Some books arrive as love stories and leave you thinking about much more.

This week, I’m joined by Kennedy Ryan, bestselling author of Can’t Get Enough and Before I Let Go, for a conversation that feels less like an interview and more like gabbing with a very wise bestie. We talk about the fragility of success, the realities of moving between traditional and self-publishing (and why she’s done both—more than once), and the way her novels operate as Trojan horses: sweeping romances that carry big, necessary conversations about justice, equity, and identity.

Kennedy also shares how her background in journalism shapes her work, from the deep research phase that anchors each book to the responsibility she feels when writing stories meant to spark discourse. It’s thoughtful, honest, and deeply human—and a reminder that love stories can do much more than “that thing.”

Links:

Follow No Write Way on Instagram

V.E. Schwab’s Website

Kennedy Ryan’s Website

Credits:

Host: V.E. Schwab

Producer/Editor/Mixer: Jenna Maurice

Some books feel like an escape hatch you didn’t know you needed.

For the first episode of Season 4, I sat down with Matt Dinniman, author of the wildly popular Dungeon Crawler Carl series and his latest novel, Operation Bounce House. Matt calls himself a “psycho pantser” (affectionately), and he lives up to the title, walking me through a writing process that’s as wild and inventive as his stories—one that sometimes even leaves room for reader input.

We talk about writing without a map: trusting chaos, breaking rules, and finding momentum by charging toward the thing you know isn’t going to happen. Matt shares his unconventional, sometimes delightfully unhinged process, how surprise keeps him writing, why play is often the surest way through a block, and his untraditional approach to rights—what he chooses to keep, what he lets go, and why ownership matters to him.

Welcome to Season 4.

Follow No Write Way on Instagram

V.E. Schwab's website

Credits:

Host: V. E. Schwab
Producer / Editor / Mixer: Jenna Maurice

Plot twist—I’m the guest this week.

And there’s no one I’d rather hand the reins to than my BFF (and producer of this podcast), Jenna. We get into the details of my writing process—from early research to finding the right title—and talk about the kinds of fantasy I’m drawn to, and why. We explore how setting functions as a character in my stories, the balance between realism and the fantastical, and the logic behind how my worlds work.

Also, yes, we talk about mermaids. Because the ocean is still mostly unexplored, and hope is a powerful thing.

This week, we summon Laura Steven, author of The Exact Opposite of Okay and Our Infinite Fates, for a thoughtful and refreshingly frank conversation. She walks us through the slow-burn nature of her creative process, opens up about the very real highs and lows of life in publishing, and reminds us that believing in yourself can be its own kind of survival skill. It’s a deep dive into persistence, perspective, and the long game of storytelling.

This week marks a first—we’re summoning two authors at once! The powerhouse writing duo Christina Lauren (yes, they of the swoony romance bestsellers) joins me for a conversation that’s equal parts craft deep dive and master class in creative friendship. We talk about their ever-evolving writing process, the magic of knowing you don’t have to be good at the same things to make something great, and the puzzle-piece partnership that fuels their stories. They share lessons learned—like how you can’t polish what isn’t fully formed, and how a good book becomes great in the edit. Also: the unexpected tranquility of Pilates.

SWOON ALERT! This week, we summon Tia Williams, bestselling author of Seven Days in June and A Love Song for Ricki Wilde. We dive into her writing process and why every new book begins in her Notes app (because once that laptop’s open, it’s real), the tricky art of writing middles (think chicken that looks done until you cut in and find it’s still pink), and how she finished her first novel before she even hit double digits.

Sharpen your pencils (and maybe your swords)—this week, we summon Brandon Sanderson, bestselling author of Mistborn, The Stormlight Archive, and the expansive Cosmere universe. He shares how he kept writing draft after draft (maybe even a dozen or more) before selling his first novel, the secret stash of stories he hid behind a painting as a kid, and why staying sharp in revision is one of the most important skills a writer can develop. We dive into worldbuilding, resilience, and the stubborn magic of believing your stories matter—even when no one’s reading them yet.

Ever wonder what taxidermy, a giant metal chicken, and a collection of haunted dolls have in common? This week, we summon Jenny Lawson—aka The Bloggess, bestselling author of Let's Pretend This Never Happened and Furiously Happy—to talk about her one-of-a-kind creative journey. We dive into the cozy chaos of her writing process (including a surprisingly mathematical notecard system), the difference between writing personal stories and fiction, and what it means to create from joy (because, as Jenny reminds us, time spent in joy is never time wasted).

What comes after the end of the world? This week, I sit down with Veronica Roth, the bestselling author of Divergent and Poster Girl, for a conversation full of laughter, layered craft talk, and a few surprises. We dig into her love of outlining (yes, multiple outlines!), how she lets story lead the way—without starting from plot or character—and why she believes bold choices make for better writing than careful ones.

Oh—and she spills just enough about a wild (and very exciting) deal she made with her publisher about some future works. Curious yet? 

Stop scrolling for a sec because this week we summon Lauren Roberts, the bestselling author of Powerless. We talk about her journey from writing childhood stories—starting with an owl wielding a baseball bat—to becoming a bestselling author, do a deep dive into how she crafts characters that shape the worlds around them, and explore how both terrifying and beautiful it is to grow as a writer while readers watch in real time.