Podcast appearances and mentions of lauren blakely

It's time to step into the world of professional wrestling! We read Wild Side by Elsie Silver and thought of John Cena the whole time. When Tabitha's sister dies, leaving behind her 3 year old son, she knows she'll do anything to keep what's left of her family together. But when she finds out that her sister named her reclusive, hulking, hot neighbor/landlord, Rhys, as her nephew's legal guardian, Tabitha has to pivot. So that's exactly what she does: pivots right down the aisle. With Rhys. Up Next: Funny Business by Kayley LoringSOS Novella: Pounded by the Pommel Horse by Sabrina CrossWhat else we're reading:Love vs. the Scarecrow by Cassandra GannonThe Girlfriend Zone by Lauren Blakely (audio)The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren (audio)That Time I Accidentally Took Over the Mafia by Rebekah SinclairSHOW INFORMATION: Join the DiscordFollow us on Spotify! (It helps us with sponsors!)Patreon: Support Us HereWebsite: www.chicklitbookclubpodcast.comMerch: https://chicklitbookclubpodcast.threadless.com/TikTok: ChickLitBookClubInstagram and Threads: ChickLitBookClubPodcastPinterest: ChickLitBookClubPodcastBlueSky:@clbcpodcast.bsky.socialYoutube: @ChickLitBookClubEmail: chicklitbookclubpodcast@gmail.com

Hi listeners! Sarina here, with a topic that has been on my mind for years. When I began my career, everyone told me I had to develop a “thick skin” to do this job. But it turns out that a “thick skin” is one of the only things you can't buy on Amazon. Today I invite my friend Lauren Blakely onto the podcast for a frank discussion of all that we've learned about resilience, one-star ratings and feedback these past ten years or so. Together, we offer the beginnings of a handy framework for how to think about feedback. We offer some actionable advice for what to do, where to turn and how to process unsolicited criticism. You do not have to attend every conversation you're invited to. - A wise stranger on the interwebs.Since avoiding negative feedback just isn't feasible, we discuss the following coping mechanisms. * Checking in with a friend and having friends in the business* How to make sure that good feedback is as available and memorable as the bad* Recognizing that clinging to negatives is how the brain works. That reflex has an important evolutionary role, but we don't have to subjugate ourselves to it.* Lifting up other people as soulcraftWhere to find Lauren Blakely: Ms. Blakely is the author of multiple bestsellers. For a master class in how to package genre fiction, you'll definitely want a peek at her backlist.Find more from Lauren at Instagram! What we are reading:Lauren is loving the forthcoming Shoot Your Shot by Lexi LaFleur. It's a hockey romance.Sarina is loving The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper by Roland Allen, which tickles her geeky, paper-loving heart. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe

Disclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books.Welcome to the What to Read Next Podcast! In this video, I'm sharing the 17 books I read in November 2024. This month's reading list features a festive mix of holiday romances, cozy mysteries, and a couple of fascinating nonfiction books about shopping culture. Most of these were audiobooks, perfect for the season's cozy vibes!

On this Buzzing About Romance Author spotlight, Becky chats with author Lauren Blakely about her latest release, The Romance Line, Book 2 in the Love and Hockey Series. 

For our forever favorite, Kate Clayborn, our third Fated Mates Live episode! During the absolutely delightful event (we had so much fun!), Kate selected an interstitial topic that we've never tackled, somehow? It's time for Marriage in Trouble! We talk about the old school bones of the trope, with ingenue wives and the jaded heroes who have to crawl over glass for them, about marriages that carry enormous secrets, the grovel, the heir, and about the threat of divorce motivating men toward being their best selves. Is this good marriage therapy? It is not. Is it good podcasting? It is. We also want to thank the following publishers and authors for their incredible generosity in making sure that almost every attendee of the Live went home with a romance novel. We are so lucky to share Romancelandia with you: Avon Books, Ballantine Books, Blue Box Press, Dell, Grand Central/Forever, Gallery Books, Lauren Blakely, LJ Evans, Pippa Grant, Ana Huang, Parker S. Huntington & LJ Shen, Elle Kennedy, Avery Maxwell, Ava Miles, Max Monroe, Kathryn Nolan, Amari Nylix, Meghan Quinn, Piper Rayne, P Rayne, Stephanie Rose, Lucy Score, & TL Swan.If you want more discussion of banana-pants romance, join our Patreon and get access to our Discord, where a thousand other listeners are hanging out and giggling all day long. Show NotesRead Kate Clayborn's The Other Side of Disappearing, which is a beautiful road trip of a romance that does not have a marriage in trouble but does have a hero who is pure fire.Sarah used to work for Susan Miller of Astrology Zone, so when she tells you that Mercury is in retrograde, you better listen. Even if it's about The 2000 election Like Jen, you may have thought the superhymen was a myth! But now you know better because of romance, Fated Mates Live, and Megan Frampton.

Headphones in! This is not for beginners. Our second Fated Mates Live episode is live! During the event (which was so so fun we love every single one of you who came!), the fabulous Nikki Payne selected one of the most challenging interstitial topics we've ever tackled—Inanimate (and sentient!) objects! So! This one is very very odd, and filled with a number of recs that just prove that there is literally something for everyone in this big, beautiful romance pool. We also want to thank the following publishers and authors for their incredible generosity in making sure that almost every attendee of the Live went home with a romance novel. We are so lucky to share Romancelandia with you: Avon Books, Ballantine Books, Blue Box Press, Dell, Grand Central/Forever, Gallery Books, Lauren Blakely, LJ Evans, Pippa Grant, Ana Huang, Parker S. Huntington & LJ Shen, Elle Kennedy, Avery Maxwell, Ava Miles, Max Monroe, Kathryn Nolan, Amari Nylix, Meghan Quinn, Piper Rayne, P Rayne, Stephanie Rose, Lucy Score, & TL Swan.If you want more discussion of banana-pants romance, join our Patreon and get access to our Discord, where a thousand other listeners are hanging out and giggling all day long.

This is the first of three episodes inspired by the incredible time we had at Fated Mates Live in Brooklyn. During the event (which was so so fun we love every single one of you who came!), we asked guests Nikki Payne, Kate Clayborn and Lauren Billings of Christina Lauren to choose an interstitial topic they would like us to tackle on the show. Lauren chose a great one: Exceptions to our rules, meaning…tropes we don't care for that are done really really well. So! This one is for everyone who's ever asked Jen for Secret Baby or Virgin Heroes and anyone who's ever asked Sarah for Friends to Lovers or Spies. We talk about the books that make us go…not that…but maybe that? We also want to thank the following publishers and authors for their incredible generosity in making sure that almost every attendee of the Live went home with a romance novel. We are so lucky to share Romancelandia with you: Avon Books, Ballantine Books, Blue Box Press, Dell, Grand Central/Forever, Gallery Books, Lauren Blakely, LJ Evans, Pippa Grant, Ana Huang, Parker S. Huntington & LJ Shen, Elle Kennedy, Avery Maxwell, Ava Miles, Max Monroe, Kathryn Nolan, Amari Nylix, Meghan Quinn, Piper Rayne, P Rayne, Stephanie Rose, Lucy Score, & TL Swan.Photo credits: Stephanie KeithShow NotesWe had the very best time at Fated Mates Live, and it wouldn't have been nearly as fun without Lauren being there. Christina Lauren's newest book, The Paradise Problem, is out May 14th. Preorder it now, and check out their tour schedule to go see them (they're even more terrific in person) when they're near you!Solar eclipses are very cool, and Jen really should have gone home…. as it turns out, 95% is not anything like 100%! If you have the chance, you should go get in that path of totality. Jen's brother Erik was at his office rooftop in downtown Cleveland and saw people getting married, and also took a very cool video at totality. New York earthquake twitter was pretty funny, too. Jen, staunchly anti- virgin heroes since 2018.Kevin Costner's speech about luck from Bull Durham. The book about women in the CIA is called The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA by Liza Mundy.

Jeff and Will review books they've read recently, including "Manhandled" by Lauren Blakely, "The Billionaire's Assistant" by Silvia Violet, and two books by M.A. Wardell, "Teacher of the Year" and "Mistletoe & Mishigas." M.A. Wardell discusses the "Teachers in Love" series, the inspiration he drew from his teaching career, and how "Teacher of the Year" went quickly from a standalone book into a series. He also talks about the latest installment, "Mistletoe & Mishigas," and how Christmas and Hanukah provided the perfect setting for this fake dating rom-com. In addition, Matt chats about why he makes his rom-coms spicy, the artwork he commissions for the stories, and offers some book recommendations. Complete show notes for episode 441 along with a transcript of the show are at BigGayFictionPodcast.com. Look for the next episode of Big Gay Fiction Podcast on Monday, December 4. Big Gay Fiction Podcast is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find many more outstanding podcasts at frolic.media/podcasts!

Join us as we discover the emotional journey of transitioning from a child to a caregiver with Lauren Blakely Hunt! We delve into the challenges, joys, and complexities of this role reversal. Gain insights into managing guilt, stress, and maintaining a healthy caregiver-parent relationship. #RoleReversal #CaregivingJourney #emotionalwellbeing Click here for the Feelings Wheel: https://feelingswheel.com/ INSTAGRAM: @youneedatherapistpod @laurenblakelyhunt Click here for the Feelings Wheel: https://feelingswheel.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youneedatherapist/message

On This episode of a Quick Shot of Romance Carolina and Becky review The Tease by Lauren Blakely. Book 3 in The Virgin Society series. 

On This episode of a Quick Shot of Romance Becky and Carolina are reviewing The Tryst by Lauren Blakely.  This is book 2 in the Virgin Society. 

Join hosts Rose Dioro and Samantha Brentmoor as they discuss the evolution of the romance audiobook industry with their guests Andi Arndt (narrator, coach, producer, author), Vikas Adam (narrator, coach), Lauren Blakely (author, producer) and Nana Malone (author, producer).  Follow what our guests are up to on their personal websites: https://nanamalone.com/ https://laurenblakely.com/ https://www.andiarndt.com/ https://www.vikasadam.com

Join us each episode as we pull more books down from the shelves of the infinite library! We briefly discuss what solo books we are reading, then jump right into our main adventure; a spoiler-filled review on our current buddy read! Finally, we end by discussing what we look forward to reading next on our Paper Quest! If you are interested in a review of our solo reads, keep an eye out for our ‘side-quest' episodes that drop in between the main podcast. They will contain short, spoiler-free reviews! Consider supporting us on Patreon for only $1 a month! This also grants access to all episodes two days earlier than the normal drop! https://www.patreon.com/paperquest Our podcast is available wherever you prefer to listen! Please also consider checking us out on: YouTube: Paper Quest: A Book Review Podcast https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHYJ6Qs54YEBCmdP-MeHc3w Facebook: Paper Quest Podcast https://www.facebook.com/PaperQuestPodcast Instagram: @paperquestpodcast https://www.instagram.com/paperquestpodcast/ Feel free to email us at paperquestpod@gmail.com for any questions, comments, thoughts, recommendations, and more! All feedback is welcome.

New York Times best selling author Lauren Blakely talks about "The Best Men," which she co-wrote with USA Today best selling author Sarina Bowen. Lauren shares all the details on how she and Sarina came up with the ideas for this enemies-to-lovers romance, and how their writing process worked. Lauren also discusses how she went from journalism to a romance writing career that spans 100 books. Of course, she also shares some book recommendations too, which leads to details about how she came to co-write with author KD Casey. Complete shownotes for episode 357 along with a transcript of the show are at BigGayFictionPodcast.com. Big Gay Fiction Podcast is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find many more outstanding podcasts at frolic.media/podcasts!

Jeff & Will kick off the show with a brief recap of the Big Gay Fiction Fest. They also talk about NBC's "Annie Live" and ABC's "Live in Front of a Studio Audience" featuring classic episodes of "Facts of Life" and "Diff'rent Strokes." They preview books that are coming before the end of the year, including titles from E.M. Lindsey, Merry Farmer, Emma Lyon, Lily Morton, Ariella Zoelle, J.A. Rock & Lisa Henry, and Jayce Ellis. The guys also review four seasonal books: "The Nutcracker" by Robin Knight, "Dallas Christmas" by RJ Scott, "Ginger Snapping all the Way" by Gabbi Grey, and "The Bromance Zone" by Lauren Blakely. Complete shownotes for episode 351 along with a transcript of the show are at BigGayFictionPodcast.com. Big Gay Fiction Podcast is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find many more outstanding podcasts at frolic.media/podcasts!

Jeff & Will preview 14 books that are coming before the end of October, including titles by Ariella Zoelle, Max Walker, Kai Butler, J.R. Gray, Edie Montreux, Roe Horvat, Sam Burns & W.M. Fawkes, Keira Andrews, Alice Winters, EM Lindsey & Marina Vivancos, Merry Farmer, Noah Steele, Joanna Chambers & Sally Malcolm, and Lauren Blakely. The guys also review books they've recently read: "Light from Uncommon Stars" by Ryka Aoki, "Head to Head" by Eli Easton & Tara Lain, "A Lord to Love" by Sara Dobie Bauer, and "Brook Street: Thief" by Ava March. Complete shownotes for episode 339 along with a transcript of the show are at BigGayFictionPodcast.com. Big Gay Fiction Podcast is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find many more outstanding podcasts at frolic.media/podcasts!

Have you ever wondered what happens when a book goes to a publisher? Are you in love with authors like Jennifer L. Armentrout, Dylan Allen, Tessa Bailey, and Lauren Blakely? In today's episode, I sit down with Jill Stein from 1001 Dark Nights and Blue Box Press and discuss what happens when a story gets to them, what it means to be a publisher, major lessons she's learned being 1/3 of the owners of 1001 Dark Nights, and fun books about to be published! Also enjoy hearing me just try to become best friends with Jill. This episode is sponsored by Audible! Follow this link to get a free 30-day trial for Audible. Become a Patreon Member! https://www.patreon.com/abookshelfbinge Join the discord server! Shop the Podcast! We have merch! Click here to shop the podcast's merch! Credits: Host: @bookshelfbinge Guest: Jill Stein from 1001 Dark Nights and Blue Box Press (@1001darknights_blueboxpress) Cover art: SaraSomethingCo (@sarasomething.co) --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

To kick off the month, Jeff has news about a discussion he's moderating with authors Penny Aimes and Verity Lowell in association with Carina Adores and Buffalo Street Books for Bookstore Romance Day coming on August 21. The guys talk about some great programming they've been watching recently, including the documentary "Summer of Soul," the crafting shows "Making It" and "All That Glitters," musical comedies "Central Park" and "Schmigadoon!" They also look at the teen dramas "Gossip Girl" and "Young Royals" plus the horror trilogy "Fear Street." For the August book preview, Jeff and Will look at upcoming books by K.M. Neuhold, Macy Blake, Lauren Blakely, Annabeth Albert, Haven Hadley, Dahlia Donovan, Frederick Smith & Chaz Lamar Cruz, and Rachel Reid. Jeff also reviews "Out of Character" by Annabeth Albert and "Flash Fire" by TJ Klune. Complete shownotes for episode 325 along with a transcript of the show are at BigGayFictionPodcast.com. Big Gay Fiction Podcast is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find many more outstanding podcasts at frolic.media/podcasts!

Can you fall in love with a stranger? Is anything a mystery anymore? “To Sir, With Love” is a romantic comedy written by Lauren Layne who serves up a satisfying look at modern love in Manhattan. Part “Love Is Blind” meets “You've Got Mail,” the novel's protagonist Gracie Cooper is holding down the fort of her champagne shop/ family business, while falling for anonymous stranger on a dating app she only knows as “sir.” Lauren talks to Olivia about delivering a feel-good story when readers need it the most, and why her own life in Manhattan is so important to her writing. For a reader who loves “To Sir, With Love” Margaret recommends other easy, breezy romantic comedies: “Yes & I Love You” by Roni Loren, “The Real Deal” by Lauren Blakely, and two books by Katharine McGee, “American Royals” and “Majesty.” All pair nicely with a chilled glass of Cava.

