In this conversation, authors Nancy Smay and Mona Shroff discuss the process of writing contemporary romance novels, sharing insights into their creative process, inspiration, and the challenges they face. Mona Shroff shares her journey from optometry to becoming a writer, her approach to character development, and the unique way she plots her stories. The conversation also delves into the editing process and the tools used for writing. Mona Shroff discusses her writing process, book publishing timeline, marketing strategies, and the expansion of her writing into new genres. She also shares insights on maintaining motivation, self-care, and the excitement of branching out into different areas of writing.

In this conversation, Ines Johnson discusses her experience as a romance writer and the changes she has observed in the genre. She talks about her journey as an indie author and the challenges she faced in traditional publishing. Ines also shares her insights on the evolving preferences of readers, particularly the TikTok generation, and how she incorporates micro tropes into her books. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the market and finding the intersection between what she wants to write and what readers want. Ines also discusses her approach to planning and marketing her extensive backlist of books. In this conversation, Ines and Nancy discuss various strategies and techniques for successful book marketing and writing. They cover topics such as using affiliate links, pricing strategies for Kindle Unlimited, writing processes, and the importance of testing relationships in romance novels. Ines shares her approach to writing, including using note cards and Scrivener, and emphasizes the need for a strong structure and showing characters falling in love. They also discuss the significance of the third act break-up in romance novels and the importance of mindset and goal-setting in maintaining a positive attitude.

In this conversation, Nancy Smay interviews Denny S. Bryce, a traditionally published author of historical fiction. They discuss Denny's background as a writer and her passion for craft and research. Denny shares her experience as a fan fiction writer and how it led her to join the Romance Writers of America (RWA) and eventually get an agent. They also talk about Denny's process of researching and writing historical fiction, including the use of tools like Aeon Timeline and Scrivener. Overall, the conversation highlights Denny's dedication to her craft and her love for storytelling. Denny S. Bryce discusses her approach to writing historical fiction and the importance of diverse reading. She shares how she got the attention of influential authors and judges through contests and endorsements. Bryce explains her approach to historical fiction, which includes writing biographical stories and exploring key time periods and events. She emphasizes the importance of entertaining readers while also educating them about historical situations and reflecting on present-day issues. Bryce also discusses her writing process, including outlining, researching, and revising, and encourages readers to explore different genres and diverse voices.

In this episode, Nancy chats with spicy small town romance writer Lena Hendrix. Lena, who began publishing just a few years ago, has found success in KU writing multiple series and focusing on cozy settings, relatable characters, time-tested tropes, and an edge.

They discuss the importance of considering marketing before beginning to write, explore craft books that Lena especially likes, and discuss TikTok, PR boxes, street teams, and dictation.

In this conversation, Nancy Smay interviews Kate Nolan about her writing career and process. They discuss topics such as the different genres Kate writes in, her experience with self-publishing and traditional publishing, her decision to use pen names, her approach to wide distribution, and her writing routine. Kate shares that she is a rabid plotter and uses Scrivener and Evernote to organize her ideas and outlines. She also talks about her she shed, a dedicated writing space she built for herself. In this conversation, Kait Nolan discusses her writing process, including how she uses dictation to capture ideas and the software she uses for transcription. She also talks about her editing process and working with beta readers. Kait shares her approach to marketing, including using free book promotions and focusing on building her newsletter. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining control over her own platform and not relying solely on social media. Kait also discusses the importance of finding a supportive community of writers and the value of accountability partners. Finally, she touches on the importance of maintaining physical fitness as a writer.