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Book Shop Chats:
Welcome to Book Shop Chats, your go to podcast for indie authors and learning insight into what it takes to write a book (HINT: You can do it too!!)
Join authors as they share their personal journeys, successes, and challenges, providing you with unique insights into the writing process. The discussions explore into various aspects of storytelling, from character development to plot structuring, ensuring you have a well-rounded understanding of the craft.
Whether you're just starting out or have published multiple works, this podcast is your companion in the pursuit of storytelling excellence. Tune in, gather inspiration, and let your passion for writing flourish alongside a community that celebrates the art of the written word.
Book Shop Chats:
Finding Your Genre Is Like Coming Home to Yourself with Amanda Casile
Amanda Casile shares her journey writing a woodsy grief horror novel called "Broken Trail" about a mother fighting to protect her daughters from malevolent spirits in the wilderness of British Columbia. Her story reveals how finding the right genre transformed her writing process, completing her first horror manuscript in just two months after struggling with a fantasy novel for over a decade.
Book Blurb:
After criminal psychologist Clara's divorce shatters her family, she retreats into her work. But, instead of finding comfort there, Clara develops a growing obsession with one patient, a young woman accused of murdering her boyfriend on a remote hiking trail. Desperate to discover what happened and to mend the bonds between her and her estranged daughters, Clara makes an ill-fated decision: to hike that very same trail, with her family in tow.
Once they hit the trail, however, violent visions plague her dreams, and when a close encounter with a mysterious presence splits them apart, what began as a family bonding trip becomes a battle for survival. Clara must confront her own demons and the thing that prowls the forest to find her family and get them out alive, before the forest claims them all for good.
Releases Dec 2025
LINKS: Follow AMANDA
About Victoria:
Hey there, I’m Victoria! As a writer and developmental editor, I specialize in helping busy writers bring their publishing dreams to life without the overwhelm. Your story deserves to shine, let's make magic together.
Here’s how I can help:
📖 FREE 7 day Writing Reset: Daily support in your inbox for 7 days.
Grab it HERE
📝 Developmental Editing: Get expert feedback that elevates your manuscript, strengthens your story, and polishes your characters.
✍️ 1:1 monthly support: Revitalize your creativity, map out your novel, and unleash your authentic voice.
Your story deserves to shine, and I’m here to make it happen. Let’s turn your writing dreams into a reality!
📱 IG: @editsbyvictoria
🌐 LINKS: Victoria Jane Editorial
Welcome to Bookshop Chats, where we cozy up with books, creativity and embrace the magical, messy process of writing a book. I'm Victoria Jane, a writer, developmental editor and coach for sensitive, busy writers, and I love to support you on your journey of bringing your story to life. So, whether you're here for inspiration, behind the scenes peeks of what it means to actually write a book, or just some bookish conversations, you are definitely in the right place. And if you're looking for more personalized support, I also offer one-to-one writing support sessions to help bring your story to life, because sometimes you need a little bit of support digging through the noise that is your brain, because same. And if you've got a finished draft, I would love to chat to you about developmental editing. It is my favorite thing. I love supporting authors and bringing their story to life. You can find all of the details in the show notes.
Speaker 1:So grab a coffee, grab a tea, plug in your headphones, go on a little walk and let's dive into today's episode. Welcome back to Bookshop Chats. In today's episode, I am chatting with Amanda Casile. Welcome to the podcast, thank you. Thanks for having me with Amanda Casiel, welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 1:Thank you, thanks for having me. I am excited to chat with you today and your book is coming out late this year, but I feel like we're just kind of in the beginning of all of the fun things, all of the teasers, the marketing, all of that kind of stuff. So, yeah, let's just dive right in and I would love for you to share as much as you can about your book, you know, while still keeping it a mystery.
Speaker 2:Sure, yeah. So my book is called Broken Trail and I like to say it's like a woodsy grief horror novel. It's about a mom who is kind of struggling to keep her family, which is her and her two daughters, together. So she plans this kind of ill-fated hiking backpacking trip that's supposed to take four days in the wilderness of British Columbia. But things don't really go as planned. They encounter some malevolent spirits there that don't want to let them leave the woods. Um, so she has to kind of like find her strength as a mom and also just as a person stuck in the wilderness, and get them all out alive oh, that is so, so cool.
