The Indie Darlings

Kara Reynolds, S.A. Thorne

The indie publishing scene sometimes feels like the Wild West. Every week, indie authors Kara Reynolds (Gods of Tintar series, My Honor, Porcelain) and S.A. Thorne (Love at First Sail series) sit down with fellow authors, editors, character artists, and everyone else behind the scenes of indie publishing to talk about the stuff nobody puts on the record. The real numbers, the launches that flopped, the pivots, the lessons learned the hard way, the 2 a.m. doubt-spirals, and the community that kept them sane. Part group therapy, part masterclass, this is indie publishing straight from the people living it.

Episodes

  1. Oct 6

    Shark Shifters, Moth Men & Writing Outside Your Comfort Zone with Ava Thorne

    Hosts S.A. Thorne and Kara Reynolds sit down with indie fantasy romance author Ava Thorne to talk writing outside your comfort zone, collaborating with fellow authors, and the cathartic power of bringing meaningful representation in her work. Content note: This episode includes an open, personal conversation about post-partum depression. Listener discretion advised. What we talked about: Who is Ava Thorne?Writing Outside Your Comfort ZoneResearch and Realism in FantasyWriting Representation & JoyWriting Collab Projects With Other AuthorsBalancing Plot and Character DevelopmentThe Impact of Early Media Consumption on Storytelling HabitsThe Journey to Writing: From Engineer to AuthorThe Intersection of Motherhood and CreativityExperiencing Conventions: Connecting With ReadersRapid Fire Question RoundAva’s Industry Hot Take Books mentioned: Beaches & BitesMoth to a FlameBorn of Mist and Dragonfire Also mentioned: Kelly SlaterVillains and Vixens book conventionSave the Cat! Beat SheetSong of the Lioness Series by Tamora PierceNancy Drew & Agatha ChristieFourth Wing by Rebecca YarrosPriest by Sierra SimoneStill Lives & Lessons in Red by Maria HummelWho’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?True Detectives (Season 1)Jujutsu KaisenBrooklyn Nine-NineArchive of Our Own (AO3)merriam-webster.comFae Crate You can find Ava: IG: @avathorne_author www.avathorne.com Enjoying the show? Subscribe to The Indie Darlings and leave us a review—it helps more listeners like you discover the pod and these incredible indie authors.

    Shark Shifters, Moth Men & Writing Outside Your Comfort Zone  with Ava Thorne
  2. Sep 29

    Sci-Fi World-Building, Betting on Yourself, and the Almost-Deal That Wasn't with Andra Larkin

    The Indie Darlings sit down with Andra Larkin—an indie author and painter who wrote the dystopian science fiction novel Veil of Eden and illustrated its cover—to talk about her decade-long road to publishing, the trad-publishing offer that didn’t happen, and why AI should be cleaning our oceans, not creating our art. What we talked about: Who is Andra Larkin?The Journey to PublicationAI’s Impact on Society and LiteratureThe Human Element of Veil of EdenConstantly Testing Ideas in MarketingThe Power of Writing and CreativityAI in Art and Its FutureCraftmanship vs. Technology in Modern SocietyWorld Building in Sci-Fi WritingNavigating the Publishing Industry and Self-WorthThe Vulnerability of Writing vs. Other Art FormsConnecting with Readers Beyond the PageArt as a Legacy and the Human ExperienceRapid Fire QuestionsAndra’s Industry Hot Take Books Mentioned: Veil of Eden Also mentioned: Technological determinism – the communications theory from Andra’s college coursework that became the philosophical backbone of Veil of EdenMeta Brain2Qwerty v2Google GlassNFTsAli HazelwoodBig Mouth (Netflix)Laura Jane Grace (frontwoman of Against Me!)Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s comments on making content for Netflix that’s “on in the background”The WireMerlin Bird ID appWordHippo vs. Thesaurus.com vs. MerriamWebster.comStoryGraph and Fable You can find Andra: Website: andralarkin.comTikTok: @andralarkinInstagram & Threads: @andra.larkin Enjoying the show? Subscribe to The Indie Darlings and leave us a review—it helps more listeners like you discover the pod and these incredible indie authors.

    Sci-Fi World-Building, Betting on Yourself, and the Almost-Deal That Wasn't with Andra Larkin
  3. Sep 15

    Lobster Boat Love, Fighting AI Slop, and Choosing Not to Quit with Lauren M. Leasure

    Hosts Kara Reynolds and S.A. Thorne sit down with Lauren M. Leasure, the author of the Benevolence & Blood series, including Sin of Saints, The Bones of Benevolence, The War of Wings, and Unmasked. She’s currently writing a small-town rom-com set in Maine. Today she talks about genre leaps, the fight against AI publishing and the dark period that almost closed the book on her author career. Content note: This episode includes an open, personal conversation about hyperemesis gravidarum, pregnancy and mental health challenges. Listener discretion advised. What we talked about: Who is Lauren M. Leasure?The Pivot to Contemporary RomanceResearching Lobster Finishing for the New BookQuerying vs. Indie PublishingThe Experience That Almost Made Lauren Quit Being an AuthorReflections on Motherhood and WritingThe Hidden Work Behind Indie PublishingThe Impact of AI in the Creative SpaceRapid Fire Question RoundLauren’s Industry Hot Take Books Mentioned The Sin of Saints (Benevolence & Blood #1)The Bones of Benevolence (Benevolence & Blood #2)The War of Wings (Benevolence & Blood #3)Unmasked (Benevolence & Blood spin-off)Untitled Cedar Bay seriesAlso mentioned: Villains and Vixens – book eventCarly Watters – literary agent and co-host of The Shit No One Tells You About Writing podcastRejoice Literary Editing CompanyJacob KnowlesYes Chef by Grace ReillyGood Spirits by B.K. BorisonLove Resigned by Lauren AsherWordHippoTed LassoHouse of the DragonToontown UnwrittenCandy CrushYou can find Lauren: Instagram: @laurenmleasureBooks are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Target. Enjoying the show? Subscribe to The Indie Darlings and leave us a review—it helps more listeners like you discover the pod and these incredible indie authors.

    Lobster Boat Love, Fighting AI Slop, and Choosing Not to Quit with Lauren M. Leasure

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The indie publishing scene sometimes feels like the Wild West. Every week, indie authors Kara Reynolds (Gods of Tintar series, My Honor, Porcelain) and S.A. Thorne (Love at First Sail series) sit down with fellow authors, editors, character artists, and everyone else behind the scenes of indie publishing to talk about the stuff nobody puts on the record. The real numbers, the launches that flopped, the pivots, the lessons learned the hard way, the 2 a.m. doubt-spirals, and the community that kept them sane. Part group therapy, part masterclass, this is indie publishing straight from the people living it.