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If you love mystery-romance heroines who are juggling work, family, and the occasional international investigation, you’re going to love today’s episode. I’m joined by author Sam Tschida to talk about the latest installment in the Gabby Green series and the chaos that comes with writing spy-adjacent romantic mysteries.

In this conversation, Sam shares how she built the second Gabby Green adventure—from tropical settings and Hollywood wellness culture to espionage twists and unexpected romance. We also talk about writing messy but lovable heroines, the reality of balancing motherhood with high-stakes careers, and why cozy mystery fans love returning to the same sleuth again and again.

We also chat about writing inspiration, the real-life research behind spy stories, and the books we’ve been loving lately.

[00:00] Welcome & catching up with Sam Tschida

[00:01] Writing the second Gabby Green mystery

[00:03] The tropical investigation setting and spy elements

[00:05] Researching espionage and consulting real sources

[00:06] Why the book’s setting changed from Hawaii to the Azores

[00:07] Plot twists, mystery pacing, and balancing romance

[00:08] Delegation, chaos, and Gabby learning she can’t do everything

[00:09] Possible movie adaptation news for Errands and Espionage

[00:10] Why readers love returning to the same sleuth in mystery series

[00:11] Cozy mysteries, baking mysteries, and comfort reads

[00:12] Laura’s dream Puerto Rican cozy mystery series

[00:16] Book recommendations from Sam

[00:18] Where to find Sam online

Gabby Green Who Knows Whodunit by Sam Tschida — Mystery Romance | Amateur Sleuth | Series

Errands and Espionage by Sam Tschida — Mystery Romance | Travel Mystery | Amateur Sleuth

Undead and Unwed by Sam Tschida — Paranormal Romance | Vampire Comedy | Audio ✅

Matchmaking for Psychopaths by Tasha Coryell — Dark Comedy Thriller | Mystery | Audio ✅

Love Letters to a Serial Killer by Tasha Coryell — Thriller | Dark Romance | Audio ✅

The ReDo List by Denise Williams — Contemporary Romance | Cinnamon Roll Hero | Audio ✅

Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne — Romantic Comedy | Classic Retelling | Audio ✅

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What happens when a rom-com meets a slasher movie? In this episode, I’m joined by debut author Shaylee Thompson to talk about her wildly fun genre-bending novel How to Kill a Guy in 10 Dates — a slasher rom-com set during a speed-dating event gone horribly wrong.

We chat about how Shaylee blended two formula-driven genres, her journey from English teacher to full-time writer, and why sometimes the book that becomes your debut isn’t the first book you wrote. If you love horror movies, rom-coms, and stories that break the rules, this conversation is packed with behind-the-scenes insights.

Plus, Shaylee shares a few book recommendations for readers who love horror comedy, meta storytelling, and genre-bending fiction.

How to Kill a Guy in 10 Dates by Shailee Thompson — Slasher Rom-Com | Horror Comedy

Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver — Dark Romantic Comedy | Serial Killer Romance | KU ✅ | Audio ✅

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix — Horror | Slasher Film Tribute | Thriller | Audio ✅

Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan — Fantasy | Villain Story | Meta Fantasy | Audio ✅

Your Favorite Scary Movie by Ashley Cullins — Nonfiction | Horror Film Analysis | Pop Culture

Persuasion by Jane Austen — Classic Romance | Literary Fiction | Audio ✅

[00:00] Introduction to Shaylee Thompson and her debut novel

[01:00] The premise of How to Kill a Guy in 10 Dates

[02:00] Combining rom-com and slasher genres

[04:00] Why the book released around Valentine’s Day

[05:00] Shaylee’s writing journey and early books

[07:00] Signing with an agent and finding the right debut

[08:00] Writing discipline and finishing a draft in four months

[09:00] Becoming a full-time writer

[11:00] Shaylee’s reading tastes and favorite genres

[12:00] Book recommendations for horror and rom-com fans

[14:00] Where to find Shaylee online

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If you’ve ever masked your anxiety while looking wildly “high-functioning,” this episode is going to hit.

