Episode 81: The Small Town Meet-Cute, with Jean Oram

Jean Oram is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of feel-good, tingle-inducing, heartwarming romances. They’ll make you want to stay up all night laughing, crying and falling in love with her realistic characters. She loves to sweep readers away while making opposites attract in tear-jerking, laugh-out-loud romances set in small towns.

Her most popular series include The Cowboys of Sweetheart Creek, Texas (Book 5, “The Cowboy’s Surprise Return,” released in 2021), Veils and Vows, and Blueberry Springs. Her latest release, “The Cupcake Cottage,” is a sweet friends-to-lovers romance that starts a new series, Hockey Sweethearts

Jean, who grew up in an old schoolhouse in a small Canadian town (population 100), still lives in Canada with her husband, kids, cat, dog, and the pesky deer (and moose) that wander into her yard to eat her rose bushes and apple trees.

Host Patricia McLinn talks with Jean about the charm of small towns, crafting your characters and connecting with readers

In Jean’s words: “I never quite know how a book is going to be perceived by a reader because what is in my head doesn’t always make it to the page, and the way I feel about a book isn’t always how a reader with a different life experience will feel about this story as well.” [50:24]

You can find Jean at:

Her website

Facebook

Instagram

TikTok

and

Twitter

Thank you so much for listening. We hope you enjoyed the podcast enough to want to support us for future episodes. You can do that with as little as $1 a month by pledging at Patreon. It’s vital to Authors Love Readers to have your support.

Another way to contribute is through Buy Me a Coffee, a one-time “tip” with no ongoing obligation. Thank you!

Please also consider rating/reviewing the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

Thanks to DialogMusik for the instrumentals that accompany this podcast.

authors love readers patreon

Episode 79: Learning to Listen and Ignore, with R.L. Syme

Author and career coach Becca Syme writes mystery as R.L. Syme, including the cozy culinary series The Matchbaker Mysteries, and has written several genres of romance, including historical, contemporary, paranormal, and romantic suspense. She was nominated for a Genesis Award in Contemporary Romance and has won several writing contests in historical romance, young adult romance, and contemporary fiction. She holds membership in Romance Writers of America, Novelists, Inc. (NINC) and Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Becca lives in the snowy mountains of Montana and has worked with kids in various nonprofit settings that involve music, theater, dance, food, and after-school fun.

She’s the creator and founder of the Better-Faster Academy, and has been teaching the popular Write Better-Faster course on author success alignment for six years.

In a broad-ranging conversation, host Patricia McLinn talks to Becca about learning throughout a writing career both by listening to others and, sometimes, ignoring them.

In R.L.’s words: “I have a mantra that’s, ‘question the premises.’ and so its, the advise that might be really great for you might actually make me not able to write.” [37:10]

You can find R.L. Syme at:

Her website

Facebook

Patreon and

Goodreads

Thank you so much for listening. We hope you enjoyed the podcast enough to want to support us for future episodes. You can do that with as little as $1 a month by pledging at Patreon. It’s vital to Authors Love Readers to have your support. Thank you!

Please also consider rating/reviewing the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

Thanks to DialogMusik for the instrumentals that accompany this podcast.

authors love readers patreon

Episode 78: Writing Pace, with Nicole Burnham

Nicole Burnham is the RITA award-winning author of more than 20 novels, including the popular Royal Scandals series. Her stories center on family and romance, whether they’re set in small-town America or centuries-old palaces, and are populated by characters who work to make the world a better place.

As an army brat, Nicole grew up moving around the world. She graduated from an American high school in Mannheim, Germany, then completed her BA in Political Science at Colorado State University and her JD/MA at the University of Michigan.

Nicole and her family live in Boston. She spends as much time as possible at Fenway Park and travels abroad whenever she can score cheap airfare. If she isn’t writing, she’s likely hiking or trail running.

Host Patricia McLinn talks with Nicole about writing pace and the pre-planning and development of characters for serial writing.

In Nicole’s words: “I had that book in my head for a very long time. And so I had worked through an awful lot of … not just the plot but who the characters were in advance.” [25:00]

You can find Nicole at:

Her website

Facebook

Instagram and

Twitter

Nicole Burnham covers

Episode 75: Ideas vs. Story, with Jami Albright

Born and raised in Texas, Jami Albright is a multiple award-winning author of the Brides on the Run series – fun, sexy, snarky, laugh-out-loud love stories. Her newest novel, the small-town sports romantic comedy Homecoming King, was just released, and she switches from football to tennis for Duke-ing It Out, another enemies-to-lovers rom-com due out in spring 2021.

Jami also is a wife, mother, and an actress/comedian. She used to think she could sing until someone paid her to stop. She took their money and kept on singing. Jami loves her family, all things Outlander, puppies and the Houston Texans pro football team.

Jami talks with host Patricia McLinn about the difference between her high concept ideas and building a story from those ideas.

