Check out Tracy’s latest release - Tall, Dark And December!

Bestselling historical romance author Tracy Sumner shares her journey through writing and publishing, discussing her experience with the Duchess Society series, the challenges of navigating the publishing landscape, and her unique approach to character development and historical accuracy. Tracy emphasizes the importance of writing for oneself, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the evolution of her writing process over the years. We discusses the importance of an active presence on social media, particularly Instagram and TikTok, and how it helps authors connect with readers. Tracy emphasizes the importance of being a reader first, shares her creative process for writing romance novels and offers valuable advice for aspiring writers, encouraging them to focus on writing and not get too caught up in trends. The discussion also touches on her upcoming projects and the evolving role of authors as publishers in the modern literary landscape.

Keywords

Tracy Sumner, historical romance, writing process, publishing, character development, Duchess Society, self-publishing, imposter syndrome, social media, reader engagement, writing advice, creative process, romance novels, aspiring authors, book marketing, author community, historical romance, TikTok

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:38 The Journey of Writing Historical Romance

05:13 Navigating Success and Pressure in Writing

12:07 Exploring Novellas and Storytelling

16:34 Crafting Distinct Characters

20:21 Embracing the Writing Process

23:00 The Journey of Writing and Publishing

34:45 Navigating the Changing Landscape of Publishing

46:06 Crafting the Perfect Manuscript

57:43 The Role of Social Media in Author Engagement

01:09:38 Advice for Aspiring Writers

Recommendations

Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott

On Writing by Stephen King

Guest Links

Instagram: @tracysumnerromance

TikTok: @tracy_sumner_romance

Website: https://www.tracy-sumner.com/

Amazon author page:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000APFV3G 

Facebook Reader’s Group: The Contrary Countesses

Host

Instagram | TikTok: @kkalbabooks

Email: [email protected]

Recorded with Riverside.fm.

Music by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay.

K.H. Anastasia, an indie romance author, shares her journey to a published author. We discuss the challenges of navigating burnout, the intricacies of writing in a second language, and the unique experiences of being a European author in the indie publishing world. Kiira emphasizes the importance of mental health, the writing process, and offers valuable advice for aspiring writers.

K.H. Anastasia’s writing/publishing process

1. First draft

2. First self-edits

3. First editor round

4. Second self-edits

5. Beta reading

6. Third self-edits

7. Second editor round

8. Fourth self-edits

9. Proofreader

Keywords

K.H. Anastasia, indie author, writing process, burnout, mental health, European authors, publishing, romance novels, writing in English, author advice

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:43 Navigating Burnout and Mental Health

05:30 The Journey to Becoming an Indie Author

08:35 Background

17:42 First Drafts

21:20 Writing And Editing Process

39:03 Writing Routine

44:03 Navigating Writing in a Second Language

51:19 Publishing Challenges for European Authors

57:11 Supporting European Authors

01:10:34 Writing Diversity as a Non-American Author

01:14:12 Realistic Writing Advice for Aspiring Authors

Recommendations

Romancing The Beat by Gwen Hayes

Character Reactions From Head To Toe by Valerie Howard

Strong Verbs for Fiction Writers by Valerie Howard

Helpful Adjectives For Fiction Writers by Valerie Howard

Naughty Words For Nice Writers by Cara Bristol

Guest Links

Instagram | TikTok: @khanastasiawrites

Amazon author page:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B09MLYQHMJ 

Host

Instagram | TikTok: @kkalbabooks

Email: [email protected]

Recorded with Riverside.fm.

Music by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay.

Historical romance author Anna Bradley shares her journey into writing, the challenges of crafting stories set in the Regency and Georgian eras, and her experiences with traditional publishing. She discusses her writing process, the importance of character development, and the ever-present imposter syndrome that many writers face. Anna also offers valuable advice for aspiring authors, emphasizing the significance of reading widely and finding one's unique voice in writing. As she prepares for the release of her latest book, 'The Duke's Christmas Bride,' Anna reflects on her growth as a writer and the joy of storytelling.

