spiritual practice. So let this short and sweet episode remind you that not all challenges you face are meant to stop you. Instead they are meant to promote you to your next level. Let this episode reassure you that when you trust your inner voice to guide you, things will work out even better than you could have dreamed.


Jennifer Milius is an entrepreneur, coach, developmental editor, author, and host of The TufFish Show who helps creatives bring out their inner greatness so that they get comfortable using their voice, sharing their message, and being visible.


Whether it’s speaking to elementary school students about courage and confidence; helping authors and creatives move to their next level through coaching, developmental editing, refining keynote speeches, instructions through course or workshops; or even having them on The TufFish Show, Jen believes when you share your gifts and message, you bring joy to others and show what’s possible for them.


Get the Author Stylist Guide and book bonuses here: www.jennifermilius.com/books


Visit - www.jennifermilius.com/stylist


Get free resources at http://www.jennifermilius.com/start

Feb 27, 202408:49
Why your words matter with Erica Richmond

Why your words matter with Erica Richmond

Welcome Erica Richmond to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.


This deep conversation with Erica Richmond about why your words matter is powerful. So many times, we as writers can get in our heads and stop writing because we doubt if anyone will care or if it will be any good, yet Erica shares not only insights for how to get out of your own way and unpack your big feelings, but how to remember why your words matter. Erica also talked about how she turned the big feelings she was processing into a story appropriate for children and why that was important.


Erica Richmond is the author of two self-published books including: Pixie and the Bees, a whimsical tale about learning to trust yourself while living with an invisible illness; and The Mail Art Stories Project: Mail Art in the Time of Covid-19, a collection of mail art from around the world that chronicles the Covid-19 pandemic. Through her business Open Sky Stories, Erica leads a variety of workshops which focus on connection and healing using expressive writing. Follow her on social media @‌OpenSkyStories and visit her website: openskystories.com


Visit https://openskystories.com/

Book purchase links:


Pixie and the Bees

The Mail Art Stories Project


Preorder Jen's new book: Author Stylist Guide: Own Your Greatness, Get Visible, and Share Your Message

Feb 20, 202438:12
Taking baby steps to reach the next level that's "big" for you with Jen Milius
Feb 13, 202404:56
Getting visible as an author with Jen Milius and takeover host Janyre Tromp

Getting visible as an author with Jen Milius and takeover host Janyre Tromp

Welcome Janyre Tromp as takeover host on The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.


When Janyre Tromp volunteered to takeover my show and put me in the hot seat, I knew we’d have fun! We covered how to go into any event, what to think about for speaking engagements, how to discern the right ones for you, and how to detach from the outcome. If you’re thinking about how to take your author business to the next level, let this episode be a resource to help you get started.


Janyre Tromp is a veteran book editor by day and writer of mid-20th century historical novels with a healthy dose of deliciously creepy suspense at night. She’s the award-winning and bestselling author of Darkness Calls the Tiger and Shadows in the Mind’s Eye and co-author of O Little Town. And that all happens from her unfinished basement when she’s not hanging out with her family, two troublesome cats, and slightly eccentric Shetland Sheepdog.


To pre-order Jen’s new book, Author Stylist Guide: Own Your Greatness, Get Visible, Share Your Message, visit :https://a.co/d/90U3q3t

https://www.jennifermilius.com/books


Get to know your takeover host Janyre Tromp:


Visit - http://www.JanyreTromp.com and http://www.editinginsiders.com

Book purchase links:

Darkness Calls the Tiger

Shadows in the Mind's Eye

Feb 06, 202451:43
Discerning and trusting your intuition as a writer with Sonee Singh

Discerning and trusting your intuition as a writer with Sonee Singh

Welcome Sonee Singh to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.


This deep conversation with Sonee Singh just brought me so much joy to do for you. Sonee and I talked about what helped her get through twelve (12) drafts before she published her first novel. Even when you have the right people supporting you, it’s ultimately your call what you need to do and when you take those steps. Sonee shared so much goodness and wisdom about discerning and using your intuition. I firmly believe your intuition is a powerful ally, and when you can discern that it’s your intuition versus the inner critic talking, then it will come through in your writing and your business.


Sonee Singh is a Dr. of Divinity, a cross-cultural seeker of deep knowing. She’s an award-winning and best-selling author of poetry and stories of self-discovery to encourage people to accept themselves for who they are and live life on their own terms. Her writing centers on the definitive moments on life’s journey. The mystical and spiritual are integral in her poems and storytelling, as is her multi-cultural background.


Visit - http://www.soneesingh.com

Book purchase link - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CG8ZBFXH

Jan 30, 202432:08
Tips for your author website with Pauline Wiles

Tips for your author website with Pauline Wiles

Welcome Pauline Wiles to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.


This insightful episode with Pauline Wiles is all about what goes into a strong, converting author website. Pauline shared so much wisdom about how to think about your website, choose a domain name, and evaluate what’s working or not. We also talked about how to handle your blog. There’s so much goodness in this episode to strengthen your website, I can’t wait to hear what steps you take after listening to Pauline.


Pauline Wiles is an indie author turned website designer who helps other authors and writers create beautiful, businesslike websites. As an author herself, she noticed others were often overwhelmed by this task. Now, she’s helping to dispel the myths around how difficult a web project should be. British by birth, Pauline is now a contented resident of California, although she admits to an occasional yearning for afternoon tea and historic homes.


Visit https://www.paulinewiles.com/

Book purchase links:

Saving Saffron Sweeting

Indie With Ease

Jan 23, 202429:52
Networking, marketing, and killing off characters, oh my! with Suzanne Simonetti

Networking, marketing, and killing off characters, oh my! with Suzanne Simonetti

Welcome Suzanne Simonetti to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.


This uplifting conversation with Suzanne Simonetti is perfect to remind you of the power of community as you’re honing your writing skills, getting comfortable sharing your book, and handling rejection/redirection. Suzanne shared what she’s doing to promote her new book and how much she’s enjoying those author business activities. We also talked about how writing a novella differed from writing her novel and what she learned through that process, including killing off characters.


Suzanne Simonetti is a USA Today bestselling author. Her debut, The Sound of Wings, and her latest Christmas story are both set on Cape May Island where she lives with her husband.


Visit - http://www.suzannesimonetti.com

Book purchase links:

A Cape May Christmas Story: A Celebration of Family and Love in America's First Seaside Resort

The Sound of Wings: a novel

Jan 16, 202432:28
Blending self-help and poetry into powerful healing with Emily A. Myers

Blending self-help and poetry into powerful healing with Emily A. Myers

Welcome back Emily A. Myers to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.


