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PODCAST

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra

This is a podcast for emerging writers who want to improve the quality of their work and learn more about the publishing industry. Your one host, Bianca Marais (the bestselling author of 'The Witches of Moonshyne Manor') interviews authors, agents, editors and just about anyone and everyone who's involved in bringing a book to market. She's joined by her cohosts, literary agents Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra from P.S. Literary Agency, who read and critique query letters as well as

arts books

All Episodes

53:44

The Long Game of Publishing

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing ·

2026/02/05

In part one of this week’s double author interview, Bianca sits down with executive by day and dark-fiction writer by night, Marisa Walz. They talk about her chilling debut novel ‘Good Intentions’ and the long, emotional road it took to get there. They dive into books dying on submission, leaving agents, trusting your instincts, and what it really means to keep going after heartbreak. Marisa shares how years of failed books shaped the voice and confidence behind her debut. Next up is romance author

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40:35

Shooting The Shit About Auctions, *That* Post, and...

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing ·

2026/02/02

On this week’s segment of Shooting the Shit, Carly and CeCe talk about publishing layoffs, surprising Canadian bestseller stats, and a viral article questioning the state of publishing. They break down how auctions actually work, what “private” submissions really mean, and how writers can navigate paid resources without getting burned. Plus: vacation reads, TV obsessions, and why authors love signed books!Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe,

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30:55

When the Past Won't Stay Buried: Building Dark...

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing ·

2026/01/29

In this week’s author interview, Bianca chats with debut novelist Leodora Darlington about ‘The Exes’, a sharp, dark psychological thriller that asks how far the past can reach into the present. Leodora shares her unconventional (and accidental!) path to publication, what it’s like querying agents while working in publishing, and why choosing the right agent matters more than choosing the first yes. They dive into craft topics including dual timelines, unreliable narrators, planting twists that feel

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54:27

January Bonus Episode

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing ·

2026/01/26

In part one of this month’s bonus episode, Bianca sits down with longtime collaborators and best friends Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke to talk about ‘The Naysayers’, a sharp, funny, and insightful satire about negative self-talk, toxic positivity, and the stories we tell ourselves. They open up about the realities of a long publishing career—success, setbacks, agent changes, and constant pivots—and share how a deeply personal moment sparked the idea for the novel. The conversation dives into

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44:29

The Infinite Options of Where to Begin

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing ·

2026/01/22

This week on Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe break down two standout queries—and what they get right (and wrong).First up: a UK-set enemies-to-lovers romance featuring a disgraced chef, a fallen influencer, and a double-booked garden plot. The hosts talk about query length, POV clarity, influencer culture on the page, and whether surface-level charm is enough to sustain romantic tension.Then: a YA fantasy revenge story about an angel hunting her human ex-lover after a brutal betrayal. This

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52:35

Shooting the Shit About What Carly and CeCe Want To...

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing ·

2026/01/19

In this week’s episode, Carly and CeCe chat a little bit about everything from unreliable memories and heated hockey romance TV shows to what they’d actually change if they had a magic wand over the publishing industry. They dive into big, bold industry wishes—higher pay across publishing, transparency around marketing budgets, no taxes on books, better royalties, fact-checking nonfiction, escrow accounts for advances, and more competition among publishers. It’s candid, nerdy, opinionated, and

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58:16

The Mechanics of Great Storytelling

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing ·

2026/01/15

In this week’s double author interview, Bianca sits down with New York Times bestselling author Simone St. James to talk about her chilling new novel, ‘A Box Full of Darkness’—a return to the eerie town of Fell that readers of ‘The Sundown Motel’ will lose their minds over. Simone reveals how a single idea—children playing hide-and-seek and one never returning—sparked a locked-room mystery layered with trauma, memory, and supernatural suspense. She shares why she loves writing in the ’80s, how

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40:06

Shooting the Shit About The Easiest Genres to Sell...

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing ·

2026/01/12

In this week’s Shooting the Shit, Carly and CeCe ring in the new year by talking about words of the year, habits vs. goals, and what ease might actually look like in 2026. They also dive into what really goes into selling books, including a fascinating editor breakdown of the hardest—and easiest—genres to publish in fiction and nonfiction.Plus, they answer a big community question about whether which agent you have actually affects your book deal (spoiler: yes).Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at

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43:48

Perfecting the Page One Experience

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing ·

2026/01/08

In this episode, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe welcome writer Rhiannon Harvey for an in-depth Books with Hooks critique. Rhiannon reads her polished query for ‘Mara’s Call’, a speculative YA mystery set on a fog-shrouded New England island where the sea whispers secrets—and a girl’s family history refuses to stay buried. The hosts discuss tightening hooks, anchoring motivations, crafting atmospheric titles, and deepening interiority to strengthen character connection. They also dig into market positioning

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32:52

Shooting the Shit About Your Deepest and Darkest Book...

