Podcasts about Romance novel

Is it realistic for a character to regress in a novel? Why might a character regress, and is it relatable for them to do that? In this episode of the Author Diary Entries podcast, your host and chick lit indie author Sagan Morrow analyzes character regression in contemporary romance novel Kiss Me — Book 8 in the Polyamorous Passions series. We do an analysis of the main character, Scarlett, and her character development (or regression!) throughout the series… especially since she is initially viewed through the eyes of OTHER characters (Emma, in Books 1 - 3, and Helen, in Books 4 - 6). If you've ever wondered what's going on when your favourite character seems to be regressing, this is a must-listen episode for exploring subtext. Remember to leave a voicemail for the author after tuning in to this episode, to share your thoughts, insights, questions, and comments! Resources mentioned in this episode: Kiss Me (Book 8 in the Polyamorous Passions contemporary romance series): https://books2read.com/polypassions8 More “why choose” chick lit novels — the Polyamorous Passions series and Small Town Stilettos: SaganMorrow.com/books Book life coaching sessions for personal fulfillment with Sagan: https://saganmorrow.com/coaching/ Connect with Sagan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saganlives Connect with Sagan on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@saganlives Tune into ALL episodes of the Author Diary Entries podcast at https://saganmorrow.com/podcast Send fan mail! Click HERE to leave Sagan a voicemail & share your thoughts about this episode.Support the show

