The Book Besties Club 📚

Deleting 40,000 Words?! | Writing Advice, Morally Grey FMC & D&D-Inspired Fantasy (ft. Tamsin Sheridan @tamsin.sheridan)

This week I'm joined by fantasy author Tamsin Sheridan, author of the Silvertree Legacy trilogy. We chat about the highs and lows of writing fantasy, building a world inspired by d&d, crafting a fiercely morally grey female main character alongside the ultimate cinnamon roll male main character, and why found family continues to be one of fantasy's most beloved tropes. Whether you're a writer wondering if your draft needs a major rewrite or a fantasy reader searching for your next obsession, this episode is packed with honest insights, behind-the-scenes writing stories, and plenty of bookish chat.

I Might Need to Leave the Country After Book 3: Killing Main Characters, Chaos & The Final 41 Words of Hidden Light (ft. Tanya Jones- @secret.author54)

In this episode, I’m joined by Tanya, author of upcoming fantasy novel Hidden Light, for a conversation that gets very real, very fast. We talk about the fearless (and slightly unhinged) art of killing off main characters, why she refuses to soften the emotional impact for readers, and how she leans fully into making audiences upset for the sake of the story. Tanya also teases the final 41 words of Hidden Light and admits they might be enough to make readers hate her. We get into the tension between ambition and strategy in publishing: from wanting to secure an agent and give the book its best possible shot, to the bold decision to run preorder special editions before even querying. Preorders are open now but will be closing soon, so make sure you sign up for one while you still can. If you love fantasy authors who are honest about the chaos behind the craft, the risks, and the emotional damage they’re willing to inflict on readers, this one’s for you

Romantic suspense, Real-Life Inspiration & the Reality of Publishing (ft. Lauren Grace- @lgraceauthor)

This week, I'm joined by romantic suspense author Lauren Grace for an honest conversation about the realities of being an author today. We discuss Lauren's journey to securing a publishing deal, the challenges of navigating the publishing industry, and the surprising comment that "women don't like to think when they read." Lauren also shares how personal experiences and trauma can find their way into fiction and the responsibility that comes with writing those stories. Whether you're a reader, writer, or aspiring author, this episode offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at publishing, storytelling, and the power of women-centred narratives.

Sci-fi stories, 20 years of planning and reader feedback (ft. Phil Oddy- philoddy_writes_books)

In this episode, I chat with sci-fi author Phil Oddy about his long and winding writing journey. From over 20 years of failed attempts, to finally publishing his interconnected four-book sci-fi series. We talk indie publishing, finding unexpected support at comic cons and alternative events, and how reader feedback shaped his work. A conversation about persistence, support and finally turning years of ideas into a finished saga.

DNFs, Disappointments & BookTok Confessions (ft. Gill @gillhuller219)

In todays episode, im joined by fellow booktoker Gill, where we talk about the books we quit, the books everyone else loved that we didn't, and why honest reviews matter. From DNFing Alchemised to defending audiobooks and unpacking BookTok culture, this episode is all about reading without guilt and sharing authentic opinions.