Backstage With The Book Babes

Summary:

Sports Romance Author Allie Lasky goes Backstage with the Book Babes for a fantastic conversation about neurodivergent and disability rep in sports romance, her journey to sports fandom, and making live events a major part of her author business.

Allie starts off telling us about her sports romance books and how she incorporates neurodivergent characters and disability rep into all her books. And while she loves to write hockey romance, she also includes other sports including women’s rugby, men’s gymnastics, softball, track and field, soccer, swimming, and baseball.

She also gives us an exclusive announcement about her next series. The Atlanta Tigers hockey journey will begin spring of 2027.

Of course we had to get into all the current and upcoming sport romance TV adaptations like Heated Rivalry and Off Campus. So we asked Allie which of her books would be the first she’d love to see adapted. She’d really love to see a two part series featuring both Game Misconduct and Tripped Up.

Allie makes live events a large part of her author business and had originally scheduled 53 events for 2026. Alby and Nikki are jealous and a little tired thinking about doing this many events, but it was great hearing about her strategies and how this works for her.

Her trope for life is Best Friend’s Sibling with a side of Only One Bed.

Her question for listeners is a two parter:

1. What do you like about the sports romance genre and what keeps you coming back?

2. What sports and disability rep would you like to see more of in books?

We hope you enjoy the show, and if you do, leave us a review on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. And make sure to follow us on your fave platform.

Music by Christopher Tallon

If you listen and it brings you joy, you can help support the podcast through Buy Me A Coffee. 

Help Support the podcast:

Buy Alby a tea: https://buymeacoffee.com/albyblake

Buy Nikki a tea: buymeacoffee.com/nikkijewell

About Allie Lasky

Allie is a queer and AuDHD writer with a hyper-fixation on inclusivity and representation. She loves the color purple, Michigan football, the Detroit Lions, and the Boston Bruins. When she’s not absorbed by a book, she likes to watch sports and spend time with her nephews.

A San Diego, CA native now residing in South Carolina, she is allergic to the cold, rain, snow, and mosquitos.

When you read an Allie Lasky book, you’re guaranteed a few things:

• He falls first

• … but she comes first

• Found family

• Mental health & neurodivergent rep

• Body positivity - in all shapes and sizes

Here’s where you can find Allie and her books:

All Links:

Website: Allielasky.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/allielasky/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/allielasky/

FB group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/alliesathleticsupporters

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@allielasky

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Allie-Lasky/author/B0B2Q6J52H

Keep Up With The Book Babes:

Social Media: Backstagewiththebookbabes

Email: [email protected]

Links & Guest Author Applications: linktr.ee/backstagewiththebookbabes

Find Nikki Jewell & Her Spicy Contemporary Romance:

Social Media: @nikkijewell_books

Website: authornikkijewell.com

Event Links: ://linktr.ee/nikkijewellbooks

Find Alby Blake & Her Unique Sports Romance Books:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_alby_blake/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alby_blake

Website: www.lovelunapress.com

Summary:

Rockstar Romance author Hailey Klier Decker gets cozy with the Book Babes to chat about rockstars meeting regular people, finding the perfect writing spot, and balancing her day job at a winery with her author life.

First we learn about her inspiration for the first book in her When the Lights Go Down series, Pretty When it Burns. She tells us about attending her first concert at 13. This was an intimate bar setting rather than a large stadium and it really got her thinking about what it would be like if a rockstar fell for a regular person. This was the original seed for her story that evolved quite a bit over the years.

Hailey talks about her winery job in Texas and how living in a small town affects where she can get writing done. Writing at home doesn’t work so well for her, so she likes to get out, but things get complicated living in a small town where people stop to chat wherever you go. So she found another winery a little farther out with a great atmosphere and a supportive owner and this has become her unofficial office. Because otherwise she’s just getting drunk and getting no work done.

Since she works weekends at her winery job it can be hard to get to book signing events but she did recently get to experience a very unique book signing experience. A visiting customer found out about her books and read one with her book club. Which led to an invite to travel to California for an intimate book club chat and Q&A. Which sounds like an absolutely amazing time.

Hailey’s trope for life is Brother’s Best Friend. She loves the secrets and forbidden aspects of it.

Her question for listeners is: What would you like to see from her down the line? Would you want to see more rock star romances or perhaps her whitewater rafting romance? As a baby author she’s curious about what her readers are looking for in the future.

We hope you enjoy the show, and if you do, leave us a review on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. And make sure to follow us on your fave platform.

Music by Christopher Tallon

If you listen and it brings you joy, you can help support the podcast through Buy Me A Coffee. 

Help Support the podcast:

Buy Alby a tea: https://buymeacoffee.com/albyblake

Buy Nikki a tea: buymeacoffee.com/nikkijewell

About Hailey Klier Decker:

Hailey Klier Decker writes spicy contemporary romance filled with heart, heat, and the kind of characters who refuse to leave her alone. Born and raised in Texas, she currently lives in the Hill Country, where she divides her time between writing and working in the wine industry.

A life-long lover of music and stories that make readers laugh, cry, and swoon, Hailey spent nearly ten years bringing the When the Lights Go Down series to life. This series is a collection of interconnected stand-alone romances inspired by music, found family, and the beautiful chaos of falling in love.

When she's not writing, you can find her planning her next adventure over a glass of wine or being outnumbered by her three cats." 

Here’s where you can find Hailey:

https://linktr.ee/haileykd_author 

Keep Up With The Book Babes:

Social Media: Backstagewiththebookbabes

Email: [email protected]

Links & Guest Author Applications: linktr.ee/backstagewiththebookbabes

Find Nikki Jewell & Her Spicy Sports & Cowboy Romances:

New Release: 

Wrangled by the Star

Hollywood lands at Heartland but make it spicy.

https://mybook.to/wrangledbythestar

Links:

Social Media: @nikkijewell_books

Website: authornikkijewell.com

Event Links: ://linktr.ee/nikkijewellbooks

Find Alby Blake & Her Unique Sports Romance Books:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_alby_blake/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alby_blake

Website: www.lovelunapress.com

Summary:

Romantic Suspense author Ally Bloom goes Backstage with the Book Babes to talk about publishing her debut romance book, her experience with traditional publishing, and learning the ropes of indie publishing for her next release.

Ally tells us all about her debut romantic suspense novel Love Struck. She shares how it’s loosely based on the TV show Dead to Me and how she put a lot of her own personal experiences as well as lots of research into the medical and legal aspects. She also spills the two on her next release, Lost in London, which is the first book in the Love & Wanderlust series. It’s a departure from her romantic suspense but she’s really excited to share it with everyone.

She tells us that she’s a major plotter and needs a solid outline when she’s writing or she can’t finish the story. As for naming her characters? She might have the names pop into her head, but usually she likes to figure out some of the characteristics of them and then do some research to find the perfect names.

Ally considers herself to be a hybrid author and shares with us her journey to find a publisher for her first book. She’s currently working on a second book for her publisher while also working on her first indie release. We talk about the pros and cons of indie versus trad publishing and she lets us know her reasons for going indie with her next series.

Ally’s trope for life is Rivals to Lovers. She loves the versatility of this trope and how you can find it in workplace, academia, or sports romance books.

Her question for listeners is: Are you willing to go to jail for you’re man like her character Charlie? Because she’s not.

We hope you enjoy the show, and if you do, leave us a review on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. And make sure to follow us on your fave platform.

Music by Christopher Tallon

If you listen and it brings you joy, you can help support the podcast through Buy Me A Coffee. 

Help Support the podcast:

Buy Alby a tea: https://buymeacoffee.com/albyblake

Buy Nikki a tea: buymeacoffee.com/nikkijewell

About Ally Bloom:

Ally Bloom is a WFH mom by day and fade-to-black romance author by night. Based in San Diego, she loves sunshine, water, and generally being outside. In fact, she gets all of her best ideas during family beach walks where she can talk through concepts or plot holes with her adoring husband!

Her debut novel, LOVE STRUCK, is a romantic-suspense, but she also loves to write feel-good contemporary romances.

Here’s where you can find Ally:

Website: www.allybloombooks.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author.allybloom?utm_source=qr

Keep Up With The Book Babes:

Social Media: Backstagewiththebookbabes

Email: [email protected]

Links & Guest Author Applications: linktr.ee/backstagewiththebookbabes

Find Nikki Jewell & Her Spicy Sports & Cowboy Romances:

New Release: 

Wrangled by the Star

Hollywood lands at Heartland but make it spicy.

https://mybook.to/wrangledbythestar

Links:

Social Media: @nikkijewell_books

Website: authornikkijewell.com

Event Links: ://linktr.ee/nikkijewellbooks

Find Alby Blake & Her Unique Sports Romance Books:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_alby_blake/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alby_blake

Website: www.lovelunapress.com

Summary:

Sports Romance author CL Rose goes Backstage with the Book Babes to chat about her love of football and baseball, experiences in sports communication, and her unique journey to a trad publishing deal.

CL starts out sharing some information about her three current series: the Boston Blizzard, Daytona Fury, and Rock City Renegades. Her books feature football and baseball and all take place in the same shared world, which we love. She also has some volleyball and dance featured.

She shares about her nontraditional route to a traditional publishing deal. When she initially reached out to agents, she was looking only for sub rights deals including translations and audiobooks. This led to a deal with Beck Literary agency and an eventual deal for a new book in a new series. We love hearing about different authors routes to publishing deals. But she still loves indie publishing and intends to continue as a hybrid author.

She also tells us about how her table setup for signing events has evolved over time. Like the book babes she’s always learning new things from other authors and making tweaks to her setup. Alby met her at Pages of Glass and loved her backdrop which is getting updated to include her new series teams for 2027.

CL’s trope for life is Fake Dating. That moment when they realize it’s not fake anymore is like catnip for her.

Her question for listeners is: Can you tell when an author was really enjoying writing a specific book? Because we love all our books and characters but some we just really fall in love with like Red Zone for her. Does this come through to the reader?

We hope you enjoy the show, and if you do, leave us a review on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. And make sure to follow us on your fave platform.

Music by Christopher Tallon

If you listen and it brings you joy, you can help support the podcast through Buy Me A Coffee. 

Help Support the podcast:

Buy Alby a tea: https://buymeacoffee.com/albyblake

Buy Nikki a tea: buymeacoffee.com/nikkijewell

About CL Rose:

C.L. Rose is a contemporary romance author who loves all things sports. She lives in Northeast Ohio with her loving husband and two amazing kids. When she’s not writing, you can find her in front of the TV, probably yelling at her favorite teams and trash-talking the opposing fans. You can check out all her sports romance books, including the Boston Blizzard, Daytona Fury, and Rock City Renegades series, on Kindle Unlimited.

Here’s where you can find CL:

https://authorclrose.com

And on all social media platforms: @authorclrose

Keep Up With The Book Babes:

Social Media: Backstagewiththebookbabes

Email: [email protected]

Links & Guest Author Applications: linktr.ee/backstagewiththebookbabes

Find Nikki Jewell & Her Spicy Sports & Cowboy Romances:

New Release: 

Wrangled by the Star

Hollywood lands at Heartland but make it spicy.

https://mybook.to/wrangledbythestar

Links:

Social Media: @nikkijewell_books

Website: authornikkijewell.com

Event Links: ://linktr.ee/nikkijewellbooks

Find Alby Blake & Her Unique Sports Romance Books:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_alby_blake/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alby_blake

Website: www.lovelunapress.com

Summary:

Canadian Romance Author Cheryl Terra goes Backstage with the Book Babes for a great conversation about writing bisexual characters, body positivity in romance, and planning book signing events.

Cheryl starts out telling us about her books which she likes to call Happily Ever Afters for Bisexual Disasters. She aims to write books that are like having coffee with your hot mess best friend who has crazy dating stories and is one downward spiral away from finding their like true love. They are bisexual, queer, and body positive. She says she likes to write sassy, strong characters who feel relatable.

