Living The Writing Life Podcast with Nancy Christie

In Conversation With … Brittany Micka-Foos, author

Brittany Micka-Foos is a writer living in the Pacific Northwest. She is the author of the short story collection It’s No Fun Anymore (Apprentice House, 2025) and the poetry chapbook a litany of words as fragile as window glass (Bottlecap Press, 2024).

Her poems, essays, and short stories appear in a variety of publications, including Ninth Letter, Witness, CALYX Journal, the Non-Binary Review, Hobart, Identity Theory, Literary Mama, Briar Cliff Review, Typehouse Magazine, Variant Literature, and elsewhere.

A former victim’s rights lawyer in Washington, DC, Brittany turned to writing after the birth of her first child.

For more about Brittany, visit her website, and follow her on Instagram and Bluesky.

In this conversation, we discussed using the short story genre to explore various aspects of modern womanhood.

Thoughts on writing and life for December 2025

Just a few thoughts on finding the courage to be brave in our writing life.

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In Conversation With … Susan Poole, author

Susan Poole is a mother, lawyer, freelance writer, and nonprofit professional. She was awarded the 2023 Rising Star Award from the Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA) for her debut novel, Out of the Crash.

Susan's essays have been featured on the popular parenting websites Grown and Flown and Scary Mommy. Additionally, she has published two nonfiction pieces: a memoir in Neighborhood Voices and an article about her experience as a wrestling mom in Grapple Alley.

Susan lives in Cleveland, Ohio, where she and her husband raised their three children and remain empty nesters with two dogs to keep them company.

For more about Susan, visit her website and follow her on Facebook, TikTok, X, Instagram, Goodreads, Medium and Bluesky.

In today’s conversation, we’ll explore answering the “If not now, when?” question.

Thoughts on writing and life for November 2025

Just a few thoughts on why I made “adaptability” my word of the month.

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Finding my tribe later in life

After all these years, I finally gained a sense of community and belonging, and I have my first novel to thank for that.

 

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  Books by Nancy Christie on YouTube  *  Midlife Moxie Novel Series™ on YouTube

Thoughts on writing and life for October 2025

Just a few thoughts on what has been my greatest setback as a writer.

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  Books by Nancy Christie on YouTube  *  Midlife Moxie Novel Series™ on YouTube

 

In Conversation With … co-authors Judilee Butler and Jean, aka GaGa, Gabardi

After retiring from a career in telecommunications, GaGa Gabardi completed her pilot’s license and now consults, teaches and does course development in the aviation fuel industry. She lives with her husband in the Colorado mountains and has her first grandson to thank for the name GaGa.

Judilee Butler taught elementary education for nine years in upstate New York before moving to North Carolina. She then made a 180-degree change into an exciting marketing career, and after retirement moved several more times, first to the coast of Maine, then to Arkansas Valley in Colorado before settling in Wyoming, and she says she is now done moving!

Both women are passionate about bringing awareness through their writing to the trials women face in an often male-dominated world. The books in their Phoebe Korneal Mystery Series include The Last Hurrah, The Last Slide, The Last Line and the prequel, Love in the Rearview Mirror.

For more about both women and their books, visit the Phoebe Korneal website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

In this conversation, we talk about partnering in the fiction writing process.

Thoughts on writing and life for September 2025

Just a few thoughts on ways to reignite my author fire

Did you enjoy this excerpt from my writing newsletter? Sign up for The Writing Life with Nancy Christie, and receive a free writing-related tip sheet as a bonus!

 

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  Books by Nancy Christie on YouTube  *  Midlife Moxie Novel Series™ on YouTube

Where do you get your inspiration?

My answer to an oft-asked question, along with a little about my writing process and my work.

 

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Check out my YouTube channels:

  Books by Nancy Christie on YouTube  *  Midlife Moxie Novel Series™ on YouTube

Thoughts on writing and life for August 2025

Just a few thoughts on the importance of seeking writing opportunities outside our usual lane.

Did you enjoy this excerpt from my writing newsletter? Sign up for The Writing Life with Nancy Christie, and receive a free writing-related tip sheet as a bonus!

 

Follow me on social media:

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Check out my YouTube channels:

  Books by Nancy Christie on YouTube  *  Midlife Moxie Novel Series™ on YouTube