00:08
What's up book nerds?  Welcome to What the Smut Are You Talking About podcast.  This is your weekly podcast where pretty much anything goes.  Each week I have a new or returning co-host,  so be sure to stay tuned to see who I am chatting with this week.

00:32
This week we have the privilege of having Sloane St. James on to talk about her work. Hey Sloane, how are you? Good, how are you? I'm doing well, if my voice will cooperate. Oh, it's been in and out all day. No worries. Well, anything new been going on since we last talked in the summer? What have we been up to? So I had...

01:02
In this summer,  I was just, think when I saw you last  in Nashville, I was finishing up Coach Sully, that one released in August.  And so that was really, really exciting. And then now I just wrapped up Fight, which is the first book in a collab series for the Sky Ridge Hot Shot, which is like hot shot firefighters. They do like they're wildland firefighters. So  it's  anyone who you think of like, you know, doing wildfire and all of

01:31
All that and prescribed burns. So yeah, so I've been working on that one. I just wrapped it up. It just went to the formatter yesterday, I think. that was  so exciting. And I'm really, really excited about this book. Like I'm,  I love this one. I really struggled through Sully. That was a tough one for me, but this book I'm so excited about.  I heard you were releasing a hotshot book, like the Scream of Scrompt,  I am obsessed with hotshots  and yeah, so cause there's not nearly enough.

02:01
No. Books about them. I've only found like two that I've liked. And so when I saw that I was like, oh my gosh, after this we have to like exchange because I would love to like read some more too. So yeah. Okay, for sure. I have been binge watching on Netflix. Oh my god, I just lost the name of it. I know what you're talking about. I can't think of it either though. Oh my gosh, it's like literally the easiest name.

02:30
been binging it though and I'm like yeah I know I a book. I haven't started that one yet but yeah that's awesome. Oh gosh definitely definitely check it out it's so good. Yeah I heard it's good. That's great. Yeah it was such a fun thing to learn about so I went on Reddit and I actually met a wildland firefighter through Reddit

02:57
And then we like became buddies and I was able to just ask him questions basically throughout the entire writing process, which was an enormous help because I really want to, I want it to be accurate. get that's like one of my like, yeah, I don't know, just things where I'm like, have to, I have to make sure that like, I'm representing this in the way that's, you know, an accurate way and, and to show that like I've done my research and also that I can understand it. Cause sometimes I feel like I can't even write about it until I understand it.

03:28
And whole smokes, this was such a learning curve. Like learning about wildfire and  how that it is such a big like involved. I don't know system, I guess is what I want to say. Um, it's, wild. It's,  so in depth and there's so many different layers. I mean, because, you know, it's very like it's government involved and so there's all these different teams. It's just, it's wild. Like it was, it was such a cool thing to learn about, but.

03:57
I'm so glad that I had him because otherwise there's no, there's no way.  I think I probably would have given up honestly.  It's very confusing for me at least, but yeah. Yeah. So yeah. Oh, I cannot wait. What date will that be releasing? January 7th. Oh  my gosh. It's like less than a month away. ah That's perfect. Cause this episode is going to be airing January 7th too. So

04:25
Oh, yes! Double whammy! How does it look today to you? That's awesome! Oh my gosh, that's so cool. Yes! Yeah, I was like, why does Medit sound so familiar? Yes, um... I love that. Yes, I can't wait though, because like I've definitely... Hockey and Mafia has been like my main two stuff I've been reading these days and I'm like, I need a break, I need...

04:53
something different.  I'm, I'm,  I can't. I really think you're gonna like this one. I like, mean, so that's the thing, like, I like this book, but I  mean, I should say like, I like all my books. I don't, I like them all just on a spectrum, you know, but this one I really, really like. So I hope you really like it too. This is like, this one and Stand and Defend were the two where I'm like, I love these books. So.

05:15
I'm hoping uh that people like it as much as they like that one. Yes.  of Stand and Defend, that is like the only hockey one I haven't done yet of yours. I'm like, really? waiting. Oh my gosh. Yes.  Yes. Because I'm an audio bookworm.  I'm so good these days. I've been like  ready for this audio to drop.  Yes. It's coming. It's coming. It's coming. Yeah. End of this month. It should be  up there. And it's going to be really great. I'm very, very excited for it.

05:43
I have JF Hardy and Chloe Ryan. I got so scared with this book that I had submitted for certain people and people weren't available. And then all of sudden he had a cancellation and I was able to swoop in and get them. And I was so thankful because I have to have, because it's Camden Teller, he's everybody's favorite, it seems like. And he's probably my favorite most days. I had to like...

06:09
you know, find someone who could do him justice and like make sure that that was an accurate portrayal of that character. I could not let people down on that one.  Um, so yeah, I got a chance to get JF Hardy. was so psyched and Chloe Wright is amazing. did, um, Birdie in the first one. She is fantastic. So I think I just know she's going to be phenomenal in this one too.  So, you know, I follow like a bunch of like bookstagrammers and they kept on talking about your work when it like

06:37
first came out and I'm like,  I need to check this out. And then finally, like before we came hit audio and I'm like, yes.  And  I was just like mesmerized. Like  I, the way I love that book,  honestly, right now I think Daddy Barrett is my number one right now.  Yeah, he's definitely like, think between there's like, I mean, there's things that I like about all of them, but it bears definitely up there. Like,

07:05
He's you gotta be he's just I don't know. He's so great. Yeah, that book. It was just so lovable.  And the thing is, I don't typically like any type of like pregnancy trope books. but the way I devoured that book, I heard that from so many people. They're like, normally I hate Secret Baby, but this one I loved and that always is like such a compliment that, you know, you can  let someone like still enjoy it, even if it's like not there.

