WEBVTT
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Hello, I'm Sarah.
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And I'm Tiffany.
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And this is the Clean Romance Podcast.
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We're going to break down five-star reads, hot button topics, and what makes clean romance shine.
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And this week, we are going to be talking about mine and Tiffany's current works in progress.
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Now, I don't know if this is a fluke or if this is a demonstration of what our listeners are most excited about.
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But the last time I checked, our most listened to episode was when we plotted out our Christmas romance that Tiffany and I wrote together.
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And so I thought, well, if y'all are that interested in the writing process, maybe Tiffany and I will just have an episode and kind of share where we're at and what we're working on.
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Okay.
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Um did you ask me something?
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I'm so sorry.
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No, I didn't ask you anything.
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I smiled at you, like, okay, Tiffany, because when I think of my current work in progress, I get uh anxious.
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Yes.
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How does your work in progress make you feel, Tiffany?
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Okay.
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So I have a few works in progress.
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Yes, I literally have four.
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So one of them is my book with Lindsay Rochester.
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We're working on a series together.
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It's called Love in Starlight Valley.
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It's a small town romance series that we're collabing on, and I'm super excited about that.
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I will say, and I feel like you would agree with me, writing with someone else, it's so much fun.
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And honestly, it's so much easier in some ways.
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Like the second you started talking about it, my brain started spinning, and I was like, as soon as I am done with book three in my series, I'm gonna start co-writing because it just moves so much faster.
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It does.
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It does.
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Well, because one, you're only writing half the book.
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Yes.
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You know?
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So it's literally half the work.
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But then there is something so fun about being able to have someone to bounce ideas off of and to decide the direction together.
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Now, I could see that being problematic for certain personality types, but so far it has worked very well for Lindsay and I.
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And I felt like we collabed really easily as well.
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I feel like there's the accountability, right?
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So when you're just writing for yourself, you're like, I'll do it tomorrow, I'll do it tomorrow, I'll do it tomorrow.
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And then it's been two weeks since you worked on your book.
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And so, but when Tiffany sent me her chapter, I was like, crap, now it's time for my chapter.
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Exactly, exactly.
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I would drop everything, I would have like food cooking on the stove and have my phone up and writing in the Google Doc.
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Yeah.
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My next chapter.
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And so I think that's part of it.
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Also, we you kind of edit as you go, right?
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So like Tiffany, you would send me your chapter, and then I would read through it, and then I would send you my chapter, and you would read through it.
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And so that it speeds up the process.
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Yes.
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And I think when for me, when I self-edit, I am picking every single word apart, but when I um have someone else doing that, I just trust you.
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Yeah.
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Like I That's so true.
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I'm just if Tiffany says it's good, it's good, you know?
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And so I am just a lot faster about it instead of trying to make every word a masterpiece or assuming that every word is crap and trying to like weed out three quarters of my Yes, that's so true.
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I will say, like, it did take some adjusting for me.
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Like, I would want to read over what I wrote like 15 times before pasting it into our shared Google Doc.
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And I feel like I've cut that habit.
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Like, I'm like, I can't, we don't afford to do, you know, like no one got done for that.
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Like, come on, let's go.
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And so I do think it actually, there's something really freeing about that in the creative process of just like letting it rip, you know, and you know someone else has your back.
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And it's also really fun to read.
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Like, obviously, I'm writing with people that I enjoy their books, and so I'm reading a book that I'm enjoying at the same time that I'm writing a book and enjoying it.
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It's really kind of fun, you know.
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Okay, so so that's your first work in progress.
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Is the one to write?
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So book one, yes, book one in the Starlight Valley series that is coming out September 15th.
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And right now, as we record this, we're finishing up our edits and gonna send it out um to editing and beta readers.
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And we're also working on a novelette, so a little bit shorter than a novella, but as an intro to the series.
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And so we're trying to write that at the same time.
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And honestly, we just decided this week we were like, we just need to finish book one and then work on the novel.
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But we're about halfway through the novelette, and by the time this episode comes out, that book should be out in the world, and that is just like a fun, you know, forced proximity little like firefighter book.
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It's it's really fun.
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All right.
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Well, I only have one work in progress, so I feel like I'm gonna go next, and then Tiffany's just gonna keep talking and talking because she's got so much going on.
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But I have learned, I I mean, along with everyone else in America, I feel like I've got like a little undiagnosed ADHD going on.
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And so what I have decided or figured out for my brain is I have to pick one thing, and then I have to allow myself to just latch onto it, and otherwise it won't get done.
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So while I am working on my current book, my brain is already plotting and excited about the next book, but I will not let myself start it.
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Yes.
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I have to finish the one I'm on first.
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Um, and so what I am working on is book two in the Rekindle Romance series.
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So book one was Abby and Scott's story about and the whole premise of the series is it's like marriage restoration.
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And so Abby and Scott, they were just your classic like parents of little kids, and they just had your classic struggles.
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I love that Tiffany laughs because that's what, yeah, you're just like, oh, it's like painful and hilarious all at the same time.
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So as literally as my son walks in.
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Yeah, it's like perfect timing.
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I couldn't help but laugh.
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Yes, I know about that, Sarah.
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So then um Abby's best friend, Lacey Lee.
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My original plan was there's a Bible study group, okay?
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And they're part of the fun is getting to know all these ladies.
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And my original plan was to write a book for each person, but now I'm just kinda I'm like, I I don't know that I have what it takes to do that.
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So, but all I know is next is Lacey Lee's story.
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And Lacey Lee is Abby's best friend, and um, so she's dealing with fertility issues, and that's kind of her and her husband's struggle.
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Um Lacey Lee's very fun-loving.
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So, in on one hand, she's my like funnest, happiest character, but she's dealing with the most heartbreaking stuff.
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And so it has been a really tough balance for me because I want to keep it lighthearted, but we're also dealing with hard stuff and I want to feel it deep.
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Um because I am a feeler, and uh and Lacey Lee is a feeler, and so it's like we're feeling this deep, but I also want to keep it like hopeful, right?
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Yeah, so it has taken me a lot.
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I am more of a pantster, so I kind of figure out the plot as I go.
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I know the ultimate, I know these huge steps, but kind of figuring out the little baby steps to get to the huge spots has been hard.