She shares with us how her writing process evolved from totally winging it to having a rough outline and idea of where her story is going. She coined the term dirty drafting to describe how she writes. Rather than a standard chapter type outline, she’ll write a bunch of bullet points with some scenes and dialogue thrown in to figure out later.

Cheryl also talks about how her ADHD factors into her writing routines in that she has multiple routines to change things up when something isn’t working. She also has different playlists and types of music or sound depending on what’s working at the moment.

And of course the Book Babes had to ask about the planning process behind Cheryl’s Romance, Eh? Book signing event in Edmonton, Alberta. She planned her first event in 2025 with two friends which Nikki attended. And after a successful first year they’re excited for their 2026 larger event which is coming up in a few weeks. She shares lots of details behind the planning process.

Cheryl’s trope for life is Brother’s Best Friend. She enjoys any sibling type dynamic that adds a layer of family drama to a story.

Her question for listeners is: What do you wish authors knew about you as a reader or your reading habits or what you enjoy that no one ever asks about or that no one ever addresses? What do you wish authors knew that no one ever asks you about?

We hope you enjoy the show, and if you do, leave us a review on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. And make sure to follow us on your fave platform.

Music by Christopher Tallon

If you listen and it brings you joy, you can help support the podcast through Buy Me A Coffee. 

Help Support the podcast:

Buy Alby a tea: https://buymeacoffee.com/albyblake

Buy Nikki a tea: buymeacoffee.com/nikkijewell

About Cheryl Terra:

Cheryl Terra writes spicy, character-focused romance that makes you feel like you're having coffee with your best friend while they tell you a crazy and slightly convoluted story about their wacky dating adventures. Sassy, body positive, and full of heart, her books explore both traditional and unconventional relationships. Cheryl lives in Alberta with her husband and two justifiably spoiled corgis she will show pictures of to anyone who asks. In her spare time, she laughs at people who assume she has spare time or uses it for anything but more writing. She also loves yoga and raccoons.

Here’s where you can find Cheryl:

https://cherylterra.com/

https://www.instagram.com/cherylterrabooks/

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Cheryl-Terra/author/B086P7C899?ccs_id=7b5cac3b-5349-46b3-b4a2-4e9c26409418

Keep Up With The Book Babes:

Social Media: Backstagewiththebookbabes

Email: [email protected]

Links & Guest Author Applications: linktr.ee/backstagewiththebookbabes

Find Nikki Jewell & Her Spicy Sports & Cowboy Romances:

New Release: 

Wrangled by the Star

Hollywood lands at Heartland but make it spicy.

https://mybook.to/wrangledbythestar

Links:

Social Media: @nikkijewell_books

Website: authornikkijewell.com

Event Links: ://linktr.ee/nikkijewellbooks

Find Alby Blake & Her Unique Sports Romance Books:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_alby_blake/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alby_blake

Website: www.lovelunapress.com

Canadian Why Choose Romance Author Cora Flynn goes Backstage with the Book Babes for a great conversation about writing why choose, getting deep in the research weeds, and of course coining the term muscle sock.

To kick off the show Nikki shares about her recent experience with Tea on the Train at the Hamilton Prop House while Alby talks about her latest read for her Pages and Grapes Book Club. Turns out they’re reading The Fated Librarian by one of the show’s previous guests the lovely Melissa Whitney.

Cora shares information about her why choose romances. All of her series’ feature why choose relationships with MM elements, romance, and suspense. She likes to call her books very dark but not dark romance.

She tells us all about her new series. It revolves around a plane crash in The Darien Gap and what the survivors have to go through. This required in depth research into planes, air travel, and survival in the treacherous jungle. As a fan of human psychology, she was fascinated looking into real life survival stories.

Cora tells us how she is great at visualization and this helps her write the spicy scenes with multiple partners in her why choose books. She approaches them like an action scene mapping it out in her head to get it down on her keyboard.

We also touch on Cora’s methods for dealing with ADHD as an author and the Book Babes definitely pick up a few tips.

