Today I am interviewing a debut author who also happens to be one of my very dear friends. I am so excited for all of you to listen to today's episode, where I chat with my friend, and frequent podcast guest, Victoria Koops about her debut YA Rom Com novel, Who We Are In Real Life! Join Victoria and me as we chat all about this fantastic book and Victoria's writing process. You'll hear us dive into what it took in order to get the book published, the inspiration for the book (such a fun story!), the characters, queer representation, the swoony romance, Dungeons and Dragons, Victoria's advice for new writers trying to break into the world of publishing, teen relationships, and more! Whether you're a long-time listener who has come to love my episodes with Victoria, or a newcomer, you will enjoy this episode and Victoria's wonderful new book! Entire episode is spoiler free! A little about Who We Are In Real Life:  IRL, Darcy has just moved to the small prairie town of Unity Creek with her two moms. It feels like she left everything good behind in the city. She misses her tabletop gaming friends and her boyfriend ― and is horrified by the homophobia her family faces in their new home. Then she meets kind, quiet Art, who invites her to join his Dungeons & Dragons game. Art is mostly happy fading into the background at school and only really coming alive during his friends’ weekly D&D game ― until meeting Darcy pulls his life off-course in wonderful and alarming ways. Suddenly he has something worth fighting for. But what if that something puts him in conflict with his father, an influential and conservative figure in their town? Can Art stand up against his father’s efforts to prevent Darcy and her friends from starting a queer-straight alliance at school? Meanwhile, in game, Darcy’s and Art’s D&D characters join forces to fight corruption as they grow closer in the homebrew world of Durgeon’s Keep ― as fantasy and reality collide.  A special thank you to Victoria Koops for chatting with me today, and to her publicist at Groundwood books for the ARC.  Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected] Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!