Tall, Dark & Fictional

Another Monday another amazing TDF interview: today's ep with MM writer CE Ricci. We talk about Chelsea's path from dark romance to light hockey and hiding your phone to force yourself to reach those wordcounts. Deadline? Who is she?

Don't miss this extremely fun episode!

Cat Wynn and G. Marie talk about G. Marie's after life transition from unpublished author to publish author. What's changed for her and what is she changing? Also, we do a deep dive talk into sorority life (spoiler: we hated it) and give a quick romance rec as well. Don't miss it!

Find Gabby Marie on TikTok and Instagram @gmariewrites and you can find SNOWED IN FLING available on Amazon now!

Listen, we're all going through it. Even if you're not a writer, you can benefit from this episode where @catwynnauthor and special guest host Ellie Mae Macgregor discuss THE REAL things that are blocking us and you from being our true selves and fulfilling our inner creatives. And we have the usual romance talk as well. Now, where shall we begin?

@catwynnauthor and @sjtillyauthor talk to the amazing SARA CATE. You know her from SALACIOUS PLAYERS CLUB series and much, much more. We talk all about romance and the uselessness of holding onto shame, and we even get to hear about Sara's upcoming movie deal. You don't want to miss out on this excellent talk!

You can find Sara at saracatebooks.com

The TDF team welcomes back romance author and Romance in Colour podcaster Tati Richardson! On this episode we celebrate Tati's debut workplace romcom release THE BUILD UP. We also revisit Tati's rapid fire to see what's changed since her last guest spot on TDF and talk all about what it takes to be a romance author. Be sure to pre-order her debut THE BUILD UP today in ebook, paperback OR audio!

You can find Tati at www.tatiannarichardson.com and also on most social media platforms @richardwriteson

This episode is about how the sads/childhood trauma have shaped us as writers and influenced us into the romance genre. CW: discussion of parental illness, pet loss, personal traumas. ENJOY!

@catwynnauthor and @sjtillyauthor are back with a Host-ful episode to discuss their upcoming releases AIRPLANE GAMES and NERO! This episode is spoiler free but filled with teasers. Also, get to hear the not yet released blurb of AIRPLANE GAMES and a tiny little spoiler about the second cover of the ALLIANCE SERIES. 

AIRPLANE GAMES is the third in THE GAMES SERIES by Cat Wynn, available on Amazon. NERO is the first in the series THE ALLIANCE by SJ Tilly.

If there's one craft book @catwynnauthor always recommends it's this one! SJ and Cat were totally honored to have a chat with Jessica Brody, who's trad published more than twenty novels and wrote the classic Save the Cat Writes a Novel. Don't miss this episode! We discuss the emotional aspects of writing but in a really cool and useful practical way and answer the questions "Do all good writers  know themselves?"

You can find Jessica at www.jessicabrody.com

Hey TDF listeners! Happy 2023! We're back and here's a quick catch up episode with some announcements and some gossip. This episode is just Cat and SJ but we'll be releasing an episode with Saves the Cat Writes a Novel author Jessica Brody soon! It's already been recorded, just not edited yet, sorry about that. But enjoy this catch up. We all get the 2023 we deserve.

And that's a wrap folks! Maybe we'll talk again this month, but if we don't, we love you and enjoy the holidays. 

Today's amazing TDF guest is the romance meme queen herself Kate from Romantically Inclined! Kate is a romance reader, reviewer, and podcaster and all romancelandia expert! She's also funny af and has a wealth of romance knowledge. You don't want to miss this episode with brand new Holiday Rapid Fire questions.

You can find Kate on Instagram @romantically_inclined, @romanticallyinclinedreviews . You can also listen to her podcast The Romantically Inclined Podcast!

So, we missed a few PSL's w/ TDF...that's the bad news. But the good news is SJ is back for this episode! Stick around for SJ's answers to our rapid fire Holiday Would You Rather (plus a few extra) and also SJ answers some of the questions that lead to love! We do it for you. Happy Almost December.

