Welcome back to Talk Spicy to Me, the podcast where two bestselling romance authors go rogue and talk all things romance: the good, the bad, and everything in between.

Season 2 kicks off with a deep dive into writing a romance series, featuring special guest Laura Pavlov. We talk series vs standalones, series bibles, character continuity, managing reader expectations, and what it takes to keep readers hooked across multiple books. Plus, a new release spotlight, book club announcement, red & green flags, and a reader Q&A.

00:00 – Season 2 premiere 02:51 – Season sponsors 05:45 – Laura Pavlov joins the show 07:34 – The Spice Report 20:50 – Series vs standalone romance 34:18 – Building a series bible 40:37 – Second-generation characters 43:52 – Managing reader expectations 50:10 – New release: Jennifer Millikin 01:14:15 – Book club pick: A.L. Jackson 01:15:26 – Red & Green Flags 01:20:27 – Reader Q&A: matchmaking

New Release Spotlight: Jennifer Millikin: Hard Feelings (Serendipity & Shenanigans)

Book Club Pick: A.L. Jackson: From Here to Eternity (Moonlit Ridge, Book 1) Join us for the discussion on February 18th.

Season Sponsors: Lena Hendrix: Chasing the Sun Willow Aster: What It Takes

After Dark (Patreon Exclusive): This week's bonus episode explores how sex evolves over time in real-life relationships, from new love to long-term commitment. Join the Patreon for extended, uncensored episodes and bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkSpicytoMePodcast

Follow Talk Spicy to Me on Instagram, YouTube, and your favorite podcast platforms for weekly episodes, author interviews, and spicy romance conversations.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkspicytomepodcast

Youtube: @talkspicytomepodcast

Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me: A podcast where two bestselling authors go rogue and talk all things romance: the good, the bad, the unbearably hot, and everything in between.

In Episode 10, It's Giving Influential: How Life Impacts Art, we're hanging out with Elsie Silver to talk about all the ways real life finds its way into our books: the funny moments, the emotional ones, and the things readers swear are based on our husbands (they're not, we promise). We get into creativity, inspiration, writing joy, and what it looks like to protect your spark when the world always wants "more."

Spice Report:

• Kandi – hockey playoffs (Panthers vs Oilers)

• Giana – second wedding anniversary

• Elsie – getting a puppy next month… and Amazon adapting the Rosehill Series

Timestamps

00:00 – Patreon Thank You

01:02 – Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me

05:07 – It's Giving Influential with Elsie Silver

08:25 – The Spice Report

15:37 – How Life Impacts Art

01:09:16 – Red Flag / Green Flag: When a Hero spoils the Heroine

💬 Got a question you'd like us to answer on the podcast? Submit it here → Send us a voice message on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/TalkSpicytoMe

Links

Follow us on Instagram: @talkspicytomepodcast

Spotify/Apple: @talkspicytomepodcast

Youtube: @talkspicytomepodcast

Connect with the Hosts:

Giana Darling

Instagram: @gianadarlingauthor

Website: https://gianadarling.com/

Kandi Steiner

Instagram: @kandisteiner

Website: https://kandisteiner.com/

Elsie Silver Instagram: @tauthorelsiesilver

Website: https://www.elsiesilver.com/

Want even more spice? Join us on Patreon for our weekly After Dark bonus episode: plus behind-the-scenes content and unfiltered chats you won't hear anywhere else: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkSpicytoMePodcast

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review: it helps more romance lovers find us!

Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me: A podcast where two bestselling authors go rogue and talk all things romance: the good, the bad, the unbearably hot, and everything in between.

In Episode 9, It's Giving Swoon & Doom: Dating as a Romance Author, Kandi and Giana are getting real about love, heartbreak, and the hard-earned happily ever afters behind the scenes. From how Giana and Hayden met and navigated long distance to Kandi's dating eras and writing through pain, they're discussing what it's really like to date *and fall in love* as romance authors.