Jeff & Will kick off the show talking about what they've been watching, with a mix of classic toys, incredible comedies, documentaries, 1970s variety specials, and musicals Next it's a look at books they're looking forward to this month, including titles from Annabeth Albert, Lauren Blakely, Jocelynn Drake, Charlie Novak, Mia Monroe, Lane Hayes, Geoffrey Knight, Jackie North, RJ Scott and TJ Klune. The show wraps up with reviews. Jeff looks at "One Last Stop" by Casey McQuiston, "Heart Ripper" by K.A. Merikan, and "Punch Me Up to the Gods" by Brian Broome. Will discusses "Meet Cute Diary" by Emery Lee, "May the Best Man Win" by ZR Ellor, and "Sunset Springs" by Kacen Callender. Complete shownotes for episode 320 along with a transcript of the show are at BigGayFictionPodcast.com. Big Gay Fiction Podcast is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find many more outstanding podcasts at frolic.media/podcasts!

Join hosts Melody, Zoey, and Elizabeth as we discuss the delight that is Special Delivery (The Boyfriend Material Series Book 1) by Lauren Blakely! Though none of us agreed on its place on the Steaminess Scale, this book might be our favorite so far. Tune in to hear our thoughts on the characters, the tropes, and what we'll be talking about next week!

On Today’s Quick Shot of Romance We are reviewing: A Guy Walks into My Bar by Lauren Blakely.

Welcome to the What to Read Next Podcast. Today’s guest is my friend and fellow Puerto Rican bookstagrammer Veronica from bellaorevbooks Instagram account. In this episode, we chat about    BOOKS RECOMMENDED:  Tillie Cole - https://amzn.to/3o4Q5cQ Pam Godwin- https://amzn.to/2HebKOZ Sea of Ruin by Pam Godwin - https://amzn.to/2T3xI9F Cj Roberts- https://amzn.to/346Xxfy Jewel E Ann- https://amzn.to/349KoT2 Kennedy Ryan- https://amzn.to/3jbm07M Dylan Allen- https://amzn.to/2IJv7Qv Mia Sheridan- https://amzn.to/3o6R1gW  K Bromberg - https://amzn.to/355DSMe NalinI Singh- https://amzn.to/37jXZJk Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh- https://amzn.to/3o29yL9 What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon - https://amzn.to/31mACv0 Kerrigan Byrne- https://amzn.to/2Hazzax  The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne  https://amzn.to/37jooXy How to love the Duke in 10 Days by Kerrigan Byrne - https://amzn.to/3jazCQv The Highlander by Kerrigan Byrne - https://amzn.to/2T86gYB Den of Vipers by KA Knight - https://amzn.to/3j4lnwE Jack and Jill by Jewel E. Ann - https://amzn.to/2T2jjuF Out of Love by Jewel E Ann - https://amzn.to/3kbNjjo The One that Got Away by Karina Halle- https://amzn.to/2IzZd8S Emma Scott - https://amzn.to/3jaqsnc Playing with Fire by LJ Shen - https://amzn.to/3obcNAb A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas - https://amzn.to/346vGfn Twilight by Stephenie Meyer- https://amzn.to/2HfPRP0  JJ McAvoy - https://amzn.to/37hRjeJ K Webster - https://amzn.to/3lTxy0Y Hoops series by Kennedy Ryan- https://amzn.to/3o0kCZ7  Him duet by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy - https://amzn.to/37hnB9N Flirting with 40 by K Bromberg- https://amzn.to/3kbwQvQ The Devil’s Night series by Penelope Douglas - https://amzn.to/3kaenQf Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas- https://amzn.to/2HdMvMs  Lauren Blakely-  https://amzn.to/3kf91Di Bright Side by Kim Holden- https://amzn.to/3j858yM  OUT OF STATE LIBRARY MEMBERSHIPS  Florida, Orange County Library System - $125/year Great audiobook selection. Hoopla has 10 borrows per month. Great selection and quick turnaround. I got  the audiobook for Beach Read, Robyn Carr’s audio is mostly available for borrowing, Lynsay Sands (Argeneau), Nalini Singh (Psy-changeling).   Tip on signing up: $75/3 months, $100/6 months or $125/year Note: When applying, select the check box next to "Out of Country" to enter in your address. They may ask a question on the form about what county OCLS is in to stop spammers. The answer is "Orange" since OCLS stands for Orange County Library System. Verdict: This one is worth $125 based on the ample selection, access to Hoopla.  Brooklyn Public Library - $50 a year Great romance selection, lot’s of ebooks and audiobooks.  No Hoopla. Books available: new releases, Nalini Singh Psy-changeling series.  The wait time is a few weeks.   Verdict: if you like romance kindle books then this is a good price for great selection. It is unfortunate, they don’t have Hoopla. They do have a Cloud Library for additional book selection.    Houston Public Library - $40 a year  10 Borrows for Hoopla.  Verdict: I just joined but based on the selection they have Nalini Singh, some Lynsay Sands (no Argeneau), Robyn Carr Virgin River (hold).  I am unsure if this one is worthwhile.  I will track where I am getting the books and give you an update in a few weeks.   Fairfax County Public Library - $27 a year  No Hoopla  Verdict: This library has a good Overdrive but not as comprehensive as Brooklyn and Orange County.    Queens Public Library - $50 a year. The selection is mediocre. They have little romance. The wait time is long for audiobooks and ebooks.  Not worth $50 a year. Verdict: SKIP THIS ONE!   CONNECT WITH VERONICA Instagram  Goodreads    JOIN PATREON COMMUNITY  Get weekly romance recommendations, early access to author interviews and exclusive Patreon audio series by joining the Patreon community.  We also host twice a month Zoom Romance Recommendations Meetups. Monthly perks start at $1  a month. Want to join the fun? Sign up today; http://www.whattoreadnextblog.com/patreon   FROLIC PODCAST NETWORK  What to Read Next Podcast is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts!    AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE If you purchase a book through my Amazon or Bookshop link, I will receive a commission at no cost to you that will help cover the cost of the podcast    CONNECT WITH LAURA YAMIN  WhattoReadNextBlog.com Instagram  Goodreads

Today’s guest is Kelly from the Boobies and Noobies Podcast. We chat about my favorite romance trope Fake Dating. This episode is full of book recommendations.    BOOKS RECOMMENDED:  Rachel Gibson - https://amzn.to/3jVi7od The Real Deal by Lauren Blakely - https://amzn.to/323H3DU Play by Kilie Scott - https://amzn.to/2ZhXTND The Deal by Elle Kennedy - https://amzn.to/2F7SCkD Rent a Boyfriend by Gloria Chao - https://amzn.to/2EZiq2F  Make Me Hate You by Kandi Steiner - https://amzn.to/3i7O3oJ The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon - https://amzn.to/32bPkWB The Girl in the Love Song by Emma Scott - https://amzn.to/35rnyHF The Roommate by Rosie Danan - https://amzn.to/3jYFFIX Simmer Down by Sarah Smith - https://amzn.to/3i83YTX How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams - https://amzn.to/2FfFVny The Denver Rebel series by Maureen Smith - https://amzn.to/2FiN46w The Pool Boy by Nikki Sloane - https://amzn.to/35c0hcs Untamed by Glennon Doyle - https://amzn.to/337lCkt  Nikki Sloane -  https://amzn.to/2Fa7lM7 CONNECT WITH KELLY  Boobies and Noobies Podcast - Spotify Website  Instagram Twitter   30 DAYS OF PODCASTING - SEPTEMBER 2020 For the month of  September, I am releasing a brand new episode per day. These episodes will be full of book recommendations. Enjoy!    JOIN PATREON COMMUNITY  Get weekly romance recommendations, early access to author interviews and exclusive Patreon audio series by joining the Patreon community. Monthly perks start at $1  a month. Want to join the fun? Sign up today; http://www.whattoreadnextblog.com/patreon   FROLIC PODCAST NETWORK  What to Read Next Podcast is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts!    AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE If you purchase a book through my Amazon or Bookshop link, I will receive a commission at no cost to you that will help cover the cost of the podcast    CONNECT WITH LAURA YAMIN  WhattoReadNextBlog.com Instagram  Goodreads  

Joe and Shane are charming and funny...as if we didn't know. They joined us a guests to help celebrate our exclusive first look at the first 3 chapters of A GUY WALKS INTO MY BAR by friend of the podcast, LAUREN BLAKELY.Huge thanks to LB for letting us share this gorgeous M/M romance.For early access to all our episodes as well as bonus content, join our Patreon www.patreon.com/audiblyaddictedhttps://amzn.to/3gRYcWbA passionate, utterly addictive stand-alone M/M romance from number one NYT best seller Lauren Blakely performed with duet narration by Shane East and Joe Arden as the two witty, charming, and sexy heroes! Every bartender should follow one simple rule - don't go home with the customers. That’s been easy for me to stick to, until the night a cocky, confident, and sinfully charming hockey star walks into my bar. This sexy athlete is too hard to resist, especially when he makes it clear how much he wants the “sarcastic, witty, hot AF” guy behind the bar - also known as me. Still, I’m not keen on breaking my own rules since I know where that can lead - no place good. But when that man makes his case with one bone-searing kiss on the streets of London, I throw resistance out the window. What could go wrong with a hot, no-strings-attached fling before he leaves town in five days? Trouble is, soon our nights together lead to days, to long conversations, to getting to know each other, and to something I never expected - falling ridiculously hard for a man who’s getting on a plane to America when I live a world away. My life is here. His is there. And no amount of falling or feeling will change that one big problem. Performed with a full supporting cast including: Vanessa Edwin, Emma Wilder, Ron Butler, Jakobi Diem, Zachary Webber, Vikas Adam, Maxine Mitchell, Stella Hunter, and with a special appearance from Sebastian York.@shaneeastreads @therealjoearden @laurenblakely3

My guest tonight is NYT, WSJ, and Audible #1 best-selling author Lauren Blakely! Lauren tells me how she ended up in a career in journalism after majoring in art history, and how that eventually morphed into being a full-time author. Lauren goes on to describe her experiences getting almost all of her books (over 50 of them!) into audio, and the importance of being able to give a voice to characters who don't share your gender. All this and much more over some green tea and a Blue Moon! You can find Lauren at https://laurenblakely.com, and on Twitter at @LaurenBlakely3. Tonight's Speakeasy chat is brought to you by Squeaky Cheese Productions, on the web at http://www.squeakycheeseproductions.com.  

Audiobook Lovin' is a month long event celebrating audiobooks, brought you by Viviana, Enchantress of Books. Guest Author: Lauren Blakely Audiobook Lovin's Main Site: http://www.vivianaenchantressofbooks.com/2020/06/audiobook-lovin-2020-presents-lauren.html We hope you have enjoyed this production of Audiobook Lovin' Series. All rights reserved. This has been an Audiobook Lovin' production Copyright 2017 by Viviana Izzo, Enchantress of Books. Production Copyright 2017 by Audiobook Lovin' Audiobook Lovin' is a division of Viviana, Enchantress of Books. Please visit Viviana, Enchantress of Books to learn more about the Audiobook Lovin' Series. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, modified, copied, distributed, repackaged, shared, displayed, revealed, extracted, emailed, transmitted, sold or otherwise transferred, conveyed or used, in a manner inconsistent with the Agreement, or rights of the copyright owner. You shall not redistribute, repackage, transmit, assign, sell, broadcast, rent, share, lend, modify, extract, reveal, adapt, edit, sub-license or otherwise transfer the Content. You are not granted any synchronization, public performance, promotional use, commercial sale, resale, reproduction or distribution rights for the Content. For permission requests, please visit Viviana, Enchantress of Books for more information.

I cover my first firefighter books with Melt for Him and Consumed by Him both by Lauren Blakely. Not only are these books fun and EXTREMELY sexy but they normalize mental health, PTSD, and a lot of other things! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/paperbackromancebc/support

Looking for a fun little romance, you just got lucky! In this chick-lit short story, Lucky Suit by Lauren Blakely, twenty-something Kristen Leonard, doesn't have a significant man in her life right now. Kristen has had the misfortune of agreeing blind dates arranged for her by her grandmother. Needless to say, none of the dates turned out to be winners.Kristen is a confident and intelligent woman. Math is Kristen's strong suit. At night, she enjoys peering at the stars and constellations through her telescope. Kristen lives in a condo next door to her grandmother, who's still looking marvelous in her skinny jeans! While they have a great relationship, Kristen is not interested in any more setup dates arranged by Grandma. But not so fast! Grandma still has a few tricks up her sleeve.Lucky Suit, began as an Audible Original Only short story. But now Lucky Suit is Book One of Lauren Blakely's Sexy Suits Book Series, and in addition to audio book, Lucky Suit is now also available in Kindle, paperback, and audio CD. Lucky Suit is a quick, fun romance read. The relationship between Kristen and her grandmother is refreshing. But now Kristen has to sort out her feelings between Mack and Cameron. And that might turn out to be a bit tricky indeed. For the full book review and/or to buy the book: Click hereFor Lots More Book Reviews Visit Laura Jay at: BookClubReporter.comVisit Laura Jay on Twitter*Wishing for your own Podcast? That's Awesome! Click the BuzzSprout link below to get started for free!*Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

JOE ARDEN! We talk Love is Blind, human connection, consent, and accents in this episode. Joe also answers some of your questions from Twitter. Lauren Blakely joins us at the end for a fantastic addition to our interview.Recommended listen:Darkly, Madly duet by Trisha Wolfehttps://amzn.to/3az09n2Sponsored by Lauren BlakelyPromo code #OneNight @therealjoearden @laurenblakely3

Welcome to the Audiobook Lovin Podcast, discussing all things audiobooks, the narrators that perform them and the authors that write the stories. Including a special series with Narrator Shane East, the Audiobook Lovin Podcast is brought to you by Viviana, Enchantress of Books. The third episode of SHANE EAST MEETS is with guest Author Lauren Blakely! Listen as Shane shares what he affectionately calls Lauren, her preference of British accents, an EXCLUSIVE ANNOUNCEMENT and much, much more! Viviana, Enchantress of Books: http://www.vivianaenchantressofbooks.com/2020/03/audiobook-podcast-s1-e14-shane-east.html Subscribe to newsletter here: eepurl.com/cD_VHX Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7z2Ja4JSsdXRluzM90VBIE iHeart Radio: http://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-Viviana-Enchantress-of-Boo-57853907 Submit your "This or That" question for Shane here: forms.gle/Jzg1WTGmPWqN4H2G8 We hope you have enjoyed this production of The Audiobook Lovin' Podcast. This has been an Audiobook Lovin' production Copyright 2017 by Viviana Izzo, Enchantress of Books. Production Copyright 2017 by Audiobook Lovin'. Audiobook Lovin' Series, The Audiobook Lovin Podcast and Shane East Meets is a division of Viviana, Enchantress of Books. Please visit Viviana, Enchantress of Books to learn more about the Audiobook Lovin' Series. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, modified, copied, distributed, repackaged, shared, displayed, revealed, extracted, emailed, transmitted, sold or otherwise transferred, conveyed or used, in a manner inconsistent with the Agreement, or rights of the copyright owner. You shall not redistribute, repackage, transmit, assign, sell, broadcast, rent, share, lend, modify, extract, reveal, adapt, edit, sub-license or otherwise transfer the Content. You are not granted any synchronization, public performance, promotional use, commercial sale, resale, reproduction or distribution rights for the Content. For permission requests, please visit Viviana, Enchantress of Books for more information.

