Building Author Friendships & Writing Community | Talk Spicy to Me

Welcome back to Talk Spicy to Me: The podcast where two bestselling romance authors go rogue and talk all things romance: the good, the bad, the unbearably hot, and everything in between.

In this season finale episode, Kandi and Giana discuss the realities of life in the publishing trenches, the importance of genuine author friendships, what really happens at writing retreats, and answer reader questions about writing and the romance genre.

The podcast will return this summer after Giana begins maternity leave.

 

Timestamps:

00:00 – Season finale announcement & Giana starting maternity leave early

01:36 – Life in the indie publishing trenches

08:45 – Season sponsors: Lena Hendrix & Willow Aster

10:07 – The Spice Report (current reads, shows, and obsessions)

27:58 – Kandi’s word of the year: “Rooted”

30:11 – Industry advice: building genuine friendships

32:25 – Why meeting in person matters ("vibe checks")

43:56 – What really happens at writing retreats

52:58 – How to organize your own writing retreat

01:08:17 - Sponsor: Brittanee Nicole

01:12:59 – Red Flag / Green Flag trope discussion

01:18:11 – Reader question: why write romance?

01:23:29 – Book club discussion: Deep Pockets by Nana Malone

01:35:29 – Final Bump-Date

 

BOOK CLUB PICK

Deep Pockets by Nana Malone

Tropes for that book: Mafia/Assassin romance, Best friend's sister, Age Gap, Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Pockets-Forced-Proximity-Romance-ebook/dp/B0DDGX814Q

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nanamalonewriter/

Website: https://nanamalone.com/

Join us for the Deep Pockets deep dive on March18th.

 

 

 

SEASON SPONSORS

Brittanee Nicole

Darling Daffodils Farm :https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/808533/darling-daffodils-farm-a-hope-harbor-novel-by-brittanee-nicole/

Website: https://www.brittaneenicole.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorbrittaneenicole/

 

Lena Hendrix

Chasing the Sun (Star Harbor, Book 1)

Link: https://geni.us/chasingthesun1

Website: https://www.lenahendrix.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorlenahendrix

 

Willow Aster

What It Takes (Windy Harbor Series, Book 2)

Link: https://geni.us/WhatItTakes

Website: https://www.willowaster.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willowaster/

 

 

WHERE TO FIND EVERYONE

Talk Spicy to Me

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkspicytomepodcast

Spotify/Apple: @talkspicytomepodcast

Youtube: @talkspicytomepodcast

 

HOSTS

Giana Darling

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gianadarlingauthor

Website: https://gianadarling.com/

Kandi Steiner

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kandisteiner

Website: https://kandisteiner.com/

 

🔥 AFTER DARK (Patreon Exclusive)

Want the extended, unfiltered conversation?

Each week’s After Dark mini-episode dives deeper into topics we don’t cover on the main feed.

Join the Patreon for early access and bonus content:

https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkSpicytoMePodcast

 

Listen, watch, and don’t forget to subscribe for weekly episodes, author conversations, and honest discussions about romance, publishing, and storytelling craft.