Speaker 1:I I don't I haven't talked to a ton of horror uh authors, so I always find it really, really fascinating to hear about that stuff. Because I'm the truth be told now, I'm kind of a baby when it comes to that, like I love it, but also I like freak myself out. So I would love to hear a little bit more about, like, how this idea came to you or like is, is horror kind of the genre that you like to write?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I actually love talking about how this idea came to me, because it didn't just happen overnight, even though I kind of feel like it should have. So I've always written and I wrote kind of a lot of like YA, fantasy and some sci-fi stuff, mostly just for myself, like like fun stories. I wrote a couple manuscripts but never really did much with them, um, and while it was fun to write, it never really felt like right. Um, like my genre, um, and I sort of by reading another writer's um, like I was beta reading for another writer who had been writing horror and I realized I like super loved her book and I realized I also super love horror, like I had always read a lot of horror and I love horror movies. And so I was like, wait a second, why am I not writing horror? Like I love writing and I love horror, why am I not putting those together? Um.
Speaker 2:So then I sort of had it in my head that like I could start maybe writing darker stuff, um, and I was on a hiking trip with my not a trip, but like a day hike with my best friend and our four daughters, um, and I was just talking with her about like I, I need an idea. I'm like what's the worst thing that could happen? Like what's the scariest thing that could happen to me? And I was like I am afraid of losing my children in the woods. Like here we are in the woods right now with my kids and I was like, yeah, that's definitely the scariest thing. So I kind of just did a bunch of free writing with it and kind of found my characters and their dynamic and I think I knew from the beginning that I wanted it to be speculative, like have those elements of like maybe ghosts or some kind of magic system, because I do still lean heavily towards fantasy and that sort of thing, yeah. And so then it became Broken Trail.
Speaker 1:I love that. That's so cool. I always find it so fascinating to hear how these like stories come to life and I think it's such a great reminder that you have to spend some time like writing just to figure out what you like, and I think that's something that's really cool to like see kind of come together and and the story just it hits different when you finally find that genre that you're like oh my gosh, this is. How did I not know that I was supposed to be writing this?
Speaker 2:Exactly. I mean, it's kind of embarrassing to say out loud, but my one of my like previous manuscripts that I had written I fiddled with it for like 10 or more years, like I. I wrote a draft, I like carved out the middle and rewrote it. I did all kinds of things and I just kept coming back to it over a decade like something's not right, something's not right. And when I came up with the idea for Broken Trail, I wrote the first draft in like two months. I think it was really fast for me. And then it took me a little bit longer to edit because we also moved across the continent at the time, but it was still only like a little over a year to edit it. And then I had a book in like just over just under two years um, as opposed to when I was writing in the wrong genre, but like a decade.
Speaker 1:So when it's right right, yeah, definitely, I think that's a really cool thing, just uh. Yeah, just to see the growth as a writer too, I feel like it's it's really neat to see that stuff, and I always I love to keep all of my old manuscripts because, like you never know, you never know when that story might be important and relevant at some point again.
Speaker 2:Me too, the this, that fantasy manuscript. I still have dreams of putting it out there someday. It's like my favorite book I've written Definitely not the best book I've written, but it's like my baby. So, yeah, I want to put it out there someday. I love that.
Speaker 1:Well, I would love to hear a little bit more about how you started writing and how you decided that you actually wanted to write a book.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's a good question that has kind of a few answers. Because I feel like I decided that I was going to be a writer many times on and off through my life. Um, like, definitely in my younger years, like pre-college, writer was top of the list for like that's what I want my career to be. And then somehow I went to college and completely forgot like just yeah, I knew that I kind of always kept journals and kind of had a hobby of writing, but like it's like my mind was washed clean and I forgot that it was a career aspiration of mine. Um, and of course I didn't go into college for anything writing related because of the you know common misguided wisdom of like you can't be an English major or creative writing major and make anything of your life. So I didn't. But yeah, so I forgot for many years, went through grad school and then, while I was in grad school I always kind of laugh about this I read the Twilight series and I feel like a lot of people come back to writing this way, or at least back then they did. So I was talking with a friend who had also read the Twilight series and we were both like we could write better books than this. And now, don't get me wrong, I actually really loved Twilight, yeah, embarrassingly. But I went. I was like I can write this.