07:34
know go to because  I have tropes like that too where I'm like I just don't but when you find an author that can do it well  it's so fun. Yes and there's not many out there that can because it's usually like just your traditional. So I love when there's like a different spin on it so thank you.  Yeah yeah definitely I try to do that as much as possible so I think there's there's a little bit

07:59
I mean, totally different characters, totally different scenarios, all of that. But there's kind of that sort of vibe, I guess, I would say, with fight too. So  you're probably like, I think you're like, but no, mean, it's not a, I don't know how much I'm allowed to say. Don't get in trouble. I don't know. I'm just gonna stop.  My last uh movie, I had to keep on telling her, I'm like, don't, don't do it.

08:29
I'm horrible with that. It makes my PA so frustrated because I just like, I'm like, yeah, let's talk about it. Like, and she's like, no, you can't keep doing that. You have to stop. You have to like save something, quit spoiling everything. But, Oh, I love it. I love it. Well, why don't you go ahead and tell our listeners a little bit about yourself. All right. I started writing in...

09:00
think November 2022, I like did it for the so I kind of like had idea for before we came and it was a book that I wanted to read but it didn't exist and so I had to write it. And so that was like kind of how I got going. And then there's this thing called like NaNoWriMo. For it is National November Writing Month. Something like that anyways. So the goal is I think to get out like 50,000 words in a month.

09:28
And I thought it was you're supposed to write a book in a month. So I was like, I'm going to try to do it and see if I can. And so every single night when my son was asleep, I would like sit in the chair in his room as he would like go to bed and I'd just be tapping away at my laptop. And then  I remember getting done with that month and being like, oh, I didn't finish it. And I told my editor at the time, I was like, I didn't get it done. Like I didn't, you know, do like the name or she was like, how many words did you do? And I was like, 63,000 or something. She was like, you did it. She's like, it was 50,000 was the goal. And I was like, oh.

09:58
Oh, great.  So that was like super fun. um And now looking back, I'm like, what the hell was I thinking? Like, that's kind of wild to do that much on like your first book. It's just sort of bananas.  Because I hadn't ever written anything probably since like eighth grade. I don't know. Or maybe I mean, I wrote like a couple papers in college, but they weren't weren't creative writing. uh

10:22
It was my way to jump into it, I guess, because I wanted to read, like I wanted to read this book and I had like an idea for one and I'm like, you know what, I think I'm just going to try it and see what happens. Um, and I expected it to flop and then it didn't and  people liked it. And I was like, holy crap. So then I just kept going with it.  Uh, yeah, which is sort of weird. Like  looking back that it all, I feel incredibly lucky and grateful for all of my readers that

10:50
basically did this for me because it was word of mouth. Like that's the only way like my books got out. It was  through Facebook groups and people looking for recommendations and um talking about them.  that's literally I couldn't have done it without my readers. Like my readers are, they  just completely have my heart. I love them so much.

11:09
Just love that book like growing up like one of my favorite movies and it was like kind of like a Hallmark ish type movie It was called my face on a milk carton. I don't know if you're familiar with it. I keep hearing that I've never seen it. Yes, so it's like  that movie but like make it hockey and I was like I uh like I gotta watch it Yeah,  it's it's it's a good one  and  um so what I read

11:37
this. My sister loved that movie too. I called her up and I was like, listen, I know you don't really read hockey, but this is a good introduction because it's a little bit of both. So yeah, she read it. And of course she loved it too. So that's awesome. I'm so glad. Yes. Yes. It's so good. Thank you. Like looking. I mean, there's so many things looking back, I probably would have written differently, but I'm like, I don't have any regrets like it.

12:06
You know, it is,  it was what it was.  Um, and I knew someday I'm like, this were to ever take off and like, you know, go really well, I know that someday I'll look back and be like, man, why did I waste like my best idea on my first book?  You know, like  before I was like a seasoned writer.  Um, but at the same time, I'm like, no one will pick up my second book if I don't have a good enough first, like,  you know, book. And so I knew that my writing probably wasn't going to be great yet because I was just starting out.

12:36
But I thought, okay, I gotta make the plot then good enough that people will maybe like be curious enough to pick it up and make them like want to go to the next one.  And so that was sort of my like full strategy with it, I guess was just like, got to, want it. want people to still like it. And I just know that I won't be there skill wise. Cause I was like, you know, brand new, but yeah, I was really, really grateful that people loved it. And  I like, I love the idea of the story. I would, I would love to write more. ah

13:07
on that end of things, like sort of that true crimey. Yeah. Like having more of that in there. I would love to eventually make my way over to that side. But yeah. Well, I'm here for it. Yay. Great. Yes. I love it all. Yeah, super excited about this firefighter one though. So how did that like come to be? Like, did you just call up some friends? Like, Hey, do you want to

13:37
collab on this? Like how? it's actually it wasn't. It wasn't even my well, I mean, it kind of was my idea. But um, Danielle Baker, so she reached out to me. I had met, we had kind of like, chatted and got to know each other a little bit in April of 2023. When I had my first, wait, was it? No, 23. I don't know. I don't know what you're saying anymore. Anyways, at a signing. Um,

14:05
in Michigan and we were, you know, like chatting a bunch and then I don't know, like a couple months later she messaged me and she was like, hey, I would love to do a collab series. Is that something like you would ever be interested in and want to do? And I was like, sure, like, you know, what did you have in mind? And she was like, well, I'm not really sure yet. And so I kind of pitched this idea not to like go on too much like a tangent, but again, prior to like writing, I was trying to get into like the cover.

