Podcast appearances and mentions of nana malone

In Episode 26 of Undercurrents of Romance, Tracey Devlyn sits down with author Nana Malone to discuss her new romantic comedy, GOLD COAST DILEMMA. Caught between her family's expectations and her own dreams, Ghanaian American heiress Ofosua Addo must choose: duty or desire. In GOLD COAST DILEMMA, Nana Malone delivers a sparkling, emotional rom-com where tradition collides with forbidden love—and one daring woman fights for the life, and love, she truly wants. Love this episode? Rate it ⭐️ Thumbs Up

In Episode 26 of Undercurrents of Romance, Tracey Devlyn sits down with author Nana Malone to discuss her new romantic comedy, GOLD COAST DILEMMA. Caught between her family's expectations and her own dreams, Ghanaian American heiress Ofosua Addo must choose: duty or desire. In GOLD COAST DILEMMA, Nana Malone delivers a sparkling, emotional rom-com where tradition collides with forbidden love—and one daring woman fights for the life, and love, she truly wants. Love this episode? Rate it ⭐️ Thumbs Up

We're back with the second half of THE KING by Nana Malone! Our plucky secret agents are on their very first field mission and (bom chicka wow wooow) they're posing as newlyweds! Don't worry, they commit to the bit. Bonus Content: Georg and Dreorg, forehead kisses, red hot narration, and so much more! Lady Loves: Sabrina: Having an endless pile of bullshit to talk about with your besties! Mel: Sabrina and I are doing accountability meetings we're calling our Becoming Champions time! Mel got the phrase from Arden Myrin from the podcast Will You Accept This Rose and repurposed it to give ourselves some structure! Watch this episode on YOUTUBE! Want to support the show? Rate and review us on your favorite podcast app! It super helps the algorithm connect us to new listeners.  Want more of us? Check out our PATREON! Credits: Theme Music: Brittany Pfantz  Art: Author Kate Prior (her newest release MATED TO MY EX is out now!!)  Want to tell us a story, ask about advertising, or anything else? Email: heavingbosomspodcast (at) gmail  Follow our socials:  Instagram @heavingbosoms Tiktok @heaving_bosoms  Facebook group: the Heaving Bosoms Geriatric Friendship Cult The above contains affiliate links, which means that when purchasing through them, the podcast gets a small percentage without costing you a penny more.

Hey HBs! It's our first Nana Malone book! THE KING is book 1 of the Gentleman Rogue series and we were stoked to jump into contemporary spy times. What we didn't prep ourselves for? AN AMNESIA PLOT!!!! Bonus Content: Mel has a yuck that goes ow, Mel DID manage to swerve a little Mikey after our Magic Mike XXL watch party, Sabrina read the prequel The Heir and Mel did not, John Hartley and Leila Allarie SLAY this audiobook, Lachlan is wolf-shifter-coded, 37 year old knees, and so much more! Watch this episode on YOUTUBE and come back tomorrow for part 2!! Want to support the show? Rate and review us on your favorite podcast app! It super helps the algorithm connect us to new listeners.  Want more of us? Check out our PATREON! Credits: Theme Music: Brittany Pfantz  Art: Author Kate Prior (her newest release MATED TO MY EX is out now!!)  Want to tell us a story, ask about advertising, or anything else? Email: heavingbosomspodcast (at) gmail  Follow our socials:  Instagram @heavingbosoms Tiktok @heaving_bosoms  Facebook group: the Heaving Bosoms Geriatric Friendship Cult The above contains affiliate links, which means that when purchasing through them, the podcast gets a small percentage without costing you a penny more.

The Wallflowers has formed and a misspoken wish was granted in Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas!We love the fast friendship between the Wallflowers, their epistolary communication, and their mischief, sort-of managed activities at #StonyCrossParkSimon taking care of Annabelle has us swooning!  He defends dowerless Annabelle against the peers who won't offer for her.  He simps after her.  Then he took care of business when things got bloody which  made us love him more.We got a kick out of Annabelle wanting to take back her wish.  However, she got her wish and even risked her life for Simon.Although the new audio version is abridged, it's worth the listen!  The narrator gives alpha Simon an even more emotional confession of love!Join us as we discuss how an adder bite, not a love bite, help the first Wallflower get wed!DRAWING ROOM DISCUSSIONSFreezing in CaliforniaExciting busy, busy, busy“OFFICIAL, UNOFFICIAL BOOK REVIEW” – 1:48Lisa KleypasSecrets of a Summer NightWallflowers 1.0www.lisakelypas.comwww.facebook.com/lisakleypaswww.instagram.com/lisakleypas“POT-TAIL PONDERING” –  41:04Rose Spritzer: equal parts Rose and Lemon-Lime sodaTakeover by Nana Malone, Marriage of Convenience, Knights of the Roundtable inspiredhttps://nanamalone.com/product/takeover-kings-of-the-boardroom-book-1/In Want of a Viscount by Lorraine Heath, heavy on the kissinghttps://www.harpercollins.com/products/in-want-of-a-viscount-lorraine-heath?variant=41063300235298A Season for Spies by Golden Angelhttps://www.goldenangelromance.com/copy-of-bridal-disciplineAm I the A**hole… – 46:32… for admitting I got married for money and ruining my cousin's idea of love?NEXT– It Happened One Autumn by Lisa KleypasHosts - Toni Rose & Wendy WooEmail - litwallflowerspodcast@gmail.comFollow on www.instagram.com/litwallflowerspodcastShop at https://www.zazzle.com/store/lit_wallflowers/productsSocial Media https://linktr.ee/litwallflowersLit Wallflowers is part of the Frolic Podcast Network.  You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts!

Today, we have the audio from our second virtual Mind the Gap panel, focusing on the politics of diversity in writing, reading, and publishing romance with Nisha Sharma, Nana Malone, Kennedy Ryan, and Adriana Herrera. This conversation was recorded in July 2023. They discuss the way that talking about “diversity” broadly masks anti-Blackness specifically, what the subtext is when people say they don’t want “anything political” in a book, the politics of “relatability,” the ways culture, and the culture of publishing, is messaging that books by and about people of color can’t be fun, taking ownership over your own reading choices, and much more. Then they close out with recs for their own backlist and some books they’ve loved recently. If you'd like to pick up copies of these authors' books – and you absolutely should -- you can do that in our shop or on our website, meetcutebookshop.com.

Join New York Times bestselling author Skye Warren each week as she crafts a new story with one of her author guests!This week USA Today bestselling author Nana Malone pairs a bodyguard with a ballerina...and it all starts with a disastrous blind date. Find out what happens on the inside!And if you enjoy this episode, you'll love CHEEKY ROYAL by Nana Malone.About Nana Malone:Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling author, Nana Malone writes Sexy Feel-Good Romance and loves all things romance and adventure.You can also find Nana Malone's website here.These are some of the books and shows referenced inside...Overture by Skye WarrenGone: A Girl, a Violin, a Life Unstrung by Min Kym Enneagram InstituteOn the Run by Lisa Marie RiceYou get to help us pick our story prompts inside the Storytime with Skye Podcast Facebook group. Join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1030813154714760

Imogen Loveless and Tommy Peck has taken over our schedule!  There are cameos, explosions, flirting, and thighs.Join us as we discuss why we love everything about Knockout by Sarah MacLean!!!DRAWING ROOM DISCUSSIONSUniverse bringing balance to Toni's fun timesMagic music combo: The Fame Monster by Lady Gaga and Red by Taylor SwiftYouTuber Stephanie Soo and ACOTARhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i89ELD3py0I“OFFICIAL, UNOFFICIAL BOOK REVIEW” – 13:21Knockout by Sarah MacLeanHell's Belleshttps://www.sarahmaclean.net/https://www.instagram.com/sarahmaclean/https://linktr.ee/sarahmacleanMary Jane Wells narrating the Audible version“POT-TAIL PONDERING” – 35:35“Imogen Bomb” - Peach liqueur shot bombed in Dragon fruit Red Bullhttps://www.redbull.com/us-en/energydrink/red-bull-green-editionhttps://www.jimbeam.com/en/bourbons/jim-beam-peachThe Villain by Nana Malone, available August 29, 2023https://nanamalone.com/product/the-villain/The Love Plot by Samantha Young, available August 29, 2023https://authorsamanthayoung.com/books/5486-2/NEXTThe Prince of Broadway by Joanna Shupehttps://joannashupe.com/the-prince-of-broadway/Hosts - Toni Rose & Wendy WooEmail - litwallflowerspodcast@gmail.comFollow on www.instagram.com/litwallflowerspodcastShop at https://www.zazzle.com/store/lit_wallflowers/productsSocial Media https://linktr.ee/litwallflowersLit Wallflowers is part of the Frolic Podcast Network.  You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts!

We are in for an epic war in “A Court of Wings and Ruin” by Sarah J Maas!!Feyre and Rhysand make their way back to each other while Lucien scrutinize her actions while in the Spring Court.  Lucien's soul leads him towards his mate.The Lords meet to strategize how to combat Hybern and his allies.  There are High Fae who remain wild cards until the very end.Many warriors are lost and lives are saved.  How will the Night Court and their allies win when the Cauldron and its power are held by the enemies??Join us as we discuss the bond of Feyre and Rhysand, and wondering where loyalties lie during the all-out war!!DRAWING ROOM DISCUSSIONSBook cleaningFeyre Fashion Wings“OFFICIAL, UNOFFICIAL BOOK REVIEW” – 4:20A Court of Wings and Ruinwww.sarahjmaas.comwww.facebook.com/theworldofsarahjmaaswww.instagram.com/therealsjmaas/“POT-TAIL PONDERING” – 47:57Summertime Cocktail recipe from freshsimplehome.comBroken Ties by M. Malone and Nana Malone available now!ACOTAR film progressNext – A Court of Frost and StarlightHosts - Toni Rose & Wendy Woo Email - litwallflowerspodcast@gmail.com Follow on www.instagram.com/litwallflowerspodcast Shop at https://www.zazzle.com/store/lit_wallflowers/products Social Media https://linktr.ee/litwallflowers Lit Wallflowers is part of the Frolic Podcast Network.  You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts!