Okay, we admit it, we have crushes on Teddy Hamilton. What's not to love? We talk Doctor Who, Lauren Blakely, #Wesmie, and about why we love a man who can cry. Recommended AudiobooksHimhttps://amzn.to/2vjTJZNThe Bromance Book Clubhttps://amzn.to/3c8z9vVThe Virgin Gifthttps://amzn.to/2SWfnMy

In which the squad celebrate Romance Week and Valentine's Day by breaking down the new Netflix movie To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You and discussing February's group read - The Real Deal by Lauren Blakely. WHERE TO FIND US twitter: https://twitter.com/thebookhoes insta: http://instagram.com/bookhoesquadpod email: bookhoesquadpod@gmail.com curiouscat: http://curiouscat.me/thebookhoes the pod: http://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/book-hoe-squad-podcast/id1490478775

Hey, Join our book club as we talk about the book of the week! The Knocked Up Plan by Lauren Blakely. Let's talk about sex baby! What is pregnancy sex and would you do it? Find out why some men just can't resist that pretty pregnant glow. Join us at the three of us discuss the eww's and eww not of trying to get knocked up. Now spank open that book and let's get nasty. Experience it wherever you enjoy podcasts! Check out the links for The knocked you plan by Lauren Blakey Amazon http://a.co/gcKV2G3 iBook https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-knocked-up-plan/id1182865918 Nook http://share.nook.com/ean/2940157386382