14:35
scene for like making covers for other indie authors.  And I would make like these different like pre-made covers and one of them was like a hotshot series because I wanted to read about it and thought maybe I can attract an author who's writing one or can will write one and then I can read it and that would be awesome.  And so I always sort of like had that like in the back of my mind of like, oh, that would be such a fun thing to do. So I sort of like pitched it to her like, oh, you know, there's these

15:04
like, you know, these wildland firefighters and I always thought it'd be really cool to do like a hot shot series.  and she was like, yeah, let's do it. So that was awesome. And then I was, she kind of asked if there's anyone else I could think of. And I brought up,  um, Paisley hope, because I thought they both kind of write small town. And I thought maybe, you know, that would be like a good little  mesh of the same sort of writing styles.  I don't know if I would consider my, the stuff I've done small town, but fight was.

15:34
So that was, I feel like my first small town in a way. They went for it  and yeah, and the rest was like history. So I was  really, really excited that they decided, yeah, let's do this. Cause I wasn't quite sure,  you know, what, what their ideas were for it. think originally Danielle was inspired by the mom coms and like how they, you know, had those that like, you know, collab series and how cool that was. And so that was, was like, I would love to do something like that. And so.

16:04
Yeah, we kind of just need to come up with a theme essentially. can we have chats? Spinoffs is like Britney and Jenny. They're like, they're crazy. That's all I can say. I love their world. So yes. So there's. I'll say kind Don't say it you can't. No, they're.

16:28
I've talked about this before. don't know if people, I'm not going to like bring it up, but if people have listened to like other things that I've talked about before, it's an idea that I've had for a while. so something in this book is going to be the start of a new series, but it doesn't tie back to the characters. There's not any characters that will, I don't think, reappear, which also makes me kind of sad because normally like I keep, you know, my world where everybody sort of

16:58
going into it. But this one will be once this book is done, it's kind of done. But there's an aspect of this book that will launch a new series. And once you read it, you'll probably be able to guess what it is. So I had to be kind of vague in the book a little bit because I didn't want to pigeonhole myself too much and end up, you know, getting stuck because I did that a little bit with Sully. I got myself stuck and I'm like, okay, don't do that again. So yeah, if there's

17:25
I feel like there's something that's in fight that people are gonna be like, I want to know more about that. And that is going to kind of lead into a little bit more of like that true crime space. So that will be coming not right away. I want to, I've got a couple other things I need to do. I got to do my, I want to write a tattoo shop series and that one will include, you'll see, you'll notice in like the next Stand and Defend when you listen to it, ah there's a stepbrother in there. And so he gets a book. And so it's going to be kind of like, that's sort of going to like a spinoff.

17:53
real like just a small spinoff series for that.  then yeah, and then I think the next one, we'll see. We'll see where I'm at. I kind of just do whatever,  whatever characters are loudest in my head, they're the ones that get the book. So that's,  that's kind how I'm going to roll with it.  Oh my gosh. Well, I can't wait.  Oh, and like all three books are coming like pretty like close back to that. Yeah, we're a rapid release.

18:20
Yeah, so it's gonna be the 7th and 9th and then the 11th. Oh wow, didn't realize it was that close. Yeah, it was close. It was so much We'll able to binge-up. Yeah. I cannot wait. Will they be coming to audio? I do do Kindle every they will be coming to audio. Probably not till next spring though. But I don't have any dates yet, but they will be coming to audio. Okay, I might not be patient enough so I might have to dust out the Kindle.

18:50
But  my reading days, like, because I work full time, I podcast all the time. have my hands all into different, yes, in different spaces. And then I have my kids. So by the time I like actually lay down to like read, I have to time fall asleep. So totally get that. Yep.  Totally get that. oh

19:16
With my day job, I'm in spreadsheets all day, so I just pop an earbud in and I'm able to listen as I go. So I get so much reading done that way. awesome. However you can like consume a book, you're consuming a book. It doesn't matter. I totally get on board with that. Well, before we get diving into your books, do you mind if I ask you some questions? Yeah, go for it. How many books do you currently have published? Five. Five books. Currently. Yeah. I have the Lake series.

19:46
which is before we came strong wild in the game and then stand and defend. And then I have coach Sully. I don't know when I'm going to get back to that one. Honestly, it might be a few years. Anyone who's like the big sports girlies listening to this are going to be like, what the F? I just got to get some other stuff out of my brain. I know I just like, got to, I got to, kind of needed like a little bit of a break from hockey. I think I think I overdid it just to scoach and I'm like, I gotta, I need something new.

20:16
So yeah, fight was a great, great like little break  of  sports. Yeah. I'm really intrigued about this like tattoo thing because usually when you get like tattoo shops, usually motorcycles are involved in some ways. know I haven't.  There's so many, like I have, I think  I keep going back and forth honestly on plots on a couple of these.  Um, one I for sure got down, but.

20:46
And that one's like the one I for sure have down is not the one that's with Camden's stepbrother, but it is a character that was in the Lake series. So I won't say which one yet.  Okay. So yeah. So there are going to be like some, some like, you know, reintroduce people that get their books. Well, I am definitely here for it.

21:11
I'm so glad. when it comes to building your characters, how do you build your character profiles? Does it just like come to you? Do you get inspo from elsewhere? Yeah, it's just like a vibe. I know that sounds loose, but that's kind of how it goes. And then as I write, they kind of get like these layers added to them. So for example, with fight, that was this character I had created. And as I was talking to this wildland firefighter, that

21:40
his sort of personality bled into this character that I was writing a lot. And in some ways it was, I'm not gonna say like too much because that's just like who he is, which is fine. But like beta readers were like, this guy's way too big of an asshole.  They  were like, he's too mean. And so I was like, okay, okay. So like, I will write the characters, but then there are times where they need just a little cleaning up and like, I don't know.