In Jami’s words: “You only fail if you give up. And so, I’m just not gonna give up” [30:33]

You can follow Jami at:

Amazon

Goodreads

And BookBub

Thank you so much for listening. We hope you enjoyed the podcast enough to want to support us for future episodes. You can do that with as little as $1 a month by pledging at Patreon. It’s vital to Authors Love Readers to have your support. Thank you!

Please also consider rating/reviewing the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

Thanks to DialogMusik for the instrumentals that accompany this podcast.

authors love readers patreon

Episode 67: The Extras: Doubling Down with Paty Jager and Julianne MacLean

Host Patricia McLinn shares never before heard clips from conversations with authors Paty Jager, right, and Julianne MacLean. These conversations focus a singular subject: How their own stories often have surprised them.

julianne maclean paty jager

Paty Jager developed as a freelance writer for local newspapers. Now as a published and award winning author, she works from her alfalfa farm in Eastern Oregon. All her work has Western or Native American elements in it, along with hints of humor and engaging characters. Her penchant for research takes her on side trips that eventually turn into yet another story.

Julianne MacLean is a USA Today bestselling author of more than 30 novels, including historical romance and the contemporary women’s fiction Color of Heaven series. MacLean is a four-time Romance Writers of America RITA finalist and has won the Booksellers’ Best Award, the Book Buyers Best Award, and a Reviewers’ Choice Award from the Romantic Times for Best Regency Historical Romance of 2005 (Love According to Lily).

You can follow Paty at her:
or
paty wager

You can find Julianne on:

*Her website

*Facebook

*Twitter

julianne maclean

Thank you so much for listening. We hope you enjoyed the podcast enough to want to support us for future episodes. You can do that with as little as $1 a month by pledging at Patreon. It’s vital to Authors Love Readers to have your support. Thank you!

Please also consider rating/reviewing the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

Thanks to DialogMusik for the instrumentals that accompany this podcast.

Episode 65: The Extras: Continued Conversation with Brenda Hiatt

Brenda Hiatt is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly 25 novels, including sweet and spicy historical romance, time travel romance, humorous mystery, and the young adult science fiction Starstruck series. Brenda began in traditional publishing with Harlequin, HarperCollins and Avon Books and later made a transition to indie publishing.

She is an active member of Romance Writers of America and Novelists Inc, where she has served as president. In addition to writing, Brenda is passionate about embracing life to the fullest, to include scuba diving (more  than 60 dives to her credit), Taekwondo (she’s attained her 3rd degree black belt), hiking and traveling.

In this short “extras” episode, host Patricia McLinn talks with Brenda about the business of writing, being self-published and the editing and promotional aspects that entails.

In her own words: “Nobody can do as much justice to your idea as you can. So you should write the idea yourself.” [12:40]

You can find Brenda at:

Her website

Facebook

or

Twitter

brenda heart authors love readers

Thank you so much for listening. We hope you enjoyed the podcast enough to want to support us for future episodes. You can do that with as little as $1 a month — What a deal! — by pledging at Patreon. It’s vital to Authors Love Readers to have your support. Thank you!

Please also consider rating/reviewing the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

Thanks to DialogMusik for the instrumentals that accompany this podcast.

brenda hiatt authors love readers

Episode 58: From Creative to Researcher, with Brenda Hiatt

Brenda Hiatt is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly 25 novels, including sweet and spicy historical romance, time travel romance, humorous mystery, and the young adult science fiction Starstruck series. Brenda began in traditional publishing with Harlequin, HarperCollins and Avon Books and later made a transition to indie publishing.

She is an active member of Romance Writers of America and Novelists Inc, where she has served as president. In addition to writing, Brenda is passionate about embracing life to the fullest, to include scuba diving (more  than 60 dives to her credit), Taekwondo (she’s attained her 3rd degree black belt), hiking and traveling.

Brenda talks to host Patricia McLinn about her experiences of growing up creative but learning to plot and research their stories.

In her words: “I did’t start out as much of a plotter. I kinda made it up as I went along [but] after selling that first book I became much more of a plotter, I would outline.” [24:05]

You can find Brenda at:

Her website

Facebook

or

Twitter

Thank you so much for listening. We hope you enjoyed the podcast enough to want to support us for future episodes. You can do that with as little as $1 a month — that’s only 25 cents per episode! What a deal! — by pledging at Patreon. It’s vital to Authors Love Readers to have your support. Thank you!

Please also consider rating/reviewing the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

Thanks to DialogMusik for the instrumentals that accompany this podcast.

Episode 56: Born Loud, with Jennifer Stevenson

Illinois native Jennifer Stevenson is a Chicago-based fantasy and romance author who mixes romantic comedy with magical realist, regional (usually Chicago-set), working-class and sex-positive storytelling. She has published both short stories and several novel series, most of them blending urban fantasy with other popular storytelling genres.