When Emily reached out and shared how she decided to write a non-fiction book that blends self-help with poetry, I couldn’t wait to have her back on the show. Emily has excelled with writing fiction, so we talked about the differences, including the launch process, and the beautiful way she found healing through her poetry. Emily will blend genres for fiction, so we talked about how she blended self-help with poetry, including structuring her book, which I found creative and unique.


Emily A. Myers is an award-winning romantic suspense author of three books, including her top seller, Mine to Protect: A Forbidden Love Mafia Romance. But, this time, she decided to write her own story, albeit not the romance she'd hoped for. To connect with Emily you may visit her website http://www.emilyamyers.com or find her on Instagram and TikTok @‌emilymyersauthor


Visit - http://www.emilyamyers.com

Book purchase link - Emily's Amazon Store

Jan 09, 202431:00
Insider tips for speaking events and workshops with Shayla Raquel

Insider tips for speaking events and workshops with Shayla Raquel

Welcome back Shayla Raquel to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.


This in-depth and fun conversation with Shayla Raquel is perfect if you are thinking about hosting workshops or doing more speaking events. And even if you’ve been doing these for a while, Shayla’s insights will help you step up your efforts. In this episode, we talked about how to get started, what she considers for an event to be a success for her, how to prepare, how to stay on track, and tips for when someone starts to takeover the class.


A best-selling author and public speaker, Shayla Raquel has been in the publishing industry for thirteen years and teaches on author branding, self-publishing, and the craft of writing. She is a Poetic Justice volunteer for Mabel Bassett Correctional Center, where she helps women with art and poetry. Shayla lives in Oklahoma with her husband and three fur babies.


Visit - https://www.shaylaraquel.com

Purchase links:

Pre-Publishing Checklist: https://www.shaylaraquel.com/prepublishingchecklist


Printables:

https://www.shaylaraquel.com/novelistcalendars

https://www.shaylaraquel.com/nanowrimoplanner

https://www.shaylaraquel.com/childrenscalendars

Jan 02, 202445:23
Reflect and Dream as an author and business owner with Jen Milius

Reflect and Dream as an author and business owner with Jen Milius

Welcome to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.


To me, being a writer and business owner have been integral to my personal development and spiritual growth as a person. Each time we go back and rework a section or chapter or go through updates from our editor, we are reflecting and dreaming. Each time we work with a cover designer, map out our marketing plans, pitching book signing, podcast interviews or speaking opportunities, we are reflecting and dreaming.


Reflecting on where we’ve been and what we’ve learned, and dreaming of where we want to go, how we want to show up and serve our readers and audience.


So let this short and sweet solo episode encourage you as reflect and dream about your books, your message, and your author business. You are closer to your goals and dreams than where you were a year ago, which also means new levels will continue to open up so that you can get your book and message to your readers.


Jennifer Milius is an entrepreneur, coach, developmental editor, author, and host of The TufFish Show who helps creatives bring out their inner greatness so that they get comfortable using their voice, sharing their message, and being visible.


Whether it’s speaking to elementary school students about courage and confidence; helping authors and creatives move to their next level through coaching, developmental editing, refining keynote speeches, instructions through course or workshops; or even having them on The TufFish Show, Jen believes when you share your gifts and message, you bring joy to others and show what’s possible for them.


Visit - www.jennifermilius.com/stylist


Get free resources at http://www.jennifermilius.com/start

Dec 19, 202308:56
Creating believable characters using backstory with Meredith Schorr

Creating believable characters using backstory with Meredith Schorr

Welcome Meredith Schorr to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Believable characters are so important to any story, which is why backstories are so important for the author to know and discern how, when, and how much of it to incorporate into their books. In this fun conversation with Meredith Schorr, we talked about using backstory in your book as well as what happens when your main characters don’t have the chemistry you thought they would, and how to fix it. We also chatted about importance of giving kind feedback as well as how to receive feedback. Meredith shared some tips from having worked with aspiring authors as an author mentor, including how this role has strengthened her own writing.

A born and bred New Yorker and lifelong daydreamer, Meredith Schorr fueled her passion for writing everything from restaurant reviews, original birthday cards, and even work-related emails into a career penning romantic comedies. When she’s not writing books filled with grand gestures and hard-earned happily-ever-afters or working as a trademark paralegal, she’s most often reading, running, or watching TV…for research, of course. Her trade paperback debut, AS SEEN ON TV, released in 2022 from Grand Central Publishing/Forever and was chosen by USA Today and Book Riot as one of the top romances of June. Her pitch-perfect, according to BookPage, latest romantic comedy, SOMEONE JUST LIKE YOU came out July 2023.


Visit - https://meredithschorr.com/

Book purchase links:

Someone Just Like You

As Seen on TV

Dec 12, 202331:47
Maximizing tension and conflict with your characters with Penni DePaul writing as P.A. DePaul

Maximizing tension and conflict with your characters with Penni DePaul writing as P.A. DePaul

Welcome PA (Penni) DePaul to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.


When you think about character development, one technique is using tension and conflict, and this is something our guest Penni DePaul, who writes as P. A. DePaul, loves. Penni and I talked in depth about creating conflict, a powerful villain, and how to keep it all balanced and straight so that you have a cohesive story. Penni shared her path to find her agent and get traditionally published as well as some tips to think about if that’s your goal too.


P. A. DePaul is a Publishers Weekly Bestselling and award-winning author. Her books are full of action, suspense, and romance. As a hybrid author, she has books traditionally and independently published. Her traditional publishers include Berkley, a Penguin Random House imprint, and Harlequin Books.


Visit https://padepaul.com

Books by P.A. DePaul

Dec 05, 202328:28
Learning from your first novel with Sarahlyn Bruck

Learning from your first novel with Sarahlyn Bruck

Welcome Sarahlyn Bruck to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.


Your first manuscript may not be the first book you publish. In fact, it may be tucked away in a drawer as other pieces happened and made their way to bookshelves; however, this conversation with Sarahlyn Bruck shows how important that first book you write is. We talked about all the lessons she learned from her first piece that’s still in a drawer, and how she applied those lessons and experiences to get other stories published. Sarahlyn also shared how she navigated getting her rights reversed for one of her stories.


Sarahlyn Bruck writes contemporary, book club fiction and is the award-winning author of three novels: Light of the Fire (coming January 2024), Daytime Drama (2021), and Designer You (2018). When she’s not writing, Sarahlyn moonlights as a full-time writing and literature professor at a local community college. From Northern California, she now lives in Philadelphia with her family. For the latest book news, events, and announcements, check out her website and subscribe to her newsletter. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @‌sarahlynbruck.


