Lesbians Who Write

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This is week two of the love-themed episodes in honor of V-Day.

TB has been keeping herself busy adapting to a major change in her launch strategy for Girl Love Happens season 3, adding a new feature on I Heart Lesfic, and prepping her cowrite with Miranda MacLeod for publication. On top of that, the world still continues to fall apart, making TB quite snappy with everyone. In an effort to defuse her snappiness, she’s focusing on funny TV shows and avoiding her usual WWII dramas.

Clare is carrying on writing Big London Dreams, and her mum is her source for the 1950s deets. It’s been a bonding experience for the two. Clare has two separate and very exciting pieces of library news! That doesn’t happen every week, but she’s a library lover, so it makes sense. Clare and her wife have a sweet V-day tradition. Clare also shares something she recently learned about herself that makes her even more special.

They move on to the main subject: ideal first dates in books and in real life. Preparing for this episode, Clare realized she needs to change up her first dates in her stories. A couple of years ago, TB listened to a dating expert at a writing conference who claimed first dates, in books and IRL, shouldn’t be dinner and a movie, which happens to be TB’s favorite. For writers, coming up with first dates is a challenge because its important to mix them up, add humor, and to show that spark. Lots of pressure!

What’s your ideal first date in books and real life?

Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com, and leave a comment on the episode. Or you can email them at: lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com.

Next week, they’ll be on week three of the love month, discussing erotica vs. romance.

Happy listening!

Clare and TB

Don’t miss this opportunity!

Stockport Library has asked Clare to do an author reading and chat about her writing journey on February 25th at 7:00 p.m. The event is online, so anyone can come along! To register and book your free place, click here!

Links:

Big London Dreams: www.clarelydon.co.uk/books/big-london-dreams/

Stockport Library Event: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/author-evening-with-clare-lydon-tickets-139692011567

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This is their 100^th episode! Whoop whoop!

TB had a frantic start to the week due to a massive snowstorm arriving six hours early. The cowrite with Miranda MacLeod is with the editor, so TB is turning her focus to Earl’s Court, her British novella. In her free time, TB is binging Sex and the City, but she’s not sure if she’s seen it before. Is it possible TB’s memory is that bad? Also, TB can’t say the word romantic. In her world, it’s romanty.

Clare’s Hot London Nights is getting lots of love and excellent reviews. Clare is trying out a preorder, so if you’re a fan of her London series, you can preorder Big London Dreams. Not only that, it’s a historical romance. She’s trying out lots of new things in 2021. She signed a new translation contract. While TB can’t say romantic, Clare cannot stop saying: Je suis désolé, and it’s not entirely certain either of them know the true translation.

They move on to the main subject: what’s the difference between romance and romantic comedy? A listener suggested this topic, and both Clare and TB struggled to find an answer, but that doesn’t stop them from workshopping it on air. Clare strongly disagrees with opinions they found online, because that’s how she rolls. Both think writing rom-coms is difficult, but when done right, it’s so worth the effort.

What do you think the difference is between romance and rom-coms? They need serious help answering this question.

Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com, and leave a comment on the episode. Or you can email them at: lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com.

Next week, they’ll share their ideal first dates in fiction and real life.

Happy listening!

Clare and TB

Don’t miss this opportunity!

Stockport Library has asked Clare to do an author reading and chat about her writing journey on February 25th at 7pm. The event is online, so anyone can come along! To register and book your free place, click here!

Links:

Hot London Nights: www.clarelydon.co.uk/books/hot-london-nights/

Big London Dreams: www.clarelydon.co.uk/books/big-london-dreams/

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TB is exhausted, mostly because she’s in full launch mode of her latest Lizzie novel and getting a book over the finish line wears her out, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Also, the world is continuing to fall apart. It’s hard to stay focused, but TB is nearly done with the cowrite with Miranda MacLeod. She’s going to miss the daily video calls to discuss plotting, because lockdown life is getting to TB. She’s so bored.

Clare has launched Hot London Nights! And, for her London series fans, Clare has started outlining London 8. So much London goodness it’s difficult not to pass out. In more fantastic news, the tea cake shortage has come to an end. Also, shocking the heck out of TB, Clare, who isn’t exactly a historical drama fan, finished all 4 seasons of The Crown. Now, she needs some suggestions for something to watch. She’s hoping for rom-coms and won’t listen to TB’s WWII recommendations, even ones with Winston Churchill. It’s like Clare is on a mission to rip out tiny pieces of TB’s heart.

