Author Haili Blassingame on They All Fall in Love at the End

Author Haili Blassingame on They All Fall in Love at the End

In the first episode of On the Record, I sit down with author Hailli Blassingame to talk about her debut novel They All Fall in Love in the End. We get into how the Challengers soundtrack shaped one of the most electric scenes in the book, why she named each part after a song, what revision actually taught her about being a writer, and what it means to write a character who wants everything and refuses to settle for less. Hailli is honest, funny, and genuinely fascinating to talk to. This one sets the tone for what On the Record is all about. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Hailli Blassingame and Her Journey 02:21 The Writing Process: From Drafting to Revision 05:19 Creating a Contemporary Narrative: The Impact of COVID-19 08:12 Exploring Relationships: Love, Polyamory, and Agency 10:58 Character Development: Kat's Journey and Ambition 13:34 Navigating Love Triangles and Complex Dynamics 16:35 Literary Influences and Breaking the Fourth Wall 18:09 Musical Influences in Writing 21:04 Exploring Imperfect Politics 23:24 DC as a Character 26:36 Navigating Polyamory 28:50 The Essence of the Book 30:53 Literary Inspirations

A Harlem Wedding with Tiffany L. Warren

Author Tiffany L. Warren joins Notes from Erin to talk about her historical fiction novel A Harlem Wedding, the true story of Yolande Du Bois, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Countee Cullen. Tiffany shares how a love of Octavia Butler shaped her as a storyteller, why sad love songs like "Heartbreaker" by Dionne Warwick contain the bones of a romance novel, and how "Congratulations" by Vesta Williams became the soundtrack to the book's wedding scene. We also dig into the real letters between Yolande, Countee, and W.E.B. Du Bois that inspired the novel, the research trip to the Schomburg Center, and Tiffany's dream casting for a film adaptation. Purchase TIffany L. Warren's new novel, A Harlem Wedding here. [https://bookshop.org/a/83717/9780063322172] Subscribe to Notes From Erin here [http://notesfromerin.com] Chapters: (00:00) Introduction to Tiffany L. Warren (01:15) The Journey of a Storyteller (04:28) Inspiration and Creativity in Writing (07:36) Exploring 'A Harlem Wedding' (11:12) The Complex Relationship of Yolande and W.E.B. Du Bois (15:06) Crafting Love Stories: Yolande and Jimmy's Relationship (19:39) The Complexity of Countee and Yolande's Relationship (22:49) The Importance of Letters in Understanding Relationships (25:22) The Grand Wedding of Countee and Yolande (28:08) The Process of Writing Historical Fiction (31:27) The Significance of Music in the Narrative (33:39) Yolande Du Bois: A Hidden Figure in History (35:53) Casting Choices for a Potential Adaptation

Anne Marie Wells on Happy Iceland, Writing, and Finding Joy in Everyday Moments

In this episode, I sit down with poet and memoirist Anne-Marie Wells to talk about her debut travel memoir Happy Iceland, out June 27th from Star Belt Press. In the conversation we cover what it took to write a book from scratch over ten years with no format training, what Icelandic strangers taught her about happiness, and the simple daily practice she now uses to stay connected to joy. If you've been feeling the weight of the world lately, this one is for you. * Pre-order Happy Iceland, here. [https://bookshop.org/a/83717/9798999480101] * Subscribe to the Notes from Erin newsletter, here. [http://notesfromerin.com] Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Anne-Marie Wells02:28 The Evolution of Reading and Writing05:02 Role Modeling Reading for the Next Generation07:33 Exploring 'Happy Iceland': The Journey Begins10:25 The Writing Process: From Notes to Manuscript13:01 Overcoming Challenges in Writing15:54 Lessons on Happiness from Iceland18:44 Finding Joy in Everyday Moments22:34 Finding Joy in Everyday Delights26:49 Building Confidence Through Experience31:20 The Importance of Community and Connection36:39 Lessons in Happiness and Mindfulness40:09 Connecting Through Stories and Experiences

She's Becoming Bookish on Historical Fiction, BookTube, and the Albums That Speak to Her Reading Life

Carlie of She's Becoming Bookish joins Notes from Erin for a conversation about historical fiction, building a BookTube presence, and the music that mirrors her reading life. She breaks down three historical fiction picks for three different types of readers, makes a case for why audiobooks absolutely count, and names the one album she thinks deserves to be a novel. Come for the book recommendations, stay for the Death Cab for Cutie mention. Subscribe to She's Becoming Bookish on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ShesBecomingBookish] Subscribe to Notes From Erin [http://notesfromerin.com] Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:35 Early reading memories and influences 05:21 Rediscovering reading during the pandemic 07:55 Reading formats: physical, digital, and audiobooks 10:36 The audiobook debate — does it really count? 13:32 Note-taking and book reviews 15:57 Carlie's YouTube journey and why she made the pivot 18:30 Building confidence on camera 26:57 Navigating your digital footprint as a creator 28:11 Why authenticity keeps people coming back 29:35 Connecting through personality and recommendations 31:26 With Love from Harlem and the world of biographical historical fiction 38:31 What draws Carlie to historical fiction 41:28 Three historical fiction picks for three types of readers 45:44 The music that speaks to her reading life

Randee Dawn on We Interrupt This Program & Writing Fantasy That Feels Real

What happens when fairies decide to make TV? Author and entertainment journalist Randee Dawn joins Erin to talk about her Tuniverse series — contemporary fantasy that swaps swords and sorcery for soap operas, cozy mysteries, and mythical creatures navigating the modern world. Randee's latest book, We Interrupt This Program, drops readers into a magically constructed cozy mystery village — think Murder, She Wrote meets Irish folklore — where the showrunner fairy won't leave his house, the Greek muses have gone on vacation, and a silver-haired writer named Winnie has to figure out why everything has stopped working. It's funny, it's warm, and it's the kind of fantasy that sneaks up on you. In this episode, Erin and Randee dig into the resurgence of contemporary fantasy (and what CGI, Harry Potter, and romantasy have to do with it), how Randee's background covering music and TV for outlets like Variety and the LA Times shaped her fiction, what it actually feels like to write a novel, and why community — writers groups, reading series, conventions — is what made her publishing journey possible. They also talk soundtracks as creative fuel, the writing advice that changed how Randee thinks about character, and why New Zealand might just be the most functional country on earth. Paired this episode: We Interrupt This Program by Randee Dawn — a cozy, witty fantasy that rethinks what entertainment is even for. If you loved this episode, the full conversation — and Erin's album pairing — lives on Substack. Subscribe to Notes from Erin for more books, music, and the conversations that connect them. Chapters (00:00) Welcome & Meet Randee Dawn(01:52) Earliest Reading Memories(03:33) The Fantasy Resurgence Explained(08:20) From Music Journalism to Fantasy Novels(13:37) The Origin of the Tuniverse(16:33) Writing Books vs. Writing Everything Else(21:28) Brooklyn Books & Booze(26:18) We Interrupt This Program — Synopsis(29:08) Building Trope Town(37:57) Character, Conflict & What Makes a Story Work(43:25) Shared Universe Easter Eggs(44:04) How the TV-Phrase Titles Work(48:05) Quick-Fire Round(49:59) Writing with (or without) Music(52:05) Why Everyone Should Visit New Zealand