Keywords

historical romance, writing process, Anna Bradley, publishing, imposter syndrome, character development, deep third POV, writing advice, querying agents, full-time author

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

07:23 Background

16:57 Writing Process

22:19 Craft Book Recommendation: 'Damn Fine Story' by Chuck Wendig

26:25 Editing Process

30:03 Challenges of Coming Up with New Stories

33:03 Choosing the Right Words for Mood and Style

40:50 Exploring Point of View in Historical Romance

46:51 Mastering Deep Third Point of View

01:00:31 The Pros and Cons of Traditional and Indie Publishing

01:04:15 The Importance of Reading Widely

01:08:14 Check Out 'The Duke's Christmas Bride'

Recommendations

Billy Mernit – Writing the Romantic Comedy

James Scott Bell – Plot & Structure

Larry Brooks – Story Engineering

Chuck Wendig – Damn Fine Story

Robert McKee – Story Structure

Stephen King – On Writing

John Vorhaus – The Comic Toolbox

Marcy Kennedy – Deep Point of View

Anna Lamott – Bird by Bird

Anything by Michael Hague – his books are about writing screenplays, but his advice also applies to novelists.

Guest Links

Instagram | TikTok: @annabradleyauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annabradley472 

Website: https://www.annabradley.net/

Amazon author page:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0034PP4M2 

Host

Instagram | TikTok: @kkalbabooks

Email: [email protected]

Recorded with Riverside.fm.

Music by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay.

Lainey Lockett shares her journey from avid reader to indie romance author, discussing her writing process, the importance of community, and the challenges of balancing life and writing. She emphasizes the significance of developmental editing, building an audience, and utilizing tools. Lainey also highlights her inspirations in the romance genre and offers valuable advice for aspiring authors.

Keywords

Lainey Lockett, indie author, romance writing, writing process, editing, book promotion, author success, Pacific Northwest, cozy romance, writing community

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:52 Background

01:44 Discovering Self-Publishing

03:06 Author Heroes

04:17 Definition of Success

05:40 Building an Audience

06:27 Writing Process and Tools

10:56 Editing Process

20:17 ARC Readers and Promotion

24:01 Scrivener for Outlining

30:37 Plotting and Structure

32:53 Balancing Writing

36:19 Setting as a Branding Strategy

39:03 The Best and Worst Writing Advice

41:29 Building an Author Community

44:10 Books and Future Plans

45:37 Where Can You Find Laney?

Recommendations

Guest Links

Instagram | TikTok: @laney_lockett

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0CCZKVQJY

Host

Instagram | TikTok: @kkalbabooks

Email: [email protected]

Recorded with Riverside.fm.

Music by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay.

Romance author Sienna Zini shares her journey from a career in accounting to pursuing her passion for writing. We discuss her decision to self-publish, the themes in her dark romance novels and the importance of content warnings, and her unique writing process as a pantser. She also shares her take on the challenges of imposter syndrome, her definition of success, and the role of community for new writers. Hope you enjoy!

Sienna’s new book — Strangers By Fate — releases October 31st 2024! Preorder here: ⁠https://a.co/d/cFS0psF

⁠Keywords

Sienna Zini, indie publishing, writing process, dark romance, imposter syndrome, author success, character development, editing, writing advice, reader engagement

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:04 Background

04:41 Publishing The First Book

06:31 Writing In English As A Second Language

08:46 Writing  Psychology Of Love

11:37 Putting Yourself Into Your Books

13:19 Writing Process

16:56 The Importance of Content Warnings

18:53 Editing Proces

26:13 Intuitive Writing

30:58 Writing Mafia Romance

32:54 Impostor Syndrom

35:16 Critique Partners

39:37 Reading Reviews

42:56 Defining Success as a Writer

47:49 Author Heroes

52:07 Greatest Weakness

53:17 ARC Readers

56:56 Writing Advice

01:02:47 New Romantasy Release!

