Journeys of Romance

Journeys of Romance episodes:

• 02.07.2022

  Episode 101: The 100th Book Celebration Podcast

  Jess and her husband Michael talk about her upcoming 100th book and all the fun and shock that we're finally here! We discuss how it started and how it's going, changes in the industry since I started, the future of...

  
• 06.29.2021

  Episode 100: 100th Episode Celebration

  Today is a special day at Journeys of Romance - our 100th episode so Michael Petersen  & I reminiscence about the last 100 episodes & an update my summer break. Journeys of Romance podcast will be on hiatus until September 2021...

  
• 06.15.2021

  Episode 99: Shelly Ellis

  The amazing Shelly Ellis talks to Jess building in tension and connections, being character vs theme driven, properly labeling for reader expectations, her process, learning the characters through writing, and that there is no meritocracy in publishing.

  
• 06.01.2021

  Episode 98: Sandra Kitt

  The amazing Sandra Kitt joins Jess to talk about getting over trying to write for anyone but yourself, not reading reviews, two steps forward and one step back in racism in publishing, having to prove more and work harder for...

  
• 05.18.2021

  Episode 97: Jackie Lau

  Jackie Lau joins Jess Michaels to discuss how indie publishing has allowed her to write the stories she wants to tell, coming to romance late and embracing the genre,  her move to hybrid publishing and the journey to get there,...

  
• 05.04.2021

  Episode 96: Sarah MacLean

  New York Times and USA Today Bestselling historical romance author Sarah MacLean talks to Jess about the indie shift, trope understanding and language, advice to new authors and determining your own process (as well as her own). 

  
• 04.20.2021

  Episode 95: Cecelia Mecca

  Historical (and paranomal and contemporary) author Cecelia Mecca joins Jess to talk about coming to reading and writing late, discovering her own process and how to apply it to craft, the very different world of medieval romance publishing, how she...

  
• 04.06.2021

  Episode 94: Therese Beharrie

  Author Therese Beharrie joins Jess to talk about the benefits and challenges of writing from South Africa, her journey into publishing, learning from many editors and her process. 

  
• 03.09.2021

  Episode 93: Kate Bateman

  Kate Bateman joins Jess to talk about her time on British television, how she started writing, writing outside the Regency period, her process and her hybrid publishing decisions. 

  
• 02.23.2021

  Episode 92: Adele Buck

  Author Adele Buck talks to Jess Michaels about Twitter name changing, her covers, what surprised her with her debut release and her process.

  
• 02.09.2021

  Episode 91: Maya Rodale

  USA Today Bestselling Author Maya Rodale joins Jess to talk about living in the Regency era (or NOT), her journey to publication, her process and the frustrations when romance is maligned by people who don't know the genre. 

  
• 01.26.2021

  Episode 90: Tamsen Parker

  USA Today Bestselling author Tamsen Parker joins Jess to do a deep dive into the 50 Shades phenomena and how it brought her to romance, the prude police, writing what you want to read and her utterly fascinating process!

  
• 01.12.2021

  Episode 89: Clyve Rose

  Romance for the Runoff auction winner and historical romance author Clyve Rose talks her process, deciding what details to include or leave out of romance and being more honest about mental health. 

  
• 12.29.2020

  Episode 88: 2020 Year in Review

  A recap of 2020 and all its insanity and looking forward to 2021. Happy New Year! 

  
• 12.15.2020

  Episode 87: Tracey Livesay

  Award-winning author Tracey Livesay talks to Jess about being a fan as well as a writer, becoming comfortable with your own process, taking the Strengthfinder class and how it helps with that process, generative pain, her publishing path and we...

  
• 12.01.2020

  Episode 86: Zoe York

  USA Today Bestseller Zoe York joins Journeys to talk about all the factors that make each other different, from cannon entry to publication path to writing direction to everything in between. We also cover her process, how to pick the...

  
• 11.17.2020

  Episode 85: Georgina Kiersten

  Georgina Kiersten joins Jess to talk about the importance of teachers, the joy of tropes and archetypes, snark as seduction, their process and cracking open all the paths for publication, marketing and writing. 

  
• 11.03.2020

  Episode 84: Liana De la Rosa

  Historical Romance author Liana De la Rosa joins Jess to talk historical romance, writing projects for herself, 'unlikeable' heroines and the false narratives of 'historical accuracy', plus the joys of pleasure without guilt. 

  
• 10.20.2020

  Episode 83: Becca Syme

  Becca Syme joins Jess to discuss starting with fanfiction, planting the seeds of what we love to read and write, her process and a deep dive into Clifton Strengths, including why she formed the remarkable Better, Faster Academy and how...

  
• 10.06.2020

  Episode 82: Naima Simone

  USA Today Bestselling author Naima Simone talks to Journeys of Romance about pretty planners, being a high producer, how the entire scope of a writing and publishing journey matters, writing category versus single title and traditional versus indie, the joys...

  
• 09.22.2020

  Episode 81: Cheris Hodges

  Cheris Hodges talks about meeting our idols and being the idol someone meets, the importance of writer friendships, the impact of her journalism career on her romance writing, her process and how it's developed and been influenced by friends and...

  
• 09.08.2020

  Episode 80: Jack Harbon

  Jess talks to Jack Harbon about how he started publishing on Wattpad and moved to KU, designing covers and how it impacts his creativity, plotting heavy but discovering character through writing, chronic pain and creativity and turning point books! 

  
• 08.25.2020

  Episode 79: Olivia Dade

  Olivia Dade joins Jess to talk about her process to find a plot, sexy scenes, the joy and safety of writing, chasing the high of golden days and a deep dive into illustrated covers. 

  
• 08.11.2020

  Episode 78: Love's Sweet Arrow

  Love Sweet Arrow bookstore duo Marissa and Roseann Backlin join Jess Michaels to talk about the joys of the romance genre, their first year in business and the impact of covid on it all. 

  
• 07.28.2020

  Episode 77: Katee Robert

  USA Today and NYT Bestselling author Katee Robert talks to Jess Michaels about pandemic writing and reading, embracing problematic joy, being a fast writer, her journey to publication and I go on and on about Your Dad Will Do.

  
• 07.14.2020

  Episode 76: Mia Sosa

  USA Today Bestseller Mia Sosa joins Journeys of Romance to discuss the importance of finding your community and bonds, being a better/more intentional recommender, the evolution of reflection in romance, how she started writing (and writing full-time), her process and...

  
• 06.30.2020

  Episode 75: Joanna Shupe

  Author Joanna Shupe talks to Jess about her journey to writing and publishing, how there are no wrong choices in writing or publishing, not wanting to be boring and the horror of the middle of a book. We also do...

  
• 06.16.2020

  Episode 74: Farrah Rochon

  USA Today Bestselling, award winning author Farrah Rochon joins Jess to talk about how Romancelandia is a little big town, learning from terrible first books, her journey in both traditional and indie publishing and the influence of her late sister...

  
• 06.09.2020

  Episode 73: Ruby Lang

  Ruby Lang joins Jess to talk about tricking ourselves into losing romance for literary fiction, the concept of "very well read" in romance, processing emotions in what we write, her process, the ever changing parts of writing, her publishing journey,...

  
• 05.19.2020

  Episode 72: EE Ottoman

  My apologies for the sound quality this episode. I messed up my mic so I'm a bit echo-y. EE Ottoman joins us today to talk about finding welcome as a queer writer and reader in Sci-Fi Fantasy versus Romance, fan fiction...

  
• 05.05.2020

  Episode 71: Moni Boyce

  Author Moni Boyce talks about pizza reward programs, coming from the film industry (and what that's brought to her writing and career), transforming her process, being entirely indie, cover shoots and flexibility in the time of COVID. 

  
• 04.21.2020

  Episode 70: Andie Christopher

  USA Today Bestselling romantic comedy author Andie Christopher talks to Jess about big bags of romance novels, representation in romance and writing her own background, "difficult" heroines, her process (when not in a pandemic) Chris Evans, not ever feeling worthy...

  
• 04.07.2020

  Episode 69: Louisa Bacio

  Erotic romance author Louisa Bacio speaks to Jess about creating accountability for creativity, her process, the advantage of the system of traditional publishing, relationship building in romance and a little about RWA.

  
• 03.31.2020

  Special Episode: Cover Models Drew Leighty and Courtney Rood

  Jess talks to cover models Drew Leighty and Courtney Rood about modeling vs acting, coming to romance covers, working together on The Broken Duke and how it lead to the illustrated version, Graham: The Broken Duke. 

  
• 03.24.2020

  Episode 68: Vanessa Riley

  Jess talks to rising star Vanessa Riley about fairytales and historical romance, bringing faith into historical romance journeys, breaking the mistruths of what we "know", her publishing journey, telling stories that are important to you, making career decisions with larger...

  
• 03.10.2020

  Episode 67: Reese Ryan

  Reese Ryan talks to Jess about being a high producer and life intervening, her process and how it has changed over the years, the importance (and challenges) of love scenes, being a hybrid author, her gorgeous and groundbreaking covers and...

  
• 02.25.2020

  Episode 66: Cat Sebastian

  Bestselling historical romance author Cat Sebastian talks to Jess about how she started writing romance, the path to her first sale, queer historical romance, outside stuff impacting output, the value of experience in knowing what you can do, finding your...

  
• 02.11.2020

  Episode 65: Elizabeth Bright

  Jess speaks to fellow historical romance author Elizabeth Bright about puns and Schitt's Creek, writing book reports for allowance, what we lose when Society is judgmental of romance novels, her process, understanding the beats of romance by reading it and...

  
• 01.28.2020

  Episode 64: Piper Vaughn

  Piper Vaughn joins Jess Michaels to wax poetic about Good Omens and The Mandalorian, their publishing journey, the process of co-writing versus individual work, taking ideas from real life, the nerves of writing OwnVoices and boy do we get into...

  
• 01.14.2020

  Episode 63: May Peterson

  Jess speaks to author and editor May Peterson about processing our own experiences through writing, how reading was a refuge to her, the perception and reality of diversity in romance, her ever-changing process, making micro and macro decisions in a...

  
• 12.31.2019

  Episode 62: Happy New Year 2020

  Jess is joined by her husband Michael where they talk about the explosion of RWA, a roundup of 2019 and hopes for 2020. 

  
• 12.17.2019

  Episode 61: Minx Malone

  USA Today bestselling and RITA winning author Minx Malone joins Jess today. We talk about Twitter relationships, working with a writing partner, linking brand to voice, taking the risk of going indie and her groundbreaking RITA win. 

  
• 12.03.2019

  Episode 60: Jackie Barbosa

  Jackie Barbosa joins Jess to talk about sweeping romantic sagas, Star Wars fanfic, creativity meaning more than fear, her process, grief and writing, providing a voice to issues in our books and taking a hard look at our own biases. 

  
• 11.19.2019

  Episode 59: Angela James Part 2

  Editor Angela James talks to Jess a second time, this time about transitioning and redefining throughout our careers, we wax poetic about Becca Syme and understanding your strengths, publishers losing the trust of authors, the advantages of traditional publishing, managing...

  
• 11.05.2019

  Episode 58: Samantha Kane

  Jess is joined by historical, contemporary and sci-fi romance author Samantha Kane. We talk about the very NON romantic life of the average romance author, being jolted into following her dreams, figuring out her writing weaknesses and learning how to...

  
• 10.22.2019

  Episode 57: Felicia Grossman

  Jess speaks to historical romance author Felicia Grossman about coming into chick lit and romance, learning to write from reading, finding Twitter writer friends, hearing advice the right way and in the right moment, writing multiple drafts before getting input,...

  
• 10.08.2019

  Episode 56: Kwana Jackson

  Jess talks to USA Today Bestselling author Kwana Jackson about why talking about writing is so fun, going back to past work and judging yourself, her journey in fashion and coming into writing, being influenced by visual creativity, her process,...

  
• 09.24.2019

  Episode 55: Anna Campbell

  Jess talks to historical romance author Anna Campbell about pen names, giving up writing, the importance of community in writing, her process, not wearing pants and we accidentally plot a book (or three). 

  
• 09.10.2019

  Episode 54: Angela James

  Jess speaks to former executive editor of Samhain and Carina, Angela James about impostor syndrome, choosing books as an editor, taking on the issue of diversity in publishing from the publishing side, disruptions in publishing, letting go of ego, her...

  
• 08.27.2019

  Episode 53: Anna Zabo

  Jess talks to Anna Zabo about the fan fiction gateway to original work, the stress of release day, the Seton Hill MFA program, going from pantser to plotter, the influence of social media on calling out issues in our industry...