This week historical novelist Patricia Vaughn talks about her experiences writing and publishing her first two historical novels in the 1990’s. She discusses how her agent Vivian Stephens helped her to publish her first historical novel Murmur of Rain with Pocket Books in 1996 and talk about her second Shadows on the Bayou.

Co-authors Frederick Smith and Chaz Lamar Cruz discuss In Case You Forgot and their recent release Busy Ain’t The Half Of It. They also discuss the importance of publishing love stories between Black queer characters, how Frederick Smith’s romance novels were inspirational to Chaz, their path to becoming co-authors, and how Chaz’s career as a poet shapes both language and style in their novels.

Best-selling writer Farrah Rochon and I talk about her new release The Dating Playbook and also deep dive into several topics: how she wrote and published her 2007 debut novel, Deliver Me, the first in her Holmes Brothers Series; we talk about her New York Sabers Football Series; Bayou Dream Series; Moments in Maplesville Series; and The Boyfriend Project.

Barbara Keaton’s first romance novel, All I Ask, was published in 2000. Since then she has gone on to write thirteen romance novels, which celebrate black love. In this episode, we discuss: her experiences publishing with Genesis Press, working with Romance Slam Jam, the mentorship a community of Black writers have provided her, and we deep dive into her novels Nights Over Egypt, Heat at First Sight, and Show Me!.

Chilufiya Safaa is a romance novelist whose books put a fresh twist on African and African American love themes and allow readers to examine what they thought they knew about African and African American people. In this episode, we talk about Safaa’s first novel, A Foreign Affair, published by Kensington Publishing, and Stolen Dreams, self-published. Safaa also talks about her relationship with Vivian Stephens, the writing coach for her first three books.

Veronica Mixon, my guest today, was an editor at Doubleday for fourteen years from 1974 to 1988. She recounts her experiences during these years: creating Doubleday’s Starlight Romances, working with many writers, including Barbara Stephens, Millie Ragosta, and Rochelle Alers, building relationships with other Black editors at the time like Marie Brown at Anchor and Vivian Stephens at Dell.

Eboni Snoe is the best-selling author of seventeen books. In this episode, we discuss her experiences publishing her first romance novel A Shiek’s Spell with Odyssey Books in 1992 as well as her experiences publishing with Arabesque and Avon Book. We deep dive into her novels Beguiled, Tell Me I'm Dreamin’, her forthcoming autobiography The Altar, and her publishing company Beyond Maya Press.

Celeste Norfleet, a best-selling writer of over twenty-five novels, joins me this week. We talk about her 2002 debut novel Priceless Gift and its curious ending, which became the inspiration for the novels in her well-loved Mama Lou Matchmaker Series. She discusses her experiences at the beginning of her career, the supportive environment of Romance Slam Jam, and her current release One Night in Georgia.  

Adriana Herrera, a USA Today bestselling author, talks about her experiences as an immigrant, the dissonance she felt between her Black Feminist studies and the colonial images she read in romance, her need to affirm the existence of immigrants during the 2016 elections, and her need to create romance novels that center Black and LGBTQ characters, her Dreamer series, Finding Joy, Mangoes and Mistletoe, Here to Stay, “The Duke Makes Me Feel,” and her newest release One Week to Claim it All.

Today’s guest is Katrina Jackson, best-selling writer of over twenty novels. Katrina discusses some of her early reading practices, writing her first romance, and why she publishes affirming images of Black women. She also recounts how her life as a pre and post tenured historian in the Academy informs some of her novels’ themes. She and I also discuss several of her books: From Scratch, Office Hours, The Hitman, Encore, Grand Theft New Year’s Eve, and her current release Back in the Day.

Best-selling writer Piper Huguley joins Julie to talks about her experiences writing, publishing, and marketing historical novels with African American Christian characters. She talks about developing her online platform to self-publish her novels, including her first The Lawyer’s Luck and the books in her “Home to Millford College Series.” In addition, she talks about A Virtuous Ruby and forthcoming books, Sweet Tea, and By design: The Story of Ann Lowe, Society’s Best Kept Secret.

Best-selling writer Kennedy discusses how she developed her writing craft, which led to the 2014 publication of her first book, When You Are Mine. She talks about her experiences self-publishing, starting a foundation serving Atlanta families living with Autism, and she recounts her experiences at the 2019 RWA award ceremony when she won the Rita award for her self-published novel Long Shot. She also talks about her books series All the King’s Men, Queen Move, and her latest release Reel.

Best-selling writer LaQuette joins Julie to discuss her successful writing career, which began with the 2013 publication of her first book, My Beginning. They discuss how she came to write and publish romance, her role as the current President of the Romance Writers of America, her publishing company Brooklyn Girl Ink, and her books Jackson and Bedding the Enemy. LaQuette is a 2021 Vivian award finalist for her book titled Under His Protection.

Best-selling writer Reese Ryan joins Julie to talk about her successful writing career, which began with the 2013 publication of her first book, Making the First Move. They discuss Ryan’s recent nomination for the Vivian Award in the Contemporary Romance Short area as well as her experiences writing and publishing romance. They also deep dive into three of her novels: Making the First Move, Second Chance on Cypress Lane, and Waking up Married.

Best-selling and award-winning novelist Shirley Hailstock joins Julie to talk about her successful writing career, and they deep dive into her novels Whispers of Love (Under the Sheets) and Love in Logan Beach. Hailstock is the author of over 40 novels and novellas. She writes contemporary romantic suspense, paranormal, historical romance, and mainstream women's fiction.

Best-selling writer Donna Hill joins Julie for the first episode of Season two of the Black Romance Podcast. They discuss Hill’s experiences writing and publishing romance, and they deep dive into three of her novels: Rooms of the Heart, Chances Are, and Confessions in B Flat.

Margo Hendricks who writes romance novels as Elysabeth Grace joins me to close out Season one of the Black Romance Podcast. We discuss her contemporary and paranormal romance novels as well as our forthcoming editorial collaboration on a special issue of the Journal of Popular Romance Studies, which will focus on Black Romance. Elysabeth Grace's books include: Your Heart Only Fate’s Match Fate’s Kiss Fate’s Consort And the forthcoming Lilith’s Heart.

Rochelle Alers and I talked about a number of topics: her experiences writing and publishing romance in the 1980’s; and we talked about books and characters from her Hideaway, Cavanaugh Island, and The Innkeepers series. She also discussed her work with Vivian Stephens on the Women Writers of Color group, her experiences with RWA, and with Black women editors and writers who she believes have contributed to her success.