They move on to the main subject: what you should look out for in your final print proof. TB, though, didn’t understand the topic and prepared talking points for the final book edit, so this episode is a twofer. They both share their to-dos, so get your pens ready to take notes. The most important thing to remember is no book is perfect. If you strive for perfection, you’ll never hit the publish button.

What are your final steps before publishing?

Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com, and leave a comment on the episode. Or you can email them at: lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com.

Next week is their 100^th episode, and they’ll be discussing the difference between rom-coms and romance.

Happy listening!

Clare and TB

Links:

Hot London Nights: www.clarelydon.co.uk/books/hot-london-nights/

Lizzie Books: lesbianromancesbytbm.com/books/a-woman-lost-series/

Pro Writing Aid: prowritingaid.com

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TB published a surprise Lizzie novel! When COVID struck last year, TB realized Lizzie would be the one character who would freak out the most, and TB wanted to surprise her fans with a gift. Also, TB is at the halfway point on both her British novella and the cowrite with Miranda MacLeod. So, she’s published one book and has two more barreling toward the finish line. As Clare said, TB is cooking on gas.

Clare is trying to keep up her January pep. She’s booked her first editing date and commissioned 2 book covers. Woo-hoo! This is Clare’s launch week for Hot London Nights! While getting the book ready, Clare had another printer fail on the last 60 pages, naturally, because printers hate Clare. She’s on a roll with meditating every morning and yoga-ing. Sadly, Clare is still killing plants. Try to stay alive, Roscoe…

They move on to the main subject: Do your books follow a formula? The simple answer is yes. In order for books to offer all the feels with highs and lows, the story has to hit certain beats, taking the reader on a journey. This does not mean the story can’t be original. It’s one of the challenges for every author, to hit all the beats, but to do so with originality. And, don’t forget to add one necessary ingredient: conflict. Your character has to overcome it by the end.

Do you write to a formula?

Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com, and leave a comment on the episode. Or you can email them at: lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com.

Next week, they’ll breakdown what to think about during the final book edit.

Happy listening!

Clare and TB

Links:

First Chapter of Hot London Nights: www.clarelydon.co.uk/2021/01/hot-london-nights-first-chapter-preview/

Clare’s London Romance Books (Sale ends Jan. 25, 2021): payhip.com/custardbooks

Lizzie Books: lesbianromancesbytbm.com/books/a-woman-lost-series/

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TB is making progress on her British novella set way back in 2011, and given current events, she’s desperate for happy memories about when she moved to London. Even though she dwells in darkness by watching WWII movies, TB also craves lighter, cheerier stuff, and what’s not to love about the Olympics in London when everyone was happy and smiley?

Clare is trucking along with Hot London Nights, and it’s gone out to the ARC team. The excitement is building! However, she’s struggling to start her next project. She wants to write without a plan, which never goes well. On the plus side, she’s enjoying writing fresh words. In exercise news, she’s starting yoga so she can be “more stretchy.” Also, Clare might be a plant serial killer.

The duo breaks down their 2021 goals. TB was quite nervous prepping for this episode, given how terrible 2020 turned out to be, and Clare has noticed the peppy memes for a fresh New Year are lacking on social media. Clare, though, is determined to look forward with optimism, and both are aiming to be more flexible and see how things go. 2020 taught them many things, including to go slow and take stock of what’s truly important to live an enjoyable life.

What goals do you have for 2021?

Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com, and leave a comment on the episode. Or you can email them at: lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com.

Next week, they’ll discuss a topic they haven’t selected yet. Clare promises it’ll be deadly interesting, but TB hopes not too deadly. Should TB be worried? Clare does kill plants…

Happy listening!

Clare and TB

Links:

The Long Stare Blog: lesbianromancesbytbm.com/2021/01/06/the-long-stare/

Clare’s 2021 Blog: www.clarelydon.co.uk/2021/01/my-goals-for-2021/

How to get your book in the IHL newsletter: iheartlesfic.com/new-lesfic-releases/authors/

IHL New Release Newsletter schedule: iheartlesfic.com/2021-ihl-new-release-newsletter-schedule/

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TB wasn’t completely honest about taking time off during the last two weeks in December, and she sent a secret story to the editor. TB isn’t going to say what the project is yet, but she hopes it makes her loyal readers happy. TB and Miranda MacLeod have started the New Year off with another cowrite. TB did take some time off over the holidays to watch WWII movies for inspiration on how to deal with terrible times. Not surprising since she’s the dark one of the two.