22:08
just like some touch-ups and maybe lightening things up a little bit ah because yeah, sometimes they are. I'm not saying this guy is an ass, I mean, he's kind of an asshole, but like in the best way, he's very like lovable asshole. But yeah, it's kind of like that. So I'll start with that character and then they kind of get fine tuned after beta readers go through it, ah letting me know like what they like and what they don't like. And that, I mean, that goes for all characters. ah In the very beginning when I wrote Birdie and before we came,

22:38
They like my two beta readers just loathed her. They were like, she is so whiny. She is so annoying, like couldn't stand her. So she got like a bit of like an overhaul and then she just became like a lot stronger, which I was so happy for. Because I didn't see it that way. Like when you write, you're too close to it a lot of times.  And so you don't notice when it's when you have like an issue like that. um That's why beta readers are absolutely critical to, I think for any, any book, honestly. ah

23:07
Yeah. But yeah, so it's, things like that where they kind of just get fine tuned in. Yeah. A little bit perfected as, as I go, but they're, they're coming up with them as just sort of. There's sort of pop up, I guess in your head. I'm going to just, yeah, it just sort of got like their personalities. And then as you write it just sort of comes out in the words without.

23:30
necessarily realizing it. I like more stronger FMCs. you have a favorite trope or tropes to write about? I really love writing course proximity. I think it's, I mean, I like reading it too because whenever I'm reading a book, and this is me because  I don't know if it's my ADHD or what, but when I'm reading a book and they have parts in there where, you know,  one of the characters doing something like at work or somewhere else and like it's part of the story, but I just

23:59
you get so excited and like waiting for the time for like those two characters to like meet and then have like those interactions. And so when you're at force proximity, it just happens so much more because they're always there.  Right. So I love that because it's just I get more, get more time to write the characters together. And that's like, obviously, you my favorite part. But yes,  I am trying to get better about not writing such force proximity, though I literally just wrote like a one bed. uh

24:27
book so that didn't totally work out at all. I'm trying. I'm trying really hard. I tried to do it with Sully and that was a struggle for me. I'm like, I just need them to like be in the same place more. I mean, they work together, it should be enough, but it wasn't for me. So that's probably, that's probably my favorite. No complaints here. Okay, good. And yeah, if I can get like a good suspense aspect or like a

24:54
Like if I, if my brain can come up with a good plot that has like a twist or something, I get so pumped. get really, really excited about that. So,  um, yeah, I would love to do more of those. I love, give me all this suspense. uh That's how I feel too.  So  would you think,  uh, forced proximity is your favorite trope to read about or do you have any others?

25:22
ah I have so I go through such phases, honestly, and I'm a mood reader big time. uh I  wish I wasn't but man, it is so it's I just say I have to like be in mood for it. And so yeah, I don't have a second chance. I know that's like not always a really popular one. But I really like a second chance one. Because I love any opportunity for there to be groveling.  I freaking love groveling. It's just like, oh, I love it.  So m

25:50
There's usually some of that in like a second chance. So yeah, I like that one. And yeah, I like forced proximity too, I think. But then I'll go through like other things where like I was really into like Omegaverse for like a while this past year. And read like a ton of Bear Shifter books that were, I found so comforting. Like, I did not know that was gonna be something that was like my jam, but oh my god, it is so my jam.

26:17
yet to read a bear shifter one,  like, cause I do, I'm a  sucker for a good like wolf shifter. So I need to check some out. So definitely give me some recs I will send you.  Yeah. So I, okay, there's one,  okay. It's a series and I can't think of the series name right now, but it's like, I think the first one is like Daddy Biker Bear or something like that.  Oh my God. I freaking ate that series up so fast. It was so good. I loved it. It was like exactly what my heart needed in that moment. I think there were four, four books and

26:47
Yeah, I just snarked them down. They were, they were great. It's sometimes it's just like, need like, I don't think I'll ever write a shifter.  Um, I just don't think it like it's in, in me to do that.  Uh, but I, I  love the comfort of them. I don't know. There's just like something that's like those.  Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And it's always has like that very strong like protector vibe. Cause sometimes I just don't, I think in my real life, I'm also. uh

27:16
headstrong and trying to accomplish a lot of things, but sometimes I just don't want to. I want someone else to do  it. So it's really nice  to read about it and just  live vicariously through these FMCs that have to be taken. I hate to say that, um but yeah, I like it. Yeah.  As an independent woman, I feel that.

27:38
I know it's such a con like it's so conflicting. It's so conflicting. I hate it because like the feminist part of me is like absolutely not and then but I'm like, yeah, but you know, it's kind of nice. How nice would it be not to worry about anything? know! How nice would that That's what it is for me. Yeah. I would have so much less anxiety to deal with.  Oh my god, just let someone else do it. That's I think probably why like Barrett.

28:06
became like the way he was. I'm like, I want him to just do everything. I want him to just want to like take care of everything and fix everything and just like be on top of it and just yeah, try to take out as much stress as he can out of, you know, Raleigh's life because it's like single moms, man. That's just, single moms are so fucking impressive. I, yeah.

28:32
I feel that. Yeah, my sister just watching her because  she separated from her husband when my oldest niece  was, I think, two.  And she was like very young and just watching her like do both roles  and it's a struggle. I have so much respect for single moms. Same. Yeah, absolutely. Where's your favorite place to write up?  So it's Bed My Bed, but...

29:00
I am currently, so for years now, my bookshelf has been a cardboard box.  And that is where all of my books stay and I haven't had like a bookshelf. So my husband  has built me built-ins, like bookshelves that you can see behind me.  We're still getting the doors put on over there.  But  this is going to be my new, my next book will be written in this room. And I am so excited that I have like a designated writing spot. Otherwise, pretty much every single book has been written either in that chair in my son's room.

