Backstage With The Book Babes

Backstage With The Book Babes
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Welcome to Backstage With The Book Babes, the podcast where your favorite romance writers spill the tea. Hosted by romance authors Alby Blake and Nikki Jewell, we're taking you behind the scenes of the romance industry. From spicy storylines and smutty scenes to burnout, bad reviews, and why we still write through it all. It's real talk, racy revelations, and unfiltered author life from the babes behind the books.

  1. 1d ago

    Author Cheryl Terra Talks Queer Romance with The Book Babes

    Summary: Canadian Romance Author Cheryl Terra goes Backstage with the Book Babes for a great conversation about writing bisexual characters, body positivity in romance, and planning book signing events. Cheryl starts out telling us about her books which she likes to call Happily Ever Afters for Bisexual Disasters. She aims to write books that are like having coffee with your hot mess best friend who has crazy dating stories and is one downward spiral away from finding their like true love. They are bisexual, queer, and body positive. She says she likes to write sassy, strong characters who feel relatable. She shares with us how her writing process evolved from totally winging it to having a rough outline and idea of where her story is going. She coined the term dirty drafting to describe how she writes. Rather than a standard chapter type outline, she’ll write a bunch of bullet points with some scenes and dialogue thrown in to figure out later. Cheryl also talks about how her ADHD factors into her writing routines in that she has multiple routines to change things up when something isn’t working. She also has different playlists and types of music or sound depending on what’s working at the moment. And of course the Book Babes had to ask about the planning process behind Cheryl’s Romance, Eh? Book signing event in Edmonton, Alberta. She planned her first event in 2025 with two friends which Nikki attended. And after a successful first year they’re excited for their 2026 larger event which is coming up in a few weeks. She shares lots of details behind the planning process. Cheryl’s trope for life is Brother’s Best Friend. She enjoys any sibling type dynamic that adds a layer of family drama to a story. Her question for listeners is: What do you wish authors knew about you as a reader or your reading habits or what you enjoy that no one ever asks about or that no one ever addresses? What do you wish authors knew that no one ever asks you about? We hope you enjoy the show, and if you do, leave us a review on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. And make sure to follow us on your fave platform. Music by Christopher Tallon If you listen and it brings you joy, you can help support the podcast through Buy Me A Coffee.  Help Support the podcast: Buy Alby a tea: https://buymeacoffee.com/albyblake Buy Nikki a tea: buymeacoffee.com/nikkijewell About Cheryl Terra: Cheryl Terra writes spicy, character-focused romance that makes you feel like you're having coffee with your best friend while they tell you a crazy and slightly convoluted story about their wacky dating adventures. Sassy, body positive, and full of heart, her books explore both traditional and unconventional relationships. Cheryl lives in Alberta with her husband and two justifiably spoiled corgis she will show pictures of to anyone who asks. In her spare time, she laughs at people who assume she has spare time or uses it for anything but more writing. She also loves yoga and raccoons. Here’s where you can find Cheryl: https://cherylterra.com/ https://www.instagram.com/cherylterrabooks/ https://www.amazon.com/stores/Cheryl-Terra/author/B086P7C899?ccs_id=7b5cac3b-5349-46b3-b4a2-4e9c26409418 Keep Up With The Book Babes: Social Media: Backstagewiththebookbabes Email: backstagewiththebookbabes@gmail.com Links & Guest Author Applications: linktr.ee/backstagewiththebookbabes Find Nikki Jewell & Her Spicy Sports & Cowboy Romances: New Release:  Wrangled by the Star Hollywood lands at Heartland but make it spicy. https://mybook.to/wrangledbythestar Links: Social Media: @nikkijewell_books Website: authornikkijewell.com Event Links: ://linktr.ee/nikkijewellbooks Find Alby Blake & Her Unique Sports Romance Books: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_alby_blake/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alby_blake Website: www.lovelunapress.com

  2. Sep 2

    Author Cora Flynn Talks Why Choose Romance

    Canadian Why Choose Romance Author Cora Flynn goes Backstage with the Book Babes for a great conversation about writing why choose, getting deep in the research weeds, and of course coining the term muscle sock. To kick off the show Nikki shares about her recent experience with Tea on the Train at the Hamilton Prop House while Alby talks about her latest read for her Pages and Grapes Book Club. Turns out they’re reading The Fated Librarian by one of the show’s previous guests the lovely Melissa Whitney. Cora shares information about her why choose romances. All of her series’ feature why choose relationships with MM elements, romance, and suspense. She likes to call her books very dark but not dark romance. She tells us all about her new series. It revolves around a plane crash in The Darien Gap and what the survivors have to go through. This required in depth research into planes, air travel, and survival in the treacherous jungle. As a fan of human psychology, she was fascinated looking into real life survival stories. Cora tells us how she is great at visualization and this helps her write the spicy scenes with multiple partners in her why choose books. She approaches them like an action scene mapping it out in her head to get it down on her keyboard. We also touch on Cora’s methods for dealing with ADHD as an author and the Book Babes definitely pick up a few tips. Cora’s trope for life is Found Family Why Choose. Her question for listeners is: When you read a book what do you hope it will make you feel? Because when we read romance we are searching for a feeling. But what is that feeling you’re searching for. We hope you enjoy the show, and if you do, leave us a review on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. And make sure to follow us on your fave platform. Music by Christopher Tallon If you listen and it brings you joy, you can help support the podcast through Buy Me A Coffee.  Help Support the podcast: Buy Alby a tea: https://buymeacoffee.com/albyblake Buy Nikki a tea: buymeacoffee.com/nikkijewell About Cora Flynn: Cora Flynn is a thirty-something Canadian chaos goblin who loves healing her own brokenness by writing characters that are more damaged than she is. Jokes. But her therapist would likely agree with that statement. She writes why choose romance because she yearns for a life where she lives in a household with four incomes and four sets of hands to manage her two equally chaotic children, but has to admit her one true love is pretty great 93.5% of the time. Hurt/comfort and found family are the two biggest tropes in her romantic suspense series.  Her raging ADHD keeps her creativity thriving, and her need for forty-seven calendar reminders a day keeps her humble. One day she will crash and burn with the pace of her life, but today is not that day. Here’s where you can find Cora: Website: https://coraflynnauthor.com Socials: @coraflynnauthor - handle for all socials (tiktok, instagram, facebook) Books: Cascade of Lies trilogy - https://geni.us/cascadeoflies All The Queen's Men trilogy - https://geni.us/tocatcharook Lost & Found Duet - https://geni.us/finalapproach BONUS - free prequel novellas to get your started!Winter's Song: https://BookHip.com/ZHVPDFG To Crown A Queen: https://bookhip.com/NSSCBPW Keep Up With The Book Babes: Social Media: Backstagewiththebookbabes Email: backstagewiththebookbabes@gmail.com Links & Guest Author Applications: linktr.ee/backstagewiththebookbabes Find Nikki Jewell & Her Spicy Sports & Cowboy Romances: New Release:  Wrangled by the Star Hollywood lands at Heartland but make it spicy. https://mybook.to/wrangledbythestar Links: Social Media: @nikkijewell_books Website: authornikkijewell.com Event Links: ://linktr.ee/nikkijewellbooks Find Alby Blake & Her Unique Sports Romance Books: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_alby_blake/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alby_blake Website: www.lovelunapress.com