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

Some spicy escapades are wilder than fiction! Have you ever had sex with a stranger, sex in a surprising place or and discovered a kink in public? Romance authors Karina Kennedy, Nana Malone and Sky Warren have, respectively. Hear about their experiences, some related advice and what to expect from their steamy books.    Get a bonus clip with more tips: patreon.com/girlboner   The erotic story, written by Sky Warren, was performed by voice over artist Rosa Delgado: rosamdelgado6@gmail.com   This episode is slightly updated from the original, which was released in August, 2021.   Check out The Pleasure Chest's latest specials!    More Girl Boner fun: augustmclaughlin.com/girlboner   IG: @GirlBonerMedia  FB: @MyGirlBoner  TikTok: @GirlBonerRadio  Twitter: @AugstMcLaughlin  girlboner  

Regan Penhaligon flees and surprises her sister at Ardnoch Castle, and she lucks out with a job becoming a nanny for Thane Adair in “There With You” by Samantha Young!!Regan pretends that everything is okay however she has a lot of explaining to do, starting with her absence while her sister fought for her life.  While her relationship with her sister mends, she decides that staying in the Scottish Highlands brings her peace.Thane returns to work soon however he has difficulty finding a live-in nanny for his children.  The only option becomes the young and maybe restless Regan who does not scream dependable, but children are her forte.There is no denying the attraction between Regan and Thane, and a physical relationship will not hurt their dynamic as long as it stays only physical.  However, threats continue to hurt his family and the threat may be linked to Regan.  They confide their biggest secrets and find solace with each other until they are caught in a cuddle and everything changes.Join us as we discuss Thane letting go of fear and the former wild child Regan finding home!!DRAWING ROOM DISCUSSIONSToni's Super Bowl Birthday“OFFICIAL, UNOFFICIAL BOOK REVIEW” – 4:04Samantha YoungThere With Youwww.authorsamanthayoung.comwww.instagram.com/authorsamanthayoung“POT-TAIL PONDERING” – 40:43Aberfeldy Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 12 Years Oldwww.aberfeldy.comwww.youtube.com/channel/UCb4ZDAx61sOETWgG_5up7jQSpiked cuppaFictional character inspired hairRhuger's Pearl by Carlotta Hughes, avail nowThe Rook by Nana Malone, avail 02.21.2023Only You by Samantha Young, avail 02.21.2023Next – Always You by Samantha Young Hosts - Toni Rose & Wendy Woo Email - litwallflowerspodcast@gmail.com Follow on www.instagram.com/litwallflowerspodcast Shop at https://www.zazzle.com/store/lit_wallflowers/products Social Media https://linktr.ee/litwallflowers Lit Wallflowers is part of the Frolic Podcast Network.  You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts!

"I am not writing to make other people comfortable." A conversation about “Diversity in the Age of Viral Books” with authors Adriana Herrera, Kennedy Ryan, Nana Malone, and Nisha Sharma, moderated by Nichole Perkins. They cover that and so much more. It's an insightful, incisive, and wide-ranging conversation that covers what inspired each of the authors to start writing romance and what they find to be the hardest thing about it; the pressure they've felt to tone down the authenticity of their books to appeal to audiences who don't share their or their characters' identities and some of the choices they've had to make in terms of content and marketing; their experiences having books traditionally published and publishing them independently; and how TikTok, in particular, has changed publishing, and what that means when the app itself isn't an even playing field for authors of color.

Buckle up babes! We're off to London to infiltrate secret societies and spy on The Elite in Nana Malone's Big Ben. And we know you're all wondering "How big IS Ben?" Don't worry - he'll tell you. CW: explicit sex, infidelity, violence, emotional abuse/gaslighting, assault, attempted murder, murder

In this episode, we are joined by Nana Malone, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of sexy, feel-good romance novels and creator of the #BrownNippleChallenge. We learned more about Nana's experience writing not one, but two novels for Kobo Originals, her writing process regarding dictation, modelling for her own covers, the importance of Black women and women of colour on the covers of romance novels, the #Brown Nipple Challenge, judging a literary contest, and more! Find more information about our podcast, including links to our guests' books here. If you're ready to start your publishing journey, visit kobo.com/writinglife. 

Join us for this week's episode where we talk with Romance Author Nana Malone! In this episode we listen to her journey of publishing and some of the struggles that she has faced as a woman of color in the romance world. She also will reveal her ultimate feelings over the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series PSA There is a part of the episode that cuts out for 30 seconds! Don't worry it fixes it self

Did your obsession with romance novels mess up your sex life? Did you grow up wishing it was Femi on the cover, not Fabio? This week, the aunties Malaka and Nana Darkoa return to their teen reads and question how the genre tantalized and traumatized them. Inspired by an Adventures From The Bedrooms of African Women blogpost written by contributor, Voluptuous Voltarian – or VV - they dig into the problematic power dynamics of novels from Mills & Boon and Harlequin Romance. “I had just poisoned my brain,” VV says. “That stuff had given me a blueprint for romance and sex that was totally, totally, totally, totally unrealistic.” But they also excitedly discover that new generations of African girls have more to look forward to as Black women reclaim and rewrite the genre. “My commitment is that girls who look like me will see themselves in my books,” best-selling author Nana Malone says.   Malaka Grant and Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah host the Adventures From the Bedrooms of African Women Podcast. Frederica Boswell is the Senior Producer. Fatima Derby is our Associate Producer. Written by Wana Udobang. Audio editors are Mercy Barno and Tevin Sudi. Malaka Grant and Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah are Executive Producers. The Adventures From the Bedrooms of African Women Podcast is a production of AQ Studios in partnership with Masi Media. Mercy Githaiga is our studio administrator and Selly Thiam is the AQ Studios CEO.  Our theme music is Damn by Ria Boss and music from this episode comes from Bluedot Sessions. Find Adventures From the Bedrooms of African Women anywhere you get your podcasts, and in pursuing all things sex, sexuality, and pleasure, follow us on all our social media platforms @adventuresfrom. Engage with us on: Instagram Twitter Our website

We were going to do a deep dive this week, but then we read the book and decided that was a hard pass! So, we do a very shallow dive and then get to the good stuff this week…talking about Royal romances! We talk about the strange fascination the world has with royalty, about the way fake countries hit the spot, and about why it's so rare to see a gender-swapped Cinderella story. Sarah also offers a peek at her newest research project, preliminarily titled—Alexbastian: Is Name, In Fact Destiny? It's better than a deep dive, we promise.Fated Mates Live, in person is happening — if you have tickets to the live show in Alexandria, VA on July 30th — let us know on our Twitter thread (and find friends!). If you didn't get a ticket, but want to join the wait list, you can do that at Old Town Books! Thanks to Adriana Herrera, author of A Caribbean Heiress in Paris, for sponsoring the episode. Thanks, also, to Lumi Labs, creators of Microdose Gummies. Visit microdose.com and use code FATEDMATES to get free shipping & 30% off your first order.Show NotesTurns out we are not reading The Dragon and the Jewel…because yikes. Eleanor Plantangenet and Simon de Montfort were real people, but this 1991 romance is too problematic for a full discussion. Yes, we talked about royalty in romance with Nana Malone back in season 1, but there's always fresh content! The Oprah interview with Prince Harry & Meghan Markle is worth a watch, if you can stand all the commercials.The launch event for American Royalty will be in Richmond on June 28, 2022. Go check it out— Tracey will be joined by Kate Clayborn.There is a real His Royal Highness Prince Sebastian in Luxembourg, if you're into that kind of thing. Order an avatar button from The Romancelandia Shop! This is a great way to announce your presence at in-person events and help people find you. It really works!

For a writer's work to succeed and thrive, one needs to find their marketable voice. They need to make let their personality shine through their words. In this episode, Ella Barnard teams up with bestselling author Nana Malone to talk about the author's voice. Nana discusses marketability, diversity and helping other up-and-coming authors get marketed. Tune in to this insightful conversation and learn how to find your own voice.

We're talking liar, liar pants on fire, because this week we tackled the Hidden Identity/Scammer trope! From secret bodyguards to actual serial killers, from Forrest Whittaker cameos to Miami art scenes, we run the gamut of secret identities. Books discussed: Cheeky Royal by Nana Malone, The Mindfuck series by S.T. Abby, and What Happens in Miami... by Nadine GonzalezOther media mentioned: Hold Me by Courtney Milan, the movie First Daughter, My Date with the President's Daughter, Cheeky King by Nana Malone, Forrest Whittaker (???), Scandal in the VIP Suite by Nadine GonzalezFollow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to mappingthetropes@gmail.com.Theme music: Tropical House by John_Sib. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.

