Best Bianca S Podcasts (2025)

1
Bianca and CeCe Discuss The Real Sh*t No One Tells You About Writing 36:15

8h ago36:15

36:15

In this special episode, CeCe Lyra sits down with our very own Bianca Marais to explore her writing journey, with a spotlight on her latest novel, ‘A Most Puzzling Murder.’ If you’re not already familiar with her work, Bianca is the bestselling author of ‘The Witches of Moonshyne Manor’, the beloved novels ‘Hum If You Don’t Know the Words’ and ‘If …

1
Concrete vs. Abstract Curiosity 43:36

7d ago43:36

43:36

In this special episode of Books with Hooks, author Kate Visser joins hosts Bianca, Carly and CeCe to share insights about her query letter for her YA fantasy novel, 'Stage of Shadows.' Carly and Cece dissect the strengths and weaknesses of Kate’s pitch, particularly focusing on character arcs, world-building, and the complexities of dual POV narra…

1
May Bonus Episode 2:32:21

10d ago2:32:21

2:32:21

In the first part of this month’s bonus episode, Carly Watters interviews Anna Mitchael, an accomplished author and copywriter. Anna discusses her writing journey, experiences in magazine publishing, and the art of storytelling through vignettes. They discuss the importance of building relationships in the writing community, the unique format of vi…

1
How a Books With Hooks Query Became a Buzzy Debut 28:16

14d ago28:16

28:16

In this eye-opening episode, Bianca Marais interviews Jessica Guerrieri, author of 'Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.' They discuss Jessica's journey from teaching special education to becoming a published author, her experiences with addiction recovery, and the evolution of her debut novel. They discuss the intricacies of writing, the impor…

1
317. ONE LAST TIME FOR ORTON & CENA/ HIS NAME IS SHELTON BENJAMIN A**HOLE 1:46:13

21d ago1:46:13

1:46:13

Backlash was in the hometown of Randy Orton and he and Cena went out and had a good main event but is it really the last time they will do it? We give out Backlash review and what we think is coming later. We didn't get to talk about it last week but WWE made it's "annual" after WrestleMania cuts and we lost some big names and some we knew was comi…

1
Leaning into Illustrator Notes & CeCe Not Minding a But, But 41:45

21d ago41:45

41:45

In this episode of Books with Hooks, Bianca, CeCe, and Carly dive into a YA fantasy romance query, breaking down what works—and what doesn’t—when it comes to character arcs, high stakes, and spot-on comp titles. The hosts then shift gears to a picture book query, spotlighting the power of a strong hook and truly kid-focused storytelling. Packed wit…

1
Nuggets of Wisdom from Carley Fortune and Sue Hincenbergs 55:41

28d ago55:41

55:41

In part one of this week's author interviews, Bianca sits down with Canadian superstar writer, Carley Fortune. The authors discuss her latest novel 'One Golden Summer', reflecting on her creative process, the challenges of writing under pressure, and the importance of character development. She shares insights into navigating reader expectations an…

1
The Problem with the Blank Canvas Protagonist 44:13

1M ago44:13

44:13

In this episode of Books with Hooks, hosts Bianca, CeCe, and Carly first review a query letter for literary fiction, providing insights on emotional depth in character relationships. The conversation emphasizes the need for clarity in plot points and the importance of avoiding the blank canvas protagonist so readers can be engaged and connect with …

1
316. WRESTLEMANIA WEEKEND FALLOUT AND WHAT WENT WRONG! 2:20:09

1M ago2:20:09

2:20:09

WrestleMania 41 weekend is over and we FINALLY get to talk about it. The build for Mania 41 was not that great and the two night card wasn't the best either besides the triple threat matches on both nights. Raw after Mania was a great show with a Becky heel turn, Breakker joining Heyman and the return of Rusev! Smackdown saw the return of Aleister …

1
April Bonus Episode 49:01

1M ago49:01

49:01

In the first part of this bonus episode, Bianca interviews Lauren Ling Brown, author of 'Society of Lies.' They discuss Lauren’s journey to publication, the intricacies of writing dual perspectives and timelines, and the importance of social commentary in her work. Lauren shares insights into her writing process, the challenges of character develop…

