BookTrib is proud to present to our readers the Writers, Ink podcast, a show about the business of writing.
J.K. Rowling was nearly homeless when she wrote the first Harry Potter book. Stephen King penned Carrie on a small desk wedged between a washer and dryer. James Patterson worked in advertising and famously wrote the Toys “R” Us theme song long before becoming an author.
Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript in to your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business — editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.
This Week’s Episode
Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Kevin Tumlinson, and JP Rindfleisch as they discuss the week’s entertainment news, including stories about OpenAI, Microsoft, KDP, and a publishing scam. Then, stick around for a chat with Nicolina Torres!
Prior to her work as a writer, Nicolina Torres was a manager for Barnes & Noble for 15 years, in seven stores, and represented B&N on Channel 2’s Living Dayton Show for two years. She was a D.J. for 88.3FM WAIF for two seasons. Nikki’s thriller This Red Fire was a 2017 Launch Pad Manuscript Competition Top 10 pick, and her dystopian novel, Young Nation, received an honorable mention in the same contest. Her short story “Aunt Dorothy in the Canoe” was published in the Deception Anthology. In 2025, Night of the Mallrats was sold at auction to HarperCollins imprint Harper Perennial. She has had multiple books and short stories optioned for film by companies such as Vuelta Group, Stampede Ventures, Exile Content Studio, Sony, and EMJAG Productions. Nikki was a mentor for the 2021 Tracking Board Launch Pad Prose Competition. She is represented by Kiana Nguyen at Donald Maass Literary Agency and book-to-film agent Katrina Escudero. She is first generation American on her father’s side—her paternal family lives in Santiago, Chile. When not reading or writing, she’s watching bad vintage horror movies and cooking comfort food. She lives out in farm country and is “Aunt Nini” to her young niblings.
Show Links:
J. D. Barker
Christine Daigle
Jena Brown
James Blatch
Kevin Tumlinson
Dick Wybrow
BookTrib
JP Rindfleisch
Voice Over: Rick Ganley (recorded at Mill Pond Studio)
Today’s Episode is Sponsored By:
AutoCrit – (click this link to take advantage of our Writers Ink special offer!!!)
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*Full disclosure: Some of these links are affiliate links.