  3. Aug 26

    Author Faye Knightly - Paranormal Romance

    Summary: Paranormal Romance Author Faye Knightly goes Backstage with the Book Babes live at Rose City Romance 2026 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. We had a fun time recording this with her and the event itself was amazing. Faye tells us about her paranormal romance books and how they're inspired by her love of Buffy. Her most popular series is a post-apocalyptic story featuring werewolves. She loves exploring the idea of people functioning within a messed up society. Plus, of course, they’re quite spicy. Her other series is more of an urban fantasy that takes place in the 90’s. Faye says she leans more into being a pantser with her writing and after reading Stephen King’s book she realizes she shares that in common with him. If she plots a book out too much she gets bored with it. But because of her rich world building she does need to make some notes to stay on track. We go on a side quest to reminisce about the half angel or nephilim stories we used to read years ago. Maybe it’s time for nephilim to make a comeback in paranormal romance books. After all, everything comes and goes in a cycle of popularity. We also talk about how writing can be a form of catharsis and how we often put a lot of ourselves into our stories. And then use this to process our own experiences and traumas. And how this connects to the dark fantasy romance she’s currently working on. She also tells us about her WOW days to take a brain break and celebrate her accomplishments. Her husband and his friends play World of Warcraft while she takes the day to herself and binges a TV show like Bridgerton. Faye tells us that anyone can take a WOW day, there’s no gatekeeping from her. Faye’s trope for life is Forbidden Love, because it’s so good and so versatile. She does love Fated Mates combined with it, but it’s not necessary. Her question for listeners is Buffy related: What do you think of the Buffy revival being canceled by Hulu? Faye is pretty upset about this and is hoping you share the sentiment. We hope you enjoy the show, and if you do, leave us a review on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. And make sure to follow us on your fave platform. Want to check out Rose City Romance to meet some amazing romance authors in 2027? Follow their website and socials to keep up with all the news including ticket sales. www.rosecityromance.com (Backstage with the Book Babes is not sponsored by this event nor do we receive any compensation by the organizer) Music by Christopher Tallon If you listen and it brings you joy, you can help support the podcast through Buy Me A Coffee.  Help Support the podcast: Buy Alby a tea: https://buymeacoffee.com/albyblake Buy Nikki a tea: buymeacoffee.com/nikkijewell About Faye Knightly: Faye writes the kind of stories that give her the strength and courage she needs in life. You can expect dark themes, high stakes, true love, and fierce heroines who struggle through their broken pasts to find human connection and salvation. Her works are best described as dark fantasy with strong romantic subplots featuring non-human characters with entirely human feelings and weaknesses.  Here’s where you can find Faye: https://www.fayeknightly.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faye_knightly_writer/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@faye.knightly.writer Keep Up With The Book Babes: Social Media: Backstagewiththebookbabes Email: backstagewiththebookbabes@gmail.com Links & Guest Author Applications: linktr.ee/backstagewiththebookbabes Find Nikki Jewell & Her Spicy Sports & Cowboy Romances: New Release:  Wrangled by the Star Hollywood lands at Heartland but make it spicy. https://mybook.to/wrangledbythestar Links: Social Media: @nikkijewell_books Website: authornikkijewell.com Event Links: ://linktr.ee/nikkijewellbooks Find Alby Blake & Her Unique Sports Romance Books: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_alby_blake/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alby_blake Website: www.lovelunapress.com

  4. Aug 19

    Author Letizia Firmani - Romantasy & Sci-Fi

    Summary: Romantasy and Sci-Fi Author Letizia Firmani goes Backstage with the Book Babes for a fun conversation about writing Spike & Buffy inspired vampire romance, Sci-fi horrormance, and maintaining an author career while traveling between Italy and Canada. Letizia tells us about her debut romantasy book, The Crown’s Soul Prophecy which is set in the Italian town where she grew up. And her next books which are a vampire romance series and her most recent release, Breathing Energy, which is a sci-fi horrormance. We chat about the difference between fantasy romance and romantasy. And how some series can possibly fluctuate from one book to the next in terms of the romance vs fantasy plot aspects. Letizia also shares about her unique publishing journey. She started out as a musician first as she studied music. So her first foray into writing was as a songwriter. Then during the Twilight era she got into writing fanfiction. And that was how she first got into writing fiction. And thanks to these influences she has been told her writing style is a little more lyrical. When it’s time to sit down and get writing, Letizia needs something to drink at hand. Sometimes it’s water, sometimes an energy drink, and sometimes a coffee, but always something to stay hydrated or caffeinated. And then she likes either instrumental music playing or a show she’s watched many times before. Some of her fave shows to write to are Gilmore Girls, Charmed, Bones, and Castle. If you’re in Canada, you can find Letizia at Royal City Romance in Guelph, Ontario on Oct 31st, Indie Fusion Book Con in Toronto on November 8th. Or in 2027, she’ll be at Spellbound in the District in Amsterdam. Letizia’s trope for life is Only One Bed. She likes the versatility of this trope and how it fits in lots of subgenres. Her question for listeners is: What would you like to see her write next? We hope you enjoy the show, and if you do, leave us a review on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. And make sure to follow us on your fave platform. Music by Christopher Tallon If you listen and it brings you joy, you can help support the podcast through Buy Me A Coffee.  Help Support the podcast: Buy Alby a tea: https://buymeacoffee.com/albyblake Buy Nikki a tea: buymeacoffee.com/nikkijewell About Letizia Firmani: Letizia Firmani is an Italian author with an incurable obsession for anything fantasy or romance-related. Her first approach to writing was through music, and she actually dreamed of becoming a songwriter for most of her life. After majoring in Photography while consuming a very healthy amount of fan fictions, Firmani finally decided to give novel writing a go when the world shut down. Letizia spends most of her time daydreaming about fictional characters, putting hot sauce on things that definitely don’t need it, and crafting your next favorite book boyfriend. She splits her time between Italy and Canada with her partner and an ever-growing number of cats who may or may not be plotting world domination. Here’s where you can find Letizia: Instagram: @letiziafirmani Tiktok: @letiziafirmani http://www.letiziafirmani.com http://www.letiziafirmani.substack.com  Amazon page with all the books https://www.amazon.ca/stores/author/B0CP674PT6/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=b71b26da-fed8-4dc7-b85f-9c8bb8889979 Keep Up With The Book Babes: Social Media: Backstagewiththebookbabes Email: backstagewiththebookbabes@gmail.com Links & Guest Author Applications: linktr.ee/backstagewiththebookbabes Find Nikki Jewell & Her Spicy Sports & Cowboy Romances: New Release:  Wrangled by the Star Hollywood lands at Heartland but make it spicy. https://mybook.to/wrangledbythestar Links: Social Media: @nikkijewell_books Website: authornikkijewell.com Event Links: ://linktr.ee/nikkijewellbooks Find Alby Blake & Her Unique Sports Romance Books: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_alby_blake/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alby_blake Website: www.lovelunapress.com

  5. Aug 12

    Author Day S Grant - Paranormal Romance

    Summary: Paranormal Romance Author Day S Grant goes Backstage with the Book Babes for an interesting chat about unique hybrid pet shifters, voyeuristic magical matchmakers, and making sure to avoid a routine at all costs. Day tells us all about her Mavens pet shifter series where her main characters shift into animals like Border Collies, turtles, and Pomeranians. She even has a freebie with a nurse rabbit shifter if you’d like to get a taste for her world. She also has a mystical matchmaker series where one magical matchmaker puts together paranormal couples of all different species. But when it comes to the main event, she likes to watch. We have chat about Day’s evolving plotting process. While she initially started as a complete pantser, she has realized she needs some structure to avoid a chaotic mess of a first draft. So now she sets out a loose timeline before she puts her fingers on the keyboard. Day has a longer editing process than many indie authors, so while she might write a first draft in a month or two, it won’t even go to her editor for at least a year. Before the editor, her drafts go through her critique group and her own rigorous editing process. Her very first book signing event just so happened to be a pretty big one. Day won a two hour signing slot at a table with the Romance Writers of America in a raffle. And while it was intimidating at first, it turned out to be a fantastic event and she can’t wait to attend more signings in the future. One of her next ones will be alongside Alby and Nikki at Reader Nation in Las Vegas on November 14th. They all hope to see some of you there. Day’s trope for life is He Falls First. Which we can definitely agree is a fantastic one. Her question for listeners is: What are you looking for when you see a book cover? What draws you to the book based on the cover alone. Is it the cool font, the character, or something else? We hope you enjoy the show, and if you do, leave us a review on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. And make sure to follow us on your fave platform. Music by Christopher Tallon If you listen and it brings you joy, you can help support the podcast through Buy Me A Coffee.  Help Support the podcast: Buy Alby a tea: https://buymeacoffee.com/albyblake Buy Nikki a tea: buymeacoffee.com/nikkijewell About Day S Grant: Day S. Grant writes paranormal romance that champions magic, misfits, and the misunderstood. Her debut series, The Mavens, features full-length paranormal romantic suspense set in a world where 80% of the population are pet-based shifters — if someone has it as a pet, there's a shifter for it. A connected cozy mystery series, Hybrid Films, can be read with or without The Mavens. For lighter reads, the Mystical Matchmaker series offers spicy, interconnected standalones following a psychic matchmaker and her ever-watching eye. Be prepared to be swept away by romances with plot.  Here’s where you can find Day: Website: www.daysgrant.com/ Social media: instagram @DaySGrant Books: www.daysgrant.com/books (All the links are there)  or Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Day-S.-Grant/author/B0DS49D6FQ Keep Up With The Book Babes: Social Media: Backstagewiththebookbabes Email: backstagewiththebookbabes@gmail.com Links & Guest Author Applications: linktr.ee/backstagewiththebookbabes Find Nikki Jewell & Her Spicy Sports & Cowboy Romances: New Release:  Wrangled by the Star Hollywood lands at Heartland but make it spicy. https://mybook.to/wrangledbythestar Links: Social Media: @nikkijewell_books Website: authornikkijewell.com Event Links: ://linktr.ee/nikkijewellbooks Find Alby Blake & Her Unique Sports Romance Books: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_alby_blake/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alby_blake Website: www.lovelunapress.com

