THE QUACK

"Drink water, compliment one stranger a day, travel to somewhere hot, travel to somewhere cultural, save the environment, and wear a red Slipknot mask..."
 
Happy 2026! This week's Quack is about goal culture. Is it me, or are we trying to achieve too much? Even the arts have goals now. 
 
Preorder Amy Elman Doesn't Feel Sexy.
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Sound | Soundstripe.com

On today's episode of the mini series, How to Author, I talk to romance novelist, Georgia Stone. (Friendship Fling, The Roommate Rule).
We talk about Georgia's journey from Bookstagrammer to self-publishing her first novel, to signing a book deal with Hodder. We discuss writing routines, building author communities, and using social media effectively. It's a bubbly conversation filled with tips and tricks to help any new author.
 
Preorder Georgia's next novel - 'The Roommate Rule' (May 21st 2016)
Preorder Mary's debut - 'Amy Elman Doesn't Feel Sexy'
 
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In the first episode of the mini-series 'How to Author', I talk to best-selling novelist Fiona Gibson. ('The Woman Who Ran Away From Everything', 'The Full Nest', 'When Life Gives You Lemons'). We discuss Fiona's author journey, balancing family life, handling negative reviews, and her writing ticks. It's a lively conversation (lots of giggling) with solid advice for any writer.
 
Books
You can preorder Fiona's latest book (February 20th) - 'The Woman Who Turned Her Life Around' NOW!
You can also preorder my debut - 'Amy Elman Doesn't Feel Sexy'
 
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@Fiona_Gib  and subscribe to Fiona's Substack - All Grown Up by Fiona Gibson.

“'This isn’t happiness' is about a woman’s inner turmoil when the intimacy vanishes from a relationship…” *Puffs cigarette*
 
On this week's episode, I try my best to be cool as I launch my book, 'This isn't happiness', in Germany.
 
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Buy: This isn't happiness (German translation)
Preorder: Amy Elman Doesn't Feel Sexy (UK version)
Follow: @MaryNewnhamWrites

In the lead-up to the launch of my debut novel, Amy Elman Doesn't Feel Sexy, I am asking three established authors for advice about the author life. Join me here on The Quack for the first episode of HOW TO AUTHOR—coming Monday, January 5th. 
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Visit: TheQuack.Blog
 

"I, an adult, had made some characters in my head, and now I’m in a boardroom, having a professional discussion with another adult about them..."
 
It's Part 4 of the Story of Writing a Novel, and some remarkable things are starting to happen. Includes a failed therapy session and the creation of a Liverpudlian stripper. 
 
(Note: there is some swearing in this episode. Also note, some dialogue has been exaggerated for creative purposes.) 
 
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Follow| @marynewnhamwrites
Preorder | Amy Elman Doesn't Feel Sexy
Sound| Soundstripe.com
 
 

"We paused in front of the bed, where there was a display of red and white balloons." 🇫🇷🎈
I had my first romantic getaway in Paris. I was so concerned about discovering unflattering details about my new boyfriend that I had completely forgotten just how tricky I could be to travel with.
 
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Sound | Soundstripe.com
Preorder | Amy Elman Doesn't Feel Sexy

I couldn't risk wasting time on real men when I had fictional men to worry about.
 
This week, we continue the story writing the book. This is the part where I try to get an agent and fail at dating — also known as 'The Cringe Era'.
 
Listen to Parts 1 and 2 before this episode.
 
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Skip Introduction | 3:15
Sound | Soundstripe.com
 
Preorder Amy Elman Doesn't Feel Sexy on Amazon

"I should have kids with names and a strong opinion on Peppa Pig, but somehow, at 34, I have found myself back in London..."
 
This week is about my move back to London as a 34-year-old. After leaving with a bad taste in my mouth at 26 (which inspired me to write a terrible poetry book), I never thought I'd come back to live in The Big Smoke, but here I am... maybe it's where I was supposed to be all along. 
 
 
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Preorder | Amy Elman Doesn't Feel Sexy
Follow | MaryNewnhamWrites
Sound | Soundstripe.com
 

"Oh, Mary, Mary, Mary, how do you expect to be a published author if you can't even score a high grade on a short story?"
 
This week on The Quack, we continue the series 'The Story of Writing a Novel.' I head back to university to do a Master's in creative writing. There is a drama involving my Metamorphosis book and a sharp learning curve about verbs. 
 
Preorder Amy Elman Doesn't Feel Sexy.
Visit | TheQuack.blog
Follow | @MaryNewnhamWrites
Sound | Soundstripe.com
Link to Guardian article