Mrs Write the Podcast

Bronte Bennett talks with author Kristy Wolf about how a lifelong love of romance turned into a publishing career built on strong heroines, wounded heroes, and high-stakes romantic suspense. Kristy shares the personal roots of her writing, the research behind her bionic-soldier series, and what she has learned about finishing books, finding community, and marketing as an author.

She grew up reading romance, from Judy Blume to Harlequin, and started making up stories as a child.

She talks about learning from feisty heroines who respected themselves and did not accept nonsense.

In college and early career, she wrote professionally in marketing, then wrote a 60,000-word romance in a month after seeing a contest ad.

She describes rejection, long detours, critique groups, and finally finding her people at the New Jersey Romance Writers Conference in 2016.

The premise of Too Dangerous to Love

- The book follows a Navy SEAL turned human weapon with a bionic arm and a shy genius scientist working on the Project Viper program.

Romance first, tech second

- Christy explains that the sci-fi and cybernetic elements always stay in service of the love story and character arc.

How personal experience shaped the characters

- PTSD, military family life, grief, and strength all draw on real people and lived experience, including her father and a friend lost on 911.

Read Too Dangerous to Love if you want a romance with military suspense, sci-fi elements, and a strong emotional core.

• If you are an author, look for critique partners, conferences, and writing communities instead of trying to do everything alone.
• Treat book marketing as a real part of the job, not an afterthought.
• Talk about your book in everyday spaces, not only online.
• Keep the romance central, even when the plot includes bigger genre elements.

To learn more about Kristy & her work: https://www.kristiewolf.com/

Most authors are told to pick a lane, Theresa Halvorsen writes the whole buffet. From dystopian romantasy and paranormal stories to cozy Christmas rom-coms, she shares why refusing to be boxed into one genre is both her biggest marketing challenge and her greatest creative strength.

Bronte Bennett, author of The Squire and host of the Mrs Write podcast, talks with Theresa Halvorsen, author of Warehouse Dreams, about the obsession that started with childhood reading, the realities of building a career across multiple genres, and the discipline it takes to keep writing while juggling a day job, editing clients, and a life that starts at 4 a.m.You’ll discover:

• Why Theresa says her writing is “an international buffet” of genres
• How Warehouse Dreams blends enemies-to-lovers, slow burn romance, found family, and dystopian themes
• Why she now plots from the ending backward because she’s “terrible at endings”
• How she balances indie publishing, editing work, and a full-time job without burning out
• What she’s learned about spice levels, reader expectations, and writing endings that satisfy

Theresa also opens up about the emotional side of being an author: the tears, the exhaustion, the constant pressure to show up, and the stubborn love of writing that makes it all worth it. She and Bronte trade hard-won advice on indie publishing, building a backlist, finding writer support, and why success is not always about money or fame.If you’re an aspiring writer, an indie author, or a reader who loves strong voice, genre-blending stories, and honest conversation about the reality behind the books, this one is essential listening.

Find Theresa and her work here: https://theresahalvorsen.com/ 

Bronte Bennett speaks with co-authors Samantha Heil and Erin Boyce, the duo behind A Novel Chance and the pen name ES Rosalynn. They dig into how lifelong best friends build a shared writing voice, balance different creative styles, and keep a co-writing partnership running across different states. The conversation also covers indie publishing, reader expectations, and why their small-town romance aims to leave readers feeling cozy, hopeful, and at home.

To learn more and to buy your own copy of A Novel Chance: https://esrosalynnwrites.com/

In this episode, Bronte Bennett speaks with author, coach, speaker, and Untamed founder Jim Hughes about purpose, fear, and the parts of ourselves we hide to fit in.

Jim shares the winding path that took him from ski instructing in Canada to running an electrical engineering business in Western Australia, and how that experience led him to help people reconnect with their real selves. They also dig into his cast list concept, the emotional intelligence behind coaching, and the challenge of turning a big body of lived experience into a book.

Key topics

• Bronte introduces Jim Hughes as an author, coach, speaker, and founder of Untamed, and frames the conversation around purpose and self-discovery.
• Jim explains that he did not grow up with a single clear career path, but instead tried multiple directions before finding his own lane.
• He shares how, around 2016 to 2017, he realised he was deeply misaligned in his life and work and began a deliberate process of asking who he was, who he wanted to serve, and what kind of life he wanted.
• Jim tells the story of ending up in Western Australia through a series of wild pivots, including working on the mines, taking a secondment he was not qualified for, and eventually running an electrical company.
• He describes how he muted his playful personality in a corporate environment and how that experience became the seed for Untamed.
• Bronte and Jim discuss fear as a survival mechanism, especially the fear of rejection, judgment, and public speaking.
• Jim introduces the cast list concept, a framework for understanding the different inner parts that show up depending on context, history, and learned behavior.
• He explains how traits like the class clown, the protector, or the pleaser can form early as survival strategies and reappear later when we feel threatened.
• They connect this work to emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and the importance of noticing both what people say and what they do not say.
• Jim talks about the difficulty of distilling years of coaching experience into a book, including multiple drafts, publisher feedback, and the importance of outside accountability.
• The conversation shifts to motivation for writing, including access for people who cannot afford coaching and the professional credibility a good book can create for speaking work.
• Jim shares the books and people that shaped him, including The 4-Hour Workweek, Rich Dad Poor Dad, Richard Branson, and an Irish coach named Philip.
• They close with a quick reading preferences game and a warm reflection on coaching, books, and personal growth.

Connect with Jim here: https://www.becomeuntamed.com/

Bronte Bennett speaks with author Lise Mayne about a lifetime of reading, journaling, and writing that began in childhood and eventually led to her historical novel Time Enough.

Lise shares how family history, Manx heritage, and years of research shaped the book, plus the realities of publishing, marketing, and building a writing life later in life.

We discuss how writing by hand, trusting the process, and letting characters evolve can create richer stories. Lise also offers practical advice for aspiring authors on deadlines, accountability, and defining success beyond sales.

Key topics

• In this episode, Lise Mayne shares how learning to read through the Dick and Jane books sparked a lifelong obsession with books and storytelling.
• She describes writing her first handwritten, illustrated novel at age 10, inspired by A Christmas Carol and Alice in Wonderland.
• Lise talks about journaling from age 10 onward as a way to process loneliness, hardship, and big life changes.
• She explains how poetry entered her life in school, thanks to a teacher who introduced her to song lyrics, sonnets, and analysis of poetry.
• We discuss her path into teaching, including becoming assistant principal, principal, and consultant over a 32-year career.
• Lise shares the long road to publication, including self-publishing Becoming Sand after years of work and selling the first 500 copies herself.
• She explains the family history behind Time Enough, including her mother’s Manx roots, her Scottish heritage, and a discovery of baptismal and homestead records in 1988.
• The book’s research process covered migration routes, mining history, Boston intake routes, train schedules, and the realities of homesteading in North America.
• Lise describes Time Enough as historical fiction with deep point of view, third person narration, dialogue, and strong Manx cultural detail.
• She reflects on the emotional core of the novel, including family conflict, migration, sacrifice, and a daughter’s struggle to reconcile family history with lived experience.
• We discuss how characters in her work are shaped by real people and personal experience, while still remaining fictionalized.
• Lise shares that her first book was angry and raw, while Time Enough is more measured, hopeful, and full of childlike wonder.
• She explains how fairies, surprise, and magic remain important to her writing process.
• We talk about the challenges of post-publish life, especially marketing, book events, social media, and the need to stay visible.
• Lise offers advice for writers: know why you are writing, define the feeling you want readers to leave with, set deadlines, and finish the manuscript.
• She also speaks about success as an author as feeling fulfilled, being published, and hearing from readers who genuinely connect with the work.

To connect with Lise – and to access her work: https://www.lisemayne.ca

Purpose is not a luxury reserved for the privileged, the polished, or the perfectly organised. Hannah Miller reveals why the women and everyday people who feel stuck, stretched, or restless may need this conversation most.

