In today’s episode of Underline That, Steph sits down with author Allison Nance, whose stunning debut novel Deep Cries Out explores womanhood, faith, love after loss, and the courageous fight for healing from anxiety and depression.

Allison shares the deeply personal journey behind her book—including her own struggles with anxiety, insomnia, and the emotional terrain that shaped her storytelling. She opens up about her non-linear writing process, the realities of small press publishing, and what it takes to keep going when the road feels impossible.

Together, Steph and Allison talk about hope as the heartbeat of fiction, networking at conferences, navigating rejection, and why a “no” from an agent can be far more meaningful than silence.

If you are a writer, a reader, or someone walking through a tough season, this conversation is a gentle reminder: hope is not lost, writing matters, and joy always comes in the morning.

Thank you so much for listening, friends!

Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and let us know what stood out to you in this episode!

FOLLOW ALLISON NANCE:

IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@allisonrnance

⁠⁠⁠Website: www.allisonrnance.com

FOLLOW STEPH + THE POD:

IG: ⁠⁠⁠@stephanienmack⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠@underlinethatpod⁠⁠⁠

Website:⁠ ⁠⁠www.stephaniemack.com⁠⁠⁠

PRE-ORDER TWENTY SOMETHING ELSE:

⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Target⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠⁠⁠

TODAY'S UNDERLINES:

Deep Cries Out by Allison Nance

Drinker of Ink by Shannon Castleton

Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

Isola by Allegra Goodman

This Is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman

Sam by Allegra Goodman