Spice Report:

• Kandi – The Gilded Age

• Giana – Threads

• Kandi – Laney Wilson

• Giana – PNR books

• Kandi – Plotting Stand Your Ground

• Giana – Gym and movement

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me

03:58 – Spice Report (Mild → Hot)

25:48 – Swoon & Doom: Dating as a Romance Author

57:12 – Red/Green Flag: Grand gestures in public

1:02:49 – Reader Q & A: Favorite book of each other's (Anti-Heroes Duet and Close Quarters)

💬 Got a question you'd like us to answer on the podcast? Submit it here → Send us a voice message on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/TalkSpicytoMe

Links

Follow us on Instagram: @talkspicytomepodcast

Spotify/Apple: @talkspicytomepodcast

Youtube: @talkspicytomepodcast

Connect with the Hosts:

Giana Darling

Instagram: @gianadarlingauthor

Website: https://gianadarling.com/

Kandi Steiner

Instagram: @kandisteiner

Website: https://kandisteiner.com/

Want even more spice? Join us on Patreon for our weekly After Dark bonus episode: plus behind-the-scenes content and unfiltered chats you won't hear anywhere else: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TalkSpicytoMePodcast

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review: it helps more romance lovers find us!

Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me: A podcast where two bestselling authors go rogue and talk all things romance: the good, the bad, the unbearably hot, and everything in between.

In Episode 9, It's Giving Magic, we're hanging out with the one and only Sierra Simone to talk about books that just have that thing. You know, the ones that feel a little enchanted and stick with you long after you finish them. We get into everything from indie vs. trad publishing and taking creative risks to sisterhood, super fans, and what really makes a story feel magical.

Spice Report:

• Kandi – Sabrina Carpenter's new song

• Sierra – custom embroidery on the Ariana Grande Wicked moment

• Giana – audiobook "it's not hysterical"

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me

02:10 – It's Giving Magic with Sierra Simone

06:10 – The Spice Report 19:26 – What Makes a Book Magical

34:58 – Sisterhood, Support & Super Fans

01:18:07 – Green Flag / Red Flag: Sexual Punishments

💬 Got a question you'd like us to answer on the podcast? Submit it here → Send us a voice message on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/TalkSpicytoMe

Links

Follow us on Instagram: @talkspicytomepodcast

Spotify/Apple: @talkspicytomepodcast

Youtube: @talkspicytomepodcast

Connect with the Hosts:

Giana Darling Instagram: @gianadarlingauthor

Website: https://gianadarling.com/

Kandi Steiner

Instagram: @kandisteiner

Website: https://kandisteiner.com/

Sierra Simone

Instagram: @thesierrasimone

Website: https://www.thesierrasimone.com/

Want even more spice? Join us on Patreon for our weekly After Dark bonus episode: plus behind-the-scenes content and unfiltered chats you won't hear anywhere else: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkSpicytoMePodcast Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review: it helps more romance lovers find us!

Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me: A podcast where two bestselling authors go rogue and talk all things romance: the good, the bad, the unbearably hot, and everything in between.

In Episode 7, It's Giving Ever-Changing Days in the Life of a Romance Author, we're joined by Brittany C. Cherry for an honest look at what it's like to live, write, and love as a romance novelist. This episode highlights the mix of creativity, growth, and daily life that shapes every author's process, offering a thoughtful look at how storytelling evolves over time. The hosts and Brittany discuss how personal experiences shape storytelling, how writers grow alongside their characters, and what an average writing day looks like, filled with coffee, workouts, and moments of reflection.

The Spice Report

Kandi: Everything 90's after attending a rave party, focusing on mindful shopping this year (only five new clothing items total) and using her new 7-point styling system.

Brittany: Sinners!

Giana: Final Reckoning and her undying love for Tom Cruise's running scenes.