  6. Aug 5

    Author TD Lua - Hockey Romance

    Summary: Hockey romance author TD Lua goes Backstage with the Book Babes for an amazing conversation about lumberjack competitions, sports romance, and finding a balance between work, author life, and parenthood. TD tells us about her Ballad U hockey romance series and her next project Ballad University Next Season. As an athlete for most of her life, sports romance was a natural fit for her, but initially she only thought she’d write the one book. And then realized her characters had more stories to tell, so this one book turned into her first series. We talk about embracing chaos and how her books usually start with the characters first rather than the plot. While having an idea about the beginning, middle, and end of her stories, she generally just starts writing and lets the characters tell their stories.  TD enjoys listening to Noah Kahan and Ed Sheeran while writing. Until she makes an official playlist, which she likes to do for each book. Iced coffee is a must have. And she’ll often meet up with her author friend Trinity for writing sessions. TD tells us about the hockey night with the Griffins she participated in this year hosted by the bookstore Pages & Grapes. She enjoyed the intimacy of the smaller event and the chance to get together with the other authors after. But she also enjoys a larger convention like Sports Romance Con. She’ll be attending it again for 2027 as are Nikki & Alby. So they’re all excited to meet up there. TD’s trope for life is brother’s best friend. She loves the angst and secrecy of it. Her question for listeners is: Why do you love sports romance books? We hope you enjoy the show, and if you do, leave us a review on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. And make sure to follow us on your fave platform. Music by Christopher Tallon If you listen and it brings you joy, you can help support the podcast through Buy Me A Coffee.  Help Support the podcast: Buy Alby a tea: https://buymeacoffee.com/albyblake Buy Nikki a tea: buymeacoffee.com/nikkijewell About TD Lua: T.D. Lua is a spicy sports romance author who writes stories where the athletes fall to their knees for the women they love. Her books are packed with heart, heat, and happily-ever-afters that leave readers swooning long after the final page. Born and raised in southwest Michigan, T.D. spent six years in upstate New York while her husband served in the U.S. military before returning home to the Great Lakes State. She has been married to her husband, Ryan, for eight years and is the proud mom of their son, Bennett, whose name was inspired by hockey star Sam Bennett. When she isn't writing romance, T.D. is pursuing her Master of Social Work degree with the goal of becoming a school social worker and children's therapist. T.D. loves writing short, sweet, and relatable stories that make readers laugh, cry, swoon, and promise themselves "just one more chapter" only to finish the whole book instead. You can find her books in Kindle Unlimited, paperback, and audiobook. Pucks and Kisses, T.D. Lua Here’s where you can find TD: https://www.instagram.com/tdlua_author/ https://www.threads.com/@tdlua_author https://www.tiktok.com/@tdluaauthor https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BMM6HWRZ Keep Up With The Book Babes: Social Media: Backstagewiththebookbabes Email: backstagewiththebookbabes@gmail.com Links & Guest Author Applications: linktr.ee/backstagewiththebookbabes Find Nikki Jewell & Her Spicy Sports & Cowboy Romances: New Release:  Wrangled by the Star Hollywood lands at Heartland but make it spicy. https://mybook.to/wrangledbythestar Links: Social Media: @nikkijewell_books Website: authornikkijewell.com Event Links: ://linktr.ee/nikkijewellbooks Find Alby Blake & Her Unique Sports Romance Books: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_alby_blake/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alby_blake Website: www.lovelunapress.com

  7. Jul 29

    The Book Babes Talk Found Family

    Summary: This episode features your hosts Alby Blake and Nikki Jewell chatting about all things Found Family in real life as well as fiction. The book babes talk about their first time they met at the 20Books author convention and how these can be great places to find an amazing group of author friends. Nikki also shares her excitement about her soccer x hockey short story that’s going to be in this years Reader Nation romance anthology. It has a gorgeous limited edition hardcover version and you can get it signed by all the authors. Look for All in on Love on Kickstarter. It will be open until August 18th. They talk about the origins of their love of found family in fiction. A great example of found family can be found in the young adult paranormal and dystopian novels of the early to mid 2000’s. They both loved these books like Twilight, the Hunger Games, and the range of angel themed books. And it even prompts them to talk about their own fantasy or paranormal ideas they’d like to write one day. They talk about how found family makes it’s way into all of their own books whether they be sports romance, cowboy romance, or why choose. And also about the importance of community and making our own found family’s especially in the current world where we often find ourselves disconnected from the people around us. The babes talk about attending author and reader conventions to find your people and your readers. But how important it is for the organizers to create a safe and positive space for everyone. You can find them at these upcoming events: Alby: Pages of Glass, Romancing the Glass City, August 1st, Toledo, Ohio: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pages-of-glass-romancing-the-glass-city-tickets-1560142782059 Booked in Des Moines, Sept 26th, Des Moines, Iowa,https://www.eventbrite.com/e/booked-in-des-moines-tickets-1992148416541?aff=oddtdtcreator Reader Nation, Nov 14th, Las Vegas, Nevada, https://www.readernation.live/tickets-2026 (Free general admission) Art Prize, Grand Rapids, Sept 18 - Oct 3 Nikki: Readers Take Cornwall, Sept 27th, Cornwall, Ontario, https://www.readerstakecornwall.ca/event-details/readers-take-cornwall-fall-2026 Romance, Eh?, Oct 3rd, Edmonton, AB, https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/romance-eh-2026-tickets-1985653681614 Royal City Romance, Oct 31st, Guelph, Ontario, https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/royal-city-romance-book-event-tickets-1330950531869?aff=oddtdtcreator Reader Nation, Nov 14th, Las Vegas, Nevada, see above Hamilton Fantasy Ball & Romance Market, Dec 4th & 5th, Hamilton, Ontario, https://www.pagesandpleasures.com/event-details/frostbitten-forbidden-a-winter-fantasy-ball-hamilton (free general admission to romance market only We hope you enjoy the show, and if you do, leave us a review on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. And make sure to follow us on your fave platform. Music by Christopher Tallon If you listen and it brings you joy, you can help support the podcast through Buy Me A Coffee.  Help Support the podcast: Buy Alby a tea: https://buymeacoffee.com/albyblake Buy Nikki a tea: buymeacoffee.com/nikkijewell Keep Up With The Book Babes: Social Media: Backstagewiththebookbabes Email: backstagewiththebookbabes@gmail.com Links & Guest Author Applications: linktr.ee/backstagewiththebookbabes Find Nikki Jewell & Her Spicy Sports & Cowboy Romances: New Release:  Wrangled by the Star Hollywood lands at Heartland but make it spicy. https://mybook.to/wrangledbythestar Links: Social Media: @nikkijewell_books Website: authornikkijewell.com Event Links: ://linktr.ee/nikkijewellbooks Find Alby Blake & Her Unique Sports Romance Books: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_alby_blake/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alby_blake Website: www.lovelunapress.com