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And so I've just moved slow.
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And I have not put, I will say I've not put the time into it.
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Like I need every time I finish a book.
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I mean, I spend months, like every single day sitting down for like two to I'm always like one hour, one hour of writing, and then three hours later.
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Um and I just haven't done that yet for this one, but I'm reaching a point where it's like, like, if I want to finish this book, I'm gonna have to just say this month I finished the first draft, and like that is gonna be my sole purpose of the month, and that really is probably what I'm gonna do this yeah coming month.
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Um but then I do a lot of rounds of edit editing, and I'm trying to reduce that because it's super time consuming, but I don't want to reduce the excellence, right?
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And so I hear other people talk about they write a book, they do a run through, and then they send it to their editor, and I just think that sounds amazing.
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But I write a book and then I do like a heavy edit round, and then I do a run through, and then I do another run through, and then I might do one more, and then I send it to an editor.
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I mean, it is like yeah, I want to figure out.
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But I think I think as you as you keep writing books and as you learn to trust yourself a little bit more, that will become less and less, I think.
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Okay.
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So with I will say with all the things that come between us, I did I did less editing and I was like, this is it.
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I did I did the draft, then I did like one or two rounds, and then I was like, I'm done.
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This is great.
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And then I submitted it to uh I queried or whatever.
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I queried agents.
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Yeah.
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And I had an agent hit me back and she said, I'm really interested in this, but it needs to be 80,000 words.
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And at the time it was like 68,000 words.
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Okay.
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That feels like a solid book to me, 68,000 words.
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She and she said it, but she was like, I won't like for the market, romance has to be at least 80,000.
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I won't represent it unless it is.
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So I was like, okay.
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So I thought, I was like, I thought I had written a book quickly or quicker, with like way less rounds of editing, and then I suddenly had to add 12,000 words to it.
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Which I will say, I honestly believe it's a God thing.
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I think it made my book better.
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I think it made me develop things better.
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Um I can't even I only remember one chapter that I added that is almost like it almost feels like a senseless chapter, except it's not, because it gives you a view into Abby and Scott's marriage.
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So it's the I added the lasagna night.
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Do you remember the lasagna night?
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Yeah, with the she tries to make eggplant lasagna or something.
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Yeah.
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Zucchini lasagna, and it was an epic disaster.
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And so it just kind of gives you a peek into like their relationship.
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And try my goal is to help you love them more and also be like, oh, this poor couple.
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Right, right.
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But I think there's so much humor in that to you and relatability.
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I feel like that.
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Yeah.
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Anyway, so that was that's that's my story.
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So I am still just working on this book, but it is I am I'm reaching a point where it's like it's time to sit down and make it my main focus.
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Yeah.
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Well, hopefully, with us recording all of these little episodes.
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We guys, we spend so much time on the podcast trying to make this excellent for you guys.
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And and honestly, we love it.
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We I mean, we have so much fun, but I do think that our writing has taken a backseat in a lot of ways because of that.
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Yeah.
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Um, so it's just a reality, just letting you in behind the scenes of like our lives, you know.
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I wasn't gonna say it out loud, but that was I do think it's like the the podcast has taken a chunk of my what time I normally would spend on writing, I'm instead spending on the podcast.
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And so, you know, it's a balance and kind of learning.
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Yeah.
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It's you know, probably I just need to wake up at 5 a.m.
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But then I also think that I need sleep.
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And right, exactly.
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So, you know, whatever.
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Yeah.
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I do think, you know, there's there's something to be said, what you're saying about, you know, wanting to keep your book lighthearted, but also dealing with these heavier topics.
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I think that that's a worthy, I don't know, like thing to work through.
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And and I think it just takes time.
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That's how I'm feeling about my baseball book, which is um the next book in the Sports in the Sunshine State series, which you know, pucks and prank off the bench, and then this one is faking the pitch, and it's a fake dating, um, you know, I don't know, opposites attract kind of grumpy sunshine.
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I know.
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I was like, grumpy sunshine, it's coming, it's coming.
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Yes, yeah.
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But he is dealing with alcohol abuse, and there are some wounds there that I'm like, I want to treat this correctly.
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I wanna, um I think so often I read books where it's like the character that one of the main characters is given a wound, but it's flippantly done, and then it doesn't really actually affect the story.
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But this is like actually affecting the story, and it's actually doing it in a way that I wasn't, I didn't anticipate how deep it was gonna go.
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And I'm like, all right, this guy needs Jesus.
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Like, I was not planning on this being like, oh, he has a conversion experience or something like that, but like I got halfway through this book and I'm like, there is no way I can get this guy out of this without Jesus.
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Like, he is the only way, and so um so he's that Jesus.
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Yeah, I I've had to work on that, and obviously I want that to be powerful and authentic, and you know, all of those things, um, and the payoff to feel earned, and so I'm I'm very, very slowly working on that book, and I have no idea when that's gonna come out, but when it does, I I'm really excited for it because I do feel like these characters have been through a lot, but it's still lighthearted, like there's still like funny beats, you know.
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So I'm trying.
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I'm trying.
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Yeah, I feel that so deeply.
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And it's and I also as a reader, I want like I think a lot of times characters have this huge struggle that they're dealing with, this huge pain, and then it's just like fixed.
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Right.
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Like just oh, and it's all better now, and we're getting married and having babies.
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And I'm like, I just think that you know, it's gonna take longer than uh yes, and that's actually what I'm dealing with, and one reason I'm like tiptoeing through the end of my book is that I'm at the point where we have like healing and fixing, and I don't want to like draw this out and make it boring and like a slog, but also like you don't just heal overnight.
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Yeah, it's true.
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Yeah, there's such a balance.
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I feel like everything we're talking about, it's like there's such a balance, it's a tight rope to walk.
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And so I am because it is a tight rope, I am tiptoeing and moving so slowly.
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And I think the same.
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Oh, I so I need to like I don't know.
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I need to just run across it real quick, like make a jump.
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And then fix things after.
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That's why I keep reminding myself it's not the hard to fix things.
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A few sentences here and there.
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Anyway, okay, so you have two other works in progress, but I think they're not clean romance, they're a whole other genre, right?
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So one of the other works in progress that I have is the novelette that I'm working on with Lindsay.
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All right.
