Underline That

Twenty years of writing, rejection, and perseverance. Two genres blended brilliantly. One literary success story even its author never saw coming!This week on Underline That, I'm joined by the delightful Tiffany Crum, instant New York Times bestselling author of This Story Might Save Your Life—the wildly clever, twisty, romantic thriller that had me simultaneously holding my breath and kicking my feet.But behind this seemingly overnight success? Two decades of hard work, creative reinvention, and the courage to finally write the book of her heart.Tiffany and I get all the way into it! From the unexpected emotional whirlwind of becoming a breakout bestselling author to the beauty of breaking genre rules, we talk about what happens when your biggest literary dreams actually come true—and why success doesn't magically silence imposter syndrome.We also dish on the extraordinary audiobook production (hiiii, Julia Whelan!), the power of Book of the Month and Bookstagram, the case for stepping away from social media, and whether an MFA is #worthit.Plus, Tiffany shares the realities of writing under deadline, navigating the noise of publishing, and a little peek at what's coming next.Trust me, you don't want to miss this one!Happy listening, besties!CONNECT WITH TIFFANY CRUM:IG: @bytiffanycrumWebsite: www.tiffanycrum.comFOLLOW STEPH + THE POD:IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@stephanienmack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@underlinethatpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.stephaniemack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FOLLOW THE SUBSTACK:⁠Underline That: When There's More to Say⁠PURCHASE TWENTY SOMETHING ELSE:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Target⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PRE-ORDER WHEN WE BLINKED:⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnes & NobleTODAY’S TBRThis Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany CrumFamesick by Lena DunhamNone of This Is True by Lisa JewellListen for the Lie by Amy TinteraThe Five-Star Weekend by Elin HilderbrandAtmosphere by Taylor Jenkins ReidMiddletide by Sarah CrouchPlease Enjoy Your Stay by Tara GoedjenBad Words by Ríoghnach RobinsonCall Off the Dark by Hallie ShepherdHollow Bones by Jodi PicoultThe Pirate Queen by Ariel LawhonThe Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

What makes a story impossible to put down—and how do you keep crafting them over decades (and decades!) of a thriving career?Steph welcomes iconic New York Times bestselling author Rhys Bowen, whose books have sold millions of copies worldwide, for a warm, revealing conversation about crafting captivating fiction. With more than sixty adult novels, an Agatha Award for Best Novel, and a writing schedule that still includes two books a year, Rhys brings extraordinary experience—and plenty of wit—to the table.Her latest novel, The Castle in the Glen, takes us to Scotland’s atmospheric Isle of Skye, where a young writer agrees to finish a famous novelist’s final manuscript… only to suspect the mystery on the page is real—and someone wants it to stay buried.From that irresistible premise, we go behind the scenes of Rhys’s storytelling: how she hooks readers, creates settings you can practically smell and taste, and tackled the challenge of writing a book within a book. We also explore:Why even an experienced novelist sometimes needs to rethink her openingHer unexpected path from teenage romances to award-winning mysteriesHer honest take on social media, book sales, and author scamsThe 1,500-word daily goal—and simple habit—that keeps her writingCollaborating with her daughter and finding small comforts after losing her husbandWhether you’re a reader who loves getting swept into another world or a writer working toward your own dream, this episode offers a fascinating look at how unforgettable stories—and lasting careers—are built.Thank you so much for listening! Leave a review, share the episode with a friend, and let us know what you underlined!✍️🖤CONNECT WITH RHYS BOWEN:IG: @authorrhysbowenWebsite: www.rhysbowen.comFOLLOW STEPH + THE POD:IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@stephanienmack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@underlinethatpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.stephaniemack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FOLLOW THE SUBSTACK:⁠Underline That: When There's More to Say⁠PURCHASE TWENTY SOMETHING ELSE:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Target⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PRE-ORDER WHEN WE BLINKED:⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnes & NobleTODAY’S TBRThe Castle in the Glen by Rhys BowenMrs. Endicott’s Splendid Adventure by Rhys BowenThe Tuscan Child by Rhys BowenEvans Above by Rhys BowenMurphy’s Law and the Molly Murphy series by Rhys BowenThe Royal Spyness series by Rhys BowenThe Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. TolkienCall of the Camino by Suzanne Redfearn

