Kobo Writing Life Podcast #377 – Developing Your Debut Romance Novel with Noreen Nanja
Sep 2, 2025
Noreen Nanja, a talented Canadian author, discusses her debut romance novel, The Summers Between Us, which highlights themes of identity and belonging. She shares her journey as a mentee and the significance of community support in her writing career. The conversation dives into the intricacies of crafting a dual timeline romance, the complexity of character relationships, and the role of mentorship in publishing. Noreen also provides practical tips for aspiring authors on balancing writing with other commitments while fostering creativity.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Pandemic Sparked A Personal Debut
- Noreen began writing seriously during the pandemic to create stories she could relate to.
- She wrote a book she wished she'd read as a kid and finally completed a full manuscript.
Patience Is Part Of Publishing
- Be patient: publishing takes years from first draft to release.
- Use revision time to learn craft and improve story structure and character arcs.
Mentorship Changed Her Manuscript
- Noreen entered mentorship programs after early drafts and joined Word Is Diversity.
- An editor-mentor at Berkeley Romance helped her make the manuscript character-driven for querying.
