What! The Heys
Welcome to the ‘What! The Heys’ podcast that tears the cover off the writing world! Whether you're a seasoned author, an aspiring novelist, or just a lover of great stories, I’m here to demystify the writing craft, explore the publishing industry, dive deep into the books we can't stop thinking about, and chat with amazing guests from across the literary universe. Get ready for a conversation that's as passionate and unpredictable as a plot twist. Let's get into it.
If you’re interested in my writing you can also check out my blog:
https://heyswolfenden.blogspot.com/?m=1
My Middle Grade/YA novel, ‘Jack Strong and the Red Giant’:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M22USRE?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
My collection of poetry, ‘Made in China: 50 Sonnets on Modern China’:
Episodes
22 episodes
#22: How To Get Seriously Good At Writing Action Thrillers - Allen and Brian Manning
Want to write books that actually sell?In this episode, Las Vegas authors Allen and Brian Manning reveal the secrets behind their success - from writing for your ideal reader to turning brutal reviews into artistic fuel.The...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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58:38
#21: How To Place Your Books In Libraries And Market Them Effectively- Christoffer Vuolo Junros
Christoffer Vuolo Junros doesn’t just place ads on social media to promote his Origin Andromeda trilogy- he also distributes his books to local libraries. On top of that he also believes in engaging with other authors on social media, who then ...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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50:52
#20: How To Become Incredibly Good At Storytelling - Hayden Croft
Hayden Croft has got it all: he’s a screenwriter, director, and a novelist. Oh, and when he’s not working on his next successful film, he’s also cranking out poems and short stories about Los Angeles, the city that he’s adopted since his move f...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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1:41:58
#19: How Living In China Has Influenced My Writing (And Helped Me Get Better At The Same Time) - Heys Wolfenden
In this episode, YA writer and poet Heys Wolfenden dives into a wide-ranging conversation inspired by questions from fellow authors A. L. Lieske, David Pariseau, and Mars Wilson. From his years living in China to the...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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54:35
#18: How Living An Eventful Life Can Make You A Better Author - Travis Byram
Travis Byram has lived all over the world (USA, Thailand, China, Qatar...) and now writes from the beautiful city of Izmir, Turkey. As well as writing short stories, he compiles his own dream journal, and is a voraci...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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52:44
#17: How To Show Not Tell (And Improve Your Writing At The Same Time) - Heys Wolfenden
In this episode, YA writer and poet Heys Wolfenden tackles some of the biggest talking points for writers and creators today. From practical ways to grow your podcast audience to the frustrating reality of writers who never return...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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46:14
#16: How To Use Beta Readers To Complete The Perfect Manuscript - David Pariseau
David Pariseau is a successful entrepreneur and rising voice in science fiction. His debut novel, Dreams of Verdure (2025), launched the epic Ndesa series, captivating readers with its imaginative jun...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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53:58
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#15: How To Use Your Heritage To Write Poetry Fantastically Well - Ansuya Patel
Ansuya Patel is a British Indian poet who resides in London, U.K. Her debut collection, 'Wolves At My Door' published by Indigo Dreams won the Geoff Stevens Memorial Prize in 2024. In her poems she writes abou...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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50:35
#14: How To Write A Memoir Absurdly Well - Curtis Chin
Curtis Chin is the author of the coming of age/coming out memoir, 'Everything I learned, I learned In A Chinese Restaurant' about his upbringing in Detroit in the 1980s. He also writes screenplays for TV and is currently wo...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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58:05
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#13: My New Year's Resolutions for 2026 (And How They Are Going To Make Me A Better Author) - Heys Wolfenden
In this episode, YA author and poet Heys Wolfenden shares his New Year’s resolutions for 2026, reflects on thought-provoking ideas from previous guests—A. L. Lieske, Travis Byram, and Sarah James—and offers a behind-...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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49:27
#12: How To Write Poetry Fantastically Well - Sarah James
Sarah James (also published as Sarah Leavesley) is a prize-winning poet, fiction writer, journalist and photographer. Nine out of ten of her solo poetry titles have won or been shortlisted/highly commended for an award, including her lat...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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1:02:55
#11: How To Succeed At Independent Publishing (And Get Better Whilst Doing It) - A. L. Lieske
A. L. Lieske is a mystery-indie author whose work fuses psychological intrigue with classic mystery. She draws upon a lifelong engagement with research and nonfiction writing, including philosophical and theological reflections, f...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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51:54
#10: How Living Abroad Can Improve Your Writing - Ariella Gibson
Writer and artist Ariella Gibson lives a life many of us dream of—making art from a home abroad. But how does that constant shift in perspective actually shape her work? In this episode Ariella and I chat about the direct l...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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1:08:25
#9: The Ghost In The Machine: Authors, AI, And The Future Of Publishing - Heys Wolfenden
In this episode, YA author and poet Heys Wolfenden dives into some of the most debated questions in modern writing: what kind of language should writers be using in their work? Should readers stop engaging with controversia...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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53:02
#8: How Reading Books Can Improve Your Writing - Travis Byram
Travis Byram doesn't just get ideas from books, but from his own dream journal! He's lived all over the world (USA, Thailand, China, Qatar...) and now writes from the beautiful city of Izmir, Turkey. Oh, and when he's not crafting...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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59:28
#7: The Best Writing Advice I’ve Ever Received (And How It’s Made Me Better) - Heys Wolfenden
Want to write with more clarity and confidence? In this episode YA author and poet, Heys Wolfenden shares the best writing advice he's ever received. Listen to this episode to find out about all the simple ways you can use ...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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52:37
#6: The Worst Writing Advice I’ve Ever Received (And How It’s Made Me Better) - Heys Wolfenden
What's the worst writing advice you've ever heard? In this episode YA author and poet, Heys Wolfenden offers a deep dive into all the bad writing advice he's ever received, whilst also showing how you can use this to...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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50:33
#5: How To Write And Illustrate Children’s Books Absurdly Well - Eric Zhang
Want to know how to create the perfect children's book? In this episode the children’s author and artist, Eric Zhang tells you how. Eric has published and illustrated several children’s books, including his most recent...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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1:02:28
#4: How Rejection Has Made Me A Better Writer - Heys Wolfenden
Has your novel been rejected more times than you can count? You’re not alone. In this episode, YA author and poet Heys Wolfenden discusses how writers can cope with rejection from literary agents and publishers, how to rese...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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1:13:59
#3: The Death of the Author? AI and the future of storytelling - Heys Wolfenden
Afraid of what the future brings for the writing and publishing world with the advent of AI? In this episode the YA author and poet, Heys Wolfenden discusses how writers can survive in this brave new world, whether we learn...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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52:09
#2: How To Become A More Disciplined Writer (And Get Better At The Same Time) - Heys Wolfenden
Struggling to finish the great American novel? Well, you’re not alone. In this episode YA author and poet, Heys Wolfenden breaks down some of the simple ways you can become a more disciplined (and therefore more successful) author. He al...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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54:50
#1: 3 Things Every Writer Must Do To Become Successful - Heys Wolfenden
Are your books not selling? Tired of one star reviews? In this episode YA author and poet, Heys Wolfenden breaks down the three things every writer must do in order to become successful. Recommended listening for writers and creators eve...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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2:05:16
