The Author Next Door

What makes a romance dark? Is it the spice level, the themes, the characters—or how far an author is willing to take the reader emotionally?

In this episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell talk with dark romance author Kelly R. Nelson about writing emotionally intense stories, handling difficult themes, and finding the balance between darkness, vulnerability, romance, and healing.

Kelly shares how she approaches the spectrum of dark romance, researches perspectives outside her own, and learned to rethink her stance on trigger warnings after talking directly with readers. But the conversation goes beyond craft. Kelly is also navigating that familiar sophomore-author question: I wrote the books…now how do I get people to read them?

From bookstore signings and hand-selling to social media, author branding, and simply being willing to try something before you know whether it will work, Kelly shares what she's learning while building her indie author career.

In this episode, they discuss:

• What makes a romance "dark"
• Balancing heavy themes, spice, vulnerability, and healing
• Writing intimate scenes from different character perspectives
• Trigger warnings and reader expectations in dark romance
• Finding your readers instead of trying to reach everyone
• Why Kelly has found success selling books in person
• Treating your author career like a small business
• Why sometimes you have to stop preparing and just try the thing

Learn more about Kelly R. Nelson:
https://www.kellyrnelsonstoryteller.com/

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What happens when romantic attraction collides with the need to stay in control? And how do you make the moment a character finally gives in feel earned?

In this episode of The Author Next Door After Dark, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell compare Dirty Dancing and The Idea of You to explore how romantic tension, societal expectations, and personal vulnerability influence the way love stories unfold.

From age gaps and social judgment to the emotional and physical breaking points that define a romance, they examine how these two films approach desire, restraint, and personal growth. They also discuss an essential romance-writing question: What happens when a story tells the audience there's romantic tension but doesn't quite make them feel it?

In this episode, they discuss:

• How control and restraint create romantic tension
• The different approaches to romance in Dirty Dancing and The Idea of You
• How age gaps and societal judgment influence romantic decisions
• Why emotional vulnerability matters to romantic payoff
• Using show, don't tell to make readers feel the longing

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What makes a side character memorable without letting them take over the entire story?

In this episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell dig into the craft of writing supporting characters who feel like real people instead of background furniture.

They explore why side characters need their own voices, motivations, and lives beyond the protagonist, while also serving a clear purpose within the larger story. The conversation covers how supporting characters can deepen themes, reveal different sides of the protagonist, strengthen world-building, and sometimes grow into characters readers want to follow into another book.

In this episode, they discuss:

• What makes a side character feel memorable
• Why supporting characters need independent goals
• How side characters can reveal new sides of the protagonist
• When a supporting character is becoming too important
• Why distinctive names, voices, and traits matter
• How side characters strengthen world-building
• Maintaining character consistency across a series

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What happens when the characters you want to read about are not the characters you keep seeing on the page?

In this episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell talk with urban fantasy author Deborah Wilde about her journey from screenwriting to novel writing, creating older female protagonists, finding her voice, and building an indie author career around the stories she actually wanted to tell.

Deborah shares how her creative background shaped her approach to storytelling, why representation of older women matters to her, and how writers can turn something that initially feels like a limitation into part of their creative strength.

The conversation also explores the realities of indie publishing, author branding, marketing, Kickstarter, character development, and why building a sustainable career often requires experimentation, iteration, and asking for help.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Deborah’s transition from screenwriting to urban fantasy
• Writing compelling older female characters
• Turning perceived limitations into creative strengths
• Using emotional exploration to develop characters
• Building and evolving an indie author brand
• Navigating marketing without losing your creative identity
• Using Kickstarter and community to support your author business
• Why authors do not have to do everything alone

Learn more about Deborah Wilde:
https://deborahwilde.com

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What makes a book adaptable for film, television, theater, or even one of the rapidly growing new storytelling formats?

In this episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell talk with actor, writer, producer, and creator Jennifer Lieberman about what authors should understand when they begin dreaming about taking a story beyond the page.

Jennifer shares insight into what makes characters and concepts adaptable, why originality still matters, and how writers can begin navigating industries that often feel difficult to enter. The conversation also explores screenwriting, theater production, vertical series, networking, festivals, new technology, and why independent creators sometimes have to build their own opportunities instead of waiting for permission.

