The Prose Pros – Details, episodes & analysis

Isabelle Engel was raised in New England and now lives and works in Washington, D.C. She has a MA in English from George Washington University and a BA in English, Theatre, and Creative Writing from UMass Amherst. When she's not writing, she can be found reading, watching reality TV, going on hikes, petting other people's dogs, and listening to true crime podcasts.

Kelly Stone is an associate editor at St. Martin’s Publishing Group, where she's worked since 2021. She graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Communication, where she researched the ways we interact with social media in the digital age and how to educate young adults to become more media literate. She is the Mentorship Chair of the Young Publishers Association, where she created a program to connect people across different levels of the publishing industry.

With over 12+ years of experience, she has been formally recognized with a Daytime Emmy Award and has produced for on-air broadcast, digital, and social media at some of the most notable shows and networks (Hello Sunshine and Reese’s Book Club , The Walt Disney Company, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Netflix, Red Table Talk, Paramount, CBS, The Grammy Awards, The Critics Choice Awards, The Academy Awards) and has interviewed some of Hollywood’s biggest A-List celebrities (Jennifer Aniston, Christopher Plummer, Sandra Bullock, and more). She has worked on the social marketing strategy for several films and TV series, including The Morning Show, Daisy Jones and The Six, The Last Thing He Told Me, Tiny Beautiful Things, and more.

Her debut novel, IT’S DIFFERENT THIS TIME is an instant USA TODAY, Toronto Star, and Globe & Mail Bestseller. It was named on of Apple Books Best Debuts of 2025 and is shortlisted for Canada Reads.

She is originally from Toronto, ON and currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband and rescue Pittie, Annie.

In this eye-opening conversation, Nicole Dalcourt shares her journey as a writer, exploring the differences between poetry and prose. She describes how she refined her craft through workshops and open mics and discusses her recently-published poetry collection, WHAT REMAINS, and the healing process involved in writing it. Nicole also sheds light on her experiences with self-publishing, the importance of community support, and her aspirations for future writing projects.

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Nicole Dalcourt is an award-winning Canadian writer and poet living on the outskirts of Toronto, Ontario. Her debut poetry collection, What Remains, uses a confessional voice to explore themes of grief, heartbreak, rebirth and belonging. Dalcourt’s work has appeared in Writerly Magazine, The King City Mosaic and on Howl Radio and the Viewless Wings Podcast. When not writing, Nicole hosts and participates in open mics around the region and pursues her passion for teaching poetry skills through in-person and online workshops.

In this conversation, debut author Grace Morrow details her eventful querying journey and the creation of her upcoming novel, We Become Darkness (now releasing April 7, 2026, with Alcove Press). She discusses the challenges of the submission process, the importance of community support, and her unique approach to marketing her book. We also chat about the rise of genre blends, female agency, and the influence of art history on Grace’s writing, including the intricacies of world-building and the emotional depth of her characters.

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Grace Morrow is an author of magic, mayhem and mischief. As an art historian, her goal is to inspire the same feelings one might associate when looking at a particular piece of art and integrating that feeling into her books. A true Californian, she lives with her husband and two unruly cats. When she isn’t writing you can find her binge watching the latest trash reality tv show, working with an academic support program, or trying to keep alive her many, many, succulents.

In this episode of the ProsPros podcast, host Tali Shammas shares her personal journey through the querying process, which resulted in her receiving twenty-seven full manuscript requests and four offers of representation. She emphasizes the importance of networking, attending conferences, and building a supportive writing community. Tali also discusses the potential pitfalls in the industry, such as predatory practices, and stresses the need for careful consideration when investing in writing resources. Finally, she provides concrete advice on crafting an effective query letter, highlighting the significance of a strong log line, appropriate comps, and clear stakes.

Time stamps

00:00 Introduction to Querying Success

06:53 The Importance of Networking and Conferences

16:02 Building Community and Support

19:47 Navigating the Industry and Avoiding Pitfalls

23:59 Crafting an Effective Query Letter

In this episode, entertainment lawyer Michael Duboff shares legal insights that all writers should keep in mind, focusing on the common legal questions and concerns. He discusses the importance of understanding copyright, the misconceptions surrounding that issue, and the necessity of contracts.

Mike emphasizes the need for writers to seek independent legal advice, especially when dealing with contracts, and highlights key clauses to watch for. He also addresses the dynamics of negotiation and conflict resolution. Finally, he offers valuable advice for both traditionally published and self-published authors, encouraging them to be proactive and confident in their legal dealings.

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Michael Duboff is a Canadian entertainment lawyer with a professional focus on music, film and television, publishing, and corporate matters. He has worked with a variety of artists and creative businesses helping to facilitate projects, performance opportunities locally and across borders, and organizational matters.

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Michael’s practice spans across Manitoba where he carries on clients and representation in addition to the firm’s primary residence in Ontario.

Prior to working as a lawyer, Michael has worked professionally in both the music and film/tv industries, as a musician in an alternative rock band and as a freelance director/writer/producer in Toronto and Vancouver. His passion for the arts and artists helps drive his practice and makes him grateful to be able to continue to work for and with the vibrant arts communities.

In this conversation, I’m joined by writer Lauren D. Fulter, who works as a marketing assistant at a publishing house. Lauren self-published her first books at the age of 16 and has since made the shift to traditional publishing. We discuss marketing strategies for authors, the significance of in-person events, and the lessons she’s learned from working in the publishing industry.

In this episode of The Prose Pros, Callie Kazumi sits down with us to chat weird girl fiction, from inspiration to publication. She describes how the pandemic sparked the idea for her novel, CLAIRE, DARLING (but not in the way you’d think!) We discuss her writing process, her experience in the publishing industry (and how a viral video impacted her querying journey), and the unique themes her upcoming book, GREEDY, explores.

GREEDY comes out February 3rd, 2026.

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Callie Kazumi is a British-Japanese author of psychological thrillers. Callie is a graduate of Stirling University, where she studied Journalism and Politics and realised that she enjoyed shocking headlines and making up twisted plots in her head far more than reporting reality. She wrote her first book after her father gifted her Stephen King’s On Writing, which inspired her into action. She works in publishing as a marketer, and spends her days selling incredible stories before returning home and trying to write her own. She currently lives in London with her husband and Bichon Frise, Betsy.

In this episode, bestselling author and editor Phoebe Morgan shares her publishing journey, discussing how she has navigated the publishing industry. She emphasizes the importance of networking, the interplay between writing and editing, and the need for transparency in publishing. Phoebe also offers valuable advice for aspiring writers, including common pitfalls to avoid in manuscript submissions.

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Phoebe Morgan is the Executive Publisher of Adult Fiction at Simon & Schuster UK. She runs a list of commercial fiction across genres. She is also a published author with HarperCollins and her five thrillers are out now; the latest is called The Trip. She also runs a Substack called The Honest Editor all about improving transparency in the publishing industry.

In this episode, I’m joined by Esty Loveing-Downes, an agent at Howland Literary Agency. We discuss Esty’s journey in the publishing industry, the role of an agent, and the intricacies of working with clients. Esty shares her experiences, insights on what makes a successful manuscript, and the importance of collaboration in the publishing process. She touches on the revision process and how to build connections with editors

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Esty is looking for romance in adult, new adult, or YA spaces, upmarket fiction, adult or YA grounded fantasy, and literary fiction. Thank you for sharing your story with us, Esty!