The Writing Apothecary Podcast

Hosted by Mandi Kontos

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Latest episode

Jun 2026

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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

June 12, 2026Episode 418 min

Making Book 3 - Meet Josh

Send us Fan MailWelcome 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: 6003Want 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 @thewritingapothecaryFollow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

June 6, 2026Episode 1843 min

The Writing Process with S.Anne

Send us Fan MailWelcome 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=61580196064782Want 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 @thewritingapothecaryFollow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

May 30, 2026Episode 313 min

The Making of Book 3 - Meet Destiny

Send us Fan MailWelcome back to another episode of Makign 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 @thewritingapothecaryFollow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

May 18, 2026Episode 216 min

Making Book 3 of The Nexus Series - Book Facts

Send us Fan MailOn 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 @thewritingapothecaryFollow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

May 17, 2026Episode 1736 min

The Writing Process with SK Stapar

Send us Fan MailWelcome 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.authorWant 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 @thewritingapothecaryFollow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

May 2, 2026Episode 118 min

Making Book 3 of The Nexus Series Intro

Send us Fan MailWelcome to a new segment of The Writing Apothecary and to what I'm calling - Making Book 3 of The Nexus Series. In this season we're going to be looking at what goes into making a book - we're going to write the second draft together of Book 3 of the Nexus Series, go through the editing process, the trials and tribulations of marketing, launching and setting a book out into the world. These will be the audio version of the podcast that will be streaming on YouTube in video form. Are you going to follow the journey? Fortnightly updates as usual! 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 @thewritingapothecaryFollow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

April 23, 2026Episode 1649 min

The Writing Process with Ash Oldfield

Send us Fan MailWelcome back to another episdoe of The Writing Process section and to our guest Ash Oldfield. A literal angel in the flesh, I loved chatting ot her about her process and how she hand writes all her first drafts!! (How crazy is that?) Take a listen and get your bum glue ready because it's such a fun listen.Bio: Ash Oldfield is a fantasy fiction and children’s writer from Melbourne, Australia. She is the author of The Rachaya Series, The Davies Witches Saga, The Ethereal Bridge Novellas, and has several short works of fiction in various publications.When she is not working on her latest piece of fiction, Ash enjoys drinking good coffee, taking her dog for walks on the beach and hanging out with her two cats.Follow her over on her website and her socialsWebsite: https://www.asholdfield.com/Instagram: Ash Oldfield AuthorWant 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 @thewritingapothecaryFollow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

March 6, 2026Episode 151 hr 12 min

The Writing Process with MG Hunt

Send us Fan MailWelcome back to The Writing Apothecary Podcast and to another Writing Process episode. Today we have the amazing MG Hunt, who is a ray of sunshine and honestly I feel like I could talk to her for hours. Not only is she an writer but she is also an artist and this one is a bit a of a long episode as we chat about everything to do with her process and much more. She also has her own podcast and had me on last year, which was so fun!! MG Hunt's Bio:MG Hunt is a fantasy author, based in Melbourne/Naarm, Australia. Her debut novel Still Waters Run Deep is a tale of elemental magic and mystery, drawing readers into a richly imagined universe filled with vivid characters and captivating adventures.In her personal life, MG Hunt is a graphic designer and illustrator. She enjoys creating art and visual representations of her written work. She also is the host of the Indie Author Life Show, with audio and video episodes available on Substack, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Youtube.Website: mghunt.comSocial media links: InstagramTikTokThreadsFacebookGoodreadsArt account (ismonia) linksInstagramWant 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 @thewritingapothecaryFollow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

February 26, 2026Episode 5313 min

What's to come with The Writing Apothecary Podcast

Send us Fan MailWe've come to the end of all of the topics that were on my list to be broken down for. I tried to see if I could extend it and I couldn't find more to talk about without complicating it - but that's ok! There is so much to come. This is an update on what The Writing Apothecary Podcast will look like and what will be happening. Are you ready for Book 3? We're going to explore what it looks like to write, publish, market and launch the third book in The Nexus Series. Plus so much more. This is the year of getting the podcast really thriving - so bear with me as we work through this together. 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 @thewritingapothecaryFollow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

February 19, 2026Episode 1440 min

The Writing Process with Demi Clorissa

Send us Fan MailWelcome back to another Writing Process podcast and today it's with the gorgeous Demi Clorissa - another one of the author girlies I met at Supanova and is such a sweetheart. I loved this chat with her and it was recorded just as she finished the draft of her novel, which i think was so exciting!! Tell me what you think about our chat and what you took away from it.Demi's Bio:Demi Clorissa is a romantic fantasy author. With her first series debuting in 2023 with the DAUGHTER OF THE WOOD trilogy. She crafts heart wrenching adult romantic fantasy, with body diverse main characters, with love, magic, intimacy, heat, and heartbreak.When she is not writing, you’ll find her reading anything she can get her hands on (mostly fantasy), watching trashy TV shows, and spending her afternoons at the cinema. She loves food (but she is a self confessed awful cook!) She has a dachshund, Della, who is often curled around her feet, and recently, Frank (her little orange boy) has passed away. He will be missed forever. She is a proud Indigenous woman, with connections to the Wiradjuri mob in Central NSW, but calls Meeanjin (Brisbane) home,Demi's Links:Website: https://demiclorissa.comInsta: https://www.instagram.com/demiclorissawrites/Tik tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@demiclorissawritesWant 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 @thewritingapothecaryFollow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont