In this final (!) episode of the Happy Writer podcast, Marissa and Joanne chat about the past almost five years and 224 episodes of the podcast: favorite moments, what they learned, what they will (and won’t!) miss, how many people tuned in, and more fun facts and stats. Also discussed: THE HAPPY WRITER book – how it came about, what changed thanks to the podcast, what’s inside, what Marissa hopes readers take from it, a giveaway, and more!

Show Notes:

Happy Writer free downloads: https://www.marissameyer.com/the-happy-writer-book/

Enter the giveaway! https://forms.gle/1sYqAJ4mV6mo55Mp9

Order The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250362377

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

Marissa chats with J. Ann Thomas about her new adult gothic ghost novel, THE SPIRIT COLLECTION OF THORNE HALL. Also in this episode: the unpredictability of being a podcaster with children, how publishing can be a roller coaster of a career, creating love interests that are not perfect but are perfect for the character, using a real house and its blueprints and diagrams to keep track of ghosts (!), using real people (alive and dead) to inspire characters, character names, narrating your own audio books, and so much more!

Show Notes:

Ventfort Hall Museum in Lennox, MA: https://gildedage.org/

MOMA Mourning Clothes exhibit: https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2014/death-becomes-her

Child Ballads: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Ballads

Order The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250362377

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

Marissa chats with Trisha Tobias about her debut gothic YA, HONEYSUCKLE AND BONE. Also discussed: creating author signatures, writing fanfiction across fandoms, writing from a place of grief and vulnerability and using writing to help process, researching a far-off setting through family and the internet, flawed and unreliable characters, militant outlining, fearing the blank page, how becoming a published author can make for a more empathetic editor, and so much more!

Order The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250362377

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

In this first episode of 2025, Marissa chats with Paul Coccia about his upcoming YA romance, RECOMMENDED READING. Also discussed in this episode: Glitterature, projects taking time to find the perfect home and market, feeling confident enough to follow your own path, intellectual property (IP) projects and the audition process, working to a provided beat sheet, prologues and opening scenes, writing great banter and love confessions, and so much more!

Order The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250362377

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

Marissa is joined by repeat podcast guest, author, longtime critique partner, fellow Sailor Moon fanfiction writer and now, cowriter, Tamara Moss. Discussed in this episode: Tamara and Marissa’s writing accomplishments for 2024 and how they celebrated (hint: Tamara shares the kind of ‘celebration’ we don’t recommend), the benefits of cleaning and decluttering, looking forward to what’s ahead for 2025, Parkinson’s Law, goal-setting and breaking down goals to be manageable, being kind to yourself, SMART goals, staying motivated, and more!

Show Notes:

Tamara’s other episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/950767/episodes/4229966-epic-world-building-advice-with-tamara-moss-lintang-and-the-pirate-queen

The Deadbolt Mystery Society: https://deadboltmysterysociety.com/

Getting Things Done: https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9780143126560

Order The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250362377

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

Marissa and Joanne are joined by Rebecca Soler and Gabi Epstein – the narrators for the LET IT GLOW audiobook (You may also recognize Rebecca’s voice from most of Marissa’s other audio books!). Discussed in this deep dive episode all about audio books: the similarities and differences between audiobook narration and stage acting, how much interaction narrators have with authors and co-narrators, the process of recording and editing, what typical recording days look like, narrator voice tips and tricks, narrator pet peeves (hint for writers: read your books out loud!), how song lyrics work in audio (includes a behind the scenes [not] fun fact about the song in LET IT GLOW), how to get started as an audiobook narrator, and so much more!

Ahab voice collaboration website: https://www.ahabtalent.com/

Thank You for Listening: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9780063095588

Mark Thompson’s audio catalog: https://libro.fm/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=Mark+Thompson

Order The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250362377

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

Marissa and Joanne chat all things holiday gifting in this special bonus super-sized episode where they share their favorite presents received and offer their suggestions, along with a few submitted by listeners (thank you!). From free ideas to the lavishly spendy, items to services, you’re sure to find the perfect something for the readers and writers on your list.

Pentel Energel Pens: https://www.pentel.com/collections/energel

Waterproof notepad: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LID8V54

Writing prompt cards: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004PICKDS

Books are Magic Book club (options for adults/kids/teens and across genres) https://app.table22.com/product/books-are-magic-book-club

The Book Drop: options for various ages https://www.thebookdrop.com/all-monthly-mailings

The Banned Book Box: https://www.bannedbooksbox.com/

Book of the Month (adult popular hardcovers): https://www.bookofthemonth.com/

Libro.fm audiobook gift subscription: https://libro.fm/gift

Fairyloot Fantasy Book Box subscriptions (YA, Adult, Romantasy): https://us.fairyloot.com/

Litjoy: https://litjoycrate.com/collections/special-editions-books

Bose noise-cancelling headphones: https://www.bose.com/c/headphones/noise-cancelling

A cozy reading blanket: Topsy Farms: https://www.topsyfarms.com/collections/wool-blankets-1

Retro keyboard: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2BJK52J

Ergonomic keyboard https://kinesis-ergo.com/products/

Jennifer Nielsen’s Episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/950767/episodes/8094293-nerding-out-over-cryptology-with-jennifer-a-nielsen-rescue

Lisa McMann’s Episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/950767/episodes/5299816-school-visits-and-morally-gray-characters-with-lisa-mcmann-the-un

Order The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250362377

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

Marissa chats with Marisha Pessl about her new YA thriller, DARKLY. Also discussed in this episode: avoiding the trap of feeling like you have to publish a book a year, how planning and outlining can be essential for writing great twists that fool the reader, keeping a names database, finding inspirations for writing gothic and atmospheric novels, challenging yourself even if you’re not sure you can pull it off, writing both YA and adult and deciding between the two, refilling the artistic well, the benefits of boredom, and so much more!

Order The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250362377

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/