Season 2 Starts Now: Bigger Guests, Bigger Plans & Jenna's Book Update

Season 2 is officially here.

After 30 episodes of interviewing authors, learning the publishing industry alongside our listeners, and accidentally building an incredible community, we're kicking off a brand new season with a behind-the-scenes conversation about everything that's changing.

From bigger author interviews to new ways to spotlight indie books, we're sharing where the podcast is headed, where Jenna is in her publishing journey, and why we're more excited than ever about what's next.

If you've been with us since Episode 1—or you're just finding the show—welcome.

In This Episode

•  Celebrating 30 episodes and launching Season 2 
•  What publishing Cait's debut taught her about the industry 
•  Why every book truly has its own publishing journey 
•  Jenna shares a major update on her debut romantasy 
•  How author confidence impacts marketing more than algorithms 
•  Why no one will ever market your book better than you 
•  Introducing Book Breaks—our new indie author book commercials 
•  Announcing The Limelight, our Thursday mini-release interviews 
•  Why we're saying no to traditional podcast advertising 
•  Bringing more indie authors into the spotlight 
•  The surreal experience of booking bestselling authors for Season 2 
•  Why we're launching a community Discord 
•  Our plans to moderate author events around the country 
•  Everything we're excited about for the next season 

What We Mention

•  Book Breaks 
•  The Limelight episodes 
•  Indie author marketing 
•  ARC campaigns 
•  Author events 
•  Discord community 
•  Character art 
•  Launch parties 
•  Book merch 
•  Spooky season reads 

Listener Call-to-Action

If you're enjoying Margs & Manuscripts, we'd love your support.

•  Follow the show 
•  Leave a rating and review 
•  Share this episode with another writer or reader 
•  Follow us on social media 
•  Visit our website to learn about Book Breaks, The Lime Light, and everything coming in Season 2. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:04

And it is so cool to say my friend published a book. I just like kind of sort of helped her with a little bit of it, but like you did all of that work over 10 years, and it's so cool.

SPEAKER_00 0:17

It's been a wild ride, dude. It's been a wild ride. And I feel like the funniest thing about season one of this podcast is like, at least for the first like 10 episodes, you can literally see me making the decisions like in each episode. It's true. I was like talking to all these authors, and I'm like, oh, let me ask you more. Okay, okay. Is this a path I should take? Yeah. And then you're like, so what did you do about this? Like you were like suffering it out. I was asking my own questions. I don't even care about who's listening.

SPEAKER_02 0:50

So okay, so now, now that you've been on your journey, you have published and released your book. At least now when I'm like editing mine and I'm getting closer to releasing mine, we can still include that perspective in all of these interviews. Because I'm like, Kate's just a pro now, and I'm still just the little innocent baby who's figuring it out.

SPEAKER_00 1:16

But it's also like, I feel like season two is gonna bring those. I think that dynamic is gonna be really cool. And it's not a pro thing or not a pro thing. It's more just like there's this whole world on the other side that I know nothing about now because I didn't ask those questions when we were talking to authors. Like, and now I'm asking, I'm I'm more curious about like, okay, your book's been out for six months. Like, what is the next level for you? Are you just gonna put another one out? Or like, what does marketing look like? What are you trying to do when it's already been out for a year? Or like things that I didn't things you don't think about because you are just trying to get the book out. You're just trying to finish the fucking thing. Exactly. And now there's this like, there's this whole other side that's also really fascinating. And like what I'm learning and what we've for sure learned is that number one, every book has its own journey. We know that.

SPEAKER_02 2:10

Yes, that is a that is the thing that should be like plastered in front of my desk. Like that, yes, every author, big, small, medium, large, I don't care. Every book has its own journey. And if you do not believe that, please go back and listen because it's incredible like how much overlap there is between everyone that we've talked to.

SPEAKER_00 2:31

Some of your favorite authors are publishing under different names as indie authors, and you don't even know it. It's true. Like it's everyone is is doing each book their own way. Everyone's just trying to make the best decision every time they have a new product. And that's been the most fascinating thing. Um so we know that's true. And then everybody's choices in their marketing and how they go about public are different. And none of them are wrong. None of them are wrong. And so even though you're on social, you might be thinking about indie publishing, or you might be queer, like, don't let that pressure get to you. You see people doing thousands of arcs, you see people posting every single day. Like, you don't have to be an expert, you don't have to like feel like you need to do this like everybody else. You need to make your own choices and what's right for you and what's right for your book.

