Romancing the Story: Writing Romance, Storytelling, and Book Structure

Welcome to the unofficial afterparty! After recording Episode 90 with Monica and Maria from Juicy Details Romance Editing, we weren't quite ready to stop talking. We kept chatting about books, romance, storytelling, publishing, and all the wonderfully nerdy topics that seem to come naturally when passionate story people get together. So rather than let those moments disappear into the editing void, I decided to share them with y'all! This bonus episode is a little more casual and a little m...

"...Everyone was talking...don't expect to make a career (as an indie romance author) because the marketing is impossible to handle and I thought that's ridiculous...." RomIntel was designed to help romance authors navigate book marketing with real-time reader data and romance market analytics. Hanna Odendaal empowers authors to identify ideal readers, track emerging trends, optimize pricing strategies, and make informed launch and relaunch decisions that support long-term book sales. Conne...

"...we feel strongly that romance novels have the potential to make the world better in a number of ways." Juicy Details Romance Editing brings a craft‑focused, thoughtful approach to polishing love stories. Using the “3 Pillars of Genre Fiction Editing,” Monica and Maria take meticulous care with every manuscript and believe deeply in romance’s power to make the world a better place. At the time of recording, the team was three editors strong; today, they continue their mission as a de...

"I think the number one thing (for an audiobook) is collaboration is the key..." Audiobooks are an intimate experience. Author Loren Sorensen and Narrators Willa Jaymes and Christian Leatherman would know about creating stories - both in a book and in the booth. Loren gives us a glimpse behind the inspiration of her novella, The Trouble with Christmas. We also delve into Christian's thorough prep work and Willa's careful, immersive approach to character work. Connect with Loren: https://www.l...

"There's a reason a lot of the marginalized characters start out in places like Wattpad...it becomes this people driven publishing house in a way...." Watty award winning author, Lux Raven, understands how platforms like Wattpad are influencing publishing, reader's habits, and the rules of writing. We chat the success of serialized fiction and how authors can succeed there too. Plus, we chat the making of binge-able moments that can help build an audience. Connect with Lux: https://www.luxrav...