Turning Dating Stories Into Memoir

Today on More to the Story Podcast: A Conversation with Carrie Lea — Author of Granny Panty Chronicles

Today I’m joined by my client Carrie Lea, author of the memoir Granny Panty Chronicles, a candid, funny, big-hearted story about dating and singleness and unexpectedly falling in love with a man who would become her husband — and whose two teenage sons would make her a proud “bonus mom.”

In this conversation, Carrie shares the twists and turns of her writing journey, how this memoir emerged from her journals and blog posts about dating, and what she learned about trusting her voice, her instincts, and her sense of humor on the page. Carrie’s approach to life—and to writing—is warm, insightful, and grounded in honesty. Listeners who are navigating their own creative projects, life transitions, or new family configurations will find so much resonance here.

About Carrie

Carrie Lea resides in California’s Bay Area with her husband, teenage sons, and parents in a lively multi-generational household. When she’s not discovering new restaurants or traveling, she’s likely curled up with a good book or spending time with loved ones. For several years, Carrie has shared her heart and relatable real-life moments to encourage women in their faith on her website, CarrieLea.com — always with her signature mantra: Read. Laugh. Relate. Whether she’s writing, speaking, or serving in her local church, she strives to remind women they are seen, loved, and called to flourish. By day, she works in corporate America while by nature, she’s a certified fashionista and enthusiastic storyteller. Always up for a good laugh and a quick dance, she blends style, honesty, and faith to reveal the beauty in life’s imperfect moments.

In today’s episode

* how Carrie began documenting her dating life and slowly realized it was the seed of a memoir

* how becoming a “bonus mom” to two teenage boys opened a new chapter of her identity

* the writing process: what it looked like, what she struggled with, and what ultimately kept her moving

* learning to trust that her everyday experiences were enough to build a compelling narrative

* how coaching helped her find structure and momentum

* what shifted when she allowed herself to write with humor, honesty, and tenderness

* what she hopes readers will take from Granny Panty Chronicles

Links mentioned in this episode

* Carrie’s memoir: Granny Panty Chronicles on bookshop.org

* Follow Carrie online → carrielea.com

* Under the Gum Tree → underthegumtree.com

* Book a free 15-minute Book Diagnosis Call → moretothestory.co/bookdiagnosis

* Download my Book Outline Formula Worksheet → moretothestory.co/bookoutline

* Café Santoro — 10% off → cafesantoro.com/janna

Follow & connect

* Find all show notes at moretothestorypodcast.substack.com

* Follow me on Instagram: @jannamarlies

* Follow Under the Gum Tree: @undergumtree

Question for you

If you were to write honestly about your romantic life—past or present—what story would you start with? Share in the comments; I’d love to hear!

(AI Disclaimer: These show notes were generated by AI using the transcript of this episode.)

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