Episodes

  • Every Book Has to Be a Five-Star Read, Says Author J.D. Barker!

    Every Book Has to Be a Five-Star Read, Says Author J.D. Barker!
    Jun 19 2026
    Every Book Has to Be a Five-Star Read, Says Author J.D. Barker! Bestselling hybrid author JD Barker returns to talk craft, business, and the realities of publishing at scale. Thomas J. Bellezza and JD dig into his six-step pipeline, what James Patterson taught him about branding and "being there" in a scene, why writing cinematically gets books optioned, review bombing, trigger warnings, and adapting novels for film, plus a first-time announcement.

    ▶ J.D. BARKER'S BOOKS: https://amzn.to/4xxYkBH
    ▶ THE FIRST SCARLET DOOR: https://amzn.to/4vXbbfp

    THOMAS BOOKS

    ▶ The 27 Plot Point Outline: When Plot meets Story https://amzn.to/4r2H1EO
    ▶ The Foundation For Longevity [Book 1 of The Breaking Down Success Series] https://amzn.to/4mbh97n
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    52 mins
  • Matt Weiss on Fan Series Writing, Improv, and the Hero's Journey!

    Matt Weiss on Fan Series Writing, Improv, and the Hero's Journey!
    Jun 5 2026
    Matt Weiss on Fan Series Writing, Improv, and the Hero's Journey! Matt Weiss, Star Trek Cello Guy, creator of Egotastic Trek and Adam's Radio Hour, joins Thomas J. Bellezza for a wide-ranging conversation on writing a Star Trek fan series, building Captain Hardinger's arc from villain to hero, voice acting and cold reads, the hero's journey, and a deep philosophical exchange on faith, language, and truth.

    ▶ Mathew Weiss's Website: https://allmylinks.com/shalin3327

    THOMAS BOOKS

    ▶ The 27 Plot Point Outline: When Plot meets Story https://amzn.to/4r2H1EO
    ▶ The Foundation For Longevity [Book 1 of The Breaking Down Success Series] https://amzn.to/4mbh97n
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    2 hrs and 15 mins
  • Author Randee Dawn on Overwriting and Building Worlds!

    Author Randee Dawn on Overwriting and Building Worlds!
    Jun 3 2026
    Author Randee Dawn on Overwriting and Building Worlds! Author Randee Dawn (We Interrupt This Program, Tune in Tomorrow) joins Thomas J. Bellezza on The Write Mindset to talk about her path from music and TV journalism into contemporary fantasy, the magical Tunaverse, why a chapter is an event with its own arc, the cost of overwriting, and what screenplays taught her about word budgets.

    ▶ RANDEE DAWN'S BOOKS: https://amzn.to/4uWlShG
    ▶ WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM: https://amzn.to/3PLWGLS

    THOMAS BOOKS

    ▶ The 27 Plot Point Outline: When Plot meets Story https://amzn.to/4r2H1EO
    ▶ The Foundation For Longevity [Book 1 of The Breaking Down Success Series] https://amzn.to/4mbh97n
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Crime vs Thriller: This 20-Book Author Knows the Difference! With Author Danielle Girard!

    Crime vs Thriller: This 20-Book Author Knows the Difference! With Author Danielle Girard!
    May 8 2026
    Crime vs Thriller: This 20-Book Author Knows the Difference! With Author Danielle Girard! Danielle Girard has written 20 books, 16 police procedurals, and her latest thriller, Pinky Swear. We discuss the real difference between crime and thriller genres, discovering character voice through writing, placing clues that feel earned, and how she used fiction to process betrayal and rebuild trust after divorce. Honest conversation about craft, catharsis, and the healing power of writing through pain without memoir.

    ▶ Danielle Girard's Books: https://amzn.to/42NNEAO

    ▶ The 27 Plot Point Outline: When Plot meets Story https://amzn.to/4r2H1EO

    ▶ The Foundation For Longevity [Book 1 of The Breaking Down Success Series] https://amzn.to/4mbh97n
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    1 hr
  • From Bedtime Stories to Published Sci-Fi with Author Jason Randall Spriggs interview!

    From Bedtime Stories to Published Sci-Fi with Author Jason Randall Spriggs interview!
    May 4 2026
    From Bedtime Stories to Published Sci-Fi with Author Jason Randall Spriggs interview! Join me for a conversation with Randall, author of Star Skimmer, about writing science fiction that balances imagination with realistic science. We discuss his process of turning bedtime stories into published novels, building alien ecosystems inspired by Carl Sagan, creating pronounceable names, and the fine line between creative worldbuilding and going too far. Perfect for sci-fi writers developing craft.

    ▶ Jason Randall Spriggs Books: https://amzn.to/4n4C1yM
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    1 hr and 28 mins
  • An interview with Jacqueline Pennewill | Author of The Book of Eternity

    An interview with Jacqueline Pennewill | Author of The Book of Eternity
    Apr 10 2026
    An interview with Jacqueline Pennewill, author of The Book of Eternity. Actress turned novelist Jacqueline joins The Write Mindset to talk about writing The Book of Eternity, her debut fantasy trilogy born from grief and a hospital room promise to her mother. We explore how acting shapes character work, why behavior matters more than dialogue, finding trusted readers, and the business parallels between acting and publishing.

    ▶ Jacqueline Pennewill Books: https://amzn.to/4csmpBo
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Writing Culture, History, and Lost Worlds: A Conversation With Deepa Anappara

    Writing Culture, History, and Lost Worlds: A Conversation With Deepa Anappara
    Mar 27 2026
    Writing Culture, History, and Lost Worlds: A Conversation With Deepa Anappara. Thomas J. Bellezza sits down with author Deepa Anappara to explore writing culture, researching history, and how her novel The Last of Earth weaves map making and lost history together. A must-watch for writers drawn to culturally rich, research-driven storytelling.

    ▶ Deepa Anappara Books: https://amzn.to/40QczTp

    ▶ The 27 Plot Point Outline: When Plot meets Story https://amzn.to/4r2H1EO

    ▶ The Foundation For Longevity [Book 1 of The Breaking Down Success Series] https://amzn.to/4mbh97n
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    59 mins
  • Be Willing To Write Poorly: Author Faulkner Hunt on the Journey to Fiction

    Be Willing To Write Poorly: Author Faulkner Hunt on the Journey to Fiction
    Mar 13 2026
    Be Willing To Write Poorly: Author Faulkner Hunt on the Journey to Fiction: Screenwriter turned novelist Faulkner Hunt joins Thomas J. Bellezza to talk about outlining, overexplaining, trusting readers to discover the story, and why great writing is rewriting. This is an honest conversation about the real craft journey that every fiction writer needs to hear.

    ▶ Faulkner Hunt's Books: https://amzn.to/4rG8cWd
    NOVEL: The Ballad of Innes of Skara Skaill
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    1 hr and 1 min