SPEAKER_02 3:27

And the difference between those camps of like, it's the difference is not the amount of posting. It is not how much money you throw at it. It is literally just your conviction about what you've done. And if you have the conviction of what you've done, uh people will love it. That's it. Like, if you love it, they love it. And I think that's the biggest thing that I have seen and heard is every inter every author we have interviewed, their enthusiasm for their project that they have just completed or are completing or whatever. If they are excited about it, I'm fucking amped. And I will like be your biggest cheerleader if you are just as excited about it.

SPEAKER_00 4:16

And no one's gonna market your book better than you. I fully people used to say that before, and like I was just like, I mean, yeah, but I would like like somehow, but it's true, like nobody nobody will.

SPEAKER_02 4:30

No, because it's you, it's your offspring. It is a part of your DNA. So welcome for season two, motherfuckers. Buckle up. So guess what? We've put out 30 episodes and this will be the 31st. And holy crap, that is so much talking. I can't believe I've actually peopled that much since November. Um, because as all of my friends will glad like my fucking five friends that they'll tell you, I don't I'm hermit, I don't talk to people that much, but when I do, it's really fun. But I we've talked to so many people, and the lineup for season two is nothing short of amazing, and it is all in thanks. Two thanks. One is Kate, for all of your hard work and just asking the questions and shooting your shots, shooting our shots, yeah, collective effort of sh ours. But also every person that has listened, engaged, followed us. I don't care how you've interacted with us, just that I'm baffled and humbled that you have, because we're just two indie authors that have no business being here teaching you anything. And you find us entertaining, and I'm it it's gone from it's gone from like how to okay, like I think I'm gonna start believing it now that people enjoy this and like it, and you're really gonna like it when we have these authors.

SPEAKER_00 6:07

Um it goes from, hey, this could be fun to to try for a fun project on the side, to oh my god, people are listening. And then, oh my god, how do we serve our listeners in the best way? How do we like make this fun for you? How do we make it entertaining for you? How do you you walk away feeling like I'm so glad I spent half an hour with these girls?

SPEAKER_02 6:29

And truth be told, Kate really only started this to save $600 on an LLC.

SPEAKER_00 6:35

That's it's so true.

SPEAKER_02 6:39

Turn into something a little bit better than that.

SPEAKER_00 6:44

But we're here and we are like fully committed now.

SPEAKER_02 6:47

Like we are there's no this train is not stopping, it is speeding up, and I joke every day. I'm like, I need an assistant, but I can't even paying myself yet. So which brings us to our next point. Well, that's true. So we always say that marks and manuscripts will never be behind a paywall because you um were not those people. Yeah. Um, but we have we're we're at the point now of pe we could run ads on our platform. And those ads would be things like Walmart and Amazon Prime and Tide Pods or whatever. It would be so thrilling. Yeah, really invigorating shit. But instead of that, we decided we want to say no thank you to corporate America. Um, and Pape Our Own Way, because that's what we've done this entire time. And we bring to you something called Book Breaks. And it is just think of it as book commercials because we all love books. This is your target audience, people. Um, where you tell us about your book, you give us a synopsis, and we record a whole commercial just for you. And it is on our podcast episodes, and we put it on social media too. And it's just about you and your book, and that's it. No corporate America, except we live in corporate America, and I just bought something off of Amazon. But this is really just to spread sponsor this pumpkin. No, they will not. Um, I refuse Bezos. But the real thing behind it is we've noticed as indie authors, the avenues for us to get in front of readers and other writers and peers is there's not that many. And the ones that are there are pretty crowded. And what we want is to celebrate our community a little bit more and bring you the book breaks and give you an opportunity to share your book with the masses.

SPEAKER_00 8:48

So book breaks are going to be coming this season. Uh, they won't be like mini-commercials in our episodes, as Jana said. Um, that's what they look like. And so we will, if you are interested, definitely send us an email. Um, and it's kind of just our form of marketing. That's it. And and uh supporting indie authors um however we can. So uh we are super excited to learn more about your books and kind of like make some content for you and and make our episodes book centric and not Walmart contract. I don't know. It would be so weird if like all of a sudden, like right now we just stop talking and there was like a Walmart ad? A Walmart commercial, yeah. Or like I don't I mean, like, I don't know, but um I'd rather have it be a book.

SPEAKER_02 9:35

I would rather have it be a book because that's really where I spend my money these days, if you guys can't tell. Um there's that will be on our website as well, if you want the deeps. So for those of us that want to celebrate a little bit louder for upcoming launches, uh, we have something for you called the Limelight. So this is different than our book breaks, and it's really just a mini episode. Um, you will be getting more of us. Uh sorry, friends. But our main episodes will be on Tuesday, so those will be the long ones. And then on Thursdays, we will have the Limelight episodes where we interview an author about their um upcoming release, and we talk about it. It was born out of the idea of we want to bring more people onto the podcast. We are we only have so many weeks in the year, and this is how we fit a little bit more people in. And surprise, I like talking to people.

SPEAKER_00 10:29

Yeah, so just a little intro for season two, things that we're kind of incorporating into our program that we're really excited about and ways to celebrate you, your releases, and our community. Um if you want to learn more, just check out the website, shoot us an email with any questions. Um, we'd love to chat more about those options. But uh man, season two is Can we say anyone that's gonna be on season two? In the next few weeks, we chat with some freaking amazing women. Can I just tell you, like, okay, I I feel like we need to tell the story. As embarrassing as it is for myself, I feel like we need to tell the story, even though we're not gonna name names. We're not those girls. JK, we will name names as soon as we freaking can. But yeah, that's true. I love a piece of drama. I will name names, absolutely. But uh, okay, so for those of you who don't listen all the time or like don't may not know, but Jenna is the incredible designer behind our social media posts and how our brand looks and everything appears. Um, and I do a lot of the emailing. Um, but uh like episode planning and scheduling and communications. Um and I don't even know.

SPEAKER_02 11:51

So there was the day I had a really pretty shitty day at work, and Kate wanted to cheer me up, and she said, Hey, give me a like, call me. I'm like, whenever Kate asks me to call her, it's always it's always like a happy fun surprise, and I love it. Um, because we're millennials and texting is just second nature. So I call her and she's like, you will not believe who I have coming on the podcast. And then and she's like, Are you sitting down? I said, Yes. She told me just about threw up. I was that excited. And then you said, Oh, we have this like other like list of authors too that they um suggested that uh that the PR team suggested we bring on the podcast because they have some upcoming releases. I'm like, like who? And she started lifting listing off these names, and they kept getting bigger and bigger named authors, and it got to a point where I'm like, Kate, are you are you stupid? Like, do you know who you just listed off? For example, Julie Murphy, who has written the now Netflix film Dumplin, and has written like probably four other dozen books. And I was just like, oh shit. Yeah. The best way I can compare the best thing I can compare it to is when Smalls and the other kids from the Sandlot were talking together about some girl who signed some baseball, baby Ruth. And I just said to her, the great Bambino, and it fucking clicked. And she's like, Holy shit, what if I have what did I just do? How did I make all of that happen?

SPEAKER_00 13:53

Without even knowing. So needless to say, um, all of it is is an accident on my part, but oh wonderful way. Um I'm I'm either great at my job or really bad at my job.

unknown 14:07

I don't know yes.

SPEAKER_02 14:09

Let's just say you're very enthusiastic about anyone that comes our way. There were three names.

SPEAKER_00 14:15

Julie is just one we are going to throw into the universe because we've already recorded her episode, but the other two were the same. It was like, are do you mean the person that wrote the and I was like, and China knew right away who they all were. So that they were so amazing that it was basically like the um the person I told her who was coming on at the beginning of the conversation didn't even matter anymore. She was just like, and these are just ones you were like casually just gonna book without announcing them to me over FaceTime. I it's fine. I own it, it's fine. I'm on the other side of it now.

SPEAKER_02 14:52

You have your like niche of authors that you will worship at the altar of, and I have mine. And if if you would have said Anne Patchett to me like four years ago, I would have not known who you were talking about.

SPEAKER_00 15:10

Yeah, and that's how it is with all it's it's just like I even tell my husband, I'm like, I get to talk to this person, and he's just like, who? And like in my world, they're they're like a queen. Yes, and it's just all queens.

