Dec 1, 2023
Episode 155 - Martha Anne Toll - Finely Crafted, Award-Winning Fiction
Martha Anne Toll is an author and former lawyer who has always been passionate about writing. She grew up in a secular Jewish family and was deeply influenced by the stories of Holocaust survivors. Martha's debut novel, Three Muses, is a beautifully crafted story that combines her love for ballet and her exploration of the impact of the Holocaust on her own Jewish identity. She is currently working on her second novel, Duet for One, which delves into the world of classical music in Philadelphia.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Martha about her writing process, her publishing journey, marketing efforts, and the value of attending book events to learn from other authors. They also discuss how the Holocaust factors into Jewish identity, especially for 20th century American Jews.
In this episode, Lynne and Martha discuss:
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The inspiration behind the novel Three Muses
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Martha's introduction to Judaism through the Holocaust
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Martha's next novel
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Developing characters & the love story in Three Muses
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Writing process and revision
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Research for writing a book
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How to find a publisher
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Marketing & speaking engagements
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The power of 100 rejections
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Writing routines & book events
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Why beginnings & endings are so difficult
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Writing novels with no formal writing training – why you don’t need a degree to write a great book!
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Being a ruthless self-editor
Links and Resources:
Find Martha Anne Toll:
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
Episode 146 – Barbara Stark-Nemon – Tracing the Path of Historical Fiction
Episode 142 – Announcing Scotia Road Books
Episode 131 -Weina Dai Randel – The Last Rose of Shanghai
Episode 129 – Rosina Lippi – Author of the Wilderness Series
Episode 128 – Becky Robinson – Building Reach for Books