The Writing Apothecary Podcast

Hosted by Mandi Kontos

Business Entrepreneurship Arts Books EducationInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Sep 2026

Language

EN-AU

About the show

A podcast about tips, tricks and hacks on all things writing with your host Mandi Kontos - a writer, writing mindset coach and self published author. Each month we tackle a different topic to do with writing and follow it up with a chat with a guest who will put things into perspective and finish off the topic. The Writing Apothecary is the podcast to help you understand the different layers of a novel, one topic at a time.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

September 26, 2026Episode 2047 min

The Writing Process with A.M Nelson

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to the Writing Apothecary and to another writing process podcast, today we have A.M Nelson also know was Ash at Raven Events. This was recorded in April so it's a little old with events but the content is still so good. I loved this chat so much and there is always something so enchanting after talking to Ash. Bio: A.M. Nelson is a self-certified book worm with book dragon tendencies. She lives in Melbourne, Australia with husband, three kids, and her array of pets. When she’s not writing, A.M. Nelson can be found adding books to her never ending TBR, on the sideline of kid sports, or giving in to her unparalleled obsession with coconut and chocolate. In her books, you're guaranteed to find heartbreak, laughter, and happily ever after. Website: www.thebookbooth.com.au Social media links: @a.m.nelson_author Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here . If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

September 26, 2026Episode 616 min

Making of Book 3 - First Cover Draft Reaction

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to The Writing Apothecary and to an update about Project Destiny. I have been sitting on this for a bit as I needed to get through a few events. But we're back and I'm posting this one out of order because I can! Haha, I can't wait to be able to show you what the cover looks like because it was so cool to open this up and see it. If you want to see my reaction, make sure you head over to YouTube and find it over there. But my word count at the moment of this video is 8150. We're getting there slowly and steadily. Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here . If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

July 30, 2026Episode 2056 min

The Writing Process with Emma Mugglestone

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to the Writing Apothecary and to our writing process with Emma Mugglestone - she is our first hybrid author on the podcast and I adored this chat - she is not a fan of first drafts and I find that so crazy, because it's my favourite part of the whole thing!! Come along and listen to our chat about her magic diary and her process. About Emma: Emma Mugglestone lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her family and dogs in a house that never stays clean and is always noisy but she wouldn’t have it any other way. When she’s not writing contemporary romances filled with charming settings and swoony characters who will steal your heart, she can be found chasing sunrises on early morning runs, reading romances like it’s an Olympic sport and trying to remember her passwords. Her debut novel The Reality of Us (book 1 in her Wattle Junction series) won the League of Romance Writers Emily Award and Romance Writers of Australia Emerald Award in 2023. It placed second in the Romance Writers of Australia’s 2024 Romantic Book of the Year Award. Website: www.emmamugglestone.com Social media links: Instagram.com/emma.mugglestone Tiktok.com/@emma.mugglestone Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here . If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

July 24, 2026Episode 524 min

Making of Book 3: Mood board and Cover

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to the podcast and to the moodboard episode - you can watch this one on YouTube if you want to see what everything looks like otherwise I will be putting the moodboard up on my website....well the one without all of the bits that will give away what i actually have put on there so the colour and the little bits that will make it a bit clearer for the designer. Current word count: 6023 I am getting a little closer to getting down into the nitty gritty of actually pulling it all together and doing all of the writing. Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here . If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

July 15, 2026Episode 191 hr 4 min

The Writing Process with Leila Thorne

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to another episode of our writing process, today we have Leila Thorne, a powerhouse author who is showing that motherhood won't slow her down. With her ability to write, hours after giving birth and promising to herself and daughter's that she will show how to have both, Leila is breaking the mould. We had such a ball chatting and I can't wait for you guys to listen to her words. Plus we love a queen who has three different kinds of journals going. About Leila: Leila Thorne is a wide open-door spicy romance author based in Melbourne, Australia. She writes romantasy novels filled with feminine rage and mafia romances where the protagonist knows her power and never waits for anyone to rescue her. When she isn’t writing smut she’s either reading or listening to it. The longer the trigger list, the better. Website: https://www.leilathorneauthor.com/ Social media links: Tiktok and Insta - @leilathorneauthor Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here . If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

June 12, 2026Episode 418 min

Making Book 3 - Meet Josh

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to another episode of the BTS of making book 3. We are still in the beginnings and we're looking at Josh today. After meeting Destiny last fortnight we're onto the other half of the story and probably the hardest part out of all of it. Because I am trying my damn hardest to find the balance between how spoilery to be and what details you want. Josh is such a complex character and as I write more of this draft it's starting to look a little different to the first draft. Don't forget to head on over to Youtube to see what i'm talking about with my little number board. Current word tally: 6003 Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here . If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

June 6, 2026Episode 1843 min

The Writing Process with S.Anne

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to another Writing Process episode and today we have the lovely S.Anne - she is on the newer side of the journey with a single book - with her second coming out. It was such a great chat and I adore her. Make sure you grab her book, it's a great read. She is such a ray of sunshine, I hope that you enjoy today's interview. About S.Anne: S.Anne is a new author, whose debut book came out Oct 2025, The Queen's Tournament with the following two books to be released in 2026 hopefully. S.Anne loves to write for the joy of it, there is something magical she finds in creating an entire world and story ine just the way she wants it, often surprising herself with the twists and turns that end up happening. Social media links: https://www.instagram.com/s.anne.author?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580196064782 Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here . If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

May 30, 2026Episode 313 min

Making of Book 3 - Meet Destiny

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to another episode of Making Book 3. Today we're going looking at Destiny and it's a little introduction to her. If you haven't read Faded Fragments and Fractured Pieces there is a small spoiler but this is something that I am forever warring about how much to give away because this is the third in the series and it's bound to happen. Let me know how much or how little you want me to spoil the book for you. Just as a reminder these are the audio recordings of the video that is up on youtube. Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here . If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

May 18, 2026Episode 216 min

Making Book 3 of The Nexus Series - Book Facts

Send us Fan Mail On today's episode of The Writing Apothecary - we are diving into the facts of Book 3 in terms of story. There is so much of this that is hard to talk about - how deep do we want to go into this with spoilers? Will you still read it if you are so invested in it? How much of the plot do we go into? There is one of the biggest tropes that I do drop in this episode. You don't want to miss it. And don't forget, if you want to watch this instead (so you can see me waving around books and see my faicial expressions, watch the episodes on YouTube. Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here . If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

May 17, 2026Episode 1736 min

The Writing Process with SK Stapar

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to the Writing Apothecary Podcast and to another Writing Process Episode. On today's episode, we have SK Stapar, who is the most sweetest person alive, I left this chat on cloud 9 and it was such an amazing and thought provoking . We chat about her writing process, her Inner Editor and just how important it is to make your art and put it out in the world. About SK Stapar: S. K. Stapar is an adult romantasy author specialising in cursed magic, gripping secrets and agonising romance. Her stories blend elements of Slavic tales and culture into original fantasy worlds, rife with tension. When not writing, you will find her endlessly reading romantasy, gardening or chauffeuring her little pup Ivy to cafe dates with her husband. Website: www.skstapar.com Social media links: Instagram and TikTok: @skstapar.author Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here . If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont