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 believable chemistry, found family, emotional wounds, and the challenge of writing a third-act breakup that actually feels earned.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Why power shifts shape romantic chemistry
• What makes Garrett and Hannah feel emotionally real
• How found family strengthens romance stories
• Why emotional wounds affect trust and attraction
• What makes a third-act breakup feel earned

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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 after year because of the relationships, generosity, and sense of belonging it creates. The panel also dives into practical networking advice for authors, from making genuine connections at conferences to maintaining those relationships long after the event ends.

In this episode, they discuss:

• How Superstars Writing Seminars grew into a thriving author community
• Why genuine relationships matter more than transactional networking
• How authors can make meaningful conference connections
• Ways to maintain relationships beyond events and social media
• Why bravery, generosity, and vulnerability matter in author networking

🛠️ Resources mentioned:
Superstars Writing Seminars: https://www.superstarswriting.com/
Mark Leslie Lefebvre: https://markleslie.ca/
Todd Fahnestock: https://toddfahnestock.com/
Steve Ruskin: https://www.steveruskin.com/
James A. Owen: https://jamesaowen.com/

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https://theauthornextdoor.com/

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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 more than perfection. The conversation also explores podcasting, social media, live events, and the ways authors can better connect with readers, creators, and community builders in the literary space.

In this episode, they discuss:

• How Kara and Gigi built their communities over time
• Why authentic connection matters more than polished perfection
• The role of social media and live events in community growth
• How authors can approach podcasters and creators more effectively
• Why your unique voice is one of your strongest assets

🛠️ Resources mentioned:
Bookish Flights Podcast: https://www.bookishflights.com/podcast
Drinks in the Library: https://www.drinksinthelibrary.com/

🎙️ Learn more about the show:
https://theauthornextdoor.com/

📬 Sign up for our newsletter:
https://linktr.ee/theauthornextdoorpod