Bronte Bennett sits down with Hannah Miller, author of The Purpose Pursuit, for a candid, generous conversation about the origins of a book that began with childhood reading obsessions, handwritten stories, and a mother who sparked a lifelong love of words.

Hannah shares how her years as a teacher, facilitator, and coach shaped the practical, structured approach behind her book - and why she wrote it to help real people, not just high-achievers with unlimited time, money, or freedom.

You’ll discover:

• How Hannah turned workshops and one-to-one coaching into a book that more people can actually access
• Why structure is the key to strong nonfiction, and how she maps a book so each chapter delivers real substance
• The importance of the phrase “substance, substance, substance” when writing anything that matters
• How to recognise the noise, fluff, and comparison traps that keep you from what truly matters
• Why purpose is bigger than career, and how to think about contribution across your whole life
• What it looks like to build a purpose statement that fits the person you are, not just the job you do

Hannah also opens up about the realities behind publishing the book: the emotional weight of writing through grief, the unexpected path that led to a traditional publishing deal, and the hard truth that success cannot be measured only by sales, charts, or social media noise.

Instead, she makes the case for a far better metric - whether your work helps someone feel more capable, more valuable, and more hopeful than they did before.If you’ve ever wondered what to do with your strengths, how to navigate a life transition, or how to build a life that feels meaningful without buying into hustle culture, this episode is for you. It’s thoughtful, practical, and deeply reassuring - a reminder that purpose can be lived in ordinary places, by ordinary people, in extraordinary ways.

Perfect for readers, writers, midlife resetters, and anyone asking, “What am I here to do?”

To connect with Hannah - visit her website here: https://www.hellosidekick.co/home-idv

Bronte Bennett speaks with author DG Anthony about the origins of his fantasy series, the long-running story idea that eventually became The New Bearer, and the practical reality of turning a 400-page manuscript into a published book.

They also dig into world-building, writer’s block, beta readers, ARC readers, and what success looks like when you are publishing primarily to share a story that has lived in your head for years.

Key topics

• In this interview, Bronte Bennett introduces DG Anthony, author of The New Bearer, book one in the Parting War series, and sets up a conversation about fantasy writing, publishing, and creative process.
• Dan shares that his earliest reading memories were shaped by Harry Potter, then later The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and A Song of Ice and Fire, which helped steer him toward fantasy.
• He explains that he first tried creative writing around GCSE age, and that a teacher’s encouragement gave him confidence that he could actually write something worth sharing.
• Dan describes reading as a major influence on his writing style, especially the pacing, immersion, and flow of the fantasy books he enjoys most.
• He says the story began forming around age 17 and started as an escape during a difficult period, including his mum being unwell, which gave the writing emotional depth.
• The book was originally conceived years earlier, but last year he returned to it, rewrote it from an older skeleton, and completed the first book through evenings, weekends, and late nights.
• Dan gives a detailed pitch for The New Bearer, centered on Luke, a 17-year-old from Viricadia whose sheltered life is shattered by the arrival of a stranger and the revelation of a far darker world beyond his home.
• The story includes found family, loss, hidden history, manipulated religion and law, and the idea that not every history tells the truth.
• He says the book is intended for roughly 16-plus readers, though early feedback suggests it also resonates strongly with readers in their 40s and beyond.
• On the publishing side, Dan discusses using carefully chosen beta readers, adding ARC readers closer to launch, building his own website, and learning the technical side of self-publishing as he went.
• He explains that seeing his children proud of the book, and asking him to sign their copies, was one of the most meaningful moments of the whole process.
• Dan says he chose self-publishing because he wanted to preserve his own voice and protect the world and characters as they existed in his imagination.
• He shares that success now means hearing from readers who are enjoying the book and seeing their reactions as they move through the story.
• For aspiring writers, his advice is simple: start putting the idea down in any form you can, then learn the publishing process early so there are fewer surprises later.

