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.

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Where to find Jen

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

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