Guest Links

Instagram | TikTok: @authorsiennazini

Website: ⁠https://www.siennazini.net/

⁠Amazon author page:⁠ https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sienna-Zini/author/B0BNQTV768

⁠Next release: Strangers By Fate (a fated mates romantasy, out 10/31/2024): ⁠https://a.co/d/cFS0psF⁠

Host

Instagram | TikTok: @kkalbabooks

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Recorded with Riverside.fm.

Music by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay.

Liz Shipton, a freelance writer and indie author, shares her unique journey of living off-grid while sailing around the world and turning her adventures into speculative fiction. We discuss her writing process, the challenges and rewards of self-publishing, and the impact of her TikTok fame on her career as an author. We also talk about the use of AI for non-creative tasks of our creative journeys.

Liz’s new book — her trad debut — releases next summer. More info: https://blog.lizshipton.com/dot-slash-magic

Keywords

Liz Shipton, TikTok, indie author, writing process, self-publishing, social media marketing, off-grid living, book promotion, writing advice, mental health themes, speculative fiction, dystopian romance

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Liz Shipton's Background

05:15 Background

08:50 Writing Process

10:15 Publishing Strategy

13:08 Getting An Agent Through Social Media

15:00 Traditional and Indie Publishing

15:36 New Book!

16:23 TikTok Fame

23:56 Plotting And The First Draft

27:35 Editing Process

31:03 Beta Readers and ARC Readers

35:04 Dealing with Reviews and Feedback

39:36 Biggest Weakness

46:04 Writing Advice

47:57 Recommendations

49:56 Using AI For Time-Consuming Tasks

54:46 Write To Live Or Live To Write?

01:02:25 Where To Find Liz

Recommendations

Guest Links

Instagram | TikTok: @lizshipton

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lizshipton 

Website: https://lizshipton.com/ 

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BN4YHLXF 

Shop: https://shop.lizshipton.com/ 

Host

Instagram | TikTok: @kkalbabooks

Email: [email protected]

Recorded with Riverside.fm.

Music by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay.

In this episode, author H.R. Lloyd shares her journey from an aspiring writer to a published romance author! We discuss her diverse writing interests, the impact of her creative writing education, and her unique writing process. We also delve into the challenges of self-publishing, the importance of beta readers and ARC teams, and her strategies for marketing her books. Hannah is full of valuable advice, and is all around amazing person to chat with!

Keywords

H.R. Lloyd, romance author, writing process, self-publishing, creative writing, character development, marketing for authors, beta readers, ARC readers, writing advice

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:11 Writing Journey

07:24 The Value of Creative Writing Education

13:26 Writing Process

19:24 Plotter Or Pantser

24:13 Routine

26:30 Editing And Deadlines

29:48 Resources and Support for Aspiring Authors

34:13 Beta Readers

35:36 ARC Readers

41:03 Using Social Media for Marketing

45:26 Definition Of Success

48:38 Author Heroes

52:23 Best and Worst Writing Advice

55:53 Recommendations

1:00:34 Upcoming Christmas Novella

Recommendations

Guest Links

Instagram: @author_h.r.lloyd

TikTok: @han_ro_ll

Website: https://hrlloyd.co.uk/ 

Preorder the new Christmas novella coming out Nov 1st 2024: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Two-Purple-Gloves-Christmas-Rom-Com-ebook/dp/B0DDDVBY3G?ref_=ast_author_mpb 

Host

Instagram | TikTok: @kkalbabooks

Email: [email protected]

Recorded with Riverside.fm.

Music by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay.

I this bonus episode, we introduce Writers Festival Of Belgium! The 2024 edition take place in the Irish College of Leuven on Oct 5-6 2024. Tickets still available! All information here: https://writefest.be/

I speak with Alia Papageorgiou, a writer and journalist based in Belgium, about her journey from journalism to fiction writing, the challenges of finding a writing community, and the exciting new writers festival she has initiated in Belgium. We discuss the importance of collaboration among writers, the evolution of Alia's writing projects, and the upcoming festival's themes and highlights, including the significance of translation in literature and life. Alia shares her aspirations for the festival's future, aiming to expand its reach across Belgium and beyond.