SPEAKER_02 15:26

It's just everyone is a freaking queen. You love it, it's a great time, and don't worry, it's not just all about the big the big queens, it's about all the other queens too.

SPEAKER_00 15:42

Yes, because we still have room for everyone, but booking we we like to do a mix, right? Like we we love to have like indie authors that we all know and love, upcoming authors that are just gonna release their debut, and people who have written for many, many years that we all freaking know. And uh that has been the craziest experience is like booking them. Um, because we're all just fucking normal people trying to do this thing. And we all have very similar experiences in it. And it's so fun to put them on a pedestal because when Emma Brody sends me a message on Instagram, I freak the fuck out and text my best friend, absolutely. Um still, still I'm like, are we friends? But at the same time, like this is a conversation between writers, like we're all of us going through this crazy thing that we're all trying to do. And that's honestly, that is actually the most exciting part of doing this podcast for 30 episodes now. It's so special.

SPEAKER_02 16:43

And I really want to just hit home how much fun we're having. Like, I know we take time away from like our kids and our family and our jobs sometimes if we have to move some things around. But it's like truly, this is a blast, you guys. Yeah, so thank you for listening and for keeping us here. You guys keep this so fun. And sure, I want to scream at the algorithm if like not a lot of people are seeing certain posts. This is not sponsored by Instagram. No, um, opposite of that. But it really is just a breath of fresh air that we're making our own little community, and you guys are just as excited about writing books as us and reading books and doing booky things. And yes.

SPEAKER_00 17:37

I propose, Jenna, I want to hear where you're at in your author journey right now in this episode, just some like life updates going from season two.

SPEAKER_02 17:49

So I have a tendency of like not talking about myself that much, um, because I always feel very self-conscious about it. Of like, oh, I'm talking about myself, but that's also um 36 years of programming as a woman. So I'm gonna stop doing that now and I'm gonna be cool with saying I am in my final rewrite of my debut novel. I am working on it every single day and I'm very excited. And I've been posting more on my author page. Yeah. So if you're feeling generous, go follow me over there too. Um, but I'm planning on sending it to an editor after this and then releasing it out into the world finally. I don't want to sit on this sucker for another year because I'm having so much fun and I want to share it with everyone.

SPEAKER_00 18:39

Yeah. It's a real fucking banger and you're you need to get on the other side.

SPEAKER_02 18:43

Come over to the other side.

SPEAKER_00 18:45

I know.

SPEAKER_02 18:46

I know I do. I think it's I think it's a lot of things. It's a moment of being okay with prioritizing it and not always having to prioritize everyone else. So if for some reason I disappear for a couple weeks, that's where I'm at. I'm in my universe. I literally crafted from scratch, and Kate thinks I'm a crazy person when I explain the political warfare. Anyways, uh yeah, it's a great time. It's a romanticy, it's like a wintry, kind of like a mystery romantic. Lots of just like everyone else. Um, there's a lot of like overlap in genres. Um, so it's like Game of Thrones minus the fighting minus the map.

SPEAKER_00 19:33

It's romantic without the map. Can we just I was like when she told me that, because I don't read romantic, like when she told me that, I was like, that should what be you lead with that. Yeah. That's essentially what that is. For me, I'd be like, oh, something I can actually digest. And yeah.

SPEAKER_02 19:53

There's like, if you if you want to like nerd out, there's a way for you to nerd out. But if you also were like, I don't know about romantic that much, I just like want a good story, like this is definitely that. Um, but you know what I'm really excited about next? Character art. Because I'm finding I'm on the hunt to find the perfect character artist that is right for this book that is not kitschy and not overdone and fresh and just gorgeous. So hit me up in the comments if that's you, because I am I am literally on the hunt and I will not sleep until I find the perfect person.

SPEAKER_00 20:33

That's my own idea. I cannot wait for your character art or your cover, but character art, like it's something we don't I like, I didn't do, but um like that reveal, especially after reading like your chapters and stuff. Like I feel like yeah, I'm freaking pumped for that. Everyone also get into Jenna's DMs and tell her that she can do this quicker than she thinks she can in her head. Because she's just like, I'm thinking like October 27. And I'm like, I'm thinking like February 27. So get on it.