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So, and then I am working on a nonfiction book with a publisher that is um called The Biblically Resilient Woman.
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And so that is um, yeah, like suffering well with God.
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And I am just terrified, Sarah.
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Like, how is this process working?
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Like, do you have a date for when your thing has to be submitted?
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How many words are we talking about?
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Because sometimes nonfiction is like 30,000, like it doesn't have to be as meaty.
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No, yeah, that's a good question.
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I told them that I would agree, because they they asked me to to do this, so I told them I would only agree to do it if they did not give me a deadline.
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Oh wow.
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They did, so they didn't give me a deadline.
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So you have no deadline, I have no deadline, but like in my head, I'm like, okay, 12 to 18 months is like my goal.
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That's a long goal.
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Like for me, writing a book, like that's a really long time, but I've never done a nonfiction book.
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Like I've done, you know, I I like to write articles like nonfiction articles, um, Christian content, you know.
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So I've done that a decent amount, but not full length like this.
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So we'll see.
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I'm at the very beginning stages of this.
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I'm doing a lot of research about so part of it is gonna be doing like a deeper dive on the book of Job, but I I'm like wanting to bring in my narrative like you know, strengths.
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Yeah.
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And so I'm kind of toying around with the idea of the beginning of the book being a very short story that is a retelling of Job, but from a modern day perspective.
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And because it's for women, I'm thinking of making Job a woman and telling it from that perspective.
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So, you know, like I'm just kind of mulling over like how can I do that in a way, like what I want is for people to be able to connect to the story in a deeper way, in a way that feels relatable um and like contemporary, but still holding true to the original story.
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Right.
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I love that.
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I I believe that stories change people more than the I don't even know what's just like the writing.
00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:14.240
Yeah, you know, like I love a story, even if in a nonfiction, if it can start with a story and enroll me, and then like we can have a break and learn some stuff, and then if we could like get back to the story or get to another story or something, I like it.
00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:17.039
Yeah, I like when people do that or when they share stories from their own life.
00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:18.720
I just I love a story.
00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:24.880
I don't yes, I don't and if it's all connected, you're more likely to finish it.
00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:28.880
Right, right from a non-fiction reader perspective.
00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:30.720
I never finish that's very true.
00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:31.599
Yeah.
00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:32.319
Yeah.
00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:33.200
All right.
00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:34.559
So that's what I'm working on.
00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:41.440
And if you guys want to pray for me and for us for our works in progress, that would be awesome.
00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:43.599
Yes, please.
00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:45.519
We need it.
00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:46.319
Yeah, we do.
00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:51.680
So, and hopefully, I mean, maybe even by the time this episode comes out, I will be further along.
00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:53.039
Yeah.
00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:53.839
We'll see.
00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:54.400
Yeah.
00:19:54.720 --> 00:20:00.000
We'll be planning Tiffany's launch party for their uh for their book.
00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:01.759
So that'll be super fun.
00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:03.839
And but we'll keep you posted.
00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:08.160
That is what our writing process looks like, like a hot mess.
00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:15.440
And uh But we're doing it together, we're a hot mess together, which is the best.
00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:19.440
It's good to have friends, and I'm now like, you know what?
00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:23.279
I'm just gonna send the first draft to Tiffany instead of like pouring it.
00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:28.720
But what happens is I was like gonna send it to you, and then I read the first chapter, and I couldn't even get past the first page.
00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:31.039
I had so many edits I feel like I needed to make.
00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:33.200
Like I just pick it all apart.
00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:34.240
So yeah.
00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:35.920
You just gotta let it rip.
00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:37.519
Rip the band-aid off.
00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:38.799
I don't know if I can't.
00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:39.200
Okay.
00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:44.079
I'll send it to you and let you say, ooh, you gotta change this, or ooh, no, this is great.
00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:44.480
Okay.
00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:45.519
Sounds good.
00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:46.720
Let's do it.
00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:48.799
And I'm sending stuff your way.
00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:50.400
I've been meaning to talk to you about that.
00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:51.359
Okay, good.
00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:52.079
I'm ready.
00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:54.079
I'm so excited for your baseball book.
00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:56.319
I'm excited for your redemption story.
00:20:56.400 --> 00:20:59.200
Um that I'm sorry.
00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:03.680
I feel like it's my fault that you're writing something deeper, but I love it and I'm so excited for that.
00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:05.440
Yes, yeah, for sure.
00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:06.720
I'm excited too.
00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:08.000
It's good stuff.
00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:13.359
We're so excited for our book sponsorship today.
00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:24.880
We have Kim Griffin and her book, More Than Fine, which is a redemption story, a Christian romance that I'm so excited about.
00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:43.039
Um, it's about Gia Hoffman, who's seeking a fresh start at Morgan Stanley in New York City, but her past haunts her until brooding portfolio manager Nick Bellante mentors her, and their connection challenges both to heal.
00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:51.759
So we've got some broody male main characters, some redemption, and it is a Christian romance.
00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:56.240
There's some some beautiful redemption threads in there.
00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:59.759
You know, we were talking about our works in progress.
00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:04.720
And some of the challenging things that we're writing about in these.
00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:09.519
And so I knew that her book had some challenging things in it.
00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:20.079
So I invited her to share with us what was something difficult yet rewarding that you wrote into this book that you wouldn't want to share with us.
00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:24.319
Tackling tough topics can be a challenge for a clean romance author.
00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:28.240
This was very apparent in my most recent novel, More Than Fine.
00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:36.799
I have Nick, who has secrets from his past that he thinks are unforgivable, and Gia, who has trauma from her past.
00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:50.319
And where the challenge comes in is being able to describe these things without using explicit language and without taking the reader to such a dark place that they have a hard time coming back from it.
00:22:50.559 --> 00:23:01.599
Philippians 4.8 says, Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable.
00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:06.319
If there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:26.880
As a Christian author, this is a verse that I always come back to because I want to talk about dark things so that the book seems realistic and so that people can relate to it and realize I can go through dark things and hard things and also find hope and joy at the end of those things, and even sometimes in the midst of those things.
00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:31.039
So this was probably the hardest thing for me to do in this particular book.
00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:38.319
All of my books go to hard places, but this one maybe delves a little bit deeper.