Today I’m chatting with returning guest Cat Sebastian about her new contemporary romance Star Shipped — a slow-burn, forced-proximity love story between two actors on a long-running sci-fi show who “hate” each other in the most domestic way possible.

We talk about why Cat took a risk moving from historical to contemporary romance, how fandom and sci-fi shaped this book, and why she wanted to write a character with anxiety, OCD, and migraines who doesn’t magically “heal” by the final chapter. This is a conversation about radical acceptance, surviving in a noisy world, and finding love without fixing yourself first.

If you loved the emotional intensity of hockey romances but want celebrity PR chaos instead, this one’s for you.

[00:00] Welcoming Cat back + what she’s been up to

[00:01] Inside Star Shipped — enemies-to-lovers on a sci-fi set

[00:02] The Gene Roddenberry letter that inspired the book

[00:04] Taking the risk from historical to contemporary

[00:06] Researching fandom vs. TV industry details

[00:08] Writing invisible disability & high-functioning anxiety

[00:12] No “pink cloud” healing — why incremental growth matters

[00:16] Radical acceptance in romance

[00:18] Romance recommendations with buttoned-up/chaos pairings

[00:23] Where to find Cat + newsletter over social media

Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian — Contemporary Romance | Celebrity | Enemies-to-Lovers | Anxiety Rep | Audio ✅

Something Wild & Wonderful by Anita Kelly — LGBTQ+ Romance | Outdoors Setting | Neurodivergent Rep | Audio ✅

With Love, from Cold World by Alicia Thompson — Workplace Romance | Opposites Attract | Slow Burn | Audio ✅

Chef’s Kiss by TJ Alexander — Workplace Romance | Queer Romance | Polyamory Rep | Audio ✅

A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander — Historical Romance | Queer Romance | Tender Slow Burn | Audio ✅

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What happens when book bans aren’t just headlines — but federal law?

In this episode, I’m chatting with historical fiction author Shelley Noble about The Sisters of Book Row, a novel set in 1915 New York during the height of the Comstock censorship laws. We talk about rare bookstores, banned poetry, Margaret Sanger, and why 100-year-old history feels… uncomfortably familiar today. If you care about protecting books, women’s voices, and literary legacy — this one will stay with you.

We also dive into Shelley’s unexpected path to publishing (spoiler: it started with a dare), why she left mysteries for historical women’s fiction, and her favorite historical mystery comfort reads.

[00:00] Shelley’s journey from dancer to published mystery author

[03:00] Writing historical mysteries vs. women’s fiction

[06:30] Discovering the Tiffany Girls & shifting genres

[07:45] The Comstock Laws explained

[09:30] Margaret Sanger and censorship in 1915

[11:00] The Sisters of Book Row premise

[14:30] Book banning today vs. 1915

[18:30] Research process & using primary sources

[22:00] Historical mystery & romantic suspense recommendations

The Sisters of Book Row by Shelley Noble — Historical Women’s Fiction | Bookstore Drama | Women’s Rights

This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart — Romantic Suspense | Classic Mystery

The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley — Time Slip Romance | Historical Fiction

Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters — Historical Mystery | Victorian Egypt | Humor

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What happens when influencer culture, megachurch ambition, and algorithm-driven community collide?

This week, I’m joined by longtime friend and fellow early-podcaster Alli Hoff Kosik to talk about her debut novel, Too Blessed to Stress — a sharp, nuanced story about faith, friendship, ambition, and the very online world we’re all living in.

We talk about how her MFA journey led her here, why religion in fiction felt like a “risky” topic just a few years ago, and how influencer culture (hello Mormon wives and MomTok 👀) makes this story more relevant than ever. If you love messy friend groups, big institutions, powerful men, and complicated women trying to build something meaningful — this one is for you.