Today we're doing something a little different—a special episode all about writing romantic fiction, featuring two food people: Eliza Dumais and Julia Turshen. Eliza is a wine writer based in New York, and Julia is a cookbook author and part-time farmer in the Hudson Valley, and they're both authors of new romance books from 831 Stories: Grape Juice, set amid a sweaty summer wine harvest in France, and Down to Earth, a queer love story with a highly crushable vegetable farmer in upstate New York. On the show, Aliza speaks with Eliza and Julia about the parallels between writing about food and romance and much more. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you write when your heart is broken? How do you go back into the publishing business after years away, knowing it's a very different industry to the one you left? With Jami Albright. In the intro, InAudio is now distributing audiobooks to BookShop.org; The Feedback Loop that Makes Better Writers [Author Nation Podcast]; Bones of the Deep on Goodreads. This episode is sponsored by Publisher Rocket, which will help you get your book in front of more Amazon readers so you can spend less time marketing and more time writing. I use Publisher Rocket for researching book titles, categories, and keywords — for new books and for updating my backlist. Check it out at www.PublisherRocket.com This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Jami Albright is the bestselling author of the Brides on the Run romances and the co-host of the Wish I'd Known Then Podcast. Today we're talking about her new novel, The Summer That Changed Us. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. Show Notes How Jami started writing fiction at 47 and waited a year before publishing her first book Why she fictionalised her sister's terminal cancer story rather than writing a memoir The difference between writing as therapy and writing for the reader Reactivating an email newsletter after almost two years of silence Going wide with a standalone women's fiction novel after years in KU and rom-com Letting go of the frantic hustle of indie publishing and redefining what success looks like You can find Jami at JamiAlbright.com. Transcript of the interview with Jami Albright Jo: Jami Albright is the bestselling author of the Brides on the Run romances and the co-host of the Wish I'd Known Then Podcast. Today we're talking about her new novel, The Summer That Changed Us. So, welcome to the show, Jami. Jami: Thank you, Joanna. I've made it. This is my first time on The Creative Penn, so I can retire tomorrow. Jo: And we were saying before the show, I really thought you had been on the show before, because over the years we've connected a lot. We met over a decade ago, didn't we? At the Smarter Artist Summit. I was like, “I'm sure you've been on the show,” and you haven't. So, yes, welcome. Jami: Thank you. You've been on our show, though. We did an interview with you a few years ago. Jo: Yes. Well, anyway, for anyone who doesn't follow your show— Tell us a bit more about you and how you got into writing and publishing. Jami: Okay. So I am the co-host of the Wish I'd Known Then Podcast for Writers. Sara Rosett and I have been doing that podcast since January 2020. Little did we know what was coming, and it really saved me, just mentally, being able to talk to people every week. I never wrote a word of fiction until I was 47. I'd never really written anything. I have really bad grammar. I tell a lot of stories, and I would make up stories, but I'd never write them down because of the grammar thing. But my reading buddy had her birthday coming up in about three months, and I thought, “You know what? I'm going to write Jennifer a book for her birthday. She doesn't care if I have bad grammar.” I just thought it would be on brand. It was so hard. I wrote myself into a corner very fast. When I told her, she said, “Well, now you have to.” So I got Writing a Romance Novel for Dummies, I read that, and I started writing what is now Running from a Rock Star. But then my computer crashed and I lost it, and I was like, “Well, I'm not a writer.” So that was fine. Then I turned 50, and I told my family, “I think the only thing I regret is not finishing that book.” Of course they were like, “Well, you need to just do it again.” I was like, “No, I had 30,000 words.” A few weeks later my daughter came in and said, “Mom, I found this flash drive in my car. I think it has your book on it.” And it was 20,000 of the 30,000 words. So I was like, “Well, it's now or never.” So I joined Romance Writers of America and got involved in a critique group, and they absolutely kicked my butt for a good six months. I think every week they were surprised I came back, because it was so brutal. I knew I didn't know anything, and they taught me to write. Six months after I joined that first critique group, I won my first contest with the first 10 pages of that book. Then I just continued on. Three years later, I published Rock Star. I was going to publish it two years later, but I went to the Smarter Artist Summit, where I met you. I was advised by Julia Cant and Sean Platt and some other people to wait—preferably to have more books written. I had the second book written when the first one came out, but it still needed to be edited. So I waited a year, learned this business, and sold plasma to pay for my edits because I was poor. It was the best decision I ever made. Going to that conference, first of all, was the best $500 I've ever spent, and waiting that year really helped me learn this business. When I published the book, I had an email list of 1,200 people before the book ever came out. None of those things would have been set up had I published right after the Smarter Artist Summit, which is what I'd thought I would do, in the summer. So waiting gave me time to get everything set up so that when I published that book, it really took off from day one. I had 1,200 people on that newsletter list who wanted that book, because I had done a preview promo. Instead of putting out the whole book, I think I put out four chapters, and then people signed up. I don't know that that works anymore. Jo: I was going to say that. We should say to people, what was that, around 2016? Jami: 2017. Things have changed. Jo: Yes, things have changed, and I think this is so important. I had a question about this, and what they were implying was things that, like you said, we learned a decade ago. Things have changed. We'll come back to how you're doing it now, but just in terms of finishing off how you got started—those books did really well, didn't they? You had a couple of years there. How many books did you do? How did that go? Because you did have real success. Jami: Yes. From 2017 until really the beginning of 2021, if you look at my sales graph and my income, it just increased, increased, increased. 2019 was my very best year, but 2020 was only slightly lower as far as book sales and income. I only put out a book a year after the second book. The second book came out about six months after the first one, and after that it was about every nine months to a year that I put a book out. Everyone said you can't make money doing that, but I did. I think those books are very tropey. They're very hooky. That helped. I also think the timing of those books was really good. Rom-com was really coming up, and my rom-com is pretty wacky, but it's also really emotional too. If I get any critiques about them it's usually that “this book was way more emotional than I expected, and I was looking for something a little lighter.” They're just really wacky. They're rom-coms. Wacky circumstances. Small town, so there's all these small-town people. I just think it was a good time to release those. Those were good years. I miss those years. Jo: It's a good lesson, because it's not always up and to the right, is it? We're going to come back and revisit that. So then the pandemic hit, and on a more personal level, over the last few years, you've had a deeply difficult time that has led to The Summer That Changed Us, your latest book. So talk a bit about what's happened, why this book, and also why fictionalise it rather than write a memoir? I had that question. Jami: Okay. So 2021, my income was dropping, but it was still okay. I was still making more than enough that—thank God I don't have to make all the money in our household—but there was a level that I wanted to. At the end of 2021, my sister, who was the fourth of five sisters, had lived with cancer—non-smoker's lung cancer—for 10 years. She had the kind that, if you had a certain mutation, there were medications that worked amazingly well. Until they didn't, and then they put you on another class of that medication. So for 10 years, that's what she did. She missed work maybe three times in 10 years. People who met her never knew she had cancer unless they knew us. She just never acted like she had cancer. We would have to say, “Remember, you have cancer.” At the end of 2021, they ran out of that class of drugs. There were some being tested, but none had been approved. When she was diagnosed, she was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. You don't survive very long having stage four lung cancer with no medication. So I saw the writing on the wall pretty much at the end of 2021, but of course I was very hopeful that they could do something. By May of 2022, it was clear things were not going well. In July of 2022, she got a six-to-twelve-week diagnosis. She just went in one day thinking she was about to get radiation, not knowing anything, and they were like, “No, we can't do radiation, and you should get your affairs in order because you have six to twelve weeks to live.” Jo: Oh. Jami: People who've been through it know this feeling. It's like being hit by a wrecking ball. It just knocks everything off your axis. Your whole world implodes into this one moment, this person that you love. I live four hours away from my family. They all still live in the same small town. I was in Dallas at my daughter's at the time, and they live about 30 miles outside of Dallas. So I went to my mom's, and I stayed there. I was there for almost six months, if you count the time I was back and forth, because she was not doing great but she was still okay. She had always rallied and come back. But once she got the diagnosis, I stayed. She would go home, but she would come back to my mom's during the day, because her husband worked. She was a teacher, so she was off during the summer. I was just there, and we all just took care of her. When she decided to go on hospice, she wanted to be at my mom's. She didn't want to be at home—they lived out in the country. She wanted to be at my mom's, so we set her up in the living room. We're redneck country people. We bring our crazy people in, our sick people, just out for everybody to see. She was just in the middle of the living room in her hospital bed, and the world just revolved around that hospital bed. Once that happened, once I knew at the end of 2021 that things were not going to go well—I really did not believe she would die. But she died a month after she went on hospice in October of 2022. That whole year, I was useless. I could not write. I couldn't think of anything to write. I write funny. How do you write funny when your heart's broken? I couldn't do it. After she died, I knew it would take a while. I knew it would maybe even be a year. But as the weeks turned into months and the months turned into years, I haven't written—except for her obituary—I've not written a word since she died until I started writing this book a year ago. I started it on April 19th. Jo: I mean, the stories of grief—there seems to be no way of escaping whatever it ends up being. You didn't choose your response. Your deep grief was just there, and you couldn't write. I feel like sometimes people just try and force it. It sounds like that's what you needed, and you have done that. So what then gave you the impetus to finally write—and to choose fiction? Jami: I didn't write memoir. I did think about doing a memoir, but I don't read memoir, and I don't know how to write it. I was already behind the eight ball, trying to write a book at all because it had been forever. I don't need to learn how to write something completely different. Plus, it just felt too close to write the memoir. I had been in Mexico City with my daughter, who has an event planning company, and we were there scouting locations for one of her events. Janet Margot lives in Mexico City, so I reached out, and we had dinner. We were talking, and she had had two big losses about the same time that my sister passed away. So we were talking about how difficult it is afterwards, just getting your head back into a space of being creative at all. She said, “You really should write this book. You should tell this story. It hits everything: middle-aged women dealing with middle-age things. You've got your parents that you were dealing with, and then your sister. You should write this story.” I said, “No, thank you. I lived it. I don't want to write it.” But it just wouldn't go away. I couldn't figure out how I would tell it. Whose point of view? I couldn't do it from the dying sister's point of view because I didn't think I could be authentic. I was afraid to tell it from multiple POVs because the book has a lot of characters in it. My family is gigantic—my immediate family, my sisters, husbands, nieces and nephews, my kids, my mom and dad—there are 35 of us. Almost all of those are in and out of my mom's house all the time. So I knew I couldn't do multiple point of view. One day, I was driving home to my mom's house, and it just hit me. The whole story laid out in front of me, and that's what I did. The first draft was pretty much just a retelling of what happened to us. I added some fictional elements, but I just wanted to get the story out. It was hard. I started Adderall on April 19th of 2025—I know that, because that's the day I started this book. I do call this the book that Adderall wrote, because I could sit and focus for three or four hours, which I'd never really been able to do. I would come to Starbucks and I would sit and write this book, and I would cry sitting in Starbucks, like a crazy person. People would walk by and slide a napkin onto the table and just keep walking, because I'm sitting there crying like crazy. I was so superstitious, and things were working so well, that I was afraid not to come and write at Starbucks. Staying at home, I think, would have been really hard. I would maybe have sunk into a depression had I done this at home. So I just wrote the whole book at Starbucks. After I wrote the first draft, I went back in and made it more fictional. But a lot of the book—especially her stuff—is a lot of what happened. She was just crazy. I tell a story in the book that, this is the absolute truth, this happened. She was in college, and she had convinced my younger sister to go to a honky-tonk club because they were having a Miss Honky-Tonk contest. Before she could get up on stage to compete as Miss Honky-Tonk, she got in a fight with some girl, and the girl hit her in the head with a bottle and split her head open. She was bleeding. My youngest sister was like, “We've got to go to the ER.” And she just refused, because there was a $300 cash prize for winning, and she needed it to make rent. So she borrowed a towel from the bartender, wrapped it around her head, competed with that bloody towel on her head, and won that stupid contest. That story in and of itself was my sister. Everything about her is in that story. So a lot of the stories in there happened to her in one way or another. What happens to June in the book happened to my sister. Jo: This is interesting, because the same thing memoir writers face is something perhaps you face: how much of the writing is therapy and how much is for the reader? You said you sat there crying. Absolutely, writing for therapy is very important—but when you come to edit, there might be things that your therapy side of you is like, “That's so important to me.” How do you kill your darlings when you're editing your sister's life? Jami: That was hard. I had to take out a lot of what was in the first draft, mostly the stories. Once she came home on hospice, it was just a steady stream of people coming in, and everybody had a story about her. What I found in editing was that Hope, the main character, was mostly a spectator in those scenes instead of being actively part of them. So I had to take those out, because they didn't serve the purpose of the book. I committed early on to: while I wanted to tell the story, I did not want it to be self-indulgent. I did not want it to be a therapy session that I sold to people as a story. Because of that, I think that really helped. I really did think about that as I was revising. I sent it to a developmental editor, and I don't know how great she was, but she gave me some really good advice about a couple of things. One was, “There's just not enough conflict in this book. You say that Hope and the father have this really contentious relationship, yet we don't see it. There's a little bit of it here and there, but you're not really digging into that.” It's hard, because while the rest of the world doesn't know, my family knows that this is a lot of our story. I just had to let that go and not worry about what my family thought. They had all given me permission. I'd sort of said, “I want to do this. Are you guys okay with that?” I talked to her husband, and everybody was okay with me doing it. But I couldn't worry about what they were going to think. I would repeat to myself: if they want to tell this story, they can write their own book. I'm writing what I saw and telling a fictionalised story that will hopefully honour her, but also help other people feel like they're being seen, and also be entertaining. If you're going to write a book, it needs to be somewhat entertaining. Jo: I don't think you can help yourself. You're funny. Jami: Yes. The book is really funny. I tell people that and they're like, “Hmm, really?” And I'm like, “It is really funny.” But it's also really sad. Jo: Well, I think that's the truth—to defend myself. There is a lot of humour in grief. There is death and dying, and it's a human condition. Jami: It is a human condition, yep. Jo: There's comedy in all of the human condition. That's just the way it is, right? I heard you mention on an interview, I can't remember where it was, that you feel very connected to this book, and you're worried that people judging it or giving it a bad review might feel like an insult to your sister. How are you dealing with these kinds of fears about how to separate ourselves from our books? Jami: I've been in therapy—like, literal therapy—for that, because I felt like that would be hard. So far, I've only gotten a few reviews back. They've all been good reviews. I haven't had anyone say they hate it. I just have had to separate myself. It's not personal. Reviews are never personal. People not liking your book is never personal. That's just a mindset. I've had to change my mind about that. Knowing that's a pitfall I could fall into, I really keep it top of mind. My family knows that's an issue, so they know they have to pull me out of that hole if I drop in. So that's really how I've handled it so far. We'll see. Jo: Maybe it's time as well. You're almost back to the “book is your baby” situation. As the years pass, the book almost becomes separate, doesn't it? How you feel about your first bride book is probably like, “It's not even me anymore.” Jami: Right. I learned early that your book isn't really your baby. Once you publish it, it's your product. So that has never been very hard for me. I still hate bad reviews, and I take them personally like everybody else does, if I let myself. But ultimately, this is a book that I'm putting out for entertainment. Yes, it's very personal. Yes, it means a lot to me. But if people don't like it, it isn't because they don't like my dead sister. They just don't like my writing. Jo: It's tough, but it's good to talk about, because this is something many people feel. My memoir Pilgrimage—it's not the same at all—but I was just so scared of judgment. The fear of judgment. What people would think of me. That's kind of different, but— It's this question of how it'll land. The reality is, not many people read these books anyway. Jami: Well, I have worried about how it would land, but mostly I worry about how it would land with the people I love. My mom read it last week. I was there while she was reading it. That was no fun. She laughed, but it was devastating to her. She's like, “It's great, and I hate it.” Because it is so raw and real to her still—well, to all of us. That's where I worry, how it's going to land with them. But again, I've had to let that go. I had to let it go during the writing, because if I worried about that, then I would not have told an honest story. That was another thing—I didn't want it to be self-indulgent, and I wanted it to be honest. As honest as I could make it, even to the point of making people uncomfortable. There's a line. Once you cross it, there's no getting you back after that. So I walked that line really carefully, because I did want it to be honest about how I felt, how other people I know who've been through something like this feel. Also, just relationships. Because when you're in a big family like my sisters and I—we adore each other, but we can also go toe-to-toe real fast. It can get ugly, because we know each other really well. We're also a little bit redneck, so we don't pull any punches. Your sisters are always the most honest people in your life. I wanted that to be true in this book too—both sides of that story. Jo: Let's circle back to the business stuff and some of the things we talked about, because obviously this has been a really difficult time. There was no way to deal with it in any other way, but your business has changed. You had these great few years, good sales, and then you had other priorities. So how are you rebooting the business? Lots of people end up taking a few years out for whatever reason. How are you rebooting the business to try and sell some books? Jami: To be honest, I have the remnants of a business. I have tried over the last four years to run some ads to get the Bride's books going, but here's something that's very interesting, and if somebody can tell me why this happened, I would love to hear it. These books that have sold so many books—I mean, so many books—I could not give them away. It didn't matter what I did. I changed covers, I changed blurbs, I put them on sale, I took them off sale, I ran ads. Ads wouldn't really move the needle. I know that at a certain point, when you haven't published and your books get pushed down in the algorithm, that is an uphill battle. But it was almost like, one day they just fell off, and once they started falling, I could not get them back. I just couldn't. So that I didn't make myself crazy—because also during this time, I was just trying to keep my head above water—when I would deal with my books or go into my dashboard, I would feel horrible. I was already feeling horrible, so I didn't need to feel more horrible. So I just sort of let them go after a certain point. I've now started running some Facebook ads. I have one Facebook ad that's working really well, knock on wood, right now for my first Bride's book. The problem is, this book and my Bride's books are different. The voice and the tone are the same, but they're really different in a lot of ways. They're the same in a lot of ways. This book doesn't have any sex; the other books don't have anybody dying. But some of the things are really similar. So I may have some crossover. For whatever reason, this ad is working. My book one is ranked better than it's been ranked in forever—really good. I'm not spending a ton of money to do it. So I don't know what changed. I don't know if I'll ever know. I've revised my newsletter, and that's worked well. I still have around a 35 to 40% open rate on a newsletter that I didn't send out for almost two years. I was sending it out, but then I kind of stopped, and then I started again. Jo: I was going to ask you about that, because I often get people emailing me. They're like, “I have a really old newsletter from several years ago. I haven't emailed them for years.” So what did you say in that first email? Like, “Hey, I'm back”? Jami: I mean, I'm just like, “Remember me?” It really was kind of like that. Just, “I'm back. You guys know life has happened. I'm sure you understand. If you're still here, thank you so much. I have been writing. I have this book that I think some of you will really love.” That's really how it was. From the first email, even that first email had a higher open rate. I think it was close to 45%. I had not sent out a newsletter in two years literally. Jo: People were like, “What happened?” Jami: They're like, “Oh, she didn't die. That was her sister, not her.” But I've just been really fortunate. They've been really encouraging. Every time I send one out, I get really encouraging emails back. So I've sent out about the book. The majority of my readers are KU readers because my books are in KU. But this book is going wide. One of the things I'm doing because I have been a little concerned about… Janet Margot does a lot of Amazon ads stuff and she knows a lot about Amazon. We've talked a lot about whether I should use my real name, my pen name, or come up with another name. Should I worry about my readers buying the book and messing up my Also Boughts? All of those things, because my readers are romance readers. Some of them read women's fiction, but for the most part, they're romance readers. I've decided to stick with Jami Albright and not worry about it. There are just things you can't control, so I've had to hold everything with a really open hand with this book. I am offering the book on my website. I'm selling it at $7.99—I chose a high price point, because I just feel like, to sit with the other books that I want it to sit with, I need that price point. So I'm offering it on my website, starting at the end of this week, for $5. If they're KU readers and they don't buy books, but they want the book, they can get it for $5 on my website, which I think is reasonable. Jo: Mm. Absolutely. Jami: If that's too much for them, I understand and I get it. Time, things are hard right now, and if they can't do that, it's going to be in libraries, so they can request it at their library. But right now that's the plan. Hopefully that helps with the Also Boughts a little bit too. Even though, again, I just can't worry about those things. As a gift to my readers, I want to do this for them as well—give them a discount. Jo: And obviously this is a standalone, right? This is not— Jami: Yes, it is. Jo: Again, a bit like memoir, all the book marketing we talk about in fiction is “write a series.” It's much easier. So it is difficult to market a standalone in general. And this is something that happened, so it is a standalone situation. So do you feel like you're back in terms of writing? Have you got plans for more books, or is this a business for you going forward? Do you feel like you want to re-enter this whole world? Jami: I do. I have an idea for a book similar to this one—not in the same kind of genre, I mean, of women's fiction, kind of midlife fiction stuff. I have an idea. I had nothing for months and months and months, and a couple of months ago, this idea kind of came to me. I was like, “Oh, that's not bad.” So I'm mulling it over—I do a lot of mulling—and that's the next book I think I will write. I don't know that I'll write rom-coms again. Not because I don't love them. I do, and I love my rom-coms. But I'm just different. You do not go through something like this and come out on the other side the same. I don't know that I could carry an entire rom-com through without it being even more emotional than mine are now. So for right now, I'm going to write another one of these kinds of books where it's got a lot of emotion, family dynamic, tension and dynamics. Jo: That's great. I do feel like once you've written the book that was waiting—your sister's book—then more things arrive, and it's great to hear that that is arriving for you. And of course, we change. One of the nice things about writing for the long term and building more of a name brand is that you change, and your readers either follow you or they don't, but it's your life. So I think that's a good reason to have one pen name. I obviously have two, but my fiction pen name I've written all kinds of genres under. Why else would we keep doing this? I don't want to write the same book over and over again. Jami: Right. Believe me, I've had to eat a lot of crow over the last four years, and it's tasty with ketchup. I have decided that a lot of the stuff I said is true: about you write in one genre, you give the people exactly what they want, and you give it to them over and over again. I believe all of that. I still believe those things. It's just that I don't know that I'm capable of doing that right now. Also, I'm older. I am about doing the things that bring me joy and are not a drudgery. I want to say this, because I miss the success. I miss who I thought I was during that time. I miss the recognition. I'll freely admit it. I miss being the person doing the thing that everybody said couldn't be done. “You can't make money with one book a year.” Well, watch me. And I did. I miss that. What I don't miss, and I've had to be really, really honest with myself, which has been difficult—I don't miss the anxiety that came with that. There was a lot of franticness. I think that if you are in a lot of groups, you see that franticness. I've had to step back, like I've had to step back, and then go back into these groups, you hear authors and see authors, and there's just this frantic sense that we're losing everything, and we have to hold on so tight to everything. I was like that. I checked my ads constantly. I checked my dashboard constantly. My mom used to say, “This should be fun.” I'm like, “Mom, it's a business. It's not fun.” But I recognise that I loved that so much that I held onto it so tight. I don't want to go back to that. I don't have the energy for that. Since this all happened, I've gained four more grandchildren than I had. I have six grandchildren now. I want to spend time with them. I want to spend time with my adult children. I want to spend time with my mom and dad. So I can't be frantic about my sales—are they going up, are they dropping?—and give emotionally to the people I love in my life. If the last four years have taught me anything, it is that the one thing you can never get back is time. You can never get it back, and that is so important to me right now. With this book—and one of the reasons I wanted to talk to you when we were talking about when I would do it—I wanted to do it before it came out, because I've already won. Writing this book, writing a book that honours the bravest person I've ever known and doing the second-hardest thing that I've ever had to do, is the win. That's the win. Whatever happens with this book afterwards is just what happens with this book afterwards. It doesn't change who I am, and you told me that when we were in Vegas two years ago. That conversation really changed a lot for me, because you said, “You are a successful author.” I was still trying to come up with a plan to be a successful author again, and you were like, “You are a successful author. You've had success. That makes you a successful author. You don't have to chase that.” That changed so much of my thinking. If I could leave listeners with anything, it is that we need to recognise the things we can't control and just deal with the things we can control. That's kind of how my sister lived. She could not control her cancer, but she could control how she responded to it and how she went forward. I think a lot of times, when bad things happen, we want to make sense of them. We want a reason for them. And a lot of times there's just no reason. There's no reason my sister died. There's no reason she left two kids and a husband devastated and a family that just has a giant hole in it. There's no reason for that. What defines us is not figuring out why that happened. It's what we do with that going forward. I think that's important for me to remember when I start getting caught up in all the franticness of this business. Jo: Yes. Or not, as the case may be. You can just let the book be what it is. And I do feel like these deeper books, they're more slow burn. You wrote books that ran, ran like the bride. Now we're not running like the bride. Jami: I'm tired. I don't run unless a wild animal's chasing me. Jo: Exactly. Look, we're out of time, but just tell people, if they haven't listened, a bit about your podcast, Wish I'd Known Then with Sara Rosett. Tell people what they can find over on that podcast and why you're still doing it. You've been doing it throughout the whole time. While not writing, you've still been podcasting. Jami: It absolutely saved my life. It's kept me in this business. While I haven't been publishing, I still know what's going on. I know about direct sales, I know about what's happening behind the scenes, with Facebook ads. I've kept in touch with those things because of our podcast. It's an interview podcast like yours, but we talk to people about what they wish they'd known about indie publishing. Most people have some certain thing that they've been working on or doing, and we talk to them a little bit about that too. We ask the same questions every week to every guest, and it's so interesting how different the answers are, and yet how similar they are. I think that helps when you're going through it and you're like, “God, I must be the only one feeling this way.” But you tune into a podcast, and you hear week after week, “Oh, no, there are other people feeling the same way I'm feeling, or struggling with the same things I'm struggling with.” Hopefully we give people things to shoot for and to aspire to. We have some amazing guests. They've all been really gracious and really honest. I don't know if it's the questions, or just because Sara and I are our style, but they're really honest with us when they answer the questions. Jo: It's a great show. I recommend it a lot. Jami: Thank you. Jo: Where can people find you and your books online? Jami: You can find me at JamiAlbright.com—that's J-A-M-I-Albright.com. I'm on all the socials as Jami Albright Author. My books are on Amazon right now, but this book is actually now on all the retailers. So that's where you can find me. Jo: Brilliant. Well, thanks so much for your time, Jami. That was great. Jami: It was an honour. Thank you so much.The post Writing Through Grief And Rebooting an Indie Author Business With Jami Albright first appeared on The Creative Penn.

