We've hit 170 episodes of The HYBRID Author Podcast, and to celebrate, join host and author of young adult fiction, women's fiction and short non-fiction for authors Joanne Zara Ellen Morrell chatting HYBRID social media strategies via:

• content stratregy (organic growth)
• paid promotion (boosting reach)
• community and collaboration
• email and off-platform engagement and much more.

Rosie Schonell is the author of her debut novel: Middle Grade Mystery, ‘Breaking School Rules is Easy … The hardest part is not getting caught.’

She has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Special Education and has taught English at all levels in schools and specialised in teaching students with learning difficulties. Rosie also volunteers at schools and organisations that teach reading, including teaching newly arrived adult migrants.

Rosie lives with her husband and has three adult children she’s raised to love books as much as she does. She spends her time between Balmain and the Northern Beaches of Sydney, loves a game of Pickleball, outrigging on Pittwater, and volunteers as a crisis supporter at LIFELINE.

In the 169th episode of The HYBRID Author Podcast, host Joanne Zara Ellen Morrell, author of young adult fiction, women's fiction and short non-fiction for authors chats to Rosie about:

• her debut middle grade mystery
• developing these characters and what Rosie hopes young readers will take away from their personalities
• balancing creating a compelling mystery with ensuring it's age-appropriate for younger readers
• Outback noir and what draws Rosie to this setting, and how it shapes the tone and themes of her story
• Rosie's advice to aspiring children’s authors or debut authors or just authors in general looking to write in the mystery genre and much more.

https://careerauthors.com/do-you-have-what-it-takes-to-make-it-in-publishing/

The HYBRID Author podcast is 4! And your host turns 40 today!

Join Joanne Zara Ellen Morrell for Episode 168 chatting all things hybrid, including why the podcast started and how it's changed over the years, lessons learned, personal and professional growth, what the next 4 years of the podcast looks like, tuning 40, fears hopes, dreams and much more.

www.hybridauthor.com.au

Joanne Merrick offers over 25 years of global experience in helping individuals and organisations thrive. She has delivered transformative leadership programs across five continents and 22 countries, combining her expertise in neuroscience with a passion for building management and leadership capabilities.

As founder of The Leadership Recipe, LLC, Joanne designs impactful programs that enhance communication, emotional intelligence, and team performance. Her global perspective - shaped by living in Australia, Hong Kong, and now the USA - draws on her leadership roles at major organisations like Deloitte, Amazon, and Juniper Networks. This diverse background fuels her fresh, practical approach to leadership development.

In her debut book, ‘Game On! Is Management Your Best Career Play?,’ Joanne empowers readers to make an informed decision about stepping into a management role.

In the 167th episode of The HYBRID Author Podcast host Joanne Zara Ellen Morrell, author of young adult fiction, women's ficton and short non-fiction for authors, chats to Joanne about:

• what drove her to write her book 'Game On! Is Management Your Best Career Play' and why this conversation is so important right now
• key questions/tools introduced in the book to help people make more informed decisions about their career direction
• How 'Game On!' helps shift the pressure narrative to move into management and put the power back into the individual’s hands
• consulting through The Leadership Receipe and how Joanne sees books like hers playing a role in bridging the gap between career ambition and leadership readiness and
• Joanne's advice to authors and professionals looking to write their book based on their experiences to tie in with all they do.

https://www.theleadershiprecipe.com/

Christopher Cheng dwells in an inner-city Sydney terrace and writes fiction and non-fiction for children full time. He taught in city and outback schools for a number of years and at Taronga Zoo. He is Co-Chair of the International Advisory Board for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and has a Master of Arts in Children’s Literature. He presents to people of all ages at schools and festivals worldwide. His many picture books include 'Bear and Rat,' lovingly written for his amazing wife Binni, and illustrated by Stephen Michael King. 'OneTree,' illustrated by Bruce Whatley, shortlisted in the 2020 NSW Premier's Literary Awards, and is a CBCA Notable Book.

In the 165th episode of The HYBRID Author Podcast host Joanne Zara Ellen Morrell, author of young adult fiction, women's fiction and short nonfiction for authors, chats to Christopher about:

• his inspiration to address hard topics and how to approach presenting them in a way that's gentle and age-appropriate for young readers
• balancing complex themes with accessible storytelling, Christopher shares his creative process for developing narratives that resonate emotionally with children while ensuring they feel safe and understood
• feedback received from parents and educators regarding treatment of big themes, and how that has influenced his writing and or future projects
• Christopher's tips and advice to writers looking to write for children and much more.

https://www.chrischeng.com/

Sandi Parsons lives and breathes stories, as a reader, writer and storyteller. Sandi's creative nonfiction has been published in MiNDFOOD, Frankie, Chicken Soup and the Growing Up Disabled in Australia anthology.

She currently lives in Western Australia with her favourite husband, some problem puppies and many teetering stacks of books.

In the 165th episode of The HYBRID Author Podcast host Joanne Zara Ellen Morrell, author of young adult fiction, women's fiction and short non-fiction for authors, chats to Sandi about her:

• latest children’s fiction book, Salty
• self-publishing author adventure: what motivated Sandi to take this route, and how her experiences differed when navigating printing options overseas compared to publishing locally
• unique challenges making print books and having them shipped from China
• Sandi’s advice for aspiring children's authors looking to self-publish internationally, creating the best product and much more.

https://www.sandiparsons.com/#/

Bestselling author DG Rampton loves to create feelgood romantic comedy, featuring intelligent heroines, dashing men and sparkling banter. An engineer by training but a romantic by nature, she left her corporate career to follow the call of her artistic inclinations and write stories that bring joy and laughter into people's lives.

DG Rampton lives in Sydney with her Mr Darcy, their cheeky teenager and emotionally needy fur-baby, and is currently working on a new historical romantic comedy series.

In the 164th episode of The HYBRID Author Podcast host Joanne Zara Ellen Morrell, author of young adult fiction, women's fiction and short non-fiction for authors, chats to DG Rampton on:

• balancing historical accuracy with imaginative freedom to create compelling love stories that resonate with modern readers
• the regency romance niche
• hybrid authorship, effective strategies in growing and maintaining readership such as BookBub
• the challenges of marketing and self-promotion in such a competitive space across Amazon and Facebook
• DG Rampton’s advice for aspiring romance authors, particularly those looking to break into historical subgenres like Regency and much more.

https://dgrampton.com/home

Devin Blair is a graduate in Chemical Engineering Technology and a proud member of the National Society of Leadership and Success. After a few life-changing experiences, he made the leap into the entertainment world. The journey wasn’t linear, but through trial and error, he found his way into podcasting—and that’s how Chemical Rocketeers was born. Today, Devin travels across cities and countries, pushing boundaries in the sci-fi audio space and working to leave a lasting mark through immersive, story-driven content.

In the 163rd episode of The HYBRID Author Podcast host Joanne Zara Ellen Morrell, author of young adult fiction, women's fiction and short non-fiction for authors chats to Devin about:

• why podcasts are such a powerful medium for connection
• storytelling techniques used to weave compelling narratives and create immersive and meaningful experiences on Chemical Rocketeers
• standout podcast moments on Devin’s podcast that led to an unexpected or lasting connection
• his advice for authors and creatives looking to leverage podcasting as a storytelling tool on crafting engaging content that resonates with an audience and much more.

https://open.spotify.com/show/2rBYK06wyjw8EMsm5IMkc3