Humor is a hallmark in all of Jennifer’s books. Her fantasy series range from urban romantic fantasy (Hinky Chicago) to paranormal romance (Slacker Demons) to fantasy paired with women’s fiction (Coed Demon Sluts). She’s also penned the contemporary romantic comedy series Backstage Boys and Liars in Love, her most recent releases.

Jennifer co-founded and is a member of the publishing cooperative Book View Cafe.

Jennifer talks with host Patricia McLinn about her self-described “snarky humor,” how she fell in love with romance (despite her parents’ protest), and how she came up with such unique series.

In her own words: “I don’t try to be loud. You have to understand; I was born loud, but I don’t try to be loud.” [30:01]

You can find Jennifer at:

Her website,

Facebook

and

Twitter

Thank you so much for listening. We hope you enjoyed the podcast enough to want to support us for future episodes. You can do that with as little as $1 a month — that’s only 25 cents per episode! What a deal! — by pledging at Patreon. It’s vital to Authors Love Readers to have your support. Thank you!

Please also consider rating/reviewing the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

Thanks to DialogMusik for the instrumentals that accompany this podcast.

authors love readers podcast

Episode 50: Characters Must Suffer, with Nicole Jordan

New York Times bestselling author Nicole Jordan has penned more than 30 historical romances that simmer with passion and sensuality. Set in numerous eras and locales, Nicole enjoys chronicling the sparks that fly when Regency lovers play the matrimonial mating game. Her latest novel, My Fair Lover (2017), earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly, a Best Book nod from Amazon, a Fresh Pick from Fresh Fiction, and a Top Pick from RT Book Reviews. Other honors include RITA finalist, Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Historical Romance, and the Dorothy Parker Award of Excellence, presented by a group of more than 100 romance reviewers.

Nicole grew up an Army brat, earned a civil engineering degree from Georgia Tech and worked as a manufacturing manager making disposable diapers and toilet tissue. She now lives in Cincinnati with her beloved show horse, EZ.

Host Patricia McLinn talks with Nicole about transitioning from an engineer to an author, how secondary characters make great sequels, and why characters must suffer.

In Nicole’s words: “[I] just tried to write the emotional stories that had a lot of conflict; with a wonderful, happy ending and strong characters who overcome their own obstacles. Because that’s what appealed to me.” (51:52)

You can find Nicole at:

Her website

or 

Facebook

Thank you so much for listening. We hope you enjoyed the podcast enough to want to support us for future episodes. You can do that with as little as $1 a month — that’s only 25 cents per episode! What a deal! — by pledging at Patreon. It’s vital to Authors Love Readers to have your support. Thank you!

Please also consider rating/reviewing the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

Thanks to DialogMusik for the instrumentals that accompany this podcast.

Episode 46: Experience and Location, with Chris Keniston

A finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart Award, Chris Keniston is a USA Today bestselling author of several popular book series, from contemporary romance to women’s fiction to sweet and clean romance — all with happily endings. Her newest releases are Keeping Eileen, book 11 of the Farraday Country contemporary romance series set in cattle-ranching west Texas, and Flirting with Paradise, a novella in the “closed-door” Sweet Aloha Series in Hawaii. (The original Aloha Series offers steamier versions from this tropical setting.) Coming soon is Hart Land, a series centering on a lakeside small town, a retired Marine Corps general, his artistic wife and nine single granddaughters.

Chris also partners with friends and bestselling authors Addison Cole, RaeAnne Thayne and Nancy Naigle in the new sweet world, Main Street Romance. Set in the fictional town of Romance, Virginia, the Main Street romances offer readers and fans a place to find HEA sweet stories.

A native New Yorkier, Chris lives in suburban Dallas with her husband, two human children and two canine children, including a German Shepherd rescue. After all, even dogs deserve a happily ever after. Host Patricia McLinn talks with Chris about past life experiences, location and how they play into the process of a “pantser” — one who writes by the seat of her pants (as opposed to a “plotter”). 

In Chris’s words: “I remember closing a Nancy Drew novel and once trying to write my own mystery. I had to have been ten years old. … I wrote the first few paragraphs and there was a scene with something in the kitchen … a combination of a stove and a this and a that. … I remember thinking I’m going to have to go back and figure out what that is. Now all these years it turns out, I’m still a crazy-ass pantser who doesn’t know what things are when I put them on the page.” [9:08]

You can find Chris at:

Her website,

Facebook or

Twitter

Thank you so much for listening. We hope you enjoyed the podcast enough to want to support us for future episodes. You can do that with as little as $1 a month — that’s only 25 cents per episode! What a deal! — by pledging at Patreon. It’s vital to Authors Love Readers to have your support. Thank you!

Please also consider rating/reviewing the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

Thanks to DialogMusik for the instrumentals that accompany this podcast.