Rochelle Weinstein is a successful and talented author known for her emotionally charged novels. After leaving a career in the music industry in 2000, she started writing and has produced eight novels, with the latest coming out on Oct. 20th. Rochelle's writing explores topical issues and draws inspiration from her own experiences and emotions. What’s more, she is a leading example of generosity, camaraderie and community in the world of women’s fiction!
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Rochelle about how and why, after two wildly successful self-published books, she landed an agent and publishing contract that is still going strong. They discuss hitting bestseller status by trusting instincts, Rochelle’s writing process, where she finds inspiration (real-life emotions, timely, topical subjects, and places she loves) and the impact of platforms like TikTok.
In this episode, Lynne and Rochelle discuss:
Why being a voracious reader makes you a better writer
Launching a writing career while raising twin sons
Why every book publishing story is unique
The importance of a strong, professionally-edited self-published book
The shift from self-publishing to finding an agent
Inspiration for book ideas
Plotter vs. Pantser
Rochelle's role as a book influencer
Changes in the publishing industry
The importance of supporting other authors
How AI is affecting authors
The importance of having a writing community & support system
Rochelle's vision for her writing future
Advice for aspiring writers
Links and Resources:
Danielle Steele
Sidney Sheldon
Judy Blume
What We Leave Behind
The Mourning After
Merle Saferstein
Where We Fall
Lake Union Publishing
Somebody's Daughter
Publishers Marketplace
USA Today Bestseller List
GSD - Glycogen storage diseases
What You Do To Me
Woman of Valor
NBC 6 South Florida
Barbara Bos, Women Writers, Women’s Books
Jen Herrera
Lauren Margolin, Good Book Fairy
Jamie Rosenblit
Renee's Reading Club
Zibby Owens
Connie Ogle
Edinburgh Writers Museum
Miami Book Fair
Colleen Hoover
BookTok
Camille Di Maio
Samantha Greene Woodruff
Lisa Barr
Find Rochelle Weinstein:
Website
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
Episode 135 – Camille Pagan – Making Writing Your Career
Episode 131 – Weina Randel – The Last Rose of Shanghai
Episode 130 – Merle Saferstein – Journaling & Legacy
Episode 128 – Becky Robinson – Building Reach for Books
Episode 127 – Ly Tran – Writing Unapologetically
Episode 125 - Gramps Jeffrey - Leaving a Legacy
Episode 124 - Dorit Sasson - On the Many Meanings of Home
Episode 123 - Karen Baum Gordon - On Surviving the Surviving
Episode 122 - Valoree Gagnon and Karena Schmidt - On the Food & Culture of Indigenous Gardens
Episode 121 – Stephanie Steinberg - On Personal Passions & Creating Communities
Episode #120 - Jacqueline Suskin - A Poem Every Day
Episode #119 - Roots - Israeli-Palestinian - Toward True Peace in the Middle East
Episode #118 - Elizabeth Gowing - How to know a place by living its stories
Episode 117 - Steven Wingate - How to find your voice again & again
Episode 116 - Jake Neher - Telling Stories & Planting Seeds
Episode 115 - Dean Stark - Why Purpose is Needed to Succeed in Competitive Sports
Episode 114 - Nancy Sharp - How to Turn Tragedy into Opportunity
Episode 113 - Ramona Pintea - How to Make Art a Path for Serving Others
Episode 112 - John Wynn - The art of creating an entertainment empire
Episode 111 - Rebecca Jeffreys - How to change careers after 35 years
Episode 110 - Margaret Trimer - How to Define & Live by your Core Values
Episode 109 - Michael Ziman - How to change a business you love to protect the environment
Episode 108 - Lynne & Dan Golodner and Alisa Peskin-Shepherd - The pandemic's impact on relationships
Episode 107 – The Hon. Jan Tinetti – How to eliminate period poverty
Episode 106 - Nancy Marshall - How to love PR
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