Episode
Having It All Interview with Bestselling Author Cathy McDavid
- Published
- Mar 7, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2286
- Processing state
processed
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Summary
Bestselling author Kathy McDavid shares her transition from a corporate career to full-time writing for Harlequin. The conversation explores the evolution of the publishing industry and the importance of reading widely to refine one's craft.
Topics
- Authorship
- Publishing Industry
- Romance Writing
- Career Transition
- Creative Process
- Literary Fiction
- Self-Publishing
- Professional Writing
Highlights
- Main idea: Transitioning from a corporate career to full-time writing requires balancing passion with professional responsibility
- Practical takeaway: Reading diverse genres outside of your specialty can provide unexpected inspiration and stylistic growth
- Industry shift: The move from traditional publishing dominance to the rise of self-publishing has fundamentally changed the author's landscape
- Failure mode: Attempting to write in genres that do not align with your natural voice or reading interests can lead to creative friction
- Success driver: Maintaining a connection with readers through social media and staying adaptable to market changes
Chapters
1:00Introduction to Kathy McDavid: Host Vivian Moore introduces Kathy McDavid, a prolific bestselling author with over 1.3 million books sold.4:00From Corporate to Creative: Kathy discusses leaving her corporate career to pursue full-time writing and the freedom it provides.7:00Navigating the Publishing Industry: A look at how the publishing environment has changed since the era of strictly traditional publishing.10:00The Importance of Research: How authors must research specific topics, like cuisine, to maintain authenticity in their stories.16:00Exploring New Genres: Kathy discusses her interest in moving toward women's fiction and the importance of staying true to one's voice.19:00Reading for Inspiration: The value of reading literary fiction and thrillers to expand an author's creative toolkit.30:00The Ethics of Publishing: A brief discussion on the boundaries of authorship and the importance of original work.