Posts Tagged ‘romance’

Podcasts, Projects

[ISBW] Revisiting Space Murder with Olivia Waite

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:23 — 31.6MB)

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“Take your time, there’s no rush. The audience will be here whenever your story is ready.”

Blue logo for I Should Be Writing with Season 22 and delighted Mur illustrationISBW 22.5

[ACK, I forgot to warn people that at the end, we had a glitch in the recording so we move abruptly from Olivia talking mid-sentence to me ending the show. Sorry about that!]

In this episode we welcome author Olivia Waite to discuss her latest books, including Murder by Memory and Nobody’s Baby. We touch on one of my favorite topics, writing science fiction mysteries, but we also delve into compelling beginnings and how to avoid the cringe in romance.

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(This post went live for supporters on March 12, 2026. If you want early and ad-free, episodes, support at Patreon!)

Remember you can join us on Thursdays, 3pm Eastern on Twitch! Next episode is March 19, when I interview Justin C. Key, author of The Hospital at the End of the World.

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CREDITS
Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn.
Get archives of the show via Patreon.
March 16, 2025 | ISBW 22.5 | murverse.com
“Revisiting Space Murder with Olivia Waite” by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
In case it wasn’t clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.
I Should Be Writing, Podcasts, Projects

[ISBW] Exploring Romance and Reality in Writing with Valerie Valdes

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:22 — 30.2MB)

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“You should be writing, because that’s the only thing that ultimately you can have
even a hope of controlling.”
~Valerie Valdes (Lia Amador)

New 2025 logo, tiny Mur on pink/orange background with purple circle saying I should Be Writing.Welcome back to the talented Valerie Valdes, also known as Lia Amador! We are here to launch her newest book, a fantasy rom-com titled Witch You Wood. We talk magical reality shows, romance, and tropes. We also get real about the struggles that persist even after being published.

Valerie discusses her experiences with self-doubt and how she manages to push through these challenges. We also explore the nuances of writing romance, the balance between subtlety and straightforwardness, and the significance of knowing your audience.

Blue logo to join the Fabulists via Patreon(This post went live for supporters on October 20, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!)

 

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Purple illustrated book cover for Witch You Would, two people standing opposite with a cauldron in between themLinks

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“Exploring Romance and Reality in Writing with Valerie Valdes” is brought to you in large part by my supporters, the Fabulists, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on Patreon!

Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. Also consider leaving a review for ISBW, please!

CREDITS
Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon.

October 23, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 19 | murverse.com
“Exploring Romance and Reality in Writing with Valerie Valdes” by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

In case it wasn’t clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

Podcasts, Projects, Transcript

[ISBW] Can YOU Write a Pile of Garbage?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:23:09 — 69.4MB)

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Title illustration, I should be writing. Episode 25: Can You Write a Pile of Garbage?
Episode 25: Can You Write a Pile of Garbage?

“Can YOU Write a Pile of Garbage?” is brought to you in large part by by my patrons, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on Patreon as low as $3 a month!

Some links below are affiliate links and I may earn some money at no cost to you when you use them. 

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S19 Ep25
I got to interview game designer turned YA romance writer James L. Sutter in this episode, and it was a blast. So much good stuff here! I also talk about my latest anger at ADHD and what I’m reading. 

From the transcript:

James L. Sutter 34:10: And so it was hugely enlightening for me to see, sort of these authors were very talented and established, going through the same outline process, you know, struggling with their pitches, struggling with characters and realizing that like, oh, every great work of art, like starts out as a pile of garbage. And like, I can make a pile of garbage.

(emphasis Mur’s)

Download the full transcript!

What I’m Reading: Darkhearts, of course, but also These Prisoning Hills and People You Meet on Vacation. Links below!

Mentioned: The Artist’s Way podcast (Apple link)

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CREDITS
Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, site design by Clockpunk Studio
and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon.
June 12, 2023 | Season 19 Ep 25 | murverse.com
“Can YOU Write a Pile of Garbage?” by Mur Lafferty
is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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