This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Small-town Christmas chaos + rom-com hijinks? Yes, please. In this episode, I’m joined by romance author Erin Nicholas to talk holiday books, audio “girlie” life, and her newest festive romcom, Merry Mayhem.

Erin’s been publishing since 2009/2010 (and has 70–80+ books… she’s lost count in the best way). We get into how the romance industry has shifted from the “dark ages” of early ebooks to today’s audio boom, plus why small towns hit peak magic at Christmas.

Merry Mayhem by Erin Nicholas — Buy on Amazon | Holiday Romcom, Small Town | KU ✅

Boys of the Bayou Gone Wild by Erin Nicholas — Buy on Amazon | Small Town Romcom Series | KU ✅ / Audio ✅

In a Rush by Kate Canterbary — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | KU ✅ / Audio ✅

Shucked by Kate Canterbary — Buy on Amazon | Small Town Romance, Fish-Out-of-Water | KU ✅ / Audio ✅

Copper Valley Thrusters by Pippa Grant — Buy on Amazon | Hockey Romcom Series | KU ✅ / Audio ✅

Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey — Buy on Amazon | Sports Romance (Golf) | Audio ✅

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅

My Favorite Kidnapper by Melanie Moreland — Buy on Amazon | Romcom | KU ✅ / Audio ✅

A Love Most Fatal by Kath Richards — Buy on Amazon | Mafia Rom-Com | KU ✅

[00:00] Meet Erin Nicholas + 16 years in romance

[00:01] Industry shifts: early ebooks → Kindle → 2020 romance boom

[00:02] Erin’s origin story: writing since childhood + first publishing path

[00:07] Audio “girlie” life + cozy mysteries at bedtime

[00:08] Merry Mayhem setup: holiday competition + romcom chaos

[00:09] Writing Christmas in September (peppermint mocha + Mariah)

[00:10] Why small towns feel extra magical at Christmas

[00:12] Where to start with Erin’s backlist + Boys of the Bayou Gone Wild

[00:14] Erin’s romcom recs (Kate Canterbary, Pippa Grant, Tessa Bailey, etc.)

[00:18] The wildest rec: My Favorite Kidnapper

[00:19] Mafia romcom chat + A Love Most Fatal

[00:22] Where to find Erin online

Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)

Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read...

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

A holiday romance for people who hate the holidays? Yes, please. In this episode, I’m hanging out with romance author Natasha Madison to talk messy Christmas travel, big-family chaos, and why a happily-ever-after matters—even in true crime.

Natasha and I also get into how romance trends have shifted (alpha heroes, golden retrievers, dark romance, and the whole “tropes-everywhere” era), plus the comfort reads she’ll never stop recommending. If you’ve ever wanted a holiday book that doesn’t feel like a Hallmark script—or you’ve got thoughts about how romance marketing has changed—this one’s for you.

Holiday Unscripted by Natasha Madison — Buy on Amazon | Holiday romance | KU ✅ / Audio ✅

Golden Trail by Kristen Ashley — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary romance (second chance vibes) | KU ✅ / Audio ✅

This Man by Jodi Ellen Malpas — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary romance (alpha hero) | KU ✅ / Audio ✅

[00:00] Welcome + “wait… people read my books?!”

[00:05] Romance covers then vs. now (Fabio era!)

[00:06] True crime rules: it MUST be solved

[00:06] Reality TV chat: TLC, Sister Wives, Love Island

[00:13] Holiday Unscripted setup: stranded heroine + forced proximity

[00:16] Writing Christmas in May (and hating every second)

[00:17] Holiday expectations, big family logistics, and gift burnout

[00:22] Natasha’s comfort read: Golden Trail by Kristen Ashley

[00:24] Alpha heroes vs. golden retrievers vs. dark romance extremes

[00:29] Trope-ification + writing ahead of trends

[00:34] Where to find Natasha online

Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)

Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next

Subscribe & leave a review!

Mentioned in this episode:

🎧 Try Audible Today I love Audible for their original novellas, binge-worthy Plus Catalog (like Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series), and their amazing audiobook sales. Currently, Audible is offering a special promotion for new members and returning listeners.

Audible

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

What happens when a former Harlequin author turns indie, builds a direct sales empire, and writes an entire series about small-town single dads? In this episode, I sit down with contemporary romance author Amy Knupp to talk about the business of romance and her cozy, Christmasy small-town world.

We chat about Amy’s journey from writing category romance for Harlequin to going fully indie, how she uses direct sales and Shopify to connect with readers, and why she loves writing emotional, character-driven small-town stories. Then we dive into her Single Dads of Dragonfly Lake series and her new Christmas romance Single Wish, featuring a grumpy Christmas tree farmer, a reformed mean girl, and a delicious second-chance enemies-to-lovers arc set in a Tennessee lake town.

Singled Out by Amy Knupp — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance, Small-Town Romance | Audio ✅

Single All the Way by Amy Knupp — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, Friends-to-Lovers | Audio ✅

Single Wish by Amy Knupp — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance, Small-Town Romance, Holiday Romance, Enemies-to-Lovers | Audio ✅

Bootleg Springs (series) by Lucy Score & Claire Kingsley — Buy on Amazon | Small-Town Romance, Romantic Comedy, Light Mystery Threads | KU ✅ / Audio ✅

[00:00] – Meet Amy Knupp

[02:00] – From Llamas to Harlequin

[02:30] – What Category Romance Really Is

[05:00] – Learning to Revise Like a Pro

[07:00] – Going Indie & Finding Creative Freedom

[08:30] – The Indie Boom She Missed

[10:00] – Treating Publishing Like a Business

[11:30] – Why Amy Publishes Wide

[12:00] – Direct Sales 101

[15:00] – Audiobooks Beyond Audible

[16:00] – Why Buying Direct Helps Everyone

[18:30] – How to Find Authors Who Sell Direct

[19:30] – Signed Books & Pretty Packaging

[20:30] – Welcome to Dragonfly Lake

[22:00] – Inside Single Wish

[23:30] – Enemies to Lovers + Secret Pasts

[24:30] – Reading Order & More Holiday Books

[25:30] – Book Recs from Amy

[27:00] – Where to Find Amy Online

Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)

Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next

Subscribe & leave a review!

Mentioned in this episode:

🎧 Try Audible Today I love Audible for their original novellas, binge-worthy Plus Catalog (like Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series), and their amazing audiobook sales. Currently, Audible is offering a special promotion for new members and returning listeners.

Audible

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

A royal Christmas ball, a mischievous rescue dog, and a dog trainer who drives the princess up the palace walls—what could possibly go wrong? In this feel-good holiday episode, I’m chatting with Christmas romcom queen Karen Schaler, writer of A Christmas Prince, Christmas Camp, and her new royal romance A Ruff Royal Christmas.

Karen shares how she went from war correspondent and hard-hitting journalist to writing the cozy, comforting Christmas stories so many of us binge every December. We talk about the inspiration behind A Ruff Royal Christmas (including the real-life “devil dog” who inspired Stormy), how she stays in a Christmas mood all year even while living in the desert, and why she’s built a portfolio career across movies, books, audio, travel shows, and even real-life Christmas Camp retreats. We also go behind the scenes of filming Christmas Camp for Hallmark, talk about the power of comfort watches/reads, and get a sneak peek at what she’s working on next.

A Ruff Royal Christmas by Karen Schaler — Buy on Amazon | Royal RomCom, Christmas Romance | KU ✅ / Audio ✅

Christmas Camp by Karen Schaler — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Christmas Romance, Hallmark Movie Tie-In | KU ✅ / Audio ✅

Every Day Is Christmas by Karen Schaler — Buy on Amazon | Christmas Romance, A Christmas Carol–inspired | KU ✅ / Audio ✅

Once Upon a Christmas Carol by Karen Schaler — Buy on Amazon | Christmas Romance, Full-Cast Audio Original | Audible Exclusive ✅

[00:00] Meet Karen Schaler & why she literally breathes Christmas

[02:00] From war zones to Christmas romcoms: Karen’s journalism background

[06:00] Inside A Ruff Royal Christmas: royal hijinks, rescue dogs & a big twist

[11:00] Writing Christmas all year long (from the Arizona desert!)

[16:00] Portfolio creative life: movies, books, audio & Christmas Camp IRL

[21:00] Behind the scenes of the Christmas Camp Hallmark movie

[27:00] New non-Christmas series, TV ideas & future Christmas specials

[33:00] Where to find Karen online & holiday well-wishes

Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)

Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next

Subscribe & leave a review!

Mentioned in this episode:

🎧 Try Audible Today I love Audible for their original novellas, binge-worthy Plus Catalog (like Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series), and their amazing audiobook sales. Currently, Audible is offering a special promotion for new members and returning listeners.

Audible

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

When life feels heavy, sometimes you just need a cozy small town, a perfect pumpkin spice latte, and a YA romance that feels like a warm sweater. In this episode, I’m chatting with author Katie Cicatelli-Kuc about the comfort reads that got her through some of the hardest seasons of her life—and how they might help you, too.

Katie and I talk about her YA novels Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice and Mint to Be, how Pumpkin Spice unexpectedly went viral on TikTok, and what it was like to write through chemo and recovery. We also get into cozy, low-gore spooky reads (perfect if you’re squeamish or easily triggered), plus YA and middle grade recommendations that balance heart, hope, and just the right amount of chills. If you’re craving comfort, holiday vibes, and gentle escape, this is the episode for you.

Quarantine by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc — Buy on Amazon | Young Adult Contemporary

It’s Going Viral by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc — Buy on Amazon | Young Adult Contemporary

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc — Buy on Amazon | Young Adult Romance, Cozy Fall | Audio ✅

Mint to Be by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc — Buy on Amazon | Young Adult Holiday Romance, Small Town | Audio ✅

Murder Road by Simone St. James — Buy on Amazon | Mystery, Supernatural Thriller | Audio ✅

Zyla & Kai by Kristina Forest — Buy on Amazon | Young Adult Romance | Audio ✅

Short Story Collection by Leonora Carrington — Buy on Amazon | Surrealism, Magical Realism | Audio ✅

Tales to Keep You Up at Night by Dan Poblocki — Buy on Amazon | Middle Grade Horror, Spooky Stories | Audio ✅

More Tales to Keep You Up at Night by Dan Poblocki — Buy on Amazon | Middle Grade Horror, Spooky Stories | Audio ✅

[00:00] Meet YA author Katie Cicatelli-Kuc & her book lineup

[00:01] The wild story of Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice going viral

[00:02] Writing through chemo and finding escape in cozy YA worlds

[00:04] Inside Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice and the town of Briar Glen

[00:05] Holiday vibes, boarding school, and first love in Mint to Be

[00:07] Why we need comfort reads in weird, heavy times

[00:08] Spooky-but-not-gory recs: Simone St. James, Agatha Christie audios

[00:09] YA romance, therapy-positive characters, and Zyla & Kai

[00:10] Leonora Carrington’s surreal short stories & middle grade spooky picks

[00:11] More Dan Poblocki recs and where to find Katie online

Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)

Follow...

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Forty is not the end of your love story—it might be the beginning of your best one yet. In this episode, I’m chatting with romance author L.B. Dunbar all about love over 40, menopause, midlife reinvention, and why Christmas romances are the perfect escape when life feels like… a lot.

We dig into how L.B. pivoted her career to write romance with characters in their 40s and 50s, what makes second-chance love hit different in midlife, and why today’s Gen X and Millennial readers are craving stories that reflect their real lives—kids, divorce, therapy, hormones and all. Then we switch into full holiday mode to talk about her grumpy/sunshine Christmas romances (including a sexy maybe-Santa), plus a few cozy cowboy recs if you love a small-town escape.

Scroogish by L.B. Dunbar — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, Second Chance | KU ✅ / Audio ✅

Naughty-ish by L.B. Dunbar — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance | KU ✅ / Audio ✅

Grouch-ish by L.B. Dunbar — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance | KU ✅ / Audio ✅

Elf-ish by L.B. Dunbar — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, Grumpy/Sunshine | KU ✅ / Audio ✅

The Holiday Post by L.B. Dunbar — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, Forced Proximity | KU ✅ / Audio ✅

The Holiday Whoopi by Sarah L. Hudson — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, Steamy |KU ✅ / Audio ✅

Between the Pines by Amber Palmer — Buy on Amazon | Cowboy Romance, Small-Town Romance | KU ✅ / Audio ✅

Dust Storm by Maggie Gates — Buy on Amazon | Cowboy Romance, Grumpy/Sunshine |KU ✅ / Audio ✅

[00:00] Meet L.B. Dunbar & why she writes romance over 40

[03:00] Millennials, Gen X, and outgrowing 20-something romances

[06:00] Menopause, hormones & not giving a f*ck in midlife

[10:00] How L.B. started writing Christmas romances

[13:00] Scroogish, Naughty-ish, Grouch-ish & Elf-ish: her holiday series

[16:00] Sexy Santa energy & The Holiday Post

[18:00] Current reads, Hideaway Harbor & The Holiday Whoopi

[19:30] Cowboy romance recs: Between the Pines & Dust Storm

[21:00] Where to find L.B. Dunbar online and final thoughts

Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)

Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next

Subscribe & leave a review!