Every nonfiction book starts out as a glimmer of an idea. A topic. An area of interest or expertise. But you can’t just pitch a book about beekeeping, kids. You need to know a whole lot more. Is it a beekeeping memoir? A beekeeping how-to? A meditation about the relationship between bees and humanity?In this episode, we dish about how to answer those questions, because—spoiler—that’s exactly how Jess, who just finished the draft of her second nonfiction book, has been spending her time. Well, not thinking about beekeeping, or at least, I don’t think so. She’s pretty cagey about what, exactly, she’s researching—but that’s a good thing, because this episode is about the first steps that lead to an eventual proposal and, ultimately a book, no matter what the topic. Episode links and a transcript follow—but first, a preview of the #WritersTopFive that will be dropping into #AmWriting supporter inboxes on Monday, November 11, 2019: Top 5 Steps to Setting Up Your Author Presence on Amazon (Plus a Couple More for Extra Credit). Not joined that club yet? You’ll want to get on that. Support the podcast you love AND get weekly #WriterTopFives with actionable advice you can use for just $7 a month. As always, this episode (and every episode) will appear for all subscribers in your usual podcast listening places, totally free as the #AmWriting Podcast has always been. This shownotes email is free, too, so please—forward it to a friend, and if you haven’t already, join our email list and be on top of it with the shownotes and a transcript every time there’s a new episode. To support the podcast and help it stay free, subscribe to our weekly #WritersTopFive email.LINKS FROM THE PODCASTThe Art of the Book Proposal: From Focused Idea to Finished Product, Eric MaiselThe Forest for the Trees: An Editor’s Advice to Writers, Betsy LernerModern Love Series on AmazonModern Love Column, New York Times#AmReading (Watching, Listening)Jess: Jess has been all in this week! Katherine Center’s Things You Save in a Fire, How to Walk Away and the bridge story between those two novels, The Girl in the Plane, plus Happiness for Beginners, The Lost Husband, and Get Lucky.Also, Ali Wong’s Dear Girls, Ronan Farrow’s Catch and Kill, and Sarina Bowen’s Moonlighter!Sarina: The Virgin Gift, Lauren Blakely#FaveIndieBookstoreOctavia Books, New Orleans.This episode was sponsored by Author Accelerator, the book coaching program that helps you get your work DONE. AND—they’ve got a new program for new nonfiction projects! Visit https://www.authoraccelerator.com/amwritingfor details, special offers and Jennie Nash’s Inside-Outline template.Find more about Jess here, Sarina here and about KJ here.If you enjoyed this episode, we suggest you check out Marginally, a podcast about writing, work and friendship.The image in our podcast illustration is by William Iven on Unsplash.Transcript (We use an AI service for transcription, and while we do clean it up a bit, some errors are the price of admission here. We hope it’s still helpful.)Hello listeners! If you’re in with us every week, you’re what I like to call “people of the book.’ And some of us book people discover somewhere along the way that not only we writers, we’re people with a gift for encouraging other writers. For some of us, that comes out in small ways, but for others it’s a calling and an opportunity to build a career doing work you love. Our sponsor, Author Accelerator, provides book coaching to authors (like me) but also needs and trains book coaches. If that’s got your ears perked up, head to https://www.authoraccelerator.com and click on “become a book coach.” Is it recording?Jess00:01Now it's recording. Go ahead. KJ00:45This is the part where I stare blankly at the microphone like I don't remember what I was supposed to be doing. Jess00:49All right, let's start over. KJ00:51Awkward pause. I'm going to rustle some papers. Jess00:54Okay.KJ00:54Now one, two, three. Hey, I'm KJ Dell'Antonia and this is #AmWriting the podcast about all things writing - nonfiction, fiction, proposals, essays, pitches, and as we say each and every week. This is the podcast about sitting down and getting your work done. Jess01:22I'm Jess Lahey. I'm the author of the Gift of Failure and a completed manuscript for book two, The Addiction Innoculation. And you can find my stuff in the New York Times and the Atlantic and various other places. KJ01:35Carry on, Sarina.Sarina01:40Hi, I'm Sarina Bowen. I'm the author of 30 plus romance novels and my last one was called Moonlighter and it just hit the USA Today.Best Sellers List. KJ01:51 I am KJ Dell'Antonia, the author of How To Be a Happier Parent, the former editor of the Motherlode blog at the New York Times and the author of a forthcoming novel that you'll hear all about as it comes out next summer. And yeah, wows all around. It's been it's been a good week. I think things are going pretty well for all of us. Jess02:18All of us. I think so, too. I'm finally recovered from getting the last book done and it's amazing how much stuff a person can push off until after. And like after meant after November 1st and so now my inbox is full of things with like all different color flags stuck in it, like deal with this after November 1st, deal with this after November 1st. And it's amazing how much stuff I actually piled on to deal with after November 1st and it's November 1st and I'm dealing with it. Welcome to after, I'm in the after mode now. And it's crazy. It's really good though. It was really freeing to be able to say, 'Just later', but later is now here. So anyway, but Sarina the thing that I wanted to mention is a huge congratulations because this is a new book in a new series for you, right?Sarina03:13Yeah. It's a spinoff because that's how I like to start series by spinning them off from existing characters. But it's definitely something new. I hadn't written a suspense plot really before. And yeah, it was hard and I really enjoyed it and I thought readers would follow me there, but of course I really wasn't sure.KJ03:35And they did.Jess03:35You can never be sure, but readers are fickles and they did. And it's really, really good. I was actually on my list of books I read, even though KJ pointed out that no one's going to trust me when I say anything about either The Chicken Sisters or any of your books. But I did love it and I love the fact that you're willing to push yourself to try lots of different things. And I think I even texted you earlier about a couple of the things that you've done that have made you nervous. When you first think, 'Should I write this?' And then you write it. And I'm always amazed how a) brave you are to write about stuff like a pregnant protagonist, which sounds crazy in romance. I mean, you would think that would never work, and it does, and it's fantastic. And I just, I love the fact that you're willing to push yourself because it would be so easy to say, 'I'm just going to write about single, heterosexual, white people because that's sort of the comfort zone. And yet you don't, you write about all kinds of things and I think that's really cool. Sarina04:36Well, thank you. The truth is though if I only wrote about people like me, we'd have a lot of books about people who don't leave home very much. Jess05:03My suspense for today is if the leftover Halloween candy is still gonna be here when everybody gets home later on today. Yeah. Can we point out today is (the day we're recording) November 1st since I already blew it and mentioned that. So that means it's the first day of NaNoWriMo. Are we gonna talk at all about that reality?KJ05:32Sure, I will. But before we do, we do have a topic for today. We have a plan - today we're going to be talking - Jess, name it.Jess05:43We are going to be talking about new projects. Because during my recovery from finishing the last book, I had no intention to have a new idea, but I did. So we'll talk about that in just a minute.KJ05:58This is going to be like the how to start, what to do before you start, that kind of thing. But meanwhile, since some of us are starting... Jess06:04Specifically non nonfiction. So my thing today is going to be about what you do when suddenly you have an idea for a new nonfiction, which requires a lot of organization from day one, so that you don't get yourself in the weeds and off on the wrong foot. But let's talk about November 1st - NaNo. What's happening people?KJ06:25The timing actually turned out to be really good for me. So everybody knows I've been working on what we'll just call novel two for the sake of ignoring the one in the drawer. Oh my gosh, my mother. Apparently I gave her my first novel, which I wrote 15 years ago and I got a text from her recently, 'Do you remember Mud Season? I was just reading.' I was like, 'No, don't read that.' I was listening to a podcast with Grant Faulkner, who is the person who heads up NaNoWriMo right now, although he is not the founder. And he specifically and sort of narrowly described the goal, which I had forgotten, which is to write 50,000 words of a novel. And I thought, 'Oh, well, okay.' So I pulled out the words that I have already written of what we're calling book two. I tossed aside all the words that I wrote around various other outlines and concepts that sort of need massive reworking. This is just the chunk that I really have and it's 30,000 words. So you know what I need to have a book? 50,000 words. So, I started today, I'm shooting to write 50,000 words of my novel in November. It is not a cold draft, but I think we all make our own NaNo rules, but I'm sort of enjoying the fact that I'm really kind of hewing a little more closely to the NaNoWriMo rhythm than I thought I was going to be.Jess08:06I'm sure there are NaNo purists who are saying, 'Oh no, you must start something new on day one.' But we don't roll that way.Sarina08:14That was never the rules, sorry.Jess08:22I think NaNo is a great time to (as we said last time around) just to take a hold of the productivity that's in the air, the sort of writing Juju that's floating around in November and do with it what you will.KJ08:34So I already nailed my 1600, I believe I wrote 1618 today. I'm feeling good. Jess08:55So in November are your stickers the value for the words that you like? How are you stickering? For those of you who are new to the podcast, we have this thing we do call stickering. Sarina and KJ and I text each other the word sticker when we get our sticker for the day. And it is literally a sticker that goes into our calendar. In fact, Sarina gave me some llamas for this month, which was great timing because I didn't have any stickers for this month. And it is literally a sticker that is of your own definition. Right now (as we're gonna get into in a minute) mine are research stickers this month. But it can be anything you want. And it means, 'Yay me. I did it.'KJ09:36Yes, my stickers this month (which are coffee pot or coffee cups. Super cute little pile of stickers.) will be for 1612 words. Or, like if I decide, I may end up having to decide not to write on Thanksgiving cause we're having a family dinner somewhere that involves traveling. So I may up some word counts in order to allow for some days off. I think the thing that's going to be different for me - sometimes I just want to just want to get to my words. And so when I write things that I delete sometimes I just leave the words in the word count until I'm done writing. Not this time, because the goal is to actually finish this draft. The words have to be words. That kind of varies. Sometimes they can be outlining words or they can be pre-writing words or they can be other kinds of words. But this month, hear me now, they have to be actual wordsJess10:44And Sarina, what's happening with you?Sarina10:46Well, I have a book that needs 25,000 words, but they have to be perfect by the end of the month so I can't do NaNo. I have to finish this project, and then make it beautiful, and that's just how it is.KJ11:01Well, I'll be representing you.Jess11:04You still use stickers during that process though, right? Sarina11:07Yup, absolutely.Jess11:09And during that process, are your stickers for editing, for writing, do you change it up day to day, whatever your goals are?Sarina11:16Well, they'll be writing for 1200 words. And then if I run out of book, then I'll revisit.Jess11:24Okay, sounds good. So I guess this leads us into the announcement that I have to make, which is, I already said on the podcast that I was going to be working on that novel, which sounded great when we were talking about it. It really, really did. And then I spent a lot of time rereading what I had. And thinking about what I really wanted to do and thinking about what KJ had said about what do you write in your head? And I just don't love writing fiction. I just don't, it's not what gets me excited to sit down. And you know, when in On Writing, when Stephen King talks about the fact that he threw away the opening chapters of Carrie because it was really hard, that's not what this is. I really don't think I'm just saying I don't want to do it cause it's hard. It just doesn't feed me. It just doesn't get me excited and make me want to go to work every day. And frankly, what happened was, and I have to be super, super cagey about this because I haven't even talked with my agent about it, but I had an idea for the next book after the addiction book. And I am so excited, at least right now for this crazy, in-depth research phase. I've said this before, what Mary Roach, author of Guts and a bunch of other cool books, calls her three month research flail. Where she jumps into the research and figures out what her book is. And so that's what I'm doing. I'm starting a new proposal for a new nonfiction book and that's what our topic is going to be about today. So, sorry to pull the rug out from under my NaNo plans, but they changed.KJ13:05I think that's really cool. And I don't know about Sarina, but I personally had no plans to actually require you to write fiction. You're okay. You be you. Jess13:18And that book is just still sitting there. I still have an internal relationship with those characters and I don't know if it'll ever get written. But Jenny Nash, if you're listening, that's not what I'm working on this month. But frankly, whenever I get this excited about something new, I'm all over it. Our official topic for today is what to do when you have an idea for a nonfiction book and you're starting to wrap your brain around a topic and think about a proposal. So, the very first thing I did was I took the book proposal for the addiction book, which is the long form. I think we talked at one point about the fact that if you are going to go back to your same editor that you've had at a publisher with a new book idea, you may not necessarily have to write the mammoth (in my case, I think it was 70 or 80 page book proposal that includes everything from the marketing stuff, and comparable titles that are out there, and who you are) that's for a publisher that doesn't know anything about you necessarily. But with the addiction book (simply because it's a difficult topic and we weren't 100% sure that my editor was going to be fully on board) my agent and I went out with a full, finished book proposal to my editor so that if she didn't want it, we could go out to everybody, right away. It would be done, locked down, in perfect shape. We didn't have to do that, my editor wanted it. But I also found that while it's a ton of work, it is such a great process to have to go through with a book. And, KJ, as you know from working on the stuff with Jenny for The Chicken Sisters, you have to be able to tell people really quickly what your book is about. You have to hone your ideas about what the chapters are going to be about. And that whole process for me is really, really helpful. So, while it's maybe, possibly more than I need to do right now, it's really good for my thinking. I don't know how you feel about that in terms of when you do nonfiction book proposals or your outlines, I guess.Sarina15:35Yeah. Well, the thing is, if I were proposing even like a series of novels to an editor that I already knew, I don't think I'd even want to start the project if I hadn't done that. Like I can't imagine committing to something without that level of ... cause it's just so much work, it's like more than a year of your life. And I think I would want to do all of that. And in the end it would not be wasted.KJ16:04Well, we've talked about the risks of promising to write a book that isn't what you want to write. This prevents that. Jess16:12It also helps me gauge the competition on the market. You know, I have to go out there. I've already started buying books and trips to bookstores. In fact, I was just in Sacramento and I came across a bookstore there called Beers Books. And it is a combination new and used bookstore. And I went bonkers. My suitcase was full of books coming back from Sacramento. It was great. And so buying books is sort of the first part of that process for me, figuring out what's out there in the market. And so I might as well gather that information since that's a piece of the book proposal I'm going to have to put together anyway and realizing what's already out there. Am I competing with something else that's better? Or am I the best person? Why am I the right person to work on this thing? And the answer may come back that I'm not. And that's all valuable information. So yeah, I don't have any problem working on the book proposal in-depth before anyone sees it. KJ17:15So, step one...Jess17:16Step one for me. So I went back to that old book proposal that's in good shape and essentially renamed it, did a save as, went through, left the headers in, took out the text for the old book. And I don't even know what the title for this new book is, but I have a placeholder and now I've sort of focused my thinking by looking