1
An Ingenious Query Hack 30:57

1M ago30:57

30:57

In this informative author interview, Bianca connects with debut novelist Sarah Damoff to discuss her novel, ‘The Bright Years’ which explores the complexities of family dynamics and addiction. Sarah shares her journey through the publishing landscape, the challenges of finding the right agent, the ingenious query hack she used, and the evolution o…

1
Why Plot and Specificity are a Query Letter's Best Friends 49:35

2M ago49:35

49:35

In this episode of Books with Hooks, hosts Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra welcome querying author Debbie Whittall to discuss her query letter for her debut novel, 'Linda/Linda.' Carly and CeCe address the challenges of representing a quiet novel in a query format. The discussion transitions to the pages of the manuscript, highlighting t…

1
315. TOP ROPE CATCH A VIBE, F*** BOOKER T YOU LOST YOUR MIND! Part 2 1:19:04

2M ago1:19:04

1:19:04

SWERVE VS BOOKER T is getting out of hand. Swerve Strickland went on Vlad TV (red flag number one) and talked about how black wrestlers were treated in WWE and Booker T said that there is no miss treatment now of blacks but Swerve doesn't agree and the back and forth began and at the end of Dynasty Swerve told Philly "F*** Booker T" (I was there lo…

1
315. WHAT WILL HAPPEN DURING WRESTLEMANIA 41 WEEKEND? (Part 1) 2:14:40

2M ago2:14:40

2:14:40

IT'S WRESTLEMANIA WEEK, and we got a lot of things to cover! We give our predictions for WrestleMania 41 and what match could be added to the card. The Hall of Fame inductors have been announced and Sting is not on the list to induct his best friend and that is a shame. Kamala is going into the Hall of Fame but under it's legacy wing and we feel he…

1
314. CENA KILLS CODY, GUNTHER KILLS JIMMY AND TONY KILLS AEW!😫 1:44:17

2M ago1:44:17

1:44:17

DISCLAIMER: THIS PODCAST IS FROM THE WEEK OF APRIL 7 2025 FINALLY the build for WrestleMania is coming through as John Cena and Cody Rhodes duel in a promo battle where Cena almost kills Cody BUT Cody held his own. GUNTHER sends a message to Jey Uso by destroying his brother and this is what this feud needed. Kevin Owens is injured and needs neck s…

1
Ann Napolitano on Overcoming Rejection and Despair as Part of the Writing Life & Kirthana Ramisetti on The Art of Foreshadowing 1:05:46

2M ago1:05:46

1:05:46

In the first part of this episode, Bianca interviews Ann Napolitano, inspiring Oprah Book Club pick author of Hello Beautiful. During the multi-layered interview, Ann shares her journey as a writer, discussing the long path to publication, the importance of perseverance, and the role of gratitude in her success. She reflects on her experiences with…

1
Stage Directions, Opening and How to Avoid Them 35:28

2M ago35:28

35:28

In this episode of Books with Hooks, hosts Bianca, Carly, and CeCe discuss the importance of clarity in storytelling, character development, and the need for emotional depth in writing. The conversation emphasizes the significance of engaging openings and the necessity of establishing strong connections between plot points. They also offer great ti…

1
313. THE ROAD TO WRESTLEMANIA IS LUKE WARM, AND HERE'S WHY 2:03:08

2M ago2:03:08

2:03:08

DISCLAIMER: THIS SHOW WAS RECORDED THE DAY OF RAW FROM MARCH 31, 2025 What is with the build to WrestleMania? John Cena and Cody have not got to second gear yet, Rhea, Bianca and Iyo are looking stupid and Jey Uso vs GUTHER is not even gonna main event mania night 1! Why is the heat for this mania so low and what can they do to fix it. CM Punk gets…

1
March Bonus Episode 1:47:34

2M ago1:47:34

1:47:34

In the first part of this month’s bonus episode, Carly Watters interviews Bailey Hannah, a Canadian romance author known for her ‘Wells Ranch’ series. They talk about Bailey’s experience with going from self-publishing to traditional publishing, the importance of quality editing, and the impact of social media platforms like BookTok on author succe…

1
The Evolution of a Novel: Learning to Let Go 34:31

2M ago34:31

34:31

In this inspiring author interview, Bianca interviews Kath Jonathan, whose debut novel, 'The Resistance Painter', intertwines historical and contemporary narratives. They discuss Kath’s journey as a writer, and the personal challenges she faced, including health issues, over the twelve years she spent writing her novel. The authors chat about the e…

