Writing with Annie Parnell
What unique experiences and challenges have shaped the transition of an indie author into podcasting?
An author navigates the intersection of creativity, technology, and self-promotion through podcasting.
“What I realized was I needed to choose myself. Because there wasn’t anybody out there who was going to take a chance on me.” ~ Annie Parnell (20:20)
The conversation focuses on the journey of an indie author who specializes in historical romantic suspense with a feminist perspective, as she ventures into podcasting. Annie shares the challenges of creating audiobooks independently and how those obstacles motivated her to adapt her storytelling into a podcast format. Her process is shaped by creative choices, such as incorporating Foley sound effects and dramatizing her narratives while recording.
A significant theme is the balance between self-reliance and community support. Annie discusses her reliance on feedback from a launch team and her willingness to share imperfections in her work. Additionally, she touches on broader cultural topics, such as fostering sisterhood and challenging adversarial narratives through her novels. These values influence both her writing and her decision to make her work more accessible through audio formats.
Takeaways
Creative adaptations — Transforming a book into a podcast allows for a unique storytelling format.
Technological challenges — Podcasting requires managing tools and technology, such as sound effects and recording setups.
Generosity in storytelling — Sharing creative work, even when imperfect, can foster stronger audience connections.
Themes of sisterhood — Promoting collaboration and support among women is central to the author’s work.
Self-reliance in publishing — Choosing to self-publish empowers authors who are overlooked by traditional channels.
Audience engagement — A private Facebook group supports the author’s promotional efforts and gathers feedback.
Learning from mistakes — Accepting and sharing errors is seen as a valuable growth opportunity.
Resources
Annie Parnell’s web site — Includes free short stories and information about her work.
“The Reluctant Countess” — First book in the author’s series, focusing on sisterhood and historical themes.
“Do No Harm” — A short story available as a free download on her website.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
— Hello👋 I’m Craig Constantine.
This is Podtalk. Short conversations with indie podcasters that are not just about podcasting, because I like to take the scenic route.
In each episode, I talk with podcasters about their shows, experiences, what they’ve learned, what motivates them, and… well, pretty much everything related to podcasting from the indie creator’s point of view. I hope these episodes spark ideas and conversations for you, and lead to new ways of looking at this wonderful art of podcasting.
If you like Podtalk, you’ll love the Podcaster Community, https://podcaster.community/
I appreciate your time and attention, and I don’t take it for granted.
— Thank you!
My personal mission is creating better conversations to spread understanding and compassion. This podcast is just one of the things I do in service of my mission. Drop by my website https://craigconstantine.com/ for my weekly email, my other podcasts, writing and more.
Thanks for listening!
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