[00:00] Early podcast days & friendship origin story

[02:00] Alli’s MFA journey and first abandoned manuscript

[05:00] The Christian influencer rabbit hole

[07:30] Influencer monetization & megachurch power

[10:00] Religion, algorithms & modern politics

[14:00] Community after the pandemic

[21:30] Behind the Scenes podcast (BTS-TBTS)

[24:00] Book recommendations: cults, ambition & satire

[37:00] Where to find Alli & audiobook details

Too Blessed to Stress by Alli Hoff Kosik — Book Club Fiction | Influencer Culture | Literary Fiction

Little One by Olivia Muenter — Cult Fiction | Dual Timeline | Psychological Drama

Paper Cut by Rachel Taff — Literary Fiction | Power & Family Dynamics

Tehrangeles by Porochista Khakpour — Satire | Reality TV Culture | Pandemic Fiction

Glossy by Marisa Meltzer — Nonfiction | Business Biography | Millennial CEO

Workhorse by Caroline Palmer — Literary Fiction | Publishing Industry | Ambitious Female Lead

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Queer joy, Hollywood theater, and why romance doesn’t have to earn its happy ending.

In this episode, I’m joined by returning guest Amy Spalding to talk about In Her Spotlight, her latest sapphic romance set at the intersection of celebrity culture, live theater, and second-chance love. We dig into why queer joy matters, how power dynamics shift when fame enters the room, and why it finally feels possible to tell coming-out stories without centering tragedy.

We also chat about reading across genres, unexpected nonfiction rabbit holes, and Amy’s favorite sapphic and bisexual romances to add to your TBR—especially if you love stories about ambition, community, and women figuring it out together.

In Her Spotlight by Amy Spalding — Sapphic Romance | Celebrity Romance | Second Chance | Theater Setting

Rooting Interest by Cat Dibasato — Sapphic Romance | Sports Romance | Career-Driven Characters

Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory — Sapphic Romance | Contemporary Romance | Wine Country Setting

Writers & Lovers by Lily King— Literary Fiction | Women’s Fiction | Writing & Ambition

Alice Rue Evades the Truth by Emily Zips — Bisexual Romance | Contemporary Romance | While You Were Sleeping Retelling

[00:00] Welcome back + first impressions of In Her Spotlight

[01:00] Writing queer joy during bleak times

[02:00] Why sapphic romance has changed so much

[04:00] Coming-out stories with nuance and community

[05:00] In Her Spotlight elevator pitch

[06:00] Power, consent, and the #MeToo context

[08:00] Celebrity culture vs. theater life

[11:00] Companion standalones & the Out in Hollywood series

[12:00] Reading across genres as a writer

[13:00] Nonfiction deep dives & pop culture obsessions

[15:00] Sapphic and bisexual romance recommendations

[19:00] Where to find Amy online

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Quick Note Before You Press Play:

The audio quality on this episode isn’t my usual standard (thank you for your grace 😅). If you want the best experience, I highly recommend watching the video version — it includes captions and the sound is much clearer. You can find it on Spotify and YouTube.

Thank you for being here and for always supporting the show. 💛

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What happens when a virgin sex toy engineer asks her coworker for sex lessons… and ends up getting way more than she bargained for?

This week, I’m chatting with author Alys Murray about her steamy new romance A Little Buzzed, why sex scenes need emotional arcs, and how the sex toy industry has completely transformed over the last decade. We talk mutual pleasure, power dynamics, writing for Hallmark vs. high-heat romance, and why “horny jail” only lasts so long.

If you love workplace romance, sex-positive stories, mafia rom-coms, and books that balance spice with heart — this episode is for you.

A Little Buzzed by Alys Murray — Contemporary Romance | Workplace | Sex Lessons Trope | High Heat

The Seduction of Mr. Alfred Saintsbury by Lydia Lloyd — Regency Historical Romance | Power Dynamics | High Spice

Dom Com by Adriana Anders — Workplace Romance | High Heat | Sex-Positive Romance

The ReDo List by Denise Williams — Contemporary Romance | Second Chance at Life | Emotional Growth

Love Most Fatal by Kath Richards — Mafia Rom-Com | Female Mob Boss | Cinnamon Roll Hero

[00:00] Welcome + why Alys and I have similar book taste

[02:00] The premise of A Little Buzzed

[03:30] Mutual “sex lessons” + flipping the virgin trope

[04:30] How the sex toy industry has evolved

[07:00] Virginity, pleasure, and agency in 2026

[08:00] Why sex scenes need emotional arcs (Heated Rivalry reference 👀)

[10:00] Screenwriting for Hallmark vs. writing spicy romance

[14:00] Lydia Lloyd’s filthy Regency recommendation

[16:00] Workplace spice: Dom Com

[17:00] The Redo List by Denise Williams

[17:30] Mafia rom-com obsession: Love Most Fatal

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What happens when you drop a retired serial killer into a luxury retirement home full of former investigators? You get chaos, secrets… and one very suspicious death.

