The Book Besties Club 📚

Why Queer Readers Deserve More Than Side Characters” | Writing Romantasy, Representation & the Reality of Publishing (ft. A.P Joynson @a.p.joynson)

In this episode, we dive into writing queer-led fantasy books, the importance of finally seeing yourself in protagonists, and why representation in fiction matters more than ever. We also talk accidentally turning one fantasy book into an entire romantasy trilogy, writing multiple books in tandem, portraying realistic mother-son relationships in fiction, and the publishing industry realities, including earning just 19p royalties per book sold through Waterstones. Plus: a heartfelt discussion on the legacy and brilliance of Terry Pratchett and the impact his storytelling still has on fantasy writers today. Follow along for new episodes every Wednesday 🎙

From Realistic Romance to Writing the Perfect Book Boyfriend (ft. Wren Willoughby @wren.willoughby)

In this episode, romance author Wren Willoughby discusses writing realistic romance with flawed characters and complicated relationships. We talk about the inclusion of domestic violence in fiction, creating believable love interests, and balancing fantasy with realism in romance books. We also cover interconnected standalone series, chronological storytelling, BookTok and social media success, plus practical marketing advice for indie authors and aspiring writers!

Defending Audiobooks, Debating Enemies-to-Lovers & Loving Romantasy (ft. Mark @marksbookcorner)

In this episode, I’m joined by Mark (@marksbookcorner) for a proper bookish deep dive into what it means to fall back in love with reading as an adult. We talk about the rise of romantasy and why Throne of Glass still has him in a chokehold, debate whether enemies-to-lovers is getting a bit overrated, and unpack the way BookTok has changed how we discover and talk about books. We also get into something that deserves way more attention: why audiobooks are just as valid as physical reading, and how they’re opening the door for more people to reconnect with stories in a way that actually fits their lives. If you love books, opinions, and a bit of friendly chaos around modern reading culture, this one’s for you.

Strong FMCs, Hockey Chaos & Publishing at 19 (ft. Soldera Krauze @authorsolderakrauze)

In this episode of The Book Besties Club, im joined by indie author Soldera Krauze to talk all about her debut novel 'Uncoachable'. We talk about strong fmc's, characters that take on a life of their own and unusual hockey facts Soldera also gives us a behind the scenes look at how she wrote, edited and got her book ready to publish in 3 months at only 19 years old and how she already has the next books planned out in her head. If you love strong females, hockey romance and hearing about how authors bring their work to life, this episode is for you.

From Survival to Storytelling: Irish Myth Meets Real Life…Making Books Accessible for Everyone (ft. John Lane @jmlameofficial)

From survival to storytelling… John Lane didn’t start writing for fame or money. After recovering from cancer and kidney failure, he started writing because he needed to. His books are rooted in Irish mythology, but what stood out most to me was how he prices them as low as possible so more people can actually read them. We also got into some honest conversations about BookTok, 5⭐ reviews, and what really matters when it comes to books. This episode made me think… a lot.