The Essex sisters arrived at the Duke of Holbrook's estate as his wards in the first book of the Essex Sisters series, Much Ado About You by Eloisa James!!  However, can you call women-of-age wards??Rafe, the Duke of Holbrook, expected young wards, but he got young-ish women.  Now, the nursemaids he hired suddenly became ladies maids and he is doing what he can to find them respectable matches with only exceptional horses as their dowry.Tess, the eldest of the four sisters, believes a respectable marriage can be had with the duke's friend, the earl.  However, another friend stirs something in her, but she refuses his proposal.The passionate sister caused a scandal causing Tess to agree to marry earlier than expected.  What was unexpected was her actual bridegroom and how he became her bridegroom.  Join us as we discuss the great bond between the Essex sisters, Rafe and his friends, and how Tess got her happily ever after with a Mister!DRAWING ROOM DISCUSSIONS –Toni and The Queen's Ball: Bridgerton Experience Washington DC“OFFICIAL, UNOFFICIAL BOOK REVIEW” – 1:50Eloisa JamesMuch Ado About YouEssex Sisters, book onehttps://www.eloisajames.com/https://www.facebook.com/eloisajameshttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/86778.Eloisa_Jameshttps://www.instagram.com/eloisajamesbooks/https://www.tiktok.com/@eloisajamesbooks“POT-TAIL PONDERING” – 27:42Cardhu Whiskywww.malts.com/en-row/brands/cardhuExcited for:Broken Bridge by Nana Malone avail April 12thAlways You by Samantha Young avail April 26thHeartbreaker by Sarah MacLean avail August 23rdNext – Kiss Me, Annabel by Eloisa James Hosts - Toni Rose & Wendy WooEmail - litwallflowerspodcast@gmail.comFollow on www.instagram.com/litwallflowerspodcastShop at https://www.zazzle.com/store/lit_wallflowers/productsSocial Media https://linktr.ee/litwallflowersLit Wallflowers is part of the Frolic Podcast Network.  You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts!

This week Roan, Xio, and Avery are joined by romance author Nana Malone to tackle a letter about what we owe to our family and the harrowing world of child care. They also have a lively discussion about the TikTok trend of mental health self-diagnosis.

Today I am chatting with Nana Malone. Nana has published 98 books over the past 11 years. She just published a Kobo Exclusive The Spy in 3B. In this author interview, we chat about Nana's experience being a cover model, Audiobook in Color and the Brown Nipple Challenge.  BOOKS RECOMMENDED: The Spy in 3B by Nana Malone (Kobo Exclusive) The Road to Rose Bend by Naima Simone The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa Game Set Match by Nana Malone Like Lovers Do by Tracey Livesay  His to Claim by Taylor Vaughn   CONNECT WITH NANA MALONE  Website  Instagram    SUPPORT THE WHAT TO READ NEXT PODCAST! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.  Or you can subscribe to the show on Spotify. Spread the love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends   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!    CONNECT WITH LAURA YAMIN  WhattoReadNextBlog.com

You are in the right place! Your eyes do not deceive you! We're actually talking about spy romances this week and no Sarahs were harmed during the discussion, but that's probably because it was a discussion with one of her favorite people, the fantastic Nana Malone! We talk about Nana's immense career, about how she took matters into her own hands and started making the covers she wished to see in the world, about her Brown Nipple reading challenge, about her latest book, a Kobo original, The Spy in 3B, and about porny ferris wheels. Real ordinary stuff. We also get to the bottom of why Sarah doesn't like spy romances generally, but why she can't get enough of Mr. & Mrs. Smith retellings. Our next read along in some number of weeks (three? four?) is Kylie Scott's Lead, one of our longtime favorites. Get it at Amazon, Apple Books, B&N, Kobo, or Bookshop.org! Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful! Show NotesWelcome Nana Malone back to the pod, and if you want to hear more about the Brown Nipple Challenge, check out her Instagram. She is an amazing author and recently became her own cover model after failing to find good stock photos for her books.If you don't know how stock photography works, here's a brief primer on how they can be used to make book covers and teasers. The problems with finding stock photography that is truly diverse is a well-known problem. For most authors, custom photography is cost-prohibitive. Nana's favorite photographer is Wander Aguiar. If you want to hear more about romance covers and their history, Sarah was interviewed on an episode of the 99% Invisible podcast about covers this week. Head over and have a listen after you listen to this! Just in case you need a quick review, there are currently three paths in publishing: self-published, indie, and traditional. It's common to use “indie” and “self-published” interchangeably, which why Nana described an author as “their own business.” Strictly speaking, Indie means small, independent presses, such as Violet Gaze Press. And Trad, or traditional publishing, refers to the Big Five (Big Four?) New York publishing houses: Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster. A little about the history of Kobo and why it's worth supporting them. No one likes it when the Mary Sue character has no idea what's going on. Turns out that Ferris Wheel sex is a real thing at Coachella. And Myrtle Beach. And Vegas. And Kindle Unlimited.Daniel Craig jumps on a train. Pierce Brosnon catches a plane.Faberge Eggs have a storied history and are very fancy. The hero of Night Magic is not that John McClane. If you like a Cold War thriller, you might enjoy a bonkers 80s spy thriller, The Charm School by Nelson DeMille. Jen did love Lies, but had some thoughts about the ending and unreliable narrators that you can read after you finish the book. Miss Moneypenny.We also mentioned some movies and TV shows about spies: Mr. and Mrs. Smith, La Femme Nikita, Spy, James Bond, True Lies, The Americans, Kingsman, and The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Continuing our conversation about Bright Bananas on the Romance Tree — this week we're reading an extreme oldie, Anne Stuart's Tangled Lies, famous for being a story about a heroine falling for her brother…except he's not really her brother! It's a RIDE. We talk about just how odd romance could be back in the day, about how this book might be an ancestor to dark romance, and about how alpha alpha heroes could really get. And then we talk about modern contemporary romance and how things are changing in traditional publishing. Our next read along in some number of weeks (three? four?) is Kylie Scott's Lead, one of our longtime favorites. Get it at Amazon, Apple Books, B&N, Kobo, or Bookshop.org! Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful! Show NotesBombshell comes out on Aug 24th. You should preorder it from WORD in Brooklyn, which will for sure come with some cool swag, including a special edition Fated Mates sticker. Best Friend Kelly did a Twitter poll asking people about their experiences ordering books + swag from Indie bookstores. Speaking of which, the art by Liz Parkes for The Soulmate Equation is the cutest! You might need this page as you are reading Tangled Lies.Speaking of books from your grandma's attic, look at what HEAapologist found this week! If you want this feeling without having relatives cool enough to leave them lying around, just order a big lot of random romances from eBay. For individual titles, Jen thinks Thrift Books is better than Amazon because you don't pay shipping for each individual title.Rob Imes has a page on his blog where he keeps track of all the category lines through 1989. In the case of Tangled Lies, it was first published as Harlequin Intrigue #5, then it was rebranded in the Men Made in America series, and finally part of the Famous Firsts Collection that celebrated Harlequin's 60th anniversary. Fiction DB is the place to do if you're looking for an author's backlist. Here is Anne Stuart's page, the one where the soldier and the nun have a baby together. Also, Catspaw.Check out Adriana's Instagram Live Series about telenovelas. Sarah was on to talk about Falcon Crest, because she imprinted on Lorenzo Llamas in his swim suit. His character's name was Lance Cumson. Sure.Speaking of Adriana, now is the time to preorder One Week to Claim it All. Jen and her brother Mike will be on to talk about Santa Barbara.In case you don't remember the movie Sneakers a very similar situation happens when Robert Redford is out for pizza in the 60s. And it looks like Jen & Sarah aren't the only ones who love this movie. Why we were all afraid of piranhas and quicksand in the 80s. I don't know why.The Pondering Padre (from the original cover) looks like Friar Lawrence, but not like Friar Tuck. Please note: not that kind of Priest.In the introduction, Anne Stuart mentioned being inspired by an old movie called Miss Tatlock's Millions (1948) but when it comes to "ope, maybe we're related" in pop culture, it seems hard not to talk about the influence of Flowers in the Attic and its famous incestual relationship. More recently, it was the Lannister twins in Game of Thrones or the folks in this Slate column.In romance, it was more common that these attractions were the mark of villainous men lusting after their sisters, such as Prisoner of My Desire by Johanna Lindsey, and others by Bertrice Small and Stella Cameron. A more updated story is Mister Moneybags by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward.In film, along with Miss Tatlock's Millions, Sarah metioned Crimson Peak (2015), and Jen is kicking herself for not bringing up the terrific movie movie Lone Star (1996).Jen wrote about paratext on Twitter, which of course turned into a cover conversation. We have a lot of fun interviews with authors coming up in June, and our next read along (in a couple of weeks) will be Lead by Kylie Scott. Vulture TV Critic Angelica Jade Bastién wrote a thread asking why she's bored, and wondering what happend to interesting failures. Donald Glover returned to Twitter to blame cancel culture for boring art, but then he canceled his own tweets later. A few think pieces about why sexual content is being deplatformed on the: who is doing it, and who it impacts. I bet you're shocked to learn its about capitalism and right-wing politics. Why Sarah's Facebook group OSRBC keeps getting dragged into the net.We have a lot of really fun guests coming up in the next few weeks: Tia Williams, Zoraida Cordova, and Nana Malone. Our next read along (at some point in June) will be Lead by Kylie Scott.

Hey, folks! We are back from Spring break with more topics in romance! This week, we review Lust and Envy, two movies produced for Lifetime by TD Jakes based on books by Victoria Christopher Murray. In Hot Topics in Romance, we talk about all these babies Nick Cannon is making, Kevin Samuels being mad misogynoir, and Keri Hilson talking about no sex before marriage. In Reading Romance, we hype up a second-chance romance tennis love story Game Set Match by Nana Malone. In Listening to Romance, we celebrate the life and 70th birthday of Luther Vandross with some of his hits! Follow us on Social Media: IG@RomanceinColour Twitter: @RomancenColour Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/RomanceinColour --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/romanceincolour/message

Episode 066 / Prolific romance author Nana Malone joins us to talk about being a pantser and writing instinctively, how she uses Instagram live to connect with her readers, and why she includes adventure, mystery, or intrigue. We also discuss the difficulties for authors of color and ways to support authors of color, including the gofundme campaign for Audio in Color. Links: Audio in Color: https://www.gofundme.com/f/audio-in-color-brownnipplechallenge-audiobooks Nana website: www.nanamaloneromance.net Twitter handle @nanamalone Instagram handle @nanamalonewriter Facebook Author Page https://www.facebook.com/nanamalonewriter The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes Come over and say hi to Jami and Sara in the WIKT Facebook group! You can find show notes and links at wishidknownforwriters.com.