Visit - http://sarahlynbruck.com

Book purchase links:


LIGHT OF THE FIRE (2024)

DAYTIME DRAMA (2021)

DESIGNER YOU (2018)

Nov 28, 202332:34
REBROADCAST: Power of the Draft

REBROADCAST: Power of the Draft

Welcome to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.


One of the main messages in my business is about owning your space and letting your light shine. I wholeheartedly believe that there's only one YOU, and your gifts, message and story need to be shared. And I get how nerve wracking that can be.


Sometimes we can get in our way because we believe the first draft or second draft should be perfect and the final version for the book we so want to bring into the world.


However, the more you can let go for your first draft or reframe how you think about subsequent drafts, the more your confidence will increase and it will show in both you and your writing. So if you need a little reminder about how to embrace the power of the draft, let this short and sweet solo episode be that encouragement for you.


You are a gifted storyteller - your words can transport your reader to new worlds, new adventures, new ways of thinking, and even new mindset shifts for themselves and what they believe is possible. Your words are powerful for them, but also for you.


Visit - http://www.jennifermilius.com/stylist

Get free resources at http://www.jennifermilius.com/start

Nov 21, 202305:31
The business side of being a creative with Elizabeth Ducie

The business side of being a creative with Elizabeth Ducie

Welcome Elizabeth Ducie to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.


As authors and creatives, we focus alot of our efforts to our craft. We invest time, effort and money into developing more of skills we need to produce the best book or creative product we can. Yet, how much effort is spent on the business side of things? So many times when I’ve attended an in-person event, writers tell me how much the business side scares them, and that’s not what I think at all. It can be fun, when you’re open to it. So to help with that shift to embrace the business side of your creative business, let my conversation with Elizabeth Ducie be one of those resources for you. Elizabeth shared how to get started to shift into the mindset of the authorpreneur and run your business effectively. She outlines key questions that will help you get started or reconfirm, if you’ve been in business for a while, that you’re on the right track.


Elizabeth Ducie spent thirty plus years in the international pharmaceutical manufacturing industry before giving it all up to tell lies for a living. In the past 12 years, she has published 7 novels, 5 collections of short stories and the Author Business Foundations series on business skills for authors. She is a hybrid author, having written traditionally-published text books for many years, but is now a passionate advocate of self-publishing, which she strongly believes is a legitimate route within today's publishing environment.


Visit - https://elizabethducieauthor.co.uk/

Book purchase links:


Calamity at Coombesford Church: https://geni.us/CoombesfordBook3

Villainy at the Village Store: https://geni.us/CoombesfordBook2

Murder at Mountjoy Manor: https://geni.us/CoombesfordBook1

Author Business Foundations: https://geni.us/AuthorBusFoun

Nov 14, 202335:14
Growing with your characters as an author with Angela Hughes

Growing with your characters as an author with Angela Hughes

Welcome Angela R. Hughes to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This deep conversation with Angela Hughes showed how important it is ignore the critics and trust your original design, your desire to write and publish your book. We talked in depth about what it takes to develop well-rounded characters that embark upon a transformation that effects your readers. If you’re characters feel flat or your struggling with how to handle emotionally charged scenes, let Angela’s wisdom help you break through those challenges to write vibrant characters. And if you’re writing non-fiction, Angela’s insights can help you ensure you deliver on the promise of your book.

Historical epic fantasy author Angela R. Hughes believes in the power of storytelling. Her ambition to write stories that grip and inspire readers led her to study Celtic mythology and live for a time in Ireland, where she fell in love with the history and landscapes of “the Emerald Isle,” Wales, Scotland, and England. When she isn’t traveling or researching Arthurian legend, Angela is chatting with fellow fantasy nerds over coffee or spending time with her family at home in Waco, Texas.

Visit - http://www.angelarhughes.com

Book purchase links:

https://amzn.to/45tYrQj
https://amzn.to/3QUTvj1

Nov 07, 202338:06
Develop your PR skills as an author with Lilian Sue

Develop your PR skills as an author with Lilian Sue

Welcome Lilian Sue to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.


Most of the authors I work with cringe when they hear they need to market their book. The idea of getting more visible feels daunting. Some time it’s because they think it will be a huge financial investment, they don’t think they have the skills, or they don’t know where to start. If any of this is resonating, then this conversation with Lilian Sue is for you. Lilian identified the two keys that authors already possess and do well to start building their public relations strategy. She also shared why mindset is important in PR and how to build a strong mindset that will lead to a successful PR strategy.


As a PR coach and publicist, Lilian Sue is in the storytelling and relationship building business.

She empowers authors to learn how to gain the confidence to make public relations work for them to achieve their goals by giving them personalized guidance and support to gain the confidence to push past limiting beliefs and mindset blocks to develop and launch successful PR campaigns.

Why? Because she believes that every author has a compelling brand story that deserves to be heard and celebrated by audiences all over the world. Audiences learn to trust them and support their projects because they resonate with their stories.


Visit - http://www.inretrospectwritingservices.com

Oct 31, 202337:34
How to make the most of conference speaking with Alexa Bigwarfe

How to make the most of conference speaking with Alexa Bigwarfe

Welcome Alexa Bigwarfe to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

I also want to mention that one of the links mentioned in this episode is an “affiliate link.” This means if you use that link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my customers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

For this conversation, I asked Alexa to put her summit host hat on as we talked in depth about how to make the most of conference speaking. Alexa shared how the Women in Publishing Summit came to be and how its purpose drives what she looks for from her conference speakers. Alexa and I covered tips on pitching, scaling your presentation, content delivery, and leveraging calls to action. If workshop presentations or conference speaking opportunities are part of your strategy, you’ll want to check this episode with Alexa out.

Alexa Bigwarfe is a publishing consultant, book marketing expert, and author. She enjoys building community and connecting authors and professionals in the publishing industry through her company, The Women in Publishing Summit. She writes her own fiction books under the pen name Lexi Haddock.


Visit https://womeninpublishingsummit.com

Book purchase link - 4 Days in Paris

Oct 24, 202338:12
Using your journey and writing to find your voice with Jennifer Lang

Using your journey and writing to find your voice with Jennifer Lang

Welcome Jennifer Lang to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This conversation with Jennifer Lang shows how becoming fluent in French helped her to become a strong writer in her line of work, but also as an author. So many writers start out by taking one step - perhaps it’s submitting an article or blogging - before they set out to write a book, especially memoir, and Jennifer’s path and insights are a reminder to keep following that little nudge and taking it a step at a time as you write and share your voice. It’s about the journey, not the destination, so if you’re feeling like you’re behind, let this conversation with Jennifer reassure you that you’re making progress.

