How do you actually set yourself up for writing success?

I don’t mean the nuts and bolts of learning how to write or practicing your craft. Yes, that’s important—but that’s not everything.

I’m talking about the mental prep work you have to do to get your mindset, your confidence and your motivation high enough to write.

There’s a lot of inner work we need to do to lay the groundwork for success and perseverance, no matter what’s going on externally. And then there are the external systems that keep us on track.

I put up an Instagram post a while back about systems and why writers need them and you told me that it was a topic you wanted to hear more about. So here we go!

I’ve become a systems queen. I don’t know how it happened, because I’ve always struggled with process and project management. But between working full time and writing multiple books a year FOR YEARS, I finally needed to figure out a better way. Which meant I needed a system to get myself writing every day, or most days at least, make enough progress to feel good about myself, and make writing a priority in my life - even if it wasn’t the thing I could spend the most amount of time on.

In this episode, I’m talking about what it means to create systems that will get you writing and keep you writing so you can fulfill the creative promises you made to yourself.

I’m covering:

• Why it’s so important to understand yourself and your own brain

• What I learned over the years about me that impacted the way I wrote—and even the outcomes

• The systems I have in place to ensure ease and productivity in my writing

• How to create systems that work for you so you can get to your best writing life

If you’ve been struggling with getting your writing started and keeping it on track, this episode will change your whole approach.

I can’t wait to see what you create!

Resources:

Episode 2: How to project manage your writing with Christine Carron

Episode 33: The most important tool in a writer’s toolbox

Monday Hour One - Brooke Castillo

I’m on IG @lizmugavero - follow for info on the latest episodes!

Friends, I’ve got a treat for you this week! If you love Halloween and coffee as much as I do, get excited for this episode.

I have fellow cozy author Emmeline Duncan joining me on the show today. Emmeline’s books are so much fun. She’s the author of the Ground Rules Mysteries about barista Sage Caplin and her coffee cart in Portland, Oregon. She’s also the author of a new series about a year- round Halloween-themed town in Oregon. The first book, Chaos At The Lazy Bones Bookshop is out this summer and it’s delightful.

Emmeline is a girl after my own heart—clearly, she’s obsessed with coffee and Halloween—and also animals and books, so as you can imagine we have a lot to talk about.

We cover:

• Our joint obsession with coffee and how it turned into a series for her

• The northwest vibe and how it plays well into mystery writing

• How there really is a Halloween-themed town in Oregon, and how she used that as a

basis for her new series

• Her journey from writing YA to becoming a mystery author

• How to create a cozy setting in a big city

And so much more.

You can find out more about Emmeline at https://emmelineduncan.com/

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!

Twists, turns, suspense, unlikeable characters you can’t quite stop rooting for—you’re going to find it all in a Peter Swanson novel. And since I’ve told you before that I have a dark little heart that loves these kinds of books, I’m so excited to dive into the creation of them with Peter on the show today.

Peter is a fellow New England author who recently launched his 11th book, A Talent for Murder, and it’s SO GOOD. I knew I had to have him on the show to talk about his work, his process, all of it.

Like every writer I talk to on this show, he’s had his own unique experience getting into the business and getting to where he is today. We have a great conversation about:

• Navigating the publishing industry. We get real about what to expect!

• His writing process—because if there’s one thing you should take away from all these conversations, it’s that every writer’s process is different

• How characters are born and how they evolve—and sometimes demand their own spotlight

• The role setting plays in books

• The notion of “no killing of animals in books” thing that I always manage to get in!

And so much more.

My favorite part of the conversation was when we talked about plotting vs. pantsing and Peter’s approach. I’ve been really thinking about how to make plotting work for me without putting myself through the paces of feeling like a failure if I don’t know everything about a book before I start writing it. Hearing different perspectives is super helpful for me and I hope for you too, if this is something you’re struggling with.

If you’re looking to write suspense that gets noticed, you don’t want to miss this episode!

You can find out more about Peter at https://www.peter-swanson.com/

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!

You might think I’m being dramatic when I say this, but I’m saying it anyway. Because I believe it with my entire heart. Writing can literally save your life. It saved mine, in so many different ways. And as I continue to evolve, it’s still saving me.

I think we all can have this experience if we’re open to it. If we allow ourselves to put our pen to paper, write in our journals, spill our deepest secrets. Write our books and our memoirs and share them with the world.