Connect with D G Anthony here: https://dganthonybooks.com

Vanessa Woolley, author of Secrets at Sunset, shares her journey to publication, the support systems that helped her along the way, and the realities of writing while balancing life, work, and self-care.

We also discuss how Vanessa shapes her stories around real-world issues like rhino conservation, grief, and young adult mental health.

In this episode:

• Vanessa shares how her love of storytelling began with childhood imaginings inspired by Little House on the Prairie and early creative writing success at school.
• She explains why she did not begin writing full-length novels until her 40s, after years working in human resources and the NHS.
• Vanessa outlines the value of the Romantic Novelists’ Association new writer scheme, including manuscript feedback, mentorship, and conference one-to-ones.
• She discusses querying agents, receiving full requests, and eventually finding a home with Kingsley Publishers, a small independent publisher based in South Africa.
• Bronte and Vanessa compare notes on editorial feedback, structural edits, and the value of not revising chapter one forever.
• Vanessa introduces her current work in progress, All at Sea, a Cornwall-set story about a mother, daughter, a mixed cassette tape, and a mystery with emotional stakes.
• They talk about writing location authentically, including the practical advice to place fictional settings where services, work, and transport would realistically exist.
• Vanessa explains how she builds characters from real people she has observed in choirs, on buses, and in everyday life.
• The conversation returns often to the emotional reality of writing, including imposter syndrome, persistence, and the importance of self-care.

Connect with Vanessa here:

https://vanessawoolleywriter.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/vanessawoolleywriter/

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

vanessawoolleywriter.co.uk  · linktr.ee

In this episode, Brittany Ranew shares her inspiring journey from dreaming about her story in 2009 to self-publishing and signing with a publisher. She discusses her creative process, character development, navigating the publishing world, and balancing her writing career with her full-time job. Whether you're an aspiring author or simply love stories of perseverance, this conversation offers valuable insights and inspiration.

·       The origin of The Fire Prophecies and the significance of the hero's journey

·       The evolution of her writing process: from plotters to 'quilters'

·       The importance of character development and handling story tension

·       Learning through professional editing and beta readers

·       Managing multiple priorities: writing, full-time job, and life balance

·       The impact of deadlines versus creative freedom

·       Strategies for effective marketing and repurposing content

·       The role of storytelling in inspiring and connecting with readers

·       Insights on building confidence and resilience as an author

https://www.authorbrittanyranew.com/

https://www.instagram.com/brittanyranewauthor

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

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

https://www.facebook.com/brittanyranewauthor

The Art of Storytelling and Screenwriting with Rob Samborn

Discover how Rob Samborn, a bestselling author and screenwriter, seamlessly blends cinematic skills with novel writing to craft compelling stories. In this episode, Rob shares insights into his creative process, the influence of filmmaking on literature, and advice for aspiring authors.

Key topics:

·       Rob’s journey from avid story consumer to published author

·       The influence of classic literature and visual art on Rob’s storytelling

·       Transitioning between screenwriting and novel writing: similarities and differences

·       How cinematic techniques improve storytelling in books

·       Developing story ideas inspired by Venice and Renaissance art

·       The evolution of a manuscript from screenplay to trilogy and standalone novels

·       Outlining vs. pantsing: finding your preferred storytelling method

·       Navigating pitfalls: scams, long timelines, and business challenges in publishing

·       Balancing creativity with business to succeed as an author

·       Rob’s definition of success and celebrating milestones

Rob’s blending of screenwriting techniques with narrative fiction offers a fresh perspective for authors aiming to craft vivid, cinematic stories.

His journey exemplifies the importance of outlining, embracing creative passions, and navigating the business side of writing with awareness and resilience. Whether you’re an aspiring writer or a seasoned author,

Rob’s insights provide valuable guidance to help you bring your stories to life.

The Prisoner of Paradise - Rob's novel blending supernatural and historical fiction

The Swordsman of Venice - Standalone historical adventure

https://robsamborn.com/