Story enthusiast and romance writer Sarah Gamez explores the creative craft and pragmatic aspects of writing with niche topic discussions, inspirational pieces and industry insights. Join in on conversations with authors and experts on creating engaging stories, marketing your books, and navigating the (self) publishing world. Whether you write romance or not, there's plenty of tips to be found on storytelling, genres, and medias. Sometimes, with a twist of romance.
…
continue reading
Book Writing for Fun and Profit, by the staff of www.BookCatcher.com, helps writers and authors publish and profit from their writing and achieve their dreams of becoming a respected book author.
…
continue reading
1
Write 2B Read: Writing, Self Publishing and Book Marketing for Fiction and Non-Fiction Writers and Authors
Ani Alexander
Do you have a story inside you that you want to share with the world? Do you dream seeing your name on a bestseller cover? Do you have a special message to tell? If yes, then what are you waiting for? If the reason you have not written a book yet is that you have doubts or you simply don't know where to start, then this podcast is for you. Write 2B Read podcast is created to encourage and inspire writers to become authors. It will have very short episodes with tips, reflections and encourage ...
…
continue reading
1
Mike's Always Right: Adventures in the World of Creative Writing, Self Publishing and Marketing Fiction & Nonfiction Books
Mike Eiman
Mike's Always Right—hosted by Mike Eiman—is high in fiber, and jam packed with inane ramblings about fiction writing, self-publishing, marketing, coffee and whatever else happens to strike Mike's fancy.
…
continue reading
1
Ep 82 - Crafting Characters using Enneagrams with Krystal Shannan
55:23
55:23
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:23
"...each enneagram has a really unhealthy bar all the way up to a healthy bar. So for me, it's 'where did my character start on the bar?' and 'how do I get them to a healthy place of the enneagram through the story?'..." USA Today Bestselling Author Krystal Shannan explores the fascinating world of Enneagrams and their powerful application in chara…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 81 - Political Passions: Creating a High-Profile Romance with Alicia Wilder
44:22
44:22
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:22
"For (the politican couple), it's almost a negotiation - I know what I want. Are you able to give it to me? And just having that back and forth." Romance Author Alicia Wilder created a not-so-secret, forced proximity romance set in Washington DC with likeable characters to boot in My Secret Vice. She walked through the process of toeing the line be…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 80 - Writing Through Pain: Chronic Illness Narratives with Cara Dion
54:34
54:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:34
"...if I want readers to be able to identify with the character then I want them to be able to identify with the illness specifically...I can't be ashamed to put the name (of illness) on the page." Romance author Cara Dion knows writing through the pain of chronic illness is not just about the physical aspects but touches ever part of her life. We …
…
continue reading
1
Ep 79 - Prose to Pictures: Illustrating a Novel with C.A. Szarek and Gilbert Perez
52:40
52:40
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:40
"I think initially planning it out was kind of difficult. Only because...(the writer) is very descriptive. She says she can't draw, but in my mind, (they) just do it differently. (Writers) do it with words." USA Today Bestselling Author C.A. Szarek collaborated with comic artist Gilbert Perez to create an illustrated version of her romantic fantasy…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 78 - Book to Screen: Writing a Script and Adaptation with Emily Roberson
52:32
52:32
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:32
"....(Screenwriting) is, to me, a lot more puzzle-like than novels...if somebody gives me a screenplay to read that is 140 pages, I know it doesn't work." Award-winning author Emily Roberson explores the intricacies of adaptation as she delves into how to write compelling scripts. From options as an author to translating a story to the screen, Emil…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 77 - Romance in Filmmaking with Tosca Musk
48:10
48:10
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:10
"As a romance fan, we couldn't get anybody or any of the networks to buy into....(or) pay to make these adaptations, and so we started our own streaming platform..." Tosca Musk, CEO and founder behind streaming service Passionflix, takes proper time, care, and effort to make a romance book into a movie for the fans. We chat determining what role sh…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 76 - Character Creation: Writing an Identity Not Your Own with Alex Temblador
49:28
49:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:28
"...and if you create this single story for a people of a certain historically, marginalized identities; you know, that gets taken by readers and it gets inside of them in ways we might not expect or intend to..." Award-winning author Alex Temblador commitment to diverse storytelling helped create a tool to authentically write and edit a character …
…
continue reading
1
Ep 75 - Unveiling Character Depth through Family with Amber Royer
52:11
52:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:11
