Pod: More Love and Romance Writing: Building Our Happily Ever Afters

With Erin Zak, Stephanie Shea, Fiona Riley, Lola Keeley, and Ava Freeman:

Everyone wants a good love story, come join us as we discuss what goes into crafting a compelling romance, tropes of the trade, and the importance of showcasing diverse happily ever afters.

Lola Keeley is a writer and coder. After moving to London to pursue her love of theatre, she later wound up living every five-year-old’s dream of being a train driver on the London Underground. She has since emerged, blinking into the sunlight, to find herself writing books. For more information about this author and to view book purchase information, visit the Authors page.

Fiona Riley was born and raised in New England where she is a medical professional and part-time professor when she isn’t bonding with her laptop over words. Fiona’s love of writing started at a young age and blossomed after she was published in a poetry competition at the ripe old age of twelve. She wrote lots of short stories and poetry for many years until it was time for college and a real job. Fiona found herself with a bachelor’s, a doctorate, and a day job, but felt like she had stopped nurturing the one relationship that had always made her feel the most complete: artist, dreamer, writer. For more information about this author and to view book purchase information, visit the Authors page.

Ava Freeman is a writer of contemporary romance that centers the Black queer woman’s experience. Through her stories she strives to give readers rich, complex characters that always find their happily ever after. She is the author of several books including the Friends & Lovers series and her most recent story collection Sweetest Taboo. For more information about this author and to view book purchase information, visit the Authors page.

Stephanie Shea is a self-proclaimed introvert, who spent her days in corporate daydreaming of becoming a full-time novelist. Her favorite things include binging TV shows, creating worlds where no character is too queer, broken or sensitive, and snacks. Lots of snacks. Someday, she hopes to curb her road rage and get past her anxiety over social media and author bios. For more information about this author and to view book purchase information, visit the Authors page.

Erin Zak grew up on the Western Slope of Colorado in a town with a population of 2,500, a solitary Subway, and one stoplight. She started writing at a young age and has always had a very active imagination. Erin later transplanted to Indiana where she attended college, started writing a book, and had dreams of one day actually finding the courage to try to get it published. For more information about this author and to view book purchase information, visit the Authors page.