00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:43.119
And in contrast, I think it also makes the light shine so much brighter.
00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:47.200
That is my goal in all of my writing, is that the light would shine bright.
00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:49.680
I hope that you'll read more than fine.
00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:53.039
Thanks, Kim, for sharing that with us.
00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:59.680
I the scripture that you shared is like our theme scripture, Philippians 4.8 on the podcast.
00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:01.839
I think we might need to make shirts or something.
00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:03.039
We should, yeah.
00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:05.279
We need to make a swag with Philippians 4.8.
00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:07.039
Add it to the logo or something.
00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:08.799
Oh, bookmarks.
00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:10.559
We're gonna make bookmarks.
00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:13.759
In our abundant free time.
00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:14.559
Yeah.
00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:21.359
Well, go check out Kim Griffin's newest book, More Than Fine.
00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:25.920
It's available on Amazon, in Kindle Unlimited, and on paperback.
00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:28.720
Thanks so much, Kim, for being an episode sponsor.
00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:30.799
We really appreciate you.
00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:32.240
Thanks, Kim.
00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:36.880
All right, we are popping back in with our five-star reads.
00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:48.960
And so my five-star read this week, I am so excited to share it because it's just like, I don't know, we have the secret that we can't talk about yet, and it gets me excited about our secret.
00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:56.319
So my five-star read is Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson.
00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:59.279
Y'all know I'm a huge Melissa Ferguson fan.
00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:06.720
And this was like a fun little murder mystery set on a cruise ship, and it was just a super fun book.
00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:15.119
Um, it's like the It's Always Been You trope, which might be one of like, yeah, I think it's a top trope for me.
00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:16.799
I love that it's always been you.
00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:21.920
So um, anyway, highly recommend Melissa Ferguson without a clue.
00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:23.039
Nice.
00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:33.920
I my five-star read is Anna Conwell, All That Glitters, and that's the second book in her rom com university series.
00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:36.160
So it's a super fun series.
00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:39.279
The next book actually just came out, the third book in the series.
00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:40.480
I haven't read it yet.
00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:57.759
Um, but this one is about a full like former best friends that something goes wrong and they're no longer friends, they're enemies, and they're working together at the university's uh newspaper.
00:25:58.559 --> 00:25:58.880
Ooh.
00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:05.759
So, and they are assigned a uh an article, a series of articles together.
00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:06.880
Okay, wait.
00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:08.559
Are these former best friends?
00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:10.160
Is this a girl and a guy?
00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:11.359
A girl and a guy, yeah.
00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:15.519
Okay, because when you said best friends, I'm thinking about like two girls, and then I was like, wait, is it a love triangle?
00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:16.160
What's happening here?
00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:16.559
Okay.
00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:20.079
No, no, former childhood friends, male and female.
00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:20.720
Okay.
00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:29.920
I'm listening to a book right now that is this, I'm pretty sure it's in it's always been you, and it's also former best friends.
00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:31.200
And I it is so good.
00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:36.480
So anyway, um just this is I feel like this trope is everywhere right now, and I'm loving it.
00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.359
Yes.
00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:42.079
All right, and is that book available on Kindle and in all the places?
00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:43.279
Yes, all the places.
00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:44.880
Kindle Unlimited Paperback.
00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:47.440
Oh, and it looks like you can get it in audiobooks.
00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:49.759
Yeah, I love audiobooks.
00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:50.559
Yeah.
00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:51.519
All right.
00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:53.920
Well, thank y'all so much for tuning in.
00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:56.559
These were our five-star reads.
00:26:56.880 --> 00:27:03.920
Well, thank you for joining us today on the Clean Romance podcast, where Clean Romance lives happily ever after.
00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:10.319
Wherever you're listening, follow or subscribe so you don't miss a single episode.
00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:12.960
Until next time, happy reading.
00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:14.480
And happy writing.
00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:16.480
And happy writing.
00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:08.480
Hello, I'm Sarah.
00:00:08.720 --> 00:00:09.919
And I'm Tiffany.
00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:12.960
And this is the Clean Romance Podcast.
00:00:13.119 --> 00:00:19.760
We're going to break down five-star reads, hot button topics, and what makes clean romance shine.
00:00:20.239 --> 00:00:26.480
And this week, we are going to be talking about mine and Tiffany's current works in progress.
00:00:26.879 --> 00:00:33.920
Now, I don't know if this is a fluke or if this is a demonstration of what our listeners are most excited about.
00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:42.799
But the last time I checked, our most listened to episode was when we plotted out our Christmas romance that Tiffany and I wrote together.
00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:53.119
And so I thought, well, if y'all are that interested in the writing process, maybe Tiffany and I will just have an episode and kind of share where we're at and what we're working on.
00:00:53.679 --> 00:00:54.000
Okay.
00:00:55.039 --> 00:00:57.280
Um did you ask me something?
00:00:57.359 --> 00:00:57.840
I'm so sorry.
00:00:58.320 --> 00:00:59.439
No, I didn't ask you anything.
00:00:59.600 --> 00:01:05.920
I smiled at you, like, okay, Tiffany, because when I think of my current work in progress, I get uh anxious.
00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:06.400
Yes.
00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:08.879
How does your work in progress make you feel, Tiffany?
00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:09.439
Okay.
00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:12.319
So I have a few works in progress.
00:01:12.560 --> 00:01:14.560
Yes, I literally have four.
00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:18.959
So one of them is my book with Lindsay Rochester.
00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:20.560
We're working on a series together.
00:01:20.640 --> 00:01:22.959
It's called Love in Starlight Valley.
00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:30.079
It's a small town romance series that we're collabing on, and I'm super excited about that.
00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:37.680
I will say, and I feel like you would agree with me, writing with someone else, it's so much fun.
00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:41.439
And honestly, it's so much easier in some ways.
00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:54.079
Like the second you started talking about it, my brain started spinning, and I was like, as soon as I am done with book three in my series, I'm gonna start co-writing because it just moves so much faster.
00:01:54.400 --> 00:01:54.879
It does.
00:01:55.040 --> 00:01:55.359
It does.
00:01:55.519 --> 00:01:58.159
Well, because one, you're only writing half the book.
00:01:58.319 --> 00:01:58.719
Yes.
00:01:58.879 --> 00:01:59.359
You know?