Mentioned in this episode:

🎧 Try Audible Today I love Audible for...

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Curl up with a blanket, a warm drink, and a stack of Christmas classics—Victoria from BiblioLifestyle is back to help us build a cozy, low-pressure December reading plan. In this episode, we go beyond A Christmas Carol and talk about beginner-friendly classics, emotional reads, and the magic of reading aloud at the holidays.

We chat about why classics hit differently in our hyper-busy lives, how to pick approachable reads if you’re intimidated, and why some stories just land better in December. Victoria walks us through a four-week Christmas classics challenge (with lots of public-domain options), child and adult read-aloud ideas, and her own tradition of reading Letters from Father Christmas every year. I also share a bit about my childhood Christmases, Disney trips, and why I always reach for comfort reads this time of year.

Whether you’re craving something short and heart-squeezing like The Gift of the Magi or want to finally tackle Little Women or Persuasion, this episode is your invitation to slow down, pick one classic, and actually enjoy it—no pressure to rush or “keep up.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens — Buy on Amazon | Classic Christmas novella, redemption arc, ghosts of Christmas past/present/future | Audio ✅

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Buy on Amazon | Classic coming-of-age, March sisters, family + generosity at Christmas | Audio ✅

Persuasion by Jane Austen — Buy on Amazon | Second-chance romance, quiet heroine, emotional restraint | Audio ✅

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen — Buy on Amazon | Iconic enemies-to-lovers, witty social commentary, regency classic | Audio ✅

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier — Buy on Amazon | Gothic suspense, eerie mansion, atmospheric classic | Audio ✅

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë — Buy on Amazon | Gothic romance, governess heroine, broody hero | Audio ✅

The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry — Buy on Amazon | Short story, bittersweet gift-giving, ultimate Christmas sacrifice | Audio ✅*

The Birds’ Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggin — Buy on Amazon | Short heart-squeezer, sick child planning Christmas for neighbors, bittersweet | Audio ✅

The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen — Buy on Amazon | Classic fairy tale, heartbreaking winter story, emotional | Audio ✅*

The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter — Buy on Amazon | Animal classic, Christmas Eve sewing, quiet redemption | Audio ✅*

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg — Buy on Amazon | Picture book, magical train to the North Pole, Christmas wonder | Audio ✅

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss —

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

What if your romance career didn’t hinge on going viral—but on quietly writing your way to 118 books and counting? In this episode, I’m chatting with holiday romance queen Samantha Chase about sustainable careers, Christmas comfort reads, and why she’ll always write a Christmas book.

We talk about what it really looks like to treat writing like a job (in the best way), how Samantha built a wide, library-friendly backlist instead of relying on Kindle Unlimited, and why she’s more interested in consistency than fame. Then we dive into her newest holiday romance, A Holly Brown Christmas, plus a whole sleigh-full of her backlist Christmas books and a couple of festive recs from Lauren Blakely.

Holly Brown Christmas by Samantha Chase

The Christmas Cottage Series by Samantha Chase

Silver Bell Falls Series by Samantha Chase

Mistletoe Between Friends by Samantha Chase

Mistletoe Between Friends Snowflake Inn Duo by Samantha Chase

Moonlight in Winter Park by Samantha Chase

The Snowflake Inn by Samantha Chase

Waiting for Midnight by Samantha Chase

His for the Holidays by Samantha Chase

Moonlight in Winter Park Waiting for Midnight Duet by Samantha Chase

Baking it Merry by Samantha Chase

[00:00] – Intro & catching up with Samantha’s current projects

[03:00] – How she plans series, works with her assistant, and stays three books ahead

[06:00] – Building a 118-book backlist & why your first book won’t define you

[08:00] – KU vs wide: sweeter contemporary, libraries, and diversified income

[10:30] – The “old” marketing formulas that stopped working and what she does now

[13:00] – Virality, fame, and why writing is a job—not a shortcut to celebrity

[15:00] – The origin story of The Christmas Cottage and its Hallmark adaptation

[18:00] – A tour of Samantha’s Christmas backlist (Snowflake Inn, Silverbell Falls, Baking it Merry)

[20:30] – All about A Holly Brown Christmas: office party chaos, divorce drama, and a Snoopy-coded pup Schmoop

[23:00] – Holiday romance recs from Lauren Blakely: My Favorite Holidate & Merry Little Kissmas

[26:00] – Where to find Samantha online + buying books directly from her site

Subscribe to our...