“I’m asking you to fall in love with this guy” (the one with the bloody axe)

In episode 16 of the Write Like a Badass podcast, Laurie Kirk talks about the unusual route she took with her story Baby Marvin, which started as a screenplay. She reveals who in her life inspired her main character, how their may be some debate about Baby Marvin’s genre (psychological thriller? horror?) and her certainty that the story WILL get made into a movie.

Baby Marvin is available for pre-order on Amazon (https://tinyurl.com/55f27k7t) and will be available for purchase on May 26, 2026.

Baby Marvin is available at: https://tinyurl.com/55f27k7t

Laurie Kirk’s website: https://www.thelauriekirk.com/

Connect with Laurie:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelauriekirk/

Tiktok: @thelauriekirk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauriekirkfisher

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lauriekirk

The Write Like a Badass Podcast is by, about and for writers. Welcome to your tribe!

·        A video of the interview in this episode is on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WriteLikeaBadass

You can also find Write Like a Badass on:

·        Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writelikeabad

·        Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writelikeabadass?igsh=b3YwOHU5MjAzbGE2

·        TikTok: WriteLikeABadass

Too Many Ideas, Too Little Time

Trae Dorn

Trae Dorn is a Wicca witch in Wisconsin who writes urban fantasies, comics and webcomics (they are an illustrator, too). In Trae’s free time(!), they host multiple podcasts. Listen to Trae talk about their creative process on episode 15 of the Write Like a Badass podcast.

Trae’s website is at: www.trhonline.com

Trae’s books and comics & etc. include:

·        The Mia Graves Saga, a series of queer contemporary fantasy novels

·        The webcomic Peregrine Lake 

·        The comic UnCONventional, a comic based off of their decades staffing conventions

·        Trae is also the creator of the Super Awesome Action Heroes Role Playing Game System

The Write Like a Badass Podcast is by, about and for writers. Welcome to your tribe!

·        A video of the interview in this episode is on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WriteLikeaBadass

You can also find Write Like a Badass on:

·        Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writelikeabad

·        Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writelikeabadass?igsh=b3YwOHU5MjAzbGE2

·        TikTok: WriteLikeABadass

·        Website: https://writelikeabadass.com/

Buckle Up, Buttercup: This Writer Is In Her Crone Era – and Loving It!

Lydia M. Hawke has written and published 18 books! Several of her multi-book series feature heroines of a certain age who KNOW THEIR POWER.

She also writes a romance series, The Ever After Romance Collection, under the name Linda Poitevin.

On the podcast, episode 14, Lydia talks about reaching a crossroads in her life and suddenly finding a new direction for her writing, and how her books have found an enthusiastic array of readers. Getting older and fighting invisibility is just one of the many topics we cover.

Lydia is so enthused about her Crone Wars series (shown above) that she got a tattoo inspired by the stories.

Visit Lydia’s website: https://www.lydiahawkebooks.com/

Here’s where you’ll find that merch we talk about in the episode: https://www.lydiahawkebooks.com/shop/

Connect with Lydia socially: https://www.facebook.com/LydiaMHawke

Writing Humorous Horror Stories for Adults and Kids

Dustin Hendrix is on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dustin.hendrix.773

Dustin is co-founder of TinHen Productions: https://www.facebook.com/TinHenProductions and https://www.instagram.com/tinhenproductions?igsh=MTdlNmFpcm4xc2ZybQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

His first Creeptales story, Night of the Living Pizza, is available on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/bdh5dnxj

His short indie horror film, English Breakfast, is on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQqwfneta2o

His Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dustinhendrix6?igsh=cGl5cGFkcmNra20%3D&utm_source=

His podcast, Empty Pages, can be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeart Radio.


In Open Mic Night at the Badass Writers Café, Amina Mirza read from her novel, The Mermaid and the Mini Horse, which will be published in late May or early June.

You can find Amina on TikTok,  https://www.tiktok.com/@authoraminamirza, Twitter www.x.com/jaeswoon, and ko-fi, https://ko-fi.com/aminaamirza. She is also on Tumblr: https://jaehyofan.tumblr.com and posts in these writing communities on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/communities/writing-tea-tips and https://www.tumblr.com/communities/books-and-writing.