If you have a question or want to join the tribe contact us at sistaswithsabers@gmail.com Our socials are : @‪rhiiiabee_(Rhianna) , @blerdgirljedi (maria), @Porscheirielle (Porsche), @JennaBellaJ (Raven) @Mjrjt (Rhole), @theroyalmilktea (Gee) @Olivegelato (Oliva), @thehauntedmanda (Amanda)V is @viennaenosarts on insta.   Maria's Playlist https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/marias-playlist/pl.u-kv9lbmmTLLgKDL   Rhi's playlist https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/rhianna/pl.u-b3b8V49cyLrzg8N  the sistas playlist. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2deHbEP7uYSJITWsoL0co7?si=PrPAchiIQbywHcWKQNBR7g Support a Sista!  Nana Malone - https://nanamaloneromance.net/  https://thankgoditsnatural.com/ Hair Care Products   Support a Sista https://yetundescoffeehouse.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sistaswithsabers/message

If you have a question or want to join the tribe contact us at sistaswithsabers@gmail.com Our socials are : @‪rhiiiabee_(Rhianna) , @blerdgirljedi (maria), @Porscheirielle (Porsche), @JennaBellaJ (Raven) @Mjrjt (Rhole), @theroyalmilktea (Gee) @Olivegelato (Oliva), @thehauntedmanda (Amanda)V is @viennaenosarts on insta. Maria's Playlist https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/marias-playlist/pl.u-kv9lbmmTLLgKDL Rhi's playlist https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/rhianna/pl.u-b3b8V49cyLrzg8N the sistas playlist. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2deHbEP7uYSJITWsoL0co7?si=PrPAchiIQbywHcWKQNBR7g Support a Sista! Nana Malone - https://nanamaloneromance.net/ https://thankgoditsnatural.com/ Hair Care Products --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sistaswithsabers/message

This week, Wendy and Toni are talking about roof repairing Isabel and the hunter turned hunted Nicholas. Sometimes we need some help in finding a mate whether we admit it or not. It’s fortune that we are blessed with information, then and now, to help us snatch a lord or lady into relationship bliss. Which of the ten ways to be adored to land a lord or lady do we believe to be true? Which of the ten ways to be adored should we try? Hopefully, our effort stops our prey of choice from running. Follow the list, follow our heart, or a combination. It is important to know that landing the lord or lady of our dreams does come down to timing. Join the ladies as they discuss how to land a lord or lady!Drawing Room Discussions –Hidden Gems Bookclub for Nana Malone’s “Big Ben”Ghanaian Jollof Cauliflower RiceLonganisa sausage and cauliflower pizza"Official, unofficial book review” / Listicle – 6:28"Pot-tail Pondering" – 68:18Email - litwallflowerspodcast@gmail.comFollow on www.instagram.com/litwallflowerspodcastFeaturing –10 Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord by Sarah MacLeanLove by Numbers serieswww.sarahmaclean.netwww.facebook.com/sarahmacleanwww.instagram.com/sarahmacleanwww.twitter.com/sarahmaclean"Pot-tail Pondering" –The Macallan 12 Years Old Double Cask Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskywww.themacallan.comwww.facebook.com/themacallanwww.instagram.com/the_macallanwww.twitter.com/the_macallan

Toni and Wendy are back with sugar-coated Pauline and heart-broken Griffin, Duke of Halford. We are thrown curveballs during our lifetime. Then, we make decisions to deal with what we’re dealt with. Sometimes, a situation gives us the opportunity to create a better life for ourselves and those we love. Other times, a situation flips our world upside down. Usually, life changing situations are not easy to carry out or to overcome. We decide how to react to situations. We decide if we need help or not. We decide how slow or fast to move forward. Difficult or bad situations are an inevitability, but looking for the light in situations will help us through the darkness. Believing in ourselves and focusing on a positive end goal will help us through the challenge. Join the ladies as they discuss how to make the best of our situations!Drawing Room Discussions –Big Ben by Nana Malone, Hidden Gems Bookclub pick90s Music rabbit holeTwitch platformSun protection"Official, unofficial book review” / Listicle – 20:27"Pot-tail Pondering" – 46:37Email - litwallflowerspodcast@gmail.comFollow on www.instagram.com/litwallflowerspodcastFeaturing –Any Duchess Will DoSpindle Cove serieswww.tessadare.comwww.facebook.com/TessaDareAuthorwww.instagram.com/tessa_dare"Pot-tail Pondering" –Johnnie Walker Red Label Blended Scotch Whiskywww.johnniewalker.comwww.youtube.com/user/johnniewalkeruswww.instagram.com/johnniewalkerus

This episode is brought to you by Island Affair, the first book in a brand new series from USA TODAY bestselling author, Priscilla Oliveras. Island Affair is out now, and available wherever books are sold. Summary:In the first of two Steamy Spotlights for May (because double the trouble, double the fun!) Kelly interviews bestselling author, Nana Malone about her latest novel, Big Ben. Other discussion topics include finding solace in your second office during quarantine (in Nana's case, the car), writing/reading to your Id, and our shared obsession with all things Robin Hood. Guest: Nana Malone Show Notes: - Surviving the Covid-19 Quarantine - The struggles of writing at home with tiny humans around- The "Covid 15" - Nana has a thing for Oreos - Not as young as we used to be... - Maintaining a normal(ish) work schedule during quarantine - Escaping the editing process by any means possible - A secret love affair with romance novels that began in Ghana...- The "black market" for book exchanges- Reading while writing, or no? (00:25:30)- Praise for diversity in romance - Shoutout to Brenda Jackson, Beverly Jenkins, and Sandra Kitt- You're not going to be "everyone's cup of tea" and that's okay!- Jennifer Lynn Barnes and the Psychology of Fiction: Writing to your Id (00:31:00)- Nana and I both have a thing for Robin Hood- Somewhere between Meli Raine and Julia Kent - it's funny, but people are gonna get shot at *Promo for The Mermaid Podcast* (00:35:05)- Introducing Big Ben - office romance meets The Skulls and Ocean's Eleven (00:36:03)- We must talk about The Skulls (Shoutout to Rachel Van Dyken)- Other Heist Stories to watch: Money Heist, Inside Man, Takers, The Italian Job, Widows- Nana's "thing" for Clive Owen and Hayden Christenson - Praise for the Big Ben cover (and cover model): James Clippinger- Big Ben's ties to Nana's Royals Series (Full Reading Order)- Planting "Easter eggs" for the readers - Adventures living abroad in London - from Princess Diana to parties with models - Prince Harry swinging his bid d*ck up in here (00:49:21)- Loving the royals for their traditions... and then writing royals to turn those traditions around- The idea behind Big Ben and the See No Evil Trilogy (00:54:09)- Shoutout to Sierra Simone - Making Your Id List (whatever "you're trash for")- Raise your hand if you're an achiever... Creating strong female heroes - Nana's Id List: Robin Hood, tight banter, snarky/cocky heroes, superheroes, secret societies, strong ass female characters, a training montage (01:01:20)- Shoutout to Mia Sosa for her latest release, The Worst Best Man - Nana has a fangirl moment for author Juno Rushdan- Apologies in advance for the cliffhanger in Big Ben... - Look out for the next book in the series, The Benefactor (available June 9th) - The stories that Nana is dying to write... Alias fanfic and La Femme Nikita (01:11:04) - Back to heist stories with Covert Affairs and White Collar - Nana remembers college with Joe Manganiello and Matt Bomer - Nana's advice to writers: BITCHOK "Butt in the Chair, Hands on Keyboard" (01:17:45)- Nana's advice for Noobie romance readers: Make your own Id list! (01:22:42)- "We're all in romance together. What's on your Kindle is YOUR business." - Nana Malone- Understanding what you love about the books you read- Connect with Nana Malone on social media and on her website! Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website.*Boobies & Noobies is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts*

"You know, it's like breaking that idea that melanin dictates what you're going to enjoy.”Nana Malone

Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review!Next week, we’re releasing a little stocking stuffer for our Christmas Day episode, but we’re back in business on January 1, with the seasonally appropriate (at least in title) Born in Ice, by none other than the queen herself, Nora Roberts. Read Born in Ice at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo or your local indie.Question 1: Beth from Milwaukee asked, "I'm going to Iceland in December for my 10th wedding anniversary! I obviously need a book that has snow/cold and using body heat and -ahem- other activities for warmth. Bonus points if a volcano or other geological feature is a part of the story! Sub genre is not important, and yes I'm aware of the Ice Planet Barbarians."Our recommendations: From the deep recesses of Jen's brain, the only romance she can think of with a volcano, Eden Burning by Elizabeth Lowell. And that's from the 80s, so fair warning that it's likely to have problematic elements. When it comes to snuggly, warm, only one bed romances, you just need to use the internet! But Jen did write a piece about Only One Bed for Kirkus, which you should read. In the meantime, go watch Joe versus the Volcano, and then talking about Hawaii reminded Sarah of some bananas sounding book by Anne Stuart called Tangled Lies. But a few snowy romances: Beary Christmas Baby by Sasha Devlin or How the Dukes Stole Christmas.Question 2: Emily from Washington D.C. want our opinion aobut "the BEST star crossed lovers trope (it always gets me so good)."Our Recommendations: The reason Sarah thinks that star-crossed lovers have to end up unhappy is Romeo and Juliet, of course. But Jen thinks you should try Luck of the Draw by Kate Clayborn and Sarah recommends Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan, but comes with a whole suitcase of content warnings for domestic violence. In the interim, Jen read and recommends Forbidden Promises by Synithia Williams, the heroine falls in love with her sister's ex-husband! And of course, coming in the summer of 2020 comes Daring and the Duke by Sarah, which will also work. But you have to wait!Question 3: Megumi from San Antonio, TX is looking for "a contemporary of someone not Scottish going to Scotland and finding love. (Maybe England but mostly Scotland)"Our Recommendations: Jen lost her mind and said Unfixable by Tessa Bailey, but Willa is a heroine who goes to Ireland. She thinks it still counts. Sarah recommends a novella by Sophie Jordan called "In a Stranger's Bed" which was a Goldilocks retelling published in the Glamour anthology but which is currently unavailable so come on Sophie, get it together and put your stories up because they are ON FIRE. A few others you can try: A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole, the Under the Kilt series by Melissa Blue, Getting Hot with the Scot by Melonie Johnson, and Ten Days With the Highlander by Hayson Manning. Also, we didn't know what Adriana Herrera had up her sleeve when we recorded, but Mangos & Misteltoe is ADORABLE, and features to delicious Dominican heroines falling in love on a Scottish Baking Show. It's also a perfect holiday romance!Question 4: Becca wants "a funny contemporary, a true romcom, minimal trauma."Our recommendations: Jen thinks it doesn't exist. Sarah recommends going old school to Jennifer Crusie or Susan Elizabeth Phillips. If it helps, you should know that later this season, we'll be talking about Bet Me and Nobody's Baby But Mine. After we recorded, Sarah realized she should have recommended Christina Lauren, who she adores, and who she believes is one of the few authors writing real RomCom. If you haven't read Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating, it's a very funny, very romantic friends-to-lovers romance! "What happened to romantic comedy" is an existential question for our time.Question 5: Laurel from NC wants a book that "Has marriage of convenience, preferably historical."Our recommendations: Sarah says Sherry Thomas better than everyone and recommends Ravishing the Heiress. Jen thinks The Duke Buys a Bride by Sophie Jordan might work. Sarah points out that in order to qualify, the marriage has to happen pretty early in the story. The marriage has to be part of the plot the whole time. Once again, there are so many of these we had trouble thinking of them on the spot, but in hindsight, Sarah would like you not to miss Amalie Howard's The Beast of Beswick or Scarlet Peckham's The Duke I Tempted. Bonus story from Jen about a Sherry Thomas YA book about Mulan called The Magnolia Sword.Question 6: Cara from Finland wants a book that "Has chosen families strongly included in the plot. Extra points if it's enemies-to-lovers with the heroine's family ready to kick the pining-but-unfortunately-dumbass hero's butt."Our recommendations: Whoa! That's a lot of asks all at once. Just reread IAD, Cara! This is the plot of Sarah's book A Scot in the Dark, so that's a good place to start. Lots of rock star romances have chosen family, try Kristen Callihan's series, and Managed will be a book that blooded Jen later this season. It's not linked via heroines, but Elle Kennedy's Hotter than Ever is bonkers sexy, a MMF menage, and has lots of found Navy SEAL family. In historicals, there are lots of sisterhood/brotherhood books. Try the Wallflowers series by Lisa Kleypas, or Lorraine Heath's Scoundrels of St. James!Question 7: Krystal from New Jersey is looking for "Childhood friends to lovers - historical! Where the Male is titled and the woman is not!"Our recommendations: There are so many that will work here. Sarah recommends Tessa Dare's first series, the Wanton Dairymaids (!!!) should work, try Godess of the Hunt. After recording, of course, a bunch of books came to mind! Try Kelly Bowen's You're the Earl That I Want, Vanessa Riley's The Butterfly Bride, and Loretta Chase's Last Night's Scandal.Question 8: Rosalie from the Chicago suburbs wants books she "can recommend to my 15 year old son. Have thought about Sarina Bowen’s Ivy Years. Although LJ Shen “Sinner of Saints” series is high school, seems too dark/gritty and I think he would not be able to suspend reality for some of the story lines given he is the same age."Our Recommendations: Sarah thinks the Sarina Bowen series you mentioned should work just fine. Adult romances that are adventure stories might work are the Hidden Legacy seriesby Ilona Andrews and Polaris Rising by Jessie Mihalik. Some actual YA Romance that Jen likes are The Way You Make me Feel and I Believe in a Thing Called Love, which are both by Maurene Goo. One of Jen's favorite YA books of all time is called The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. She also recommneds Not if I Save You First by Ally Carter. Some sports romances we recommend are the WAGS series by Naima Simone, especially Scoring Off the Field. Finally, The Deal by Elle Kennedy might be a good choice.Question 9: Jemma from Texas is looking for "Found family. Also with lots of good food descriptions. Not necessarily a chef romance though (they stress me out because chefs stay up so late at night; ugh, who does that?)"Our recommendations: This is such a perfect question for Sarah. She recommends the Recipe for Love series by Louisa Edwards. Another series by the same author is called the Rising Star Chefs. The Opposite of You by Rachel Higginson will work. Finally, American Dreamer by Adriana Herrera, and a series by Sabrina Sol. In hindsight, Sarah basically only recommended books with chefs in them. She's sorry. She has a problem.Question 10: Sara from Albuquerque wants a "Bodyguard trope where the person being guarded does NOT spend the whole book trying to escape the bodyguard because he/she doesn't think there is any danger even though it's incredibly obvious to everyone else. Bonus if the bodyguard character is female."Our recommendations: Jen recommends Sexy/Dangerous (female bodyguard) by Beverly Jenkins, which is fabulous. Nana Malone has a few, one in her royals seris, and another is Bodyguard to the Billionaire (female bodyguard) -- also, listen to Nana talk about Royal Romance on an interstitial last season!. And! Try HelenKay Dimon's Leave Me Breathless(female bodyguard), Katee Robert's Thalanian Dynasty series (male bodyguard/MMF menage) and Anna Zabo's Reverb (trans male bodyguard).Question 11: Molly from Washington has an AMA question about how to organize her Kindle books. She is also looking for a book that "Features a Grumpy/terse older brother’s friend (or older brother of friend) with smart mouth heroine, bonus points for SUPER HOT, some sort of road trip, or problem they have to solve much to their reluctance (trapped on a desert island?) basically Bowen and Mari

Shortcut to finding our characters’ worst flaws and deepest fears? Yes, thank you.All Sarina had to do was say “protagonist character analysis” and we were off. Enneagrams, for those who have never heard of them [raises hand high] are descriptions of character types intended for “journeys of self-discovery.” But when it comes to knowing more about your protagonist (and love interest and antagonist and their mother and all the people) they’re pure solid gold, especially if you go romping down the rabbit hole of reading what people in various types (there are 9, with a “wing” in one direction or another) think of themselves and their relationships. Suddenly, you can think about how your character would play fantasy football, or interview for a job. But the best part is diving deep into how your character behaves at her/his/their very worst, and very best, along with what they most fear and what they believe they want. It’s like real butter on movie popcorn, people.Episode links and a transcript follow—but first, a preview of the #WritersTopFive that will be dropping into #AmWriting supporter inboxes on Monday, October 14, 2019: Top 5 Resources for Dictating Your Work. 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 Enneagram Institute (length type descriptions and relationships between the types under the “LEARN” tab).Free Enneagram test (there are many; this is the one KJ talked about, chosen largely at random for brevity and for being free) from eclecticenergies.com.Enneagram and Coffee on Instagram.#AmReading (Watching, Listening)Jess:  The Butterfly Girl and an essay “The Green River Killer and Me” by Rene Denfeld and Demi Moore’s memoir, Inside OutKJ: The Great Believers, Rebecca MakkaiSarina: The Play, Elle Kennedy#FaveIndieBookstorePrairie Path Books, Wheaton ILThis episode was sponsored by Author Accelerator, the book coaching program that helps you get your work DONE. 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 this week is from enneagramandcoffee on Instagram, and I asked permission to use it, although I confess that I’m posting it pre-reply. But I feel good about our odds. Plus, fun follow for everyone!Getting Ready to NaNoWriMo?Every episode of #AmWriting is sponsored by Author Accelerator, the book coaching program that helps you get your work DONE. One key to that is the INSIDE OUTLINE, a tried and tested tool developed by Jennie Nash that can help you start a book, to help you rescue one that isn’t working, and to guide a revision.Author Accelerator is hosting a webinar about the Inside Outline just in time for NaNoWriMo prep on Monday, October 14 at Noon Pacific/2 PM Central/3 PM Eastern.Register even if you can’t attend live, as a replay will be sent to everyone who has registered.REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR NOWTranscript (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.)KJ:                                        00:01                    Hey Book people, before today’s episode of #AmWriting, I want to tell you about something new from our sponsor, Author Accelerator. No matter where you are in your own work, you’ve probably found yourself working with other writers on theirs. If that time spent encouraging, editing and helping someone else turned out to be pure joy for you, you might want to consider becoming a book coach yourself. 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?Jess:                                     00:01                    Go ahead.KJ:                                        00:01                    This is the part where I stare blankly at the microphone like I don't remember what I was supposed to be doing.Jess:                                     00:01                    All right, let's start over.KJ:                                        00:01                    Awkward pause, I'm going to rustle some papers.Jess:                                     00:01                    Okay.KJ:                                        00:01                    Now one, two, three. Hey I'm KJ Dell'Antonia and this is #AmWriting. We are the podcast about all things, writing short things, long things, fictional things, non-fictional things, memoirs things. And as I say, every single week in a variety of different ways, this is the podcast about sitting down and getting your work done.Jess:                                     01:23                    And I'm Jess Lahey. I'm the author of the Gift of Failure and a forthcoming book on preventing substance abuse in kids that is due in seven days. And you can find my writing at various places including the Washington Post and the New York Times.Sarina:                                 01:41                    I'm Sarina Bowen, the author of more than 30 romance novels and you can find me at sarinabowen.com.KJ:                                        01:49                    And I am KJ Dell'Antonia author of How To Be a Happier Parent and have a novel that will be coming out next summer. And the former editor of the New York Times' Motherlode blog. For the most part at the moment you can find me sitting in front of my laptop writing a new novel. And I'm going to just own that Sarina and I are snuggled up in our small town library, gazing out at there are a lot of really pretty trees, but these that we can see are not super spectacular and that, I forgot my microphone. So we might sound a little echoey.Jess:                                     02:24                    And from my perspective, I'm looking out on the woods behind my house and there are a couple of red leaves out there, but it's Vermont and it's just starting to get that orangy glow to it. It's really pretty. What was crazy is this week I went from Vermont - where I was wearing a sweatshirt - and I traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina where it was oppressively hot, it was like 95 degrees. And then I went New York where it was cold again and then back here. So it's just been a really interesting week of summer and getting into fall. So, I'm ready for fall. I'm happy about it.KJ:                                        03:09                    And now this is the podcast about all things weather, and enough of that. I am so excited about our topic today because this is going to be super fun. We're going to talk Enneagrams, which is a rabbit hole that Sarina went down one day. And then quickly texted to me and I immediately dove right in after her. But let me just say before you all go, 'Wait a minute, wait a minute'. We're not talking about our own Enneagrams, although we might. We're going to talk about doing it for characters, because it's so cool. But before we do, what is an Enneagram for those of us who don't know, which was actually mostly all of us until we started this. You can do the defining.Sarina:                                 04:07                    Oh good. The Enneagram, which seems to have had most of its big talk in the 60s with psychiatrists. Working in psychiatry in the 1960's and 70's is a framework for explaining various human psychological profiles, personality typing.KJ:                                        04:34                    It is not the one where you get I,D, J, H, Q, B, Y. This is the one where you get a number.Sarina:                                 04:42                    So there's nine numbers in a shape. And you were referring to the Myers-Briggs system personality typing, which I'm honestly not a huge fan of. Partly because it was forced upon me by my corporate overlords in my previous work life.Sarina:                                 05:03                    But the Enneagram is, as we'll discuss, uniquely useful for writers. Because both personality type systems have a lot to do with preferences and how you prefer to handle things and how you see the world. The Enneagram I quickly discovered is also really focused on character flaws. Like your super power is also your greatest weakness, right?KJ:                                        05:28                    Which is so perfect for creating both main characters and secondary characters. I mean, that's exactly what you need to know. What does this person fear? And what do they want? And that's what these nine types are. And also, I mean partly because there are nine and then they sort of spread out. There's like, the enthusiastic who leans towards the challenger or leans towards the loyalist. You get a lot of different - this is not cookie cutter, it's got a lot to it.Sarina:                                 06:03                    Right. And if you get a book about Enneagrams and you take a look, you'll see some discussion of the wings, which is a theory with the Enneagram that each of the nine types also has a secondary type, which is the adjacent number.KJ:                                        06:38                    So 27 possibilities, but all of which have a lot of range within them and happily you don't have to get a book on this, you can just hit our friend uncle Google.KJ:                                        06:52                    Right. And there's some nice reliable sources for information.Sarina:                                 06:57                    And our favorite is the Enneagram Institute. I was pointed there (I'd like to give a shout out to author Nana Malone) who is the first person who ever said the word Enneagram to me. And I had to go look it up and Nana Malone is a romance writer and now I need to go read everything she's written because she has a wonderfully nuanced understanding of how this all works for character typing. And she really sort of walked me through how she looks at it and I was immediately hooked.KJ:                                        07:27                    We're enchanted, in part because one of the things I like about this (besides that it helps you) we all start with a character and we have this sort of mental picture, and I think we often start from something kind of flat. You often start with a stereotype. So you're often like, 'Well, my person is a real type A, or my person is a real introvert. Like you kinda just start with one word and then you build from there. And after you've spent a little time building, then you can dig into these Enneagrams and you'll find the one that fits the person that you're creating. And then you can sort of start reading a little more and go, 'Oh yeah, totally.' We're in the Enneagram Institute right now and we're looking at the peacemaker. So peacemakers are accepting, and trusting, and stable. And you could see that could be a character, but then you know, you can go like really sort of down into it and they have a universal temptation to ignore the disturbing aspects of life and seek peace and comfort. They numb out. You can see how you can really use this to create someone.Sarina:                                 08:51                    So everybody's biggest super power is also their biggest weakness. And even though we like the sound of that as fiction writers, this really shows you how to do it.KJ:                                        09:03                    I'm just looking at nine here. It even tells you exactly what it is that nine is. We're not proposing you just grab this and like stick it into a book cold. But if you have a character who's a nine, their want is for everything to be peaceful and pleasant and can't we all just get along? But their need, which is right here on the bottom of the list of description of nine, is to remember that the only way out is through and you can't just brush your troubles under the carpet. And there you go. I mean, that's practically a plot right there.Sarina:                                 09:40                    It is. And they all are. Maybe we should just dive in and give a few examples. I'm writing a nine right now. Well, nine is, as you said, that the peacemaker or the peaceful mediator. And most any gram resources will tell you what is that person's greatest fear? And nine's fear being shut out. And they fear being overlooked. They fear losing connection with others and all kinds of conflict, tension, and discord. So, what they're longing for is that their presence really matters. And their desire is for inner stability and peace of mind, because of those basic fears. And so you can see that their weakness then would be to hide from the stuff that isn't quite hitting their peacemaker senses. So, you could remain in an idealistic place psychologically and not cope with the things going on around you.KJ:                                        10:51                    So this person needs to sort of break through that desire to keep everything idealistic and feeling like it's all safe and calm and get to a point where they actually feel secure.Sarina:                                 11:07                    So let's contrast the nine with a seven.KJ:                                        11:09                    That's perfect because I'm writing a seven.Sarina:                                 11:11                    Me too.KJ:                                        11:12                    Oh, excellent.Sarina:                                 11:14                    Well, my seven is a party boy.KJ:                                        11:16                    My seven is a failed child actress.Sarina:                                 11:21                    Well, this number is usually called the enthusiast. And their basic desire is to be happy and satisfied, fulfilled and engaged. So sevens hate boredom and they're easily bored. And I was listening to a podcast with Ian Cron who has what is probably the most popular Enneagram book out there. And it has a bright yellow cover, The Road Back To You, I think. And he was very clear about how sevens leave a wake of unfinished projects behind them because of their attention span. And there's always something more interesting to be doing. And I really particularly liked his descriptive appeal about all of these. And there's one, I don't think it started like this in the 60's and 70's, but a lot of the writings about Enneagrams now are from a faith-based kind of Christian perspective. I don't read much faith-based stuff, but he had a really light touch that that made me want to seek out his book anyway. Even if even if the Christian angle is not what's interesting to me about it. So the seven and the nine don't look at the world the same way, even though they're in the same world together sometimes and have to have to sort through that. And in each case you're handed weaknesses. And so if you look at the Enneagram Institute site, it will actually tell you what a romantic pairing.KJ:                                        13:05                    We can just look that up right now. Relationships types, we've got a seven and a nine here and I'll just go under seven and hit the nine. And we can see what each type brings to the relationship.Sarina:                                 13:21                    They bring a good mix of similar and opposite qualities. Fundamentally, they're both positive outlook types who are optimistic, upbeat, and prefer to avoid conflicts.KJ:                                        13:33                    There's gotta be a but here.Sarina:                                 13:34                    Oh, there's absolutely always a but. That's why we like Enneagrams. So sevens are more active and self-assertive than nines. They tend to take initiatives and to make the plans and have multiple interests and they bring the fun and sparkle and the party atmosphere. Well nines bring a sense of steadiness and support so you can see how that might build.KJ:                                        13:56                    And that's one of the things sevens want is somebody to take care of them. One of the seven's weaknesses that I've found that I'm exploiting in my person is that they want to feel like somebody else. They would like to seed the decision making to someone else. So that they can just sort of party along, having a good time and you know, getting a chance to try everything and do everything and experience everything, but not necessarily have to make any hard choices. So here are the potential trouble spots for that possible relationship between the seven and the nine. Sevens are more equipped to talk about whatever's bothering them. But they often feel they cannot help themselves and honesty demands they tell the nine how unhappy they are with them.Sarina:                                 14:54                    That's a good scene.KJ:                                        14:55                    One of the sunniest and most carefree couples can become one of the most hopelessly tortured if they become unwilling or unable to really talk with each other. Why do I have a feeling that is going to happen to the poor seven and nine?Sarina:                                 15:10                    But that's also like the classic Harry Potter and Dumbledore problem, right? Just knock on his office door, Harry.KJ:                                        15:17                    That's every book. I mean, it's not a good book unless you're shouting, 'Just tell them. Just tell people, just tell everyone what's wrong. Just tell them the truth.'.Sarina:                                 15:28                    You know what, though? You make a good point because that is in every book, but it's not always good in every book. So you have to earn it.KJ:                                        15:36                    And it has to be different and the person has to have a really good reason for not telling the truth. So you have to understand why they're not going to. And if they don't, if you're sitting there reading along going, 'Oh, come on. Like you know, this character would just tell her boss everything or whatever, then that's it.' You're not going to keep going. So, Enneagrams can help you to find the reasons that your character is not telling the deep dark secret. Not telling the deep, dark secret is not revealing everything about themselves or whatever. And then you can also head out and have a look. So one of the things I think is fun about the Enneagram is that it's a great way to find some things about your character that would be true to this person that you have created, that are also quirky. And a funny way to do that if you just want to sort of wander through the world of quirks of different things is to (I mean there's probably a lot of places to do this) but we happened to have found the Instagram account for Enneagrams and Coffee. It's lovely, it's really funny. So, for example there's a post here where she says, 'I need someone who for each Enneagram type. So sevens need someone who doesn't stop on my ideas and nine needs someone who asks them really good questions and genuinely listened to the answers. Sometimes these are funny, sometimes they're not. But the reason I loved it is you can come up with a bizarre quirk that your person always does. So walking down the sidewalk sevens are dance walking. And you could use that. And what you get is sort of quirks that are gonna be consistent with a personality type that maybe you are not, but you know people that are like this, you can feel it. You can sort of get their three-dimensionals. For example, when they play fantasy football they're the one that's always trying to trade. Or whatever. That might not occur to you, but it might be perfect for your person. And it's just fun.Sarina:                                 18:04                    I liked the fantasy football one, too. I read that one. We should do a few more types because it makes our examples better. So type one is the reformer, the moral perfectionist. And I have to say, that I think I might be this type.KJ:                                        18:21                    We will put a link to a quiz you can take that is free. And frankly the link was chosen entirely because I Googled free Enneagram test and this one was free and kind of long and seemed good. So we'll put a link and you can figure out your own because of course that's fun. Alright, so type one, possibly Sarina.Sarina:                                 18:43                    You really like rule following. I don't like to make the rules, but I like to make sure that everyone else is following them. Number two, the helper, the supportive advisor. So the number twos are the people who are making sure that there's somebody working in the soup kitchen on Christmas Eve and they really, really love helping other people and it really feeds them.KJ:                                        19:11                    But they also like to be appreciated for their doing of this. I'll talk about this in a later episode if I'm not quite done with it, but I just read The Logger Queen of Minnesota and loved it. And there's a total two, like one of the main characters and there is just two, two, two. They're always doing exactly that, but their inner thought is always, 'You know, basically maybe when I'm dead everyone will appreciate how much I did.'.Sarina:                                 19:39                    And number three is the achiever. So that's the person in the CEO office burning the midnight oil, you know, making sure he's on top of the heap. And I think, in my earlier life I was more of a three before I found my inner one.KJ:                                        19:58                    I've got a three in my next book. I've got a broken down, beaten up, three. In the book I'm writing.Sarina:                                 20:07                    Okay. So four is the romantic individualist. So the who's the Harry Potter character?KJ:                                        20:13                    Luna Lovegood.Sarina:                                 20:13                    Writing the poetry, gazing at the moon, singing a song, interpretive dance.KJ:                                        20:22                    I remember some fun stuff I liked about this one. Also empathy, they see themselves as uniquely talented, special, one of a kind, but also uniquely disadvantaged or flawed. So you see this in a lot of characters where they feel like they're super special and they're different from everyone else. And one of the things that they often have to discover, which I'm sure I could find if I sort of scroll down here, is that other people also share their needs, or share their interests, or are willing to sort of be part of them. My longings can never be fulfilled because I now realize that I'm attached to the longing itself and not to this best specific result. So that's what the four needs is to figure out how to be attached to something besides this sort of dream of themselves as special.Sarina:                                 21:25                    Type five, the investigative thinker. And that's supposed to be the most analytical personality type. And also tending toward introvert.KJ:                                        21:37                    So it's a little obvious, but if you were writing in the mystery genre, you probably at least would want to hit this so you could figure out whether your person had this or didn't have this. And if your main character doesn't, there's probably someone in your plot that does. I could see that.Sarina:                                 21:54                    So five is like Sherlock Holmes.KJ:                                        21:57                    Yeah. I'm looking at this - so perceptive and innovative, sure. But also secretive and isolated. I mean, that's a thousand detective story heroes. But they're all interesting and deep and it's not like a two dimensional thing. Alright. Six the loyalist. What do you have on the loyalist?Sarina:                                 22:19                    You know, I haven't done enough that I understand this one so well. But, sixes know how to be on a team, but they're a bit anxious. Like they're Woody Allen, making all of my anxieties, wearing them on the outside.KJ:                                        22:38                    The cool thing about the Enneagram Institutes, their key motivations are they want to have security, they want to feel supported by others, to test the attitudes of others towards them, and to fight against their anxieties and securities. I mean, once again, I could write a dozen plots in that. Oh, this one gives George Costanza. Okay, so now we know what a six is. A six is George Costanza. Do you like me? Do you really like me? I don't think you like me. I'm just going to be really awful until I see whether or not you like me. But I'm also going to be completely loyal to you at all times. That's a six, I like a six. Then, just to keep sort of going with what we can do character wise here, if you scroll down to the bottom of this extremely useful free site, they talk about how at their best the six is self affirming, and trusting of others, and independent, belief in themselves leads to true courage. Okay, that's where your six gets to at the end of your book, right? But at the beginning, your six is ... let's don't go all the way down to hysterical. I guess this is probably where they drop down to.Sarina:                                 23:55                    Yeah, that's the darkest moment.KJ:                                        23:58                    The darkest moment for the level six - they're self destructive and suicidal. They're on skid row.Sarina:                                 24:05                    Okay, well that's pretty dark. Not in a comedy, maybe.KJ:                                        24:09                    Yeah, maybe in a comedy you only go to level seven.Sarina:                                 24:12                    But you do bring up a good point, which is that Enneagram writers like to talk about, what an unhealthy version of each one of these things looks like. And my friend Nana Malone was saying that she looks at these unhealthiest levels, like what's the worst version of that character's self? And then she sort of looks at that to be the dark moment of her novel. And tries to make those things pan out each time.KJ:                                        24:44                    And it's really cool reading this stuff about the six. You can see them sort of deteriorating. You know, to compensate for their insecurities they become sarcastic and belligerent, blaming others for their problems. And then they just sort of keep sinking lower. But then hopefully they come back around and end up believing in themselves and finding their true courage. I'm not sure that ever happened for poor George Costanza yet.Sarina:                                 25:08                    The series ended before he got there.KJ:                                        25:10                    We can hope that he found himself in a prison cell.Sarina:                                 25:13                    The only one we haven't mentioned is number eight.KJ:                                        25:16                    Okay, well conveniently enough, number eight is the one I dropped into.Sarina:                                 25:23                    Really? So tell me about eight, because I don't think I understand this one.KJ:                                        25:26                    Eights are challengers, rebels. Yeah, that would be me. And the quirky thing about eight, the thing that kept popping up everywhere is that eights also wants to try everything. So eights are ordering everything in the restaurant because they don't want to miss out on everything. So that's an eight characteristic. Decisive, willful, prefers other people to do what they want. That might be me. Yeah, I was sort of in between. I was like, 'Am I seven or am I eight?' But I tested out as an eight.Sarina:                                 26:02                    So the fear here is of being controlled, like letting someone else make all their decisions.KJ:                                        26:08                    To be in control of their own life, says the unemployable, freelance writer. So that would be me. Yeah, I didn't spend a ton of time on it, but apparently I could rebuild a city, run a household, wage war, make peace. I have all kinds of things within my Enneagram. It's a rabbit hole, we can't deny it. But man, it's a useful rabbit hole. When you're thinking about your character and trying to create someone who is three-dimensional and whole, who isn't either too perfect or too flawed. You can't read this and go, 'Okay, well I'm just going to apply this Willy nilly.' You have to go, 'Well, okay, what would somebody in my character's situation who has these fears, that has these desires, what might they do? You know, what might they have done at some moment in their past? What would be affecting what they do now?' It's hugely fun.Sarina:                                 27:15                    So it's been really useful for me on the book that I need to finish next, in a couple of months or whatever. But I have to say that I have discovered a big question in my head about how this all fits together because when you use the Enneagram as your character basis, it almost, but not accurately... So here's a moment where once I learned more about it, I'll find my answer. But the other way we build characters is to look at their big emotional wound and to understand how this thing that happened earlier in life is shaping all of their decisions and their outlooks now, which is somewhat in conflict with the idea that you're born seeing the world a certain way. So yeah, I mean if you want to go with that character background that you know, he witnessed a horrible accident or you know, some big thing in his or her past made that person be the way they are right now, there's a little bit of struggle there. And between that framework for making your character arc and this sort of innate diversion.KJ:                                        28:33                    I think that when it comes to creating character, I can probably work with either way. You need to have the emotional wound or the moment in their background or the lengthy experience. You know, there are a lot of options there. It doesn't have to be a single event that gives them whatever misbelief that they're sort of traveling through life with, right? But I feel like I personally can take the Enneagram and either start it there, it doesn't bother me, I'm cool. They don't have to have been born with it. I find that I can't make a person - like basically the minute I start to make a person and I want to give the person a name, I have to know who their parents are and sometimes even who their parents are. Not like in depth, but I can't even name you unless I know what your mother and father would have named you.Sarina:                                 29:30                    Well that's really healthy as a fiction writer because you will save yourself time, I think. Because I actually kind of take the opposite approach whereas that I usually know some dramatic thing that's going to happen at the 50% point. And so the beginning part of my characterization sounds like I'm holding a Barbie doll and a Ken doll, one in each hand. And the dialogue that's coming is just as bad as it sounds like it would be. And I have to sort of bumble through that a while until I figure out what they're really saying to each other. So, if I knew who their parents and grandparents were, the first draft of chapter one would be a lot better.KJ:                                        30:11                    Maybe. Sometimes you get lots and lots of pages on who their parents and grandparents are that you really, really don't need. But yeah, I can't even give them a name until I know where the name would've come from. And then to know that, sometimes I have to know why the parents' names were what they were. I guess I think names are really important. I could probably find a naming rabbit hole, I've found them all.Sarina:                                 30:37                    I've bought baby books when my kids were already teenagers, just for this purpose. Seriously, there's a lot of baby books in the world.KJ:                                        30:45                    I just Google, you know, common surnames or common first names for people with X descent and that kind of thing.Sarina:                                 30:54                    And I'm sure you've discovered this social security naming database. So in case our listeners don't know, this U.S. Social Security database publishes the most popular 100 names for girls or boys for every birth year, going back a good amount.KJ:                                        31:14                    Right. Which is great because if you need to bring somebody's grandmother or great aunt into the story, you don't want to name them Madison. That'd be wrong.Sarina:                                 31:24                    So you would go back and you would look at the database for the year of 1939 and see that Sally who was the number 17 or whatever.KJ:                                        31:37                    Character creation is so fun. I felt like I could just create characters all day, but darn it, then they have to go and do something and I have to be mean and make terrible things happen to them. And I have to have them make terrible choices. And that is where the glorious thing about this Enneagram is that man, does it give you the reasons that your characters make really, really, really terrible choices. And contrary to all appearances Jess is still here.Jess:                                     32:08                    I'm still here. No, I was going to say, recently I'd noticed a Sarina posting things to her Sarina Facebook group that she's been doing mean things to characters lately and I've been wondering about what kind of evil stuffs been going on over in Sarina's writing world.KJ:                                        32:26                    You got to do mean things. I think I put it up somewhere - woke up, did mean things to character. I don't remember what it was.Sarina:                                 32:35                    I feel like I haven't always been very good at that.KJ:                                        32:38                    Yeah, it's a weakness of mine, too. Like, why don't they just make all the great choices and the whole book will just be the happy middle.Sarina:                                 32:47                    Well plus, honestly, I let readers' angst into my head. Like, I'm writing a book about two characters that my readers have already met and I know that they're not gonna want me to make him make bad choices. Like I can the already hear the, 'Don't make him do that.' And those voices are kind of hard to shut off sometimes.KJ:                                        33:13                    Yeah I have to just have the voice that's like, 'Oh, you know that's just too hard. That's just too much. That's too awful. Nobody wants to read about that.' But yeah, we do. We absolutely do. That's exactly what we want to read about. And speaking about what we want to read about - should we talk about what we have been reading about?Sarina:                                 33:31                    Absolutely.KJ:                                        33:32                    Alright.Jess:                                     33:33                    Who's going first?KJ:                                        33:35                    You go first cause we haven't heard from you for awhile.Jess:                                     33:38                    Okay. So because I've been traveling this week and I've been doing a lot of audio book listening and I listened to some really interesting things. I also want to talk about the fact that Renee Denfeld's book The Butterfly Girl came out this past week. She also published (and I know I've talked about her before) She wrote The Enchanted, she wrote The Child Finder and The Butterfly Girl is the next book in a sequence with the same protagonist that was in The Child Finder. But what's so interesting about Renee is that she's just decided, I have never seen her do this before, she just wrote something, memoiry for crimereads.com. It was an essay called The Green River Killer and Me because Renee was a teen runaway, she lived on the streets. She grew up in a very unsafe situation. And so the stuff that she writes about, these kids on the streets that get lost and sort of lost in the system and lost in the world, she's lived that. And so it was really fascinating. I've been so engrossed in Renee Denfeld's fiction, to suddenly read this piece of memoir from her. It was such a gift and it's a beautiful piece of writing. Crimereads.com. The Green River Killer and Me. But then I have something really fun. I decided to do something a little bit light for this trip. And so I listened to Demi Moore's memoir called Inside Out. And you know when there are those memoirs where you feel like you're hearing a little too much. Like, I don't think I should be hearing this. She spills everything and I got a little uncomfortable. And it was also really weird cause I read it right after it came out, which is when they were looking for like Ashton Kutcher for his response to what she accuses him of in the book. And so in real time I could see on Twitter how people were responding to this book. If you're looking for a juicy, sort of scoopy memoir, this is the one for you. And you know, I also didn't realize she'd been through some of the stuff that she's been through. But it also made me a little uncomfortable.KJ:                       

Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review.Next week, we’re finishing up the Game Makers series with arguably Kresley’s most damaged hero, Dmitri Sevastyan! Basically, July is “Sarah’s favorite books” month, so settle in for that…we’ll be joined by one of our favorites, Kate Clayborn, who will reveal the name of our group text thread! Read The Player at Amazon, B&N, Apple Books, Kobo, or from your local Indie.Show Notes- Welcome, Nana Malone!- We were all about talking about songs and music videos today: Royals by Lorde, S&M by Rhianna, and Senorita by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello. Bonus hilarious conversation between Jen and her son about that last one.- The e is silent.- Shawn Mendes in Calvin Klein.- All about boy bands, why girls love them, the powerhouse that is BTS, and the many hairstyles of Justin Beiber.- Nick Jonas married up... Chasing that happiness, I guess. Priyanka Chopra is unbelievably gorgeous. We stan.- Meghan and Harry's wedding was our favorite movie of 2018, but Charles and Diana's makes us sad. Jen's favorite moment is the singing of Stand by Me, but Sarah's daughter likes this yellow lady.- Kate Middleton has a new fashion plan.- This list on Goodreads has FOUR HUNDRED AND FOUR romances where the hero is a duke.- Prince Albert of Monaco married Grace Kelly and her wedding dress is still gorgeous sixty years later.- All about the Romanceclass authors and their books.- Jen loves John Wick. But then again, who doesn't?- The Sierra Simone taboo scale.- That Sex in the City episode with the "bum licker," as Nana said.- Sarah wants 16th century Assassin's Creed, so this series by Robin LeFevers about a bunch of teenage assassin nuns is the obvious answer.- Have you pre-ordered Brazen & the Beast?- We can't keep track of what we're reading, when. Next week, The Player! In three weeks, back to IAD with the Dacian two-fer: Shadow's Claim & Shadow's Seduction!