at the book proposal to know what do I need to think about? Okay, well I'm going to have to think about what the chapters might be. I'm going to have to think about the competing title stuff. So the book proposal itself gives me a really good way to do that. If you don't already have a book proposal for a previous book we have some suggestions that we'll put in the show notes and I can't come up with them right off the top of my head. But KJ, I know you have one of the books that we happen to love for nonfiction book proposals.KJ18:07I believe it's the Art of the Book Proposal. Yes, that'll be in the show notes. Incidentally, just to toss it out there, head over to amwritingpodcast.com and sign up and you'll get the show notes in your inbox every time. So anytime we say this you can just be like, 'Oh sure, those are in my inbox.' And you can pop in there and look and that would be very handy.Jess18:33That book is really helpful, too. As is Betsy Lerner's book, The Forest for the Trees, gives you sort of good ways to think about the hard questions. Am I the right person to write this? Is this something I want to spend the next couple of years of my life on? You know, that kind of stuff. So number one, start thinking in terms of an outline for the skeleton of the book proposal.KJ18:57Wait, just to go back, one of the fun things in The Art of the Book Proposal that I think we almost do without realizing it is sort of thinking about all the different possible approaches to a topic. And I wondered, are you doing that? So you know, there's this sort of, 'I could write a how to about this. I could write a memoir about this. I could write a big picture research book about this.' Is that part of it or was it super clear that if I'm going to tackle this topic it's going to be like this.Jess19:27It has not been super clear for a couple of reasons that I'll talk about later on. But the idea of, is this a Gift of Failure type book? And I also had a really narrow focus at first, but lots of conversations with my husband (who's my best sounding board for this kind of stuff) has broadened the focus a little bit. So trying to get at what this thing is...yeah, that book does a really good job of breaking that down and helping you look at all of the different possibilities that you may not have thought of yet. And the nice thing about also getting your hands on a lot of other books that might be in your comparable title section is that they probably do it lots of different ways, too, and makes you sort of say, 'Oh, look at how that person did it, that's really interesting, maybe I can borrow from that. Or I think I might avoid this way because I don't think it works as well.' So yeah, that's also part of the honing process for me. What is it going to look like? And that's been an ongoing process. So number one, look at the book proposal, come up with your ideas of approach, come up with your ideas of how you're going to have to think about it when you read the research. Number two, get the books that are the research. You know, if you can't afford to buy the books, go to the library. Interlibrary loan can be invaluable if you're near a university. That's been invaluable for me because a bigger library is always better. Simply because there could even be things that are out of print that are really helpful. And in my case there were two books that are out of print that have been really, really helpful in helping me shape my thinking on this. Number three sounds really simple. But for me this is always really, really a big deal. I made a new email folder in at my email app on my computer. (I use the mail app that's on my Apple computer.) And having a folder that has the subject of the book is really great because I bounce a lot of ideas off of my husband. I bounced a couple of ideas off of some people I know in this field. All of those emails go into that email folder so that if I'm ever looking for the emails having to do with this topic, they're all there. And in fact that's what I'm doing right now, with the addiction book, I'm going back through that folder and I am figuring out what I might have forgotten, I might have left out. So once you have your email folder, once you've got all your books, once you're working on the proposal stuff, I also create a new Scrivener doc. A new Scrivener doc for me just gets my brain in the right place, especially since with Scrivener you can create a new folder for each chapter. You can move them around. So Scrivener really helps me shape my thinking, it's been invaluable for me as a tool. And then honestly, I just start trying to think like an emerging expert in the topic. I start following people on Twitter that might be a part of this topic. I start looking for the big people in the field and wondering, 'Are these people who might someday want to blurb this book?' Just little things - we're talking about a book that if it even gets written isn't going to be out there for like three or four years, but you have to start (at least I do) putting myself in the headspace of someone who's trying to become an expert in this topic. And as you well know, Sarina, this means that I am going to over-research everything. I am going to do a deep dive into the history of the topic, but that for me is what gets me out of bed in the morning. And it's what changed my mind about what I'm working on this month. And it's just fun. It's so much fun. I think it's the reason I love journalism so much - is the idea that it's my job to suddenly become an expert in a topic, and then write about it, and translate it for someone who doesn't necessarily want to go and do all the research that I love doing. And that's just really fun for me. Sarina23:37Well, I'm intimidated on your behalf. Jess23:41It's so much fun. We should clarify for the listeners that we are without KJ. She lost power at her house, which is something that we actually battle with. Sarina and KJ both lost power this morning due to a windstorm. I'm still good at the moment, although it's very windy here. It sounds like trucks are roaring by my house, but we're just going to carry on without KJ. I think that's really about it for me. Right now it's all about headspace. It's all about immersing myself in the topic and being excited. And my poor husband is going to be hearing a lot about this topic. And that's fine cause it's actually a topic he's really interested in, too. So for us, that's fun. That's life in the geeky, Lahey household. And actually, believe it or not, my younger son (who is still at home with us) is interested in the topic, too. So it's led to some really interesting conversations and it's also been fun to watch him get excited about a book that he probably will not have any part in. In terms of showing up in the book, because he's definitely in Gift of Failure, and he's definitely in the addiction book. And I think he's just about done being a part of my work. And of course he's been in lots of New York Times articles. There are pictures of him in the New York Times, which he's cool with and he's fine with all that, but I think he's excited that I'm working on something that may not include him as a potential topic. So there we are. One thing that was also really fun and this sounds like a really nothing sort of to-do list task. But I cleaned my office. And for me I used to do that as part of the process, at the end of every single chapter I finished in the addiction book, I would clean up because things would just get disastrous in here. There'd be piles of books and piles of research. And it was a really cleansing experience to put the research away from let's say the chapter on peers and peer influence and move on to the chapter on education on prevention programs in schools. Because I would then put away all those books, put away all those articles, and take out a whole new stack of stuff. And it was sort of a mind cleansing thing. And so the same thing has happened. I still have all my research out for the addiction book because I'm deep into edits now. And actually speaking of which, I'm working on edits right now because I'm going to have a meeting with my editor on the 20th of November, in which I have to have my arms around all the edits. So all those papers and articles and everything are still all around me. It's just that I'm making space for the new books on the new topic. It has its own bookshelf, I have a bookshelf dedicated to this topic. It's still only fills one shelf, but I'm sure that will change with time. But, it's really fun. It's a mental shift and that mental shift is really fun and exciting. And yeah, I'm back to being excited to go to work every morning and having a vacation between the two was really good.Sarina26:49That's terrific. You just reminded me of that internet meme of the guy and the girl walking down the street holding hands and he's looking over his shoulder at the other hot girl. Cause that's how it feels when you have to finish up the last bits of one project, but your head is already looking at another one.Jess27:11This was a first for me, actually. But you do this all the time, where you're writing one book and editing the last. This is new for me, but I hadn't really even thought about that as that's something that you have to do all the time.Sarina27:25Yeah, I do. If you spread it out a little bit, it's actually kind of nice. Because then you can be super picky on one topic and sort of expansive on the other one.Jess27:35Oh, that's a really good way of thinking about it. Speaking of which (that meme about the guy looking back) I watched the new series Modern Love on Amazon. You know, adapted from the Modern Love columns from the New York Times and there is a shot that is a direct call out to that meme in one of the episodes. And by the way, the Modern Love adaptation for Amazon is fantastic, way better than I ever thought it would be. But it was so funny to see the shot and say, 'Wait a second, that's that meme right there. I can see it.'. Sarina28:08So I heard that you had a new bookstore for us. Jess28:13I do. Tt's a bookstore I had visited once in New Orleans and I saw Anya Kamenetz from NPR, the education editor at NPR, she had a book event there for her book that was coming out (this was years ago). And it's Octavia Books in New Orleans and they sold books for my recent event down in New Orleans. But it's a tremendous bookstore. Curation is fantastic, people are so nice. And it's a quaint bookstore in the middle of a lovely little neighborhood in New Orleans. So another one of those bookstores where you walk in and you just sort of feel at home. So can't recommend that one more heartily. But speaking of bookstores, have you been reading anything interesting?Sarina28:58I just read a really sexy novella that my friend Lauren Blakely finished.Jess29:09You don't see a lot of novellas these days.Sarina29:12Oh, because of the holidays?Jess29:14No, these days in general. Novellas are tricky. As you well know, you wrote one.Sarina29:18Yeah, novellas are not my chosen length. But this book, it's going to do amazing. She did an amazing job on it and it's called The Virgin Gift. And it isn't out yet, but this was one fun moment where I helped somebody with something when I wasn't expecting to. Lauren Blakely writes so many wonderful books all the time, without any difficulty. But she happened to ask me a question about plot, just that came up in conversation, and it was one of those moments when solving someone else's problem is just so much easier than solving your own. And I was so happy to come up with this tiny little idea that helped her finish her book because it's so satisfying to solve that kind of problem. And then you know, your own plot problem will just grate on you for days, and days, and days and then once in awhile you can mention it to another person and get the idea you need just just by accident. So that was super fun. And then this week I got to read it and see how it all turned out.Sarina30:31That's really cool. Being a part of someone's book from the beginning is always so exciting. It's like when I get to read your books and I realize, 'Oh wait, I remember hearing about that six months ago.' I love that. Jess30:42I have read so many books, mainly because I was on vacation after having finished my book and I've been flying a lot, which means audio books. So you people had been recommending Katherine Center's books. Specifically Things You Save In a Fire. And so I I downloaded Things You Save In a Fire and loved it. And then I very quickly downloaded How To Walk Away, Happiness for Beginners, and The Lost Husband. And I have gone through all of them and it's always interesting to read an author's work out of order because she's evolved as a writer, as we all do. Her Things You Save In a Fire is her newest, and Lost Husband is years ago, and I'm now listening to a book of hers called Get Lucky. And it's interesting to read her evolution as a writer and she's delightful. She's just delightful. She's good, the humor is fantastic, the romance is fantastic, the suspense is fantastic, the secrets, there's lots of secrets. It's just delightful stuff. Sarina31:56I can't believe that you're two books ahead of me now. I've only read two of those four and I'm going to do a little video about Things You Save In a Fire because I love it so much.Jess32:05Oh, good. So, Get this. I also listened to Ali Wong's book, Dear Girls, which is so raunchy and so funny. It's letters to her daughter about her life. And if you've ever watched Ali Wong's comedy, either Baby Cobra or the other one that I can't remember at the moment. You know, she's raunchy, she's dirty, she's hysterical. And Dear Girls does not disappoint. It's really, really funny. Although, how you write a book to your daughters that they can't possibly listen to until they're in their twenties, I just don't even know. And listening to still more Harlan Coben. But then I also listened to Ronan Farrow's Catch and Kill. Which was fascinating, really fascinating. And it was more than I thought it was going to be in terms of content. So anyway, it's been amazing reading. But thank you so much for the Katherine Center recommendation. Because she's not my normal turf reading wise and I have been sad every time I finished her books. And do we have time to really, really quickly mention the bridge thing? So on her website, you pointed out that she wrote a short story to bridge two of her novels. And have you read it yet? Sarina33:19I have not. So you can't spoil it. Jess33:21No, no, no I'm not going to spoil it.Sarina33:22But it is a genius idea. Jess33:26How clever is that? And here's what she does. There's stuff in that bridge story that I would have been like, 'Oh no, save that for the novels. That's the good stuff.' And she doesn't, that story stands on its own as a really lovely piece of writing that gets to own its own turf within the universe of those two novels. And so, I loved it. It was included at the end of the audio. She reads it actually, Katherine Center reads it, at the end of How To Walk Away, I think. And loved it. So good. And that idea is great. And her website, as we've been saying, is super colorful and wonderful and yeah, she's delightful. Sarina34:47Keep your butt in the chair and your head in the game. Until next week. Jess34:53This episode of #AmWriting with Jess and KJ was produced by Andrew Parilla. Our music, aptly titled unemployed Monday was written and performed by Max Cohen. Andrew and Max were paid for their services because everyone, even creatives should be paid. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at amwriting.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to the Audiobook Lovin Podcast, discussing all things audiobooks, the narrators that perform them and the authors that write the stories. Including a special series with Narrator Shane East, the Audiobook Lovin Podcast is brought to you by Viviana, Enchantress of Books. Today we're talking about our favorite audiobook fb group, what we're listening to and what upcoming release we're looking for. Aural Fixation FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/auralfixationaudio/ Books mentioned: THE WALLFLOWER WAGER (Girl Meets Duke series bk 3) by Tessa Dare and narrated by Mary Jane Wells. INSTANT ATTRACTION by Lauren Blakely narrated by Andi Arndt, Sebastian York, Vikas Adam, Shane East, Emma Wilder & Hillary Huber. S1 Ep2 - Aural Fixation Link: http://www.vivianaenchantressofbooks.com/2019/09/audiobook-lovin-podcast-s1-e2-aural.html Subscribe to newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cD_VHX Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7z2Ja4JSsdXRluzM90VBIE Submit your "This or That" question for Shane here: https://forms.gle/Jzg1WTGmPWqN4H2G8 We hope you have enjoyed this production of The Audiobook Lovin' Podcast. This has been an Audiobook Lovin' production Copyright 2017 by Viviana Izzo, Enchantress of Books. Production Copyright 2017 by Audiobook Lovin'. Audiobook Lovin' Series, The Audiobook Lovin Podcast and Shane East Meets is a division of Viviana, Enchantress of Books. Please visit Viviana, Enchantress of Books to learn more about the Audiobook Lovin' Series. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, modified, copied, distributed, repackaged, shared, displayed, revealed, extracted, emailed, transmitted, sold or otherwise transferred, conveyed or used, in a manner inconsistent with the Agreement, or rights of the copyright owner. You shall not redistribute, repackage, transmit, assign, sell, broadcast, rent, share, lend, modify, extract, reveal, adapt, edit, sub-license or otherwise transfer the Content. You are not granted any synchronization, public performance, promotional use, commercial sale, resale, reproduction or distribution rights for the Content. For permission requests, please visit Viviana, Enchantress of Books for more information.

