Talk Spicy To Me

For the Season 3 finale of Talk Spicy to Me, bestselling romance authors Giana Darling and Kandi Steiner are joined by #1 New York Times bestselling author Laurie Gilmore, creator of the beloved Dream Harbor series and The Pumpkin Spice Cafe. Laurie takes us behind the scenes of her newest release, Big Bad Wolf, a cozy paranormal romance with Little Red Riding Hood vibes, werewolves, slow burn tension, and a few more red flags than readers might expect from Dream Harbor. We're also diving into why cozy romance is having such a huge moment, the surprising overlap between cozy and dark romance readers, how Laurie's Gilmore Girls love influenced her author name, and the incredible journey that turned The Pumpkin Spice Cafe from a side project into a career-changing phenomenon. Plus, Laurie shares how she protects the joy of writing after massive success, what makes a fictional small town feel truly cozy, why her romances are still open door, and which Dream Harbor man she would choose for herself. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Welcome to the Season 3 finale 04:11 - Meet Laurie Gilmore 05:50 - Big Bad Wolf + cozy werewolf romance 11:55 - Did Gilmore Girls inspire "Gilmore"? 23:43 - Why cozy romance is having a huge moment 26:42 - Why readers need cozy books right now 31:48 - What actually makes a romance "cozy"? 36:48 - Where does spice fit into cozy romance? 42:09 - The Pumpkin Spice Cafe phenomenon 45:24 - How The Pumpkin Spice Cafe took off 53:22 - Werewolves, red flags & "touch her and die" energy 1:00:10 - Red Flag, Green Flag: Only One Bed 1:04:29 - Favorite tools for writing a novel 1:13:30 - Talk Spicy to Me Book Club 1:26:40 - Saying goodbye to Season 3 💬 QUESTION OF THE EPISODE: Are you a cozy romance reader, a dark romance reader… or are you happily reading BOTH? FOLLOW LAURIE GILMORE: Website: https://www.thelauriegilmore.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauriegilmore_author/?hl=en SPONSORS: This season of Talk Spicy to Me is brought to you by Lauren Blakely and Kat Singleton! Lauren Blakely is the bestselling author of sexy, funny, feel-good romance, including Just Playing for Keeps, a grumpy-sunshine hockey romance with fake dating, viral heartbreak, and a broody tattooed hockey hero. Follow Lauren Blakely: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenblakelybooks/ Website: https://laurenblakely.com/ Kat Singleton is the author of In Good Company, a forbidden billionaire romance featuring an ex's brother, private chef, age gap tension, and a dreamy Hamptons setting. Follow Kat Singleton: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkatsingleton/?hl=en Website: https://authorkatsingleton.com BOOK CLUB: We're reading The Hot Shot by Piper Rayne! Join us for the September 9th episode when Giana and Kandi break it all down. Want more Talk Spicy to Me? Join us on Patreon for early access, exclusive content, surprise book mail, and uncensored After Dark episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkSpicytoMePodcast If you loved Season 3, make sure to like, subscribe, and leave us a comment telling us who you want to see on the podcast next season! #LaurieGilmore #TalkSpicyToMe #CozyRomance #ThePumpkinSpiceCafe #BigBadWolf #DreamHarbor #RomanceBooks #BookTok #KandiSteiner #GianaDarling

What do we wish someone had told us before becoming authors? In Season 3, Episode 8 of Talk Spicy to Me, bestselling romance authors Giana Darling and Kandi Steiner get candid about the realities of building a writing career - from finding your author brand and marketing your books to handling bad reviews, creative burnout, writer's block, and the pressure that comes with turning your passion into a business. Whether you're an aspiring author, indie author, or longtime romance reader curious about what really happens behind the scenes, this episode is packed with honest publishing advice and lessons Giana and Kandi learned the hard way. 💬 Got a question you'd like us to answer on the podcast? Send us a voice message on SpeakPipe → https://www.speakpipe.com/TalkSpicytoMe TImestamps: 00:00 - Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me 04:34 - The Spice Report 11:20 - Giana's Road to Ruin publishing update 15:04 - Kandi's current writing project 22:21 - Kandi announces Hot Mess 24:34 - What we wish we knew before becoming authors 25:36 - Passion doesn't guarantee readers 29:35 - Slow down before you publish 31:46 - Finding your author brand 35:46 - When writing starts to feel like a job 40:04 - Readers won't experience your book the way you do 41:42 - Bad reviews are inevitable 44:28 - Other authors are NOT your competition 47:42 - Success comes in seasons 52:13 - Don't let your backlist die 53:48 - Stop being rigid with your writing process 56:13 - "I don't believe in writer's block" 57:00 - Balancing art and business 59:43 - Pushing through when writing feels hard 1:00:54 - Why authors need to learn to say no 1:03:22 - Red Flag or Green Flag: stalking 1:05:35 - Reader question: do real people inspire characters? SPONSORS: This season of Talk Spicy to Me is brought to you by Lauren Blakely and Kat Singleton! Lauren Blakely is the bestselling author of sexy, funny, feel-good romance, including Just Playing for Keeps, a grumpy-sunshine hockey romance with fake dating, viral heartbreak, and a broody tattooed hockey hero. Follow Lauren Blakely: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenblakelybooks/ Website: https://laurenblakely.com/ Kat Singleton is the author of In Good Company, a forbidden billionaire romance featuring an ex's brother, private chef, age gap tension, and a dreamy Hamptons setting. Follow Kat Singleton: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkatsingleton/?hl=en Website: https://authorkatsingleton.com BOOK CLUB: We're reading The Hot Shot by Piper Rayne! Join us for the September 9th episode when Giana and Kandi break it all down. AFTER DARK (Patreon Exclusive) Want the extended, unfiltered conversation? Each week's After Dark mini-episode dives deeper into topics we don't cover on the main feed. Join the Patreon for early access and bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkSpicytoMePodcast 💬 QUESTION OF THE EPISODE: Authors and aspiring authors: what's ONE thing you wish someone had told you before you started writing? Want more Talk Spicy to Me? #TalkSpicyToMe #GianaDarling #KandiSteiner #AuthorAdvice #IndieAuthor #SelfPublishing #RomanceAuthors #WritingAdvice #PublishingTips #RomanceBooks