That’s how writing can save you - and point you in the direction of the right life at the same time.

My guest today knows this firsthand. Karen Coccioli is an author, a trauma survivor, and quite simply, a force in the world. She is passionate about language, writing, and most importantly, helping individuals embrace and live their authentic selves regardless of their age or past history.

Her memoir, Paradise, is also the foundation for the life lessons she’s learned over the years - including learning to love herself. And how she used writing to FIND herself in the first place - we talk a lot about what that looked like for her.

Karen is a published author and holds a Ph.D. in comparative literature, within the context of women’s meditations regarding gender identity, sexuality, and the gendered body.

We cover a lot of topics including:

• Writing your way into gender identity and sexuality

• The importance of representation for LGBTQ+ individuals in the literary world

• How writing can help in trauma recovery

• How the “worst” experiences can be our largest creative blessings

And so much more.

Karen is so inspiring - I can’t wait for you to listen.

You can find out more about Karen and her work here: https://www.karenannecoccioli.com/

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!

Do you spend too much time in your head?

That might sound funny to ask as a writer who uses her brain every day, but I promise it’s a serious question. Sometimes when I sit down to start a new book, my mind has already jumped MONTHS ahead to the deadline. Or a year ahead to the marketing and launch. And I haven’t even written a sentence yet.

And even though these are all things we need to be thinking about at some point, they could quite possibly be getting in the way of your creativity and the biggest job of all - getting the actual writing done.

My guest this week, Jacqueline Fisch, is the author of two non-fiction books for writers - Unfussy Life and Intuitive Writing. She is also a communications consultant, and the founder of The Intuitive Writing School. She helps creatives move past writer’s block and perfectionism so they can finish their important work, and she supports business owners in finding their authentic voice so they can make an impact on the world.

She’s an expert on turning off the brain and turning on the heart to bring your most authentic self to the page, whether you’re writing a book, copy for a website, a blog or any other writing endeavor.

We cover all kinds of fun things like:

• How to write using the energy of the moon cycles

• How to write through blocks like fear, procrastination and busyness

• The different energies you need for different parts of the writing process

• How to use empathy and authenticity in all your writing, even “boring” writing

And so much more.

We had such a great conversation and there are so many nuggets in here that I KNOW will help you on your writing journey.

You can find out more about Jacq here: https://jacquelinefisch.com/ and here: https://theintuitivewritingschool.com/

Find her on social:

https://www.instagram.com/theintuitivewritingschool/

https://www.facebook.com/theintuitivewritingschool

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqueline-fisch-writer

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!

Are you feeling overwhelmed with the thought of finding an agent or a publisher when you finally finish writing your book? Or maybe you’re looking for a new agent, or a new home for your work?

If you’re anything like me, you can get caught up sometimes in thinking one path is the right path, or the only path. Or that things happen in sequence, or that they take a long time, or multiple other stories we have that may or may not be true.

I talk a lot on this show about how there is more than one path to publication. Actually, today there are so many ways to get your work published that it’s incredible - and the industry is in a state of fluctuation right now. And while that may feel overwhelming, I believe it’s a good thing- because sometimes systems need to be shaken up to perform better.

My guest on the show today is someone who found her way to a book deal where she least expected it - through a tweet. (Or an X? What are we actually saying now??)

Anyway - Angela Crook is a thriller author who I met at Left Coast Crime, where she was celebrating her debut, Hurt Mountain. She has SUCH A GREAT STORY. I mean, it’s wild. So for those of you who are stuck in a story about how getting your first publishing deal has to go, this one is for you - because Angela is proof that whatever you’re thinking has to happen can go a completely different way.

This episode is about celebrating a new voice to watch, certainly - and a very cool person - but also it’s about the magic of opening yourself up to possibilities, to jump on opportunities if they present themselves, and to never assume that something wild can’t happen - and that this can’t be the day when your whole life changes.

We talk about:

• How responding to a tweet got her in front of a big name publisher

• How she worked backwards from a book deal to get an agent

• What the debut process is like

• The inspiration for her thriller

And so much more!

I can’t wait for you to meet her.

You can find out more about Angela here: https://angelacrook.wordpress.com/

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!

Ok, friends. I need to ask you. Are you having trouble holding yourself accountable to your writing? Are you struggling because you don’t have a lot of support or community around you?

