Setting, BookTok, and Gothic Adventure, Psychological Thriller, and Beach Novels
Podcast: Download (Duration: 2:40:23 — 220.3MB)
In this episode 303, we touch on one of the hottest topics in the literary world: BookTok. We have craft discussions about how to build strong settings and writing series and sequels. We feature authors in the Southern gothic adventure, psychological thriller, and beach novel genres. Plus we share book recommendations, writing tips from the local community, and more.
Today’s Featured Authors:
Cathey Daniels Time Stamp: 23:42
Live Caught, a dark southern gothic adventure sourced in the rural mountains of Western North Carolina, is the story of an abused one-armed boy, who steals the family skiff to follow his father’s wistful dream of riding the Carolina rivers all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, what one reviewer said has a “unique alchemy of ingredients from A Clockwork Orange and Huckleberry Finn.”
Jon Bassoff Time Stamp: 1:22:10
Beneath Cruel Waters is a psychological thriller where a man learns that his estranged mother has taken her own life, and returns for the funeral, hoping to make peace with her memory, but then things spin out of control, what one bestselling author calls “an intense, gripping, exceptionally written mystery thriller that everyone must read.”
Suzanne Goodwyn Time Stamp: 2:11:00
Wrightsville Beach is a novel set at an iconic North Carolina beach that explores self-discovery, surfing and finding true love, what one reviewer says is “a beautiful coming of age story of young love that falls victim to the trials of life.”
Host Updates With Links: Time Stamp: 5:25
Sarah: I just turned in a draft of my script to the studio and am waiting for their feedback. I’ve also been doing some local history tourism, visiting Yorktown and Williamsburg in Virginia, and Cowpens National Battlefield in North Carolina.
Hannah: I’m getting ready to welcome my baby girl in September, staying out of the humid heat in Charleston, and reading plenty of baby books. I’m also working in high gear to get 2022 projects wrapped up before my maternity leave.
Landis: I recently spoke with The Cozy Mystery Meet Up Group based in California about Deadly Declarations and they had great questions about the novel. Find out more about this fun group at https://www.acozydeath.com Plus, I’ve got trips coming up to the beach (good time to get in some reading), and to Durham for grandson Simon’s first birthday!
Plus a local update: the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation is sponsoring Book Club Madness, a contest where book clubs can win a table at this year’s Verse and Vino event.
Book Recommendations: Time Stamp: 9:36
Hannah recommends:
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins
Sarah recommends:
Gwendy’s Button Box by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar
Landis recommends:
The Last to Vanish by Megan Miranda
Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass
Mark West, Storied Charlotte Blog, recommends:
Burning Shakespeare by A.J. Hartley
That’s Novel Books recommend:
the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson
Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Listener Allie Coker recommends The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson. Share your recommendations with us on social media!
Writing Tips: Time Stamp: 50:46
How do you draw inspiration from setting, and how can you imbue your writing with a strong sense of place?
Our authors today provided some great setting inspiration with their novels. We also discussed works with memorable settings, like To Kill a Mockingbird, Lonesome Dove, Where the Crawdads Sing, and the Chronicles of Narnia.
We listened to an excerpt of George Hovis’s craft talk on setting–for more of his insights, check out the full episode.
Tips from your hosts and Donald Maass (Writing the Breakout Novel):
- Specific and sensory details can bring a setting to life.
- Pick both positive and negative impressions to make a setting feel the most real.
- Readers remember their emotional response to a setting–and authors often choose to write about places they’ve had an emotional response to.
- Think about setting through the lens of your particular story and characters. What kind of relationship do your characters have with the setting they’re in?
Don’t miss Charlotte Lit co-founder and executive director Paul Reali’s 2-minute tip about showing and telling. Time Stamp: 42:23
Marketing Tips: Time Stamp: 1:49:00
What is BookTok and is it worth a try for authors?
BookTok, the literary community on TikTok, has become a driving force in publishing. In 2021, it helped sell 20 million printed books.
What does BookTok look like?
- Skews primarily towards females under 30, but the community is expanding
- Videos are 15 seconds to a minute long
- Reviews and recommendations focus more on a reader’s emotional response to a book than on plot summary
Many writers are intimidated to try a new social media platform, or reluctant to add another to their rotation. But TikTok is meant to be fun and easy! If you want to give it a try:
- Make your content personal, unique, and authentic to you
- Try injecting humor
- When in doubt, take Suzanne Goodwyn’s example and incorporate your pets!
Community Voices: Time Stamp: 2:22:21
Check out author Paul Attaway’s post on our Community Blog for advice on “Writing a Sequel and Maybe a Series.”
Takeaways: Time Stamp: 2:34:50
We learned a ton in this episode, about setting, BookTok, writing a series vs. standalone books, showing vs. telling, and more. Writing is a lifelong education!
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