00:01:59.599 --> 00:02:01.920
So it's literally half the work.
00:02:02.159 --> 00:02:12.159
But then there is something so fun about being able to have someone to bounce ideas off of and to decide the direction together.
00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:21.599
Now, I could see that being problematic for certain personality types, but so far it has worked very well for Lindsay and I.
00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:25.439
And I felt like we collabed really easily as well.
00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:27.840
I feel like there's the accountability, right?
00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:32.159
So when you're just writing for yourself, you're like, I'll do it tomorrow, I'll do it tomorrow, I'll do it tomorrow.
00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:34.159
And then it's been two weeks since you worked on your book.
00:02:34.479 --> 00:02:38.319
And so, but when Tiffany sent me her chapter, I was like, crap, now it's time for my chapter.
00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:39.840
Exactly, exactly.
00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:47.520
I would drop everything, I would have like food cooking on the stove and have my phone up and writing in the Google Doc.
00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:48.000
Yeah.
00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:48.960
My next chapter.
00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:50.639
And so I think that's part of it.
00:02:50.800 --> 00:02:53.039
Also, we you kind of edit as you go, right?
00:02:53.199 --> 00:02:58.800
So like Tiffany, you would send me your chapter, and then I would read through it, and then I would send you my chapter, and you would read through it.
00:02:58.879 --> 00:03:00.879
And so that it speeds up the process.
00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:01.759
Yes.
00:03:02.159 --> 00:03:13.680
And I think when for me, when I self-edit, I am picking every single word apart, but when I um have someone else doing that, I just trust you.
00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:14.240
Yeah.
00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:15.680
Like I That's so true.
00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:18.479
I'm just if Tiffany says it's good, it's good, you know?
00:03:18.639 --> 00:03:30.479
And so I am just a lot faster about it instead of trying to make every word a masterpiece or assuming that every word is crap and trying to like weed out three quarters of my Yes, that's so true.
00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:34.400
I will say, like, it did take some adjusting for me.
00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:43.759
Like, I would want to read over what I wrote like 15 times before pasting it into our shared Google Doc.
00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:46.639
And I feel like I've cut that habit.
00:03:46.719 --> 00:03:52.319
Like, I'm like, I can't, we don't afford to do, you know, like no one got done for that.
00:03:52.479 --> 00:03:53.840
Like, come on, let's go.
00:03:54.080 --> 00:04:05.520
And so I do think it actually, there's something really freeing about that in the creative process of just like letting it rip, you know, and you know someone else has your back.
00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:07.439
And it's also really fun to read.
00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:18.399
Like, obviously, I'm writing with people that I enjoy their books, and so I'm reading a book that I'm enjoying at the same time that I'm writing a book and enjoying it.
00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:20.319
It's really kind of fun, you know.
00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:23.920
Okay, so so that's your first work in progress.
00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:25.279
Is the one to write?
00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:34.000
So book one, yes, book one in the Starlight Valley series that is coming out September 15th.
00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:44.560
And right now, as we record this, we're finishing up our edits and gonna send it out um to editing and beta readers.
00:04:44.800 --> 00:04:53.519
And we're also working on a novelette, so a little bit shorter than a novella, but as an intro to the series.
00:04:54.079 --> 00:04:56.639
And so we're trying to write that at the same time.
00:04:56.800 --> 00:05:02.319
And honestly, we just decided this week we were like, we just need to finish book one and then work on the novel.
00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:22.160
But we're about halfway through the novelette, and by the time this episode comes out, that book should be out in the world, and that is just like a fun, you know, forced proximity little like firefighter book.
00:05:22.399 --> 00:05:24.000
It's it's really fun.
00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:25.759
All right.
00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:34.000
Well, I only have one work in progress, so I feel like I'm gonna go next, and then Tiffany's just gonna keep talking and talking because she's got so much going on.
00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:41.279
But I have learned, I I mean, along with everyone else in America, I feel like I've got like a little undiagnosed ADHD going on.
00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:53.040
And so what I have decided or figured out for my brain is I have to pick one thing, and then I have to allow myself to just latch onto it, and otherwise it won't get done.
00:05:53.199 --> 00:06:00.720
So while I am working on my current book, my brain is already plotting and excited about the next book, but I will not let myself start it.
00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:01.279
Yes.
00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:03.439
I have to finish the one I'm on first.
00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:09.839
Um, and so what I am working on is book two in the Rekindle Romance series.
00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:17.920
So book one was Abby and Scott's story about and the whole premise of the series is it's like marriage restoration.
00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:27.360
And so Abby and Scott, they were just your classic like parents of little kids, and they just had your classic struggles.
00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:34.000
I love that Tiffany laughs because that's what, yeah, you're just like, oh, it's like painful and hilarious all at the same time.
00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:38.240
So as literally as my son walks in.
00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:40.399
Yeah, it's like perfect timing.
00:06:40.639 --> 00:06:41.839
I couldn't help but laugh.
00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:44.240
Yes, I know about that, Sarah.
00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:48.959
So then um Abby's best friend, Lacey Lee.
00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:52.959
My original plan was there's a Bible study group, okay?
00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:56.560
And they're part of the fun is getting to know all these ladies.
00:06:56.720 --> 00:07:02.879
And my original plan was to write a book for each person, but now I'm just kinda I'm like, I I don't know that I have what it takes to do that.
00:07:03.120 --> 00:07:05.279
So, but all I know is next is Lacey Lee's story.
00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:12.399
And Lacey Lee is Abby's best friend, and um, so she's dealing with fertility issues, and that's kind of her and her husband's struggle.
00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:15.279
Um Lacey Lee's very fun-loving.
00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:23.040
So, in on one hand, she's my like funnest, happiest character, but she's dealing with the most heartbreaking stuff.
00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:31.439
And so it has been a really tough balance for me because I want to keep it lighthearted, but we're also dealing with hard stuff and I want to feel it deep.
00:07:31.839 --> 00:07:41.759
Um because I am a feeler, and uh and Lacey Lee is a feeler, and so it's like we're feeling this deep, but I also want to keep it like hopeful, right?
00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:44.800
Yeah, so it has taken me a lot.
00:07:45.040 --> 00:07:49.839
I am more of a pantster, so I kind of figure out the plot as I go.