Cora’s trope for life is Found Family Why Choose.

Her question for listeners is: When you read a book what do you hope it will make you feel? Because when we read romance we are searching for a feeling. But what is that feeling you’re searching for.

We hope you enjoy the show, and if you do, leave us a review on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. And make sure to follow us on your fave platform.

Music by Christopher Tallon

If you listen and it brings you joy, you can help support the podcast through Buy Me A Coffee. 

Help Support the podcast:

Buy Alby a tea: https://buymeacoffee.com/albyblake

Buy Nikki a tea: buymeacoffee.com/nikkijewell

About Cora Flynn:

Cora Flynn is a thirty-something Canadian chaos goblin who loves healing her own brokenness by writing characters that are more damaged than she is.

Jokes.

But her therapist would likely agree with that statement.

She writes why choose romance because she yearns for a life where she lives in a household with four incomes and four sets of hands to manage her two equally chaotic children, but has to admit her one true love is pretty great 93.5% of the time. Hurt/comfort and found family are the two biggest tropes in her romantic suspense series. 

Her raging ADHD keeps her creativity thriving, and her need for forty-seven calendar reminders a day keeps her humble. One day she will crash and burn with the pace of her life, but today is not that day.

Here’s where you can find Cora:

Website: https://coraflynnauthor.com

Socials: @coraflynnauthor - handle for all socials (tiktok, instagram, facebook)

Books:

Cascade of Lies trilogy - https://geni.us/cascadeoflies

All The Queen's Men trilogy - https://geni.us/tocatcharook

Lost & Found Duet - https://geni.us/finalapproach

BONUS - free prequel novellas to get your started!Winter's Song: https://BookHip.com/ZHVPDFG

To Crown A Queen: https://bookhip.com/NSSCBPW

Keep Up With The Book Babes:

Social Media: Backstagewiththebookbabes

Email: [email protected]

Links & Guest Author Applications: linktr.ee/backstagewiththebookbabes

Find Nikki Jewell & Her Spicy Sports & Cowboy Romances:

New Release: 

Wrangled by the Star

Hollywood lands at Heartland but make it spicy.

https://mybook.to/wrangledbythestar

Links:

Social Media: @nikkijewell_books

Website: authornikkijewell.com

Event Links: ://linktr.ee/nikkijewellbooks

Find Alby Blake & Her Unique Sports Romance Books:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_alby_blake/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alby_blake

Website: www.lovelunapress.com

Summary:

Paranormal Romance Author Faye Knightly goes Backstage with the Book Babes live at Rose City Romance 2026 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. We had a fun time recording this with her and the event itself was amazing.

Faye tells us about her paranormal romance books and how they're inspired by her love of Buffy. Her most popular series is a post-apocalyptic story featuring werewolves. She loves exploring the idea of people functioning within a messed up society. Plus, of course, they’re quite spicy. Her other series is more of an urban fantasy that takes place in the 90’s.

Faye says she leans more into being a pantser with her writing and after reading Stephen King’s book she realizes she shares that in common with him. If she plots a book out too much she gets bored with it. But because of her rich world building she does need to make some notes to stay on track.

We go on a side quest to reminisce about the half angel or nephilim stories we used to read years ago. Maybe it’s time for nephilim to make a comeback in paranormal romance books. After all, everything comes and goes in a cycle of popularity.

We also talk about how writing can be a form of catharsis and how we often put a lot of ourselves into our stories. And then use this to process our own experiences and traumas. And how this connects to the dark fantasy romance she’s currently working on.

She also tells us about her WOW days to take a brain break and celebrate her accomplishments. Her husband and his friends play World of Warcraft while she takes the day to herself and binges a TV show like Bridgerton. Faye tells us that anyone can take a WOW day, there’s no gatekeeping from her.

Faye’s trope for life is Forbidden Love, because it’s so good and so versatile. She does love Fated Mates combined with it, but it’s not necessary.

Her question for listeners is Buffy related: What do you think of the Buffy revival being canceled by Hulu? Faye is pretty upset about this and is hoping you share the sentiment.

