The coffee is running out for host William Brian Johnson, while host DA Bale continues to drink her fill - and it shows. Listen in on this episode when DA shares a missed opportunity for sales when she failed to have a mailing list set up for a newsletter to keep in touch with her readers. A newsletter you ask? Why yes! Find out why it is of vital …

Your author hosts DA Bale and William Brian Johnson took the summer off for some desperately needed writing time. But never fear! We're back with the school year. Brian shares a rather frustrating experience over word processor subscriptions and the impact it can have on writing. Are you looking for a program that just allows you to get words down …

It's the end of another school year and your hosts DA Bale and William Brian Johnson preview what is on their horizon. From writing camps to storm chasing, it's shaping up to be an interesting summer - and stay tuned for a tidbit of some super secret info. We're also answering the questions you've been sending us this season, so hang out for our th…

How's that for a boring podcast episode title? Your host William Brian Johnson decided to "edit" the title down to its simplest form because...you know...this one's about editing! From developmental edits to proofreading, learn the differences so you know what you're paying for from a novel editor. Or if you're really on a budget, find out some hel…

Are you like most authors who struggle writing a description for your novel? Does putting the finishing touches on your novel bring with it a stomachache to rival Montezuma's Revenge because you know you're going to have to write the blurb? Well struggle with blurbs no more! Your hosts DA Bale and William Brian Johnson break down the basics for wri…

How many novels have you started writing only to get stopped by the muddy middle? How do you get unstuck and plow through to the end? Join your pantser author hosts William Brian Johnson and DA Bale as Brian contemplates taking his pants off to finish a novel that has taken years off his life. He promised a book release last year only to miss the m…

No, we're not talking about the University of Kansas (though our March Madness brackets are a topic of discussion). It's that reader subscription service through Amazon known as Kindle Unlimited. Is it beneficial for new authors or only existing? Are there certain genres that do better than others? Why should I give Amazon exclusivity to my work? I…

So...you've written a book. Congratulations! Now what? Join DA Bale and William Brian Johnson as our author hosts take your hand and help you toddle along down the indie path to self-publishing. Get a brief rundown on editing, beta readers, ARC's (what's that?), social media and all the baby steps you'll need to take before you stand tall and click…

Your author hosts begin a new series for all of the newer authors in the audience (and those who've been out of the picture for awhile). The indie world of publishing is full of people seeking to separate you from your money like a Nigerian email scammer. Those contests, vanity presses, and other unsolicited emails prey on authors desperate for a w…

It’s the start of a new podcast season! Find out what your author hosts have been up to over the last several months. From train trips, spilled drinks, and men writing from a female character’s perspective to missed publishing deadlines, the Hemingway Method, and shooting in the raw (it’s not what you think…or maybe it is), get caught up on our 201…

From romance to mystery. Sci-fi to suspense. Genre to sub-genre. There's a lot of confusion out there about how to go about categorizing your novel - and it's vitally important to choose correctly from the outset. Your hosts help break apart the confusion so you can cut through the categories to get it right the first time. If you have questions, c…

The long awaited second half of Archetypes in our Nuts & Bolts series is live with this edition. Stay tuned for the start of season two. As always, email us at catastrophiccoffee@gmail.com for questions, comments, or if you have a subject you'd like to hear us discuss.

Yep, your author hosts are high on the coffee fumes in this episode as they talk about Vogler's archetypes, those characters that seem to show up in virtually every novel or movie, whether you're aware of them or not. But as writers, we should be aware of them and what purposes they serve to our stories. So while William Brian Johnson takes the rei…

Is there a method to the madness when it comes to writing a novel? Do you want to put your reader to sleep or grab their interest within the first few paragraphs? Well if that's you, you're listening to the right podcast. Join your author hosts DA Bale and William Brian Johnson on a caffeinated journey as they talk about the basic structures and st…

Authors DA Bale and William Brian Johnson are trying out a new coffee, strong with a bit of an after-bite, because their brains need it after long days and even longer nights. In this next installment of the Nuts & Bolts series, join our hosts as they cuss and discuss a topic that is often the bane of many an indie author's existence - writing soli…

Ah-ha! We knew you were out there listening - and now we have proof. Join authors DA Bale and William Brian Johnson as they discuss three very important questions from our listening audience. How do you know when your story is complete? How do you balance writing/publishing rapidly versus quality of work? Lastly, if you didn't get a chance to finis…

Authors DA Bale and William Brian Johnson are at it again with how to improve your novel writing. Someone take away their coffee now! Many authors struggle with one of the most important things in a writer's arsenal - making your characters come alive. It's not enough to describe hair and eye color, weight and height. Matter-of-fact, neither of you…

It's a new year and there's no better time to get back to the basics with your writing. In this first Nuts & Bolts installment, join your author hosts DA Bale and William Brian Johnson as they discuss the importance of setting in novels and how it is such a vital, yet often overlooked, component to account for before you put pen to paper. There's m…

After a lackluster 2016, your hosts DA Bale and William Brian Johnson are crossing their fingers, legs, arms, and eyes hoping 2017 offers something better in the realm of indie writing and self-publishing. They aren't setting New Year's resolutions but goals for what they want to accomplish: Brian just wants to finish a new book while D sets some e…

Here we are at the end of 2016, brought to you by the pharmaceutical companies repping depression and anxiety medications. Your hosts offer up a sad commentary on the wonderful actors we lost in 2016, then talk about D's recent release and the foibles she encountered promoting in December. Brian is FINALLY writing again and has several novel projec…

It's a late night and your author hosts DA Bale and William Brian Johnson have waaaay too much caffeine in their systems as they discuss how and where to find those necessary reviews for their books. As a professional reviewer, DA ends the podcast with her Top Ten Pet Peeves about the mistakes authors make when approaching reviewers about reading t…

Host William Brian Johnson rants about his NaNoWriMo efforts, so clear the kids from the room - don't worry, we've bleeped out the worst of it. Plus DA Bale shares about how her upcoming release is faring, so get out your credit card and look for the eBook December 15th.

Join authors DA Bale and William Brian Johnson as they tackle the subject of marketing your book in today's self-publishing world. Learn what has worked and what hasn't with DA's efforts - and why. We have a new email address now too catastrophiccoffee@gmail.com and welcome your thoughts and suggestions for future episodes.…

Hosts DA Bale and William Brian Johnson gear up for National Novel Writing Month. Find out how Brian is faring as he prepares to join NaNoWriMo participants after years of nothing but academic writing.

Join your hosts DA Bale and William Brian Johnson as Mighty Bri begins the rehabilitation process from academic writing back to creative writing by visiting the Vomitarium.

An introduction to your magnificent hosts, authors DA Bale and William Brian Johnson in the world of novel writing and self-publishing.