Welcome back, bookish besties! It's here: Season Two of Underline That. It's a thrill and honor to have you!We're kicking things off with a charming fall dream. New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher's Weekly bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey is taking us back to Peachtree Bluff—and here to dish about all of it! 🍂📚 Joined by guest co-host and rom-com author Devon Daniels (Star-Crossed Summer), we’re talking Falling for Peachtree Bluff, returning to the beloved series Kristy never expected to write, and the surprising story of how it all began at a moment when Kristy genuinely thought her career was over.As always, we go far beyond the book, and you don't want to miss it!Tune in as we chat: Going back to Peachtree Bluff + series writingThe #BTS realities of author social mediaBook-tour fashion + 89 stops (!!) in one yearA Happier Life goes HollywoodKristy’s upcoming ski-resort bookPlus: a Mary Oliver underline so good, it becomes a grounding theme of our chat.Welcome back, everyone! To Peachtree Bluff and the pod!It's going to be a great season! ✍️🖤FIND KRISTY WOODSON HARVEY:IG: @kristywharveyWebsite: www.kristywoodsonharvey.comFIND DEVON DANIELS:IG: @devondanielsauthorWebsite: www.devondanielsauthor.comFOLLOW STEPH + THE POD:IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@stephanienmack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@underlinethatpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.stephaniemack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FOLLOW THE SUBSTACK:Underline That: When There's More to SayPURCHASE TWENTY SOMETHING ELSE:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Target⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PRE-ORDER WHEN WE BLINKED:⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnes & NobleTODAY'S TBR:Falling for Peachtree Bluff by Kristy Woodson HarveyStar-Crossed Summer by Devon DanielsDevotions by Mary OliverLady Tremaine by Rachel HochhauserThe Bell Haven Finishing School by Adele MyersLove You More by Emily GiffinPaper Ghosts by Sarah Addison AllenThe Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett

What better way to close out Season One of Underline That than with a celebration of TWENTY SOMETHING ELSE?This week, we're marking the fresh release with a special behind-the-scenes conversation about the journey that brought this story from dream to bookshelf!Joining Steph are three incredible women who played pivotal roles in her traditional publishing journey:✨ Danielle Egan-Miller — Literary Agent at Browne & Miller Literary Associates📚 Stephanie Broene — Fiction Publisher at Tyndale House Publishers💕 Devon Daniels — Beloved rom-com author with Berkley Romance, dear friend, and guest co-host for this special episodeTogether, we pull back the curtain on the realities of publishing today—from querying literary agents and navigating acquisitions to republishing indie titles, writing authentic female friendships, and exploring the evolving landscape of faith-based contemporary fiction.We also discuss the heart behind TWENTY SOMETHING ELSE—a story about marriage, motherhood, friendship, nostalgia, second chances, and asking the question so many women approaching midlife wonder:What if?Whether you're a reader, writer, aspiring author, or simply someone who loves stories about the roads that shape us, this episode is filled with encouragement, insight, and celebration.About TWENTY SOMETHING ELSETurning forty wasn't supposed to involve a pickleball accident that sends Sutton Layne spiraling back through an alternate version of her twenties. As she revisits old dreams, paths not taken, and the choices that shaped her life, Sutton must decide what truly matters—and whether the life she's built is the one she would choose all over again.Think 13 Going on 30 meets It's a Wonderful Life, with all the millennial nostalgia, heart, friendship, marriage, and pickleball magic.TWENTY SOMETHING ELSE is now available everywhere!Thank you for listening to Season One of Underline That. Whether you've joined us for one episode or every conversation, I'm so grateful you've been part of this community.Thank you for underlining this season with me!Here's to the next chapter! 💕📚✨MORE UNDERLINES RETURNING THIS FALL!FOLLOW STEPH + THE POD:IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@stephanienmack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@underlinethatpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.stephaniemack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PURCHASE TWENTY SOMETHING ELSE:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Target⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PRE-ORDER WHEN WE BLINKED:⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnes & Noble

With just days until Twenty Something Else releases, Steph is pulling back the curtain on the real-life inspirations behind her debut novel with Tyndale House, available on June 9! In this special solo episode, she shares ten fun facts about the novel—including the pieces drawn from her own life, the experiences that shaped Sutton's journey, and the elements that are indeed completely fictional (spoiler: most of them).That said, from turning forty and raising three daughters in Orange County to taking a theater improv class at USC, spending time in Nicaragua to marrying a surfer, Steph reveals how her own experiences indeed found their way onto the page—and why writing this book became such a meaningful milestone in her life.She also discusses the origins of some of the novel's most memorable moments, answers a reader question about deleted scenes, and reflects on the themes of gratitude, identity, womanhood, marriage, and the unexpected detours that shape who we become.Whether you've already read or pre-orderedTwenty Something Else or you're simply curious about the stories behind the story, this episode offers a fun, personal look inside the author's desk.If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow book lover!FOLLOW STEPH + THE POD:IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@stephanienmack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@underlinethatpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.stephaniemack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PRE-ORDER TWENTY SOMETHING ELSE:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Target⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PRE-ORDER WHEN WE BLINKED:⁠Amazon⁠⁠Barnes & Noble