Stories to Love

Ashley Jordan is a millennial from Atlanta by way of Brooklyn. She attended Spelman College, obtaining a degree in psychology and a lifelong love and appreciation for women’s stories. While she currently works in public health, she has embraced writing as a hobby since penning her first short story in the second grade. When Ashley isn’t at the day job or writing, she is either at a Beyonce concert, rewatching Mad Men, or arguing about basketball with anyone who will listen. In 2023, she became a Reese’s Book Club LitUp fellow. In 2025, Ashley released her debut novel Once Upon a Time in Dollywood, which became a Reese’s Book Club Pick, an instant USA Today Bestseller, and was named on elf the best books of the year by Amazon, Audible, Library Journal, Southern Living, and NPR. In 2026, Ashley was named Georgia Author of the Year in the Romance Category.

In this conversation we discussed her debut ONCE UPON A TIME IN DOLLYWOOD and her fan fiction roots and inspiration. We talk about the messy middle in character arcs and writing children in romance. Finally, we chatted about how important it is to trust in yourself and the relationship between opportunity and alignment.

Links discussed:

The Summer Girlfriend by Kristina Forest 

Crash Into Me by Robinne Lee 

Kin by Tayari Jones

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Current release: FORTUNE'S BABY DILEMMA

Note: some links are affiliate links

Contact Tif at [email protected]
Please check out her website for podcast submissions

Hi this is Tif of the Stories to Love Podcast and this is episode 101. Today’s guest is author Stephanie Burns.

Stephanie Burns is an author, beagle mom, and marketing professional with an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College. She’s drawn to stories about people making mistakes and finding their way, even when the world has other ideas. As the proud COO and Director of Social Media for the award-winning Tall Poppy Writers, she is dedicated to lifting fellow writers and getting unforgettable books into the hands of smart readers. She lives on the South Shore of Massachusetts where she plots by the ocean with her almost-famous beagle, Ollie Twist. Far from the A-List is her debut novel.

This was a jammed-packed episode. Stephanie and I discussed her debut novel, FAR FROM THE A-LIST, her love of pop culture that inspired this book, and identities tied to actors and their played characters. We talked about the craft of pushing character’s limits, identity shifts and quarter life crisis arcs in a book, and her process there. We also ruminated about the role of mother figures in books and she shared her journey l into publishing by uplifting other authors.

I want to thank all of who have subscribed to this podcast! If you haven’t, I’d love it if you’d click to follow so you can get notifications of every new episode. And, if have found this podcast helpful and fun, please leave a rating and review—it really helps to boost discoverability. You can even share this episode with a friend. 

For more information about me, Tif, and submitting to the podcast, please head on to my website, at TifMarcelo.com

Links discussed:

Home of the American Circus

Heart of the Lover by Lily King

Writers and Lovers

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Current release: FORTUNE'S BABY DILEMMA

Note: some links are affiliate links

Contact Tif at [email protected]
Please check out her website for podcast submissions

Episode 100. Today’s guest is author Adele Buck.

A New Hampshire native, Adele still has membership card number 430 from her hometown library even though she has lived in the D.C. area for over 20 years with her fantastic husband and the requisite number of melodramatic cats.

Having worked as (among other things): a bookseller, a server, a communications manager, an actor, and a stage manager, Adele is currently employed as a librarian at a Washington, D.C. law school.

Her books have been featured in Entertainment Weekly and BookRiot and reviewed in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist.

In this episode, we discussed The Anti-Sosocial Season, which is a holiday romance. This episode is a long time coming. I read this book over the holidays and we did our interview back in February. I love this episode though because the book resonated with me so much with its themes that I do believe are evergreen. We discussed prickly heroines and conflicts that come up during the holidays, her point of view writing a librarian as a librarian, consent in romance and the third act breakup.

Links discussed:

Victoria Dahl: Taking the Heat

Murderbot Diaries

Serena Bowen - Bountiful

Courtney Milan’s Trade Me

Maria Vale

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Current release: FORTUNE'S BABY DILEMMA

Note: some links are affiliate links

Contact Tif at [email protected]
Please check out her website for podcast submissions

Today’s guest is author K.L. Walther!