1
312. JOHN CENA IS BREAKING UP WITH US/ MOXLEY & COPE PART 2 DOES STUPID SPOT 1:23:14

2M ago1:23:14

1:23:14

This week we talk about John Cena's first heel promo and why we were disappointed and happy at the same time. Roman Reigns, CM Punk and Seth Rollins have their segment on Smackdown and it was lukewarm at best, what they need to do and why this WrestleMania build is not as hot as last year. Naomi returns to attack Jade Cargill but it didn't get the …

1
It's a Vibe: Plot Points & Emotional Vibes in Storytelling 41:36

3M ago41:36

41:36

In this episode of Books with Hooks, hosts Bianca, Carly and CeCe welcome special guest, literary agent, Lauren Spieller to discuss query letters in romance and fantasy genres. The hosts discuss the distinctions between Young Adult and Adult Fantasy, and the dynamics of character relationships. Lauren provides insightful critiques on a submitted qu…

1
311. AEW DROPS THE BALL WHILE NXT PICKED IT UP, AND RAN WITH IT!😲 (Part 2) 1:32:52

3M ago1:32:52

1:32:52

LOADED SHOW this week as all wrestling promotions had major shows this week. Roman Reigns returns on Raw to attack Seth Rollins and CM Punk, triple threat for Mania? The Street Profits win tag team gold for the first time in 4 years, but what is the plan for Mania now? NXT had their BEST SHOW EVER with Roadblock and now can Shawn Michaels top it fo…

1
311. PUNK AND ROLLINS KILL EACH OTHER BEFORE ROMAN DOES! (Part 1) 1:16:13

3M ago1:16:13

1:16:13

LOADED SHOW this week as all wrestling promotions had major shows this week. Roman Reigns returns on Raw to attack Seth Rollins and CM Punk, triple threat for Mania? The Street Profits win tag team gold for the first time in 4 years, but what is the plan for Mania now? NXT had their BEST SHOW EVER with Roadblock and now can Shawn Michaels top it fo…

1
Knowing the Shape of Your Story 31:40

3M ago31:40

31:40

Warning: mature content. In this insightful segment that will make you laugh out loud, Bianca interviews New York Times best-selling writer, Lamda Literary Award finalist and Shearling Fellowship recipient, Kristen Arnett, the author of 'Stop Me If You've Heard This One.' They discuss the unique aspects of Kristen's writing process, including her e…

1
310. I DID IT.........I DID IT FOR YOU!!!, BIANCA AND NAOMI HAVE A EMOTIONAL BREAKUP!😢 1:59:49

3M ago1:59:49

1:59:49

A LOADED SHOW this week as we go over what happen on Raw, Smackdown and NXT this past week. CM Punk cuts a fire promo on Raw and had one of the best pull apart brawls in wrestling with Seth Rollins. Iyo Sky SHOCKED THE WORLD by winning the Women's World Championship from Rhea Ripley. Where does Rhea go from here? Also Rhea had a emotional promo aft…

1
309. JOHN CENA SHOCKS THE WORLD AND SAID F*** DEM KIDS!!! 1:42:25

3M ago1:42:25

1:42:25

DISCLAIMER: This show should have been posted a week ago but we had issues that we could get content up in time. This show has a cold open and ending because we were not able to get our old recording back. We are sorry about this but enjoy the show and we will come back strong next week! We give our Elimination Chamber predictions and RIGHT AFTER o…

1
Using the 'Micro to Macro' Hack 34:41

3M ago34:41

34:41

In this episode of Books with Hooks, hosts Bianca, Carly, and CeCe dive into the intricacies of middle grade fantasy submissions. They discuss a query about a fantasy novel featuring a cat protagonist, exploring themes of family, sacrifice, and the stakes involved in the narrative. The conversation shifts to critiques of character development, emot…

1
Those Aha Moments That Arrive at the 80 000-Word Mark 28:21

3M ago28:21

28:21

In this engaging conversation, Bianca, interviews New York Times bestselling author Gillian McAllister. The author’s explore Gillian’s writing process, narrative techniques, and character development. Bianca and Gillian chat about the challenges of writing multi-POV novels, the organic twists that emerge during the writing process, and the importan…