I get you. 100 percent. I struggled with this too, until I found my people. Now my mission is to create that space for others to find THEIR people.

And when I talk about this stuff, it’s only natural that I’m attracting likeminded people into my world. I really believe that. When I met Leigh Shulman, it because super obvious that we had the same goals. She is a writer who also teaches people how to create the writing lives they want. Which is SO MY JAM.

We have a great conversation on what this means today, from figuring out your own writing process to what accountability means and how to find accountability partners that work for us, to how to actually enjoy writing. Which means fitting it into your life fitting your life into writing.

But I’m getting ahead of myself - I want you to listen to the conversation.

Here’s a bit about Leigh:

She’s an author and writing mentor and she founded The Inspired Writer Community, a women writers network for writers at any stage in their writing lives. Her bestselling book "The Writer's Roadmap: Paving the Way To Your Ideal Writing Life" helps thousands find their way in the writing world. She also writes for publications including the Washington Post, Wired, and Insider. And she’s living her best life with her family in the mountains of Argentina.

We talked about everything from:

• How the right writing community can help you find your voice

• Why you need to figure out your own writing process instead of expecting someone

else’s to work for you

• What your main writing goal should be - regardless of the project

• The internal work you have to do so you can write through every block

And so much more!

Tune in for some serious inspiration.

You can find out more about Leigh at https://leighshulman.com/

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!

The publishing world can be EXTREMELY hard to navigate. Many authors, especially when they’re starting out, feel like they need to fit neatly in a box and meet traditional expectations with their work in order to get published at all.

But not today’s guest.

I am so excited to bring you Rob Osler, a fellow mystery author who you are just going to adore. Rob writes the contemporary comedic series Hayden & Friends Mysteries, featuring a gay and lesbian amateur sleuth duo. He calls these books “comedic romps” and let me tell you - they really are.

Book one, DEVIL’S CHEW TOY, was a 2023 Best Debut Mystery Finalist for the Anthony, Macavity, Agatha, and Lefty Awards and was a 2022 Year’s Best by Crime Reads, BOLO Books, Book Riot, and POPSUGAR. Rob coined the term “quozy” as a way to highlight queer characters in the cozy world.

His new book, THE CASE OF THE MISSING MAID, the first in the new historical series, Harriet Morrow Investigates,” featuring a Chicago-based queer female detective in America s Progressive Era is out in late December.

He’s also a short story writer, and his story MISS DIRECTION is a 2024 finalist for mysteries most prestigious prize, the Edgar Allan Poe Award from Mystery Writers of America. His debut mystery short story, ANALOGUE, won the Mystery Writers of America 2022 Robert L Fish Award for best debut short story by an American Author.

We talked about everything from:

• Turning the traditional cozy on its head

• Rob’s wild path to publication - a story I just love because as I’ve said often on the show,

there is no one path to publication and often things happen in ways you could just never anticipate

• How to create secondary characters your reader loves just as much as your protagonist

• What the future holds for the cozy genre

I had so much fun chatting with Rob - I hope you love our conversation!

You can find out more about Rob and his books here, and check out his free short story:

https://robosler.com/

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!

There are some episodes I truly can’t wait to bring you, and today’s is one of those. I have someone who is such a core piece of our mystery community on the show today - get excited.

Dru Ann Love, of the blog Dru’s Book Musings, is here with me today. And if you don’t know her, that’s all about to change.

Dru Ann Love is a true friend and advocate of cozy authors—well, all authors really. She and her award-winning blog have been a name since I started writing. She launched in 2011 and has had a solid following ever since.

I remember the first time she featured me—I was ecstatic. The main focus of her blog is the “day in the life” feature where a lead protagonist or any other character gives readers a glimpse into their day.

Today, the blog is probably the most well known in the cozy mystery world, and Dru is a face that everyone looks for at our favorite conferences, including Malice Domestic and Bouchercon.

She’s also an award-winning author! Her 2024 short story cowritten with Kristopher Zgorski, Ticket To Ride, won the Agatha Award for Best Short Story and was also nominated for an Anthony Award. And her blog has been nominated for multiple awards.

During our conversation, we cover:

• How the blog started

• What it takes for a book to stand out for her

• How a Beatles song prompted her foray into writing - and an Agatha award

• Why she doesn’t actually want to write

Dru is a true love. And if you are someone who’s always looking for new mystery fiction to read, go follow her blog right now - as soon as you listen to this episode. Tune in wherever you get your podcasts.