Learn how to write the lead-up and reaction scenes between your key romance plot points so your story flows naturally from meet-cute to HEA without stalling in the middle.You know what your meet-cute looks like. You know there's a breakup coming. You can already feel the happily ever after. So why does everything in between feel impossible to write? That's exactly what we're digging into today. I'm joined by Kristina Stanley, CEO of Fictionary and author of the brand new Secrets to Writing Romance, for a masterclass on the lead-up and reaction scenes that hold every romance together. Kristina breaks down what to write before and after each key plot point, how your external plot does more work than you think, and how to give your characters real agency in the messy middle of Act 2. If you've been winging it between your big scenes and hoping for the best, this one's for you.What You'll Learn:[03:57] The 5 key scenes every romance novel is built around and the one non-negotiable rule that sets romance apart from every other genre.[10:55] Why every key scene needs a lead-up and a reaction, and how those surrounding scenes are where your character's flaw, motivation, and growth actually live.[21:42] When your meet-cute should actually happen in your romance novel and what the lead-up scene needs to do before your characters ever cross paths.[29:30] How to give your characters real agency in the Messy Middle of Act 2 (even when your story doesn't have a strong external plot driving it forward).[38:03] What to do after the climax, why the reaction to the HEA is trickier than it looks, and how epilogues can save you from cutting your ending too short.And so much more…Whether you're plotting your first romance novel or you're stuck somewhere in the middle of a draft, wondering why your story isn't clicking, this episode will give you a clear framework for what every scene between your key moments actually needs to do. 

