The Long Game of Publishing

In part one of this week’s double author interview, Bianca sits down with executive by day and dark-fiction writer by night, Marisa Walz. They talk about her chilling debut novel ‘Good Intentions’ and the long, emotional road it took to get there. They dive into books dying on submission, leaving agents, trusting your instincts, and what it really means to keep going after heartbreak. Marisa shares how years of failed books shaped the voice and confidence behind her debut. 

Next up is romance author Olivia Jackson. Olivia gets brutally honest about her debut year—from the thrill of landing a two-book deal to the crash of unmet expectations. She and Bianca unpack what digital-first really means, the emotional whiplash of publishing timelines, comparison spirals, and why authors need to ask more questions (and stop apologizing for them). A powerful, practical conversation about the business of being an author—after the dream comes true.

Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host ​and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.

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