29:30
or  um, or in my bed and most of them are in my bed. So it's kind of, think it's like the only place I can really like shut the doors and sort of like have that quiet time.  Um, but now having this office, I'm going to have that. And I am  so excited. I got a chair that's going to be delivered at some point this month or next month.  Um, and yeah, I, I'm really hoping I can, I can just crank out some books in here. I'm finding myself like nesting in here and coming in this room way more.  So.

29:59
Yeah, it'll be here. Oh, Good. That's exciting. is. I always look at other people's bookshelves and I'm like, want bookshelves. Now I bookshelves. I feel this because you know, I had like crazy amounts of bookshelves in our living room. And then once I started having kids like, they kept on like wanting to mess with them. I'm like, so yeah, my books are currently in cardboard boxes. So I'm to put up

30:28
at least one bookshelf in our bedroom.  Nice.  starting in January.  Oh, that's exciting. Unbox some of them.  Yeah. I haven't honestly been getting so many books just because it's like I don't have a place to put them. So I haven't really bought a lot of paperbacks. But now that I have room, the ones that I have accumulated that are like either my favorites or ones that like whenever I go to a signing, I'll ask for their authors if they want to trade books. I'm like, I'll give you my book if you give me your book.

30:58
And so we do that a little bit. So I have a bunch of those. So it's kind of like, it's all of the like books of other authors that I've met or just like some of my favorite books. yeah, so I've kind of like finally have like a place for them. yeah, it's been great. That's exciting. Yeah. How do you like to spend your free time?

31:21
I don't really have free time.  I feel this deep in my soul. That was like the first thing when I saw that question. was like,  oh, I don't have free time. um work a lot. podcasting.  Yeah, like  I  write as much as I can. then I guess I like, I mean, I have a family of two kids and a husband. And so  it's

31:49
them or it's writing and then it's usually them and then back to writing like late at night too.  I'm trying to learn how to, as my therapist says, de-prioritize productivity. um But then I actually canceled my therapy appointments because I didn't have enough time because I needed to work.

32:11
Which is not good. You sound just like me though. Yeah, okay, so you get it. that's so bad. But yeah, that's really like, I need to do a better job of that. I need to go back to my doctor so I can get back on medication. I just, I'm like, when can I have time? But then also complain about feeling lousy all the time.

32:41
I get it. I know, isn't it? That was like the other day. was like, I like my hair is falling out and I just feel like, you know, garbage all the time. My husband's like, he's like, did you go outside? And I'm like, no. And you know, he kind of like goes through the list like, you been drinking water? I'm like, no, like, no, I haven't been anything to take care of myself. I don't know why I feel so bad. It's so obvious, you know, but yeah, like, yeah, I have to get better. The other day, we had a

33:10
We had like a dinner reservation. actually got to go out,  which like never happens ever. ah We got to go out and so we stopped at like this brewery first and had a beer and I left my purse at the brewery and then we had like a, you reservation like across the street.  So I ran across the street just to grab my bag and went back. I was winded for so long.  It took me so long to like  just to regulate myself again.

33:39
I'm like, okay, we have to like start getting outside and moving and doing something. But I just don't,  I will literally just hyper-focus in on stuff and do it forever. Like I'm a workaholic. I'm trying to get better about it. I gotta get better about it. But I think it's hard when you like this, you  know? Yeah. Yeah. Like there's a certain amount of enjoyment in it that it's like,  but I want to do it too. There's definitely things that, you know, are the fun suckers of this job.

34:08
Um, but for the most part, I like it. So yeah, my husband has to check me pretty much daily and be like, okay, are you going to have like quality time? I'm like, yes, I, I promise. just need to this. Yeah. I have said that word for word before. Yeah. My husband will come in and check on me. He's like, have you eaten yet today? I'm like, oh shoot. Like I gotta do that. Um, yeah.

34:36
It's I gotta, I gotta get better. I gotta get better about taking care of myself. Um, yeah, next year, next year, I'm to do it. And I mean it this time. I am taking like some stuff. right there. I know it is. It really is. I actually canceled, um, well, I didn't schedule any editing dates because usually you have to schedule ahead of time, sometimes like a year in advance. And I did not schedule any for 2025.

35:03
So I'm like, I'm not giving myself deadlines this year. I just want to, I want to see what happens when I don't have a deadline to work towards, if it's easier for me or if it's harder for me, I have no clue. could be, it could go either way.  Um, but I'm trying, I'm hoping that that'll help me from having like these super late nights. Cause I think I've been up to like one or two almost every single night this week.  Um, or this past week, which is probably why I'm sick now, but,  uh, yeah, it's just like, gotta.

35:30
I just got to get better about it. if it takes me longer to do things that it takes me longer, like it might take me longer to write books. might not get them out as fast, but I'll be in a better like place, you know, mentally and physically. And I think that's, that's more important, you know, like I got to take care of myself and that way I can like be more present for my family and things like that. But yeah. And then I'll also open you up creativity too. So

35:54
That's the other thing.  like, because that's honestly, said, I think it's taking me so long on some of these books, because I  feel like I'm fighting such a battle.  Because I don't have like that creativity the way I did previously. And I'm like, I gotta just like get outside or start exercising or something so I can start getting that like creativity turning again.  And it might I might write faster, you know, who knows, like, but I gotta

36:22
I got to make some changes for sure. So that's, that's definitely one of them. So I'm hoping. Well, for you.  Yeah, we'll see what happens. I don't know if I haven't started it yet. So let's not get too excited. but  I'm going to try. oh Well, why don't you go ahead and tell us a little bit about your book. So usually I will say for the lake series, that's my hockey series whenever like

36:49
I met a signing, I meet someone who hasn't read my books before. I usually tell them they're hockey books, but the plots are usually not based around hockey. Cause I,  I don't know. I tend to do that where I'm like, I want to write about something and usually it'll be like an occupation. And then I'm like, but I want this, like my plots are kind of unique to whatever the theme of that book is in this case, hockey. So if you aren't crazy into hockey, it's probably a good option for you.

