Reality Writes

Send us a message! Reading is in trouble — and not just for kids. In this episode, I'm sitting down with the Tech Guy to talk about some genuinely alarming statistics about literacy in the United States, discuss why reading matters more than ever, and share some easy, actionable ways you can help turn things around.  From the surprising health benefits of cracking open a book (six minutes of...

Send us a message! The announcement you've been waiting for is here, darlings! I'm so excited to reveal the author lineup for the 4th Annual Ashland Mystery Festival — October 8th through 11th, 2026 in Ashland, Oregon. In this episode, The Tech Guy and I share who's joining us this year, including a brand-new cozy adjacent element that I think is going to absolutely blow your minds....

Send us a message! Ellie Alexander and the Tech Guy explore the role of setting in storytelling and why the places where stories unfold are just as important as the characters themselves. Ellie shares how she approaches choosing locations for her books, including the decision between using real places and creating fictional towns. They also discuss the advantages of small-town versus big-city sett...

Send us a message! Online scams are getting smarter—and both writers and readers are being targeted. In this episode of Reality Writes, the Tech Guy and I break down the most common scams we’re seeing right now in the publishing and book world. From AI-generated emails inviting authors to fake book clubs, to scammers pretending to be literary agents, to bots impersonating authors on social media—w...

Send us a message! If you’ve ever wondered what actually happens at mystery conferences, conventions, and festivals, this episode is for you. Today on Reality Writes, I’m breaking down the differences between festivals, genre-specific mystery conventions like Malice and BoucherCon, general writing conferences like Willamette Writers, and even bookseller and library conferences. They may sound simi...

Send us a message! Book 22. I can hardly believe I’m even typing that. If you’ve been here since Book 1...thank you. Truly. And if you’re just joining at Book 22? Welcome to Torte. In this episode of Reality Writes, we’re celebrating the release of The Whisking Hour, the 22nd book in my Bakeshop Mystery series. In this episode, we talk about what it feels like to write 22 books in one series, a sp...

Send us a message! I’m talking romance today — specifically how love fits into cozy mysteries, why some readers adore it, why others don’t, and how I’ve woven romantic arcs into my series over time. We also dig into my recent shift into writing rom-coms, what surprised me most about the genre, and how writing romance has actually made me a better mystery writer. From slow-burn relationships and lo...

Send us a message! Writing doesn’t happen in a vacuum — readers are a huge part of the experience. But when it comes to reader feedback, not all of it carries the same weight. In this episode of Reality Writes, I’m talking honestly about reader feedback: when it’s genuinely helpful, when it’s not, and how writers can learn to tell the difference without spiraling. This episode is for writers navig...

Send us a message! How does a cozy mystery series last for dozens of books—and what causes one to end early? Ellie Alexander and Tech Guy go behind the scenes to talk series writing, subplots, reader expectations, publishers, and the real-world happenings that shape long-running cozy mystery series. 🎉 Join me on Patreon for bonus content. Website Instagram YouTube TikTok Etsy Bookbub Facebook

Send us a message! Ellie Alexander is facing her most intense writing year yet—10+ books, multiple series, overlapping deadlines, and an endless stream of rewrites, page proofs, edits, and launches. In this candid kickoff to Season 3 of Reality Writes , she and the Tech Guy break down the real-life logistics of being a full-time working author in 2026. They talk about managing burnout, the reality...

Send us a message! It’s officially peppermint mocha season…for some of us. In this episode, Tech Guy and I dive into the great holiday debate: when is the right time to start reading (or writing) holiday books? We’re talking about cozy autumn reading trends, the publishing realities of holiday releases, how to get in the festive spirit when it’s 75 degrees outside, and why your sales might spike a...

Send us a message! We’re recapping Ashland Mystery Fest 2025—aka my favorite weekend of the entire year! In this episode, we’re sharing behind-the-scenes stories from the third annual festival, including reader highlights, cozy chaos, mystery dinners gone wild, and why I still don’t have a t-shirt gun (yet). We’ll talk about what worked, what we’ll tweak for next year, and how it felt to hug hundr...

