12 Minutes (or less) with the Author

A transcript can be found here: https://writertracybrown.com/blog/podcast-episode-20-rachel-stanley/

I'm giving away one free paperback copy of Rachel's book, A Grim Affair, to one lucky newsletter subscriber in February. Sign up BEFORE February 4, 2024, to receive details about the giveaway in the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/huAsfz

Find Rachel Stanley and Her Work:

* Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0873ZSPSB/about

* All Books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0873ZSPSB/allbooks

Social Media:

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachel21stanley/

About A Grim Series — a paranormal romantic thriller (the complete collection) by Rachel Stanley

Wait! What? The Grim Reaper’s real?

A Grim Series is a complete collection containing A Grim Affair, A Grim Haunt, and A Grim Ending. Also included is a bonus story not found anywhere else: Angel’s Secret.

The Grim Reaper starts haunting Emma’s dreams in A Grim Affair. Not only that, but during the day, a mysterious stranger follows her every move. Despite the obvious danger, Emma finds herself inexplicably drawn to the scythe-carrying reaper, Blake. Will her attraction to him be the death of her? Or will the stranger who lurks in the shadows cause her more harm?

Emma’s long-dead ancestors resurface in A Grim Haunt to share dire warnings. Despite Blake’s continued reassurance, Emma grows increasingly fearful. But is her fear unfounded? Can she solve the latest mystery before it’s too late?

And finally, in A Grim Ending, Emma faces an even greater threat, and this time it’s not just her life that’s at stake, it’s the fate of the whole world. To make matters worse, Emma is betrayed by someone close to her, and if she can’t trust her nearest and dearest, what hope is there?

🗣️ Come listen to Episode 19 of my podcast, 12 Minutes (or less!) with the Author. In this episode, I’m sharing an audio clip from Through the Door, book two in the Door to Door Paranormal Mystery series. The audiobook is currently in production and is being narrated by the talented Elyse Osterhaug. Elyse also narrated Door to Door, book one in the series, and you can find links to that audiobook here: https://writertracybrown.com/audiobook-samples/

A transcript can be found here: https://writertracybrown.com/blog/podcast-episode-19-sneak-peek-through-the-door-audiobook

Find the Door to Door Paranormal Mystery Series in these places:

• Door to Door: https://books2read.com/doortodoor/
• Through the Door: https://books2read.com/throughthedoor/
• Doors Wide Open: https://books2read.com/doorswideopen/

About Through the Door, by T.L. Brown

Salesman Emily Swift is back — and so is Templeton! After learning about her supernatural abilities, 30-year-old Emily Swift returns home to Kincaid to rebuild a normal life with her boyfriend. As she struggles to get a handle on her “door traveling” energy, a strange warning squawks from her car radio: a terrorist group called the Fringe is still watching her.

Before she can figure out if the message is from a friend or foe, Emily’s quirky mother, Lydia, goes missing — and resurfaces in the Empire! As Lydia travels from city to city in this peculiar world, a wake of chaos is created. Add the murder of a hated art critic and a kidnapping into the mix, and things go from bad to worse.

Friends Tara and Rabbit join Emily as they race against the Fringe to catch up with Emily’s wandering mother. Will Emily’s nemesis, the mysterious Templeton, join her in rescuing Lydia? What will it cost her? Is the price too high?

In Through the Door, book 2 in the Door to Door Paranormal Mystery series, you’ll find:

• A gutsy main character who won’t back down
• Loyal friendships
• Mother-daughter family dynamics
• Kidnapping and rescue
• A new and oh-so-dangerous bad guy
• A sacrifice you won’t see coming
• An ending that will have you reaching for book 3 in the series

Fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Wizard of Oz, and the slapstick comedy found in Janet Evanovich’s early Stephanie Plum books will love Emily Swift and the Door to Door Paranormal Mystery series!

