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Donna Norman-Carbone's second novel, Of Lies and Honey, just launched (April 24, 2024, Red Adept Publishing), and it was wonderful to have her on as a repeat guest.

Her first novel, All That Is Sacred, came out less than a year ago (June 2023, Red Adept Publishing), and chatting about the differences between book 1 and book 2 proved as fun and insightful as I knew it would! 

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• The biggest differences between the first launch and the second (including the task she full-on forgot to do when launching the first book!)
• How Donna navigates looking at sales numbers and reviews
• Using NetGalley for reviews: the benefit of being with a smaller publisher versus a Big 5 publisher 
• The admission that made me question whether Donna and I could be friends (yes, that’s clickbait.)
• The challenge of writing back cover copy/book jacket summary
• Donna's strategy for ensuring she doesn’t get “stuck” while writing a book

ABOUT DONNA

Donna Norman-Carbone's debut novel, All That is Sacred, was released in June 2023 and has earned eight awards. The BookFest Awards featured All That is Sacred among the other winners on the Tower billboard in Times Square. Donna holds a master’s degree in English from Southern CT State University and is a member of the WFWA, CAPA, WNBA. She is the co-host of the podcast Authors Talking Bookish and program director for Bookish Road Trip. Donna has a passion for writing women’s fiction that tugs at the heartstrings. 

After having taught as a university adjunct and adult educator, Donna currently teaches writing, film and British literature to high school students. She lives in a small Connecticut suburb where she and her husband have raised three wonderful and creative children, two Labrador Retrievers and a Siamese cat. In her spare time, Donna enjoys reading a good book on a sunny Cape Cod beach, traveling worldwide to immerse herself in other cultures, and spending cherished time with family and friends.

CONNECT WITH DONNA

All that is Sacred  (purchase here to support Indie bookstores!)

Of Lies and Honey (purchase here to support Indie bookstores!)

Website: www.donnanormancarbone.com

Instagram & Threads: https://www.instagram.com/donnanormancarbone/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dncarboneauthor

X: https://twitter.com/dcarbs727author

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dcarbs727author

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22429710.Donna_Norman_Carbone

WHAT DONNA’S READING NOW

Soul Dancing  by Gayle Priest 

RESOURCES MENTIONED

First WTDBA podcast with Donna (episode 43)

NetGalley co-op

The Characterist podcast with Dr. Diana Naranjo

WFWA (Women Fictions Writers Association)

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Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry. 

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