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Freelance Writing Direct: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.


Jul 11, 2024

Ann Hood is the author of a dozen books of memoir and fiction, including the bestselling novels THE BOOK THAT MATTERS MOST and THE KNITTING CIRCLE, and editor of the anthologies KNITTING YARNS and KNITTING PEARLS. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island, and New York.

 

In this episode:

  • How Ann came up with the concept for her book [2:12]

  • Writing characters born from life experience and cultural history [7:06]

  • The elements of research in historical novels [9:06]

  • The Kirkus Review that changed the trajectory of Ann’s career [12:54]

  • Navigating through multiple POVs [16:38]

  • Food as a character in the novel and as a portal for emotion [19:55]

  • How Ann tracks timelines [21:42]

  • Finding the patterns throughout a book [22:48]

  • Ann’s favorite part of the publishing process [27:34]

 

Connect with Ann

Website: https://www.annhood.us/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/annhood56

 

Facebook: https://facebook.com/annmariehood/

 

Ann’s episode on her book Flygirl 

Episode #35 Flying High with Storyteller Ann Hood

https://estelleserasmus.com/35-flying-high-with-storyteller-ann-hood/

 

Get Ann’s novel The Stolen Child on Estelle’s Bookshop

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-stolen-child-ann-hood/20610013?ean=9780393609806

 

Connect with Estelle:

 

​​FREE PITCHING GUIDE: Find out more about this episode at 

https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast. You also get a free pitching guide if you sign up for her newsletter.



Sign up for Estelle’s Personal Essay Class for Writer’s Digest 

https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals

 

See Estelle’s latest blog post with news

https://estelleserasmus.com/a-few-pieces-of-exciting-news/




Get Her Book 

Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://rb.gy/5ihwp0

 

Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities). Paid subscribers receive opportunities for pitch reviews, plus bonus clips from Freelance Writing Direct guests

 

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TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus

 

Estelle’s Latest Articles

I’m Learning to Listen in New Ways (Shondaland)

https://www.shondaland.com/live/family/a46102451/im-learning-to-listen-in-new-ways/



What to Do PreLaunch to Get Your Book Noticed (Writer’s Digest)

https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/what-to-do-pre-launch-to-get-your-book-noticed

 

How to Resist the Temptation of AI When Writing (Wired)

https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-resist-ai-temptation-writing/



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Episode #89 Level Up Your Novel By Focusing on Visual Imagery and Research

https://estelleserasmus.com/89-level-up-your-novel-by-mastering-visual-imagery-and-research/

 

Episode #70 Writing a YA Romance Novel

https://estelleserasmus.com/70-writing-a-ya-romance-novel-with-jennifer-chen/

 

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