Welcome back to Talk Spicy to Me! In Episode 2 of Season 3, bestselling romance authors Giana Darling and Kandi Steiner are joined by the hilarious, wildly talented, and always chaotic S.J. Tilly for a deep dive into what it really means to be a hybrid author.
In this episode, Giana, Kandi, and S.J. talk about the realities of balancing indie publishing and traditional publishing, how Kindle Unlimited helped change the game for indie romance authors, why going traditional can help authors reach new readers, and what authors need to know before signing print-only deals, planning book tours, or handing over any part of their brand. They also get into the importance of advocating for yourself as an author, fighting for your covers and creative control, learning the business side of publishing, and why author friendships and community are some of the most valuable tools in the industry.
Plus, because it's Talk Spicy to Me, there's plenty of chaos along the way: motherhood updates, dental horror stories, SJ Tilly's Jurassic Park obsession, dinosaur fossils, digital closets, Rivals on Disney+, romance author deadline spirals, spicy red/green flags, and a reader question about the hardest part of writing a book. If you're a romance reader, aspiring author, indie author, traditionally published author, or just nosy about the behind-the-scenes world of romance publishing, this episode is for you!
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me
03:29 - Season sponsors: Lauren Blakely + Kat Singleton
04:32 - Introducing S.J. Tilly
05:40 - SJ's iconic one-word chapter
12:09 - Spicy Hot Salsa
21:40 - What is a hybrid author?
22:31 - SJ Tilly's indie-to-hybrid publishing journey
24:45 - Why being indie first can help authors go traditional
25:20 - The biggest benefit of traditional publishing
30:10 - Kindle Unlimited, Amazon, and indie authors
31:41 - Why authors want to reach every kind of reader
33:15 - The difficult side of being a hybrid author
35:08 - Traditional publishers, creative control, and author branding
38:20 - Print-only deals and author advances
40:09 - Questions to ask before signing a publishing deal
41:07 - Authors are running empires
42:20 - Why author friends and industry community matter
46:24 - New Release Spotlight: Upgraded by Abby Millsaps
47:29 - The reality of book tours
1:02:21 - The biggest takeaway: advocate for yourself
1:07:03 - Why preorders matter for authors
1:09:04 - Special editions, sprayed edges, and limited print runs
1:13:01 - After Dark preview
1:13:42 - Red Flag or Green Flag
1:16:11 - Reader question: What's the hardest part of writing a book?
1:16:43 - SJ Tilly on beginnings, endings, and writing chronologically
1:21:37 - The chaos of finishing a book
1:23:33 - Long chapters, long books, and author style
1:24:34 - After Dark: romance author group chat exposed
1:25:12 - Where to find SJ Tilly
1:25:38 - SJ Tilly's Bonded Soul series and upcoming releases
FOLLOW SJ TILLY: Website: https://sjtilly.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjtillyauthor/?hl=en
SPONSORS: This season of Talk Spicy to Me is brought to you by Lauren Blakely and Kat Singleton! Lauren Blakely is the bestselling author of sexy, funny, feel-good romance, including Just Playing for Keeps, a grumpy-sunshine hockey romance with fake dating, viral heartbreak, and a broody tattooed hockey hero.
Follow Lauren Blakely:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenblakelybooks/
Website: https://laurenblakely.com/
Kat Singleton is the author of In Good Company, a forbidden billionaire romance featuring an ex's brother, private chef, age gap tension, and a dreamy Hamptons setting.
Follow Kat Singleton:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkatsingleton/?hl=en
Website: https://authorkatsingleton.com
This episode's featured book is Upgraded by Abby Millsaps, a Formula 1, ex-boyfriend's dad, forbidden romance with tension, found family, and plenty of high-speed drama on and off the track.
Follow Abby Millsaps: https://authorabbymillsaps.com/
AFTER DARK (Patreon Exclusive)
Want the extended, unfiltered conversation? Each week's After Dark mini-episode dives deeper into topics we don't cover on the main feed. Join the Patreon for early access and bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkSpicytoMePodcast
