In this episode, I sit down with Randy Winston, Creative Director of Fiction at The Black List, to discuss the publishing industry, the craft of writing, and how writers can stand out. We dive into the creative process, the role of The Black List in fiction, traditional vs. hybrid publishing, and what truly makes a great fiction story.

If you're a writer looking to navigate the publishing world or just love great storytelling, this conversation is for you!

📌 Timestamps:
1:03 - Revisiting old creative work
3:04 - Finding your creative path
4:37 - Navigating the publishing industry
8:25 - What is The Black List?
9:40 - On Franklin Leonard
11:20 - The Black List Fiction
14:50 - The traditional route of writing a book
18:20 - The Black List’s role in publishing
24:20 - How authors are evaluated
28:25 - Hybrid vs. Traditional publishing
33:01 - Mixing genres in fiction



📢 Follow Randy Winston:
🔗 Substack - https://substack.com/@randywinston/no...
🔗 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_rwinstonsw...
🔗 For Writing Feedback - Submit your Writing to The Black List: https://blcklst.com/fiction

🔔 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on writing, publishing, and storytelling - @bookumapp

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In this exclusive interview, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jonathan Eig joins us to discuss his groundbreaking biography, King: A Life.

We dive deep into the real Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—his struggles, triumphs, and the misconceptions that history has perpetuated.

📌 Timestamps:
1:04 - MLK Day in 2025
2:34 - Montgomery Bus Boycott
4:03 - MLK Sr.’s Influence on MLK Jr.
5:38 - Sweet Auburn Ave. Black Affluent Neighborhood
8:02 - MLK’s Mentors & Influences
10:25 - Coretta Scott King’s Role
12:12 - Building the Organization
14:02 - Humanizing Dr. King
18:25 - How the Movement Evolved
19:50 - What Modern Movements Can Learn from the Civil Rights Movement
21:20 - President Kennedy, RFK, LBJ and FBI Surveillance
23:20 - The Mental Pressure on MLK
26:10 - MLK’s Infidelity & FBI Surveillance
27:40 - FBI tapes released on MLK
28:55 - Selma
31:20 - Losing the Confidence of Younger Activists
33:00 - Religion and Global Impact of King
34:30 - "I Have a Dream" Speech & Legacy
37:10 - Interview People That Knew MLK Jr.
38:55 - The Pressure of Writing the Book
42:40 - Where Do We Go From Here? Chaos or Community?

📖 About the Book: King: A Life is the first major biography of MLK in decades, offering a deeply human portrayal of the man behind the legend.

Get your copy here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374719678/kingalife/

🔔 Subscribe for more insightful interviews and discussions: @bookum

Twitter: @jonathaneig - https://x.com/jonathaneig
Instagram: @jonathaneig - https://www.instagram.com/joneig/

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

In this episode of the Book Creators Talk Podcast, we sit down with Lupita Aquino (@lupita.reads), a passionate advocate for Latine literature and vibrant bookish content creator. Known for her work uplifting diverse voices through the #ReadLatineLit Challenge and La Comunidad Reads Book Club, Lupita shares her journey, creative process, and insights into the literary world.

✨ Highlights from the conversation:

1:04 - Favorite books from Childhood
4:18 - Becoming a Book Content Creator
8:05 - Echo-Chamber of Literary space
12:10 - American Dirt Drama
16:55 - Naviagate being a voice people want hear from on major topics
19:50 - Content Creation Process
23:16 - On Writing content
26:16 - Bookish Collaborations
28:46 - On Community
32:26 - On Algorithm
33:00 - Read Latine Lit
36:20 - Latine Authors
39:50 - Book Criticism
44:16 - Meeting Oprah
46:20 - Last, Now, Next Books
48:50 - Rapid Fire Book Questions
53:40 - What would you like to see more of in the book world?
54:21 - What would you like to see less of in the book world?


📚 Books mentioned in this episode:

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right by Paola Ramos
How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz
Magical/Realism by Vanessa Angélica Villarreal
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
Black in Blues by Imani Perry

➡️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with your favorite bookish creators!

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!