Unlike TB, Clare has been watching rom-coms during these interesting times. She had a lovely Christmas and a Zoom disco party on New Year’s Eve. It’s amazing the two are such good friends, but they are. In exciting book news, Hot London Nights has been proofed and will be published later this month or early in February. Woot! In not so good news, Clare is back in lockdown, and she had a run-in with a tree. You have to listen to how that happened!

The duo moves on to sharing how their 2020 went, and the short answer is not according to plan. TB had lofty goals for 2020 before the pandemic hit and getting sick. By the end of March, she had to retrench and pivot to get over the finish line of the year. At the start of COVID, Clare wasn’t sure if she’d be able to write. Both agree work helped keep them sane during the last year. Have a listen to hear about their triumphs and disappointments on the writing, business, and personal goals fronts.

How did you do during 2020?

Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com, and leave a comment on the episode. Or you can email them at: lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com.

Next week, they’ll discuss their 2021 goals.

Happy listening!

Clare and TB

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TB’s day is off to a bad start, and Clare is wondering what kind of insults TB will hurl across the pond. It’s safe to say when technology breaks, TB becomes insufferable. Kismet is officially live on Amazon, but TB had a techy thing hamper the uploading process. TB is not a fan of tech these days. In shocking news, Heart of Ice has finally been released in audio. It’d been stuck in ACX purgatory for weeks. TB has started her next big project. Oh, the excitement!

Clare paid her taxes and had a little cry about it. Clare, who isn’t a fan of massages, went to a massage therapist, and it wasn’t terrible. Only slightly hurt-y. She’s been freestyling some new words, which doesn’t mean she’s making up new ones, like TB initially thought, but getting some down on the page without knowing the story. Go Clare! She admits to getting nervous when she has to sign her own books. In big life news, Clare was able to sit outside a pub in the cold to enjoy a drink. There was a time when that wasn’t a big day out, but these days…

The duo moves on to chatting about how their loved ones have impacted their writing careers. Both are lucky to have supportive partners, and they recognize it’s a two-way street, meaning it’s important to listen to their partners about their own jobs. While providing financial support in the beginning was crucial, living with a creative isn’t easy, and emotional support is key when launching a writing career. Some loved ones can become jealous of the time creatives dedicate to writing and bemoan the loss of secure income because it’s a risk going down the writing path. If you’re serious about writing, it’s important to have a strong support system to help manage the highs and lows of being a creative.

Are your loved ones supportive of your career?

Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com, and leave a comment on the episode. Or you can email them at: lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com.

Next week, the pair will be sharing their favorite holiday memories.

Happy listening!

Clare and TB

Links:

Kismet: lesbianromancesbytbm.com/books/kismet/

Heart of Ice: lesbianromancesbytbm.com/books/heart-of-ice/

TBM’s Festive Project: lesbianromancesbytbm.com/the-festive-project/

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Kismet has been published! Woo-hoo! Over the Thanksgiving weekend, TB totally nerded out by watching a TV show about who killed Jacob Marley. Dickensian is a clever blend of different Charles Dickens characters, and TB may have taken joy in the fact that Clare would have absolutely hated the show. On the writing front, TB is working on another London novella and a secret project she’s been toiling on all year, which will be launched in 2021.

Clare’s been trying to rev herself back up again after her Christmas in Mistletoe launch week. She’s also been swamped catching up on all the admin she’d put off for the past three weeks while prepping her book. Clare is itching to write new words (the project is yet to be determined), but she has to prep London 7 for her January launch. She’s had a big, big, big week of Christmas movie watching, although she’s battling some Grinchyness this year.

The duo moves on to location chat, and both agree right out of the gate, the setting of a story plays a big role. A sense of place can become one of the characters and helps ground the reader into a story. Both of them like to visit a place to get a sense of it, but it’s possible TB gets hung up a little on not knowing the ins and outs. Even when creating a fictional place, it’s good to have some experiences in a real place and use that as a basis to make it more authentic. There are ways to visit a place without actually going there: explore on Google maps, read firsthand accounts, browse reviews on restaurants/pubs/bars, etc. But don’t forget to ground your characters into a place.

Is location important when you’re writing or reading?

Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com, and leave a comment on the episode. Or you can email them at: lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com.

Next week, the pair will be discussing how loved ones have impacted their writing careers.

Happy listening!

Clare and TB

Links:

Kismet: lesbianromancesbytbm.com/books/kismet/

TBM’s Festive Project: lesbianromancesbytbm.com/the-festive-project/

LWW Episode 48: lesbianswhowrite.com/lww-48-how-much-does-it-cost-to-launch-a-book/

Clare’s London Tourist Guide: www.clarelydon.co.uk/2018/11/my-london-tourist-guide/