00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:57.519
I know the ultimate, I know these huge steps, but kind of figuring out the little baby steps to get to the huge spots has been hard.
00:07:58.240 --> 00:08:00.000
And so I've just moved slow.
00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:03.680
And I have not put, I will say I've not put the time into it.
00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:05.759
Like I need every time I finish a book.
00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:13.839
I mean, I spend months, like every single day sitting down for like two to I'm always like one hour, one hour of writing, and then three hours later.
00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:30.399
Um and I just haven't done that yet for this one, but I'm reaching a point where it's like, like, if I want to finish this book, I'm gonna have to just say this month I finished the first draft, and like that is gonna be my sole purpose of the month, and that really is probably what I'm gonna do this yeah coming month.
00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:40.879
Um but then I do a lot of rounds of edit editing, and I'm trying to reduce that because it's super time consuming, but I don't want to reduce the excellence, right?
00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:49.120
And so I hear other people talk about they write a book, they do a run through, and then they send it to their editor, and I just think that sounds amazing.
00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:59.039
But I write a book and then I do like a heavy edit round, and then I do a run through, and then I do another run through, and then I might do one more, and then I send it to an editor.
00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:03.679
I mean, it is like yeah, I want to figure out.
00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:13.759
But I think I think as you as you keep writing books and as you learn to trust yourself a little bit more, that will become less and less, I think.
00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:14.399
Okay.
00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:21.679
So with I will say with all the things that come between us, I did I did less editing and I was like, this is it.
00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:26.879
I did I did the draft, then I did like one or two rounds, and then I was like, I'm done.
00:09:27.039 --> 00:09:28.000
This is great.
00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:33.519
And then I submitted it to uh I queried or whatever.
00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:34.720
I queried agents.
00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:35.600
Yeah.
00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:42.720
And I had an agent hit me back and she said, I'm really interested in this, but it needs to be 80,000 words.
00:09:42.879 --> 00:09:46.240
And at the time it was like 68,000 words.
00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:47.759
Okay.
00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:50.960
That feels like a solid book to me, 68,000 words.
00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:57.039
She and she said it, but she was like, I won't like for the market, romance has to be at least 80,000.
00:09:57.120 --> 00:09:58.399
I won't represent it unless it is.
00:09:58.639 --> 00:09:59.840
So I was like, okay.
00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:12.080
So I thought, I was like, I thought I had written a book quickly or quicker, with like way less rounds of editing, and then I suddenly had to add 12,000 words to it.
00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:16.320
Which I will say, I honestly believe it's a God thing.
00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:17.919
I think it made my book better.
00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:21.840
I think it made me develop things better.
00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:34.480
Um I can't even I only remember one chapter that I added that is almost like it almost feels like a senseless chapter, except it's not, because it gives you a view into Abby and Scott's marriage.
00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:38.080
So it's the I added the lasagna night.
00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:40.000
Do you remember the lasagna night?
00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:45.440
Yeah, with the she tries to make eggplant lasagna or something.
00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:45.840
Yeah.
00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:49.360
Zucchini lasagna, and it was an epic disaster.
00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:52.720
And so it just kind of gives you a peek into like their relationship.
00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:58.320
And try my goal is to help you love them more and also be like, oh, this poor couple.
00:10:58.639 --> 00:10:59.279
Right, right.
00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:02.799
But I think there's so much humor in that to you and relatability.
00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:04.159
I feel like that.
00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:05.519
Yeah.
00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:09.200
Anyway, so that was that's that's my story.
00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:17.360
So I am still just working on this book, but it is I am I'm reaching a point where it's like it's time to sit down and make it my main focus.
00:11:17.679 --> 00:11:18.000
Yeah.
00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:23.279
Well, hopefully, with us recording all of these little episodes.
00:11:23.679 --> 00:11:30.399
We guys, we spend so much time on the podcast trying to make this excellent for you guys.
00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:33.840
And and honestly, we love it.
00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:44.639
We I mean, we have so much fun, but I do think that our writing has taken a backseat in a lot of ways because of that.
00:11:44.799 --> 00:11:45.120
Yeah.
00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:51.200
Um, so it's just a reality, just letting you in behind the scenes of like our lives, you know.
00:11:51.440 --> 00:12:03.519
I wasn't gonna say it out loud, but that was I do think it's like the the podcast has taken a chunk of my what time I normally would spend on writing, I'm instead spending on the podcast.
00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:07.200
And so, you know, it's a balance and kind of learning.
00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:08.320
Yeah.
00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:10.799
It's you know, probably I just need to wake up at 5 a.m.
00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:13.279
But then I also think that I need sleep.
00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:15.440
And right, exactly.
00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:18.320
So, you know, whatever.
00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:19.120
Yeah.
00:12:19.440 --> 00:12:28.399
I do think, you know, there's there's something to be said, what you're saying about, you know, wanting to keep your book lighthearted, but also dealing with these heavier topics.
00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:34.960
I think that that's a worthy, I don't know, like thing to work through.
00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:38.080
And and I think it just takes time.
00:12:38.320 --> 00:13:03.759
That's how I'm feeling about my baseball book, which is um the next book in the Sports in the Sunshine State series, which you know, pucks and prank off the bench, and then this one is faking the pitch, and it's a fake dating, um, you know, I don't know, opposites attract kind of grumpy sunshine.
00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:04.240
I know.
00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:06.799
I was like, grumpy sunshine, it's coming, it's coming.
00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:08.240
Yes, yeah.
00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:21.759
But he is dealing with alcohol abuse, and there are some wounds there that I'm like, I want to treat this correctly.
00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:36.799
I wanna, um I think so often I read books where it's like the character that one of the main characters is given a wound, but it's flippantly done, and then it doesn't really actually affect the story.
00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:47.360
But this is like actually affecting the story, and it's actually doing it in a way that I wasn't, I didn't anticipate how deep it was gonna go.
00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:51.919
And I'm like, all right, this guy needs Jesus.
00:13:52.000 --> 00:14:04.159
Like, I was not planning on this being like, oh, he has a conversion experience or something like that, but like I got halfway through this book and I'm like, there is no way I can get this guy out of this without Jesus.
00:14:04.320 --> 00:14:09.519
Like, he is the only way, and so um so he's that Jesus.
