Jan 12, 202654 minS1
In the final episode of season one, Mona and Courtney chat about their top failures of 2025, self-forgiveness in writing, season one's highs and lows, and what we're thinking about for season two. Courtney decides to...
arts
Unfortunately...
Hosted by Mona West and Courtney Floyd · arts · EN-US
About this Podcast:
Unfortunately... is a podcast about fiction, failure, and moving forward. Like nearly all creatives, we’ve experienced our share of rejection, disappointment, jealousy, and frustration. We’ve wallowed in the lonely darkness wrought by that simple phrase, “unfortunately, this story didn’t quite work for us…” With this podcast, we hope to shed light on that darkness. To create a safe space to discuss the harder parts of the craft, to reassure one another that we’re not alone, and to learn together how to keep going and keep writing. Co-hosted by speculative fiction authors Mona West and Courtney Floyd, new episodes release on the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month.
Pitch Analysis
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Contact path
Verified email
Booking probability
31%
Guest openness
Selective
80/100
Required Score
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What is Unfortunately... about?
Unfortunately... is a podcast about fiction, failure, and moving forward. Like nearly all creatives, we’ve experienced our share of rejection, disappointment, jealousy, and frustration. We’ve wallowed in the lonely darkness wrought by that simple phrase, “unfortunately, this story didn’t quite work for us…” With this podcast, we hope to shed light on that darkness.
Who hosts Unfortunately...?
Unfortunately... is hosted by Mona West and Courtney Floyd. The show has published 25 episodes to date.
What has Unfortunately... covered recently?
Recent episodes include "S1E25 - It's Like Throwing a Pebble into Space" (12 January 2026, 54 minutes), "S1E24 - It's Never Gonna Be Perfect" (19 December 2025, 59 minutes), and "S1E23 - The Book of Your Heart is Not on Trend" (17 October 2025, 63 minutes).
How often does Unfortunately... publish?
Unfortunately... publishes roughly every two weeks, with episodes averaging 59 minutes across 25 episodes.
How hard is it to get booked on Unfortunately...?
Booking probability for Unfortunately... is 31%, and the host is rated Selective on guests. Unfortunately... requires a Pod Score of 80 or higher. Unfortunately...'s contact route on record: verified email.
Who should pitch Unfortunately...?
The strongest fits for Unfortunately... are Artists, Writers & Performers. Unfortunately... has an arts audience.
About the host
Mona West and Courtney Floyd hosts Unfortunately..., an arts podcast with 25 episodes published.
Verified host email: ████████@████.comSign in to unlock →
Recent episodes
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Episode #24
S1E24 - It's Never Gonna Be Perfect
Dec 19, 202559 minS1Courtney and Mona chat with author Jennifer Hudak about navigating major career shifts, the necessity of fallow periods, negotiating identity as a writer, and finding ways to build resilience. Transcripts here! Find...
- Oct 17, 20251h 3mS1
Courtney and Mona chat with debut novelist Emily Zipps about going on sub when the world is on fire, silence around the novel submission process, the debut learning curve (options and deadline juggling oh, my!) and...
- Oct 3, 202553 minS1
Courtney and Mona chat with debut author, Piper L. White, about the debut learning curve, how other types of writing and art inform and interconnect with our fiction, and writing genre in a BFA program. Courtney...
Episode #21
S1E21 - It's an Economy of Favors
Sep 19, 20251h 3mS1Courtney and Mona chat publishing, precarity, and privilege with debut author Lacey Dunham. Transcripts here! Find Lacey online at www.laceyndunham.com. , on Bluesky and on Instagram . And check out The Belles , which...
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- Sep 6, 20251h 8mS1
Mona and Courtney chat with debut novelist Rebecca Danzenbaker about the power of persevering, finding what works for you in the publishing process, and using privilege to lift underrecognized authors up. Transcripts...
Episode #19
S1E19 - You Need a Suitcase Full of Skills
Aug 15, 202554 minS1Mona and Courtney chat with author Lisa Tirreno about shifting from journalism to novel writing, celebrating rejections, gamifying the writing process, motivation, and working out what works for you as a writer...
- Aug 1, 20251h 2mS1
Courtney and Mona debut novelist Alysha Rameera about the skills you need to learn on the fly in debut year, the feeling of not being enough to write your culture, how vital work-life balance can be in writing, and our...
- Jul 18, 20251h 13mS1
Courtney and Mona chat with MK Hardy, co-authors of debut Sapphic Gothic Horror, The Needfire, about what happens when your agent leaves agenting, co-writing and editing processes, managing disagreements, and creating...
Episode #16
S1E16 - Progress isn't an Upward Slope
Jul 4, 202551 minS1Mona and Courtney chat with author Rukman Ragas about short stories, getting paid, the importance of complexity in representation, survivorship bias, and finding hope in the darkness. Transcripts here! Find Rukman...
Episode #15
S1E15 - Plotters have an Advantage
Jun 20, 20251 hourS1Courtney and Mona chat with debut author Sasa Hawk about short story vs novel submissions, identifying your own patterns, writing synopses, genre labels as marketing tools, and DIY promo strategies. Transcripts here...
Episode #14
S1E14 - You Can't Just Set That Book Aside
Jun 6, 20251h 2mS1Courtney and Mona chat deadlines, post-deal writing slumps, advocating for yourself as an introvert, and anxiety and mental health with author Roselyn Clarke. Transcripts here! Find Roselyn online at roselynclarke.com...
Episode #13
S1E13 - It's a Business Relationship
May 16, 202557 minS1Courtney and Mona chat agent relationships, prioritizing yourself, and combatting comparanoia with author Lorraine Wilson. Transcripts here! Find Lorraine online at shadowsonwater.uk , on Bluesky , on Instagram , and on...
Episode #12
S1E12 - You Lose the Calluses
May 2, 202557 minS1Courtney and Mona chat with mythpunk and horrorromance author Danai Christopoulou about writing in a second language, unsupportive family, the power of community, and more! Transcripts here! Find Danai online at...
Episode #11
S1E11 - You’re a Member of a Losing Team
Apr 18, 20251h 12mS1Mona and Courtney chat with author and writing teacher Daryl Gregory about community, imposter syndrome, awards, teaching, and tricking yourself into writing. Transcripts here! Find Daryl online at [...
- Apr 4, 20251h 2mS1
Courtney and Mona chat with debut horror author C. J. Dotson about rebuilding your writing process from the ground up, handling reviews, what it's like to put a book out in the world, and the importance of community...
- Mar 21, 202557 minS1
Mona and Courtney chat with Nebula, World Fantasy, Ignyte, and Aurora award-winning Indo-Caribbean scientist and speculative fiction author Premee Mohamed about moving the needle, data in the publishing industry, and...
Episode #8
S1E8 - You're Not (Always) in Charge
Mar 7, 202553 minS1Courtney and Mona chat with fantasy author Demi Winters about writing from and about personal experiences, her journey from self-pub to trad pub, and letting go of the need to be in charge. Transcripts here! Find Demi...
Episode #7
S1E7 - You'll Fall Down
Feb 21, 202557 minS1Mona and Courtney chat with debut author Saratoga Schaefer about reframing failure, getting sober, debut pressures, and mental health support in the publishing industry. Transcripts here! Learn more about...
Episode #6
S1E6 - It Takes Luck
Feb 7, 202543 minS1Mona and Courtney chat with debut fantasy author M. Stevenson about luck and timing in the publishing process, revising to trends, and giving back to the writing community. Transcripts here! Learn more about...
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