You can find Dru’s blog here: https://drusbookmusing.com/

And on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/DrusBookMusing

I’m on @lizmugavero - follow for info on the latest episodes

I’m kind of predictable in the sense that I’m usually going to be talking about crime or mysteries on this show. It’s just my nature—and the place I’m usually living.

But every now and then I like to branch out and bring someone on the show who writes in a totally different genre. So today I’ve got a fantasy author for you who has a really cool story about how she got started.

Danielle Orsino is an award-winning fantasy novelist whose lifelong vision is to create whimsical realms that her readers can escape to. The creative spark of storytelling has been with Danielle ever since she was a child, but martial arts and her nursing career took center stage into adulthood—until an unlikely event that reignited her creative fire.

But I’ll let her tell you about that.

We had a really fun conversation about writing, the world of fantasy, and so much more. We cover:

• How an encounter with a patient during her nursing years got her back to the writing desk

• Why she’s on the cover of her own novels

• Her obsession with creating strong women characters and how she approaches creating them

• The role her Yorkie plays in her books

This was a really fun conversation—I learned so much about a genre I don’t typically spend a lot of time in. If you’re a fantasy fan—or curious like me what draws people to the genre—you don’t want to miss this episode. Tune in wherever you get your podcasts.

You can find Danielle on Instagram @birthofthefae_novel/

I’m on @lizmugavero - follow for info on the latest episodes

You may not know this about me, but I have a dark little heart. I love thrillers and psychological suspense and anything that keeps me on the edge of my seat wondering what’s going to happen next.

So of course I love Edwin Hill’s books. Edwin is the author of the critically-acclaimed Hester Thursby mystery series, which have been nominated for multiple awards, as well as the standalones The Secrets We Share and Who to Believe. His books are wild rides of twists, turns and surprises and if that’s your jam, you will definitely love them.

And of course, because we’re writers, we can’t help but talk about our processes—and of course, plotting or pantsing.

We cover:

• Writing character-driven mysteries

• When writing turns dark and it’s kind of a surprise

• How we as writers tend to overcomplicate stories - and what happens when we chill out

• The role animals play in his books

This was such a great conversation. If you’re a thriller fan or if you just love hearing writers talk about writing—because we all do it so differently—you don’t want to miss this episode. Tune in wherever you get your podcasts.

You can find Edwin at https://www.edwin-hill.com/

And on Instagram @edwinhillauthor.

I’m on @lizmugavero - follow for info on the latest episodes!

What’s better than a writing career? Doing it with a group of besties, for sure. On the podcast this week, I have my OG writing friend - one of the first people I got connected with when my career started to take off - Edith Maxwell, also known as Maddie Day.

She is part of the Wicked Authors blog with me, there are six of us total, and we all got started roughly around the same time. We became blog mates, and most of all friends and 11 years later, here we are.

Edith and I started out with the same agent, same publisher, same dreams. I’ve lost count of how many books we have between the two of us all these years later. Maddie Day’s series have really taken off. She also writes historicals, and won an Agatha for one of her Edith

Maxwell books. And she’s a prolific short story writer.

We cover:

• Writing multiple series at the same time

• Pantsing vs. plotting (because when DON’T we talk about that?

• Our favorite research trip and how we almost got (mock) killed

• Traditional vs. self-publishing

It was so much fun to have a conversation with Edith/Maddie in this setting. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to have a tight-knit group of writers navigating life and publishing together, this episode is for you. Tune in wherever you get your podcasts.

You can find her at https://edithmaxwell.com/maddie-day/

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!

I may sound like a broken record, but I’m going to keep saying it for everyone in the back:

Mindset is a critical tool that can make or break your success as a writer.

It almost doesn’t matter how talented you are if your mind is working against you. If every move you make is subverted by an inner critic that is just running amuck. And most of us come to the page with preconceived notions about the “right” way to write, what is and isn’t productive, how our process “should” look—even if we’ve been doing this a long time.

We have to stop that. Our brains all work differently, and that’s something to be celebrated and nurtured, not beaten down.

In this episode, Trisha and I break down some of the biggest mindset barriers to success and how to start coaching yourself in a kinder, more productive way.