00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:44.480
Yeah, I I've had to work on that, and obviously I want that to be powerful and authentic, and you know, all of those things, um, and the payoff to feel earned, and so I'm I'm very, very slowly working on that book, and I have no idea when that's gonna come out, but when it does, I I'm really excited for it because I do feel like these characters have been through a lot, but it's still lighthearted, like there's still like funny beats, you know.
00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:46.159
So I'm trying.
00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:46.720
I'm trying.
00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:49.360
Yeah, I feel that so deeply.
00:14:49.519 --> 00:15:01.360
And it's and I also as a reader, I want like I think a lot of times characters have this huge struggle that they're dealing with, this huge pain, and then it's just like fixed.
00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:02.399
Right.
00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:06.879
Like just oh, and it's all better now, and we're getting married and having babies.
00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:32.559
And I'm like, I just think that you know, it's gonna take longer than uh yes, and that's actually what I'm dealing with, and one reason I'm like tiptoeing through the end of my book is that I'm at the point where we have like healing and fixing, and I don't want to like draw this out and make it boring and like a slog, but also like you don't just heal overnight.
00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:34.159
Yeah, it's true.
00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:35.840
Yeah, there's such a balance.
00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:41.120
I feel like everything we're talking about, it's like there's such a balance, it's a tight rope to walk.
00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:46.559
And so I am because it is a tight rope, I am tiptoeing and moving so slowly.
00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:48.480
And I think the same.
00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:52.320
Oh, I so I need to like I don't know.
00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:55.840
I need to just run across it real quick, like make a jump.
00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:57.919
And then fix things after.
00:15:58.159 --> 00:16:00.399
That's why I keep reminding myself it's not the hard to fix things.
00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:01.759
A few sentences here and there.
00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:07.840
Anyway, okay, so you have two other works in progress, but I think they're not clean romance, they're a whole other genre, right?
00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:13.360
So one of the other works in progress that I have is the novelette that I'm working on with Lindsay.
00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:13.840
All right.
00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:23.840
So, and then I am working on a nonfiction book with a publisher that is um called The Biblically Resilient Woman.
00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:30.960
And so that is um, yeah, like suffering well with God.
00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:34.960
And I am just terrified, Sarah.
00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:37.519
Like, how is this process working?
00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:41.039
Like, do you have a date for when your thing has to be submitted?
00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:42.480
How many words are we talking about?
00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:46.639
Because sometimes nonfiction is like 30,000, like it doesn't have to be as meaty.
00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:49.519
No, yeah, that's a good question.
00:16:49.840 --> 00:17:01.120
I told them that I would agree, because they they asked me to to do this, so I told them I would only agree to do it if they did not give me a deadline.
00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:02.480
Oh wow.
00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:06.000
They did, so they didn't give me a deadline.
00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:16.240
So you have no deadline, I have no deadline, but like in my head, I'm like, okay, 12 to 18 months is like my goal.
00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:17.599
That's a long goal.
00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:23.039
Like for me, writing a book, like that's a really long time, but I've never done a nonfiction book.
00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:31.680
Like I've done, you know, I I like to write articles like nonfiction articles, um, Christian content, you know.
00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:38.079
So I've done that a decent amount, but not full length like this.
00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:39.599
So we'll see.
00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:42.319
I'm at the very beginning stages of this.
00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:59.039
I'm doing a lot of research about so part of it is gonna be doing like a deeper dive on the book of Job, but I I'm like wanting to bring in my narrative like you know, strengths.
00:17:59.359 --> 00:17:59.599
Yeah.
00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:14.079
And so I'm kind of toying around with the idea of the beginning of the book being a very short story that is a retelling of Job, but from a modern day perspective.
00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:22.559
And because it's for women, I'm thinking of making Job a woman and telling it from that perspective.
00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:46.319
So, you know, like I'm just kind of mulling over like how can I do that in a way, like what I want is for people to be able to connect to the story in a deeper way, in a way that feels relatable um and like contemporary, but still holding true to the original story.
00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:47.279
Right.
00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:49.279
I love that.
00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:58.720
I I believe that stories change people more than the I don't even know what's just like the writing.
00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:14.240
Yeah, you know, like I love a story, even if in a nonfiction, if it can start with a story and enroll me, and then like we can have a break and learn some stuff, and then if we could like get back to the story or get to another story or something, I like it.
00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:17.039
Yeah, I like when people do that or when they share stories from their own life.
00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:18.720
I just I love a story.
00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:24.880
I don't yes, I don't and if it's all connected, you're more likely to finish it.
00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:28.880
Right, right from a non-fiction reader perspective.
00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:30.720
I never finish that's very true.
00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:31.599
Yeah.
00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:32.319
Yeah.
00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:33.200
All right.
00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:34.559
So that's what I'm working on.
00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:41.440
And if you guys want to pray for me and for us for our works in progress, that would be awesome.
00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:43.599
Yes, please.
00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:45.519
We need it.
00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:46.319
Yeah, we do.
00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:51.680
So, and hopefully, I mean, maybe even by the time this episode comes out, I will be further along.
00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:53.039
Yeah.
00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:53.839
We'll see.
00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:54.400
Yeah.
00:19:54.720 --> 00:20:00.000
We'll be planning Tiffany's launch party for their uh for their book.
00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:01.759
So that'll be super fun.
00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:03.839
And but we'll keep you posted.
00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:08.160
That is what our writing process looks like, like a hot mess.
00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:15.440
And uh But we're doing it together, we're a hot mess together, which is the best.
00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:19.440
It's good to have friends, and I'm now like, you know what?
00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:23.279
I'm just gonna send the first draft to Tiffany instead of like pouring it.
00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:28.720
But what happens is I was like gonna send it to you, and then I read the first chapter, and I couldn't even get past the first page.
00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:31.039
I had so many edits I feel like I needed to make.
00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:33.200
Like I just pick it all apart.
00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:34.240
So yeah.
00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:35.920
You just gotta let it rip.
00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:37.519
Rip the band-aid off.
00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:38.799
I don't know if I can't.
00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:39.200
Okay.
00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:44.079
I'll send it to you and let you say, ooh, you gotta change this, or ooh, no, this is great.
00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:44.480
Okay.
00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:45.519
Sounds good.