It's another timely PSL w/ TDF. This episode, @lovemikaylaeve joins @catwynnauthor to talk about American Thanksgiving and what we're looking for both book and writing wise over the winter holiday.

You can find Mikayla on most platforms @lovemikaylaeve

Enjoy your PSL w/ TDF in a timely fashion! This episode, @lovemikaylaeve and @catwynnauthor tackle some of the most controversial holiday would you rather's ever (not really, but let's say for good measure!) Play a long and let us know what your answers are.

You can find Mikayla on most platforms @lovemikaylaeve

PSL w/ TDF is bright and shiny and right on time. Listen to G.Marie and @catwynnauthor discuss the very vexing dilemma of having your work actually read by other people who have opinions about what they're reading that are totally out of control. Also, Cat gives huge hints about her upcoming 2023 novels. SJ is still out, but she shall triumphantly return soon enough!

Find Gabby Marie on TikTok and Instagram @gmariewrites and you can find SNOWED IN FLING available on Amazon pre-order now!

Cat (HOLIDAY GAMES and HOTEL GAMES) and SJ (SECOND BITE) have holiday novellas coming out soon so look out for those as well!

PSL w/ TDF! But make it night! And make it a mini-sode. SJ is still out sick and we miss, but @catwynnauthor and @gmariewrites answer a few questions from the 36 questions that lead to love! Although not directly related to romance, we still think this is relevant to romancelandia and the romance community because valuing love and relationships is countercultural to America and much of the world writ large. Answer the questions with us! Enjoy.

Find Gabby Marie on TikTok and Instagram @gmariewrites and you can find SNOWED IN FLING available on Amazon pre-order now!

Cat (HOLIDAY GAMES and HOTEL GAMES) and SJ (SECOND BITE) have holiday novellas coming out soon so look out for those as well!

Posting for PSL w/ TDF by the skin of our teeth! We hope you like your coffee late at night because we're back with another episode. SJ is, sadly, still out sick so @catwynnauthor is once again joined by the much esteemed @lovemikaylaeve. We actually talk about romance this episode starting with answering three questions from the NY Times Article The 36 Questions That Lead to Love then ending with some more Romance Cover Match where, fair warning, as always it gets weird af. Enoy! And TGIF.

You can find Mikayla on most platforms @lovemikaylaeve

Against all odds, PSL with TDF continues. But fair warning, this episode features VERY little discussion about books or writing. Instead, join @catwynnauthor and @lovemikaylaeve on a journey into the galaxy. Anything goes this ep, don't say we didn't warn you. And please send good wishes to SJ who wasn't feeling well and missed out on this cursed recording.

You can find Mikayla on most platforms @lovemikaylaeve

It's another PSL day with TDF. @catwynnauthor and @sjtillyauthor play THE ROMANCE COVER MATCH GAME, where they try to guess subgenre, heat level, trope, and kink just from the cover of a book. Play along with them and see how you do. 

Another dollar another day of PSL's with the TDF pod! So, grab your mug of coffee and listen to @catwynnauthor and @sjtillyauthor talk about COMMUNITY in the book world: how you make it, how you grow it, how you become it. Also, stay tuned for a few practical (SJ) and not so practical (Cat) tips for building yourself as a creative. 

PSL w/ TDF for the month of November continues and do we have an AMAZING guest to close out the week with!

@catwynnauthor and @sjtillyauthor had the honor to speak with author and podcaster at Fresh Fiction Danielle Jackson on today's episode where talked about fanfiction, Danielle's previous job as a publicist in the publishing industry, cover design and what to do when you just can't read anymore (hint, pick up a graphic novel). Danielle was so much fun and you absolutely don't want to miss this one.

You can check out Danielle and her books at www.daniellejacksonbooks.com and where books are sold. You can find her online @djacksonbooks

PSL with TDF continues! It's Fall, ya'll. Grab your pumpkin spice latte and have a sit down with TDF every day this week until the end of November.