Speaker 2:And so then that's why I started writing the YA fantasy that I fiddled with for over a decade, um, but yeah, so that was the first time that I was like, yes, I'm gonna write a book and publish it. And then I kind of faded off again. I had kids, I started a business, everything kind of slid. And then I was like, yes, I'm going to write a book and publish it. And then I kind of faded off again. I had kids, I started a business, everything kind of slid. And then I was like you know what? I'm going to return to writing. It's something that I feel compelled to do. And so then I returned again to that YA fantasy and I was like we're going to get this into shape. And then it was around that same time that I beta read the horror book for a friend and was like I'm gonna start with something completely new in a different genre.
Speaker 1:And here we are. I love that. That's so fun. It's just it really is. I think those moments show you that it, when it's the time, is the time, I think, and that's a really cool thing to kind of see it come around and I feel like, like, as I get into like my late 30s, it's doing all the things I loved when I was a kid.
Speaker 1:I'm like, why did I stop doing this? Like all of the writing and, like you said, like growing up in that sort of like you know, 90s, 2000s time where, like, creative arts were not really valued like they should be so, so, like that, like you could write. It's a hobby, but only like really good, talented people can actually be successful. And then, like you, yeah, finding that one book I can't even remember what book it was, but it was a book that was like, huh, I could do this, that's cool. And then it just suddenly is like, then the ideas, I feel like start flowing once you kind of give yourself that permission to write. But yeah, it is, it's wild and I love that. Now it's becoming accessible in many different ways and I think we're craving creativity a lot more. So it's really cool to see people pursuing their creative endeavors in very unique ways now, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I agree, and I feel like creativity is kind of like the pendulum is swinging back and we're valuing like the creative process and time to be creative and also seeking out other people's creative works, like reading more, listening to more, a wider variety of music and all of that. I hope it kind of stays. I'm a little concerned that the pendulum will swing back the other way and we'll start undervaluing art again. But we'll see.
Speaker 1:I I know it's, it's hard. I feel that I hope it's. I hope it's like you said it's, it's gonna stick around, though I feel like with the tea I've got teens and they're like obsessed with books. They have a little book um club that they're all doing right now. I'm like, oh, I love this, that this is such a thing. And they are. They are like fully invested in all of I don't even know all of the popular series that they're reading. But yeah, it's super cool to see that become a thing again.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I have two daughters and they're both complete bookworms. And it's funny when I volunteer at the library at my younger daughter's elementary school and it's my favorite thing because the kids will viciously fight over books, like they're like. You checked that out last time it's my turn and I'm like of all the things kids could be fighting over, I love that, it's books.
Speaker 1:I'm like, of all the things kids could be fighting over, I love that it's books, like it's so 100% right, like I feel like it's great to get them. Uh, yeah, just reading and it's. It's so cool to see, like, the power that reading has. I think you don't realize that now, like, even as I'm, I'm not reading as much, obviously, because I also do editing, so I'm reading a lot so, but now listening to audio books and just that sort of like sensory experience has been really cool. Just to hear how a story lands from somebody else's voice. So that's been a really cool thing, just to see how that also makes you become a better writer, even if you're not actually writing. The more you read, the more you listen to audiobooks, the more you like, I feel like even consume some like yeah, music, art, like in any capacity. It all helps to create that sort of richer experience for your work in some wild way.
Speaker 2:I think, yeah, no, I absolutely agree, and I I've also started listening to more audio books because I'm a pretty slow reader and also there's just a lot of other things I want to do like garden or go running or something, and so now I mean, I know they say multitasking is bad, but it's been really freeing to be able to like garden and read a book at the same time and I feel like it's helped me. Like you said, like read a lot more and that's informing my writing a lot more too, so it's nice.
Speaker 1:Amazing. I love that, so I'd love to chat a little bit more about your publishing experience. You are with a independent publishing house, so I'd love to hear a little bit about how that happened for you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I can definitely speak about how that happened for me, because it was one of my favorite things, obviously. So with um, I queried um quite a few agents like I can't remember an exact number, but a lot like almost all the agents that rep were um, and it wasn't really getting traction. I got a lot of full requests but then no one ultimately wanted to like represent me and Broken Trail represent me and broken trail um, so I was like very close to shelving it. Um, but rewind, because in that querying process there was also um at the time it was still called twitter. There was like a twitter pitch party, um, I think it might have been specifically for camcat publishing or I can't remember which pitch party it was, but um, my publisher my current for camcat publishing, or I can't remember which pitch party it was, but um, my publisher, my current publisher, camcat publishing um had liked my pitch and so I did submit my manuscript to them. Um, and then kind of like I thought it was like just throwing it into the void. I was like nothing's gonna come of that, so I didn't think of it again. And then I'm querying all these agents and all of this it's not getting as much traction as I'd like, so I'm about to shelve it.
Speaker 2:And then I was at work one day and a voicemail came in and my phone likes to give me the text version of voicemails and it always garbled and so it looked like a spam call, except the only thing I saw is that it said like broke trail or something, and I was like that's eerily similar to my book title. So I, like I listened to the voicemail. Finally, after I got off work, and it turns out it was Camcat Publishing calling to say they wanted to offer rep for Broken Trail publishing, calling to say they wanted to offer rep for Broken Trail. And so, yeah, I wasn't able to call them back until the next day, but yeah, when I finally did, it was it was all very exciting. So, yeah, like don't that. I feel like that. My message from that is like, don't give up too soon. Like you know, there's always hope that something awesome is going to happen and come out of it.
Speaker 2:But, interestingly, my journey with Camp Cat maybe not, I will say, sadly my journey with Camp Cat has been a bit interesting Because shortly after I signed with them, probably about a week after I signed with them, probably about a week after I signed with them, their founder and owner passed away suddenly, um, so things were thrown into um like a bit of turmoil with the company, um, and it was.
Speaker 2:It was really rough for them for a while, um like very sad thing um, but then, out of that um, camcat has actually now been purchased by baker and taylor um, which is a little bit larger publishing company, and they also do distribution for the libraries across north america, um, so that sale went through a few months ago I think, and so it's been a bit like my process of like the editing and kind of working with the publisher has been a bit it's gone in fits and starts while the sale went through, so things weren't like smoothly carried through, but I've actually been like so grateful to everyone at Camp Cat because they've actually done an amazing job supporting us authors through this time.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, I'm really grateful to them. It's been a good experience. That's amazing. I feel like that's something that obviously that's sort of like a crazy kind of experience to have happened, obviously with the founder. That I mean that's terrible. But I guess the it is not uncommon for things to be kind of like juggled around, I feel like within kind of like a publishing, like traditionally publishing thing. At least, that's kind of what I've been hearing from other authors that have been in similar experiences. So I'd love to hear a little bit about like that, because I feel like often a lot of authors are self-publishing because they're afraid of that, like giving up control and like what does that look like? And stuff like that. So I, yeah, I'd love to hear a little bit more about that experience for you when it comes to, yeah, creative vision and control of the story and that kind of thing yeah, um, I was actually really happy and impressed with the amount of control I had, um, both like in the editing process and also like with the cover selection.
Speaker 2:Um, I will say probably by the time this airs it'll be public news, but um, broken trail is like 99 likely going to get a different cover before it releases, and we've just had, for some reasons, we've had to shift the cover. Um, but even with that, like they've been really great about including me in the whole process and sending me proofs and making whatever changes I asked for. So I've been really happy with that. And also in the editing process, like pretty much the edits were suggestions. I mean, some were stronger suggestions than others but through the whole process my editor was like you know, if this doesn't make sense or if you want to discuss another way, like let's hop on a call. I think we've had numerous calls about like just figuring certain things out and I always like now that I've gone through this process and I have a lot of friends who've gone through the editing process at publishing, like traditional publishing houses of varying sizes, including like Big Five I've been really impressed with like how much they support the authors and how much of a back and forth there is there.
Speaker 2:I've also been really surprised, I guess, by like how much things change. So, like you think, by the when you sign a contract with a publishing house you're like this is my book, my book is done and now we're going to publish it. But relatively, especially in the developmental edit period, like relatively big things can change. So like my whole first six chapters got almost entirely rewritten. My main character's profession changed pretty drastically, which like was a big piece of the at least first half of the book. So that changed quite a bit. And all of these changes were for the better. Like I was very much on board with them all. I think they made it a much stronger book. But I think it's cool to know and I think a lot of readers don't know, like how much actually changes after the the book hits the publishing house.