1
February Bonus Episode 1:35:39

3M ago1:35:39

1:35:39

In the first engaging conversation of this bonus episode, Bianca interviews Booker Prize-nominated Charlotte Wood, the acclaimed author of Stone Yard Devotional. They delve into the challenges of writing quiet stories, the significance of visitations in the narrative, and the intentional choices behind the unnamed narrator. Wood discusses her uniqu…

1
308. THE REVOLUTION WILL BE TELEVISED CUZ RICKY IS HERE.......AIN'T HE?! 57:55

4M ago57:55

57:55

This week we saw Ricky Starks debut on NXT Scott Hall style and made a big hit. NXT also had Vengeance Day and Jordynn Grace makes her sights known. Michelle Mccool is going into the Hall of Fame and it was the right move but I think someone should join her. WWE Released over 10 superstars last week before WrestleMania and believe it or not I can s…

1
Delving Deeply Into Your Antagonist's Psyche 44:37

4M ago44:37

44:37

In this segment of Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly and CeCe discuss a gothic horror novel submission as well as a psychological thriller. They highlight the importance of starting a story in the right place, the challenges of multi-POV narratives, and the need for clarity in character perspectives. The critique emphasizes the balance between emotio…

1
The Stories We Tell Ourselves to Make Them More Palatable 33:06

4M ago33:06

33:06

In today’s author interview, Bianca chats with Sarah Chihaya about her memoir, Bibliophobia. During the conversation, they explore the profound impact of literature on identity and mental health. Sarah also reflects on her journey as a reader and writer, the complexities of navigating personal narratives, and the challenges of writing about trauma.…

1
What is Literary Burlesque and Can You Perform It? 48:08

4M ago48:08

48:08

In this segment of Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly and Cece discuss a memoir submission as well as a speculative thriller submission. They highlight the importance of balancing plot points with emotional depth; the significance of character development through interior monologue; how character arcs are crucial in memoir writing; the importance of b…

1
307. JEY USO IS GOING TO WRESTLMANIA......SO WHY YOU HATIN?? 1:07:23

4M ago1:07:23

1:07:23

ROYAL RUMBLE FALLOUT, we cover the Royal Rumble from this past Saturday were Jey Uso and Charlotte Flair win both the women's and men's rumble matches but for some reason people start hating on Jey Uso! We discuss the hate that Jey is getting and why they need to stop. Triple H will headline the 2025 Hall of Fame but who else will join him? Drew Mc…

1
306. JACOB FATU GOES OFF!/ HURT SYNDICATE BRING HOME GOLD!!! 1:22:00

4M ago1:22:00

1:22:00

Short but sweet this week as we are getting ready for the Royal Rumble! We give our predictions for the show and who will show up in both Rumbles! We give our review of Saturday Night's Main Event and how Jacob Fatu went off and Shawn Michaels did something we didn't agree with. The Hurt Syndicate bring home the tag team titles from Private Party a…

1
Capturing Your Character’s Voice by Deeply Immersing Yourself in Their Perspective 32:28

4M ago32:28

32:28

In this engaging conversation, Bianca interviews Allegra Goodman about her latest novel, Isola, exploring themes of storytelling, character development, and the writing process. Goodman discusses her journey as a writer, the importance of writing what interests you, and the challenges of crafting a historical narrative. The discussion delves into t…

1
January Bonus Episode Comp Titles Segment 48:53

4M ago48:53

48:53

In January’s bonus episode, Bianca and Emilie Sommer from East City Book Bookshop tackle a variety of book recommendations based on listener comp requests. If you’re looking for our usual Q&A segment, that now gets published as part of our end of the month Substack newsletter. Subscribe to get access to that, and so much more: https://theshitaboutw…

1
CeCe Swipes Carly’s Submission 39:23

4M ago39:23

39:23

In this Books with Hooks segment, hosts Bianca, Carly and CeCe delve into two query letters from aspiring authors. The hosts discuss how negotiation can leak tension in storytelling; why character relationships should drive the narrative; how world-building should enhance character development; why queries for retellings need to focus on unique sto…

1
305. WWE FINALLY PUT A RING ON TNA'S FINGER! 1:10:40

4M ago1:10:40

1:10:40

This week is a TNA week because WWE and TNA have signed a multi-year deal which means great things in 2025 and years to come. However, that can also lead to some talent advantages in the future. Also TNA had their Genesis PPV where Joe Hendry became the new TNA world champion and the fans chanted "She a Racist" at Tessa Blanchard. I give my review …