SPEAKER_02 21:13

It's a winter book, it needs to be released in the winter.

SPEAKER_00 21:16

It's gonna be released in the winter, so why not this winter, Jenna?

SPEAKER_02 21:19

Okay, fucking fine.

SPEAKER_00 21:23

It can be after Christmas fine, I will compromise. Thank you. But tell her she is on a roll that she can do it. And uh once you got your editor, like and things just kind of snowball and you can get it done. We had Biddy on here the other day who was like, I wrote a book in two weeks, and then I like I it was a novella, but like the fact that she she wrote it and she was like, she had to strike, lightning was there, she had to strike and write her novella, but she was able to like get it up pretty fast. And I think that that is um not that we're like saying go write a book in a month and put it up. I'm just saying. Jenna's been working on this for a long time. She's ready and she is not allowing herself to know that it can happen if she wants to make it happen. So she's giving herself way too much time, and I think she needs less time. She's at the end, guys. She's at the end. Oh my gosh. You know where she is, and we all can relate. She's at that moment when you're kind of in the final rounds of it and you have a lot of energy. You know what I mean? It's like that like final few breaths of energy before you're ready to let go.

unknown 22:32

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 22:32

Yep. That's right, man. It needs to have its own journey. I know its journey doesn't need to be perfect. It just needs to be the thing. It needs to be it. And I'll also say the launch party is going to be really great because my family doesn't do anything small.

SPEAKER_00 22:48

It's going to be insane. Also, if you think that my like little designs and cute little stickers and stuff was anything, imagine Jenna designing for what's the most visually beautiful thing I've ever read. And her like taste and design and skills, like get ready for some fucking merch drops and get ready for the most beautiful things you've ever seen, as far as like stickers. I don't know, whatever she has in her head. I can't even.

SPEAKER_02 23:19

There's a custom candle scent, also.

SPEAKER_00 23:24

It's gonna be like a fucking wintery candle scent. And I was like, is it gonna be like a balsam and cedar? Just tell me it's gonna be like a like a like balsam, like pine. Like that is everyone's favorite. I have one that I like my Yankee candle one is all year long.

SPEAKER_02 23:37

So absolutely. I there is not a day that a pine candle is not somewhere in my home. Yeah, like um, but we're gonna candle yes, yes, like we I literally I know the most amazing candle maker in this area. And she had an event and I was telling her about my book. She's like, I've done custom candles before for author like releases. I'm like, no big deal. Fucking sign me up. I am down. So Cody's not afraid of that investment. So it's gonna be a great time. And I'm really excited for it, and I can say that I'm getting to the finish line mostly because of like you, Kate, and then everyone else that is just like pushing me there of like you can do this. Come on, don't be afraid of it.

SPEAKER_00 24:24

You can because the book is there. You have you already, it's there, it's ready.

SPEAKER_02 24:28

It's there.

SPEAKER_00 24:29

It's just you need to like get that last energy out. You need to go through the whole thing, go through the process, let it happen, do what you need to do. You'll be okay. We got you. Okay, we got you.

SPEAKER_02 24:42

This is gonna be the most awkward edit ever.

SPEAKER_00 24:45

Nope, that you're keeping all that. What about season two things are happening? So events, guys. We are what are we doing? I so we we I it's actually Jenna, like after my book launched and we did that live event, Jenna was like, we should do this. We are not like gonna put on our own events. That is just like not gonna happen. But if you are an author, preferably local to one of us, and you are having an event and you want a moderator, no cost. We just want to come moderate your book. Like, we are we wanna get out there and like do more events, especially Jenna, because she never gets to go to anything fun. No, I always get to go to book events and like meet authors we have on the podcast and like hang out and have a bunch of fun. And she sits behind a computer a lot.

SPEAKER_02 25:31

So um, you also live in one of the most populated areas of the United States, and I don't.

SPEAKER_00 25:37

My first one was like Times Square. It's I uh I yeah, if you are like, hey, like I'm having this event near one of you guys, please let us know. Indie author, anybody like we are we really want to like moderate, we would come and bring a great time, but like honestly, like I'm way more excited about that than like being like come see like a live marks and manuscripts podcast. I would just I like actually want to go and support you guys, make it about you, but like we would love to let me work for you. I just want to work for you guys. Give us a free book and we'll like we'll fucking be there. I'm I'm pumped. I will I will come moderate your event in two seconds. We'll take you out to margaritas after exactly. Let's hang out. That'll be the put like let's hang out. Just like invite us out. Is everybody hanging out without us?