We cover:

• Where mindset blocks come from and how to start shifting our thinking

• How each writer’s process is highly individualized and why we shouldn’t compare ourselves to anyone else

• The inner work and introspection necessary to understand yourself, which will help you understand your writing style

If you’ve been feeling down on yourself as a writer because you’re thinking you’re not as productive as other writers, or lost in processes that feel like a slog, this episode is for you.

Tune in wherever you get your podcasts.

If you’re not following Trisha yet, you can find her at https://www.trishajennreads.com/.

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!

If you’re not sure which genre you want to write in—or you feel like your book doesn’t fit neatly into a specific genre—this episode is for you.

I have a lot of conversations with writers about rules, and what you are “supposed to do” and “not supposed to do.” A lot of people just starting out have heard there is absolutely a right and a wrong way to write a book, to tell a story, to fit into a genre.

I think we block ourselves from so many things if we approach writing in this way. We block ourselves from inspiration, from the actual magic that occurs when we just sit down and write something without putting it in a box, or putting ourselves in a box. Most importantly, we end up blocking our own voice - the voice that really wants to come out and be heard.

But here’s the good news: Genre-bending fiction is on the rise. And my guest today is going to tell you how she does it.

Lale Davidson is an author and writing teacher who pushes the boundaries of magical realism in her novels. And we talk about how to do that in today’s episode.

We cover:

• How she created a world she wanted to work with before she had an actual plot—and why that worked for her

• Why it makes sense to write in “layers” or phases and write out of order if that makes sense to you

• The ONLY writing rule she follows

• How to bring readers along with you on any journey—even in a nontraditional genre

If you love pushing the envelope in your writing and creating something that is authentically YOU, this is the episode you don’t want to miss.

You can find out more about Lale and her work at https://laledavidson.com/

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!

I’m coming to you solo this week to talk about writing conferences. It’s timely, since conference season is starting—April and May are always prime conference time, and I’m just back from my very first Left Coast Crime.

I love talking about conferences. I credit the way my writing career unfolded to getting started so early finding the right ones, networking and making connections. When I made the decision to focus my writing career on mysteries and crime, the first thing I did was go online and search mystery writing conferences.

And one popped up right in my backyard. The New England Crime Bake.

I’m going to tell you all about this one and more in the episode, and also my top three reasons why writers should make conferences a part of their strategy.

I cover:

• The top conferences for mystery writers and readers in the US

• How to think about which ones are right for you, at whatever stage of your writing career you’re in

• My personal favorites and why

If you’ve been wondering if conferences are something into which you should invest time and money, definitely tune in to this episode so you can make the decision that’s best for you.

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!

Conferences I mention:

Left Coast Crime

Malice

The Edgars

ThrillerFest

Bouchercon

Killer Nashville

Sleuthfest

New England Crime Bake

Have you ever heard a story that just makes you feel all the feels?

When I met Max Friedman and heard his story, I knew I needed to bring it to all of you—for so many reasons.

Max Friedman’s parents were both Holocaust survivors who never spoke about that horrific time in their lives. He and his sister grew up understanding that something was different in their family, that there were stories under the surface that no one was telling, stories that were impacting their lives.

After his parents were gone, Max, who was a journalist his whole life, decided that it was time. He needed to find out his parents’ story, and the story of where he came from. So in his late sixties, he embarked on a journey to find out who his parents really were before that terrible time.

It took him five years and a lot of sleuthing, but he did it. And now the book, Painful Joy, is out in the world.

Max’s story is incredible. The story itself, of course, and also the proof that writing can heal you. Writing about emotional experiences has been scientifically proven to help mental health.

The Harvard Business Review reported that since 1986, more than 200 studies have been done that show “emotional writing” can improve not only emotional health but physical health.

In Max’s case, his book brought healing and closure to a family that had lived with ghosts for many years.

We talk about:

• Why he made the decision to investigate and tell his family’s story

• How his journalism training helped him navigate the research and have empathy for

himself as he faced his life story head on

• What he found out about his parents’ lives before the Holocaust

• What he learned about himself in the process

This is such a heart-wrenching story, but so beautiful to hear it finally be told. And we need to

tell—and hear—stories like this so we always remember the mistakes of the past.

You can find out more about Max and buy the book at https://maxfriedman.net/

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!