Born in the San Francisco Bay Area, Jennifer Lang lives in Tel Aviv, where she runs http://israelwriterstudio.com. Her prize-winning essays appear in Baltimore Review, Under the Sun, Midway Journal, and elsewhere. She holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and is an Assistant Editor at Brevity Journal, longtime yoga practitioner and instructor. She has two unconventional books forthcoming, Places We Left Behind: a memoir-in-miniature (9/5/23) and Landed: A yogi's memoir in pieces & poses (10/15/24), both with Vine Leaves Press.


Visit - https://israelwriterstudio.com/

Book purchase link - https://www.amazon.com/Places-Left-Behind-memoir-miniature/dp/3988320188/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1693916697&sr=1-1

Oct 17, 202331:09
Critique Feedback Tips with Jen Milius
Oct 10, 202308:33
Running your race at your pace as a writer with Stephanie Cotta

Running your race at your pace as a writer with Stephanie Cotta

Welcome Stephanie Cotta to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

If you’ve been writing or have been in your head about when to take it to the next step and share with others, or if you need to rework your book from a different angle, or if you should be further along than you are, then let this conversation with Stephanie Cotta offer some encouragement. Stephanie shared how working with an accountability partner helped her to move to the next step, then how querying her epic fantasy manuscript caused her to try a different approach to get published. She also shared how she trusted her instincts and went at the pace she needed, which is something I think is so important, especially when it seems like you should be further along.

Stephanie Cotta writes epic fantasy and is the award-winning author of the young adult fantasy novel The Conjurer’s Curse. After discovering the world of Star Wars and the land of Narnia at a young age, her love of Sci-fi/Fantasy has been undying ever since. She loves crafting stories of hope amid impossible odds and creating realistic characters who inspire readers to discover their inner strength and overcome their struggles. Stephanie lives in beautiful Southern Oregon with her husband, their two kids, a corgi named Walter, and a tabby-cat named Percy. When she’s not writing, she’s practicing archery, avidly reading, playing an immersive RPG, or hiking with her family.


Visit http://www.sdaniellacotta.com

Book purchase link https://a.co/d/ejrshEl

Oct 03, 202328:11
Using speaking engagements in your author business with Meg Nocero

Using speaking engagements in your author business with Meg Nocero

Welcome Meg Nocero to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.


This powerful and deep conversation with Meg is worth its weight in gold! Meg and I talked about using this time of year to set the intention for what you want to create and why, so as you move forward, you’re making empowered choices. We also went into detail what she looks for in guests on her podcasts and speakers for her live events, so if adding speaking engagements or podcasts are on your strategic plan, then let Meg’s insights support your efforts.


Margaret (Meg) Nocero (she/her) was a federal immigration prosecutor and legal intern coordinator/mentor for over 20 years. Now, as an expert in happiness studies, she is a TEDx speaker, an empowerment coach, and the award-winning author of The Magical Guide to Bliss: Daily Keys to Unlock Your Dreams, Spirit & Inner Bliss, Sparkle & Shine: 108 M.A.N.T.R.A.s to Brighten Your Day and Lighten Your Way, and Butterfly Awakens: A Memoir of Transformation Through Grief. She founded Butterflies & Bliss L.L.C. and the award-winning S.H.I.N.E. Networking Inc., a nonprofit that provides educational scholarships to young innovative leaders in her community. She holds a B.A. in Spanish/Italian from Boston College, an M.A. in International Affairs from the University of Miami, a J.D. from St. Thomas University School of Law, and a Certificate in Happiness Studies with the Happiness Studies Academy. She is also a Certified Federal Law Enforcement Instructor, a Love Button Global Movement Ambassador, and a Happiness Studies Mentor. She has appeared on CNN Español, BookCon live, and online media, such as ThriveGlobal, MSNBC, CBS, Boston Herald, AILA National Well-Being Panel, and Chicago Tribune. She is the Chair of AILA South Florida's Wellness Committee and hosts two YouTube/podcasts called Manifesting with Meg: Conversations with Extraordinary People and Amazing Authors. She is currently working on a novel, The Sunrise of My Italian Bliss.


Visit http://www.megnocero.com

Book purchase links:

The Magical Guide to Bliss

Sparkle & Shine

Butterfly Awakens

Sep 26, 202338:21
Changing your publishing path with Leslie Rasmussen

Changing your publishing path with Leslie Rasmussen

Welcome Leslie Rasmussen to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Have you ever felt like once you pick a publishing path, you have to stick with that choice for each book you write? If you have or if you’ve wondered what are some considerations for choosing a path, then let this conversation with Leslie Rasmussen help. This fabulous conversation covers her journey of publishing from a hybrid press to a small traditional press. In addition to publishing paths, Leslie shared her experience with launching her first book as well as writing her second book during the pandemic, then celebrating her second book with an in-person book signing event.

Leslie Rasmussen is the award-winning author of After Happily Ever After and The Stories We Cannot Tell. In the past, she’s written tv sitcoms for Burt Reynolds, Roseanne Barr, Norm McDonald, and many others. Leslie has also written over twenty essays for Huffington Post and has spoken on panels discussing empowering women in midlife. She is a member of The Writers Guild of America as well as Women in Film and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Leslie lives in Southern California and is married with two sons.


Visit https://www.lesliearasmussen.com

Book purchase links:

The Stories We Cannot Tell

After Happily Ever After

Sep 19, 202330:35
Engineering the reader's experience with Kristin Kisska

Engineering the reader's experience with Kristin Kisska

Welcome Kristin Kisska to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

When Kristin Kisska talked about “engineering a reader’s experience,” I knew that this was the perfect way to describe our conversation. Kristin and I have a fabulous in-depth conversation about leveraging multiple point of views, dual timelines, epilogues and prologues all to create her book’s structure for a powerful reader experience. To do this, Kristin walks through how handled creating the dual timeline while considering all characters as well as how she decided that an epilogue and prologue were crucial to her book.

Kristin Kisska is a native of Virginia, where she currently resides with her family and their moody tabby, Boom. She holds a BS in commerce from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Northwestern University. She is the author of a dozen short stories published in anthologies. The Hint of Light is her debut novel. Kristin loves hearing from friends and readers at http://www.KristinKisska.com .