37:15
read like the lake series or like you'd want to like dip your toe into it. um Because yeah it sort of gives,  they have their separate plots outside of hockey  and I just have more fun with that. um But yeah my first one is  I guess I would say is I never really know how to  like figure out the tropes for book one but before we came is kind of ah I would say like a little bit of suspensy kind of like a brothers oh

37:41
best friend childhood friends to lovers, forced proximity situation.  Book two,  which is strong and wild. That one is a enemies to lovers.  And try to think of anything else I should call it. I mean, that one also has a little bit of forced proximity. It's like neighbors.  then sort of a little  secret identity in a way. does. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. Thank you. Yeah. It has like secret identity or like two person.

38:10
love triangle or something like that. um Is that called a two-person love triangle?  might. I don't know.  But yeah, Secret Identity. That one's definitely in that one. um And then in the game is Secret Baby and then it's got, that one kind of surprised pregnancy, I guess, ish, but mostly Secret Baby. It's like a older, it's like a five-year-old, Yeah.

38:38
Yeah,  I would think of it as more of like single mom type thing just because. Okay, yeah, it's like yeah, single mom like with a twist. um But I try to like fast track you through the miscommunication part of that because nobody likes that. um Even though that's a major trope to my next book. I  mean, not like major major, but kind of major. It's a main one.

39:04
And then  Stand and Defend is like ex's best friend, I guess I would say it's like a runaway bride, but she goes with the best man  instead of her really like piece of shit. Beyonce. So yeah, so that's book four. And that one also has a little bit of suspensiness in it.  It's kind of like a good villain era  FMC too. So she, yeah, she's, she's great. I really like.

39:33
Jordan, that's that character.  So yeah, that's those. And then I have Coach Sully. That one is a surprise pregnancy  and workplace romance, I guess I would say. It's,  Coach Sully is, he was the former captain of the Lake series, which is,  or the Lake's hockey team in that, you know, previous series. And then it's sort of like his spinoff. So he's retired and

39:59
They kind of have him going on like one of those reality dating shows. And then he,  instead of falling for one of the girls that they've been like setting him up with, he falls for the producer. Um, so that's,  that's  book.  Um, and then I've got Fight, which is  a force proximity for sure. It's like a one bed. And then there is a little bit of a miscommunication trope, but I think it's justified personally.

40:27
I think it's justified. then,  um, and it's got a little bit of like enemies to lovers in it.  And yeah, should I say force proximity? Oh, and then kind of like this us versus nature sort of aspect. It's like a little survivally. So yeah, if you were like one of those people who liked like hatchet as a kid, you'll probably like it.  Um, that's survivally, but it's like,

40:54
Yeah, like I loved Hatchet, girl. just oh my gosh, that was just one of the greatest books.  So yeah, in some day would like to do another one that is more like Hatchet but smut. Like,  would love to do it. It's a tricky one to figure out just hygiene wise.  Like that was definitely  like  an issue in it that I had to sort of take some liberties and the wildland firefighter was talking with me like, are you fucking kidding me? And I'm like, dude, there's I gotta do it like.

41:23
This is still like a smut book at the end of the day people are expecting this you're gonna have to just like let me have this. So yeah, cuz he's just like absolutely not. I'm like, well, got to do it. I read your post. I think it was this morning. Yeah. About his comments and I was rolling. was like, oh my god, just to be a fly on the wall during this conversation. Oh my gosh, some of the things that like

41:53
He's just like, are you,  you get so frustrated with me?  Rightfully, I will say. ah but yeah, that's where like, he was so  crucial to this book because it was such a confusing, like, organized system of like, you know, getting these fires put out and just the like,  the whole Forest Service in general, how that operates is just so much more involved than I ever would have thought. So yeah, there was a lot of like,

42:22
what tool is he carrying? And I'm like,  purposely trying to be vague because I don't necessarily know.  And he's like, you know, is it this or this? I'm like, God damn it, like, he's like, called me on everything. Like, he did not let me get by with anything except for the things that I insisted in the other chapters. And I kind of actually like texted him last night and I was like,

42:44
Dude, I am half tempted to send you the spice scenes because he only ever read like fire chapters. I only sent him those because it was just like too weird for me to send him the spice chapter. But I'm like, how funny would it be if he could like make beta comments on like the spice chapters and then create like a post of those ones? Because I think that would be just hilarious.  I know, like I was like, I don't know how to like explain it because like the books done. But at the same time, I just think that those comments would be hilarious.

43:14
Um,  yeah, I don't know. I will say there is one scene in fight that was inspired by this dude, a spice scene,  um, on something that he had done. And I'll let people just try to decide what they think it is, uh but  it's in there  and it's awesome. And that's where it came from was, uh, was this guy. So yeah. Oh gosh.

43:43
Amazing.  My goodness. It's time to play a little game. Today we're going to do Would You Rather? Bookish Edition. Alright, so would you rather read a book or watch a movie? Read a book. I can forth on this one. ah Like, yeah.

44:12
I think it's just because I read so much. Here lately, I've been like when I go to bed, I was like, okay, I want to watch something right now. I'm very big into the hockey series right now. So nice. No, I've been the last I honestly I don't think I've read a book in over a month at this point, just because I've been so like heads down with this one. So at night, I I've just been like, putting on like Schitt's Creek or something like that just to

44:38
just to have like a something because yeah, I haven't but I'm dying. I have so many books. I have a bunch of Victoria Wilder's that I want to get into because I absolutely love her. So I'm going to try to do that as soon as like now that this book is done. I think this weekend, maybe today I'll start those. Fine. I'm I talked to Victoria last weekend. So I'm ready. I love her. She is like the sweetest person. She's so cool.