Send us a message! Join mystery author Ellie Alexander and The Tech Guy as they dive deep into Ellie's exciting venture into romance writing! In this episode, Ellie reveals her upcoming holiday rom-com duet, one of them featuring beloved characters from her Meg Reed mystery series. After writing dozens of mysteries, Ellie discovered that switching from plotting murders to plotting meet-cutes...

Send us a message! What happens when a mystery author teams up with a talented artist to create something completely new? Join Ellie and the Tech Guy as they welcome Rebecca Demos, the artist behind the Color & Sleuth interactive mystery coloring book series. We'll dive into how this unique collaboration came together, explore the creative process of blending storytelling with visual art,...

Send us a message! How do you go from zero readers to thousands of engaged "darlings" who genuinely care about your writing journey? Join me and the Tech Guy as we break down the real strategies behind building an authentic mystery community. We'll share what actually worked (and our spectacular failures), discuss the balance between vulnerability and boundaries, and give you action...

Send us a message! In this episode, we tackle the messy ethical dilemmas authors actually face. Should you blurb another author’s book if you don’t like it? What happens when you want to use real-life businesses or locations in your murder mystery? How do you handle using actual people as the inspiration for a villain or a victim? We'll present real scenarios, poll the live audience for their...

Send us a message! Ever wondered how I keep all my characters, timelines, and plot twists straight across multiple cozy mystery series? In this special live episode of Reality Writes, we’re diving into my personal systems for series writing—from my (messy) story bibles to real-life continuity slip-ups and the readers who caught them. I’m also answering your live questions, talking about keeping th...

Send us a message! Hello, Darlings! A reader recently asked me how I come up with the food themes in my books, and I couldn’t wait to bite into this one! In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my Bakeshop Mysteries and sharing how I research (and test!) every recipe, including some delicious—and disastrous—kitchen moments. From writing a scene inspired by a raspberry Danish to travel...

Send us a message! I’ve gotten some reader messages that are…let’s just say memorable. In this episode, I’m sharing a few of the wildest things people have sent me (anonymously, of course) and talking about what authors actually control when it comes to things like pricing, covers, and shipping. Spoiler alert: it’s not as much as you might think. We’ll laugh, we’ll cringe, and I’ll offer some hone...

Send us a message! Get ready for some spicy book opinions in this episode of Reality Writes ! I’m breaking down five bookish hills I’ll die on—from why I DNF without guilt to why blurbs and awards don’t matter (as much as we think they do). Plus, The Tech Guy and I tackle reader guilt over library books, the tragedy of cracked spines, and whether it’s okay to pass along a book you hated. It’s cozy...

Send us a message! Hello, Darlings! What happens when you revisit the first mystery series you ever wrote—ten years later? In this episode of Reality Writes, I’m talking about the re-release of the Meg Reed Investigates series (formerly the Pacific Northwest Mysteries), how it all began, and what it’s like reading through your first series so many years later. We get into character inspiration, be...

Send us a message! What happens when two mystery writers team up to plan a cozy crime scene in real life? In this episode, I talk with Emmeline Duncan about Halloween books, Ashland Mystery Fest, and awkward reader encounters. Plus, we answer the ultimate question: what should you actually say to an author when you don’t know what to say? 🎉 Join me on Patreon for bonus content. Website Instagram...

Send us a message! Hello, Darlings! We’re back and just getting warmed up! After a hectic couple of months, we’re settling back into a rhythm and looking forward to diving into some fun new topics on Reality Writes. For the rest of this season, we’ll be discussing the ups and downs of writing life, exploring topics ranging from writing inspirations to bringing a series back to life, and sharing ev...

Send us a message! Hey, Darlings! The Tech Guy came up with a new segment for the podcast that has me a little worried—"Stump Ellie." 🕵️‍♀️ Put your cozy mystery knowledge to the test by sending in questions about any of my series! Think you know the "Bakeshop Mysteries" better than me? Now’s your chance to prove it! The Tech Guy also shares the trial-and-error process of findi...

Send us a message! Hey, Darlings! 🎉 We're back with a special release week episode all about "Killing Me Souffle," the 20th book in the Bakeshop Mystery series. 🎂 Join us as we reminisce about our journey, from launch parties filled with delectable pastries to the creative process that brings these stories to life. What's your favorite Bakeshop Mystery moment so far? 🍰 Watch...