Today's guest is an amazing friend of the pod, reviewer turned writer Victoria (Tori) Wilder @authorvictoriawilder. We talk the ins and outs of the writing community, the stress of feeling like an imposter and finding success, why you might marry a cinnamon role but write an alphahole, and we find out all about Tori's debut novel Peaks of Color and her sophomore novel Hide and Peak, avail for preorder now! 

Cat (HOLIDAY GAMES) and SJ (SECOND BITE) have holiday novellas coming out soon so look out for those as well!

You can find Victoria @authorvictoriawilder on Instagram, but check her for other platforms as well!

PSL with TDF continues as we release episodes for you to drink your PSL every morning with for the rest of November!

Fave pod guest Gabby Marie of @gmariewrites and Cat Wynn sit down to talk about Gabby's new release and DEBUT holiday novella SNOWED IN FLING! Listen if you wanna get philosophical and really dive deep into our psyches, asking questions like: can all people reclaim their creativity?

SJ Tilly is sadly absent from this episode as she was busy serving her civic duty all day (we hope you voted!) but she was with us in spirit and will return for our next episode.

Find Gabby Marie on TikTok and Instagram @gmariewrites

Cat (HOLIDAY GAMES) and SJ (SECOND BITE) have holiday novellas coming out soon so look out for those as well!

Welcome to PSL with TDF! For the rest of the month of November TDF will be rapid fire releasing an episode every weekday for the last month of autumn. So grab your PSL and listen to some TDF. You don't want to miss out on this episode!

Today Cat and SJ have the pleasure of speaking with one of their fave booksta friends Mikayla! Mikayla is a bookstagrammer, youtuber, and booktokker who lives in Australia and has all the chaos that you'd imagine a triple water sign to have. On this episode we chat about Mikayla's path into the book world, how to approach her as a writer who wants a review, her tips on how to stay married and happy even when you get married in your early twenties, and all kinds of general rapid fire nonsense we've all come to know and love. (Plus, Cat talks about how she's finally figured out what all those super weird tiktok videos are all about that disguise themselves as cooking videos or lifehacks.) 

Cat (HOLIDAY GAMES) and SJ (SECOND BITE) have holiday novellas coming out soon so look out for those as well!

You can find Mikayla on most platforms @lovemikaylaeve

A new episode? Is it Christmas? So close. It's holiday novella time! Join @catwynnauthor and @sjtilly as we speak with writer, professor, podcaster, and romance expert extraordinaire Kelly Reynolds from the podcast Boobies & Noobies! We talk about the rise of monster romance, asking ourselves the question: are men the real monsters though? And we learn all about Kelly's journey from screenplays to podcasts to novellas. Baby, you don't want to miss this one!

And be ready to order Kelly's holiday novella MEET ME IN LOS FELIZ! 

Cat (HOLIDAY GAMES) and SJ (SECOND BITE) have holiday novellas coming out soon so look out for those as well!

You can find Kelly @boobiespodcast on IG & Twitter and @realkellyrey on Tiktok.

We're back with a big one y'all. The TDF team returns from hiatus with an extra fun talk with the phenomenal Alicia Thompson. Listen to us discuss everything from Paramore to the quandary of trunked manuscripts. Also, it's just a f*cken good time.

You can order LOVE IN THE TIME OF SERIAL KILLERS today! And check out Alicia at www.aliciathompsonbooks.com

It's another hostisode with Cat Wynn (@catwynnauthor) and SJ Tilly (@sjtilly)! Cat's been out sick but she's back and SJ has got big writing news! Stay tuned for writing updates, Cat's gaylor/kaylor/tiktok celeb gossip rabbit hole, one sentence writing advice, what we've been reading/watching, and a real quick This or That to wrap it all up. We've missed you. Have you missed us?

Also, don't forget to check out bookstagrammer @chemoreads and debut author @sl.astor.writes

@catwynnauthor is still on an editing strike so instead of a lovely, lovely guest episode today, Cat and @sjtillyauthor answer a bunch of ridiculous Bookish Would You Rathers. Honestly, its a lot of fun and you should play along. We'll be sure to post the Would You Rathers in polls on our Instagram because we are benevolent gods indeed and who doesn't love interactive podcasting.