We hope you enjoy the show, and if you do, leave us a review on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. And make sure to follow us on your fave platform.

Want to check out Rose City Romance to meet some amazing romance authors in 2027? Follow their website and socials to keep up with all the news including ticket sales. www.rosecityromance.com

(Backstage with the Book Babes is not sponsored by this event nor do we receive any compensation by the organizer)

Music by Christopher Tallon

If you listen and it brings you joy, you can help support the podcast through Buy Me A Coffee. 

Help Support the podcast:

Buy Alby a tea: https://buymeacoffee.com/albyblake

Buy Nikki a tea: buymeacoffee.com/nikkijewell

About Faye Knightly:

Faye writes the kind of stories that give her the strength and courage she needs in life. You can expect dark themes, high stakes, true love, and fierce heroines who struggle through their broken pasts to find human connection and salvation. Her works are best described as dark fantasy with strong romantic subplots featuring non-human characters with entirely human feelings and weaknesses. 

Here’s where you can find Faye:

https://www.fayeknightly.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faye_knightly_writer/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@faye.knightly.writer

Keep Up With The Book Babes:

Social Media: Backstagewiththebookbabes

Email: [email protected]

Links & Guest Author Applications: linktr.ee/backstagewiththebookbabes

Find Nikki Jewell & Her Spicy Sports & Cowboy Romances:

New Release: 

Wrangled by the Star

Hollywood lands at Heartland but make it spicy.

https://mybook.to/wrangledbythestar

Links:

Social Media: @nikkijewell_books

Website: authornikkijewell.com

Event Links: ://linktr.ee/nikkijewellbooks

Find Alby Blake & Her Unique Sports Romance Books:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_alby_blake/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alby_blake

Website: www.lovelunapress.com

Summary:

Romantasy and Sci-Fi Author Letizia Firmani goes Backstage with the Book Babes for a fun conversation about writing Spike & Buffy inspired vampire romance, Sci-fi horrormance, and maintaining an author career while traveling between Italy and Canada.

Letizia tells us about her debut romantasy book, The Crown’s Soul Prophecy which is set in the Italian town where she grew up. And her next books which are a vampire romance series and her most recent release, Breathing Energy, which is a sci-fi horrormance.

We chat about the difference between fantasy romance and romantasy. And how some series can possibly fluctuate from one book to the next in terms of the romance vs fantasy plot aspects.

Letizia also shares about her unique publishing journey. She started out as a musician first as she studied music. So her first foray into writing was as a songwriter. Then during the Twilight era she got into writing fanfiction. And that was how she first got into writing fiction. And thanks to these influences she has been told her writing style is a little more lyrical.

When it’s time to sit down and get writing, Letizia needs something to drink at hand. Sometimes it’s water, sometimes an energy drink, and sometimes a coffee, but always something to stay hydrated or caffeinated. And then she likes either instrumental music playing or a show she’s watched many times before. Some of her fave shows to write to are Gilmore Girls, Charmed, Bones, and Castle.

If you’re in Canada, you can find Letizia at Royal City Romance in Guelph, Ontario on Oct 31st, Indie Fusion Book Con in Toronto on November 8th. Or in 2027, she’ll be at Spellbound in the District in Amsterdam.

Letizia’s trope for life is Only One Bed. She likes the versatility of this trope and how it fits in lots of subgenres.

Her question for listeners is: What would you like to see her write next?

We hope you enjoy the show, and if you do, leave us a review on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. And make sure to follow us on your fave platform.

Music by Christopher Tallon

If you listen and it brings you joy, you can help support the podcast through Buy Me A Coffee. 

Help Support the podcast:

Buy Alby a tea: https://buymeacoffee.com/albyblake

Buy Nikki a tea: buymeacoffee.com/nikkijewell

About Letizia Firmani:

Letizia Firmani is an Italian author with an incurable obsession for anything fantasy or romance-related. Her first approach to writing was through music, and she actually dreamed of becoming a songwriter for most of her life. After majoring in Photography while consuming a very healthy amount of fan fictions, Firmani finally decided to give novel writing a go when the world shut down. Letizia spends most of her time daydreaming about fictional characters, putting hot sauce on things that definitely don’t need it, and crafting your next favorite book boyfriend. She splits her time between Italy and Canada with her partner and an ever-growing number of cats who may or may not be plotting world domination.

Here’s where you can find Letizia:

Instagram: @letiziafirmani

Tiktok: @letiziafirmani

http://www.letiziafirmani.com

http://www.letiziafirmani.substack.com 

Amazon page with all the books https://www.amazon.ca/stores/author/B0CP674PT6/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=b71b26da-fed8-4dc7-b85f-9c8bb8889979

Keep Up With The Book Babes:

Social Media: Backstagewiththebookbabes

Email: [email protected]

Links & Guest Author Applications: linktr.ee/backstagewiththebookbabes

Find Nikki Jewell & Her Spicy Sports & Cowboy Romances:

New Release: 

Wrangled by the Star

Hollywood lands at Heartland but make it spicy.

https://mybook.to/wrangledbythestar

Links:

Social Media: @nikkijewell_books

Website: authornikkijewell.com

Event Links: ://linktr.ee/nikkijewellbooks

Find Alby Blake & Her Unique Sports Romance Books:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_alby_blake/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alby_blake

Website: www.lovelunapress.com

Summary:

Paranormal Romance Author Day S Grant goes Backstage with the Book Babes for an interesting chat about unique hybrid pet shifters, voyeuristic magical matchmakers, and making sure to avoid a routine at all costs.

Day tells us all about her Mavens pet shifter series where her main characters shift into animals like Border Collies, turtles, and Pomeranians. She even has a freebie with a nurse rabbit shifter if you’d like to get a taste for her world. She also has a mystical matchmaker series where one magical matchmaker puts together paranormal couples of all different species. But when it comes to the main event, she likes to watch.

We have chat about Day’s evolving plotting process. While she initially started as a complete pantser, she has realized she needs some structure to avoid a chaotic mess of a first draft. So now she sets out a loose timeline before she puts her fingers on the keyboard.

Day has a longer editing process than many indie authors, so while she might write a first draft in a month or two, it won’t even go to her editor for at least a year. Before the editor, her drafts go through her critique group and her own rigorous editing process.

Her very first book signing event just so happened to be a pretty big one. Day won a two hour signing slot at a table with the Romance Writers of America in a raffle. And while it was intimidating at first, it turned out to be a fantastic event and she can’t wait to attend more signings in the future. One of her next ones will be alongside Alby and Nikki at Reader Nation in Las Vegas on November 14th. They all hope to see some of you there.

Day’s trope for life is He Falls First. Which we can definitely agree is a fantastic one.

Her question for listeners is: What are you looking for when you see a book cover? What draws you to the book based on the cover alone. Is it the cool font, the character, or something else?

We hope you enjoy the show, and if you do, leave us a review on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. And make sure to follow us on your fave platform.

Music by Christopher Tallon

If you listen and it brings you joy, you can help support the podcast through Buy Me A Coffee. 

Help Support the podcast:

Buy Alby a tea: https://buymeacoffee.com/albyblake

Buy Nikki a tea: buymeacoffee.com/nikkijewell

About Day S Grant:

Day S. Grant writes paranormal romance that champions magic, misfits, and the misunderstood. Her debut series, The Mavens, features full-length paranormal romantic suspense set in a world where 80% of the population are pet-based shifters — if someone has it as a pet, there's a shifter for it. A connected cozy mystery series, Hybrid Films, can be read with or without The Mavens. For lighter reads, the Mystical Matchmaker series offers spicy, interconnected standalones following a psychic matchmaker and her ever-watching eye. Be prepared to be swept away by romances with plot. 

Here’s where you can find Day:

Website: www.daysgrant.com/

Social media: instagram @DaySGrant

Books: www.daysgrant.com/books (All the links are there) 

or Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Day-S.-Grant/author/B0DS49D6FQ

Keep Up With The Book Babes:

Social Media: Backstagewiththebookbabes

Email: [email protected]

Links & Guest Author Applications: linktr.ee/backstagewiththebookbabes

Find Nikki Jewell & Her Spicy Sports & Cowboy Romances:

New Release: 

Wrangled by the Star

Hollywood lands at Heartland but make it spicy.

https://mybook.to/wrangledbythestar

Links:

Social Media: @nikkijewell_books

Website: authornikkijewell.com

Event Links: ://linktr.ee/nikkijewellbooks

Find Alby Blake & Her Unique Sports Romance Books:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_alby_blake/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alby_blake

Website: www.lovelunapress.com

Summary:

Hockey romance author TD Lua goes Backstage with the Book Babes for an amazing conversation about lumberjack competitions, sports romance, and finding a balance between work, author life, and parenthood.

TD tells us about her Ballad U hockey romance series and her next project Ballad University Next Season. As an athlete for most of her life, sports romance was a natural fit for her, but initially she only thought she’d write the one book. And then realized her characters had more stories to tell, so this one book turned into her first series.

We talk about embracing chaos and how her books usually start with the characters first rather than the plot. While having an idea about the beginning, middle, and end of her stories, she generally just starts writing and lets the characters tell their stories. 

TD enjoys listening to Noah Kahan and Ed Sheeran while writing. Until she makes an official playlist, which she likes to do for each book. Iced coffee is a must have. And she’ll often meet up with her author friend Trinity for writing sessions.

TD tells us about the hockey night with the Griffins she participated in this year hosted by the bookstore Pages & Grapes. She enjoyed the intimacy of the smaller event and the chance to get together with the other authors after. But she also enjoys a larger convention like Sports Romance Con. She’ll be attending it again for 2027 as are Nikki & Alby. So they’re all excited to meet up there.

TD’s trope for life is brother’s best friend. She loves the angst and secrecy of it.

Her question for listeners is: Why do you love sports romance books?

We hope you enjoy the show, and if you do, leave us a review on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. And make sure to follow us on your fave platform.

Music by Christopher Tallon

If you listen and it brings you joy, you can help support the podcast through Buy Me A Coffee. 

Help Support the podcast:

Buy Alby a tea: https://buymeacoffee.com/albyblake

Buy Nikki a tea: buymeacoffee.com/nikkijewell

About TD Lua:

T.D. Lua is a spicy sports romance author who writes stories where the athletes fall to their knees for the women they love. Her books are packed with heart, heat, and happily-ever-afters that leave readers swooning long after the final page.

Born and raised in southwest Michigan, T.D. spent six years in upstate New York while her husband served in the U.S. military before returning home to the Great Lakes State. She has been married to her husband, Ryan, for eight years and is the proud mom of their son, Bennett, whose name was inspired by hockey star Sam Bennett.

When she isn't writing romance, T.D. is pursuing her Master of Social Work degree with the goal of becoming a school social worker and children's therapist.

T.D. loves writing short, sweet, and relatable stories that make readers laugh, cry, swoon, and promise themselves "just one more chapter" only to finish the whole book instead.

You can find her books in Kindle Unlimited, paperback, and audiobook.

Pucks and Kisses,

T.D. Lua

Here’s where you can find TD:

https://www.instagram.com/tdlua_author/

https://www.threads.com/@tdlua_author

https://www.tiktok.com/@tdluaauthor

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BMM6HWRZ

Keep Up With The Book Babes:

Social Media: Backstagewiththebookbabes

Email: [email protected]

Links & Guest Author Applications: linktr.ee/backstagewiththebookbabes

Find Nikki Jewell & Her Spicy Sports & Cowboy Romances:

New Release: 

Wrangled by the Star

Hollywood lands at Heartland but make it spicy.

https://mybook.to/wrangledbythestar

Links:

Social Media: @nikkijewell_books

Website: authornikkijewell.com

Event Links: ://linktr.ee/nikkijewellbooks

Find Alby Blake & Her Unique Sports Romance Books:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_alby_blake/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alby_blake

Website: www.lovelunapress.com