Speaker 1:So yeah, that's super fascinating and I think, yeah, just hearing kind of the process of how it all works is really cool, because it does feel very mysterious. I think there's this sort of like air of like Ooh, like what's going on over here. So I think to have that it's a really great reminder that you know there is you're not giving up full creative control.
Speaker 1:obviously there is exceptions, right like there could be like situations where that is not the case, but I, from the majority of the authors that I've chatted with that have traditional publishing contracts um, it's all been very positive and it's very like collaborative and I think the thing that I obviously they know the business in a way that you, as the author, doesn't, so they have insight into things that work well for that particular genre that you might not have thought of and ultimately, you want your book to sell right Like that's we want it to make money.
Speaker 1:So we want people to buy it. So if they like they've got that, I think that that could be a really helpful tool, just to have somebody that that can see things in a different way but also still support your vision in the end too.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, I think so. And even like there were times where there were things I wanted to change in the book, like I also rewrote the final chapter. Pretty late in the process it was we had already, I think we were doing the first round of copy edits and I had an idea of how to change the final chapter. Um, and I actually ran it past my editor because she knows the business, and I was like, do you think this could work? Like, do you think this will sell? Um, unfortunately, she really did like it. I'll give a hint. It makes the book a much darker book, to be honest, but it also leaves some Easter eggs in there for people who read the earlier version of it. So, yeah, I'm very happy with the ending, but, yeah, I ran it past my editor to see if it was plausible and feasible in the market today.
Speaker 1:So that was nice that's super cool and I think, yeah, it's it. I really love that sort of like. It just takes a community like it's wild how many people it takes to create these, these books, and put them out into the world, and I think it's. It's really cool when you kind of like can see the number of people that all had to be a part of this in various stages, and it's so, it's so cool and every person has their strengths, right Like. Obviously, the author is telling the story and they've got the characters in the vision, but then you've got the people that are doing the editing or the covers or the back end business things, right Like. So I think that's super helpful, back end business things, right Like. So I think that's super helpful. So, obviously, marketing is a very hot topic amongst authors that I chat with. Most of them are not a huge fan, but I'd love to hear a little bit about, like, your take on marketing and also how much marketing is kind of involved for you with traditional published novels.
Speaker 2:This is a timely question for me because I just met with my marketing person yesterday and interestingly she was. She was kind of like we're so early on now, like we're having this conversation in April and my book comes out in December.
Speaker 2:She was like, if you want to post about the book on social media, you can. If you don't, it's okay, um. She was kind of saying like it's good to like drum up something of a following, um, but that it's not like we need to be obsessively posting every single day. Definitely like there is more of a ramp up in three to four months before the book releases and it kind of goes in fits and starts like there's the pre order campaign that kind of gives a little fit of marketing and then a lull and then, when it releases, there's a bit more ramp up, but generally I was actually surprised to see, like, how much they're doing behind the scenes.
Speaker 2:So we were talking about that division of marketing between authors versus the publishing houses, and I think it differs depending on the size of the publisher and also, like, I guess, the wherewithal of the publisher, um, but yeah, they had already sent it out to a lot of places for trade reviews, um, like publishers weekly and kirkus reviews and all of those um, and then they are also like sourcing, like influencers, potential like book box and book club inclusions, and so the publishing house is actually doing all of that piece, which I really appreciate because I know nothing about those things. Um, so a lot, I mean, I think, because we're all all on the front lines and all over social media. We think that's the main like marketing mecca, um, and I think it does help, but it's not the only marketing place and potentially not even the biggest um marketing place.
Speaker 1:I think a lot happens, um, beyond that yeah, that's such a great reminder because I feel like obviously, the key difference between like self-publishing and traditionally publishing is they do have the connections with the bookstores, with like the libraries and stuff like that and getting your book into places. That it might be a little bit more difficult when you are self-publishing just because you don't have the backing or whatever behind you. But I think that is a great reminder of doing things outside of, outside of social media. Obviously, like that's a great way to connect with people. But, yeah, getting your book in hands of of people at like a book club that's completely offline, completely separate, like all of that stuff, really does make such a difference. And I feel like it comes back to the most important part of like reviews is like personal reviews of, like your friend said, that they love this book, they want you to read it and you're like okay, cool. So that's really what I feel like authors like that stuff is it's magic.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and it's hard to do. It's hard to do because, as authors, like I said, we often are on social media, but we're often on social media with other authors who it's great because, like, obviously, authors are buying and consuming books, so it is a portion of your like potential audience.
