Elizabeth Conte is an author with a passion for bringing 19th-century literature to the 21st-century reader. She is the author of Finding Jane, a time travel historical novel, and Chosen Mistress, a scintillating story set in Victorian England. Elizabeth is the founder of Jane Writes Press, a hybrid publishing house for writers who don't fit into traditional publishing boxes.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Elizabeth about her debut novel, Finding Jane, her inspiration for the book and the challenges she faced while writing and editing it. Elizabeth also talks about her marketing strategies and the success she has achieved as an indie author. She introduces her next book, Chosen Mistress, which explores the dark side of Victorian life and women's roles during that time. She also explains her decision to self-publish and her vision for her imprint, Jane Writes Press.
In this episode, Lynne and Elizabeth discuss:
The story behind Finding Jane, an homage to Pride and Prejudice
Making 19th century literature more accessible
What it means to "do really well" with book sales
Book marketing strategies
The importance of consistent marketing efforts
Pitching media outlets for author interviews
The purpose of writing & target audience
Perspectives on adverbs – listen to a fierce debate on adjectives & adverbs around the 10-minute mark!
The indie author’s journey
Frustrations with fitting into traditional publishing categories
Starting a publishing house
The importance of professional editing
Creating a new category called Literary Romance
What is the purpose of your writing & how do you want people to know you?
Links and Resources:
Pride and Prejudice
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Writing Coaching
Woman of Valor
The Los Angeles Times article about Elizabeth Conte
Lynne’s class, Demystifying Show, Don’t Tell
Find Elizabeth Conte:
Website
TikTok
Blog
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
Episode 152 – Ami Irmen – Character-Driven Narratives
Episode 146 – Barbara Stark-Nemon – Tracing the Path of Historical Fiction
Episode 136 – Tammy Pasterick – Writing & Publishing Your Way
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
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