Five Days, Mullins Beach, and 40 Years of Friendship: The Barbados Writing Retreat with Nathan Lang – The Writing Coach Ep. 232
Kevin T. Johns interviews Nathan Lang, Barbados resident, hospitality expert, and co-host of the November 2026 Barbados Writing Retreat, about what writers can expect from five days on the Platinum Coast.
Book Marketing is a Long Game: Passion, Positioning, and Podcasting with Susan Friedman – The Writing Coach Ep. 231
Book marketing strategist and veteran podcaster Susan Friedman joins Kevin Johns to talk about long-game marketing, fiction vs. nonfiction promotion, niche positioning, and why passion and mindset matter more than any one tactic.
From Editor to Novelist: Candace Johnson on Copyediting, Revisions, and the Author–Editor Relationship – The Writing Coach Ep. 230
In this episode of The Writing Coach Podcast, longtime editor and first-time novelist Candace Johnson pulls back the curtain on traditional publishing, copyediting, and the realities of the author–editor relationship. We talk about what editors actually look for in a manuscript, how to know when your book is ready for a copy edit, and why revision is as much a creative act as first drafting. If you’ve ever worried an editor might “ruin” your book—or wondered how to become the kind of author editors love to work with—this conversation is for you.
Emil Wilson on Memory, Family, and Graphic Storytelling – The Writing Coach Ep. 229
Kevin Johns talks with graphic novelist Emil Wilson about The Nightingales, a moving, sketchbook-style story of family, AIDS, queer identity, and empathy, and how design, composition, and color can break your heart on the page.
Flow States, Dopamine Management, and Beating Procrastination with Oscar-Winning Producer Steven Puri – The Writing Coach Ep. 228
Former Fox and DreamWorks executive and Oscar-winning producer Steven Puri joins the Writing Coach Podcast to talk about Hollywood storytelling, flow states, dopamine management, and his focus tool Suka. Discover how to overcome procrastination and distraction so you can write more, better, and with less stress.
Why Storytelling Is Your Most Powerful Book Marketing Tool
Storytelling isn’t just for novels. Learn how emotion, change, and authenticity can strengthen your book marketing and help you connect with more readers. Based on my conversation with Susan Friedmann on the Book Marketing Mentors podcast.
Susan Leon on Crime Fiction, Forgiveness, and the Ripple Effects of Loss – The Writing Coach Ep. 227
In this episode, Kevin talks with author Susan Leon about her debut novel, If They’d Only Known, a dark, emotionally layered crime story set in Northern Ontario. They discuss grief, trauma, forgiveness, historical research, writing through difficult subject matter, and how stories can explore the ripple effects of loss across families and communities.
Where the Night Winds Wail: Sandy Day on Obsession, Grief, and Indie Authorship – The Writing Coach Ep. 226
In this episode, Kevin sits down with author Sandy Day to discuss her new Ontario noir novel WHERE THE NIGHT WINDS WAIL, a haunting story inspired by the classic song “The Long Black Veil” and driven by themes of obsession, grief, and unresolved wounds.
How Linda Garnett Turned Her Debut Gothic Vampire Novel into an Amazon Bestseller – The Writing Coach Ep. 225
In this episode of The Writing Coach Podcast, Kevin T. Johns speaks with author Linda Garnett about the release of her debut Gothic vampire novel, Red Falls. Linda shares what it felt like to see the book climb the Amazon bestseller charts, how the novel evolved through outlining and revision, and why writing community, coaching, and messy first drafts helped her bring the story to life.
Using Story Intelligence to Stay Authentic in the Age of AI with Gabrielle Dolan – The Writing Coach Ep. 224
Storytelling expert and author Gabrielle Dolan joins writing coach Kevin T. Johns to reveal how writers, coaches, and leaders can use “story intelligence” (and even AI) to communicate with more clarity, emotion, and authenticity in a skeptical, digital world.