In this episode, they discuss:

• What makes a book adaptable for screen or stage
• Why relatable characters matter across different formats
• How books, screenplays, and theater require different storytelling approaches
• The growing world of vertical series and short-form storytelling
• Why networking matters for writers and filmmakers
• How indie creators can begin building their own opportunities

Learn more about Jennifer Lieberman:
https://www.jenniferliebermanactor.com/

Jennifer’s book, Year of What?:
https://www.amazon.com/Year-What-Jennifer-Lieberman-ebook/dp/B08NT1PV64

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A strong author brand is bigger than one book launch.

In this episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell talk with Mickey from Creative Edge Publicity about how authors can use public relations, media opportunities, and consistent visibility to build a recognizable author brand over time.

Mickey shares practical advice for indie and traditionally published authors alike, including why authors should start building their public profile early, how media relationships develop, what makes someone easier to book for interviews, and why branding needs to be consistent without feeling forced or inauthentic.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Why authors should build their profile before they need publicity
• How PR differs from simply marketing a book
• Why consistency matters in author branding
• How interviews and media appearances build long-term visibility
• What authors should look for when choosing a PR partner
• Common communication mistakes that can hurt media opportunities

Learn more about Creative Edge Publicity:
https://www.creative-edge.services/
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Can your character drink a Coke? Mention a favorite movie? Name the song playing in the background? What happens if you actually quote the lyrics? And should you trademark your book title?

In this episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell tackle some of the copyright, trademark, and fair use questions indie authors regularly encounter while writing, publishing, and building their author businesses.

They break down the basic difference between trademarks and copyright, discuss when authors can generally reference real-world brands and entertainment in fiction, and explain why reproducing someone else’s creative work is a very different question. They also look at song titles versus lyrics, movie references and quotes, public domain, fair use, and when an author might start thinking about trademark protection for a larger series or brand.

In this episode, they discuss:

• The difference between trademark and copyright
• Why ideas and tropes are different from copyrighted expression
• Referencing brands, movies, and songs in fiction
• Why song lyrics require extra caution
• Fair use versus public domain
• When indie authors might consider trademark protection

Important: Angela and Cassie are authors, not attorneys. This episode provides general educational information and should not be considered legal advice. Authors with questions about a specific book, use, or business should consult a qualified attorney.

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In this episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell use the Amazon Prime adaptation inspired by Carley Fortune’s Every Summer After as a case study in what happens when romantic chemistry does not fully carry from page to screen.

They explore the emotional investment readers bring to adaptations, why nostalgia cannot replace chemistry, and how changes in pacing, characterization, and structure can affect the heart of a romance. The conversation also expands into dual timelines, second-chance romance, friends-to-lovers, and the questions writers should ask when building emotionally satisfying relationships on the page.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Why chemistry is essential to a satisfying romance
• How reader expectations influence reactions to adaptations
• Why nostalgia alone cannot create emotional investment
• The challenges of writing dual timelines and backstory
• What authors should consider when using familiar romance tropes

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In this Quick Bites episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell explore an underrated writing tool: the way words physically appear on the page.

They talk about how white space, sentence length, paragraph breaks, fragments, and even unfinished thoughts can influence pacing and emotion. From fast-moving fight scenes to quiet romantic beats, the shape of the prose can change how quickly a reader moves and where they instinctively pause.

In this episode, they discuss:

How white space can create emotional emphasis
Why short sentences can accelerate pacing
How sentence length affects action, dialogue, and reflection
Why formatting can reveal character voice
What poetry can teach fiction writers about space and rhythm

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In this Quick Bites episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell use the Amazon Prime series Ride or Die to explore how writers can create stronger, more believable female characters.

Spoilers ahead for Ride or Die — so if you have not finished the series yet, consider this your playful warning to come back after you have.

They talk about why strength does not have to mean emotional invulnerability, how female friendships can carry conflict without losing love and respect, and what makes a female villain feel layered instead of flat. The conversation also looks at fallibility, accountability, and why women do not need to reject vulnerability or relationships in order to seem powerful.

In this episode, they discuss:

•  Why strong female characters still need fear, emotion, and vulnerability 
•  How to write female friendships with conflict, history, and repair 
•  Why compelling women should be allowed to make bad decisions 
•  What makes a female villain emotionally layered 
•  Why heroes and villains both need wins, losses, and consequences 

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