45:07
Yeah, so we were talking and so Bourbon and Lies will be hitting audio hopefully like early 2025. I'm  impatiently waiting because like all my friends are reading like reading it right now in preparation for book two  and I'm like shhh  don't tell me. When  we were actually in Nashville, um so I like hadn't met Victoria Wilder until Nashville when I met you.

45:37
And there was like one night where I had like some of like my book girlies like in my hotel room and we were just like laughing and whatever and there was like a knock at the door. And I got really I was like, Oh my god, we're being too loud like we're about to get in trouble.  and like it was Victoria Wilder and I was like, Oh my god, Victoria Wilder is coming into my hotel room. I got like,  so like starstruck by her. And  then like getting to know her she was just like the absolute coolest person. And so she, we ended up

46:05
sharing a cover artist, I had like followed Whiskey Ginger for a while because I just like I follow like certain artists, you know, or graphic designers just because I love graphic design personally. And then I saw one day Victoria Wilder had tagged Whiskey Ginger in a post and I was like, Oh my god, is Whiskey Ginger doing covers now? So I quickly reached out. And yeah, and so I was able to use her for fight.

46:31
which was amazing. She did a phenomenal job. you like her work, follow her on Instagram. think her thing is Whiskey Ginger Goods. we, past like a month ago, we got invited out to kind of hang out with Lonnie of Whiskey Ginger. And so Victoria and Lonnie and I got to hang out and like, caught together for like just the best like girls weekend ever.

47:01
the most fun, like, therapeutic thing I think that all of us needed at that moment. And we just like sort of just hung out and laid low and oh my God, it was so fun. It was just the best. And I got to know Victoria, you know, a lot better even that. And we just had like the best conversations about writing. And I just, think the world of her, I have such a crush on Victoria. I just love her.

47:24
I can't tell, I'm just like gushing about her, but I do. just think she's so smart and she has such great ideas and she's incredibly kind. Like she's just, yeah, she's so awesome. I love her. I love the fact that she just like crashes like your little party in your room. Oh my God. That was the best. That was the absolute best. She has such like a good energy that like you just like want to be around.

47:53
Like that's so I like I think I found her like a couple other times that weekend just to sort of like say hey and hang out a little bit. But yeah, she is like such a great she's becoming. Yeah, just one of my favorite people ever. Yeah, I get I get to see her in June. She's gonna be in Knoxville. Oh, nice. I've been great. Cute. So I got a table there. Very cool. So I'm super excited. that's exciting. with her again. Yeah. Oh, that's so cool.

48:22
Yeah, absolutely do. She's great. And Lonnie, by the way, of like, Whiskey Ginger is, she is like just the sweetest person in the entire world, too. Like, it's just, I've met so many cool people, feel like, through this job. It's absolutely wild. There's so many cool people in the book community. Oh, of course. Yes.  I didn't realize how like,  big the book community was because like, I've been a reader all my life.  I didn't even know Bookstagram was a thing.

48:49
until like I started this podcast and I didn't really plan for this podcast. just kind of like happened. I love that. Yeah. I love that. And it just kind of like blew up from there. And yeah, I came home one day I was like, told my husband, was like, so I'm doing a podcast. He's like, wait, what? Oh my God, that's so cool. That is literally what I did with my first book. I was like, I think I'm going to write a book. And he was like, That was like it. Like sometimes you just got to like

49:18
You just feel something, you just gotta do it. I love that. That's how this podcast started. That's so cool. Yeah. Yeah. And here we are. Are you more of a paperback or a hardback person?

49:30
I forgot we were playing a game by the way. I know, sorry. I am like the queen of going off on a tangent. Same. I think, I love like a hardback. if I had to buy one, I would probably buy a hardback. But if I'm going to take one somewhere to read, I'm going to get it. Like, it'll be a paperback. It'll probably get dinged out. I should take better care of my books.

49:59
But I want to read like if I'm going to take one with me, I'm probably gonna read it. Yeah, held like a physical book in so long. It's like I'm here to see what my my books look like sitting there in a box.  Like I'm a kind of like overall like I'm a kindle person like I will if I'm gonna read something that's gonna be on my kindle.  But yeah, between the two of them, I guess, I guess a hardcover I like a hardcover. They're just under on your hands over the top.

50:28
Yes. Oh my gosh, I saw the most beautiful card back the other day at Barnes and Noble. Bridgerton, the Bridgerton series. they did. They put like two books in one and it was just like so gorgeous. It was very bright. I didn't. I talked myself out of it  only because my friend that was with me told me that they were cheaper at Target. was like, okay.  Nice.  Good to know you need someone who can tell you that.

50:59
Yes, yes. love going to Barnes and Noble, but the books are just so freaking good. Yeah, I love just strolling through the aisles. For sure. Yeah. Are you Kindle or audio? Kindle. think. Yeah, think just because I'm faster. mean. Yeah, I can't.

51:22
pay for Kindle Unlimited just so I could get that like little discount with Audible to get the  audio version. That's smart. But yeah, I do love my Kindle. It's I mean, usually because like I'm usually writing something. So it's like I'm one of those people that can't listen and then do any other tasks and then be able to like do both. I'm just I can't do it. I wish I could. um But yeah, otherwise. But I do love audiobooks. I don't have

51:52
an audible subscription, which feels wrong. Like I feel like as an author that's something I should have. but yeah, I think in the past, like if I ever did audio, was, I don't know. I just didn't do it that often. haven't like always had the opportunity, but I'm a quick reader. mean, you can listen to audio audiobooks fast too, but I think they just plow through books so much faster that I think it was cheaper just to read them.