Visit http://KristinKisska.com

Book purchase link

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Hint-Light-Novel-Kristin-Kisska/dp/1662512511/

Audible - https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Hint-of-Light-Audiobook/B0BZ16SRCB?

Sep 12, 202331:40
Get legally zipped up in your author business with Tamsen Horton

Get legally zipped up in your author business with Tamsen Horton

Welcome Tamsen Horton to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

As an author, you tend to think about the legal side of your business by securing a copyright for your book, and that’s great! And there’s so much more to truly protect yourself, your works and business. My friend and business mentor Tamsen Horton is also an attorney as well as an expert in thinking through and building solid infrastructure. She’s known for saying “every business decision has a legal impact,” so let this fabulous conversation with Tamsen help you to not only identify where you need legal protection in your author business, but also why it’s needed and how to remedy it.

Tamsen Horton is a licensed attorney, published author, and dedicated advocate for out-of-the-box entrepreneurs. With her extensive expertise and unique perspective, she helps entrepreneurs protect what matters most to them—time, money, and relationships.

As the author of Easy As PB&J: Share What You Know, Make Money Doing It and Open for Business: Entrepreneur Stories, Tamsen shares practical insights, success stories, and entrepreneurial ideas. Her books have inspired and guided countless individuals on their entrepreneurial journeys.

Tamsen's impact extends beyond the pages of her books. She founded PBK (Preneur Business Klub), an entrepreneurial community specifically designed for online business owners. PBK provides valuable resources, coaching, and a supportive network, empowering out-of-the-box entrepreneurs to thrive in their businesses.

Recognizing the need for simplified business and legal tools, Tamsen created BIZLEBOX™—a reliable and user-friendly toolbox for entrepreneurs. BIZLEBOX™ equips entrepreneurs with templates, guides, and resources to protect their most important assets, enabling them to focus on what they do best.

Tamsen's expertise and passion have led to frequent appearances on popular podcasts, including Naptime Empires, You Inc., Now or Never, The Gen Why Lawyer, The Starters Club, and The Marketing Moxie Show. These platforms have allowed her to share her insights, connect with a broader audience, and make a positive impact in the entrepreneurial space.

With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by out-of-the-box entrepreneurs, Tamsen's work has garnered testimonials such as "PBK provided coaching and education beyond our expectations" or "BIZLEBOX™ saved me from myself and my good ideas," she knows that she is truly making a difference.

Visit - https://www.tamsenhorton.com/bizle

Book purchase links:

Easy As PB&J: Share What You Know, Make Money Doing It and Open for Business: Entrepreneur Stories

Sep 05, 202340:39
Puzzling your book together with Janyre Tromp

Puzzling your book together with Janyre Tromp

Welcome Janyre Tromp to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

You know when you just click with someone because it feels like you’ve met a kindred spirit? Well, that’s how I felt with Janyre Tromp, and this fun and in depth conversation is about tackling structure, editing, and puzzling your book together. No matter if you’re a panster, plotter, or puzzler, let the wisdom Janyre shares help you to strengthen your book, so it’s a solid version for your editor, which makes it the best it can be for your readers.

Janyre Tromp is a veteran book editor by day and writer of historical novels with a healthy dose of intrigue at night. She’s the best-selling author of Shadows in the Mind’s Eye and co-author of both O Little Town and It’s a Wonderful Christmas. And that all happens from her unfinished basement when she’s not hanging out with her family, two troublesome cats, and slightly eccentric Shetland Sheepdog.


Visit - http://www.JanyreTromp.com

Book purchase links:

Shadows in the Mind's Eye:

O Little Town

Aug 29, 202339:05
Trust yourself to dig deeper and move to your next level

Trust yourself to dig deeper and move to your next level

Welcome to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This solo episode gets into decisions that are necessary to move to your next level. It doesn’t matter how big or small the step is. It’s about taking that next step because each one pushes you out of your comfort zone and toward your next new level, which will require you to dig deep. It’s about not comparing your next level to someone else’s because it only matters what is big to you to accomplish. So whether you’re writing your first book, publishing your latest book in a different genre, doing your first interview, hosting your first book signing or even if you’ve done many of these before, but not at the scale or level where this new opportunity will take you, it still requires action. And some of those steps, may seem invisible to everyone around you, except to you, yet you still need to take them.

So if you’re questioning if you’re the right person for your book, or if you’ve said “yes” to opportunities and are in your head about them, or just need a pep talk, let this episode be encouragement to keep going.

Jennifer Milius is an entrepreneur, developmental editor, coach and accomplished multi-genre author who leverages her 20-year corporate career, undergraduate Communications degree, and M.B.A. to help creatives bring out their inner greatness so that they get comfortable using their voice, sharing their message, and being visible.

Having spoken to over 5,000 elementary school students about courage and confidence as well as being host of The TufFish Show, Jen believes when you share your gifts and message, you bring joy to others and show what’s possible for them. Tapping into your full potential means that joy, purpose, and possibility are coming together through you.


Visit - https://www.jennifermilius.com/stylist


Get free resources at https://www.jennifermilius.com/start

Aug 22, 202311:02
Permission for adjustments with Shana Dow

Permission for adjustments with Shana Dow

Welcome Shana Dow to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

As writers, positive self-talk is so important. When you’re creating a story, you know the possibility of the impression your words can have on your readers, so you choose them well. Do you do the same with your self-talk? This fabulous deep conversation with Shana Dow goes into being mindful of what you tell yourself and giving yourself permission to make adjustments. Whether it’s to change a book cover to align it better with your genre, questions to ask to make important edits or how to give yourself grace as you write, run your author business and live your life.

Shana Dow is the best-selling author of the young adult adventure fantasy series, The Keepers of the Balance. In addition to writing novels, she enjoys reading, cooking, watching anime, and her newest endeavor, gardening. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband and four sons.


Visit https://shanadow.com

Book purchase links:

The Keeper

The Meadow

The Portal

Aug 15, 202333:14
Weaving subplots into your story with Delise Torres

Weaving subplots into your story with Delise Torres

Welcome Delise Torres to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.


When you get that first draft done, it is such a big accomplishment and yet, there’s more writing that’s needed to refine and polish that draft into the final manuscript. Delise Torres and I talked about she found her story through the revisions and developed the structure for her book. She shared how she leveraged her professional background into a subplot and what was required to create a well-connected story that honored her vision.


Originally from Puerto Rico, Delise Torres has a PhD in Food Science and former work experience as a quality assurance manager in the food industry. She currently lives in Germany with her daughter and German husband. One Tough Cookie is her first novel.


