Ami Irmen’s favorite storyteller was her grandfather, who set her on the path to becoming an educator and a writer. Her first traditionally-published novel is coming soon from Scarsdale Publishing, while she self-published another novel, Wherever Would I Be. Her short stories and poems have appeared in Sinister Wisdom, The Copperfield Review, and Glass: A Journal of Poetry. Ami teaches writing at Kishwaukee College.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Ami Irmen about her creative process, how to turn an idea into a book, which publishing route to take and how to fund a book on Kickstarter.
In this episode, Lynne and Ami discuss:
- Teaching writing at the university level
- The writing process
- Finding a publisher without an agent
- Finding time to write when you work another job
- Jane Adeny Memorial School for Girls in Kenya
- Traditional publishing vs. self-publishing
- Finding a cover designer
- The teachers who inspire us to write
- Finding community with other writers
- Period Poverty
- Why having a good editor is so important
Links and Resources:
- Peaker Writers
- My Peak Challenge
- University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
- Friends of JAMS
- Northern Illinois University
- Artist Pascal Campion
- Revise & Resub
- University of Detroit-Mercy
- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Find Ami Irmen:
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
Episode 145- CL Walters – Young Adult & New Adult Fiction from Hawai’i
Episode 142 – Announcing Scotia Road Books
Episode 136 – Tammy Pasterick – Writing & Publishing Your Way
Episode 113 – Ramona Pintea – How to Make Art a Path for Serving Others
Episode 107 – The Hon. Jan Tinetti – How to Eliminate Period Poverty