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 nostalgia shapes atmosphere, and why Fell was the only place this story could happen. This episode is a masterclass in suspense, atmosphere, and emotional depth—and a must-listen for writers and readers of dark, twisty fiction.

Part two of this week’s episode, Bianca connects with Isabelle Engel and shares her journey as a writer, detailing her experiences with rejection, mentorship, and the creative process behind her debut novel, ‘Most Eligible’. She discusses the importance of conflict in storytelling, the extensive research she conducted on reality TV, and how her previous writing experiences shaped her voice and humor. The conversation also touches on the significance of female friendships in her narrative and the challenges of editing and revising for publication.

Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host ​and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.

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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 Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host ​and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.

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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 for YA vs. adult vs. new adult and explore what makes an opening page irresistible. A must-listen for writers polishing queries, sharpening voice, or navigating genre “in-between” spaces.

Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host ​and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.

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Websites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.com

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