We have been experiencing quite a bit lately, all over the world! So much is going on with not just the virus but a much needed uprising, a call for change--REAL change--is taking place. With all of that said, some of us have been dealing with it in our own way. This episode goes into the personal feelings felt and the challenges being met. Join me in this next chapter of The Written Life. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-written-life-podcast/message

Happy Monday! Brief check-in for my listeners, letting you know that I have not forgotten about you, and I have not forgotten about this podcast. It will continue and we will all get through these odd times together. Our lives have changed, hopefully for the better, as this pandemic has put us all in a chokehold. It should give us time to work on the things we've always wanted to do, but sometimes it's okay to get your rest in and not do anything if that's what you want to do as well. As for me, I have been working from home, so I will continue to think of and come with new content for my listeners. Stay tuned for more of The Written Life. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-written-life-podcast/message

I am not only a woman doing a podcast, but I'm also a WRITER doing a podcast! That's right, I write, actively! I am a fiction writer, mostly Urban-Fantasy but also Horror as of late (of which I am a very big fan of the genre as a whole). When I am not working at the day job, mothering, or podcasting, I am writing. Currently, I am writing the third book in my Makaela Williams series, "The Sorceress" due out later this year that is almost over (so I need work fast).  With this seventh chapter of the podcast, I wanted to stop being so secretive and give you guys a sneak into the world of succubi who also are magic wielders (just the women, not the incubi, so sorry for them). The women are the powerful beings in this world, and they have to battle through a very tough adversary who is introduced in this chapter that I read to you all. I'm not the best at public speaking, but I did my best! I'm glad I got to do this! To get really acquainted with Makaela and her world, please check out both "Voices in the Air" and "Whispers of the Flesh" before the third book is finished and ready for launch this winter! Voices on the Air: https://www.amazon.com/Voices-Makaela-Williams-Shea-McGee/dp/1980375992 Whispers of the Flesh: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Flesh-Makaela-Williams-Book-ebook/dp/B07HFLSJRN S. L. McGee Official Author Site: https://slmcgeeauthor.wordpress.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-written-life-podcast/message

The Romance genre is a BILLION DOLLAR juggernaut as far as books go; millions upon millions of romance novels are consumed yearly, making it the top most profitable genre in the entire book industry! Although it is highly successful. it seriously lacks diversity: “out of the 3,752 romance novels released by 20 major imprints in 2017, only around 6 percent were written by nonwhite authors.” (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/07/books/romance-novels-diversity.html) Can the Romance novel community continue its reign as the top earning genre? Or will their lack of PoC writers threaten to take them under? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-written-life-podcast/message

Sales/Marketing sound smarmy and just downright nasty, but unfortunately, they are very necessary proponents in the game of becoming a well-known (and sought after) author. You want to make that NY Best Seller’s List? Put on the ritz, darling, and get to work! Hawk your book! Believe in your work? Show it by telling anyone who will listen about it. Also unfortunately, most writers are not extroverts so the talking part may be difficult for some. Marketing isn't easy, but if you're a self-published author (such as myself) then you KNOW it's even more so of a challenge! But you must rise to the occasion, especially if you're trying to be the best you that you can be...as a writer. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-written-life-podcast/message

This podcast chapter explores book-to-film adaptation and why some film adaptations of books hit or miss? Where did it go wrong? We talk about books made into series, why they are "fails" and why they can be "wins".  Also, we search into reasons why they fail, and a very top valid reason for it: our own expectations. We already have the images of the characters and the settings in our mind, so when they don’t automatically align with what our imagination conjured, we are immediately disappointed! Let's let people enjoy things though!  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-written-life-podcast/message

Art Imitating Life: Do writers really create stories based off of their own real life personal experiences? In this week's chapter topic, we discuss writing fiction while using our own experiences to create fictional worlds and relatable characters. From tragic events to comedic risings, we delve in between the fictional tropes to find the truth of things! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-written-life-podcast/message

In Chapter 1 of "The Written Life" we explore the host, Shea McGee (S.L. McGee). In it, we'll discuss why she writes, who she writes for, and what she writes. She'll delve into who her inspirations are, and how motherhood has shaped her as a writer, as well as what it means to be a WoC/Black woman in the Fantasy/Urban Fantasy genre. Representation indeed matters! To follow your host: Facebook: @SLMcGeeAuthor Instagram: @Sl_mcgee_author Twitter: @LaSmalls86 Blog/Author Site: slcmgeeauthor.wordpress.com Kickstarter for 'Hell Hour' Anthology to support the launch of the book: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mikesalt/hell-hour-horror-anthology?ref=nav_search&result=project&term=hell%20hour --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-written-life-podcast/message

I'm baaaack! Yes, I've got a new podcast home (possibly)! I'm excited to see if this will be better than where I previously was, and if I can keep this one way more consistent than my prior podcast! With "The Written Life", I'll be discussing my writing, what I write, how I write, how I started on my writing journey, and my favorite books and genres. I will also seek other subjects related to writing and being an author that will interest my listeners, so please feel free to give me feedback! It's highly encouraged. We'll delve into also what it means to be a female author, a Black female author, and how that affects me.  I look forward to sharing this journey with you all.  You can follow along on my other socials as well: Facebook: @slmcgeeauthor Instagram: @sl_mcgee_author Twitter: @LaSmalls86 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-written-life-podcast/message