Friends—I have such an inspiring episode for you today. My guest is so multidimensional that we need multiple podcasts to cover all the hats she wears and the creative work she brings to the world.

Veronica Kirin is a speaker, teacher, cultural anthropologist, entrepreneur, magazine publisher— and of course, a writer. She is the author of Stories of Elders, a compilation of interviews of the last living members of one of America’s final analog generations. It won two book awards and an award for the accompanying documentary. She’s also an essayist, a poet and a fiction writer. She also co-founded Anodyne magazine, an arts and lit magazine highlighting the intersectional health experience of the global FLINTA (Female, Lesbian, Intersex, Trans and Agender) community—a powerful publication.

Our conversation was so full—and she shared some real wisdom bombs to inspire you to live your best life as a creative.

We covered:

• What drove her to write Stories of Elders

• How to dismantle the systems in our minds that keep us from honoring and expressing our creativity

• How to treat your writing like a business, whether you're a traditionally published author or a self-published author

• How to overcome imposter syndrome

• Why it’s so important to avoid burnout - and how to overcome it if you're already there

Veronica’s vibe is pretty awesome—I think you're going to love her. Tune in to get a huge creativity boost. You need this!

You can find out more about Veronica and her work here.

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!

Welcome back to the second of our two-part episode with investigator and author John Nardizzi.

Last week, you heard all about the real-life work of a private investigator when John talked about his day job as the founder of and investigator at Nardizzi & Assocs., Inc. It’s not surprising that, as a creative person, John was able to channel all that life experience into a second career as an author.

After all, truth is often stranger than fiction, so there’s a lot to work with here.

In this episode, John and I focus on his writing life. We talk about:

• His fictional PI, Ray Infantine and the cases he’s worked

• Crime fiction authors who inspired his own writing

• Mistakes writers make when writing about PIs and how to get it right

• What it’s like for writing and life to intersect meaningfully

We have such a great conversation about books and writing overall—and if you love crime fiction, definitely tune in to this one.

You can find out more about John’s firm here: https://www.nardizzi.com/

And his books here: https://www.johnnardizzi.com/

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!

Ever wondered what a real life private investigator really does?

Me too! Well, get excited because today I’m answering that question for you with my guest, investigator, lawyer and author John Nardizzi.

And no—it has nothing to do with spying on cheating spouses. At least, not this investigative firm.

John Nardizzi is the founder of Nardizzi & Assocs., Inc., a private detective agency in Boston. His firm has been lauded for its unique, high-end approach to investigating everything from white collar crimes to cold cases to wrongful convictions. John’s work on innocence cases earned him the Arc of Justice Award from the New England Innocence Project. He was also named 2023 Investigator of the Year from the World Association of Detectives.

And of course, he channeled his day job into a second career as an author, writing a PI series that has also gained critical acclaim. More about that in part two—yes, this one’s a two parter!

In this episode, John and I focus on his PI work, including:

• The surprising experience he looks for when hiring investigators

• How the field has evolved over the years and what makes his work different

• His work on the New England Innocence Project and some of the cases that make it all worthwhile

• The intersection of justice and investigative work

There is so much great information in this episode, and John is so fun to talk to. If you’ve ever wanted a peek behind the curtains into what private investigators’ lives really look like, you don’t want to miss this episode.

You can find out more about John’s firm here: https://www.nardizzi.com/

And his books here: https://www.johnnardizzi.com/

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!

Being able to write is about so much more than the technical ability to put a story together. It’s about having the confidence in yourself to sit down and write. And then it's about writing some more. Learning, improving your craft, trying again—and believing in yourself. And the environment you’re in is so important to your mindset.

My guest today knows this better than most. Teri Brown survived an emotionally abusive relationship and had the courage to keep putting her words on the page, but it wasn’t until she challenged herself with a cross-country tandem bike ride with her new husband that she finally found her voice.

Today she’s a published author who is living her passion.

She and I had the best conversation. We talked about:

• Her big bike adventure and her new love story

• How she got the idea for her first book about three generations of Ukrainian women

• How she handles her characters telling her what to do

• How to REALLY celebrate all your milestones.

Teri is such a delight—and I know you’ll feel inspired after this conversation.

You can find out more about Teri at https://www.terimbrown.com/

And follow her on Instagram @terimbrown_author

Connect with me on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/lizmugavero/ for updates.