Visit https://delisetorres.com/

Book purchase link https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723029/one-tough-cookie-by-delise-torres/

Aug 08, 202331:21
Weaving real events and fiction into a believable story with Stephanie Landsem

Weaving real events and fiction into a believable story with Stephanie Landsem

Welcome Stephanie Landsem to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Part of writing a book is determining how to structure it, and if it’s fiction, how you develop engaging and complex characters. In this conversation with Stephanie Landsem, we talk about how she accomplished this in two different genres - biblical fiction and historical fiction - while leveraging and keeping real and documented events intact. Stephanie shared how she worked with her beta readers to ensure the reveals she wanted in the story were ideally timed as well as how she worked through writing roadblocks.

Stephanie Landsem writes about women in history for women who love history. Stephanie has traveled on five continents and dozens of countries. When she can’t travel, she reads fiction and history and dreams of her next adventure -- whether it be in person or on the pages of her novels. She makes her home in Lake Elmo, Minnesota with her husband of 33 years, occasional adult children, two cats, a dog, and a tortoise named Moe.


Visit - https://stephanielandsem.com/

Book purchase links:


Code Name Edelweiss: https://stephanielandsem.com/code-name-edelweiss/

In A Far-Off Land: https://stephanielandsem.com/in-a-far-off-land/

The Living Water Series: https://stephanielandsem.com/books/the-well/

Aug 01, 202333:48
Empowerment through creativity with Daniella Rushton

Empowerment through creativity with Daniella Rushton

Welcome back Daniella Rushton to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

The first time Daniella Rushton and I chatted, it was all about world building tips as well as dealing with doubt. This time, we talked about how challenges can be conduits to creativity and how empowering and therapeutic writing is. Daniella also shared a fabulous way of how she markets her book that took her main character and book cover to a whole new level!


Daniella Marie Rushton is British, wife to Nicholas and mother to Bertie. In 2017, her son challenged her to channel her renowned imagination into writing a book. The Panther Tales fantasy series was born.

The Watchers and the Gifted Ones, book one in the series, published in 2020.

The Queen and the Powerful Pendant, the sequel, published in 2022.

She has since gone onto collate a collection of fairy tales, of which one has been published online, as well as a collection of surreal poetry, which she hopes to have published someday soon.

Her brand, ‘Fantasy, Fairy Tales and Poetry’ was developed and is inspired by her Christian faith as well as living a thoroughly creative life. This belief, the core message of The Panther Tales, has led to her being featured on numerous podcasts, radio, as well as summits discussing and sharing her literary life.


Visit - http://www.thepanthertales.com

Book purchase link - The Queen and the Powerful Pendant

Jul 25, 202328:20
Marketing guidance for authors with Jenn Hanson-dePaula

Marketing guidance for authors with Jenn Hanson-dePaula

Welcome Jenn Hanson-dePaula from Mixtus Media to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Do you cringe when you think about marketing or having to market your book? Are you unsure what to talk about or how often so you reach your ideal audience? If so, let this in-depth, chock full of goodness conversation with Jenn Hanson-dePaula at Mixtus Media help you reframe how to think of and approach marketing, especially in social media. Jenn shared so much wisdom including the phases of book marketing, creating connections, and the difference between marketing and sales (hint: they’re cousins, not twins).


Jenn Hanson-dePaula is a marketing and social media expert who has been working with authors, musicians, and other creatives for over 20 years.


Jenn got her start in the music industry working for Essential Records in 2000 serving as the label publicist. In 2001 she was asked to join EMI CMG to serve as label publicist. For five years she helped musicians take their career to new heights, and actually has a platinum record to prove it.


In 2005 she ventured out on her own to start BookEnd Media, which was formed to serve the independent music and author communities. As the music and publishing landscapes changed and social media outlets became more and more prominent, she refocused the company, naming it Mixtus Media. She decided to concentrate on authors and book publishing to help her clients form a deeper and more powerful online presence. She has worked with a wide range of authors - from New York Times best selling authors to self-published authors starting from scratch.


Jenn is a 2000 graduate of Greenville University with a degree in Communication: Public Relations. In 2012 she was named "Outstanding Young Alumna" by Greenville University for her work in marketing and entrepreneurial ventures.


Visit - www.mixtusmedia.com

https://www.mixtusmedia.com/the-author-circle

https://www.mixtusmedia.com/tools

https://www.mixtusmedia.com/consulting

Jul 18, 202334:15
Write a powerful first chapter with Donna Norman-Carbone

Write a powerful first chapter with Donna Norman-Carbone

Welcome Donna Norman-Carbone to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

When you think about what draws you into a book, a strong and enticing chapter one is key, yet not easily done on the first pass. Donna shares the process she went through to get to this coveted first chapter status including how she went from five point of views to one and why. Another piece to the puzzle is knowing when it’s done, and Donna shares some insights to help here too.

Donna Norman-Carbone’s debut, All That is Sacred, a women’s fiction released June 6, 2023, and was published by Red Adept Publishing. A member of the WFWA and CAPA and a tour guide for Bookish Road Trip, Donna also teaches English in CT where she resides with her husband and family. She enjoys reading and traveling.

Visit https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

Book purchase link - All That is Sacred

Jul 11, 202334:31
[REBROADCAST] - What story are you telling?

[REBROADCAST] - What story are you telling?

Welcome to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

One of the main messages in my business is about owning your space and letting your light shine. I wholeheartedly believe that there's only one YOU, and your gifts, message and story need to be shared. And I get how nerve wracking that can be. The language we use, especially to ourselves, about ourselves is powerful. The more you shifted your language toward success and believing you will do well, the more you will increase your confidence and it will show.

You are a gifted storyteller - your words can transport your reader to new worlds, new adventures, new ways of thinking, and even new mindset shifts for themselves and what they believe is possible. Your words are powerful for them, but also for you.

Visit - http://www.jennifermilius.com/stylist

Get free resources at http://www.jennifermilius.com/start

Jul 04, 202304:43
Organizing, writing, and launching three anthologies with Grace Sammon

Organizing, writing, and launching three anthologies with Grace Sammon

Welcome Grace Sammon back to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

So much has happened since Grace and I last chatted on the show, including three anthology books that she’s also rapid launching. I was so intrigued that I wanted to have her back to talk about how the anthologies really came together and how she’s applying lessons learned from book one’s efforts into book three’s, all in a relatively short period of time.