"...Introducing family shows a different side (to the character) and allows the character to be a little more well-rounded in the way they interact..." Writing instructor and multi-genre author, Amber Royer, encounters the challenges and surprises of introducing new characters with her Bean to Bar Cozy Mystery Series. She even touched on understati…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 74 - Creating an Indie Romance Audiobook with Melissa Whitney and Harlow Wilde
48:52
48:52
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:52
"It's been fun to kinda see (Melissa's writing) evolve also in the narration I have done for her....her stories get better and better with time. It's the same with narration too." Romance author Melissa Whitney Author and narrator Harlow Wilde are a dynamic duo when it comes to audiobooks. We discuss the changing production process of each book, wh…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 73 - Audible Impact: Cultivating Listeners for Audiobooks with Karen White
58:01
58:01
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
58:01
"If you're just starting out, I personally would recommend waiting (to invest in audiobooks) until you have a full series that...is selling well. ...If the series isn't working, you're not going to know that until the series has been out for a while." As an author and narrator, Karen White knows what it takes to get into listening ears. We discuss …
…
continue reading
1
Ep 72 - Narrative Flow: Building Emotional Arcs with Kimberly Packard
45:53
45:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
45:53
"I try to write really fierce, headstrong characters...but at the same time, it's ok to be vulnerable. It's ok to say I don't have all the answers." Author Kimberly Packard lovingly calls women's fiction the "trash can punch" genre since it has a little bit of everything, and while her characters and novels run the gamut within the genre, the emoti…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 71 - The Write Transition: From Podcast and Novels to Literary Life with Amy Kelly
48:22
48:22
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:22
"If it feels like I'm trying to force something...that's usually when I know to kinda let go. Either set it down or hold it with an open hand and see what happens. Whatever happens with it, let that be. " Amy Kelly, the new leader at Lone Star Literary Life, shares her unique journey as an author, podcaster and literary advocate to enrich both Texa…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 70 - Using AI Ethically to Make the Most of Your Writing with Marcy Pusey
1:00:12
1:00:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:00:12
"There's this living in alignment, in integrity, and I don't like to do things out of alignment...and this is an area that has some consequences." Bestselling Author, Tedx Speaker, and therapist, Marcy Pusey helped me delve into the ethical use of AI in the creative process - pros and cons. She illuminates how AI operates with creative recycling an…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 69 - The Authorpreneur Mindset: Blooming in Adversity with Kathryn McClatchy
1:02:44
1:02:44
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:02:44
"(It) started as a blog, Unleashing the Next Chapter, to document my stroke recovery and unleashing is a nod to the fact that I had just gotten Gizmo (service dog)...to (now) having a boutique marketing agency..." Kathryn McClatchy is an authorpreneur and consultant who lived two distinct lives: one before strokes and one after. She reveals what it…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 68 - Beyond Stereotypes: Crafting Authentic Characters with Disabilities with Melissa Whitney
48:35
48:35
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:35
"....Whenever you are going to write disability or anytime you're going to write outside of your lived experience, first you have to ask yourself: Do you already platform and support this community?" As a romance writer with a disability, Melissa Whitney writes fantastic HEAs for non-typical protagonists - who have disabilities and neurodivergences…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 67 - Tragedy and Humor: Creating a New Happily Ever After with Courtney Deane
41:31
41:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
41:31
"...I certainly hope that (this book) reaches the people who do, for one reason or another, feel that the world has just been so unfair to them and why can't it pick on somebody else for once..." After both her parents died, Courtney penned those tragedies into a debut book, When Happily Ever After Fails. In the book, she proves all tragedies can b…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 66 - Collaborative Magic: Crafting a Holiday Novella Series with Lark Green, Lucy Limon, and Catrina Bell
55:54
55:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:54
"...as we're solving problems in our own stories, we're creating problems for the other stories that (Lark and Catrina) had to work in... It made for some really creative outcomes." - Lucy Limon As critique partners and writers with complementary strengths, romance authors Lark Green, Lucy Limon, and Catrina Bell devised a plan for a holiday novell…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 65 - Building an Interconnected Series with C.A. Szarek
44:40
44:40
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:40
"They always say start your book on a day that's different. That's called an inciting incident. That's what I try to do naturally. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't." A decade into writing her Highlander series, USA Today Bestselling Author C.A. Szarek has built a large cast of interconnected books, and her unorthodox method continues to hav…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 64 - Overcoming Writer’s Block and Procrastination with Dr. Nicole Janz