Social Media for T.L. Brown:

Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writertracybrown/

Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WriterTracyBrown/

A transcript of the podcast will be posted on my website here: ⁠⁠https://writertracybrown.com/blog/⁠⁠

Find Rose J. Fairchild and Her Work:

• Author Website: https://www.rosejfairchild.com/
• Patreon (a fae romantasy, A Shiver of Rainbow and Shadow, is being released in chapters): https://www.patreon.com/user?u=105837729
• Find more of Rose’s work on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B08L8T5TXH/allbooks

Social Media:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rosejfairchild
• Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/rosejfairchild
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rose.fairchild.96
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosejfairchild

About A Shiver of Rainbow and Shadow, by Rose J. Fairchild

Cast out for her ability to expose true colors, Aura is on the run after a last-straw incident with her mother. She longs to disappear and escape past mistakes as much as she craves acceptance. Then, a chance encounter and a new mission bring her face to face with her past, though it isn't what she thought. And now, its future lies with Aura, herself, if she can face her fears, shatter the cage she's fallen into, and embrace the light within. New episodes on Patreon every Monday and Friday!

A transcript of the podcast will be posted on my website here: ⁠https://writertracybrown.com/blog/⁠

Find Neil Bullock and His Books:

Author Website: https://www.neilwritesthings.com

Find Neil's books on Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, and more!

The first book in the series, Off Track, is available as an audiobook: https://www.audible.com/pd/Off-Track-Audiobook/B09DTCYKRW

Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neilwritesthings

About Nexus, by Neil Bullock

Humanity's birthplace is dying, torn apart by an inexplicable cosmic entity known as a Primordial.

Total destruction may be only days away. Eden Lucas wants to help the survivors on the ground for as long as she can; her traveling companion Lara believes the only way to help is to search for a very different Primordial — The Creator.

But how do you find someone who could be anywhere in the universe when time is running out?

A transcript of the podcast will be posted on my website here: https://writertracybrown.com/blog/

Find Julie Embleton and Her Books:

Author Website: https://www.julieembleton.com/

Learn more about all her books and find universal book links (UBL) leading to your favorite retailers (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple, Kobo, and many more) here: https://www.julieembleton.com/books

Follow Julie in these social media channels:

Instagram: @JulieEmbletonAuthor

TikTok: @JulieEmbletonAuthor

About Moonstone & Mugwort (Oath & Legacy Book 1), by Julie Embleton

When the past sabotages your present, is it ever possible to salvage your future?

A cursed heirloom, a looming eclipse, and a gifted witch.

Manacled by her family’s curse, Ava O’Keefe is no stranger to contending with paranormal beings, craving the power she protects. But when an enigmatic vampire draws her into his business, the grave consequences should she fail to harness her magick for his demands, promise devastating supernatural chaos.

Moonstone & Mugwort launches the compelling dark fantasy Oath & Legacy series, simmering with supernatural characters challenged by duty and shaped by heritage. As the past sabotages the present, what will become of the future?

Moonstone & Mugwort contains:

• Kick-Ass heroine
• Enemies to lovers
• Held against will
• Vampire and witch romance
• Fade to black
• Necromancy
• A cliffhanger ending

🗣️ Come listen to — or watch — Episode 15 of my podcast, 12 Minutes (or less!) with the Author. Lisa Alfano’s latest book, Cage of Tangled Thornes, book one in the Thorne Chronicles series, was released on July 25, 2023. In this episode, Lisa talks about her new series, writing in different genres, and upcoming projects. A transcript of the podcast can be found here: https://writertracybrown.com/blog/podcast-episode-15-tangled-thornes-lisa-alfano/

Find Lisa Alfano and Her Books:

Website: https://lisaalfanoauthor.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B083RBJH53/allbooks
Ebook Retailers: https://books2read.com/u/4Xwa9L
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cage-of-tangled-thornes-lisa-alfano/1143731087
BAM: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Cage-Tangled-Thornes/Lisa-Alfano/9798988064589
Bookshop.org (formerly IndieBound) — This is Lisa Alfano’s affiliate link, and 10% goes to support her local indie bookstores: https://bookshop.org/a/94726/9798988064589
Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Thorne-Chronicles-Cage-of-Tangled-Thornes-Thorne-Chronicles-Book-One-Series-1-Hardcover-9798988064589/3522399428
A prequel to the series, Deal of Jagged Thornes, can be found here: https://books2read.com/u/38Wyda

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/la_alfano/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@la_alfano
X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/la_alfano About Cage of Tangled Thornes, by Lisa Alfano MAGIC AND UNREST HAVE RETURNED TO IOSIA. NO ONE IN THE KINGDOM IS SAFE…NOT THE HEIR, AND CERTAINLY NOT, THE SPARE. Long ago, Sentinels — shifters blessed by the gods with the ability to transform between human and animal forms — were revered throughout all Iosia. The Onyx magicians, who sought to rule with dark magic and fear, were defeated by the first Thorne King and his loyal Sentinels. With magic banished, all of Iosia enjoyed peace and prosperity under the rule of the House of Thorne. Now, the Sentinels are shunned, forced to live on the outskirts of society, and in danger of being hunted into extinction because of fear and prejudice. The Undesirables, as the exiled descendants of the once powerful Onyx magicians are called, remain trapped behind the Guardian border wall — forced to live in squalor in the desolate region of Valdisia — a cruel penance for the sins of their ancestors. Seventeen-year-old Princess Ysabelle, firstborn of King Leopold Thorne and Queen Astrid, is the beautiful and ambitious heir, willing to do anything to attain her birthright — even marrying the enemy — a man who threatens not only her future, but also her heart. While Ysabelle loves being a princess, her younger sister, Dahlia, does not. Sixteen-year-old Princess Dahlia is the feisty, rebellious Spare who longs for a life beyond the castle walls; a life free from the restrictive rules of her royal family, her sister’s relentless bullying, and society’s judgmental glares — one where she does not have to conceal her disabilities from the world… A life where she can spread her wings and fly. After centuries of peace, trouble is brewing in Iosia. King Leopold seeks to quell the unrest and prevent war with a royal wedding. For the first time since the Guardian Wall was erected — separating Valdisia from Caelius and the other regions of Iosia — those of Thorne and Onyx blood stand side-by-side in Thorne Castle, but all is not as it seems. Magic exists once more in the Kingdom. Darkness is lurking; feeding on secrets, seeking to pit sister against sister — Heir against Spare — to alter destinies. Can a Thorne save Iosia once more, or is the real enemy wearing the crown?

I hope you get a kick out of this video — with a little recorded audio at the end. Apparently, I can't say the word: repeatedly. Then, Jessica Cantwell's bit on sex language in books totally flummoxed me!  My thanks to the following author guests who have a lovely amount of patience: ⭐ Shari T. Mitchell, author of the Marnie Reilly Mysteries ⭐Jessica Cantwell, author of The Realm Saga and now the Mind, Heart, and Soul Series ⭐Jennifer Brasingston-Crowley, author of the Raven Song Series and the Stillwaters Series ⭐Joanna Monahan, author of Something Better ⭐Danielle Paquette-Harvey, author of the Longing Mates Series ⭐Bruce Spydar (present in spirit), author of Refining My Dining and the Shy Backpacker Series A transcript can be found here: https://writertracybrown.com/blog/podcast-episode-14-blooper-reel/

Visit me online to learn more about what I write at: https://writertracybrown.com/

A transcript of the podcast can be found here: https://writertracybrown.com/blog/podcast-episode-13-fatal-vow-shari-t-mitchell

Website: https://sharitmitchell.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00OEE1WN2/allbooks

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13895356.Shari_T_Mitchell
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShariTMitchell
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharitmitchell/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShariTMitchellAuthor/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNviO7jPahVHAhLtdUyUs1w
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@sharitmitchell

Fatal Vow, by Shari T. Mitchell

When a long-held truth hides a sick, twisted lie, will the psychic psychologist’s greatest enemy save her from a fate worse than death?

The last year has been an absolute shitstorm for psychic psychologist Marnie Reilly. Desperate to protect her loved ones from the evil stalking her, she fled her hometown of Creekwood, New York.

It’s the first day of Summer and she’s back in town to make amends and take control of the chaos of her past. But her greatest enemy is hot on her heels with an axe to grind. Or is that just an illusion created by a madman?

Praise for Fatal Vow

“Creekwood is one deadly town, but Marnie Reilly isn’t letting a maniacal killer get away with it. A great cast of characters, a solid plot, creepy scenes, and dogs! What more can a mystery/thriller reader ask for? Why, a great ending, of course — checkmate! You won’t forget it!” — Chronicles of Crime, Victoria, BC, Canada

“Author Shari T. Mitchell has me hooked! If you love thrillers, this series belongs on your bookshelf. Fatal Vow delivers a stunning conclusion to a complex storyline spanning three books while expertly setting the stage for book four. I’m eagerly awaiting the next release.” — T.L. Brown, Door to Door Paranormal Mysteries

https://writertracybrown.com/blog/podcast-episode-12-rebuilding-jennifer-jessica-cantwell

Website: https://www.jessicacantwellbooks.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rebuilding-Jennifer-Jessica-Cantwell-ebook/dp/B0C8BVMJZ2
All store links: https://www.jessicacantwellbooks.com/rebuildingjenniferpurchasepage

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicacantwellauthor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicacantwellauthor
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessicacantwellauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7132170.Jessica_Cantwell

About Rebuilding Jennifer, by Jessica Cantwell

CAN YOUR MIND HEAL AFTER TRAUMA?

Jennifer Lee Black doesn’t remember a time when her mother held her, hugged her, kissed her, or said, ‘I love you.’ But she does remember every punch, kick, burn, and insult. For years Jennifer has suffered at the hands of others. From harrowing visits to the family physician at age seven to entering foster care at fifteen, she has experienced it all.

Physical and mental abuse has left Jennifer with an overabundance of scars – some visible, others not. It’s also left her with the desire to leave her mother’s household and build a life for herself that’s free from dysfunction. Even though Jennifer has sworn to be a better person, a series of unfortunate events and bad decisions start to turn her into the same monsters she’s battled for over a decade.

A crescendo of abuse and torment builds until the unthinkable happens. At that moment, Jennifer must decide if she should continue living the way she has been or make a change and rebuild.

Rebuilding Jennifer is a powerful story about self-perseverance and survival that will unearth your inner strength.

Hey there. Today’s episode is going to be pretty short. I wanted to talk about BookFunnel. BookFunnel is a website that authors can join to build their email newsletter list and send out advanced reader copies of their books. They can also send out excerpts and reader magnets to entice people to join their newsletter list. They can join other authors in promo events and sales events. I won’t go through all the features because if you go to BookFunnel.com you can get all that information... A transcript of this podcast can be found here: https://writertracybrown.com/blog/podcast-episode-11-bookfunnel-first-impressions

Read a transcript of this episode at: https://writertracybrown.com/blog/podcast-episode-10-danielle-paquette-harvey-star-ratings

Danielle Paquette-Harvey is an award-winning Amazon International best-selling author of paranormal romance and steamy vampire romance fantasy. Her books have been translated into French, and they're currently being translated into Italian. She is well known for her bestselling Longing Mates series, and you can start the series with book one, Age-Old Enemies. You can find it at Barnes and Noble, Amazon (link below), and other libraries. Danielle has also written The Goddess’s Wards, a standalone novel related to the series.

Danielle lives on the south shore of Montreal in Canada, with her husband, children, two cats, and an Australian Shepherd. 

Visit the author’s website: https://www.daniellephauthor.com/

Sign up for her newsletter here: https://www.daniellephauthor.com/registration

Her books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B08W1H44Q2/allbooks

Social Media

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellephauthor/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@daniellephauthor
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@daniellephauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21152380.Danielle_Paquette_Harvey
Twitter: https://twitter.com/daniellephauth
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066379885849

Excerpt from the episode:

Danielle Paquette-Harvey: You need to keep in mind that Amazon sells PRODUCTS. For them, a book is a product amongst a big variety of products. When you leave a star rating on Amazon, they don’t want to know if you were crying because you were missing your “book boyfriend” at the end of the book. They want to know: is it a fantasy book, or is it a romance book? Is it really a fantasy book – does it have magic, dragons, etc.? That’s what they want. Think of it as if you buy a shirt from Amazon. Is it too cheap, and it’s going to tear apart? Or is it of good quality? That’s how you should rate books on Amazon.