Speaker 2:But I do think there are other ways to get your book in front of, like actual readers that aren't also authors. And generally at least in my experience, because I don't have a ton of experience the publisher knows how to do that better than I do.
Speaker 1:Definitely, and then having that to be hands free, I feel like would be a magical experience of like I don't want to have to figure this out. This is not my strong suit.
Speaker 2:You coordinate it, yeah definitely like coordinate and just tell me about it.
Speaker 1:I'll do it. I'll do it whatever I'll be where I need to be. But I'm grateful not to have to do all of the things, and I think that's obviously the one negative of self-publishing. It's just you are kind of doing it all yourself or you're paying people to do it for you.
Speaker 2:I was just talking to some writer friends of mine yesterday about that, about how like self-publishing is like they put in so much work and, I think, a lot of the time that gets put in, I think there is still a bias towards, like traditional publishing, whether it be with bigger houses or smaller houses. Um, but that's like. I went this route because I knew that a publisher would have more experience than I would and more connections. Um, and I feel like how do I want to phrase this, I'm not even sure but like kind of overvaluing. The traditional route almost undervalues all the incredible work that self published authors put in, and I know I couldn't do that Like it's a huge hustle.
Speaker 1:So kudos to all self-published authors out there yeah, yeah, totally, and I think it is such a. I think it's starting to shift a little bit, but there is still that element of um, yeah, that like one is better than the other, but it's not. I'm like, get your book out however you need to, um, and whatever is best for you. I think that's really what it comes down to. And there's so many amazing, um, self-published books, obviously, so many amazing traditionally published books, uh, I just I think the biggest thing that is that sucks for the self-publishers is just the limited places that they can get like put their books, um, and stuff like that. So it's harder in in that regard, and I wish that more indie, indie authors could get their books into libraries, because that would be magical. Um, yeah, but I don't know how that, I don't know all that stuff.
Speaker 2:That's way above my brain capacity at this point in time. I too. But yeah, even things like getting blurbs and reviews for your book, some people only will accept like requests from an agent or a publisher. They won't accept requests directly from an author. So if you're a self-published author and you don't have an agent or like a traditional publisher, then that cuts out a whole set of, you know, potential marketing, which is really tricky.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, it's, it is wild. There's so many, it's so layered, so layered, amazing. Well, I would love for you to share how people can get in touch with you and follow along and, obviously, read your book. Even though I love that it's coming out in like December and dark, it just feels perfect with perfectly timely for your novel yeah, yeah, I think so, and actually I will.
Speaker 2:One last thing I'll add my release date was in August, um, which worried me because it was like in the bright, sunny summer time, um. So I was happy that it had to get bumped to December, because I think I will be a much better ambiance for Broken Trail. But, yeah, you can find me. I do have a website that needs to be updated and it's just my name, amandacaseelcom. And then you can find me. I'm on Instagram more than anywhere else, and I am bookish duck underscore author there, just to make it complicated find you.
Speaker 1:But yeah, it was lovely chatting with you and hearing all about your book and your writing journey. I always find that so fun and fascinating to hear about other authors and their experiences.
Speaker 2:Yeah, thank you so much for doing this. It was fun.
Speaker 1:Thanks so much for listening to today's episode and if you really loved this author, I highly encourage you to go check out their links and comment and share their work because, let's be real, as an indie author, all that stuff makes such a difference and if you're feeling a little stuck on your draft and just want some gentle accountability, check out my one-to-one offers that are linked in the show notes as well. I'd love to support you with your writing or editing journey and if that's not quite where you're at, I've also put together a really amazing free resource to help with taking your writing to the next level, because there are so many amazing resources available without needing to spend a ton of money or get that MFA or all of the things that you may think that you need in order to write a book. Until next time, keep writing your way and trust yourself enough to tell your story, because, I promise, if it's coming to you, there's a reason and someone needs to hear it.
