What's in this episode:

Sylvia Hubbard tells us how she got started in fiction (thanks Mom!) and explains that when she got the bug, she didn't stop writing and eventually started using her skills to earn a living. She's now been a bestselling author for 20+ hours.

Sylvia writes Suspense Romance and explains the rules and boundaries of this hybrid genre. The trick is to weave the key elements of each in a way that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

"I make people fall in love and I kill somebody."

She sets her stories in her hometown of Detroit and she describes the city as a character in her books. It's one of America's top murder cities, perfect for her suspenseful stories!

Sylvia talks me through her Black Family series. "Crazy needs love too." The men in her books all have hidden facets. For example, one has multiple personality disorder, another has food issues. But everyone wants and deserves love.

Hubbard delves into why these men are the way they are, they all have complex backstories.

"Love is really complicated...it's easy to get to the door, but opening the door and walking through is harder..."

Not only does Sylvia Hubbard write fiction, she writes non-fiction and blogs. She explains how she manages to write so prolifically and says she's "a pantster with a drip of plotter."

She's always on the lookout for interesting people and flaws and likens her process to the movie Glass.

Then she makes sure she goes through the 3Rs.

"When you make plans, God laughs. Sometimes the life you plan is not the life you need."

We discuss how you don't have to have everything worked out before you start writing, you can iron out the wrinkles later.

"You can't give yourself an excuse to fail."

We discuss how she manages her time and keeps her sense of fun! She says she wakes up with the attitude that she cannot fail. Sylvia emphasises how important it is to tell your loved ones that writing means a lot to you. If they want you to be happy, they need to let you write.

Everything can be done in 10 minutes. You've just got to figure out how to do it in that time.

We delve into how Sylvia started the Motown Writers Network and because she was sharing such valuable information, the network grew quickly and people couldn't get enough.

Sylvia's top advice is to not give up, no matter how hard it is. That's where success lives.

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Sylvia's website
• Motown Writers Network
• Author Services
• Sylvia's Facebook Group
• Motown Writers & Michigan Literary Network
• Glass, the movie

Associated Blog Post:

• https://emmadhesi.com/blog-post/sylvia-hubbard/

Don't forget, you can support the show for less than a Caffe Mocha at www.patreon.com/emmadhesi

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