52:22
What's up next for you? Yeah, getting so getting this book out  fight  and  it's  well it's out today. It's like for anyone who's going to listen to it. um But yeah, that one that one is my next one. And then after that, I'm kind of working through some different plots right now.  And I hope to start. Yeah, start a new one. I got to start writing again because it's been I've been mostly editing now for  weeks  on end. But  I. ah

52:50
Yeah, I think I'm excited to start start a new project and I think it'll be the the tattoo shop series, I think.  Um, I never know, though. But yeah, that was gonna be my next one. I'm probably gonna try to I think get ahead a little bit. There's authors that are like, you know, so many books ahead that they've already got like these books in their queue ready to go. I think I'm going to try to do that.  And so it might be a little while before my next one because I'd like to get

53:17
it totally done and then start another one before I release it. But yeah,  I think it's gonna be the Tattoo Shop. So anyone who's looking for  the Logan  and uh Kelly's book, they were introduced already. I think it's kind of when you listen to Stand and Defend, you'll be like, oh yeah, I can tell those guys are getting it. You know how you can pick that up when certain characters are gonna be coming back.

53:42
That was it didn't expect it. Like I did not know that he was even had a step brother until like that. So I started like writing that book and then. But then it was like, need to give these characters a book. just needed needed them to have a story. So yeah, so I think that I think that'll be the next one. And if not, it probably be that something in that series and you can't come in. What about any events? Are you going to be anywhere in 2025? OK, yeah, so I'm going to be in.

54:12
Arizona. have readers in the valley in Arizona. I'm going to be there January 18th through the 19th. And then we've got sports romance con in Minneapolis in my own home state, which I've never done a signing in my own state before. So I am  so excited for this. I think it's, it's going to be such a, I like, I think it's the first one, but they have done such an amazing job organizing so far. Like I am incredibly impressed.  Um,

54:39
with their communication and all the different things that they're offering. So I'm really, really excited. That one is February 28th through March  2nd. And I think they even have  a um hockey game possibly set up where you can go with a bunch of authors to go to a hockey game, which would be so fun.  Then ah June  20th through the  22nd, will be in  Ontario, in Windsor, Ontario for Rose City Romance.

55:09
So yeah, that's June 20th to 22nd. Then in September, I'm going to be  on an Alaskan cruise, the Books and Booze cruise. So that one is September 17th. Yeah, that's gonna be my, it's my first cruise. I've never been on a cruise before and I've always wanted to go to Alaska. Yeah. How fun. I've done  cruises, I want to do an Alaskan cruise so freaking bad. My friend did it for her. uh

55:38
honeymoon and she's like, it was amazing. It's like everyone who's ever done when I feel like always says like, oh my god, it's so worth it. And so when this like opportunity came up, actually, Brittany Nicole, I like had, again, like in Nashville was like, oh, you should do this one. And I was like, okay. And so I like jumped on and I was like, do you have any spaces left? And she was like, yeah, here you go. So that was amazing. And then I have so many next year.

56:06
Wrapping up though, the last one that I've got next year is in October. I will be at Love in Vegas October 17th to 18th. So that should be good time. think they've got like some like themed nights. I've never been to Love in Vegas. I know it's like, that's my first big, big one that I'll ever that I've done. So I'm very excited and looking forward to it.

56:30
I saw all the pictures from this past year and I was like, oh, I want to do that one so bad. But, uh, looks so good. Yeah. I'm nervous because it's big, but yeah, I'm, I have like a packed calendar for 2025 between like, just book stuff and regular stuff going on. Yeah. So, um, so it's like, okay, I needed chill for 2025 and then I can start doing cool stuff in 2026. Yeah. I had, I had one other one. Um,

57:00
that I think I had planned that I think I'm gonna have to pull out of none of them that I mentioned though. Those I will I'll be at all of those ones. But yeah, five, five is a lot. I did four last year and four was a lot. So I don't know. But there was just certain ones. It's like the cruise one, like I got to do it. And then Vegas when I got to do that one, too. Yeah.

57:22
Yeah, I've never been to Vegas either. So I'm excited. It's a great way for me to actually like see and travel a little bit because I love to travel. ah But I just haven't done it a lot. So this is kind of been a really good opportunity for that.  amazing. I'm so excited. Yeah. You'll have to touch that based on how the cruise went because I'll be living vicariously for you. uh Sounds good.  Yeah, I hope it goes well. Well, before we go, please tell my listeners where they can find you at. Yes, you can find me on TikTok.

57:52
It's at Sloan St. James and at Sloan St. James on Instagram and you can join my Facebook reader group, which is Sloan's Good Girl Book Club. I'm on threads too, but I always forget I'm on threads. Same. So yeah. I only pop over there when someone tells me there's like something going on. When there's drama going on. Oh yeah. When there's drama, I am all about threads. Like let me get, I'll look at all of it. But that's pretty much the only time I've been.

58:22
like  digging through stuff. Just little, it's a fun show. oh But yeah, so mostly, mostly Instagram and TikTok. um Yeah, I'm trying to get better about getting through my DMs. I know like they fill up and I'm so sorry if I don't get back to anybody. I, I'm trying, I'm working. I'm working really hard. I get busy though, like this last book was so fast. I just had to like almost abandon everything else that happened in my life to just

58:52
heads down and finish it. But yeah, we get it. We get it. Yeah. Well, as, as always, you can find me hanging out over on Instagram at what the smut podcast. If you're interested in being a part of this podcast, please fill out the contact form on my website. Visit www.whatthesmutpodcast.com. I am taking a waiting list as we are fully booked through 2025. If you enjoyed this episode, please go give us a rate and review. A five star rating goes a very long way for us podcasts.

59:20
Thank you guys for tuning in and we will see you next week. oh