How to be a career author: USA Today bestselling powerhouse Nana Malone shares the writing and marketing process you need to stay motivated and inspired for the next 10 years and more. Nana also talks about how the royal wedding between Meghan and Harry affected her Royals Undercover series and why she loves the romance genre. Start self-publishing today with KWL. Join the platform that’s fast, free, easy. www.kobo.com/writinglife

Amanda and Jenn discuss baby shower books, true crime, short stories on audio, and more in this week's episode of Get Booked. This episode is sponsored by The Vale by Brian D. Anderson and A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena.   Questions 1. Details: My mom is throwing me a book-themed baby shower which I am very excited about. She wants to give all the guests a book as part of the party favors. The guest list is an interesting mix of people; men and women will be there, but most of the guests will be women over 40 with a handful of people my own age (I'll be 30 when the shower happens). The men who will be there like Game of Thrones, but some like video games and comic books while others like military stories. I don't want my mom to spend too much on books, so I'm thinking paperbacks are the way to go. Question: Do you have any suggestions for books that can appeal to pretty much anyone? Or something for the men and something else for the women? Thank you, --Channell   2. Hey Ladies, This has been a wonderful week for me because I saw Black Panther TWICE and I just finished my second reading of "The Wedding Date" by Jasmine Guillory . And I'm realizing I'd love your help in finding some new books, especially books that center black characters as joyful and thriving and not always dealing with the "struggle" of being black. Black Panther showed this amazingly beautiful world where black people are smart and strong. The Wedding Date was a story about a black woman who is desired, loved, and respected in her budding relationship with a white man. As a black women, I'm realizing that I need more books like "The Wedding Date" because I'm weary of books and movies that center the narrative around the hardships of being black. I'd love to see if you can suggest some books like "The Wedding Date". I'd love more chick lit with a black woman protagonist and extra points for multi-racial interracial relationships. In the past I've loved Nana Malone and Theodora Taylor. I've also read "Black Rainbow" by J.J. McAvoy I'm open to fantasy with black female protagonists too, just as long as there's a love story involved, too. --Whitney   3. I realized after listening to a few podcasts (Serial, Murder on Orchard Street, Dirty John), and watching TV shows (Making a Murderer) that I love True Crime. It is genre that I have never read before. Would love some recommendations. Thank you for this awesome show! --andrea   4. Hi Get Booked folks! I recently discovered your podcast and love listening to it on my drive. My TBR is getting uber long, which is great since I've got an extended holiday coming up in Nov and again in Dec! I've recently discovered dystopian and/or post-apocalyptic novels, and have to say I'm totally in love. Some of my favorites are Oryx and Crake, Brave New World, Wind-Up Girl, Water Knife, Handmaid's Tale, 1984, and right now I'm reading An Excess Male. I would love some recommendations that fall along those lines. --Neelam   5. Hi ladies! In the years since I graduated college, I’ve tried to make a concerted effort to continue educating myself. I’m particularly interested in women’s and gender studies, social justice issues, and using history to inform our current political moment. The problem is I’m finding it very difficult to get through the nonfiction books I’m picking up. I do most of my reading during my commute or lunch break, whenever I can fit it in. But when I’ve tried reading nonfiction in short bursts like this, I’ve found that I don’t retain anything I’ve read. I’ve tried books of essays (most recently Roxane Gay’s Bad Feminist) and had more success, but the segmented nature makes it hard to keep up momentum; I’ll finish an essay, put the book down, and not return to it for weeks. So, I’m looking for suggestions for narrative nonfiction that will keep me more easily engaged. Any help is much appreciated! --Teresa   6. Hi. I want to read more books about and/or written by POC. I love fiction, YA, and sometimes non-fiction. No graphic novels please. I love books about culture and every day day. I also love fantasy and magic. Mostly I just want to expand my library to include POC, different cultures, and life through a different perspective. --Jessica   7. Thanks for the awesome recommendations on your podcast; I would like to "read" more audiobooks, but they don't fit well into my current lifestyle. I'm thinking that short story collections on audiobook would be a good way to go. Do you have any recommendations? --Kristin   Books Discussed Mem by Bethany C Morrow (May 22 2018) Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery Name That Movie by Paul Rogers The Awesome Girl’s Guide to Dating Extraordinary Men by Ernessa T Carter (rec’d by Jamie C) Bingo Love by Tee Franklin and Jenn St. Onge The Red Parts by Maggie Nelson I’ll Be Gone In The Dark by Michelle McNamara (recommended by Liberty), trigger warnings: rape and murder The Power by Naomi Alderman (trigger warning: sexual violence) Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson Notorious RBG by Irin Carmon, Shana Knizhnik In The Country We Love by Diane Guerrero and Michelle Burford (tw: self harm, discussion of suicide) When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco Sherlock Holmes Back Talk: Stories by Danielle Lazarin (rec from Katie on the Audiobooks newsletter) Post: Short story audiobooks