Grace Sammon is recognized in “Who’s Who in Education” and “Who’s Who in Literature.” Grace utilized skills built up over decades to re-invent herself with her award-winning fourth book and debut novel - The Eves. She is the brainchild behind the Launch Pad Countdown series on writing, publishing, and marketing your book. Grace hosts two radio shows, The Storytellers and LAUNCH PAD. Always committed to creative collaborations, Grace is the founder of Author Talk Network; a member of both the Women’s Fiction Writers’ Association and the Women’s National Book Association; and she serves as the Director of Membership for the reader/writer online community “Bookish Road Trip.” She currently lives on Florida’s west coast with her husband and a small herd of imaginary llamas.


Visit www.gracesammon.NET

Book purchase links -

For Writing:

https://www.amazon.com/Launch-Pad-Countdown-Writing-Your-ebook/dp/B0BX1GGTD7/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2RIJDW2L3HKA3&keywords=launch+pad+the+countdown+to+writing+your+book&qid=1683056144&sprefix=launch+pad%2Caps%2C124&sr=8-1


For Publishing:

https://www.amazon.com/Launch-Pad-Countdown-Publishing-Your-ebook/dp/B0C3G7KPV9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1W0N486T81SLP&keywords=launch+pad+the+countdown+to+publishing+your+book&qid=1683056212&sprefix=launch+pad+the+countdown+to+publishing+your+book%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-1


For Marketing:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/launchpad-mary-helen-sheriff/1143000453?ean=9781637773765

Jun 27, 202330:26
It's never too late to write your book with Barbara Conrey

It's never too late to write your book with Barbara Conrey

Welcome back Barbara Conrey to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable.

When my previous guest Barbara Conrey suggested we talk again about how it’s never too late to follow your dream, I couldn’t wait to have her back on the show. Barbara shared in this episode how age is just a number, her lessons between writing book one to now getting ready to publish book three, and how volunteering has helped her grow her author business.

Barbara Conrey is the USA Today Bestselling author of Nowhere Near Goodbye, her debut, published on August 4, 2020, by Red Adept Publishing. Liza Fleissig represents her at the Liza Royce Agency. Her sophomore novel, My Secret to Keep, released on August 23, 2022.

Barbara is an active member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, Women’s National Book Association, and Author Talk Network. She also moderates the online book club for the Facebook Group Bookish Road Trip.

Travel is her passion, along with reading, writing, hiking, and exploring antique shops. Her greatest love is Miss Molly, her rescue beagle. Barbara lives in Pennsylvania, close to family and friends.

Visit - https://www.barbaraconreyauthor.com

Book purchase links:

My Secret to Keep

Nowhere Near Goodbye

Jun 20, 202329:01
Trust the creative in you with Jen Milius
Jun 13, 202307:45
Reducing your word count to strengthen your story with Hope Gibbs

Reducing your word count to strengthen your story with Hope Gibbs

Welcome Hope Gibbs to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

When you think about content editing your manuscript, it can feel like a huge undertaking. And when you need to cut thousands of words to tighten and strengthen the story, how do you know where to start? What to keep? What to omit? If these questions are on your mind, then let this conversation with Hope Gibbs be a fabulous resource. Hope shares what she did over the course of several rounds of content editing to answer these very questions, so that she ended up with an even stronger story than where she started.

Hope Gibbs grew up in rural Scottsville, Kentucky. As the daughter of an English teacher, she was raised to value the importance of good storytelling from an early age. Today, she’s an avid reader of women’s fiction. Drawn to multi-generational family sagas, relationship issues, and the complexities of being a woman, she translates those themes into her own writing.

Hope lives in Tennessee with her husband and her persnickety Shih Tzu, Harley. She is also the mother of five. In her downtime, she loves playing tennis, singing karaoke, curling up on her favorite chair with a book, and playing board games.

Hope has a B.A. from Western Kentucky University and is a member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association, a Bookish Road Trip Tour Guide, and a member of the Women's National Book Association.

Visit - https://www.authorhopegibbs.com
Book purchase link - https://www.amazon.com/Where-Grass-Grows-Blue-Gibbs-ebook/dp/B0BWL189GB/ref=sr_1_1?crid=PV2RZ21DCO8C&keywords=hope+gibbs&qid=1677178237&s=digital-text&sprefix=hope+gibbs%2Cdigital-text%2C78&sr=1-1

Jun 06, 202329:17
Creating and writing through fear with Brooke Adams Law

Creating and writing through fear with Brooke Adams Law

Welcome Brooke Adams Law to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This fabulous deep conversation with Brooke Adams Law is perfect if you’ve been in your head with getting your book out into the world. When you’re working on something that’s bigger than you, fear will not only show up, it will remind you that it’s there too. So no matter what phase you’re in (writing, editing, publishing, promoting), let the wisdom Brooke shares help you get refocused, grounded and moving to your next level.

Brooke Adams Law is an award-winning author and founder of the Writing Brave movement. Brooke helps creative, intuitive women claim their author identity so that they can start, finish and publish brave, dazzling books.

Brooke’s debut novel Catchlight won the Fairfield Book Prize, was named a Best Indie Book of 2020 by Kirkus Reviews, and was featured on Good Morning America’s blog.

You can visit Brooke’s website at http://www.wearewritingbrave.com and take her free quiz to discover YOUR writing routine personality type.

Visit - https://www.wearewritingbrave.com/
Book purchase link - https://www.amazon.com/Catchlight-Brooke-Law/dp/1949116182

May 30, 202334:23
Setting, character development and dual timelines with Susanne Dunlap

Setting, character development and dual timelines with Susanne Dunlap

Welcome Susanne Dunlap to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

When you think about historical fiction, there’s so many nuances that go into it in order to create a powerful story. And it’s these details that Susanne Dunlap and I discussed in this episode. Setting, character development, a strong familiarity for the period of time the story, and even dual timelines are areas where Susanne shared so much wisdom. I can’t wait for you to listen!

Susanne Dunlap is the award-winning author of historical fiction for adults and teens, and an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach. Her books span periods from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, all feature strong female protagonists and illuminate something about women's history. Many owe their genesis to the research she did for her PhD in music history from Yale University. She lives in Biddeford, Maine with her 15-year-old dog Betty.


Visit - https://susanne-dunlap.com

Book purchase link - The Courtesan's Daughter

May 23, 202329:17
How to handle feedback with your writing with Shawn Peters

How to handle feedback with your writing with Shawn Peters

Welcome Shawn Peters to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

When you think about getting feedback on your writing, whether it’s from an editor or a beta reader, do you feel excited or nervous? Do you feel overwhelmed with how to process all of the feedback you’ve received, so that you don’t miss anything? If any of these questions have run through your mind before now, let this conversation with Shawn Peters help you work through them. Shawn’s energy is vibrant, and he shared so much goodness not only about feedback and processing edits, but also structure and character development. And after you’ve listened, we’d love to hear how you incorporated his tips.