1
Exploring How a Single Choice Can Define an Entire Life 34:45

5M ago34:45

34:45

In this engaging author interview, Bianca chats with Karissa Chen about her debut novel, Homeseeking. During the conversation, they explore the inspiration behind the story, the extensive research that was required before Karissa could begin writing, and the challenges of navigating language and cultural identity in literature. Karissa shares her j…

1
304. BEST AND WORST OF WRESTLING IN 2024 (Part 2) 2:23:31

5M ago2:23:31

2:23:31

This is part 2 of episode 304 DISCLAMIER: MATCH OF THE YEAR WILL BE ON EPISODE 305 2024 has come to a close but we had a lot of good things that happen in wrestling! So we are doing our end of the end awards which includes wrestler of the year (man & women), breakout superstar of the year, most improved super, tag team of the year, PLE of the year …

1
A Query That Ticks all of CeCe’s Psychological Acuity Boxes 42:52

5M ago42:52

42:52

In this Books with Hooks segment, hosts Bianca, Carly and CeCe welcome listeners to a new year of writing while they reflect on their critiquing journey over the past four years. They dive into the critique of two query letters, focusing on the importance of connection, character motivations, and cinematic elements in storytelling. The conversation…

1
Playing to Your Strengths as a Writer 33:27

5M ago33:27

33:27

In today’s episode, Bianca interviews Emmy award-winning journalist and bestselling author, Kate Fagan, about her debut novel, The Three Lives of Cate Kay. Kate shares how she originally came to listen to the podcast, as well as the details of her journey to publication (which included querying podcast host, Carly Watters). Bianca and Kate go on to…

1
304. ADAM COPELAND AND KENNY OMEGA RETURN TO SAVE AEW!? (Part 1) 1:28:42

5M ago1:28:42

1:28:42

THIS IS PART 1 OF A 2 PART PODCAST AEW had it's World's End PPV this past Saturday and Kenny Omega and Adam Copeland returned to the company. Will this help boost AEW in the right direction in 2025 or is this just smoke and mirrors for Tony Khan. January 6th Raw moves to Netflix in a new era of the show. We talk about what we think will happen and …

1
Can An Agent Picture a Movie Trailer After Reading Your Query Letter? 36:41

5M ago36:41

36:41

In today’s Books with Hooks segment, hosts Bianca, Carly, and CeCe provide feedback on two query letters, one for historical fiction and the other for historical fantasy. They discuss the importance of character development, plot clarity, and the balance between world-building and emotional engagement. The conversation emphasizes the need for speci…

1
Techniques for Fully Dramatizing Scenes or Bringing Memories to Life 33:13

6M ago33:13

33:13

In today’s author interview, Bianca interviews Jessica Waite about her memoir, The Widow's Guide to Dead Bastards. Jessica discusses her writing journey as a form of healing, the challenges of the publishing process, and the complexities of grief. They also discuss the intentional choices behind the book's structure, the use of present tense, and t…

1
The Polarizing “P” Word 35:34

6M ago35:34

35:34

In today’s Books with Hooks segment, hosts Bianca, Carly, and CeCe analyze two query letters, one for an upmarket novel and one for women’s fiction, providing insights on character development, prologues, and the importance of clarity in storytelling. The discussion emphasizes the need for movement in narratives and the balance between internal con…

1
303. THE NEW DAY SHOCKED US AND DROP BIG E!😨🤯 1:17:04

6M ago1:17:04

1:17:04

WWE IS HOT RIGHT NOW! Last Monday the New Day celebrated their 10 year anniversary and the writing on the wall was for Xavier Woods to turn on Kofi but they shocked us and Kofi and Woods teamed up and kicked Big E out of the New Day! We give our thoughts on what happen and what's possible to come. DIY also turned heel on Smackdown and that was good…

1
All Things Fantasy and Romantasy 32:13

6M ago32:13

32:13

In this engaging author interview, Bianca chats with Sarah Hawley to discuss her journey as a fantasy and paranormal romance author, focusing on her latest novel, Servant of Earth. Sarah shares insights into the writing process, the importance of character-driven narratives, and the nuances of defining genres like romantasy. The discussion also del…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Bianca S Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide