Podcasts may be trendy—but they’re here to stay, especially with creators like Kara leading the charge. Kara’s all about building genuine community, and our own connection is proof of that. She’s a huge inspiration to my podcasting career.

In this episode, she shares how her journey into podcasting began, how being a military spouse shaped her path, and how daring to dream helped her build a life—and a show—on her own terms. From landing her dream guest to knowing what sets her podcast apart, Kara’s story is all about taking chances and showing up.

We talk about learning to trust your taste (it’s totally fine not to like a hyped book), how she curates her guest list, and why we need to think about visibility, marketing, and diversifying our platform in this social age.

Oh—and don’t miss a surprise cameo from my border collie puppy, Sasha!

You can connect with Kara, here.

We dive into the Ali Hazelwood situation and the lessons it left behind—yes, it’s been resolved, but it’s a powerful reminder: authors are human, and if something doesn’t serve you, it’s okay to walk away without cruelty. We’re all here because we love stories, even if we don’t all love the same ones.

Jen shares her journey writing The Veiled God series—spoiler: it’s not a pirate book, no matter what people think! She took the brave step of writing a quiet, introverted FMC, knowing not everyone gravitates to that character type, but standing by her choice anyway.

We talk about the unpredictability of author life, the absence of a rule book, and how sometimes you have to get it wrong before you get it right. From balancing life as a working mom to drawing character inspiration from her brothers (built-in research squad!), Jen brings humor and heart.

We also touch on grief, growth, and healing—how writing helps her process the loss of a loved one. As a multi-genre author flipping between fantasy and romance, she’s all about learning the craft, finding what works for you, and giving yourself the freedom to evolve.

You can follow Jen on instagram here.

In 2023, Shelby launched a powerful growth strategy for her Bookstagram—and discovered a talent for video content and community building along the way. Passionate about uplifting BIPOC and queer authors, she’s used her platform to amplify diverse voices and push herself in experimenting and trialling new forms of bookish content.

But Shelby’s story doesn’t start there. From her roots in cosplay (yes, you can cosplay outside your body type!) to her role as a teacher advocating for inclusive reading—even in the face of book bans—she brings creativity and conviction to everything she does.

We dive into her candid takes on spice, dark romance, purity culture, and the patriarchy—and how reclaiming sexual empowerment through literature is a step toward greater diversity and representation.

Shelby also worked on Harper L. Woods’ Coven series and reminded me of something important: you don’t have to do it all. Play to your strengths and build a support network, especially when it comes to feedback and creative burnout.

We talk honestly about burnout, life milestones, and why giving yourself permission is more important than ever. Plus, Shelby shares what she’s exploring next—like her work with The Bindery and how it aligns with her evolving business model.

Spoiler warnings: ACOTAR & Crescent City

You can follow Shelby here!

What started as a competition brought us together—but it was the shared love of books (and some serious FOMO) that made Danni’s Bookstagram journey take off. Like so many of us, she just wanted to find people who got the stories she loved. Cue lifelong friendships, never-ending TBRs, and deep dives into theory threads.

Fun fact that totally threw me? Danni was in the army—and yes, we talk about it! We also dive into The Empyrean series and how she's surviving the wait for book four by devouring every theory social media can offer. (Let’s be honest—Fourth Wing hasn’t hurt us enough yet, right?)

We chat pen names and if they really matter, especially as indie authors like Briar Boleyn make waves crossing into traditional publishing (Bloodwing Academy, anyone?).

Danni knows exactly what she wants—starting with a magical sidekick full of banter, please and thank you. From cover reveals to ARC teams, we gush over the joy of hyping new releases and why this community is the real deal.

SPOILER WARNING: Onyx Storm

You can find her on Instagram here.

Sam’s got an impressive backlist, a passion for storytelling, and a big heart for the indie author community. In this episode, we talk about what it’s like to shift from writing under a pen name to owning your voice with your real name. Her advice? If you’re scared, do it anyway.

Sam doesn’t believe in failure—only learning. She follows her passion, writes what she loves, and has built a recognizable brand by doing just that. From her love of Teen Wolf (both the ‘80s and the reboot) to her bittersweet goodbye to the werewolf series she adores, we chat about writing less popular subgenres, embracing sustainability in your career, and what it really feels like to finish a series.

We also dive into the inspiration behind her own podcast and why she’s committed to sharing everything she’s learned as an indie author. Breaking the algorithm may feel impossible, but Sam reminds us: community and visibility matter.

Her next series? Think The Craft meets teen rebellion, soaked in magic and nostalgia for the Buffy, Charmed, and Angel era we all still crave.

You can find her on Instagram here.

If you’ve followed Ve for any length of time, you’ve seen the real-life romance unfolding between her and Tony—it’s a love story worthy of its own novel. Like many of us, Ve joined the community because her friends didn’t share her reading tastes—and what she found was a space full of connection, authenticity, and lifelong friendships.

In this episode, we talk about how Ve sets bold goals, pushes herself outside of her comfort zone, and has built a bookish brand that includes services for authors and co-creating a book tour company. She reminds us that we shouldn’t be afraid to put ourselves out there - we’re only competing with the person we were yesterday.

We also chat about her predictions for the book space, including her Throne of Glass predictions (will we finally learn what Lorcan did?!), how traditional publishing is eyeing the indie space, and why representation matters—paired with the responsibility to educate yourself and do the work.

You can find here on Instagram here.

Spoiler warning for the Kindred Curse Saga

Romantasy rekindled Evelyn’s love for reading, but after making her way through the typical Romantasy books, they decided to create the stories they wanted to see more of. Enter: feminine rage, morally complex characters, and fierce independence. It’s a brand they wear proudly.

After getting some interest while querying, Evelyn chose to go indie for one major reason: retaining control of their story. In this episode, we unpack why they made that call, what it’s really like navigating indie publishing, and the thoughtful decision behind writing under a pen name. We also talk about the growing problem of book pirating in the author world, and Evelyn shares their take—plus ethical ways to access free books that actually support creators.

This is an episode for anyone reclaiming their voice, writing with purpose, and building the career they truly want. You can connect with her here.

Let’s be honest—we could’ve just called this the Bonnie Bennett Appreciation Episode. Sim and I go full fangirl over The Vampire Diaries (Damon + Bonnie forever, IYKYK), and we dig into how more urban fantasy authors are using iconic TV shows as comps for their books. Warning: spoilers ahead for The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, and Legendborn!

Sim shares how embracing his love for TVD helped him let go of old biases—and why representation should never feel forced. We talk about the importance of centering main characters from marginalized backgrounds, not just sticking them in as sidekicks.

One of the most meaningful parts of this episode? Connecting over our shared South African heritage and seeing how a dual heritage shows up more and more on Bookstagram. We all have more in common than we realise.

We also dive into Tracy Deonn’s Legendborn series and how it’s reshaped modern urban fantasy, plus the difference between morally white, grey, and black characters—and why readers deserve more nuanced women characters (stop giving men all the passes, Nesta discourse incoming!)

This one’s full of hot takes, heart, and a whole lot of supernatural love.