A conversation about publishing quickly turned into something bigger.

After discussing author scams, we sat down with Bitty Balducci to talk about indie publishing, traditional publishing, BookTok, gatekeeping, and why so many authors feel like they're navigating the industry completely alone.

We discuss:

•  Why Bitty chose indie publishing 
•  Querying frustrations 
•  Long traditional publishing timelines 
•  Whether BookTok is really "ruining publishing" 
•  Why indie authors are expected to figure everything out themselves 
•  The importance of following creative inspiration when it strikes 

And yes, we also talk about the wild novella Bitty wrote in less than a week after a dream-inspired idea refused to leave her alone.

In This Episode

•  How a dream-inspired idea became a published novella in less than a week 
•  Why Bitty believes writers should follow creative momentum when it strikes 
•  The inspiration behind Shades Drawn and its timely, Black Mirror-style premise 
•  Querying frustrations and the challenges of fitting books into industry expectations 
•  Why some authors choose indie publishing over the traditional route 
•  The realities of marketing and selling books as an independent author 
•  Whether BookTok is changing publishing—or simply exposing existing problems 
•  The role of gatekeeping in today's publishing landscape 
•  Why traditional publishing timelines can feel disconnected from modern readers 
•  Creative freedom, risk-taking, and building a writing career on your own terms 
•  The importance of transparency and information-sharing within the author community 
•  Hot takes on publishing, creativity, and the future of books and authorship