  8. Jul 23

    Author Katharine Sweet - Small Town & Diet Dark Romance

    Summary: Small Town and Diet Dark Romance author Katharine Sweet goes Backstage with the Book Babes for a fun conversation about writing spicy romance books that she dubs rated R hallmark, planning our own events, and going on book tour adventures. Katharine tells us about how she fell into small town romance and shares all the details on her Windmill Creek Hearts Series. She also has two darker novellas published under her pen name KJ Sweet that feature a serial unaliver. She calls these diet dark romance as they have some darker themes, but always feature consent and care for the FMC. She shares with us some of the common themes that run through her books. Found family, consent, strong women, humor, and dealing with deeper emotional topics but with a light hand. Katharine tells us about the book tour she planned for herself in the UP. For those of us not in the know, (like Nikki), this is the Upper Peninsula area of Michigan. This tour had lots of shenanigans like a stay at a hotel/tanning salon that actually turned out to be quite clean. A stay at a not so clean hotel. And the dreaded miscommunication trope with a bookstore owner. There are no hard feelings there, though, and she hopes to visit it for a signing eventually. She also tells us about her own event, Books in the Barn, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. When she had to pull out of another event due to conflicting values with the organizer, she planned this event, inviting the other authors who had to pull out. This turned out to be a wild 90 day ride where she learned the ropes of event planning on the fly. And while it led to many sleepless nights, she considers it a great success. Katharine tells us about the other upcoming events she has booked and the evidence bags she sells her diet dark romance books in at signing events. This is such a fun and unique idea. Katharine’s trope for life is Found Family and the book babes are a hundred percent on board. Her question for listeners is: Have you ever changed your opinion about a trope? Whether for or against. Let us know in the comments or on our Instagram post. We hope you enjoy the show, and if you do, leave us a review on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. And make sure to follow us on your fave platform. Music by Christopher Tallon If you listen and it brings you joy, you can help support the podcast through Buy Me A Coffee.  Help Support the podcast: Buy Alby a tea: https://buymeacoffee.com/albyblake Buy Nikki a tea: buymeacoffee.com/nikkijewell About Katharine Sweet: Katharine Sweet is a happily married dog mom. She hails from Michigan where her days are powered by good coffee, hockey, nerd culture, and (when possible) the perfect new hairstyle. Katharine has been writing and storytelling for as long as she can remember. She loves the way that stories can not only pull you in but also help you connect. On paper, Katharine’s deep interest in human character and her sharp wit gives her a unique voice that draws you into her work. Here’s where you can find Katharine: https://www.facebook.com/SweetTalesWithSpice https://www.instagram.com/sweettaleswithspice/ https://www.tiktok.com/@sweettaleswithspice https://www.facebook.com/Twistedtaleswithheart/ https://www.instagram.com/twistedtaleswithheart/ Keep Up With The Book Babes: Social Media: Backstagewiththebookbabes Email: backstagewiththebookbabes@gmail.com Links & Guest Author Applications: linktr.ee/backstagewiththebookbabes Find Nikki Jewell & Her Spicy Sports & Cowboy Romances: New Release:  Wrangled by the Star Hollywood lands at Heartland but make it spicy. https://mybook.to/wrangledbythestar Links: Social Media: @nikkijewell_books Website: authornikkijewell.com Event Links: ://linktr.ee/nikkijewellbooks Find Alby Blake & Her Unique Sports Romance Books: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_alby_blake/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alby_blake Website: www.lovelunapress.com

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About

Welcome to Backstage With The Book Babes, the podcast where your favorite romance writers spill the tea. Hosted by romance authors Alby Blake and Nikki Jewell, we're taking you behind the scenes of the romance industry. From spicy storylines and smutty scenes to burnout, bad reviews, and why we still write through it all. It's real talk, racy revelations, and unfiltered author life from the babes behind the books.

Information

  • Creator
    Backstage With The Book Babes
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Backstage With The Book Babes
  • Show Website
    Backstage With The Book Babes