Ep 141: From Fantasy to Memoir with Betsy Cornwell

Write the Damn Book Already

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Maid meets Under the Tuscan Sun!

Betsy Cornwell built her career writing young adult fantasy, but her newest book tells an entirely different story. In this episode, Betsy opens up about her memoir, Ring of Salt, which chronicles her escape from an abusive marriage and her creation of a sanctuary for single-parent artists.

At the center is the Old Knitting Factory in western Ireland, a historic building she transformed into a childcare-inclusive residency. What began as a crowdfunded dream became both a physical refuge and a symbol of resilience, reshaping her creative life.

Betsy also shares wisdom about the writing process itself. Teaching creative writing at the University of Galway, she knows firsthand how perfectionism derails authors and offers that waiting to write or release a book until it’s guaranteed “good” is like refusing to give birth unless you know the baby will be perfect.

This is an episode for anyone wrestling with the voice that says “not good enough.” Ring of Salt releases September 30th.

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فصول

1. Meeting Dara the Incredible Agent (00:00:00)

2. From Fantasy to Memoir: A Writer's Journey (00:06:11)

3. The Old Knitting Factory Project (00:11:21)

4. Writing Through Domestic Abuse (00:19:51)

5. Perfectionism: The Writer's Biggest Obstacle (00:30:05)

6. Letting Go of Good and Bad (00:39:20)