In this episode, I chat with British comedian-turned-mystery author Fergus Craig about his latest cozy crime novel, I’m Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home. We talk about writing a likable serial killer, the art of “cracked cozy” mysteries, and how parody crime novels unexpectedly launched his fiction career. If you love cozy mysteries with a dark twist — and characters who blur the line between wrong and relatable — this one’s for you.

We also dive into his favorite reads (including a book he calls the best he’s ever read), and why sometimes escape fiction is exactly what readers need right now.

I’m Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home by Fergus Craig — Buy on Amazon | Cozy Mystery | Dark Comedy | Serial Killer Protagonist

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray — Buy on Amazon | Literary Fiction | Family Drama

East of Eden by John Steinbeck — Buy on Amazon | Classic Literary Fiction

[00:00] Introduction to Fergus Craig

[01:00] The premise behind I’m Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home

[02:00] What is a “cracked cozy” mystery?

[03:00] Writing a likable serial killer

[05:00] Balancing flashbacks and present-day mystery

[06:00] From comedian and actor to novelist

[07:00] Parody crime novels and landing a book deal

[08:00] Why readers want escape fiction right now

[09:00] Fergus’s reading life and audiobook habits

[10:00] The Bee Sting by Paul Murray recommendation

[12:00] Literary fiction and reading widely

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What happens when a swoony rom-com set in Venezuela meets fake dating, music, and telenovela-level drama? I’m joined by debut author Maria José Morillo to talk about romance, bilingual reading, and writing against the odds.

In this episode, I’m chatting with Maria José Morillo, a Venezuelan author making her Big Five debut with The Ex-Perimento. We talk about growing up bilingual, discovering romance through Harry Potter and Twilight, and what it means to write English-language romance from Venezuela.

We also dive into celebrity rom-com tropes, Latin American pop culture (yes, Miss Universe matters), and how Maria José went from fanfiction to landing a traditional publishing deal. If you love high-concept rom-coms, global romance, or behind-the-scenes publishing journeys, this episode is for you.

The Ex-Perimento by Maria José Morillo — Contemporary Romance | Celebrity Romance

You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle — Rom-Com | Enemies-to-Lovers

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry — Friends-to-Lovers | Travel Romance

Happy Place by Emily Henry — Second-Chance Romance | Emotional Romance

The Sun and the Void by Gabriela Romero-Lacruz — Fantasy | Venezuelan Folklore

Bochica by Carolina Florez-Cerchiaro — Gothic Horror | Latin American Folklore

[00:00] Welcome & why Venezuela pop culture feels familiar

[02:00] Becoming a reader through Harry Potter

[05:00] Switching from Spanish to English reading

[07:00] E-reading vs physical books outside the U.S.

[09:00] From fanfiction to writing original romance

[12:00] Why writing in English opened publishing doors

[15:00] The book that didn’t sell — and why that matters

[17:00] The origin story of The Ex-Perimento

[20:00] Miss Universe, telenovelas & Latin American fame

[24:00] Romance recommendations & reading for joy

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What happens when a pandemic side project turns into a full-time creative career?

In this episode, I’m joined by fantasy romance author Kate Golden to talk about writing through uncertainty, leaving a stable career, and why urban fantasy is having a moment.

We get into Kate’s journey from working as a studio executive in Hollywood to indie publishing A Dawn of Onyx, landing a traditional book deal with Berkley, and finally quitting her day job to write full-time. We also dive deep into Half City, her dark academia–meets–urban fantasy trilogy set in a reimagined New York City — complete with demon hunters, secret colleges, forbidden romance, and Buffy-level vibes.

This conversation is for readers who love grounded fantasy, creative career pivots, and honest talk about monetizing passion projects without losing your mind.

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