This Week (5/22 & 5/24) on ART ON THE AIR features “The Singing Author,” Kelly G Fletcher, whose newest romance book, “Highway to Happy – Book 3 of her Southern Sunsets” released May 19th. Kelly recently appeared with the LaPorte County Symphony's Elton John Experience. Next Ralph Kipness shares his life-long passion as a m designing, building, and performing with his marionettes over many decades. Our spotlight is on 4th Street Theatre production of “Hamlet” adapted and directed by Grant Fitch running June 5th through the 21st. Tune in on Sunday at 7pm on Lakeshore Public Media 89.1FM for our hour long conversation with our special guests or listen at lakeshorepublicmedia.org/AOTA, and can also be heard Fridays at 11am and Mondays at 5pm on WVLP 103.1FM (WVLP.org) or listen live at Tune In. Listen to past ART ON THE AIR shows at lakeshorepublicmedia.org/AOTA or brech.com/aota. Please have your friends send show feedback to Lakeshore at: radiofeedback@lakeshorepublicmedia.orgSend your questions about our show to AOTA@brech.comLIKE us on Facebook.com/artonthairwvlp to keep up to date about art issues in the Region. New and encore episodes also heard as podcasts on: NPR, Spotify Tune IN, Amazon Music, Apple and Google Podcasts, YouTube plus many other podcast platforms. Larry A Brechner & Ester Golden hosts of ART ON THE AIR.

Sometimes Chloe Angyal simply asks, 'Why not?' As in why not write a marriage proposal in the form of a blog to a man she sees deliver a speech on TV that inspires her? As long as she's writing stuff, why not give writing romance novels a try? And hey, why not get a doctorate in rom-coms for that matter? Spoiler Alert: She's now married to that man she proposed to via a blog posting, she's written three romance novels (and 1 non-fiction book), and she got that PHD so you can call her Dr. Chick Flick and she happily accepts that title. Is Chloe's life normal? Before you answer that, follow-up question: Is YOUR life normal? Life is whatever we want it to be. And in Chloe Angyal's case, it's gone from Australia to Iowa where she's now helping her husband, Iowa State Senator Zach Wahls, run for a US Senate seat this November. Remember our slogan for 2026? SAY YES. Chloe is definitely saying yes. This is part 1 of our oh-so-good conversation. _________________________ Come see Steve in person at SLIDESHOW: IN COLOR! launching in London on May 3rd. Grab your seat for the show the Los Angeles Times calls, "Downright magical, uncomfortable and shockingly honest" - https://www.citizenticket.com/events/etcetera-theatre/slideshow-in-color/ Steve's third book in his cozy mystery series, THE DOG WALKING DETECTIVES is finally here: SEASON'S SLAYINGS! Get your copy on Amazon: https://bit.ly/3WYTPiR or Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/4hOjILR Grab the first two: Book 1: DROWN TOWN Amazon: https://amzn.to/478W8mp Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/3Mv7cCk & Book 2: MURDER UNMASKED Amazon: https://shorturl.at/fDR47 Barnes & Noble: https://shorturl.at/3ccTy

In this exclusive podast, rumours swirl that a Hollywood hottie is stepping into a surprising new role as a romance author. The team reacts to what this could look like and what fans can expect if this unexpected project turns out to be actually real.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cara Bastone says she wanted to write a book filled with miscommunications that couldn't be solved with a quick conversation. In her novel No Matter What, Roz and Vin navigate a changing relationship after the couple endures a traumatic accident. In today's episode, Bastone speaks with NPR's Juana Summers about developing characters who look like “normal people,” writing her husband into her work, and why there are so many contemporary novels about separation and divorce.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedayTo manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Have you ever read a Harlequin romance? No? Well I bet you have heard of them. And now you get to learn how they got started and how they got so not very spicy.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/book-cult--5718878/support.

NotesYou can listen to the accompanying playlist on Apple Music and SpotifyYou, too, may want to learn about this mahjong situation brewing in the Midwest with Barbara. It's the Olympics. Defector is covering all the news stories we want to know about, including the Curling Drama between Sweden and Canada, the ice dancers are super villains, and this Norwegian skier is an idiot.Happy Black History Month! Jen did something cool at The Newberry Library. It was part of the Douglass Day transcribe-a-thon, transcribing information about the Colored Conventions. You can still participate using Zooniverse, and looking for the Douglass Day Project.Sarah enjoyed learning about the Asking Dumb Questions class at Yale. Tom Breihan writes a column The Number Ones at Stereogum, and Jen also enjoys a similar Slate podcast called Hit Parade. Here's the spreadsheet of February hits, and a playlist of songs we talked about today! The Macarena is a song about love triangles! Bad Romance by Lady Gaga is on this list, but we only talk about books we like. The DJ book Jen couldn't remember was Rival Radio by Kathryn Nolan. The Stud Budz, WNBA players Courtney Williams & Natisha Hiedeman, did a long livestream during the 2025 All...

