Reality Writes

Ellie Alexander
  • 4.7 (12)
  • Books
  • Updated Weekly

The Reality Writes Podcast stars bestselling mystery author Ellie Alexander and her Tech Guy husband as they reveal the ins and outs of writing. Ellie, who has written for big names like Macmillan and Simon & Schuster, and indie publishers like Storm, shares her journey from story ideas to publishing. Together, they dive into the highs, lows, and funny moments of creating captivating stories. With a blend of humor and honesty, Reality Writes offers a behind-the-scenes look at the writing world. So grab your coffee (or wine) and join Ellie and the Tech Guy for some story-spinning secrets.

  1. 2d ago ·  Video

    Last Chance Summer Dance—End of Summer TBR Reveal!

    Send us a message! Summer is flying by, darlings, so I'm calling this one the Last Chance Summer Dance. The Tech Guy and I share what we've been reading plus the towering TBR stacks sitting on our nightstands. We've got some thrillers, a mystery favorite, indie bookstore recommendations, and some surprises. Plus, I talk a little bit more about my two upcoming fall releases: A Fall to Remember and The Pumpkin Vice Cafe. What's on your end of summer reading list? Have you read any of the books we mention in this week's episode? Let us know in the comments or send us a message. Happy reading! Find all the books from this episode here: https://bookshop.org/shop/elliealexander What Ellie's been reading Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett If Books Could Kill by Kate Eberly A Is for Alibi by Sue Grafton The Examiner by Janice Hallett Behind Every Face by Charlie Donlea What The Tech Guy's been reading The Gate of the Feral Gods by Matt Dinniman (Dungeon Crawler Carl #4) The Third Rule of Time Travel by Philip Fracassi Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman The Only Way Out Is Up by Django Wexler Rock, Paper, Scissors by Alice Feeney He Who Fights with Monsters by Travis Deverell Ellie's fall releases A Fall to Remember (September 1) The Pumpkin Vice Café — Bakeshop Mysteries #23 (end of September) This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, Ellie may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It's one easy way to support the podcast, and we only ever link to books and things we genuinely love. 🎉 Join me on Patreon for bonus content. Website Instagram YouTube TikTok Etsy Bookbub Facebook

    Last Chance Summer Dance—End of Summer TBR Reveal!

  2. Aug 6 ·  Video

    Writing My Fall Rom-Com—A Fall to Remember

    Send us a message! Fall is my favorite season, darlings, so of course I set a whole book there. With A Fall to Remember arriving September 1st, The Tech Guy and I sat down for a spoiler-free deep dive into my new rom-com. I share why this one feels so different from my holiday rom-coms, how I found Miranda Brown, an accidental influencer who goes viral for all the right reasons, and the real (and reimagined) charm of Half Moon Bay, California. We talk about the hardest shift from writing mysteries to romance, weaving four points of view and multiple love stories, and one gorgeous first for me: sprayed edges. Grab a warm drink and settle in, then tell us: are you a lover of spice or no spice? 🎉 Join me on Patreon for bonus content. Website Instagram YouTube TikTok Etsy Bookbub Facebook

    Writing My Fall Rom-Com—A Fall to Remember

  3. Jul 30 ·  Video

    You Asked, We Answered—A Reader and Writer Grab Bag

    Send us a message! We're back from our travels, darlings, and my inbox was overflowing, so we did the only sensible thing and turned your questions into an episode. This one is a true grab bag, pulled from the messages and DMs that landed while we were away. I share my honest take on querying agents now that AI has flooded the marketplace, why I fully humanize my own creative process, and how you develop a writing voice that's unmistakably yours. Then we give the readers some love, answering why a few books aren't on audio or Kobo, why Trouble Is Brewing will never be in print, where to find the recipes, plus my very particular writing quirks.  Tune in and let us know what you think. Do you have a question we didn't answer in this episode? Send us a message! 🎉 Join me on Patreon for bonus content. Website Instagram YouTube TikTok Etsy Bookbub Facebook

  4. Jul 23 ·  Video

    Ashland Mystery Fest 2026—Your Complete Guide to the 4th Annual Festival

    Send us a message! Picture yourself stepping into a real-life cozy mystery — stunning fall foliage, charming streets, and 14 authors who can't wait to meet you. That's the Ashland Mystery Festival. In this episode, we're giving you the full 4th Annual Ashland Mystery Fest preview—everything you need to plan your trip to Ashland, Oregon this October 8–12. We cover the full author lineup including debut authors and some beloved returning favorites, brand-new additions like escape rooms, audiobook narrators, and individual day passes, plus the reveal of this year's dinner theme. Spoiler: masks required. Links: Ashland Mystery Fest: https://www.ashlandmysteryfest.com Oregon Shakespeare Festival: https://www.osfashland.org Oregon Cabaret Theatre: https://www.oregoncabaret.com Don't miss a single bookish moment — subscribe to Reality Writes and leave us a comment below. We'd love to know: are you coming to Ashland this year? 🎉 Join me on Patreon for bonus content. Website Instagram YouTube TikTok Etsy Bookbub Facebook