Shawn Peters has written a little bit about a lot of things in a lot of places. Ads for huge premium cable networks and all kinds of small businesses. Movie ideas that ended up on the shelf and domestic date-nights that ended up in the newspapers. Columns about fantasy sports and finally, a pair of books about a neurodiverse hero in the making. Shawn lives in Massachusetts with his wife who is a real superhero (aka a public school teacher), as well as their two children, a dog and a cat that might appear during this podcast if she decides to.

Shawn's debut MG adventure novel, The Unforgettable Logan Foster, was published on January 18th, 2022 by Harper Collins, and the paperback was released on November 8th, 2022. It’s currently nominated for The Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Award and The Bluestem Award. The sequel, The Unforgettable Logan Foster and the Shadow of Doubt, is out now as well.

Visit - http://www.shawnpeterswrites.com
Book purchase links:

THE UNFORGETTABLE LOGAN FOSTER (Paperback) https://www.amazon.com/Unforgettable-Logan-Foster-1/dp/0063047683
THE UNFORGETTABLE LOGAN FOSTER AND THE SHADOW OF DOUBT (Hardcover) https://www.amazon.com/Unforgettable-Logan-Foster-Shadow-Doubt/dp/0063047721
Signed Copies of THE UNFORGETTABLE LOGAN FOSTER SERIES - https://aesopsfable.com/search?q=%22shawn+peters%22


May 16, 202334:35
Stories we tell ourselves and how to reprogram them with Sarah Vie

Stories we tell ourselves and how to reprogram them with Sarah Vie

Welcome Sarah Vie to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

As writers, we do our best to craft and develop an incredible journey or story for our readers, yet are we mindful of the stories we tell ourselves? This deep conversation with Sarah Vie goes into this exact thing - the stories we tell ourselves and how we can reprogram them. Edit the narrative in a more expansive and positive way, so we are willing to take calculated risks with our writing and our businesses in order to grow.

Sarah Vie Is an award winning author, energy facilitator and manifesting light worker. She helps women shift their limited inner energy so that they can attract massive abundance in their lives.


Visit - http://Sarahvie.com

Book purchase link Sarahvie.com/books


I wish I’d known - Memoir and a guide to release ancestral patterns.

Let your inner golden sparkle shine - Children's book teaching children how to believe in themselves

May 09, 202329:40
Republishing a children's book from English into Spanish with Valerie James Abbott

Republishing a children's book from English into Spanish with Valerie James Abbott

Welcome Valerie James Abbott to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

When my previous guest, Valerie James Abbott, told me about her latest accomplishment, I had to have her back on the show to share with you. As a recap, our first conversation centered around shifting point of view and the illustration process for her children’s book, and this conversation is about how Valerie republished Padapillo from English into Spanish. Valerie’s desire was for this edition to feel as if it was always written in Spanish, so our conversation is a deep dive into her process, so that she achieved her goal. 

Valerie James Abbott is the co-founder of the national pediatric Late Onset Hearing Loss Awareness Campaign and a nationally recognized parent-leader for early childhood hearing loss detection and intervention. She serves as director of Listen Up! at Padapillo PBLLC, an organization dedicated to improving community awareness about postnatal hearing loss. Her award-winning children's book Padapillo is based on the true story of how her family discovered and came to terms with their child's mysterious permanent hearing loss.

Visit - www.valeriejamesabbott.com

Book purchase link: https://www.valeriejamesabbott.com/bookstore

May 02, 202334:52
Being highly intuitive with Lauren Sapala

Being highly intuitive with Lauren Sapala

Welcome Lauren Sapala to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

What a fabulous deep conversation with Lauren Sapala about being highly intuitive and how that affects your writing or creative process. One of the biggest things when you are running a business or working on a creative project is getting as comfortable as you can with not knowing all the answers and being uncomfortable. If you are stuck with your writing, are highly sensitive or highly intuitive, then let Lauren’s wisdom offer some ways through it.

Lauren Sapala is the author of The INFJ Writer, Firefly Magic: Heart Powered Marketing for Highly Sensitive Writers, and The INFJ Revolution, as well as The West Coast Trilogy, an autobiographical fiction series. She is also a writing coach for writers of the INFJ and INFP personality type and blogs about writing, creativity and personality theory at laurensapala.com.

Visit - www.laurensapala.com

Book purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lauren-Sapala/author/B01G7RO33E

Apr 25, 202330:60
Balancing real life and writing with Samantha Otto Brown

Balancing real life and writing with Samantha Otto Brown

Welcome Samantha Otto Brown to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

So many of the writers I work with share their concerns about balancing real life with writing. Whether they are running their own business, juggling a couple of different jobs, or spending time with family, it can feel challenging to navigate “all the things” and work on your book. If this is resonating, then let this conversation with Samantha Otto Brown offer encouragement and a reminder that you’re not alone. During our chat, Samantha shared some guidance she received which helped her shift her perspective and give herself permission to go at the pace she needed to write and publish her book.

Samantha Otto Brown is based in St. Louis, Missouri. She works in medical publishing and corporate PR/social media. Sub Wife is her first book-length publication.

Visit - Samanthaottobrown.com
Book purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Sub-Wife-Samantha-Otto-Brown/dp/1737867605

Apr 18, 202332:42
Handling the ripple effects of structural changes in your book with Lisa Roe

Handling the ripple effects of structural changes in your book with Lisa Roe

Welcome Lisa Roe to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

What do you do when you get feedback for your book that might have bigger implications when you address them? That’s what this in depth conversation with Lisa Roe covers. During our chat, Lisa shared ways to develop stronger characters and how to handle structural changes to your book. She likened the process to smoothing out a bedsheet to get all the wrinkles out, and the way she moved between her writing process and her metaphor was brilliant. Because in the end, you want to make sure that any changes you do are worked out entirely, so that the reader gets the best experience with your book.

Lisa Roe graduated from the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and spent many years as an advertising creative director and copywriter in New York City until she accepted the tougher job of stay-at-home mom and turned to writing fiction — mostly to entertain her kids, but then to tell her own stories. A classic first born, reluctant empty nester, Dr. Doolittle wannabe, and the author of Welcome to the Neighborhood, Lisa lives in New Jersey with her husband and three incorrigible dogs.

Visit - lisaroe.com

Book purchase link: Welcome to the Neighborhood

Apr 11, 202326:17