Episode 155 - Martha Anne Toll - Finely Crafted, Award-Winning Fiction
Martha Anne Toll is an author and former lawyer who has always been passionate about writing. She grew up in a secular Jewish family and was deeply influenced by the stories of Holocaust survivors. Martha's debut novel, Three Muses, is a beautifully crafted story that combines her love for ballet and her exploration of the impact of the Holocaust on her own Jewish identity. She is currently working on her second novel, Duet for One, which delves into the world of classical music in Philadelphia.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Martha about her writing process, her publishing journey, marketing efforts, and the value of attending book events to learn from other authors. They also discuss how the Holocaust factors into Jewish identity, especially for 20th century American Jews.
In this episode, Lynne and Martha discuss:
The inspiration behind the novel Three Muses
Martha's introduction to Judaism through the Holocaust
Martha's next novel
Developing characters & the love story in Three Muses
Writing process and revision
Research for writing a book
How to find a publisher
Marketing & speaking engagements
The power of 100 rejections
Writing routines & book events
Why beginnings & endings are so difficult
Writing novels with no formal writing training – why you don’t need a degree to write a great book!
Being a ruthless self-editor
Links and Resources:
The Holocaust
Auschwitz
Classic music in Philadelphia
Woman of Valor
Viola
Writing Coaching
Swan Lake
Developmental Editing
Writing Retreats
Regal House Publishing
Petrichor Prize
Lynne’s Substack
Find Martha Anne Toll:
Website
Substack
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
Episode 146 – Barbara Stark-Nemon – Tracing the Path of Historical Fiction
Episode 142 – Announcing Scotia Road Books
Episode 131 -Weina Dai Randel – The Last Rose of Shanghai
Episode 129 – Rosina Lippi – Author of the Wilderness Series
Episode 128 – Becky Robinson – Building Reach for Books
Episode 105 - Helen Taylor & Gina Nicholas - How to really protect the environment by being a true part of it
Episode 104 - Crystal Blanchette - How to make food your friend
Episode 103 - Katie Yamasaki - How to make murals for Community Expression
Episode 102 - Patrick Hicks - How to write historical fiction
Episode 101 - Margaret O'Gorman - Why bicycling through countries is the BEST way to learn local culture
Episode 100 - Bassie Shemtov - How to combine career and family to really make a difference
Episode 99 - Keisha Greaves - How to turn a devastating diagnosis into a career opportunity
Episode 98 - Kehkashan Basu - How to make the world more sustainable
Episode 97 - Eric Hale - How to give every child a chance, even in the most poverty-stricken communities
Episode 95 - Sabrina Colosimo - How to make your home more beautiful
Episode 94 - Froswa’ Booker-Drew - Why you might want to build your own personal board of advisors
Episode 93 - Joel Hawbaker - How to blend families so that everyone gets along after divorce
Episode 92 - Andrew Flagel - How to make universities stronger, more connected, and more relevant
Episode 91 - Harry Sherwood - How to live a plant-based life
Episode 90 - Jennifer Johnson - How to make schools and classrooms equitable
Episode 89 - Rabbi Yonason Goldson - How to build a career through an ethical mindset
Episode 88 - David Hornak - How to change the school year so kids retain what they learn
Episode 87 - Rasheda Kamaria Williams - How to emerge stronger after being bullied
Episode 86 - Joshua Smith - How to protect your mental health during really tough times
Episode 85 - Michele Cuomo - Recognizing the value in state and community colleges
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Lit Society: Books and Drama
Ex Libris
Write The Book: Conversations on Craft
Pride and Prejudice
Anne of Green Gables
Fresh Air
Myths and Legends