Outreach Signals
Publishing Details
Contact & Outreach
About This Podcast
Join writers and parents Krisserin Canary and Kelton Wright as they navigate the journey of publishing their first novels. From California to Colorado, these friends share their experiences with first drafts, revisions, query letters, and the rollercoaster of rejection. Each episode offers an honest look at balancing creative ambitions with daily life, featuring candid conversations about writing craft, time management, and staying motivated. Whether you're a fellow writer or just love a good behind-the-scenes story, Pen Pals proves that every creative journey is better with a friend.
Email us at: [email protected]
Music by Golden Hour Oasis Studios
Podcasting 2.0 Features
Social Media
Explore Statistics
Recent Episodes
S2E21 From Dramatically Quitting Writing to a Major Two-Book Deal: Rachel Hochhauser on Lady Tremaine
Kelton wraps up her Rewilding winter class and launches something new—a free monthly writing practice called the Murmuration—while Krisserin confesses she's started a secret new project (2,400 words…
S2E20 Cait Flanders: From Blog Experiment to Bestseller (and Back Again)
Kelton gets her first agent rejection and refuses to sugarcoat it—while Krisserin shares what she learned about advances, deal structures, and editor wish lists from her meeting with agent Kima…
S2E19 Bonus Episode: Inside the Debut Author Survey with Emily Zipps
We couldn't just talk about Emily Zipps' debut author survey — we had to talk to her. Krisserin and Kelton sit down with Emily herself — author of Alice Rue Evades the Truth and the forthcoming The…
S2E18 What Debut Authors Actually Get Paid (And Why We're Mad About It)
What does a debut author actually get paid? Krisserin and Kelton dig into Emily Zips' survey data and don't love what they find—average two-book deals for $50K, most authors working day jobs, and…
S2E17 Mark Sarvas on Writing Novels That Can't Be Ignored
Krisserin panics her way through a grad school application (wrong link, wrong deadline, wrong page numbers), while Kelton enters the querying trenches—19 Google Docs open, three agents contacted, and…
S2E16 When a Miracle Slides Into Your DMs: On Agents, Advances, and Anxiety
Kelton's inbox delivers a dream: an agent from a respected agency slid into her DMs after discovering her writing on Substack. The excitement is real—but so is the anxiety of navigating what comes…
S2E15 Paper Prototypes and Publishing: Vicki Tan's Non-Traditional Book Deal
What happens when a designer walks into a Manhattan publishing office with paper prototypes that look like children's toys? In this episode, Kelton reconnects with Vicki Tan, a former colleague from…
S2E14 "Never Save the World": JT Ellison on 30 Books, Citrine Magic, and Writing Through the Darkness
Krisserin and Kelton kick off 2026 by getting real about the challenge of creating art in turbulent times—from doom-scrolling to feeling like your work is too small for the moment. Then they're…
S2E13 The Capricorn and the Libra: Our Year in Review
In their final episode of 2025, Krisserin and Kelton reflect on a year that transformed them both—32 episodes of accountability, pivot points, and hard-won victories. While Krisserin celebrates…
S2E12 Writing Through December Chaos
In this episode of Pen Pals, Krisserin and Kelton confront the reality of December's chaotic energy—where seasonal disruptions, holiday stress, and looming daycare closures threaten to derail their…
S2E11 Stop Tap Dancing in Your Query Letter: Ali Gordon's Path to Publication
Krisserin and Kelton sit down with Ali Gordon, author of "We Have Reached the End of Our Show," to discuss her unconventional path to publication without an agent. Ali shares how she wrote her debut…
S2E10 Long-time Readers and Short-Lived Aunties: A Thanksgiving Gratitude Special
When you're chasing publication dreams and battling rejection, gratitude feels like a luxury. But Krisserin and Kelton argue it's actually a practice—one that keeps you grounded when writing feels…
S2E9 Emily Halnon's Couch-to-Marathon for Writers: From Proposal to Bestseller
Krisserin's brain is scrambled from her massive Excel spreadsheet organizing her 24,000 remaining words, while Kelton is juggling unexpected client work that threatens to derail her memoir proposal.…
S2E8 Writing Through the Doldrums
In this candid episode of Pen Pals, Krisserin and Kelton get real about the challenging phases every writer faces—the doldrums. Between sleepless toddler nights, demanding day jobs, and the mental…
S2E7 Olivia Muenter on Book Deals, Big Five Rejections, and Why Success Doesn't Cure Imposter Syndrome
Krisserin's fighting through the darkness of her 5 AM garage writing sessions while Kelton navigates competing feedback on her memoir proposal. But this week they're joined by their third Season 2…
S2E6 Ghost Stories and Good Luck: Lesley Bannatyne on Contests, Craft, and the Spirit of Halloween
In this episode, Krisserin and Kelton sit down with author and Halloween historian Lesley Bannatyne, whose short story collection Lake Song won the Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction. Lesley shares…
S2E5 Chelsea Hodson on Tumblr Fame, Cold Emails, and Writing at 2:30 AM
Krisserin's broadcasting from Scottsdale, Arizona (after getting two speeding tickets in the same spot) while Kelton's racing to finish her memoir proposal. But the real star of this episode is their…
S2E4 Keep Fishing: How to Build Confidence as a Writer
Krisserin's fighting off sickness while crushing her revision goals, and Kelton's Rewilding class just sold out. So why do they both feel like frauds? This week, they tackle the tricky bitch that is…
S2E3 Finding Your Voice (And Other Terrifying Feedback)
Kelton's exhausted from weeks of sleepless nights with a teething toddler, and Krisserin is deep in revision mode—235 pages edited and counting. But the real topic of this episode is one every writer…
S2E2 Speaking Success Into Existence (Plus Actual Magic)
Big news drops in this episode: Krisserin has an agent! After manuscript consultations with longtime friend Kima Jones from Triangle House Literary, what started as friendly feedback sessions turned…
Frequently Asked Questions
Pen Pals has published 40 episodes since February 2025, covering topics in Arts.
Pen Pals is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 54m.
Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Pen Pals, including email and social media links.
