Getting your story out there, in the way you want it to be told, is always a struggle — especially when you're relying on someone else to package and market that story appropriately. For Wendy C. Ortiz, whose first book told the story of her taboo relationship with her middle school English teacher, finding a publisher who understood her story, and didn't make her feel exploited, was a serious challenge. This week, we chat with her about tackling the topic of teen sexuality, finding a publisher who truly understands your book, and the benefits of going with a small press.

For more information on Wendy, visit bindercast.com

A special bonus for BinderCast listeners. Here's author Mira Ptacin reading from her book Poor Your Soul. 

Motherhood is often treated as the defining experience of a woman's life – whether or not she wants kids, the decision is usually treated as a major, and potentially life changing, conversation. Mira Ptacin's been on both sides of the equation: her memoir, Poor Your Soul, chronicles her decision to terminate her first pregnancy; shortly before its publication, she gave birth to her second child. Ptacin stopped by the BinderCast studio with her infant daughter to talk abortion, balancing work with motherhood, and persevering in the face of an unending stream of nos.

For more on Mira, check out our show page on Bindercast.com

A special bonus for BinderCast listeners. Here's author Charlotte Shane reading from her book Prostitute Laundry. 

These days, it's not enough to just be a good writer. You've also got to have a brand, and you need to be something of a savvy marketer to boot.  Sex worker turned writer Charlotte Shane knows a thing or two about selling it. In this week's episode, she talks about why she picked escorting over academia, how sex work gave her the freedom to hone her craft, and why marketing shouldn’t be a dirty word.

For more on Charlotte, check out our show page on Bindercast.com