To give you an example of a 5-star rating for a fantasy romance: Let’s say it’s [advertised as] an enemies-to-lovers trope, and it was actually enemies-to-lovers. There was fantasy, there was romance, and the book was what it was expected to be. That’s all there is to Amazon.

If you want to go with a 4-star rating, then it means that the book has at least one major flaw, but it was still good. Think of a big plot hole, or maybe some things didn’t resolve at the end of the book, and it’s not a series; it’s not continued. You’re never going to know what’s happened.

When you get to 3-star ratings... Want to know what Danielle said next? Give this podcast a listen!

Come listen to – or watch – Episode 9 of my podcast, 12 Minutes (or less!) with the Author. Joanna Monahan’s debut novel, Something Better, was released on June 20, 2023. I got to read an advanced copy of this emotional and meaningful nook. Joanna agreed to come on today’s show to talk about her book and to tell us a little bit about why she wrote it. A full transcript of this episode can be found at: https://writertracybrown.com/blog/podcast-episode-9-something-better-joanna-monahan/

Here are important links for YOU!

Link to Something Better at Blue Ink Press: ⁠https://www.blueinkpress.com/somethingbetter.html
Find Joanna on Instagram: https://instagram.com/joannamonahanauthor
Find Joanna on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Joannamonahanauthor/
The author’s website: https://www.joannamonahan.com/

About Something Better, by Joanna Monahan

It was only a high school reunion. What was the worst that could happen?

Corinne Fuller has regrets. Facing a stagnant marriage and an impending empty nest, she spends her days living halfway between fantasy and reality, imagining herself as the heroine in a true-love-lost fairytale. When she reluctantly agrees to accompany her best friend on a trip to their hometown, an unexpected encounter with ex-boyfriend Nick offers a tempting glimpse of what might have been (and, as Nick makes clear, what could possibly still be).

Back home, Corinne’s world is in tumult. Are the problems she’s having with her husband signs she made the wrong choice? Meanwhile, her daughter begins a serious relationship with the (literal) boy next door, and Corinne can’t help being nostalgic for the excitement and romance of first love.

Corinne must choose between pursuing “what if?” or embracing “what is” in this coming-of-(middle)-age tale of love, family, and the dangers of attending your high school reunion.

Full Transcript:

https://writertracybrown.com/blog/podcast-episode-9-something-better-joanna-monahan/

This episode transcript is available at https://writertracybrown.com/blog/podcast-episode-8-characters-profiles/.

Character profiles...Do you create them? I hope you do. Not only is it fun, creating robust character profiles - even if they're for your eyes only - will help you develop richer, more fully developed characters when you write. Imagine how much more *real* your characters will appear to your readers and how they will better connect to them. There might be occasions when you share some of your character profiles with readers - and what a special bonus that can be! Think about the characters in the books YOU love. Don't you want to know more? Join me in this podcast for some ideas for the next character profile you develop PLUS an example from my book A Thin Witchline Between Love & Hate that determined Rabbit's interaction with Lucie following her night out at the Witches Gala.

Want some more ideas? Ping me on Instagram at @WriterTracyBrown, and I'll send you a list of the categories I use.

Oh, happy day! Jennifer Brasington-Crowley's latest book, Nightmare, was released on June 13, 2023. I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of the book - which is fabulous - and then I got even luckier: the author agreed to an interview! A full transcript of this podcast episode is available on my website at: https://writertracybrown.com/blog/podcast-episode-7-nightmare-jennifer-brasington-crowley/

Here are important links for YOU!

Link to Nightmare on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Nightmare-Jennifer-Brasington-Crowley-ebook/dp/B0C4Q4DDD3/

Link to all of Jennifer's books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00E6XN608/allbooks

Find Jennifer on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brasingtonbooks/

The author's website: http://www.sunnyvillezoo.com/

About Nightmare, by Jennifer Brasington-Crowley

This is not a bisexual romance.
This is not a coming-of-age story.
This is not a family drama.
This is not a cautionary tale.

This is Jake’s Nightmare.

When 16-year-old Jacob “Chubby Cubby” Nightingale runs away from his upper-middle-class home in Terrace Park, he thinks he’s fled his worst demons. What he doesn’t know is he hasn’t even faced them yet. Follow Jacob from teen runaway to teen heartthrob fronting a successful metal band, and the subsequent rise and fall of alter ego Jake Nightmare.

You fell for him in Cayman Island.
You felt for him in Nightingale.
Now, fear for him as Jacob Nightingale faces his worst Nightmare – the past.

About the Author:

Jennifer is an author, illustrator, and Slytherin. She is a little obsessive about things like music and animals and can't help but sneak miniature biology lessons into all of her books. Author of The Lindsay and Laney Lion Children's Book series, as well as contemporary fiction Raven Song, BirdSong, Hells Bells, Stillwaters, Cayman Island, Nightingale, and now Nightmare (plus others). You can learn more about Jennifer at www.sunnyvillezoo.com and on her author page at Amazon. All of Jennifer's books, ebooks, and paperbacks are available on Amazon. Her ebooks are also in Amazon's Kindle Unlimited program.

Find the full transcription at: https://writertracybrown.com/blog/podcast-episode-6-working-with-voice-artist/

Abbreviated transcription:

It's good to be back. I missed a few weeks because I had lost my voice, but I'm better, and I'm back, so let's get right to it.

I'm calling this episode “I Made the Fabric, She Made the Dress” for a very specific reason, which I will get to in a moment, but first I have some exciting news. For those who don't know, the first book in my. Door to Door Paranormal Mystery series, which is called Door to Door, will be available as an audiobook and hopefully, that will be released this summer (summer 2023).

I am publishing the book through ACX and that means the audiobook will be available on Amazon, iTunes, and Audible. I decided to make a jump into the audiobook-publishing-releasing world after a few conversations with several authors about their experience, and specifically with their experience using ACX as a platform. There are pros and cons to using ACX and that is a subject for another podcast episode because today I want to discuss a little bit about the process of working with a voice artist who you choose to narrate your audio. It's been a very interesting process and I've learned some things I didn't expect.

I got lucky. I auditioned around 15 narrators. They are called producers in ACX. I like to say Voice Artist because they are giving your art a voice. If you are the writer, they are bringing that to life through their voice. And I did choose a narrator/voice artist based on a conversation I had with another independent author who also went with this particular narrator. And I'm very pleased – I’m so pleased. I can't wait to share it with you.

However, I learned so many interesting things during this process and specifically with watching my art that I created – my book, my story, the fabric – watching that piece of art turn into a different kind of art with a different medium, an audiobook. People are not going to read the audiobook. They are going to listen to the audiobook. It is the same fabric, but now it has been shaped and designed and presented in a new way. It is the dress.

A correlation is: you read a book and you go to the movies and it's very different – a lot of times and for better or worse, of course. That is when I first thought of the concept of the book as the fabric and something else becomes the dress – or shirt or pants. Whatever you want to go with. I did not think about that at the beginning of the audiobook process.

But it's so true, and I took a step back and thought: how do I want to approach this? I have listened to the entire audiobook that the narrator has recorded, and she’s still in the process of making some changes. But it's really close to being done. I would say 90% of the way. I learned as the process progressed, and I've listened to, really, the voice of Emily Swift – which is not my voice anymore. It is somebody else's voice. She did a fantastic job. I'm so pleased. I had to say, all right, this is what Emily sounds like. I had, of course, given her some – well, quite a bit of – direction on different important voices like Emily Swift and Rabbit and Templeton…Tara being another one.

Which leads me to my next point, pronunciation. Now, when you are going through the process, you do provide information on how to pronounce certain words. So, for example, in the Door to Door series, we have cities called Matar, Anwat, and Vue. I provided her with that information so that she would have the pronunciation of those different cities.

I didn't expect other things to perhaps change, so when I wrote and read and talk about Door to Door, and I referred to Emily Swift's best friend, Tara Parker Jones, I pronounced Tara as...

Find the full transcription at: https://writertracybrown.com/blog/podcast-episode-6-working-with-voice-artist/

And if you are a fan of my Bellerose Witchline adult dark fantasy series, I’ll give you an update on where I am with writing book 3: Walking a Fine Witchline.

But back to today's topic: Writing to readers' expectations.

Honestly, in my opinion, there’s no right or wrong answer. I think some authors do, and others don’t. Both choices are valid.

And I believe we all do to some extent...even if it’s only a little bit. It might even be a subconscious act. But I think – whether you do or don’t write to readers’ expectations – writers excel when they write the story they want to tell.

Certainly, there are some genre constraints – and the last episode of my podcast delved into that with a discussion of including sex scenes or not when writing. For example, it would be unusual to find explicit sex acts in a traditional cozy mystery. It would be odd to find monsters, gore, and horror in a more traditional rom-com novel. Readers often gravitate toward particular genres because they have certain expectations of what the books in that genre will deliver. There are certain tropes, themes, and story arcs that follow patterns readers trust to find in their preferred genres and from their favorite authors...

Want to know more? Well, hit play and give this episode a listen!

Welcome to another 12 Minutes – or less! – with the Author. We’re still talking about sex – specifically, including sex scenes in books or not. This podcast is Part 3 of Episode 4: Let’s Talk About Sex (Scenes), Baby. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 and Part 2 yet, I encourage you to go back and check them out first.

Link to a transcript can be found on my website here: https://writertracybrown.com/blog/podcast-episode-4-pt-3-sex-scenes-in-books/

I’ve also listed this episode as clean versus explicit, but please note that there might be one or two slang words used for body parts that might be considered crude. But I’ll endeavor to keep it clean.

Recently I reached out to 11 authors I’ve met through Instagram. I sent them a list of questions on writing sex scenes – or not writing them. I asked each author to answer 3 of the questions.

The genres of the authors I contacted range from paranormal cozy mystery to sexy rom-com, to fantasy, dark fantasy, and adult dark fantasy, and to contemporary fiction, sci-fi, and thrillers. They write in young adult, new adult, and plain ol’ adult categories.

Once again, thank you to these authors:

• Lisa Alfano
• Saffron Amatti,
• Jennifer Brasington-Crowley
• Neil Bullock
• Jessica Cantwell
• Julie Embleton
• Rose J. Fairchild
• Barbara Kellyn
• Shari T. Mitchell
• Bruce Spydar
• Rachel Stanley

Alright, listeners, let’s get to it.

Welcome to another 12 Minutes – or less! – with the Author. We’re still talking about sex – specifically, including sex scenes in books or not. This podcast is Part 2 of Episode 4: Let’s Talk About Sex (Scenes), Baby. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, I encourage you to go back and check it out first.

A transcript of this post can be found on my website here: https://writertracybrown.com/blog/podcast-episode-4-pt-2-sex-scenes-in-books/

I’ve also listed this episode as clean versus explicit, but please note that there might be one or two slang words used for body parts that might be considered crude. But I’ll endeavor to keep it clean.

Recently I reached out to 11 authors I’ve met through Instagram. I sent them a list of questions on writing sex scenes – or not writing them. I asked each author to answer 3 of the questions.

The genres of the authors I contacted range from paranormal cozy mystery to sexy rom-com, to fantasy, dark fantasy, and adult dark fantasy, and to contemporary fiction, sci-fi, and thrillers. They write in young adult, new adult, and regular adult categories.

Once again, thank you to these authors:

• Lisa Alfano
• Saffron Amatti,
• Jennifer Brasington-Crowley
• Neil Bullock
• Jessica Cantwell
• Julie Embleton
• Rose J. Fairchild
• Barbara Kellyn
• Shari T. Mitchell
• Bruce Spydar
• Rachel Stanley

Alright, listeners, let’s get to it.

A transcript of this podcast can be found on my website here: https://writertracybrown.com/blog/podcast-episode-4-pt-1-sex-scenes-in-books/

Recently I reached out to 11 authors I’ve met through Instagram. I sent them a list of questions on writing sex scenes – or not writing them. I asked each author to answer 3 of the questions.

Before we go any further, let me explain how this is going to work. Because the response from these authors was so great, I realized I’d need to share their feedback over multiple episodes of 12 Minutes – or less! – with the Author. Sometimes I’ll share all responses to a particular question, and other times I’ll spread author answers across all episodes.

This podcast features Part 1.

First, a little about me. I’ve written books for two different genres. My Door to Door Mysteries falls into a PG-13 paranormal mystery genre, while my Rated R Bellerose Witchline books are adult dark fantasy. As you might guess, sex in the mystery series happens “off-page” – and my main character Emily Swift is pretty happy about that. However, if you’ve read my Bellerose Witchline Series you know Lucie and Templeton have… ah, connected.

But I wanted to know what other authors thought about writing sex scenes. The genres of the 11 authors I contacted range from paranormal cozy mystery to sexy rom-com, to fantasy, dark fantasy, and adult dark fantasy, and to contemporary fiction, sci-fi, and thrillers. They write in young adult, new adult, and regular adult categories.

What they all have in common is me, Tracy (author T.L. Brown) – as a reader and a fan of their books.

Before we get to the Q&A portion, I want to thank the authors who shared their perspectives. They are:

• Lisa Alfano, author of standalone thriller books like Fractured Secrets and Sleep With One Eye Open. She’s also moving into the young adult fantasy genre.
• Saffron Amatti, author of the paranormal Lucas Rathbone Mystery Series set in 1920s England.
• Jennifer Brasington-Crowley, author of two unconventional romance series, the RavenSong Series and the Stillwaters Series.
• Neil Bullock, sci-fi-slash-fantasy author of the Primordials Series.
• Jessica Cantwell, author of the YA fantasy series The Realm Saga. She’s also working on a contemporary novel called Rebuilding Jennifer.
• Julie Embleton, author of the dark fantasy Turning Moon shifter-romance series, the Coveted Power Series, and the standalone urban fantasy, Rogue Assassin.
• Rose J. Fairchild, author of multiple short stories with three in-progress dark fantasy novels. She's 1 of 13 authors featured in They Walk Among Us: Malarkey’s ImaginOmnibus #1.
• Barbara Kellyn, author of multiple standalone smart and funny rom-com books, including Saint Dick and Forever Endeavor.
• Shari T. Mitchell, author of the thriller-mystery series, the Marnie Reilly Mysteries.
• Bruce Spydar, author of the sexy rom-com Shy Backpacker Series and its naughty-but-nice spinoff, Refining My Dining.
• And last but absolutely not least is Rachel Stanley, author of the paranormal fantasy series, A Grim Series. Rachel’s also busy writing her next fantasy series.

Now, let’s get to the meat of this episode: Sex scenes in books.

If you want to read all of the comments on my Instagram post (referenced in this podcast), please visit: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq8SPGZLMj0/

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Not discussed in this podcast, but I wanted to share an article regarding the subject of a TikTok ban in the USA (article highlights this week's Wall Street Journal poll): https://thehill.com/policy/technology/3967012-tiktok-ban-poll-uncovers-age-party-divisions/

"The poll found that 46 percent of respondents said they support a nationwide ban on the social media platform, while 35 percent of those surveyed said they’d oppose the measure." - from the article

Also: Age, race, and political affiliation demographics percentages are included in that article.

In the meantime, my books are available to read in KU until their enrollment term ends. (Books will age out between now and the end of June.) If you've ever wanted to read the Door to Door Paranormal Mysteries or the Bellerose Witchline adult dark fantasy series in Kindle Unlimited, now is your chance.

So, tell me what you think about this terrible issue! Are you an author trying to decide whether to stay in the KU program or go? Readers, what do you think about this? Leave me a voice message below this podcast. (Note, I might use your message on a future podcast.)

She’s also the author of the adult dark fantasy Bellerose Witchline books. The Bellerose Witchline series is a standalone one, but it shares some of Brown’s most popular characters crossing over from the “Door to Door books” and revealing their darker sides. Both series can be found on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B08LR3T5KM/allbooks

Tracy’s married to one damn amazing man. Together they talk about music for hours, cook up fabulous meals, and raise clever chickens.