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me

07:52 – Real-life love for a romance novelist

09:34 – The evolution of writing and growth as an author

10:53 – How who you are shapes the story you're writing

15:05 – Writing as an escape from emotional landscapes

17:43 – The Spice Report

22:10 – A day in the life of Brittany C. Cherry

27:05 – Writing routines, gym life, and finding balance

01:25:32 – Red Flag / Green Flag: Alpha Behavior

💬 Got a question you'd like us to answer on the podcast? Send us a voice message on SpeakPipe → https://www.speakpipe.com/TalkSpicytoMe

Links Follow us on Instagram: @talkspicytomepodcast

Listen on Spotify & Apple: @talkspicytomepodcast YouTube: @talkspicytomepodcast

Connect with the Hosts

Giana Darling

Instagram: @gianadarlingauthor

Website: https://gianadarling.com/

Kandi Steiner

Instagram: @kandisteiner

Website: https://kandisteiner.com/

Connect with our Guest Brittany C. Cherry

Instagram: @bcherryauthor

Website: https://bcherrybooks.com/

Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me: A podcast where two bestselling authors go rogue and talk all things romance: the good, the bad, the unbearably hot, and everything in between.

In Episode 6: Getting Personal: Choosing to Let Readers Into Our Lives, we're discussing what it really means to share pieces of our personal lives online as authors and creators. From boundaries and vulnerability to parasocial dynamics, burnout, and how much is too much!

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me

03:17 – Spice Report (Mild → Hot)

17:53 – Getting Personal: Choosing to Let Readers Into Our Lives

57:07 – Red/Green Flag: Instantly Bonding with Your Kid

1:02:13 – Reader Q & A: Have you ever written a scene and thought, "I'm not sure how this is going to go over…" ?

💬 Got a question you'd like us to answer on the podcast? Submit it here → Send us a voice message on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/TalkSpicytoMe

Links

Follow us on Instagram: @talkspicytomepodcast

Spotify/Apple: @talkspicytomepodcast

Youtube: @talkspicytomepodcast

Connect with the Hosts:

Giana Darling Instagram: @gianadarlingauthor

Website: https://gianadarling.com/ Kandi Steiner

Instagram: @kandisteiner Website: https://kandisteiner.com/

Want even more spice?

Join us on Patreon for our weekly After Dark bonus episode: plus behind-the-scenes content and unfiltered chats you won't hear anywhere else: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TalkSpicytoMePodcast

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review: it helps more romance lovers find us!

Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me: A podcast where two bestselling authors go rogue and talk all things romance: the good, the bad, the unbearably hot, and everything in between.

In episode 5, It's Giving The Truth About Book Signings: The Expense, Exhaustion & Euphoria. We're spilling everything about romance book signings: from the financial chaos of tickets, travel, and special editions… to the emotional high of meeting readers and authors, and the crash that comes after.

Timestamps

00:00 - Patron Shoutout & Gratitude

01:19 – Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me

03:44 – Spice Report (Mild → Hot)

18:10 – Book Signings (Expense, Exhaustion, and Euphoria)

57:29 – Red/Green Flag: Birth Control Tampering

1:04:01 – Reader Q&A: Infidelity Backlash?!

💬 Got a question you'd like us to answer on the podcast? Submit it here → Send us a voice message on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/TalkSpicytoMe

Links

Follow us on Instagram: @talkspicytomepodcast

Spotify/Apple: @talkspicytomepodcast

Youtube: @talkspicytomepodcast

Connect with the Hosts:

Giana Darling

Instagram: @gianadarlingauthor

Website: https://gianadarling.com/

Kandi Steiner

Instagram: @kandisteiner

Website: https://kandisteiner.com/

Want even more spice? Join us on Patreon for our weekly After Dark bonus episode: plus behind-the-scenes content and unfiltered chats you won't hear anywhere else: / talkspicytomepodcast

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review: it helps more romance lovers find us!

Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me: A podcast where two bestselling authors go rogue and talk all things romance: the good, the bad, the unbearably hot, and everything in between.

In episode 4, It's Giving Not So Romantic: Bursting the Bubble on how Romantic the writing career is. From the hustle behind the scenes to the friendships (and "mean girl" dynamics) that shape the industry, we're getting real about what it means to be both a writer and a businessperson. We talk about editing, navigating a lack of support from friends and family, deciphering true friends vs. users, and why this industry never stops demanding your hustle.