This week, we discuss Wall Street's software-stock sell-off and a viral essay on X about the potential for widespread job displacement from A.I. Then, the New York Times reporter Alexandra Alter walks us through the process that a growing number of writers are adopting to churn out romance novels with help from A.I. chatbots. Finally, we each share one bit of good tech-related news — a new way to make playlists on Spotify and progress toward decoding whale sounds. Guest:Alexandra Alter, a New York Times reporter covering books and publishing. Additional Reading:The Dark Side of A.I. Weighs on Tech StocksMatt Shumer's essay “Something Big Is Happening”The New Fabio Is ClaudeHow a New A.I. Tool Fixed My Single Biggest Problem With SpotifyHow A.I. Trained on Birds Is Surfacing Underwater Mysteries We want to hear from you. Email us at hardfork@nytimes.com. Find “Hard Fork” on YouTube and TikTok. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan are authors known worldwide for their contributions to the genres of romance and horror. But in 2025, they brought these genres together for a collaborative book and movie project titled Remain. In today's episode, we kick off Book of the Day's 2026 romance week with a discussion between Sparks, Shyamalan, and NPR's Leila Fadel. The two join Fadel at NPR's New York Bureau to talk about their co-authored novel, its inspirations, and the heartfelt, supernatural roots of storytelling itself.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedayLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In this Thursday episode of Book Talk for BookTok, we bring an academic lens to bookish culture, genre fiction, and the conversations shaping romance and romantasy today. Our podcast blends literary analysis, cultural criticism, and emotional honesty. We treat romance, romantasy, and fanfiction as genres worthy of serious discussion, not just quick takes. Today's discussion focuses on Heated Rivalry: In this episode, we dive into Heated Rivalry and explore how its recent adaptation from beloved romance novel to television series highlights the growing cultural appetite for queer love stories on screen. We unpack what makes this particular story resonate so deeply, especially with women readers and viewers, from emotionally rich character development to the safe exploration of intimacy, vulnerability, and desire outside of traditional heterosexual power dynamics. By looking at the broader popularity of gay romance among women, we examine how these narratives offer space for emotional authenticity, mutual longing, and romance untethered from the gendered expectations often placed on female characters, ultimately asking what these stories reveal about what audiences are craving from modern love stories. Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and non-consensual behavior. Listener discretion is advised. Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and non-consensual behavior. Listener discretion is advised. How to participate: Send your theories and spicy takes by commenting on this episode, DMing us, or using the form on our website. The Subtext Society Journal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thesubtextsocietyjournal.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  We're thrilled to announce our newest venture: The Subtext Society Journal—the first of its kind, dedicated to Romance, Romantasy, and fandom with an academic yet accessible voice. We're publishing original essays and thought pieces, and we encourage listeners to submit their own articles for a chance to be featured. Sponsor: Monarch Use code BOOKTALK at Monarch.com for 50% your first year. Sponsor: Liquid IV Liquid I.V. Go to LiquidIV.com and get 20% off your first order with code BOOKTALK at checkout. Sponsor: Vionic Use code BOOKTALK at checkout for 15% off your entire order at www.vionicshoes.com when you log into your account. 1 time use only. Share your thoughts for a chance to be featured! Submit them at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠booktalkforbooktok.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a future mini-episode or exclusive Patreon discussion. Support the Show:  Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/booktalkforbooktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Etsy Store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Us on Social: Instagram: @BookTalkForBookTok TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok YouTube: @BookTalkForBookTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you found yourself newly single after not dating since being a teenager, what would you do? Author and AWC graduate Holly Brunnbauer asks that question in her award-winning romance novel, What Did I Miss? –and in this episode she shares what inspired her to write it, her exciting story about getting an agent and book deal, plus the unusual window of time she writes in during each day! 00:00 Welcome02:00 Our SALE is on 05:21 WIN!: ‘Every Day I Read’ by Hwang Bo-reum06:54 Word of the week: ‘Orrery’07:58 Writer in residence: Holly Brunnbauer09:07 What is What Did I Miss? about?10:20 What inspired Holly to write the book12:50 The experience writing it14:55 Holly’s year of writing a novel16:27 Discovering the AWC courses17:15 Getting an agent and a book deal21:44 Pitching to screen professionals24:00 Balancing writing with a busy life26:24 Planning and Structuring a Novel28:55 Documentation31:50 The joy of writing and future plans33:53 Publication surprises and realities35:28 Bonus short interview with Charlotte Barkla38:09 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Casey Cline is an author who recently published her first novel "The Wayfairing Widow." She talks about the inspiration behind the book, as well as her journey to her first published work.

In this week’s Throwback Thursday segment, hear how one fanfiction writer went pro—now earning five figures per project ghostwriting for bestselling romance authors who don’t want their names published. Side Hustle School features a new episode EVERY DAY, featuring detailed case studies of people who earn extra money without quitting their job. This year, the show includes free guided lessons and listener Q&A several days each week. Show notes: SideHustleSchool.com Email: team@sidehustleschool.com Be on the show: SideHustleSchool.com/questions Connect on Instagram: @193countries Visit Chris's main site: ChrisGuillebeau.com Read A Year of Mental Health: yearofmentalhealth.com If you're enjoying the show, please pass it along! It's free and has been published every single day since January 1, 2017. We're also very grateful for your five-star ratings—it shows that people are listening and looking forward to new episodes.

Ever had one of those weeks where you just throw all your routines out the window and dive into a pile of chocolate digestives and romance novels? Well, that's exactly what happened to our fabulous host, Heather Masters! On this Fail Forward Friday, she shares how trading her usual productivity guru habits for some good ol' escapism led to a surprising transformation in her life. Spoiler alert: embracing chaos and letting go of the rigid routines turned out to be a path to creativity and self-discovery she never saw coming! So, grab your biscuits and settle in as we explore how sometimes, breaking the rules can actually break us through to new possibilities. Get ready for a wild ride through the messiness of life, because who knew a billionaire CEO could teach us about abundance and joy?What's Inside:The "unconscious unravelling": from morning meditations to chocolate digestives for breakfast and 2am romance novel bingesHow her perfect 18-month routine had become automatic motion without presence or awarenessThe moment "something just snapped" and she walked away from all the musts, shoulds, and have-tosFive romance novels in one week: "proper escapist rubbish" about billionaire CEOs and their secret babiesThe unexpected discovery: how billionaire fantasy lifestyles expanded her limited financial worldviewSecret philanthropist heroes reprogramming her relationship with wealth—from survival to service and impactDay 12 breakdown: scattered, brain fog, questioning every decision since 2020The plot twist realization: trying to run a 2025 business with 2023 systemsThree Life-Changing Lessons:Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is stop doing powerful things—when discipline becomes comfortable complacency, it's time to consciously deconstructYour system knows what it needs before your mind does—the chocolate digestives weren't self-sabotage, they were her system saying "this version of discipline has become a prison"Strategic unconsciousness beats forced consciousness—while everyone else maintained yesterday's routines, she was discovering tomorrow's possibilitiesThis Week's Challenge: The Deliberate Dropout ExerciseChoose one routine that feels automatic rather than intentional. Give yourself complete permission to ignore it for seven days. Notice what wants to emerge in that space instead. Ask yourself: "What would I choose if I weren't trying to be good at this?"Chapters:00:23 - The Unraveling of Routines01:04 - The Unexpected Transformation05:02 - The Transformation of Wealth and Impact06:51 - Lessons from Reset: Embracing Change and Discovery09:32 - Trusting the Process of ChangeTakeaways: Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is just stop doing powerful things. When your routine becomes too automatic, it's a sign you've stopped growing. Trust your body's signals, even if they seem like self-sabotage; they might be wisdom. The mess in your life could actually be the key to your greatest transformation! Dropping your usual habits can lead to unexpected insights and creative breakthroughs. Sometimes chocolate digestives are exactly what your soul ordered—who knew? Connect & Share:Share your own discipline-gone-wrong stories with us @ChoosingHappyPodcastTag someone who needs to discover churn vs. flowLeave a review about what "prison discipline" you're ready to abandonVisit www.choosinghappypodcast.com for more stories that choose

In this podcast episode ... She's an award winning reporter turned book author. We catch up with Elissa Bass as she unveils her second novel, Please Wait To Cross, with characters old and new from her first book Happy Hour. Plus we take a look at other stories from across the region.

Romancing St. Marys is a captivating romance novel that follows the journey of a young naval officer named Lieutenant Robert Cantley. He ends up relocating to the charming coastal town of St. Marys, Georgia, after a heart-wrenching divorce and falling in love with Julie Cooperman, Prior to moving to St. Marys, he has multiple affairs with women in his hometown of Orlando until he is ultimately transferred to a job posting in St. Marys at the Naval Submarine Support Base. In this picturesque setting, he embarks on a quest to rediscover his passion for life, romance and love. Amidst the tranquil beauty of the small coastal town, he encounters unexpected challenges with the local Sheriff, townsfolk and his base commanding officer. There is lots of sex and romance in this novel, along with some heartwarming moments that lead Lt. Cantley to a profound and transformative love story filled with raw passion and emotion and a brand-new life. This is a story of love lost, love found, raw sex and human passion in its most raw form.

EXPLICIT....Romancing St. Marys is a captivating romance novel that follows the journey of a young naval officer named Lieutenant Robert Cantley. He ends up relocating to the charming coastal town of St. Marys, Georgia, after a heart-wrenching divorce and falling in love with Julie Cooperman, Prior to moving to St. Marys, he has multiple affairs with women in his hometown of Orlando until he is ultimately transferred to a job posting in St. Marys at the Naval Submarine Support Base. In this picturesque setting, he embarks on a quest to rediscover his passion for life, romance and love. Amidst the tranquil beauty of the small coastal town, he encounters unexpected challenges with the local Sheriff, townsfolk and his base commanding officer. There is lots of sex and romance in this novel, along with some heartwarming moments that lead Lt. Cantley to a profound and transformative love story filled with raw passion and emotion and a brand-new life. This is a story of love lost, love found, raw sex and human passion in its most raw form.

Romancing St. Marys is a captivating romance novel that follows the journey of a young naval officer Lieutenant Robert Cantley. He ends up relocating to the charming coastal town of St. Marys, Georgia, after a heart-wrenching divorce and falling in love with a recent high school graduate, Julie Cooperman, Prior to moving to St. Marys, he has multiple affairs with women in his hometown of Orlando until he is ultimately transferred to a job posting in St. Marys at the Naval Submarine Support Base. He embarks on a quest to rediscover his passion for life, romance and love. Amidst the tranquil beauty of the small coastal town, he encounters unexpected challenges with the local Sheriff, townsfolk and his base commanding officer. There is lots of sex and romance in this novel, along with some heartwarming moments that lead Lt. Cantley to a profound and transformative love story filled with raw passion and emotion and a brand-new life. This is a story of love lost, love found, raw sex and human passion in its most raw form.

THE GUYS BREAKDOWN SEAN AVERY'S NEW BOOK 'SUMMER SKATE' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we are joined by Canadian author Noreen Nanja, whose debut romance novel, The Summers Between Us, was published this year via Penguin Random House. The Summers Between Us is a dual timeline second-chance romance set in Canadian cottage country and is the perfect read for these late summer days—or anytime of year! We had a wonderful time reading this novel (and chatting with Noreen, of course) about all things writing, editing, and developing your debut novel. Noreen spoke to us about how she got her start as an author, her experience being an author's mentee, writing a dual timeline romance, working with an editor, and much more!  Learn more on Noreen's website and grab a copy of The Summers Between Us on Kobo!

How her new book celebrates the resilience of those who triumph against all odds·        The history of gay women·        Her journey of concealing her identity and how the exhausting performance was the price of pursuing a medical career including her time at Harvard·        The stats which include: nearly 1 in 10 adults identify as LGBTLQ+·        The importance of visibility and the ongoing fight for equality·        The significance of Pride Month and June 28 About the book: Jo, a driven environmental attorney based in Washington, DC, and Lauren, a spirited young woman from Britain on a journey of self-discovery, find themselves in a serendipitous encounter at a lively London pub in 1981. Their brief yet profound connection generates a whirlwind of emotions, but the vast ocean, Jo's career aspirations, and immigration hurdles thwart their burgeoning romance. Fast-forward 22 years, and Lauren and her partner travel from Europe to visit Jo in her San Francisco home. The reunion is electric, rekindling a storm of emotions neither can suppress. Amid the majestic backdrops of Yosemite National Park and the Pacific Northwest, old passions can't be denied, leading to dramatic confrontations and painful revelations. Jo and Lauren are irresistibly drawn to each other. But there is no country in which they can legally live together. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

Can AI help you write a bestselling novel in 2025? We dive into the ethics of AI in creative writing and reveal why romance and romantasy dominate the market.

Romance is having a huge moment and let's be honest, sometimes we all need a dose of a little happy ending. In this spicy bonus episode of Mamamia Out Loud, Jessie, Holly and Em V are diving deep into why we're all completely obsessed with love stories right now. From seriously sexy fairies, Mr Rochester's problematic Victorian charm to complicated love stories set on the backdrop of Dublin (so romantic) — we're covering it all and getting way too invested in fictional relationships. Plus, we'll play you a taste of Em's spicy obsession she's been listening to on her commute that has her practically levitating into work.

In this episode, we are joined by romance author, disability advocate, and writer of “fiercely inclusive happy endings,” Evie Mitchell! Evie is the author of multiple series across many romance subgenres, including small-town romance, biker romance, bodyguard romance. Her small-town romance series, All Access, focuses on disabled characters as romantic leads! We had a wonderful conversation with Evie and are excited to share this episode during Disability Pride Month. We asked Evie about her journey to becoming an author, why she got into indie publishing, learn more about her personal experiences have influenced her writing, talk about what inclusivity means to her (and to us), touch on the importance of sensitivity readers, expert readers, and editors, and much more! Visit Evie's website to learn more and check out Evie's books on Kobo.

In this episode of PassionPod, Tosca Musk (Founder of Passionflix & Director of the 'Black Dagger Brotherhood') & Ali Whitaker (Head of Marketing & Publicity) are joined by cast members Robert Maaser (Wrath) and Olivia Applegate (Beth) to discuss their experiences working on season one. The conversation explores Robert & Olivia's initial reactions to the script, building on-screen chemistry and the extensive preparation required for their roles. The two delve into the challenges of portraying intimate scenes, the importance of casting, interactions with the stunt coordinator and the extensive makeup process. Tune in to hear anecdotes about set dynamics, their preparation strategies, and the personal connections formed during filming.Do you have a question or comment you would like featured on a future episode? Leave us a message today!Call us at (770) 648-3677 or email at info@passionflix.comSupport the show

Hey besties In today episode which is Season 3 Episode 32 on How to live like your life like a romance novel and this can also be like a romance movie as well. Sometimes in life we have to live it how we want too and not how others want us to live it. Here are some things that I talk about in the episode- Write yourself a love letter and on your hard days read them- Dress up for yourself- Buy yourself flowers- Create a signature scent- Have a candlelit dinner or baths- Take yourself on dates- Keep a journal where you write your “main character” monologues.- Dance in the rain- Reinvent yourself- Confess your feelings- Start saying yesToday Episode Quote: Do it for the person you hope to become and the life you're trying to build.Today Episode Affirmation:I choose kindness towards myself everyday.Today Episode Journal Prompt: What can you admire in your everyday life?Q&A Google Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1JNJ7VELcIyT_vlrg8KL8ezqZmGo2asegMWJwd_7t9wQ/editEpisode request google Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1UvhmVrwXo0r88RMSNcLz2ipfD7x5hBKjeZisTPEXUQc/editFollow us on IG and Tiktok @youagainstyoupod.bydajah and subscribe the podcast YouTube channelMy other social media Main IG and TikTok: @dJh_nicole_Booktok and Bookstagram: @dajahcozycorner Author page: @authordajahscivnerMusic: Music track: Chocolate by LukremboSource: https://freetouse.com/musicNo Copyright Vlog Music for VideosMusic is from epidemic sounds *tags* podcast,wellness,lifestyle,pinterest,Pinterest girl,soft life,novel,romanticize#podcast #romanticizinglife #pinterest #podcastepisode #wellness #lifestyle #livingthesoftlife #softlife

How her new book celebrates the resilience of those who triumph against all odds·        The history of gay women·        Her journey of concealing her identity and how the exhausting performance was the price of pursuing a medical career including her time at Harvard·        The stats which include: nearly 1 in 10 adults identify as LGBTLQ+·        The importance of visibility and the ongoing fight for equality·        The significance of Pride Month and June 28 About the book: Jo, a driven environmental attorney based in Washington, DC, and Lauren, a spirited young woman from Britain on a journey of self-discovery, find themselves in a serendipitous encounter at a lively London pub in 1981. Their brief yet profound connection generates a whirlwind of emotions, but the vast ocean, Jo's career aspirations, and immigration hurdles thwart their burgeoning romance. Fast-forward 22 years, and Lauren and her partner travel from Europe to visit Jo in her San Francisco home. The reunion is electric, rekindling a storm of emotions neither can suppress. Amid the majestic backdrops of Yosemite National Park and the Pacific Northwest, old passions can't be denied, leading to dramatic confrontations and painful revelations. Jo and Lauren are irresistibly drawn to each other. But there is no country in which they can legally live together. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

Romance author Emily Street releases 'The Designated Doctor,' featuring two PTSD-affected medical professionals who find connection while confronting a dangerous drug operation at their clinic. This is the second book in Street's South Strand Social Club series. EMILY STREET ROMANCE AUTHOR City: SM Address: James Boulevard Website: https://estreetbooks.com/

The Author Events Series presents Rebecca Romney  | Jane Austen's Bookshelf: A Rare Book Collector's Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend  REGISTER In Conversation with Allie Alvis  Jane Austen's Bookshelf investigates the disappearance of Austen's heroes--women writers who were erased from the Western canon--to reveal who they were, what they meant to Austen, and how they were forgotten. Each chapter profiles a different writer including Frances Burney, Ann Radcliffe, Charlotte Lennox, Charlotte Smith, Hannah More, Elizabeth Inchbald, Hester Lynch Thrale Piozzi, and Maria Edgeworth--and recounts Romney's experience reading them, finding rare copies of their works, and drawing on connections between their words and Austen's. Romney collects the once-famed works of these forgotten writers, physically recreating Austen's bookshelf and making a convincing case for why these books should be placed back on the to-be-read pile of all book lovers today. Jane Austen's Bookshelf will encourage you to look beyond assigned reading lists, question who decides what belongs there, and build your very own collection of favorite novels. Rebecca Romney is a rare book dealer and the cofounder of Type Punch Matrix, a rare book company based in Washington, DC. Rebecca is the author Printer's Error: Irreverent Stories from Book History (HarperCollins; with JP Romney) and The Romance Novel in English: A Survey in Rare Books, 1769-1999; her current book is Jane Austen's Bookshelf (Simon & Schuster), chronicling her efforts to build a book collection of Austen's favorite women writers. Since 2011 she has appeared as the rare book specialist on the History Channel's show Pawn Stars; she was also featured in the 2019 documentary The Booksellers.  Allie Alvis is Curator of Special Collections of the Winterthur Library, where they are responsible for the stewardship and engagement of the collection. They have previously worked as an antiquarian bookseller at Type Punch Matrix (Washington, DC) and as the special collections reference librarian for the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives. Allie's research is diverse and far-reaching, with interests in physical patterns of use in books, the history of ephemera, and Arts and Crafts bookbindings. They are particularly involved in the study and act of using social media for communicating book history, and maintain popular accounts across various platforms as Book Historia. The 2024/25 Author Events Series is presented by Comcast. Because you love Author Events, please make a donation when you register for this event to ensure that this series continues to inspire Philadelphians. Books will be available for purchase at the library on event night! All tickets are non-refundable. (recorded 4/24/2025)

Welcome to Ask Paul Tripp, a weekly podcast from Paul Tripp Ministries where pastor and best-selling author Dr. Paul David Tripp answers your questions, connecting the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life.This week, Paul responds to a pastor who asks whether it's appropriate for Christian women to read sexually explicit romance novels.If you have a question you'd like to ask Paul, you can email ask@paultripp.com or submit it online at PaulTripp.com/Ask.Marriage: 6 Gospel Commitments Every Couple Needs to MakeSex in a Broken World: How Christ Redeems What Sin DistortsPaulTripp.com/Books

We're in a freaking book! In this episode, Rhett & Link read excerpts from a romance novel that features GMM, recount a hilarious tale of flatulence and fame featuring a Jonas brother, and hilariously scream in a way that no one really wants to hear. Plus, a deep conversation about friendships and how to navigate them. Unloved by Peyton Corinne To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this engaging episode of PassionPod, Lauren (Director of Development) and Tosca (Founder and CEO of Passionflix) interview Kellen Boyle, who plays Havers in the upcoming 'Black Dagger Brotherhood' series, releasing on June 5th exclusively on Passionflix. The trio discuss the funny mispronunciation of Havers' name, Kellen's unique experience with audiobook narration, and his journey into acting. They delve into the deep lore of the 'Black Dagger Brotherhood' world, touching on Kellen's character, Havers, and his dynamic with his sister Marissa, played by Victory Van Tuyl. Kellen and Tosca also share insights into the collaborative process of filmmaking and the importance of understanding different roles and departments on set. The episode takes a delightful turn when Kellen's wife, Jessica Craig, joins the conversation. Jessica, who starred in another Passionflix project, 'The Air He Breathes', shares memories of their wedding dance and how they met. This episode is a perfect blend of laughter, behind-the-scenes insights, and excitement, all building hype for the 'Black Dagger Brotherhood' series premiere.

Join us for a delightful conversation with the fabulous Leah Vale. Leah shares her journey from a romance novel critic to a successful author of 19 books, with a special focus on her love for cowboys and ranch life. Learn how her unique voice shaped her writing career, and get a sneak peek into her recent work, including a book being adapted into a film. Leah also discusses her future projects, her inspirations, and even her adventures with pets and camping. Don't miss this entertaining and insightful interview, complete with insider tips and engaging anecdotes.   Want even more bookish fun? Sign up at FreshFiction.com for daily fresh picks, exclusive contests, and can't-miss author events — all delivered straight to your inbox. It's free, it's fun, and it's full of fabulous reads! Sign up today: http://eepurl.com/Q-u19     00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:32 Leah's Journey to Becoming a Writer 03:07 Love for Cowboys and Horses 05:32 Research and Inspiration for Cowboy Stories 07:33 Exciting News: Book Adaptation into Film 11:22 The Cowboy Undoing: A Unique Romance 14:30 Rapid Fire Questions and Fun Facts 19:44 Upcoming Projects and Staying Connected 21:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Leah Vale: https://freshfiction.com/author.php?id=7491 THE COWBOY'S UNDOING: https://freshfiction.com/book.php?id=136686

Send us a textToday Ashley and Liz are setting the stage for our mini episode series about the infamous 50 Shades of Grey trilogy which starts this Friday and continues on for five episodes, including the original three books, a surprise bonus book, and a wrap up episode covering the movies and all of our final thoughts! But today, buckle up for a spoiler free episode all about… ROMANCE NOVELS! The genre that changed the game for publishers… for readers… for writers… and for women. We've never read this series and want to examine it through a certain lens - what exactly did this series do for the genre as a whole? And who paved the way to make Fifty Shades of Grey a mainstream romance sensation? We take you wayyyyy back to the “first” romance novel, explore the OG pioneers of the genre, explain what defines a book as “romance” in the first place, and delve into how the content and themes have changed over time, influencing literature of ALL genres. We discuss the different evolutions and iterations of these books primarily written by women, for women, and how despite the success, popularity, and numbers to back it up… the romance genre is repeatedly labeled as “less than literature” or reduced to “chick lit.” We want to (NEED TO) talk about why.And don't worry, even though it's a little heavy, we still have a faves and fails and smash or pass, romance edition! Check out this author interview! | Callie Hart NYT Bestseller Author of Quicksilver! | https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode!Ashley is Wearing: ACOTAR Valkyrie Tee from @thebeanworkshop | Use code: BOOKBESTIES10 to save!  | * https://thebeanworkshop.store/products/to-the-stars-who-listen-and-the-dreams-are-answered-tee-shirt?_pos=9&_sid=823f6afe6&_ss=rLiz is wearing: “If You Want to Save Animals, Stop Eating Them” Baby Tee from @dont.eat.the.homies | https://donteatthehomies.com/products/save-animals-teeAny link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!_____Articles / Resources:Writing 101: What Is a Romance Novel? Masterclass.comThese Authors are Putting the Dark in Dark Romance wusf.org for NPR A Brief History of the Romance Novel by Amanda Pagan nypl.org Evolution of the Romance Novel by Cristin Harber cristinharber.comPamela and the Early Origins of the Romance Novel smu.eduThe Dark Romance of Ann Radcliffe by V.H. Leslie fiction thisishorror.co.ukHow Jane Austen's Resolve Sculpted Literary History by Evan Swensen medium.comGothic Novel Masterpieces: Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights by Yehuda M.S. medium.comThe History of the Wonderful Romantasy Genre by Danielle Tomlinson bookstr.comThe Evolution of Dark Romance: YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix

Welcome to the Kobo ReWriting Life Podcast! Alongside your regularly scheduled Kobo Writing Life podcast episode releases, we will also be featuring some highlights from our backlist. In this episode from September 2021, we spoke to Katee Robert, who is a best-selling author of books inspired by myth, fairytales, and folklore, all about how her inspirations influence their writing process! Best-selling author Katee Robert joins us on the podcast to talk about their writing process and why she's drawn to retellings of myths and fairytales. Katee tells us about the research that goes into her reimagined classics and how they keeps them fresh and original, and she talks to us about how her book going viral on TikTok has changed her marketing approach. To learn more, visit Katee's website and follow Katee on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

04-18-25 - EASTER KEG 2025 - Opening Break - Hayley Joel Osment Apologizes - Romance Novel Convention - First Keg HintsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

04-18-25 - EASTER KEG 2025 - Opening Break - Hayley Joel Osment Apologizes - Romance Novel Convention - First Keg HintsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to the Kobo ReWriting Life Podcast! Alongside your regularly scheduled Kobo Writing Life podcast episode releases, we will also be featuring some highlights from our backlist. For the fifth episode of this series, we're happy to share this interview featuring the 2019 Kobo Emerging Writer Prize winner in the Romance category, Julie Evelyn Joyce, for her book Steeped in Love. Julie Evelyn Joyce talks to us about the inspiration for prize-winning novel Steeped in Love. Julie shares how writing Gilmore Girls fan fiction taught her about craft and how a chance meeting at RWA led her to entering and winning Kobo's Emerging Writer Prize! Learn more on Julie's website and be sure to check out Julie's books on Kobo.

Listen to the rest at our Patreon!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Listen to the rest at our Patreon!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Season 6, Episode 1 - Join me for this excellent chat with Jenny Williamson, one half of the podcast Ancient History Fangirl, about her debut steamy ancient Roman romantasy novel, Enemy of My Dreams. We'll discuss her inspiration, how much of the true ancient past made it into her fictional novel, some of the real ancient Roman imperial women who inspired her, and why she loves Alaric of the Goths. You can find out more about Jenny at her website. Listen to Ancient History Fangirl wherever you get your podcasts. If you like the Exploress, consider becoming a patron, unlocking access to lots of bonus episodes and behind-the-scenes goodness.

Can't be bothered with email or speak pipe? Text us!Longtime listeners who have been asking for Jason to read another romance novel: Inger has delivered! Jason reads Rebecca Yarros's 'The Fourth Wing' and only throws up a little bit in his mouth :-)After a bit of mail bag, we go deep on the subject of reading: how much of it there is; how tedious academic reading can be; how tired this reading makes us; the feelings of Guilt when you read for pleasure; and the myth of 'keeping up with the literature'. Finally we talk about how many books we own: how much is too many and when/how should you slim down a collection? Inger feels better about her massive collection when she compares herself to Umberto Eco, and Jason has a mild panic attack at the idea of putting together a display shelf.We finish with a tribute to the late, great Professor Peter Elbow (one of Inger's most beloved writers about writing) and a two minute tip about buying study aids.Note, we were going to try to put out a video version of this one - but there were technical problems. Hence the references to showing the camera books. We will try again next time.What we talked aboutCornell template techniqueNote taking Matrix instructionsUmberto Eco in his 50,000 book library (video evidence!)Marie Kondo's life changing magic of tidying upRebecca Yarros - The Fourth WingWriting without TeachersGot thoughts and feel pinions? Want to ask a question? You can email us on - Leave us a message on www.speakpipe.com/thesiswhisperer. - See our workshop catalogue on www.ontheregteam.com. You can book us via emailing Jason at enquiries@ontheregteam.com- Subscribe to the free, monthly Two Minute Tips newsletter here (scroll down to enter your email address) - We're on BlueSky as @drjd and @thesiswhisperer (but don't expect to hear back from Jason, he's still mostly on a Socials break).- Read Inger's stuff on www.thesiswhisperer.com. - If you want to support our work, you can sign up to be a 'Riding the Bus' member for just $2 a month, via our On The Reg Ko-Fi site

The Legendary Ladies are back after their winter hiatus with a new book club interview! This week, Amy, Kat, and Morgan interview author Fiona Fenn about her new, LGBTQ+ steampunk meets fantasy adult romance book! Set in a world where the villain is the main character, The Crack at the Heart of Everything follows Orpheus who, after helping conquer the world with his childhood best friend, realizes that the world he's been responsible for making isn't all it's cracked up to be. He's also been banished. And cursed. So there's that. Oh, and did we mention, he does get some help surviving this dastardly world of his own making from an annoyingly charming and irksomely handsome fellow who Orpheus may or may not be developing feelings for? Needless to say, things are getting complicated.  The author, Fiona Fenn, chats with our Legendary Hosts about everything from the publishing process, world building, LGBTQ+ representation in the world of adult fantasy, and where or not the publishing world is changing as self-publishing seems to have hit its stride in the last few years. Want to learn more about the book? Check out Fiona's website: https://fionafennwrites.com/ And her instagram! https://www.instagram.com/byfionafenn/#

Author Hazel Jacks returns to the podcast to kick off our celebration of 20 Years in Transit. We're trying to manifest an official tour announcement! Hopefully, soon?  Here on the podcast, we're going to talk about several Jack's Mannequin songs in the coming months. Hazel chose to start us off with an emotional one. Join us as we make our own meanings of the heavy lyrics, talk about Andrew's 2005 blog, and touch on other songs of the era as well! We also touch on how this song and others inspire her as she writes and how she incorporates music into her stories. Song Audio: https://youtu.be/vNMAV5uXCLc?si=BxsqEkuJe2nmZWc3 Hazel Jacks' Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorhazeljacks/ Order “Surf Road” by Hazel Jacks: https://a.co/d/gs5kff9 Piano-only live, 2008: https://youtu.be/7FmGqLkevaM?si=gY5CsqWBpYmrFjdv Live in Columbus, Ohio, 2023: https://youtu.be/icJ6-xzA4LU?si=g41XjLVY0kyGdXuk Andrew's 2005 blog: https://jacksmannequin.blogs.com/jacksmannequin/2005/03/finally_doing_s.html

We're back, and we're going totally medieval on THE FALCON AND THE SWORD by PATRICIA WERNER for the final act of this Ice Wine season. Judith, the most normally named character in this whole book, abandons a convent to find herself in the kingdom of Neustria amongst a bunch of Franks who will never get her as a Visigoth. Along comes handsome-in-a-different-kind-of-white-way, advisor to the King of Austrasia to spark her interest, and then away he goes for the vast majority of the book until he returns in the fourth (eighth?) act to profess his love in the murder mystery cum Medieval slice of life this Romance Novel is. Why did romance in the 90s spend so much effort towards everything but character? What does the centering of small folk tell us about a place and time? What is the difference between Visigoths and Goths? Hope you've got a knee brace, because these Middle Ages are hard on your joints.

How did love stories about vampires, cowboys, and wealthy dukes become the highest-grossing fiction genre in the world? Zachary Crockett gets swept away. SOURCES:Delaney Diamond, romance novelist.Danielle Flores, high school math teacher and avid romance novel reader.Brenda Hiatt, romance novelist.Diane Moggy, vice president of editorial at Harlequin. RESOURCES:"Even as Overall Book Sales Are Declining, Romance Novels Are on the Rise," by Elena Burnett, Sarah Handel, and Juana Summers (All Things Considered, 2023)."Key Takeaways from the Authors Guild's 2023 Author Income Survey," press release by the Authors Guild (2023)."How Amazon Turned Everyone Into a Romance Writer (and Created an Antitrust Headache)," by Ann Kjellberg (Observer, 2022)."Vivian Stephens Helped Turn Romance Writing Into a Billion-Dollar Industry. Then She Got Pushed Out," by Mimi Swartz (Texas Monthly, 2020)."A Brief History of the Romance Novel," by Amanda Pagan (New York Public Library Blog, 2019)."How Harlequin Became the Most Famous Name in Romance," by Kelly Faircloth (Jezebel, 2015)."Fifty Shades of Amish: A Strange Genre of the Romance Novel," by Leah McGrath Goodman (Newsweek, 2015).

5-8-24 A Chat With Romance Expert & Bachelor Superfan Jodi McAlister - How To Write A Romance Novel! Check out Jodi's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Here-Make-Friends-frenemies-lovers-ebook/dp/B0CC34F319 go to patreon.com/daveneal for more bonus content!