48:01
48:01
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:01
"We need to see writer's block in a different way. It's really not the enemy, but...it's a sign. And usually, it's that your body and your mind are telling you something is off..." Author and writing coach, Dr. Nicole Janz, helps creatives use their writing voice with breakthroughs on writer's block and procrastination. Straightforward and detailed…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 63 - Unconventional Love Stories: Monster Romance with Kate Prior
45:03
45:03
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
45:03
"(Not) to dive into the core fear...that we're unrelatable that people will not communicate with us...and I think that's one of those things you see get demonstrated with monsters in the history of storytelling." Romance Author Kate Prior fell into writing Monster Romance by accident and now, has three books to show for her Claws and Cubicles serie…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 62 - Reimagining a Holiday Classic with Kelly Farmer
38:59
38:59
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
38:59
"You know it is such a beloved story but the modern twist...it's really a celebration of queer joy and community...like a true Hallmark-y story nothing truly bad happens." We're celebrating the most fabulous time of the year! Contemporary Romance Author Kelly Farmer crafts heart, humor, and depth into her books and gave the premise of "It's a Wonde…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 61 - Writing Engaging Pets and Animal Sidekicks with Amber Royer
54:57
54:57
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:57
"I think the key is either treat the character (animal) as a sounding board...or you treat this as another character on the same level as a human character." Writing instructor and multi-genre author, Amber Royer, incorporates all types of animals in her writing - from an octopus to a cockatoo. She directs us in how writing sidekick animals and pet…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 60 - Re-assessing Successful Writer Goals with Kathryn McClatchy
1:03:25
1:03:25
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:03:25
"....We need time to think. We need time to research, and we need time to be creative. And so that has to go into our calendar as well." Back in episode 42, Writer, speaker, and social media consultant Kathryn McClatchy provided ways to create realistic, achievable goals and put the right timeframes in place. Over six months later, we're doing a re…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 59 - Creating Compelling External Conflict for a Captivating Story with Susan Sheehey
44:34
44:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:34
"...What drives the conflict most are the character's goals and motivations. So you have to ask 'what is the main character's top goal in life and the focus of the story?'..." Author and Developmental Editor, Susan Sheehey writes compelling stories by embracing flaws, loving imperfections, and building external conflict. She reminds us of the great…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 58 - Scoring Goals and Soccer Romance with Liz Lincoln and Lainey Davis
44:25
44:25
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:25
"My book, A Beautiful Game, was...a love story and also, a love story about soccer and playing soccer." Liz Lincoln and Lainey Davis score goals when it comes to soccer romance. Both ladies write other kinds of sports romance, but in honor of the World Cup, we chat making soccer (or football!) romance accessible to the masses, writing from althetic…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 57 - How to Launch Yourself as an Author before Publishing with Danika Bloom
53:05
53:05
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:05
"Being a pre-published author is to know exactly what your expectations are of yourself and of your writing...Like is this a career for you or do you just have that one story...?" Danika Bloom, USA Today bestselling romance author, coaches authors like she used to coach small business owners. She empowers and creates a community, so authors don't w…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 56 - The Power of Voice: Dictating your way to Better Writing with Heidi McCahan
40:02
40:02
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
40:02
"...Dictating helps me get to the emotional level of my characters a little easier than if I was handwriting or typing on my laptop. It's just for me, dictation takes away a little bit of a barrier..." Heidi McCahan had an interesting path to becoming a Harlequin author and found a smart way to create leverage in writing multiple books a year - dic…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 55 - Cowboy Romance and Emotional Character Arcs with Kayla Grosse
41:08
41:08
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
41:08
"...I really wanted all my characters to have this nice arc...They start at point A and then they're sort of figuring their way through it as the book goes on." Kayla Grosse can't help but write compelling characters with depth - which propelled her previous romance book into a bestseller. Now her cowboy romance, Reign Me In, rides highs and lows a…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 54 - Planning a Successful Book Launch with Carolyn Choate
48:59
48:59
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:59