SPEAKER_02 26:32

Oh, we also, speaking of hanging out, our amazing friend, Bestie of the Pod, Crystal, she started a Discord for us. Oh my god, yes. I I'm still trying to figure out the logistics of how this I am showing my age. Holy crap. We have a Discord that we'll be launching suit. Yeah, like it's done. She did the thing and she's gonna be moderating it. Um, or managing it. What's the word? I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 27:03

Um she's involved and she's amazing. She's doing it.

SPEAKER_02 27:06

Um so we'll be launching that and sharing the love on it. And we talk about the group chat a lot because that's really what it feels like is come join the group chat and that's where the group the Discord's gonna be.

SPEAKER_00 27:22

Yeah, all of us. I'm really pretty bumped for that. Now that I say that out loud, I've been like kind of like, how am I gonna but now that I think of like all of our friends that we've collected on social and who are listeners and stuff, like being on actually like all in one group chat. And the cool thing is it's gonna be um a lot of people who have been on our episodes as well are on the group chat too. Yes. So so if you want to get a free, yeah. Free, free, yeah. Don't just just a just a chat. You can turn, you can mute it. Just check in every once in a while.

SPEAKER_02 28:04

Um, and we all know that scams are kind of a pain point for every single one of us. So there'll be like a spot in there for like to talk about like, hey, is this a scam? Um, that's where it really like stemmed from because we were texting each other of like, hey, hey Crystal, is this real? Crystal, is this real? She's like, we're gonna start a Discord. I'm like, okay, you volunteer me. Sure, we're doing it. Um, so there's gonna be lots of fun channels in there, probably some like fun giveaways, um, and really just more of an opportunity to connect with other authors, big, medium, small, big, flashy, quiet, whatever. And go stumble around the interwebs with me because I am 36 years old and feel like I'm 50.

SPEAKER_00 28:52

I know. Literally, and when novel bound like was like we have a Discord, I was like, oh girls. Yeah, go.

SPEAKER_02 29:01

So now I'm learning things because I don't learn enough in this this little space we've created.

SPEAKER_00 29:07

So let's all learn Discord together.

SPEAKER_02 29:10

It's really fun. Uh thank you so much for listening to our ramblings. That was uh two glasses of Rose Deep. And it's gonna be fabulous summer slash fall because spooky season is now upon us now that it is past July 4th. Come at me.

SPEAKER_00 29:27

So many spooky books to read.

SPEAKER_02 29:29

I know like I was reading the one by the and I Okay, I'm gonna watch Hocus Pocus probably on repeat for the next like at least Is it that good? Yeah. Is it good?

SPEAKER_00 29:44

Uh I'm so excited.

SPEAKER_02 29:46

Yeah, like I need I need something. Like the itch needs to be scratched.

SPEAKER_00 29:50

Is that why you sent me the spooky season things? Because you already started reading our spooky season arcs.

SPEAKER_02 29:56

Probably.

SPEAKER_00 29:57

Okay. This is happening. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 29:58

And my birthday's on Halloween, so shit just happens. Like it's just ingrained in me.

SPEAKER_00 30:03

Again, thank you for listening. Uh, you guys have allowed us so many insane opportunities, and we literally would not be here or have access to any of the things that we're doing uh without you. And so we just hope to make you happy in this season and continue to bring things that you can relate to and get excited about. And so we hope you continue to stay with us on this journey.

SPEAKER_02 30:27

Yay! Cheers everyone. My glass is empty, but my bitches era empty.

SPEAKER_01 30:33

This has been another episode of Marks in Manuscripts. Thanks for listening. Your hosts are Jenna G. Judith, Kate Wynelevich, our writer and public relations manager is Kate Wynelevich. Music by John Wynelovich. Editor, Jenna G. Judith, Creative Direction, Jenna G. Judith, and our podcast manager, Kate Wynelovich. Don't forget to like, follow, subscribe, all that jazz. Visit our website at marksandmanuscripts.com, and don't forget to hit that subscribe button.