The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

In part one of this week’s packed episode Bianca Marais chats with thriller powerhouse Hank Phillippi Ryan, they unpack the craft behind ‘Mother, Daughter, Sister, Stranger’, from writing an unforgettable prologue to building relentless suspense through curiosity, ticking clocks, and emotional stakes. Hank shares why panic is an essential part of her writing process, how reading ambitious novels pushes her to take bigger creative risks, and why grounding readers in a character's emotional journey is the key to making every twist land.
Next up is Laura Moriarty to discuss the craft behind ‘Sunlight Finds You’, exploring how voice can carry an opening without a traditional hook, why switching from third person to first person transformed the novel, and how a retrospective narrator creates powerful opportunities for foreshadowing. They also dive into historical research, layering exposition naturally, and using hindsight to add emotional weight to a coming-of-age story that lingers long after the final page.
Last but not least is in part three of this packed episode is New York Times bestselling author Linwood Barclay joins Bianca Marais to talk thrillers, twists, and keeping readers hooked. Linwood breaks down his “somewhere in the middle” approach to plotting, why his stories often begin with a killer “what if?”, and how TV taught him to treat chapter endings like commercial breaks. Plus, they dig into breaking writing rules, avoiding backstory overload, creating curiosity from page one, and why what characters do and say matters more than what they look like.
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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Carly and CeCe are back for another Shooting the Shit, digging into the latest publishing news—from what’s changing with local author events to encouraging new sales numbers across the industry. They also spotlight editor Whitney Frick and unpack what makes a memoir truly resonate, why fact-checking ultimately falls on the author, and the difference between simply recounting what happened and finding the emotional truth behind an experience. 
As mentioned on the podcast:
https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/whitney-frick-belle-burden-amy-griffin-dial-press-f67fc87
https://www.bookforum.com/print/3301/always-be-selling-62909
https://publishingperspectives.com/2026/08/aap-annual-report-u-s-publisher-revenues-rose-slightly-in-2025/
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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This week on Books with Hooks, CeCe, Carly, and Bianca critique two submissions: a literary LGBTQ novel centered on the closure of a rural queer bar and the buried trauma tied to its history, and an upmarket dual-timeline novel set within Guadalajara's expat community, where old secrets and unresolved love collide decades later. Along the way, they discuss choosing stronger comp titles, balancing mystery with clarity in query letters, crafting irresistible hooks, building tension across dual timelines, and why specificity—not vagueness—is what truly keeps readers turning the page. They also dive into the nuances of POV, seamless scene transitions, and how to make literary fiction emotionally immersive without sacrificing momentum.
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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Carly and CeCe are back to unpack another messy week in publishing, from a headline-making cancelled book auction and growing concerns over AI accusations to the urgent need for clearer industry guidelines around AI use. They dig into who should be responsible for setting those rules, why authors deserve more transparency, and the risks of relying on AI detection tools. Plus, they discuss alternative publishing models, the rise of no-advance deals, and the increasingly sophisticated scams targeting authors.
As mentioned on the podcast (please copy and paste the URL into your browser):
https://nypost.com/2026/08/04/media/author-who-lost-2m-book-deal-over-ai-concerns-claims-allegations-are-racially-motivated/
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/100983-after-the-cancellation-of-call-me-i-ll-hide-the-body-what-comes-next.html
https://www.thebookseller.com/news/it-was-inevitable-agents-react-to-major-book-deal-that-collapsed-over-suspected-ai-use
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/100985-rbmedia-acquires-u-k-indie-boldwood-books.html
https://authornews.penguinrandomhouse.com/spotting-and-blocking-fraudulent-author-opportunities/?ref=PRH07B05BFDA8A1&linkid=PRH07B05BFDA8A1&cdi=321A47AFB9BF4547E0534FD66B0AE227&template_id=40775&aid=randohouseinc30392-20&link_location=5_20 
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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Websites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.com
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In part one of this week’s episode, Bianca Marais sits down with bestselling author Chris Bohjalian to discuss The Amateur. Don’t miss this incredibly insightful interview that touches on voice, tension, and emotional storytelling. They explore how to create deeply flawed yet unforgettable characters, use specificity to reveal backstory without slowing the narrative, and build suspense through foreshadowing and structure. Chris also shares why he wrote the novel in just 90 days, how he balances first-person narration with psychological depth, and why action—not exposition—is often the strongest path to revealing character. 
Shifting over to Bailey Hannah who joins Carly Watters to celebrate the final book in the beloved Wells Ranch series, Love Wells Kept. They discuss bringing the five-book journey to a close, writing an emotional marriage-in-crisis romance centered on amnesia, balancing heartbreak with hope, and researching traumatic brain injuries to portray recovery authentically. Bailey also shares her approach to romance tropes, crafting emotionally intelligent heroes, writing interconnected series, and why aspiring authors should stop waiting for the perfect moment and simply write the book.
In part three of this week’s author interviews, Carly Watters interviews Tara DeWitt about her new book Lost and Found, the culmination of her Spoons series. They talk about themes of grief, motherhood, and the complexities of relationships, exploring how Tara's characters navigate their emotional journeys. The discussion also touches on the balance of sweetness and spice in romance writing, the impact of social media on authors, and the powerful connections formed with fans through storytelling.
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.
Audio excerpted courtesy of Penguin Random House Audio from Love Wells Kept by Bailey Hannah; Read by James Cassidy and Samantha Brentmoor. © 2026 Bailey Hannah, ℗ 2026 Penguin Random House, LLC. All rights reserved.
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