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing ·

2026/01/05

The money talk continues. In Part Two of this no-BS publishing deep dive, Carly and CeCe tackle what really happens after you sign a deal—from how advances are actually paid (spoiler: it takes a while), to whether two-book deals are a smart move, how much authors should spend on marketing and PR, and if believing your book has million-dollar potential is confidence or delusion. They break down genre trends, celebrity “promotions,” agent income realities, and why publishing is equal parts strategy,

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61:34

Big Auction Debuts and What Brings You Back to the Page

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing ·

2026/01/01

In this week’s double author interview episode, Carly sits down with Katie Bernet, author of the wildly buzzed-about YA thriller ‘Beth Is Dead’ — a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection that has already earned three starred reviews (Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Shelf Awareness). Katie shares the story behind her explosive debut: a modern, twisty, murder-mystery reimagining of ‘Little Women’ where Beth doesn’t die of illness… She's found murdered on page one. If you love smart thrillers,

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99:48

December Bonus Episode

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing ·

2025/12/29

In our final bonus episode of 2025, we uncover what really happens inside a literary agency. This week, we’re giving you a fly-on-the-wall look at a real agent meeting.CeCe is joined by fellow agents from Wendy Sherman Associates to talk trends, romantasy, cover reveals, editor movement, author marketing pressure, and what agents actually do after a book sells. Honest, funny, and packed with insider insight—this is publishing, unfiltered.Don’t miss our final comps for 2025 with Emilie Sommers!Note:

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42:20

The Job of a Disruption

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing ·

2025/12/25

In this festive episode, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe unwrap two juicy query critiques! First up: — a whodunit-meets-reality-TV mashup where The Bachelor collides with Death on the Nile. The trio dishes on comps overload, missing love stories, and why “cozy romance” needs more than vibes. Then, a chilling turn with a literary horror set in Alaska. CeCe and Carly dive deep into what makes tension work (hint: clarity, specificity, and stakes), plus a few laughs over maps, marriage, and misfires.Note: Cece

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38:08

Shooting the Shit About Your Deepest and Darkest Book...

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing ·

2025/12/22

Money. Advances. Royalties. Envy. Agenting. In this no-holds-barred part one episode, Carly and CeCe crack open the money conversations writers are told not to have—and answer your most anonymous, anxiety-inducing questions about the business of publishing. From six-figure deal myths and what “earning out” actually means, to whether writing can be a job, how agents think about money, and why publishing is basically institutionalized gambling, nothing is off-limits. Honest, data-driven, funny, and

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30:20

The Evolution of a Novel

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing ·

2025/12/18

On this week’s episode, Bianca chats with Belfast-born writer Gráinne O’Hare, author of the hilarious, tender, and irresistibly relatable debut novel ‘Thirst Trap’. They discuss the evolution of Thirst Trap—from messy drafts to its final form, capturing the chaos, grief, and wild nights of your 20s, writing nuanced female friendships, crafting authentic dialogue, balancing “quiet” storytelling with real emotional stakes and so much more! If you love coming-of-age stories with humor, heart, and a

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47:20

Shooting the Shit About How Much Agents Share

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing ·

2025/12/15

Do agents talk about your queries behind the scenes? 👀In this episode of Shooting the Shit, Carly and CeCe kick things off with winter sadsies, Brazilian brigadeiros, and an advent-calendar scandal before diving into the real talk writers need. They break down whether agents share queries with each other, if comping an agent’s own clients helps or hurts your chances, and what it really means when your work appears on Books with Hooks. Plus: big publishing investment news, female-led powerhouses,

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38:30

Quiet Stories, Big Stakes

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing ·

2025/12/11

In this week’s Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe dig into two thought-provoking queries — one about addiction and redemption, the other about love, power, and self-worth. They unpack why “quiet” stories can still grab attention, how to balance A and B plots in romance, and why tension and character depth are everything. Tune in for sharp agent insights, story surgery, and a few laugh-out-loud moments along the way.Note: Cece Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query

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35:53

Shooting the Shit: About the hidden side of...

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing ·

2025/12/08

In this week’s Shooting the Shit, Carly and CeCe dive into the chaos that is publishing in December—best-of-year lists, midlist “bestsellers,” AI anxiety, and the eternal question: Are books becoming luxury items?! They unpack fresh sales stats, why returns matter more than you think, real talk about authors’ AI fears, and the emotional rollercoaster of watching everyone post their “Best of 2025” wrap-ups. Plus: industry gossip, beauty-episode fantasies, and a viral Instagram carousel that EVERY

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36:42

Plotting With Fate

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing ·

2025/12/04

In this episode, Carly welcomes her co-writing clients Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman — authors of ‘10,000 Light Years from OK’ — to talk about their heartfelt, writer-centric sophomore novel. If you love stories about love, hope, courage, and the wild coincidences that make us believe in something bigger… this one’s for you. ‘10,000 Light Years from OK’ is out now — grab your copy and tune in!Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please

en-US

36:35

Shooting the Shit: About agent burnout and the...

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing ·

2025/12/01

Carly and CeCe are back—one in snowy Canada, one in flower-crown Hawaii—and they’re diving into burnout, the business of books, and the spicy gossip that only happens at publishing conferences. The dynamic duo cover everything from agent burnout, the power of booksellers and more conference chaos. You don’t want to miss this week’s episode! Can you spot the Easter eggs Carly and CeCe drop?Take a listen here or watch it on YouTube!Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If

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