Kobo Writing Life Podcast

Welcome to the Kobo ReWriting Life Podcast! Alongside your regularly scheduled Kobo Writing Life podcast episode releases, we will also be featuring some highlights from our backlist. For the fifth episode of this series, we're happy to share this interview featuring the 2019 Kobo Emerging Writer Prize winner in the Romance category, Julie Evelyn Joyce, for her book Steeped in Love. Julie Evelyn Joyce talks to us about the inspiration for prize-winning novel Steeped in Love. Julie shares how writing Gilmore Girls fan fiction taught her about craft and how a chance meeting at RWA led her to entering and winning Kobo’s Emerging Writer Prize! Learn more on Julie's website and be sure to check out Julie's books on Kobo.

In this episode, we spoke to Robert L. Slater, author and creator of the Deserted Lands series and extended Deserted Lands Universe, a sci-fi and dystopian coming-of-age series of books that follow Lizzie, the sixteen-year-old survivor of a devastating pandemic, as she navigates this dangerous new world. Robert is also the author of several short stories and novellas in the Deserted Lands universe and has plans to continue the series in a multitude of ways! We spoke to Robert about his start as a writer, his inspirations, the eerie similarities to real-world events he wrote into his novels years prior, his experiences attending conferences and conventions and connecting with other indie authors, using marketing swag to your advantage as an author, and much more. Learn more on Robert’s website and the Deserted Lands website, and be sure to follow Robert on Facebook and X/Twitter.

Welcome to the Kobo ReWriting Life Podcast! Alongside your regularly scheduled Kobo Writing Life podcast episode releases, we will also be featuring some highlights from our backlist. For the fifth episode of this series, we're happy to share this interview featuring Canadian thriller author Samantha M. Bailey from 2022. Watch Out for Her is a contender for Canada Reads 2025. Don't miss the debates, which take place March 17th-20th, 2025. In this episode, we are joined by Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today and #1 nationally bestselling author of Woman on the Edge. Today, Samantha discusses her second book, the recently released domestic suspense novel/psychological thriller, Watch Out for Her. We discussed Samantha's experiences finding a traditional publishing platform, following up a successful debut during a global pandemic, how curiosity can drive the creative process of writing a thriller, the importance of editing, of community, of her readers, and much more! Find out more on Samantha M. Bailey's website and follow Samantha on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

In this episode, we are joined by Clare Leslie Hall, author of Broken Country, Clare’s debut novel in the US and Canada. Broken Country is described as “A sweeping love story with the pace and twists of a thriller” and is a novel “of simmering passion, impossible choices, and explosive consequences that toggles between the past and present to explore the far-reaching legacy of first love.” Broken Country is available now from Simon & Schuster Canada. Clare is also the author of romantic suspense novels Him and Mine under the name Clare Empson. We spoke to Clare about her journey to becoming a published author, writing romantic suspense novels, Broken Country’s cross-genre appeal, writing under a pen name, staying dedicated to her stories, having film rights for her novel purchased, and much more! Follow Clare on Instagram and see more of Clare’s books on Kobo.

Welcome to the Kobo ReWriting Life Podcast! Alongside your regularly scheduled Kobo Writing Life podcast episode releases, we will also be featuring some highlights from our backlist. For the fourth episode of this series, we're happy to share this episode featuring Robert Harris from November 2016. Originally hosted at Kobo's former headquarters in Toronto (don't worry, we're still in Toronto; we've just moved!), this interview features author Robert Harris in conversation with journalist Johanna Schneller, as well as Pieter Swinkels, former Chief Content Officer at Kobo. This interview offers some insights into Robert's research process and writing routine, and we also get to hear all about his inspiration for Conclave, amongst much more! Find out more on Robert's website, follow Johanna Schneller on X/Twitter, and check out Robert's books on Kobo.

In this episode, we are joined by Sierra Simone, author of dozens of romance novels, such as the beloved Thornchapel, New Camelot, and Lyonesse series. In her own words, Sierra “loves writing the dirtiest things that she can think of, King Arthur, sparkling water, ancient mystery cults, coffee, leggings, and fog.” Sierra’s enthusiasm for erotic romance novels, marketing books, character development, and her fellow authors takes the spotlight during this interview, and we love to hear it. We speak with Sierra about her writing career, hear some great advice on writing intimate scenes, discuss the importance of social media, Tiktok, and BookTok, co-writing with fellow romance author Julie Murphy, and much more! Whether you are a fan of Sierra’s books or an erotic romance novelist yourself, you won’t want to miss this episode. Learn more on Sierra’s website, follow her on Instagram, and join Sierra’s Facebook reader group for even more!

Welcome to the Kobo ReWriting Life Podcast! Alongside your regularly scheduled Kobo Writing Life podcast episode releases, we will also be featuring some highlights from our backlist. For the third episode of this series, we're excited to highlight this episode featuring Renee Harleston from March 2022. Our guest this week is Renee Harleston, founder of Writing Diversely, which offers sensitivity reading services that provide authors, writers, and content creators the tools and support they need to tell diverse and inclusive stories. Learn more by visiting the Writing Diversely site, and follow Writing Diversely on X/Twitter and Instagram.  

In this episode, we spoke to best-selling author of fantasy, fantasy romance, sweet romance novels, and women’s fiction novels, Bridget E. Baker (who also writes under B.E. Baker)! Bridget is passionate about writing romance and about self-publishing, and she loves to support other indie authors by offering advice and transparency about the industry. Many of Bridget’s book series are best-sellers, and we get to hear about her writing and marketing process behind these popular titles. One of her most recent, The Russian Witch’s Curse, is a romantic fantasy series featuring horse shifters. The latest installment, My Trojan Horse Majesty, is available now. We loved hearing all about Bridget’s books, her career, her endless optimism, and, of course, all the openness she brings to her discussions about indie publishing! We know you will, too. Learn more on Bridget’s website, follow Bridget on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to sign up for Bridget’s newsletter. You can also find all of Bridget’s books on Kobo, as well as her books written as B.E. Baker.

Welcome to the Kobo ReWriting Life Podcast! Alongside your regularly scheduled Kobo Writing Life podcast episode releases, we will also be featuring some highlights from our backlist. For the second episode of this series, we're bringing back an episode featuring Sagan Morrow from April 2021. Productivity strategist and author Sagan Morrow joins us on the podcast this week. Sagan tells us how she got into productivity strategy and what habits authors can implement to better fit writing into their schedule. She also talks to us about her polyamorous romantic comedy series, Polyamorous Passions, and how she’s using the romantic comedy genre to break down common misconceptions about polyamory. Learn more on Sagan's website and check out Sagan's books on Kobo.

In this episode, we spoke to romantic fantasy author Imani Erriu, author of the recently released Heavenly Bodies, the first book in her beloved series of the same name. Imani is a lover of the fantasy genre (both as a reader and a writer), and her writing rose to virality on TikTok after she shared a single scene from her unfinished manuscript! Imani’s next book, Fallen Stars, is the second in this five-book series. Heavenly Bodies is available in Canada and the US via Penguin Random House. Imani told us all about her writing journey, moving from indie publishing to traditional publishing, using astrology as writing inspiration, creating her own mythology for her world, advice on world-building, and much, much more! We had a great time chatting with Imani and sharing our own interest in astrology and love of the fantasy genre. Tune in to this invigorating interview – especially if you’re a fantasy fan! Learn more on Imani’s website and follow Imani on TikTok and Instagram.