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Oh dear, we have a BIG topic today on the Page Fright Podcast: What is Bad Writing?

Authors Sydney Kane and Liza Petrov dive deep into their experiences with good and bad writing, approaching the question not only as writers, but as avid readers too. From justifying your character's emotions, to inconsistent prose and forgettable characters, there are a million things that can break a reader's interest leading to the dreaded "1/5 DNF" Goodreads review.

Though it's worth remember that while there is a lot of advice that's considered "best practice" for "good writing", rules are meant to be broken, and sometimes your story should subvert expectations to deliver something unique and, hopefully, memorable.

Tell us your favorite (and least favorite) books in the comments!

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We can't even begin to tell you how wonderful today's guest is! Please welcome Gothic Historical author Rozina Hyland to Page Fright! In this episode, Rozina shared many lovely stories with us and provided a unique glimpse into her writing journey as an autistic and dyslexic author who's publishing her first novel, Of Her Blood.

From the adorably bizarre stories she created as a child, to abandoning writing altogether after being shamed by educators, her eventual return as an author and her cultivation of community is as awesome as it is inspiring! Rozina also shares writing craft tips which allowed her to complete Of Her Blood's first draft in only three short months.

So, if you're a Gothic Historical Fiction fan that's looking for a book which:

Features a neurodivergent lead
- Is set in 17th century Norfolk, England
- Is chock-full of societal commentary
- and has literal witch hunts
then this novel is for you!

Of Her Blood is out October 20th. Pre-order it below!

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https://www.instagram.com/rozinahylandauthor/

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Oh. My. God. Kelsey Cox is here on the Page Fright Podcast to tell us all about Pretty Dead Things, her newest thriller novel. It was an absolute joy to read, proving once again that her writing is a masterclass in twists and mysteries.

If you haven't read it yet, here's the synopsis from Goodreads:

Secrets emerge as a Texas beauty pageant turns deadly in this rich and addictive novel with a jaw-dropping twist from psychological suspense author Kelsey Cox.

This elevator pitch doesn't even begin to describe just how much Kelsey Cox's newest novel gripped us.

This episode is FULL of great discussions, including how she navigates writing with several POVs, building a story backwards from the twist, and she even tells us all about getting a publicist (and how much that might cost you!).

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https://www.instagram.com/kelseycoxwriter/

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We have ANOTHER incredible guest author on Page Fright today, so please help us welcome Bethany Croome AKA Bethfiit! She tells us all about her debut book, a dark romantasy named "Reign", releasing September 1st, 2026!

From musical inspiration during the writing process to how she slid into the DMs of a publisher to get her first book published, Bethan shares her unique insights into her writing process and how she used her huge social media following to promote it!

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On today's extra special episode, please help Sydney and Liz welcome Katy Brent onto Page Fright Podcast! She is known for her dark comedy book series about vigilante justice, and was very recently the focus of a huge worldwide controversy. The reason? Men got mad at her book title.

CONTENT WARNINGS!
Threats of extreme physical and sexual violence

Katy walks us through how her book titled "How To Kill Men and Get Away With It" led her to receiving to anonymous threats after the initial viral incident in India, inspiring a women-led revolution to combat gender violence across India and other parts of the world.

This only makes us even more excited for her future works...and we even get a little look behind the curtain at her next book!

Join us in our conversation about combating societal norms through dark comedy and how to protect yourself in an online space.

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On this week's episode of the Page Fright podcast, Sydney and Liza tackle a few very tough questions: Is it an author's responsibility to provide their audience a "moral ending"? Are Dark Romance novels negatively affecting relationships? And the hottest bookish topic we discuss; are book ratings doing more harm than good?

In an age where review bombing is rampant and positive social media engagement can be purchased or fabricated, determining who to trust to properly inform us about the quality of a book becomes difficult to navigate. Between the BookTok accounts who's livelihood is dependent on reviewing the hottest Romantasy novels and the faceless 1-star reviewers on Goodreads providing little context outside of a simple "this was awful", bookish credibility is being scrutinized.

So, is it finally time to do away with star ratings across the board amongst this literary controversy?

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Join Sydney and Liza as they talk horror movies, the trials of writing in different genres, and what it means to "fall in love" with your work.

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The raw truth about social media hate, vulnerability, and staying true to yourself as a writer—this episode exposes the messy, emotional side of stepping into the public eye. Sydney and Liza open up about the personal toll of online criticism, the challenging truth of navigating social media, and how to stay anchored in kindness and authenticity when the digital trolls come for you. From facing backlash over honest debates about romance writing rules to grappling with the emotional weight of public criticism, they share their candid experiences with negative comments, community shame, and the fear of professional repercussions. Discover how even well-meaning creators become targets of mislabeling, judgment, and hate—especially when challenging industry norms or speaking frankly about sensitive topics like sex, identity, and storytelling. Their stories highlight the importance of resilience, mental boundaries, and a supportive inner circle as powerful tools to keep going despite the noise.