The Write Like a Badass Podcast is by, about and for writers. Welcome to your tribe!

You can also find Write Like a Badass on:

Email recordings of:

Help me keep this podcast going and get bonus content by supporting me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/WriteLikeaBadass

Here is the link my video-and-download course, How to Self-Publish Your Badass Book on Amazon: https://writelikeabadass.teachable.com/p/how-to-self-publish-your-badass-book-on-amazon

Find Connor Fischetti’s music on Bandcamp. Download the free app or go to the website (https://bandcamp.com/) and look for the albums:

  • Connor Fischetti (Connor Fischetti Band), and
  • Cricket (Boiler Room Band)

How to Move Forward and FINALLY Finish That Novel You’re Stuck On

In her day job, Barb is an editor and writer for business magazines. Her dream, though, is to write fiction, and she’s off to a good start with her first novel. In this episode, Barb talks about her plan for her book and what might be holding her back.

See pictures of Barb Nessinger’s smart dolls (getting real fashion photography treatment!) on Instagram, at: barbyness84.

The Write Like a Badass Podcast is by, about and for writers. Welcome to your tribe!

·        A video of the interview in this episode is on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WriteLikeaBadass

You can also find Write Like a Badass on:

·        Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writelikeabad

·        Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writelikeabadass?igsh=b3YwOHU5MjAzbGE2

·        TikTok: WriteLikeABadass

·        Website: https://writelikeabadass.com/

Email recordings of:

·        Your answer to the Question of the Week

·        A three-minute sample of your work, and

·        general comments to: howtowritelikeabadass@gmail.com

Help me keep this podcast going and get bonus content by supporting me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/WriteLikeaBadass

Here is the link my video-and-download course, How to Self-Publish Your Badass Book on Amazon: https://writelikeabadass.teachable.com/p/how-to-self-publish-your-badass-book-on-amazon

Find Connor Fischetti’s music on Bandcamp. Download the free app or go to the website (https://bandcamp.com/) and look for the albums:

·        Connor Fischetti (Connor Fischetti Band), and

·        Cricket (Boiler Room Band)

What You Can Expect When You Work With a Fiction Editor

Gail R. Delaney is an experienced fiction editor who has helped scores of writers improve their manuscripts. She’s also a writer.

Gail talks about the services she offers, shares insights about common mistakes that writers make and discusses how writers react to hearing that their writing may not be perfect. (Spoiler alert: one had a meltdown.)

Gail also talks about her own writing; how she manages series with multiple books and why sometimes characters let her know that she is not done writing about them.

Get in touch with Gail at:

https://www.gaildelaney.com/ Page on the website for her editing services: https://www.gaildelaney.com/editing-services

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gailrdelaneynovelist

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GailRDelaneyNovelist

Facebook Editing Services Page: https://www.facebook.com/GailDelaneyEditingServices/

Ways to Promote and Sell Your Book: a Mini-Episode

When you finished writing your book, you thought the hard part was over. Not so! Readers won’t just magically find your book. You’ve got to let them know about it. There are many ways to do this – many of them at no or low cost. In this mini-episode, I talk about in-person events, online opportunities and, yes – podcasts. You’ll get tips to help you succeed at whichever of these you choose.

Make sure you listen to next week’s episode. It’s a full one in many ways. Fiction editor Gail Delaney talks about what she does for authors (and how they take her suggestions). The question of the week goes to genres, and the inspirational quote is…disturbing and uplifting at the same time.

Write Like a Badass Podcast is by, about and for writers. Welcome to your tribe!