Sorry, both books this week were great so we each took an hour to gush. Evangelina leads the discussion with The Real Deal by Lauren Blakely. Alex talks about Kulti by Mariana Zapata (which is not about a cult). We talk about tropes we love and have experienced first- hand.

TWO LAURENS IN A ROW?! Hell yeah we did that. Kim and Mo talk with New York Times Bestselling Author Lauren Blakely about writing, working with narrators...'Harry Potter' accents. We also hit our melting point while talking about Richard Armitage.

Welcome to Episode 002 - Julie and Johnathan welcome #1 New York Times and Wall Street journal bestselling romance author Lauren Blakely, author of Big Rock, Once Upon a Real Good time, The V Card and many others! In a rollicking and freewheeling conversation, the three of them cover Lauren's background in writing, how she got her start in romance, her love of audiobooks, and at one point, Lauren gets a bit of an audiobook surprise! Hit subscribe to make sure you don’t miss any upcoming conversations with your favorite authors! LISTEN TO AN AUDIOBOOK SAMPLE OF ONCE UPON A REAL GOOD TIME BELOW!  CHECK OUT LAUREN BLAKELY AT ALL THESE PLACES! AMAZON BOOKBUB FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM TWITTER GOODREADS

Twelve world-class narrators on one project? Yes, please! Lauren Blakely is producing some of the most innovative audio in romance. Join us to taste test her new one! Sebastian York and Andi Arndt headline this delicious romance. Oh, and there's chocolate...Subscribe to The Story Bites Podcast on Soundwise

Our guest for this Romance Awareness Month "mini-sode" is NYT Bestselling Author, Lauren Blakely. She tells us about her OTP (hint: TIME TRAVEL) and makes a very convincing argument that romance writing will bring world peace. Listen for more! -- Sign up for the Audible Romance Package here: bit.ly/otpaudible -- Follow us on Twitter @OTP_Pod -- Books Mentioned: - The Real Deal by Lauren Blakely - amzn.to/2OZ1usr - The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger - amzn.to/2BybtD6 - Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell - amzn.to/2MrYqbl - The Promise by Danielle Steel - amzn.to/2Mnyxcy

Next week: The V Card, by Lauren Blakely and Lili Valente

Ellen and Mom très romantique talking about Wanderlust by Lauren Blakely (and really enthusiastic about the audiobook). Plus, our own wanderlust fantasies and bucket lists!

In this episode, Chrissy and Stephanie chat with #1 New York Times best-selling author, Lauren Blakely. Lauren talks about her tips and tricks for marketing, her philosophy on writing and why it is important to be authentic on social media. She also examines a mistake she believes to have made with her publishing schedule last year. Lauren also gives listeners some great recommendations for readers curious about the romance genre.

Erica and Marissa are joined by DJ DeSmyter (djwrites.com) to talk about their favorite queer couples. Happy Pride Month! Follow us on Twitter @OTP_Pod Buy "The Real Deal" by Lauren Blakely here: amzn.to/2MEizY0

Next week: Cocktales by Penny Reid & Co.

Next week: Come As You Are by Lauren Blakely

Today's show is a fun e-book haul of books that I purchased this past month. Books featured: Delta Force Heroes, Siren Enslaved (ARC) by Lexi Blake, The Pleasure of Panic by J.A. Huss, Rebel Heir by VI Keeland and Penelope Ward, The Hot One by Lauren Blakely, The Swedish Prince by Karina Halle, The Oracle Queen by Kendare Blake.