K.L. Walther is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Summer of Broken Rules, While We’re Young, and A First Time for Everything among others. Born and raised in the rolling hills of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, she is happiest when reading a romance on the beach or bantering with her better half while waiting in line for ice cream. She currently lives in Philadelphia with her husband and golden retriever. 

In this episode we discussed her most recent release, WE’RE A BAD IDEA, RIGHT?, which published just a few days ago, which is inspired by the 80’s classic Risky Business. Our conversation took us to glass blowing, and Airb&b’s and ventured into publishing topics like her upcoming 2 book per year schedule, our appreciation for Stephanie Perkins, and how she writes long drafts. And more! We covered a lot in this episode

Links discussed:

Katilyn Hill : Ancient History Between Us

Becky Dean: Hearts Overboard

Andy Weir: Project Hail Mary

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Current release: FORTUNE'S BABY DILEMMA

Note: some links are affiliate links

Contact Tif at [email protected]
Please check out her website for podcast submissions

We're here with Mansi Shah!

Born in Toronto to Indian immigrants, Mansi Shah is the author of Saving Face, A Good Indian Girl, The Taste of Ginger, and The Direction of the Wind, which center on Gujarati characters and speak to generational differences across the Indian diaspora. Now based in Los Angeles, Mansi left her long-time career as an entertainment attorney in Hollywood to travel the world and write full time. She loves to cook, and food often plays a prominent role in her books.

This is the second time that Mansi has been on the podcast, and what a great conversation. We talked about her most recent release, Saving Face, and how she came upon the story and inspiration by accident. We talk about why she calls herself a research nerd, how the ending of this book was an example of where life imitates art. We touch on the topic of authenticity in her books and talked a lot about rest.

Books discussed:

The Dream Hotel

Standstill Memoir

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Current release: FORTUNE'S BABY DILEMMA

Note: some links are affiliate links

Contact Tif at [email protected]
Please check out her website for podcast submissions

Episode 97's guest is author Elle Gonzalez Rose.

Elle Gonzalez Rose is an author from New York who’s better at writing love stories about short, queer, Latines than she is at writing bios. Her dog thinks she’s okay. She is the author of Caught in a Bad Fauxmance, 10 Things I Hate About Prom, The Girl You Know, and Marisol Acts the Part. Elle, not the dog.

In this episode Elle and I discussed Marisol Acts the Part, her most recent YA romcom. With that, we talked about how she challenged herself while writing this book. We touched on her career writing for film/tv, the parasocial relationships between film and TV actors and fans, and writing thriller alongside romance.

Links in this episode:

Legally Blonde, the film

Dawson's Creek, the tv series

Truth Is by Hannah Sawyerr

The Carbon Footprint

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Current release: FORTUNE'S BABY DILEMMA

Note: some links are affiliate links

Contact Tif at [email protected]
Please check out her website for podcast submissions

Episode 96 is mystery and thriller author Mia P. Manansala.

Mia P. Manansala (she/her) is a writer from Chicago who loves books, baking, and bad-ass women. Her debut, ARSENIC AND ADOBO, garnered starred reviews from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Shelf Awareness, hit the ABA Indie Bestseller List, and has won multiple awards. A lover of all things geeky, Mia spends her days procrasti-baking, playing RPGs and otome games, reading cozy mysteries and diverse romance, and gazing lovingly at her dog Gumiho.

In this episode we discussed Death in the Cards, her first young adult book and her move into writing for teens. With that, we talked about the difference in how she writes her teen versus her adult protagonist. We also touched on her use of tarot in the novel, and how one class and one teacher guided her to writing mystery.

Links discussed:

Their Just Desserts by Tracy Badua and Alechia Dow

Dead & Breakfast  by Kat Hillis and Rosiee Thor

Princess and the PI by Nikki Payne

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Current release: FORTUNE'S BABY DILEMMA

Note: some links are affiliate links

Contact Tif at [email protected]
Please check out her website for podcast submissions

Episode 95's guest is author Jenni L. Walsh. 

Jenni L. Walsh is a USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books. Her passion lies in transporting readers to another world, be it in historical or contemporary settings. She is a proud member of the Tall Poppy writers, a graduate of Villanova University, and lives in the Philadelphia suburbs with her husband, daughter, son, and various pets. 

For adults, Jenni has written historical novels Becoming Bonnie, Side by Side, A Betting Woman, The Call of the Wrens, Unsinkable, and Ace, Marvel, Spy. She also writes books for children, including the nonfiction She Dared series and novels Hettie and the London Blitz, I Am Defiance, By the Light of Fireflies, Over and Out, Operation: Happy, and The Bug Bandits. To learn more about Jenni and her books, please visit jennilwalsh.com or @jennilwalsh on social media.

It this episode we discussed her historical fiction novel, Ace, Marvel, Spy and the reason why she wanted to write about Alice Marble. We talked about her research for this novel, what she loved most about her protagonist. Finally she shared her journey to writing in different age categories.

I want to thank all of who have subscribed to this podcast! If you haven’t, I’d love it if you’d click to follow so you can get notifications of every new episode. And, if have found this podcast helpful and fun, please leave a rating and review—it really helps to boost discoverability. You can even share this episode with a friend. 

Links discussed:

A Girl and Her Five Brave Horses

Joy Callaway

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Current release: FORTUNE'S BABY DILEMMA

Note: some links are affiliate links

Contact Tif at [email protected]
Please check out her website for podcast submissions

Episode 94's guest is author Stefany Valentine.

Stefany Valentine is an emerging young adult author. Her first publication is featured in the adoptee anthology, When We Became Ours, and her sophomore title, Love Makes Mochi, is expected to release with Joy Revolution in 2026. Follow her for updates on TikTok, Instagram, and X @BooksByStefany and on her website, stefanyvalentine.wordpress.com.

In this episode we discussed her debut novel First Love Language, the significance of its title and its connection to The Five Love Languages. We talked about the nuance of language and how it relates to identity. And finally, how life imitated art and vice versa. 

This was such a lovely episode, where Stefany was vulnerable in sharing her adoptee experience, and which I feel shines in her novel. I know you’re going to enjoy it.

I want to thank all of who have subscribed to this podcast! If you haven’t, I’d love it if you’d click to follow so you can get notifications of every new episode. And, if have found this podcast helpful and fun, please leave a rating and review—it really helps to boost discoverability. You can even share this episode with a friend. 

For more information about me, Tif, and submitting to the podcast, please head on to my website, at TifMarcelo.com

Other links discussed:

There Goes the Neighborhood - Jade Aria

The Broposal by Sonora Reyes

Marsha Mickelson -  Where I Belong

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Current release: FORTUNE'S BABY DILEMMA

Note: some links are affiliate links

Contact Tif at [email protected]
Please check out her website for podcast submissions

Episode 93's guest is author Thien-Kim Lam.

Thien-Kim Lam writes stories about Vietnamese characters who smash stereotypes and find their happy endings. A recovering Type-Asian, she guzzles cà phê sữa đá, makes art, and bakes her feelings to stay sane. Her debut book Happy Endings was a Washington Post Romance Novel of the Year. Her Mardi Gras romance Full Exposure is a love letter to her Vietnamese community in Louisiana.

Thien-Kim also coaches writers of color and is an EDSE certified sex educator and the founder of Bawdy Bookworms, a subscription box that pairs sexy romances with erotic toys. She’s been featured on Jezebel, Bustle, Entertainment Weekly, and Oprah Daily.

In this episode we chatted about her most recent novel, Something Cheeky. I gushed that she was able to pack both love and social issues in her book. She talked about her varied creative background and how it contributes to the writing And, we had a frank conversation about the pressure of marginalized groups in non-representative careers.

Links discussed:

Taj McCoy : Zora Books her Happily Ever After

Piper J Drake: Wings Once Cursed and Bound

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Current release: FORTUNE'S BABY DILEMMA

Note: some links are affiliate links

Contact Tif at [email protected]
Please check out her website for podcast submissions