You can also find Write Like a Badass on:

Email recordings of:

Help me keep this podcast going and get bonus content by supporting me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/WriteLikeaBadass

Here is the link my video-and-download course, How to Self-Publish Your Badass Book on Amazon: https://writelikeabadass.teachable.com/p/how-to-self-publish-your-badass-book-on-amazon

Find Connor Fischetti’s music on Bandcamp. Download the free app or go to the website (https://bandcamp.com/) and look for the albums:

  • Connor Fischetti (Connor Fischetti Band), and
  • Cricket (Boiler Room Band)

When Dreams Give You Stories

Where do story ideas come from? Dianne Thomas’ sources of inspiration include a dream, along with friends who moved from the city to the country. Dianne has been writing for years. Her work has appeared in hundreds of newspapers and other print and online publications including Octavo, Flashquake, and The Threepenny Review. 

Listen to my conversation with Dianne on episode 7 of the Write Like a Badass podcast.

Learn more about Dianne’s books (and check for free promotions) on her website: https://diannethomas.godaddysites.com/. That is also where you can read her poetry.

Her novels and short story collections are available as eBooks on Amazon here. Her amazon author page is: amazon.com/author/diannerthomas.

Follow Dianne on Facebook.

Find her books on Goodreads.

The picture below is of Dianne at 20, when she was pursuing an acting career!

Amina (who told us what writing success looked like for her) is on Tiktok: Amina Mirza146.

What Happens When Two Writers (in Different Genres) Get Married?

By the time Jay met Brandy on a dating app, he thought his writing was in the past. What he didn’t realize is that Brandy would encourage him to reawaken his love of sci fi and write again. And in return, this romantic guy supports Brandy’s writing and even inspires characters in the spicy romances that she publishes!

They write in different genres – she will never read one of his stories – but that doesn’t matter. Listen to this frank, funny and inspiring conversation. Oh- and their dog Shadow gets involved, too.

Find Brandy on TikTok @BrandyAyersAuthor, facebook.com/BrandyAyersAuthor, Instagram: @BrandyAyersWrites and on her website.

Look for her books on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Brandy+Ayers&i=digital-text&crid=U8AS04TFMJSI&sprefix=brandy+ayers%2Cdigital-text%2C218&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 and a number of other platforms.

Jay is also on TikTok: JayFarleyAuthor.

His books are on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0D31BLDLQ/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=15106536-5630-465f-9ba6-6897e03b386a and a number of other platforms.

The Write Like a Badass Podcast is by, about and for writers. Welcome to your tribe!

You can also find Write Like a Badass on:

Email recordings of:

Send a recording of up to three minutes of your work in progress via Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/

Help me keep this podcast going and get bonus content by supporting me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/WriteLikeaBadass (confirm that this is live)

Here is the link my video-and-download course, How to Self-Publish Your Badass Book on Amazon: https://writelikeabadass.teachable.com/p/how-to-self-publish-your-badass-book-on-amazon

Find Connor Fischetti’s music on Bandcamp. Download the free app or go to the website (https://bandcamp.com/) and look for the albums:

  • Connor Fischetti (Connor Fischetti Band), and
  • Cricket (Boiler Room Band)

Doing it All – A Bestselling Indie Author Spills Her Secrets

Which came first? The chicken or the egg, the illustration or the story? A. R. Redington is both an author and an illustrator, and she tells us how the two work together to bring her books to life. Switching to art and creating an image can get her past writer’s block. Conversely, creating an image can inspire a story or suggest a character to her.

Those of us like me who don’t have both talents can learn a lot from A.R., who writes in several different genres but likes to explore the dark side of humanity in all of them. As a #1 Audible and Amazon bestselling author, she’s able to discuss the pros and cons of various self-publishing platforms, the best ways indie authors can sell their books and how she overcomes social anxiety to meet her readers.

You’ll also hear a reading from a work-in-progress at the Badass Writers’ Café and tonight is Open Mic Night! (Go to Facebook and critique what you heard.) The Question of the Week is answered by some podcast listeners. The inspirational quote addresses something that mystifies a lot of us: where does creativity come from?

The Write Like a Badass Podcast is by, about and for writers. Welcome to your tribe! You can find the pod on all major podcast services. Make sure you subscribe, so you don’t miss an episode (maybe the one that could help you get past your current writing stumbling block). Like, rate and review, too.

“Talk” to you soon!