Bookshelf Banter

Whitney Dineen is a rock star in her own head. While delusional about her singing abilities, there's been a plethora of validation that she's a fairly decent author (AMAZING!!!). After winning many writing awards and selling nearly a kabillion books (math may not be her forte, either), she's decided to just let the voices in her head say whatever they want (sorry, Mom). She also won a fourth-place ribbon in a fifth-grade swim meet in backstroke. So, there's that.

Whitney loves to play with her kids (a.k.a. dazzle them with her amazing flossing abilities), bake stuff, eat stuff, and write books for people who "get" her. She thinks french fries are the perfect food and Mrs. Roper is her spirit animal. She's won a ton of awards and has been a finalist as well, including Gold Medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2017, Silver medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016, 2019, Finalist RONE Awards, 2016, 2018, 2019, Finalist at the IRFA 2016, 2017, Finalist at the Book Excellence Awards, 2017, Finalist Top Shelf Indie Book Awards, 2017

You can find Whitney's books on Amazon. Be sure to follow her on Facebook and Bookbub. 

I loved talking to Whitney. She is as down to earth and hilarious in real life as she is in her novels. As promised, here is my review of Whitney's The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan. while I did NOT actual recommend reading it while on the toilet, the implication is there. 

At several points of this novel I found myself oh so delicately shooting water out of my nose. At my daughter's gymnastic class, a woman asked me to move because my random fits of laughter were scaring her infant. Mimi Finnegan is a major piece of work who kept me giggling the entire time I was reading. What's the plot? you ask. Characters? Oh no. I'm not going to ruin it at all for you. Go out and get this hilarious novel for yourself and make sure you've emptied your bladder before you start reading it.

Laura loves connecting with readers. For news and update, click the Follow button to the left or sign up for Laura's newsletter at www.lauraheffernan.com. Also find her on Facebook or on Twitter, where she spends far too much time tweeting about reality TV and Canadian chocolate.

If you're a fan of contemporary women's fiction, you have to listen to this episode featuring author Monique McDonell! Find out how Monique comes up with wacky character names, her thoughts on "Wonder", why she doesn't write literary fiction, and that time she predicted Jamie Durie's career would take off on Oprah.

Monique McDonell is a USA Today Bestselling Australian contemporary women’s fiction author, who writes chick-lit, romantic comedies and sweet romance novels. She I lives on the beautiful East Coast of NSW in Australia with her husband as her gorgeous daughter has flown the nest and headed to university.

Follow Monique on Facebook, Twitter, and Bookbub. You can also find out more about Monique at her website, moniquemcdonellauthor.com. Be sure to sign up for her newsletter! And if you are an indie author interested in working with Monique to build your business, click here to find out more about Get Social Write Now. 

Tracy Krimmer loves coffee, popcorn, Drew Barrymore, and the movie Saving Silverman. She enjoys reading great books (of course) and writing realistic characters for you to enjoy. When she listens to music she prefers the 80s and 90s music she grew up on. In a typical day you'll find her writing at one of her favorite spots-on the couch, at the kitchen table, or at her favorite hometown coffee shop.

Telling stories of resilient women, Kathryn R. Biel hails from Upstate New York where her most important role is being mom and wife to an incredibly understanding family who don't mind fetching coffee and living in a dusty house. In addition to being Chief Home Officer and Director of Child Development of the Biel household, she works as a school-based physical therapist. She attended Boston University and received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from The Sage Colleges. After years of writing countless letters of medical necessity for wheelchairs, finding increasingly creative ways to encourage insurance companies to fund her client's needs, and writing entertaining annual Christmas letters, she decided to take a shot at writing the kind of book she likes to read: those with humor, heart, and happy endings. Kathryn is the author of multiple contemporary women's fiction, romantic comedy, and romance novels, including the award-winning Live for This, Made for Me, and Paradise by the Dashboard Light.

Check out her website Kathrynbiel.com for more info on her books and to pick up her merch!

Follow her on Facebook, Instagram,  Twitter, Amazon, Pinterest and Bookbub! Oh and be sure to listen to her playlists on Spotify! 

Author Maida Malby cooks up multicultural, foodie, international contemporary romance stories filled with sizzling heat, mouthwatering spice, and a whole lotta love.  When not writing, reading, or reviewing books, Maida consults her husband on word selection, debates with her ten-year-old son regarding the Oxford comma, cooks the dishes she features in her stories, procrastibakes using Baileys as her secret yummy ingredient, and watches golf and food shows on TV.

Be sure to check out Maida's website at Maidamalby.com. Follow her on Facebook,  Pinterest,  Twitter,  Bookbub, and Instagram. 

Rich Amooi is the Amazon #1 Bestselling author of 15 romantic comedies, including It’s Not PMS, It’s You, Dying to Meet You, There’s Something About a Cowboy, and Madam Love, Actually. Over 500,000 downloads from readers around the world.

A former radio personality and wedding DJ, Rich now writes romantic comedies full-time in San Diego, California, and is happily married to a kiss monster imported from Spain. Rich believes in public displays of affection, silliness, infinite possibilities, donuts, gratitude, laughter, and happily ever after.For more information about Rich, visit his website richamooi.com. You can also find his books on Amazon. Be sure to follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Bookbub. 

This week I interviewed author Renee Conoulty.  Renee is an Australian Air Force wife and mother of two. She writes stories of dance, romance, and military life including Heart Swings, Catching Onix, and Don't Mean a Thing.

You can find out more about Renee on her website, Heysaidrenee. Check out Renee's novels and audiobooks on Amazon. 

Follow her on Facebook, Bookbub, and Instagram. too!

Welcome to the first episode of Bookshelf Banter! I'm your host, Heather Balog. I'm the author of 13 novels and 3 children's books that I wrote with my teenage daughter. I'm a wife, mom, school nurse, blogger, and audiobook narrator as well. On this podcast we'll be talking to some amazing Indie authors, specifically authors from the Rom-Com, Women's Fiction, and Chick Lit genres.

You can find me at Heather Balog, Author on Facebook, the_bad_mommy_books on Instagram,  The Bad Mommy Diaries, or Bad Mommy Reads.

All of my books are exclusive to Amazon...visit my author page at Heather Balog.com or go directly to Amazon to find them. You can get your FREE copy of Amy Maxwell & the 10 Days of Quarantine HERE. https://mailchi.mp/612a3e09b927/amy-maxwell-free