@catwynnauthor and @sjtillyauthor talk about that frustrating and inevitable time in every writer's life: the f*ck it, I can't just do it anymore time. They also discuss ways they strive to show sensitivity to all readers in their books and why FBoy island is a social experiment that makes men tell on each other.

As always, please listen, enjoy and write us a review so we know we should carry on.

It's the most exciting thing you never asked for: @catwynnauthor, @sjtillyauthor and SPECIAL RETURN GUEST Ellie Mae MacGregor @bisexual_booknerd reunite to discuss the big icy blue wave that's rocked the nation: ICE PLANET BARBARIANS by the incomparable Ruby Dixon. It's a freezing cold good time. Don't miss this one.

You can find Ellie Mae on instagram @bisexual_booknerd. You can also check out Ellie Mae’s novellas: THE NAUGHTY LIST and THE WITCH'S WOLVES on Kindle Unlimited! 

Today's episode is a very shout-outy episode! Listen to @catwynnauthor and @sjtillyauthor talk about giving away books (even signed copies!), following some great new instagram accounts, and what they're reading and watching now. Plus, some writing updates. 

Celebrate good times come on! @catwynnauthor @sjtillyauthor talk with return guest Gabby Marie from @gmariewrites because she finally finished her first novel!!! Fireworks! Confetti! Applause!

Listen to a full conversation on how it feels to finally do the damn thing, how it felt during the time when she was doing the damn thing, and what to expect after the damn thing is done! Writers: finish your novels already! And listen to this episode :)

You can find Gabby Marie on instagram at @gmariewrites Be on the lookout for her debut novel, coming soon!

You can find Cat Wynn on most platforms @catwynnauthor. Check out Cat's debut workplace romcom PARTNER TRACK at www.catwynnauthor.com, available where books are sold.

The TDF team is a day late on the upload but NOT a dollar short because Trilina Pucci is our guest and she brings a WEALTH of fun and information. Listen up if you want to learn all about the indie publishing biz and have an overall 10/10 time.

You can find Trillina @authortrilinapucci and www.trilinapucci.com

You can find Cat Wynn on most platforms @catwynnauthor. Check out Cat's debut workplace romcom PARTNER TRACK at www.catwynnauthor.com, available where books are sold.

Today it's just @catwynnauthor and @sjtillyauthor on the recording here to tell you to do yourself a favor when it comes to your art and PROMOTE YOURSELF. Also, they talk upcoming books, Christmas novellas and...Easter eggs in their novels. Don't miss out, because it's *just the two of us*.

You can find Cat Wynn on most platforms @catwynnauthor. Check out Cat's debut workplace romcom PARTNER TRACK at www.catwynnauthor.com, available where books are sold.

@catwynnauthor and @sjtillyauthor were SO excited to talk with the very dynamic writing duo RL Kenderson on today's pod! You don't want to miss this discussion about their very fascinating and unique writing relationship and also their long standing friendship as well. Hurray!

You can find Cat Wynn on most platforms @catwynnauthor. Check out Cat's debut workplace romcom PARTNER TRACK at www.catwynnauthor.com, available where books are sold.

You won't believe it ya'll, but the TDF team had the absolute privilege and honor to speak with the amazing Amie McNee aka inspiredtowrite on today's episode. Get your writing wisdom here! We talk about the importance of finding your true lens through journaling, why it's okay for artists to make money, living well off your art, and much, much more. (And trust, you don't want to miss the rapidfire at the end!)

You can find Amie @inspiredtowrite and www.amiemcnee.com.

You can find Cat Wynn on most platforms @catwynnauthor. Check out Cat's debut workplace romcom PARTNER TRACK at www.catwynnauthor.com, available where books are sold.

Wow, you do NOT want to miss this episode. Get all kinds of publishing and motivating tips from Courtney, one half of the best-selling duo Kennedy Fox. Extra fun, extra funny, super motivating!