    Ashland Mystery Fest 2026—Your Complete Guide to the 4th Annual Festival

  5. Jul 16 ·  Video

    A Murder at the Mansion—Inside Book Three of the Novel Detectives

    Send us a message! Book three in the Novel Detectives is almost here! I sit down with the Tech Guy to preview A Murder at the Mansion, out July 21st, and this one comes with a first: an actual pet in the plot. Annie and Fletcher get called out to investigate a missing heiress at an estate that makes the Secret Bookcase look modest, and I share how a real Bay Area landmark keeps sneaking into my fiction (including two secret bookcases I didn't even know about when I started the series). Spoiler free, as always. Tune in for the full story behind the book, and preorder your copy now in ebook, paperback, or audio! 🎉 Join me on Patreon for bonus content. Website Instagram YouTube TikTok Etsy Bookbub Facebook

    A Murder at the Mansion—Inside Book Three of the Novel Detectives

  6. Jul 9 ·  Video

    The Cozy Contract—What Readers Expect and Why Authors Can't Break It

    Send us a message! There is an unspoken agreement between every cozy mystery author and her readers. Nobody signs it, but every cozy lover knows exactly what it says and can feel it the moment something goes wrong. In this episode, the Tech Guy and I break down all six clauses of the cozy contract, from justice served at every ending to beloved characters kept safe, from the setting that must always feel like home to the formula that is not a limitation but the whole point. Where did these rules come from? Agatha Christie had something to say about that. Settle in, Darlings. It's time to get legal. 🎉 Join me on Patreon for bonus content. Website Instagram YouTube TikTok Etsy Bookbub Facebook

    The Cozy Contract—What Readers Expect and Why Authors Can't Break It

  7. Jul 2 ·  Video

    Reader Confessions—Bookish Hills We'll Die On - Part 2

    Send us a message! Five more bookish hills. One major disagreement. And The Tech Guy is confident he's going to win this one. In this reader-focused follow-up to our fan-favorite Bookish Hills episode, I'm sharing five more hot takes that readers feel very strongly about, and this time, The Tech Guy actually knew what was coming. We cover whether you should ever read a review before finishing a book, the case for always starting a series at book one, why taking a genre break might be exactly what your reading life needs, and why rereading a book you love is never time wasted. Then we get to Hill Five... Drop your take in the comments. 🎉 Join me on Patreon for bonus content. Website Instagram YouTube TikTok Etsy Bookbub Facebook

    Reader Confessions—Bookish Hills We'll Die On - Part 2

  8. Jun 25 ·  Video

    Word Count Goals—How I Built a Process That Actually Works

    Send us a message! Every book I've ever written started the same way: one word at a time. In this episode of Reality Writes, I walk you through my complete writing process. From the very beginning, when I was working another job with a kindergartner at home and 250 words a day felt like a genuine stretch, all the way to where I am now, writing 3,000 words a day across multiple series and genres. Here's how the word count progression actually went: Year one: 250 words a day, five days a week: pre-agent, pre-book deal, figuring it all outYears two to three: 500 words a day: the first signs of muscle memory kicking inYear four: 1,000 words a day: first book contracts signed, two series, two publishing housesYears five to twelve: 2,000 words a day: publishing four to five books a yearYear thirteen to now: 3,000 words a day: multiple genres, multiple series, one very necessary cup of coffeeWe also talk about what happens after the first draft. Everything from the editing passes, the developmental work, the page proofs, I will never love, and where research fits into the schedule, including why a research trip is always work even when it involves a beautiful coastline and a very good grocery store. And at the end, I make the case for reading as the single most important professional habit a writer can have, even when it feels like leisure. Whether you're a reader who's always wondered what goes into the books you love, or a writer building your own process from scratch, this episode is for you. Mystery Series Masterclass — https://courses.elliealexander.co Ellie Alexander's website — https://www.elliealexander.co Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and leave us a comment. What part of the writing process surprised you most? 🎉 Join me on Patreon for bonus content. Website Instagram YouTube TikTok Etsy Bookbub Facebook

    Word Count Goals—How I Built a Process That Actually Works
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4.7
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

The Reality Writes Podcast stars bestselling mystery author Ellie Alexander and her Tech Guy husband as they reveal the ins and outs of writing. Ellie, who has written for big names like Macmillan and Simon & Schuster, and indie publishers like Storm, shares her journey from story ideas to publishing. Together, they dive into the highs, lows, and funny moments of creating captivating stories. With a blend of humor and honesty, Reality Writes offers a behind-the-scenes look at the writing world. So grab your coffee (or wine) and join Ellie and the Tech Guy for some story-spinning secrets.

Information

  • Creator
    Ellie Alexander
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ellie Alexander
  • Show Website
    Reality Writes

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