00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:46.720
Let's do it.
00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:48.799
And I'm sending stuff your way.
00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:50.400
I've been meaning to talk to you about that.
00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:51.359
Okay, good.
00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:52.079
I'm ready.
00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:54.079
I'm so excited for your baseball book.
00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:56.319
I'm excited for your redemption story.
00:20:56.400 --> 00:20:59.200
Um that I'm sorry.
00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:03.680
I feel like it's my fault that you're writing something deeper, but I love it and I'm so excited for that.
00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:05.440
Yes, yeah, for sure.
00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:06.720
I'm excited too.
00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:08.000
It's good stuff.
00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:13.359
We're so excited for our book sponsorship today.
00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:24.880
We have Kim Griffin and her book, More Than Fine, which is a redemption story, a Christian romance that I'm so excited about.
00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:43.039
Um, it's about Gia Hoffman, who's seeking a fresh start at Morgan Stanley in New York City, but her past haunts her until brooding portfolio manager Nick Bellante mentors her, and their connection challenges both to heal.
00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:51.759
So we've got some broody male main characters, some redemption, and it is a Christian romance.
00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:56.240
There's some some beautiful redemption threads in there.
00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:59.759
You know, we were talking about our works in progress.
00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:04.720
And some of the challenging things that we're writing about in these.
00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:09.519
And so I knew that her book had some challenging things in it.
00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:20.079
So I invited her to share with us what was something difficult yet rewarding that you wrote into this book that you wouldn't want to share with us.
00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:24.319
Tackling tough topics can be a challenge for a clean romance author.
00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:28.240
This was very apparent in my most recent novel, More Than Fine.
00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:36.799
I have Nick, who has secrets from his past that he thinks are unforgivable, and Gia, who has trauma from her past.
00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:50.319
And where the challenge comes in is being able to describe these things without using explicit language and without taking the reader to such a dark place that they have a hard time coming back from it.
00:22:50.559 --> 00:23:01.599
Philippians 4.8 says, Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable.
00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:06.319
If there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:26.880
As a Christian author, this is a verse that I always come back to because I want to talk about dark things so that the book seems realistic and so that people can relate to it and realize I can go through dark things and hard things and also find hope and joy at the end of those things, and even sometimes in the midst of those things.
00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:31.039
So this was probably the hardest thing for me to do in this particular book.
00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:38.319
All of my books go to hard places, but this one maybe delves a little bit deeper.
00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:43.119
And in contrast, I think it also makes the light shine so much brighter.
00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:47.200
That is my goal in all of my writing, is that the light would shine bright.
00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:49.680
I hope that you'll read more than fine.
00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:53.039
Thanks, Kim, for sharing that with us.
00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:59.680
I the scripture that you shared is like our theme scripture, Philippians 4.8 on the podcast.
00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:01.839
I think we might need to make shirts or something.
00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:03.039
We should, yeah.
00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:05.279
We need to make a swag with Philippians 4.8.
00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:07.039
Add it to the logo or something.
00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:08.799
Oh, bookmarks.
00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:10.559
We're gonna make bookmarks.
00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:13.759
In our abundant free time.
00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:14.559
Yeah.
00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:21.359
Well, go check out Kim Griffin's newest book, More Than Fine.
00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:25.920
It's available on Amazon, in Kindle Unlimited, and on paperback.
00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:28.720
Thanks so much, Kim, for being an episode sponsor.
00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:30.799
We really appreciate you.
00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:32.240
Thanks, Kim.
00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:36.880
All right, we are popping back in with our five-star reads.
00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:48.960
And so my five-star read this week, I am so excited to share it because it's just like, I don't know, we have the secret that we can't talk about yet, and it gets me excited about our secret.
00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:56.319
So my five-star read is Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson.
00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:59.279
Y'all know I'm a huge Melissa Ferguson fan.
00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:06.720
And this was like a fun little murder mystery set on a cruise ship, and it was just a super fun book.
00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:15.119
Um, it's like the It's Always Been You trope, which might be one of like, yeah, I think it's a top trope for me.
00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:16.799
I love that it's always been you.
00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:21.920
So um, anyway, highly recommend Melissa Ferguson without a clue.
00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:23.039
Nice.
00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:33.920
I my five-star read is Anna Conwell, All That Glitters, and that's the second book in her rom com university series.
00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:36.160
So it's a super fun series.
00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:39.279
The next book actually just came out, the third book in the series.
00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:40.480
I haven't read it yet.
00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:57.759
Um, but this one is about a full like former best friends that something goes wrong and they're no longer friends, they're enemies, and they're working together at the university's uh newspaper.
00:25:58.559 --> 00:25:58.880
Ooh.
00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:05.759
So, and they are assigned a uh an article, a series of articles together.
00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:06.880
Okay, wait.
00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:08.559
Are these former best friends?
00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:10.160
Is this a girl and a guy?
00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:11.359
A girl and a guy, yeah.
00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:15.519
Okay, because when you said best friends, I'm thinking about like two girls, and then I was like, wait, is it a love triangle?
00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:16.160
What's happening here?
00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:16.559
Okay.
00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:20.079
No, no, former childhood friends, male and female.
00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:20.720
Okay.
00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:29.920
I'm listening to a book right now that is this, I'm pretty sure it's in it's always been you, and it's also former best friends.
00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:31.200
And I it is so good.
00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:36.480
So anyway, um just this is I feel like this trope is everywhere right now, and I'm loving it.
00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.359
Yes.
00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:42.079
All right, and is that book available on Kindle and in all the places?
00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:43.279
Yes, all the places.
00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:44.880
Kindle Unlimited Paperback.
00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:47.440
Oh, and it looks like you can get it in audiobooks.
00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:49.759
Yeah, I love audiobooks.
00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:50.559
Yeah.
00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:51.519
All right.
00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:53.920
Well, thank y'all so much for tuning in.
00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:56.559
These were our five-star reads.
00:26:56.880 --> 00:27:03.920
Well, thank you for joining us today on the Clean Romance podcast, where Clean Romance lives happily ever after.
00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:10.319
Wherever you're listening, follow or subscribe so you don't miss a single episode.
00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:12.960
Until next time, happy reading.
00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:14.480
And happy writing.
00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:16.480
And happy writing.