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me

00:51 – Mother's Day & Golf Trip

06:14 – Spice Report (Med → Hot)

17:40 – Writing (bursting the bubble on how romantic the writing career is)

46:30 – Red/Green Flag: When he spits in your mouth

50:34 – Reader Question: Writing rituals 💬

Got a question you'd like us to answer on the podcast? Submit it here → Send us a voice message on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/TalkSpicytoMe

Links

Follow us on

Instagram: @talkspicytomepodcast

Spotify/Apple: @talkspicytomepodcast

Youtube: @talkspicytomepodcast

Connect with the Hosts:

Giana Darling

Instagram: @gianadarlingauthor

Website: https://gianadarling.com/ Kandi Steiner

Instagram: @kandisteiner Website: https://kandisteiner.com/

Want even more spice? Join us on Patreon for our weekly After Dark bonus episode: plus behind-the-scenes content and unfiltered chats you won't hear anywhere else: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkSpicytoMePodcast

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review: it helps more romance lovers find us!

Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me: A podcast where two bestselling authors go rogue and talk all things romance: the good, the bad, the unbearably hot, and everything in between.

In this episode, It's Giving Angst, we're unpacking all the messy, emotional, gut-wrenching sides of romance. From miscommunication and flawed characters to villains looking for redemption, we talk about why angst hits so hard for both writers and readers, and why we can't stop craving it!

This one's packed with spice levels, cliffhangers, cheating books, and the art of writing good angst. ⏱️

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me

00:55– Writing Retreats & Author Relationships

08:20 – The Spice Report

23:33 – Writing Good Angst

41:07 – Villains, Redemption & Miscommunication

56:55 – Red Flag / Green Flag: Your man getting in a Fight for You

01:01:15 – Question from reader: Dating Our Characters 💬

Got a question you'd like us to answer on the podcast? Submit it here → Send us a voice message on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/TalkSpicytoMe

Links

Follow us on Instagram: @talkspicytomepodcast

Spotify/Apple: @talkspicytomepodcast

Youtube: @talkspicytomepodcast

Connect with the Hosts:

Giana Darling

Instagram: @gianadarlingauthor

Website: https://gianadarling.com/

Kandi Steiner

Instagram: @kandisteiner

Website: https://kandisteiner.com/

Want even more spice? Join us on Patreon for our weekly After Dark bonus episode: plus behind-the-scenes content and unfiltered chats you won't hear anywhere else: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkSpicytoMePodcast Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review: it helps more romance lovers find us!

Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me: A podcast where two bestselling authors go rogue and talk all things romance: the good, the bad, the unbearably hot, and everything in between.

In our very first episode, It's Giving Twin Flames, we're pulling back the curtain. We share how this podcast came to life, what inspired us to become writers, the journeys (and chaos) that brought us here, plus a few glimpses into our personal lives. This is the start of something equal parts unhinged and unforgettable..and you've got the best seat in the house!

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me

00:53 – How the idea for the podcast was born

08:29 – The Spice Report

23:12 – Social Media (Content Creation)

28:14 – Our Writing Journey

59:45 – Green Flag / Red Flag

💬 Got a question you'd like us to answer on the podcast? Submit it here → Send us a voice message on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/TalkSpicytoMe

Links

Follow us on Instagram: @talkspicytomepodcast

Spotify/Apple: @talkspicytomepodcast

Youtube: @talkspicytomepodcast

Connect with the Hosts:

Giana Darling

Instagram: @gianadarlingauthor

Website: https://gianadarling.com/

Kandi Steiner

Instagram: @kandisteiner

Website: https://kandisteiner.com/

Want even more spice? Join us on Patreon for our weekly After Dark bonus episode: plus behind-the-scenes content and unfiltered chats you won't hear anywhere else: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkSpicytoMePodcast Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review: it helps more romance lovers find us!