"...when you can bring your creative brain to marketing, it explodes. There's so much great opportunity to be creative in marketing and think outside the box and try new things." Author and Speaker Carolyn Choate hosts The Financially Free Author Show and has been imbedded in the indie publishing world since the wild west of ebook publishing when K…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 53 - Evolving and Embracing Change as a Creator with Bree Unabashedly
57:04
57:04
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
57:04
"We're pretty good at (the podcast)....I have to not be afraid of like stepping out of the intentions of what it looked like....Not being afraid to step out, to do something different. Owning that like "you're good at what you do". I feel like that's where I'm at right now. " Whether you are a romance writer, reader or content creator, Bree knows t…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 52 - A Long, Winding Path to Publishing with Megan Tady
44:10
44:10
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:10
"We kinda get hit with these overnight success stories, whether it's a writer or anyone...but what I think we don't hear about as much is the actual real toil and grind and rejection that goes into so many books and to being an author." Author Megan Tady put a lot of editing and querying into her debut, Super Bloom, and has the book to prove it! We…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 51 - How Rural Settings Shape Stories with E.F. Dodd
40:06
40:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
40:06
"The city is a beautiful backdrop for (character's) to live their lives in. Whereas in a small town, it's really part of the story." Romance author E.F. Dodd holds a special place in her heart for rural settings and even set her latest book, A Higher Standard, in a small North Carolina town. We chat how specific settings influence your story and to…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 50 - Romance versus Erotica and Defining the Genre with Cassandra Rose Clarke
49:44
49:44
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:44
"(For erotica) You have to have an escalation for how the s*x scenes build on each other, in that sense of things getting more and more serious." Cassandra Rose Clarke knows how to play with genres. She teaches writing classes across multiple genres and has written over 70 novels - working with official tie-in books like Star Trek, Halo, etc. We ch…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 49 - Foundations of Great Storytelling with Megan Haskell
44:26
44:26
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:26
"If (writers) have a problem...we want to help you target that and take actionable steps. One step at a time (in) chunks so that you can actually move forward right away." Megan Haskell keeps author's stories rolling. Co-host of the Author Wheel podcast and fantasy writer, Megan delves into the importance of structuring writing time and finding the…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 48 - Kissing and Killing: Romance and Murder hand-in-hand with Diane Kelly
58:13
58:13
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
58:13
"You can have the emotion, the angst, and the personal intimate details of a romance, but you can also have the cerebral part of a mystery and solving clues..." Award-winning author Diane Kelly had a natural progression from romance writer to cozy mystery writer, and she's been mixing genres ever since. She discusses the difference between concocti…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 47 - Writing Multiple Subgenres in Romance with Lauren Smith
45:46
45:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
45:46
"Write like a Reader. If you don't wanna read it, don't write it." USA Today Bestselling Author Lauren Smith has written 75 books in 8 years - spanning multiple sub-genres in romance. She fully understands the trials and tribulations that come with branding yourself under one author name, as well as using a pen name for a different sub-genre. She t…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 46 - Trope Thesaurus Romance Edition with Jennifer Hilt
50:33
50:33
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:33
"You can bend the rules, but you need to know what they are first." USA Today Bestselling author Jennifer Hilt loves a good trope. So much so that she's written several books about it! In working with authors as a plotter and concept creator, she created and wrote the Trope Thesaurus, a writing reference book to help identify tropes and strengthen …
…
continue reading
1
Ep 45 - Writing while Working Full-Time with Lark Green
43:12
43:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
43:12
Author Lark Green might be a nurse during the day, but she writes steamy monster romance at night. To deal with the stress of her job and a global crisis, she started writing her own HEA stories. She set a goal to have her debut, The Orc Boss, written and published in a year - all while working full-time in the medical field! We chat about what her…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 44 - Conquering Writing Challenges and Getting Unstuck with Holly Lyn Walrath
49:48
49:48
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:48
WRITE WHAT YOU LOVE, LOVE WHAT YOU WRITE. That's Holly Lyn Walrath's motto. Holly is a writer, poet, editor, and publisher of Interstellar Flight Press and always finds new ways to challenge her writing. Her creativity allows her to think outside the box with poems and short stories; along with numerous methods on getting unstuck. She teaches writi…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 43 - Making a Cozy Mystery Cozy with Amber Royer
55:29
55:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:29
Writing instructor and multi-genre author, Amber Royer, understands the heart of what makes a cozy mystery the perfect comfort read - community, characters, a little romance and a dash of murder mystery. She has done vast research on chocolate, occupations, and furry friends to bring her latest series - Bean to Bar - to life. Plus, we have an hones…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 42 - Setting Successful Writer Goals with Kathryn McClatchy
1:01:09
1:01:09
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:01:09
It's always a good time to set goals! Writer, speaker, and social media consultant Kathryn McClatchy knows how to create and hit achievable goals. She'shelped many authors create realistic goals and objectives for their stage of life - and put the right timeframes in place. We'll be talking all things goal-oriented. No matter if you are looking to …
…
continue reading
1
Ep 41 - Novel Prep and Starting NaNoWriMo with Shayla Raquel
49:32
49:32
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:32
Shayla Raquel is an author, self publishing mentor, speaker, editor, wifey, and dog mom. She's been helping authors on their publishing journey for over a decade and has writing tips to spare! We chat all things NaNoWriMo and how writers can get invested in any stage of the word count. As a former NaNo winner, Shayla divulges her current methods an…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 40 - Fantasy Romance, Worldbuilding, and Sapphic Lovers with Freya Marske
45:58
45:58
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
45:58
Freya Marske dazzles readers with her immersive worlds and has the credentials to show for it! She's an international bestselling author, winner of the Romantic Novel Award for Fantasy, and a Hugo-nominated podcaster. She discusses methods in building meticulous, literary worlds readers want to lose themselves in and how to balance a story that doe…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 39 - Curating a Paranormal Romance Anthology with Patrice Caldwell
48:59
48:59
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:59
Patrice Caldwell holds many esteemed titles already - children’s book editor, literary agent, Forbes’s “30 Under 30” media list, and Publishers Weekly Star Watch honoree - and she hold a distinct passion for uplifting diverse voices in the publishing industry. She discusses the process of pitching, curating, and editing a YA paranormal romance anth…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 38 - Rockstar Romance and Plus Size Heroines with Kayla Grosse
47:59
47:59
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:59
Kayla Grosse started off writing scripts but found her calling as a bestselling author of romance. Her rockstar romance, I Like You Like That, is hitting all the right chords with an empowered plus-size heroine and a sizzling love story. We get real about plus-size representation in media, the influences behind her empowering female protagonist and…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 37 - Top Tropes in Romance Writing with Aimee Walker
41:18
41:18
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
41:18
It's all about tropes! Aimee Walker is a new author and qualified editor - providing all levels of editorial services to authors of romance and women's fiction with clients across four continents. Pulling from her knowledge, clients and resources, she created a top trope book that gamifies tropes found in your favorite contemporary romances. We tal…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 36 - Tarot Readings for Writers with LJ Keys
1:12:28
1:12:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:12:28
LJ Keys is an intuitive woman of many talents - writer, poet, and tarot reader. Over the years, it has become clearer where she should be in her spiritual journey. Part of the journey is helping writers with their writing through tarot! She provides a tarot reading for my characters to show how tarot can be used as a writer's tool and how to struct…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 35 - Highlander Time-Travel Trope and Writing with C.A. Szarek
46:06
46:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:06
Eight books into her Highlander Time-Travel series, USA Today Bestselling Author C.A. Szarek is well-acquainted with the trope. She divulges the interest in Scotland that worked its way into her series and creating (and breaking) your own rules as a writer in a sub-genre based in magic. How does she keep track of all the HEAs in a Highlander family…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 34 - Dissecting Book Blurbs with Jessie Cunniffe
58:00
58:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
58:00
Professional book blurb writer and coach, Jessie Cunniffe joined the show for a second time to walk through a blurb audit with two voluntary blurbs - one a women's fiction and the other a spicy romance. She talks through the highs and revisions of the blurbs to help gain more readers. Whether you're working on the blurb for a new release or looking…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 33 - Proofreading for Your Writing with Melissa Bradford
41:48
41:48
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
41:48
Melissa Bradford may be a Spanish teacher by day but moonlights as a freelance proofreader and copyeditor ready to turn rough drafts into polished, publishable material for indie authors. She helps walk me through the editing titles (alpha reader, beta reader, proofreader) to clarify when authors need them during the revision process. During our ch…
…
continue reading