How much does it really cost to produce a romance audiobook and why has duet narration become so popular? In Season 3, Episode 7 of Talk Spicy to Me, bestselling authors Giana Darling and Kandi Steiner are joined by New York Times bestselling romance author Amy Daws to talk all things audiobooks. From dual vs. duet narration and $10K+ production costs to narrator casting, audiobook rights, royalties, and marketing, they're pulling back the curtain on a side of publishing readers rarely see. Amy also shares how she built her audiobook audience, why she was working with duet narration before it became the norm, and the virtual narrator event her publisher didn't think would work… that ended up selling 450 tickets. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me 00:56 - Life updates & summer vacations 07:55 - Meet Amy Daws 09:49 - Amy hits the New York Times bestseller list 14:28 - The Spice Report 14:51 - Book-to-screen adaptations 23:18 - Let's talk audiobooks 24:41 - Amy's audiobook journey 27:26 - Dual vs. duet narration explained 28:24 - The real cost of producing audiobooks 31:45 - Why audiobook readers can read more 32:33 - Problematic narrators & author responsibility 35:55 - Why audiobooks have exploded in popularity 40:14 - How Amy marketed her audiobooks 44:39 - The Wild West of indie publishing 47:12 - The narrator event her publisher didn't want 52:51 - Affordable audiobook options for indie authors 54:55 - Should you sell your audiobook rights? 57:45 - Audiobooks as passive income 1:01:06 - Amy's #1 tip for your first audiobook 1:09:22 - Red Flag or Green Flag 1:11:23 - Special edition preorder campaigns 1:20:01 - After Dark gets VERY spicy 💬 QUESTION OF THE EPISODE: Do you prefer dual or duet narration in your romance audiobooks? FOLLOW AMY DAWS: Website: https://amydawsauthor.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amydawsauthor/?hl=en SPONSORS: This season of Talk Spicy to Me is brought to you by Lauren Blakely and Kat Singleton! Lauren Blakely is the bestselling author of sexy, funny, feel-good romance, including Just Playing for Keeps, a grumpy-sunshine hockey romance with fake dating, viral heartbreak, and a broody tattooed hockey hero. Follow Lauren Blakely: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenblakelybooks/ Website: https://laurenblakely.com/ Kat Singleton is the author of In Good Company, a forbidden billionaire romance featuring an ex's brother, private chef, age gap tension, and a dreamy Hamptons setting. Follow Kat Singleton: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkatsingleton/?hl=en Website: https://authorkatsingleton.com BOOK CLUB: We're reading The Hot Shot by Piper Rayne! Join us for the September 9th episode when Giana and Kandi break it all down. AFTER DARK (Patreon Exclusive) Want the extended, unfiltered conversation? Each week's After Dark mini-episode dives deeper into topics we don't cover on the main feed. Join the Patreon for early access and bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkSpicytoMePodcast #TalkSpicyToMe #AmyDaws #RomanceAudiobooks #Audiobooks #RomanceBooks #RomanceAuthors #BookPodcast #IndieAuthor

In Season 3, Episode 6 of Talk Spicy to Me, bestselling authors Giana Darling and Kandi Steiner are joined by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Cowles to talk all things romantic suspense - from crafting believable villains and planting red herrings to using suspense to push the romance forward. Catherine also gets candid about career milestones, setting boundaries as a woman in publishing, and the reality of going from indie to traditional publishing. Plus: true crime research, romance adaptations, murderous book boyfriends, and whether a cold-blooded killer is actually a red flag. 💬 Got a question you'd like us to answer on the podcast? Send us a voice message on SpeakPipe → https://www.speakpipe.com/TalkSpicytoMe TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me 00:58 - Life updates & author signings 07:49 - Meet Catherine Cowles 10:45 - The Spice Report 19:07 - Romance adaptations & dream casting 23:16 - Why Catherine writes romantic suspense 24:29 - Balancing romance & suspense 25:40 - Catherine's plotting process 26:27 - Red herrings & tricking readers 28:51 - Finding inspiration for suspense plots 30:37 - Planting clues & creating believable villains 36:22 - Career goals & author milestones 38:44 - Learning to celebrate success 44:54 - Writing from the villain's POV 51:05 - When true crime research gets TOO real 53:19 - Balancing darkness, emotion & hope 57:03 - Using setting to build suspense 1:03:00 - People pleasing, boundaries & business 1:05:03 - Catherine's advice for romantic suspense writers 1:08:24 - Red Flag or Green Flag 1:13:46 - Indie vs. traditional publishing 1:21:27 - What's coming on After Dark FOLLOW CATHERINE COWLES: Website: https://catherinecowles.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherinecowlesauthor/?hl=en SPONSORS: This season of Talk Spicy to Me is brought to you by Lauren Blakely and Kat Singleton! Lauren Blakely is the bestselling author of sexy, funny, feel-good romance, including Just Playing for Keeps, a grumpy-sunshine hockey romance with fake dating, viral heartbreak, and a broody tattooed hockey hero. Follow Lauren Blakely: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenblakelybooks/ Website: https://laurenblakely.com/ Kat Singleton is the author of In Good Company, a forbidden billionaire romance featuring an ex's brother, private chef, age gap tension, and a dreamy Hamptons setting. Follow Kat Singleton: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkatsingleton/?hl=en Website: https://authorkatsingleton.com BOOK CLUB: We're reading The Hot Shot by Piper Rayne! Join us for the September 9th episode when Giana and Kandi break it all down. AFTER DARK (Patreon Exclusive) Want the extended, unfiltered conversation? Each week's After Dark mini-episode dives deeper into topics we don't cover on the main feed. Join the Patreon for early access and bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkSpicytoMePodcast

In Episode 5 of Talk Spicy to Me, hosts Giana Darling and Kandi Steiner are joined by USA Today bestselling author Ava Rani for a deep dive into one of the most important (and often overlooked) aspects of storytelling: world building in romance novels. Whether you're writing fantasy romance, dark academia, sports romance, mafia romance, small-town romance, or contemporary romance, this episode is packed with practical advice on creating immersive settings, weaving sensory details into your scenes, and making your fictional world feel like a character of its own. The conversation also covers Ava's exciting four-book publishing deal, the importance of setting in series, balancing description with pacing, research tips for writers, and a thoughtful discussion about comparison, confidence, and finding joy in the writing journey. 💬 Got a question you'd like us to answer on the podcast? Send us a voice message on SpeakPipe → https://www.speakpipe.com/TalkSpicytoMe Timestamps 00:00 - Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me 02:22 - Kandi's Knoxville signing & Close Quarters special edition 05:39 - Sponsors: Lauren Blakely & Cat Singleton 06:59 - Introducing Ava Rani 11:02 - Ava's new Legacy series & four-book publishing deal 13:15 - Spice Report: Reality TV, TikTok obsessions & Will Ferrell 20:01 - Confidence, authenticity & why people judge confident women 28:19 - What makes world building feel immersive? 31:37 - Building romance, plot & setting together 33:12 - Why Book One builds the foundation of a series 37:48 - How to balance world building without slowing the story 39:30 - Using sensory details to make readers feel transported 44:02 - History, culture & creating unforgettable fictional worlds 51:38 - What authors actually cut during edits 57:11 - Finding the right balance in genre-specific world building 1:00:04 - World-building process: maps, Pinterest, playlists & research 1:10:17 - Red Flag, Green Flag: Sex in Public 1:13:07 - Listener Question: Dealing with comparison as an author 1:22:39 - Where to find Ava Rani & After Dark preview FOLLOW AVA RANI: Website: https://www.authoravarani.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoravarani SPONSORS: This season of Talk Spicy to Me is brought to you by Lauren Blakely and Kat Singleton! Lauren Blakely is the bestselling author of sexy, funny, feel-good romance, including Just Playing for Keeps, a grumpy-sunshine hockey romance with fake dating, viral heartbreak, and a broody tattooed hockey hero. Follow Lauren Blakely: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenblakelybooks/ Website: https://laurenblakely.com/ Kat Singleton is the author of In Good Company, a forbidden billionaire romance featuring an ex's brother, private chef, age gap tension, and a dreamy Hamptons setting. Follow Kat Singleton: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkatsingleton/?hl=en Website: https://authorkatsingleton.com AFTER DARK (Patreon Exclusive) Want the extended, unfiltered conversation? Each week's After Dark mini-episode dives deeper into topics we don't cover on the main feed. Join the Patreon for early access and bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkSpicytoMePodcast