Joanna Monahan lives in North Carolina with her husband, children, and two distracting cats.

Before she began writing, Joanna worked a variety of jobs, including marketing, professional

organizing, and setting up book fairs. She enjoys theater, baseball, and bookmarking recipes she will never make. A child of the 80s, she regrets that she no longer receives pizza coupons in exchange for reading.

You can find her at joannamonahan.com talking about books, writing, and all things GenX or on

Instagram where she regularly torments her characters by participating in fiction writing

Challenges.

Joanna is a proud member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, the North Carolina

Writers’ Network and the Author’s Guild.

About the Book: SOMETHING BETTER is a coming-of-(middle-) age tale of love, family, and

the dangers of attending your high school reunion. It was published in June 2023 by Blue Ink

Press.

SHOW NOTES:

Something Better

• Synopis
• Inspiration
• Gen Xer & Musical references
• “Every villain is the hero of their own story” & complex protagonist

Welcome to Blooms, release date April 2026

• Synopsis
• Inspiration
• Possible series

Writing and things learned the hard way

• Writing process & schedule
• Personal branding
• Community & the WFWA
• Book cover creation
• Current WIP

Trivia

• The title SOMETHING BETTER comes from the song “Start a War” by The National. The first lines are: “We expected something, something better than before. We expected something more.”
• Joanna’s favorite authors are Beverly Cleary and Jan Karon. Her love of the Mitford series was part of the reason her family chose to relocate to North Carolina from Colorado in 2015.

SOURCES & LINKS

https://www.joannamonahan.com/

Instagram: @joannamonahanauthor

Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

If you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you

The first page of a novel can make or break a reader’s attention. In this episode, we explore what goes into crafting an irresistible opening that hooks your audience from the very first line. From setting the tone and establishing stakes to introducing compelling characters and planting questions that beg to be answered, we’ll break down the techniques successful authors use to keep readers turning the page. We’ll also share examples of unforgettable openings, common pitfalls to avoid, and practical strategies you can use to strengthen your own writing. Whether you’re starting your first novel or polishing your next, this episode will help you create an opening that truly captivates.

Why Openings Matter

Key Elements of a Strong Opening

Techniques That Work

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Practical Strategies for Writers

Examples

SOURCES & LINKS:

“100 Best First Lines from Novels,” American Book Review, 2006

DO NOW: Read through some of the best first sentences. Notice what you like about them, what is similar among them, what draws you in.

Write several versions of your own for one work to see which captures the characteristics for a strong opening.

Next Episode: An interview with Joanna Monahan, author of Something Better

Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

If you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you

In this episode, Donna and Hope dive into the ever-evolving world of literary adaptations, exploring why so many novels are making their way to screens—both big and small. They break down the difference between loose and tight adaptations, share the essential qualities that make a novel ripe for adaptation, and examine the rising trend of limited series as the ideal format for complex storytelling. This episode is a must-listen for writers, book lovers and screen buffs alike.

Show Notes:

Number of films made from novels

Upward trend of series adaptations

Loose vs. tight adaptation

What characteristics of a novel make for a good adaptation?

OUR PICKS

SOURCES & LINKS

How to Write a Book Like a Movie, Richard M. Craft

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book On Novel Writing You'll Ever Need, Jessica Brody

Save the Cat! Goes to the Movies: The Screenwriter's Guide to Every Story Ever Told, Blake Snyder

DO NOW:

Choose a companion novel and film. Study HOW (using the characteristics mentioned above) the adaptation brings the written work to life.

Next Episode: Hooked From Page One, the importance of strong openings

Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

If you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, COMMENT and SHARE. Thank you