Keywords

writing, Belgium, writers festival, Alia Papageorgiou, community, journalism, fiction, short stories, translation, literature

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

05:27 Alia's Journey as a Writer

17:57 The Birth of the Writers Festival of Belgium

27:30 The Theme and Program of the Festival

33:20 Publishing In English In Belgium

34:40 Future Aspirations for the Festival

Writers Festival Of Belgium

3RD EDITION - 05 & 06 OCTOBER, 2024 @ LEUVEN

Instagram: @write_fest_belgium

Website: https://writefest.be/ 

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.be/e/writers-festival-of-belgium-translating-lives-tickets-740031162127 

Host

Instagram | TikTok: @kkalbabooks

Email: [email protected]

Recorded with Riverside.fm.

Music by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay.

Rhea Fox is an author of monster romance novels who started writing at a young age. Rhea has released seven books in just one year and has generated a loyal fan base along with a steady income! She embraces her unique voice and doesn't aspire to be like anyone else. Listen to us talk about her writing process, editing and routine. Rhea also shares her insights on marketing as an author and offers advice for writers. She emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, not reading reviews, and writing what you know while avoiding self-insertion. Finally, we discuss her experience with marketing on social media platforms, as well as using ads to promote her books.

Keywords

Rhea Fox, author, monster romance, writing journey, inspiration, Greek mythology, fairy tales, book releases, income goals, writing process, multiple projects, self-editing, beta readers, imposter syndrome, author marketing, setting boundaries, not reading reviews, writing what you know, social media marketing, Instagram, Facebook ads, Pinterest, YouTube channels

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:36 Writing Journey

11:54 Monster Romance

17:53 Drafting And Editing Process

32:30 Dealing with Imposter Syndrome

36:36 The Marketing Side

52:00 The Best and Worst Writing Advice

57:58 Utilizing Pinterest for Writing Advice

Guest Links

Instagram/Threads/TikTok: @rheafoxauthor

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rheafoxauthor

Website: https://rheafox.com/

Rhea's Author Page

Host

Instagram | TikTok: @kkalbabooks

Email: [email protected]

Recorded with Riverside.fm.

Music by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay.

Kass O'Shire is a self-published author who writes Gaslamp Romantasy: cozy, spicy, monster romantasy novels set in a gas lamp setting. We talk about her chosen genre, her sources of inspiration and her unique writing style and how it came to be. We also discuss clever world-building and creative control. Kass tells us about her strategies when it comes to diversity in her stories and her ways to find balance in her writing process. Kass is a treasure trove of recommendations of books, podcasts, and courses for writers!

Keywords

Kass O'Shire, self-published author, cozy monster romantasy, gas lamp setting, data analyst, writing journey, writing group, monster romance, gas lamp fantasy, standalone novels, epic fantasy series, self-publishing, writing style, cultural drift, worldbuilding, fantasy of manners, inclusivity, diversity, balance, writing process, books, podcasts, courses

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:19 Writing Journey

08:31 Gaslamp Fantasy And Monster Romance

12:30 Publishing Strategy

17:45 Benefits of Self-Publishing

22:00 Finding Author Voice and Niche

28:29 Creating a Niche for Cozy, Spicy, Monster Romance

31:07  Creative Freedom in World-Building

38:47 Writing Inclusivity, Diversity and Character Chemistry

48:45 The Best and Worst Writing Advice

53:15 Balance in Life and Writing

56:20 Recommendations

Recommendations

The Heroine’s Journey by Gail Carriger

7 Figure Fiction: How to Use Universal Fantasy to Sell Your Books to Anyone by T.Taylor

Writing Excuses Podcast

Myths and Legends Podcast

Write Better Faster course from Becca Syme

Guest Links

Instagram: @kassoshire

TikTok: @kassieoshire

Website: https://www.kassoshireauthor.com/

Host

Instagram | TikTok: @kkalbabooks

Email: [email protected]

Recorded with Riverside.fm.

Music by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay.