In this wide‑ranging conversation, award‑winning author R.L. Merrill joins Jen to talk about creativity, resilience, and finding joy in the writing life. Ro shares how music shapes her stories, how she writes across multiple genres (from contemporary romance to paranormal to horror), and why hope and acceptance are at the core of her work.

She opens up about writing through personal hardship, caring for family, navigating chronic illness, raising queer kids, and embracing the messy, magical intersection of art and real life. Ro also talks candidly about career expectations, resisting “shoulds,” and building a sustainable author business that aligns with your capacity and values.

If you need inspiration, encouragement, or a reminder that your writing path is allowed to look like your writing path, this episode delivers.

• How music fuels storytelling
• Writing queer, paranormal, horror, and cross‑genre fiction
• Creativity during burnout, illness, and caregiving
• Building a long-term author career without chasing every trend
• Embracing hope and acceptance in fiction
• Finding community, collecting people, and celebrating wins
• What Ro’s 60+ published works have taught her
• Book and music recommendations to refill your creative well

Where to find R.L. Merrill (she/her)

www.rlmerrillauthor.com

facebook.com/rlmerrillauthor

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/r-l-merrill

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rlmerrillauthor1342

Playlists for Ro’s Books

Healer by R.L. Merrill

Links

Horror Addicts

Agents Irish & Whiskey – The Complete Series Audiobookby Layla Rayne

White Trash Warlock by David R. Slayton

The Thorn & The Spire by Katherine McIntyre

Bottle-Shock by Kim Fielding

Ancient Obsession - Critter Catchers by Hank Edwards

Fool’s Puzzle – A Benni Harper Mystery by Earlene Fowler

Sleep Token YouTube Channel

Lord Huron NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Die Spitz YouTube Channel

About R. L. Merrill

Award-winning romance author and Bay Area native R.L. “Ro” Merrill is a recovering public school educator who was raised on a steady diet of eclectic music and campy horror. She writes queer and straight quirky and relatable characters that know how to use their words. You can find her wrangling rescue dogs and cats or headbanging at a rock show.

Work It: A 6- Week Coaching Intensive for Authors

Information, Wait List Sign Up, testimonials: https://www.jentheeditor.com/work-it

Where to find Jen

Website: https://www.jentheeditor.com/
All the socials: @jentheeditor

Subscribe to Jen's newsletter for Author Marketing and Mental Health tips

https://www.jentheeditor.com/subscribe

Author and illustrator Lin Lustig joins creativity coach Jen Graybeal to explore what it really means to live—and write—authentically as a creative. From blending art and fiction to building found-family pirate adventures and heartfelt queer fantasy, Lin shares how embracing her “delightful oddball” side became both her superpower and survival tool.

This thoughtful, funny, and deeply honest conversation dives into the realities of indie authorship—the isolation, the self-doubt, the endless business advice that doesn’t always fit—and how to keep creating anyway. Lin opens up about turning creative burnout into joyful experimentation, connecting with readers through Patreon and Discord, and using storytelling as a tool for empathy and belonging.

Whether you’re an author struggling to stay true to your voice, or a creative searching for your next spark, this episode will remind you that your weird, wonderful self is exactly what your stories—and readers—need.

Website: https://www.linlustig.com/

Where to find Lin: Discord, Patreon, newsletter

Becca Syme: Better-Faster Academy with Becca Syme

Moonrise Rocks: Instagram

The Craft clip: The Craft - We are the weirdos

The Mountain is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery by Brianna Wiest: https://amzn.to/4ts0oJc

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine: https://amzn.to/4mPhRsE

7-Figure Fiction: How to Use Universal Fantasy to SELL Your Books to ANYONE by T. Taylor: https://amzn.to/4vEcqk8

BIO:

Lin Lustig believes the world needs more delightful oddballs and writes romantic adventures with fun illustrations to prove unconventional thinking and kindness are superpowers. Her stories have deep emotional dichotomies from dramatic queer fantasy to lighthearted adventures centered on LGBTQ+ found family and grumpy-sunshine dynamics. Because everyone deserves laughter and belonging.

After earning a degree in film production and fangirling over everything from Sailor Moon to Superwholock, she approaches each story with relentless creative experimentation. Step into her stories where being authentically weird and kindhearted is exactly what the world needs.

Work It: A 6- Week Coaching Intensive for Authors

Information, Wait List Sign Up, testimonials: https://www.jentheeditor.com/work-it

Where to find Jen

Website: https://www.jentheeditor.com/
All the socials: @jentheeditor

Subscribe to Jen's newsletter for Author Marketing and Mental Health tips

https://www.jentheeditor.com/subscribe

Award‑winning author and intellectual property attorney Lisa Rayne joins host Jen Graybeal to deliver a masterclass in writing, business, and author empowerment. Lisa pulls back the curtain on what every writer needs to know about contracts, grants of rights, and copyrights—including the pitfalls many authors miss until it’s too late.

She shares her journey from corporate law to award-winning romance novelist, why she’s passionate about helping creatives become savvy entrepreneurs, and how to write stories that truly bring you joy.

We dive into Lisa’s novels, from her groundbreaking Never Cross a Highlander—the first romance to feature a Black Highlander hero—to Ice Matched, her upcoming contemporary sports romance set in the world of Olympic ice dancing. Lisa brings bold, Black characters to life across genres, proving that following your creative passion can be both joyful and powerful.

Whether you’re indie, hybrid, or traditionally published, this conversation will help you reframe your mindset, understand your rights, and level up your business game as an author—without losing the creative spark that started it all.

Key Topics:

• Understanding your grant of rights and what you may be giving up
• Why copyright registration matters more than you think
• How to approach contracts like a confident professional
• Balancing creativity with smart, strategic thinking
• Finding joy in the writing life while protecting your business interests
• Lisa’s coaching platform SCRIBAL, created to help authors level up their entrepreneurship

Where to find Lisa Rayne

Website: lisarayne.com

SCRIBAL Book Business Institute: skool.com/scribal/about

Ice Matched Pre-Order: lisarayne.com/icematched/

Never Cross a Highlander: lisarayne.com/highlanders/

Lisa Rayne’s Romance Readers Community: skool.com/lisarayne/about

Newsletters

For Readers: lisarayne.com/getnewsletter

For Authors: lisarayne.com/forauthors

Social media

Instagram: instagram.com/authorrayne

Threads: threads.net/@authorrayne

TikTok: tiktok.com/@authorrayne

YouTube: youtube.com/@authorlisarayne

Mentioned

RSJ Convention: rsjconvention.com/

Starboy Fitness on TikTok: tiktok.com/@starboysobersfitness

Beverly Jenkins: beverlyjenkins.net/

Elle Kennedy: ellekennedy.com/

Jaci Burton: jaciburton.com/

The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy: https://amzn.to/4tFZxo2

Clifton Strengths: https://bit.ly/3rb6P5b

Debbie Allen Signature Barbie: creations.mattel.com/products/barbie-tribute-collection-debbie-allen-doll-jbj24

Under the Cover, Kansas City: underthecoverkc.com/

Thirst Books, Milwaukee: thirstbooks.com/

Heartbound Book Shop, Anaheim: heartboundbookshop.com/

Shelf Love DSM, Des Moines: shelflovedsm.com/

Work It: A 6- Week Coaching Intensive for Authors

Information, Wait List Sign Up, testimonials: https://www.jentheeditor.com/work-it

Where to find Jen

Website: https://www.jentheeditor.com/
All the socials: @jentheeditor

Subscribe to Jen's newsletter for Author Marketing and Mental Health tips

https://www.jentheeditor.com/subscribe