In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe discuss the target audience for a coming of age novel; the pitfalls of the early 2000s as a setting; the importance of your major dramatic question in a query; the issues with setting your novel up as part of a duology or series; and writing 'leading' dialogue.After which CeCe chats with Jessie Stephens, author of Heartsick: Three Stories About Love, Pain, and What Happens In Between about what made her proposal successful; how Jessie's background in media helped with publishing her book; the tenuous connection between having a large following on social media and selling copies; publishing without an agent and the pros of having one now; the impressions of the offer Jessie got for her first book; the ways in which she was naïve when she began writing; and Jessie's new book. Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.comJessie can be found at www.mamamia.com.au and on Instagram at @jessiestephens90Our Sponsors:* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/tsnotyaw* Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/tsnotyaw* Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.