The Author Next Door

In this episode of The Author Next Door After Dark , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell explore what actually makes spice work in romance writing and why emotional connection matters more than shock value. They talk about trust, chemistry, vulnerability, and how character dynamics shape the effectiveness of intimate scenes. The conversation also covers spice levels, reader expectations, consent, and th...

In this episode of The Author Next Door After Dark , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell talk about how romance tension works when power, desire, and emotional wounds are all pulling at the same relationship. Spoilers ahead for Off Campus — so if you haven’t watched the show or read the books yet, this is your friendly warning to come back after you have. Using Off Campus as a case study, they explore b...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell host a special panel from Superstars Writing Seminars focused on what it really means to build community in the writing world. Featuring Mark Leslie Lefebvre, Todd Fahnestock, Steve Ruskin, and James A. Owen, this conversation explores how Superstars began as a small gathering and grew into a conference people return to year a...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell sit down with Kara Infante of Bookish Flights and Gigi Howard of Drinks in the Library to talk about how they built thriving book communities around their podcasts and platforms. They share what it takes to grow a community both organically and intentionally, how authentic engagement creates trust, and why connection matters m...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell explore the difference between having an audience and building a real community as an author. They talk about why so many authors chase visibility instead of connection, how social media can distort our sense of progress, and why newsletters often become a stronger long-term tool for reader engagement. The conversation also di...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell kick off Networking and Community Month with an honest conversation about what authentic networking really looks like for authors. They explore why networking is really relationship-building, how reciprocity shapes healthy author communities, and what they’ve learned from both strong and disappointing connections in the writin...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell close out Business Month with an honest conversation about the parts of author business that rarely make it into the polished success stories: money, brand behavior, and the pressure to publish faster than your life or creativity can actually sustain. They talk about why money conversations matter, how every public move become...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell sit down with Nicole Fronek to talk about what it really takes to balance creativity with strategy in an author business. Nicole shares practical insights on building a roadmap, managing time and resources wisely, and creating systems that support both the creative and operational sides of a writing career. The conversation al...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell sit down with award-winning author and military veteran Zac Diamanti to explore how personal experience, storytelling, and strategic thinking can shape a successful author career. Zac shares how his background influences his fiction, why storytelling can be a cathartic process, and how he approaches author business decisions w...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell kick off May by breaking down the business decisions they’ve made over the past year and the core essentials every indie author needs in place to build a sustainable career. They discuss the mindset shifts that come with treating writing like a business, along with practical systems for banking, bookkeeping, planning, marketin...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell sit down with thriller author Marc Avery to talk about how he built book-signing momentum across the country by starting small, staying persistent, and learning how to connect with readers in person. Marc shares how he approaches bookstores, plans signings, and uses authenticity, conversation, and consistency to turn casual in...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell sit down with Shamayne Olivia to explore creativity, self-discovery, and what it truly means to embrace your voice in midlife. Shamayne shares her powerful journey through loss, reinvention, and personal awakening, offering insight into how women over 50 can reconnect with their creativity and step fully into their second act....

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas explores how color theory can strengthen author branding and help writers create a more memorable, cohesive visual identity. She breaks down how colors shape reader perception, signal genre and mood, and influence the overall experience readers have with your books, website, and event materials. From book covers to merchandising, this episode o...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell sit down with fitness expert Fitz Koehler to talk about resilience, longevity, and how movement can transform both your health and your mindset. Fitz shares her powerful journey through cancer recovery and explains how fitness helped her rebuild strength, energy, and perspective. The conversation explores practical strategies...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas sits down with Cassie Newell to talk about her journey into traditional publishing and what authors need to know about querying, researching agents, and navigating rejection. They explore the realities of balancing indie, hybrid, and traditional publishing paths, along with practical strategies for researching agents, pitching effectively, and...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell sit down with bestselling author and indie publishing expert Kevin Tumlinson, of Author Anchor, to talk about scaling your author business with virtual assistants. Kevin shares how authors can move beyond doing everything themselves and start building systems, hiring support, and treating writing like a business. From onboardi...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell sit down with Aimee Ravichandran of Abundantly Social to talk about what actually works in social media and book marketing right now — and how authors can stop feeling so overwhelmed by all the noise. They discuss consistency, audience fatigue, platform selection, community building, and the difference between chasing vanity m...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas sits down with Sam Namias and Tom Papaspyros, founders of Crewfiction, to talk about one of the biggest hurdles indie authors face after publishing their first book: marketing. They explore why so many authors feel overwhelmed once the writing is done, how simplifying marketing systems can unlock creativity, and why connection—not complexity—is...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Cassie Newell and Angela Haas break down marketing trends for 2026 and what authors should be focusing on moving forward. From authenticity to direct sales, they explore how the marketing landscape is shifting and what that means for indie authors. They reflect on what worked in 2025, what didn’t, and why 2026 is shaping up to be the year of community buil...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell explore how to craft interconnected romance series that keep readers invested across multiple books. From sustaining chemistry to planning character arcs, they break down what makes a series feel cohesive without becoming overwhelming. They discuss how world-building, setting choices, and emotional continuity shape reader loya...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas sits down with romance author Holly Lyne to discuss the continued dominance of romance in today’s publishing landscape and what that means for indie authors. They explore why romance accounts for more than half of the most sold Kindle titles, how reader expectations shape the genre, and why understanding subgenres and tropes is essential for su...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell sit down with bestselling contemporary romance author Danika Bloom to talk about her journey into romance writing, the power of representation, and why the genre deserves far more respect than it often gets. Content note: This episode includes brief discussion of sexual assault and explicit themes in the context of romance wri...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Cassie Newell and Angela Haas explore the deeper value of romance literature and why it continues to resonate so powerfully with readers. They discuss how romance teaches emotional literacy, normalizes communication and consent, and centers healing in ways other genres often don’t. From character depth to evolving genre trends, this conversation reframes r...

Welcome to Episode 54 of The Author Next Door — and a special sneak peek of our very first Author Next Door After Dark episode 🍷 In this After Dark preview, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell pull up a chair, pour a drink, and dig into a topic we love to challenge: 👉 Romance is not a genre — it’s a skill set. From thrillers and fantasy to sci-fi and action, romance (or relationships) shape emotional...

🧾 If you’ve published a book or two and you’re thinking… “Now what?” — this episode is for you. In Episode 53 of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell kick off the year with the unsexy-but-critical topic most authors avoid: business goals . Because once you decide you want to earn income from your books, you’re not “just writing” anymore… you’re officially a small business owner ....