The TDF team is so pumped to have well renowned, hilarious and gorgeous booktokker/bookstagrammer Kristie, aka read_between.the_wines on the show! Kristie talks all about how she first found romance, what it means to her, and what it's like to have videos with four million views! Plus, she's just really funny and nice, so don't miss out!

The day has finally arrived! Cat's debut workplace romcom is available now. Listen to Cat, Gabby, SJ, and Beatrix (yes, she returned just for this ep!) discuss PARTNER TRACK and all the reasons why you should run out and order it today or request is from your local library!

Check out PARTNER TRACK and Cat at www.catwynnauthor.com, available where books are sold, make sure to get the one with the blue illustrated cover.

It's a release day party! SMOKY DARLING by Tall, Dark & Fictional's own SJ Tilly is out now! Listen to a spoiler free episode all about the good stuff you'll get for this release. Be cool and pick up your copy today.

The TDF team welcomes Eve Dangerfield to the pod! You don't want to miss out! We discuss the intersection of art and capitalism, how Eve isn't writing romance for her great auntie's approval, and how Cat, in general, makes it weird.

What's Cat's fave romance novel of all time? (Hint: it's the title of this ep.) That's right! It's Kresley Cole's LOTHAIRE! Come listen to the TDF team discuss this creepy red eyed vampire with a droll sense of humor with only the kind of in depth, detailed literary analysis a romance writer could bring. AKA we get real serious about this y'all. You do not want to miss.

Follow Gabby Marie @gmariewrites on instagram

Follow SJ Tilly on most platforms @sjtillyauthor

Follow Cat Wynn on most platforms @catwynnauthor

The TDF team had THE MOST lovely time with Bookstagrammer turned author Esme Brett! Listen in to hear all about the struggle with the algorithm, the power of calling oneself a writer and coming up on good old fashion fanfic writing. Seriously, so much fun. Don't miss out!

Follow Esme @feminist_romance on instagram

@EsmeBrett on twitter

On her blog @ www.feministromance.home.blog

Don't miss this episode with all kinds of insider info about the self publishing world and what it feels like to REALLY put yourself out there with writers you admire. Sorry in advance that the outro music comes in early and even though the tdf team tried to fix it they couldn't :(

The TDF team rolls out the red carpet for the Queen of Booktok, Lu! Listen in to hear all about her booktok journey, and love of romance. We are in awe of her. You do NOT want to miss this one - tune in now!!

The TDF pod welcomes romance author, Julie Hamilton! Join Cat, and guest host Gabby Marie, as they discuss her debut contemporary romance, JUST FOR SHOW, and Julie's long history with her local romance writing group.

Cat & Bea continue our bite sized pod week with a part two (and even dirtier) round of This or That! Join in the fun by listening to this SNACK of an episode now ;)

Bite Sized Pod week continues with Cat and Bea playing a round of their fave game: dirty romance novel this or that! Join in the fun and listen to this snack-sized now ;)

Cat & Bea are two woe-is-I writers, just like you. Here's 10 quick and dirty tips to get-over-your-writing-depression! (BUT, if you are actually depressed, please consult a professional. Don't take the advice of two sad writers on a random podcast.)

Happy Valentine's Day, y'all!

Cat & Bea chat with one of the best romance bookstagrammers out there: Amanda aka Talk_about_swoon! Tune in to hear all about the bookstagram world, the ups and downs of social media and tropes galore!

Cat sits down with fellow contemporary romance writer, Ruby Barrett! Listen to find out about Ruby's publishing journey, whether or not she considers herself a rom-com writer, and more about her next novel: THE ROMANCE RECIPE! Also, Beatrix apologizes for being MIA on this EP - chronic illness is a betch.

The TDF team were lucky to chat with co-host of the podcast, Romance in Colour, and fellow romance writer... the fabulous, Tatianna Richardson! We discuss book recs, her current WIP, the romance genre, and much more on this week's episode.

Cat and Bea don't make resolutions, but they do make plans. Here's a quick writer's room ep where the TDF team talk about 2021 and what's to come in 2022. It's more exciting than it sounds, PROMISE lol.

Welcome to Season 2!!!

The TDF team was honored to speak with fellow podcaster and editor extraordinaire: JenReadsRomance! Or as you might know her, Jen Prokop aka one half of the hit romance podcast FATED MATES. Join us for this in depth discussion on all things romancelandia, and happy 2022 :)

It's time for a Holiday Special! *Cue sleigh bells*

Cat & Bea talk to the amazing Ellie Mae MacGregor about their steamy Santa novella, THE NAUGHTY LIST! Join in and get your annual dose of holiday spirit (it tastes like snow!) on the TDF podcast.

The TDF team was excited to sit down with freelance editor and fantasy writer, Katharine Lamoureux! Tune in to learn all about copy and line edits + more in this Season One finale special.

Cat & Bea talk to new romance writer and super friend of the pod, Gabby! Listen in as we discuss all the nuances of being a new writer and the millions of choices we have to make. Stick around till the end to hear a quickfire round ;)

The TDF team goes extreme with a new round of This or That! Tune in to see if you agree with C & B's picks ;)

Kicking off Season 1 Finale Week - Cat & Bea answer the rest of your questions asked on IG! Listen in to find out more juicy info.

It's the one thing that (almost) every writer has to wrestle with at some point in their writing career... writer's block! Yay. Just kidding, we hate it! Cat and Bea cover three different types of writer's block in this mini-sode and ways to overcome it - sort of.

Cat & Bea welcome onto the podcast, creator of FaRoFeb and fantasy romance writer, HR Moore! We talk all about her newest release, NATION OF THE SUN, and what it's like to navigate the Romantasy subgenre.

TDF team talks with contemporary, rock star romance author Hanna Earnest. Hear all about her journey in publishing her debut novel, ALL THE BEST NIGHTS + more!

You want smut tips? We got 'em! In this workshop mini-sode, Cat & Bea share more tricks of the trade. Let us know if you have any good smut tips you want to share or if we've sparked more questions ;)

The TDF team discusses every writer's inevitable fate... revisions! Do we hate it? Love it? Somewhere in between? Tune in to find out and learn all about Cat's journey on editing her manuscript for publication.

Cat and Bea sit down to talk (and fangirl!) with indie royalty, Laura Thalassa! Tune in to hear from the viral author of the Horseman and Bargainer series about her writing process, top this or that picks and much more. We couldn't contain our excitement, neither should you - listen now!

Note: Please be patient with our audio! A little fuzzy in the beginning but it improves.

Cat and Bea are joined by romance author, S.J. Tilly on a tell-as episode! We discuss what it's like to write smut as romance writers and learn all about S.J's writing, editing and publishing journey.

What makes a writer's world go round? It's other writer friends, and vodka helps. On today's mini-sode of TDF, Cat and Bea discuss the importance and difficulties of writer friends. Be OUR friend and listen in.

Cat & Bea answer questions they received on Instagram in another short & snappy mini-sode! Tune in as we reveal all... Happy Monday, weirdos!

In this mini-sode, Cat & Bea air out their writing grievances. Because sometimes, writing is just hard and everything's trash. Do you share the same grievances as us?

Argue it out with Cat & Beatrix about all the best romance tropes! Alpha or Beta? Dragon shifter or Werewolf? Good sex scenes or good plot? Death is not an option, C&B must choose! Play along with Tall, Dark & Fictional's This or That game. Only YOU can decide...  

Get ready for a debate about romance genre conventions! Cat & Beatrix explore what a convention is, which ones are popular, why they exist within fiction and if they can be broken. We make some “strong statements” and take sides about what we’d like to see in romance going forwards.

*TW: This episode has discussions around the use of SA in two books

Cat & Bea talk about all things writerly! From the compulsion to write, productivity, writing communities and updates on our WIPs + more. It’s all about what makes us tick as writers in this episode. Hint: It’s not wreath making ;)

It’s Cat & Beatrix's first book review! We discuss the infamous, inspirational, erotica romance: PRIEST by Sierra Simone. It might be a short episode, but it packs a punch just like Tyler Bell ;)