This post may contain affiliate links — meaning we get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you. We carefully curate our affiliate partnerships and only work with companies we like and believe in. Earning commissions like this helps us sustain our blog but the opinions we share are always our own.
Episode Description
Heatherly Bell transforms everyday love into extraordinary storytelling. In this revealing conversation, she takes us behind the curtain of her creative process as a romance novelist who expertly balances humor with genuine emotional depth.
Beginning as a reader who was always drawn to the romantic subplots in novels across genres, Bell has crafted her own distinctive voice in the romance world since 2010. She shares how she develops characters who feel like people “you’d meet on the street” – pilots, firefighters, cowboys, and other blue-collar professionals who populate her small towns and capture readers’ hearts with their authenticity.
What makes Bell’s approach to romance so compelling is her commitment to emotional realism. “I’m more about the emotional connection between two people,” she explains, detailing how she creates slow-burn relationships where characters genuinely fall in love before falling into bed. Her writing balances life’s challenges with moments of humor, creating stories where readers can see themselves reflected in characters’ struggles and triumphs.
The interview offers fascinating insights into Bell’s creative journey – from researching professional backgrounds to naming characters, from her publishing path with Harlequin to her self-published works. She even reveals her surprising former aspiration to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a singer! For writers, she shares valuable advice about silencing your inner critic and letting your subconscious creativity flow.
Discover Bell’s latest works, including her Charming Texas series with “The Ex Next Door” coming in July and a Christmas book later this year. Follow her on social media or meet her at Book Lovers Con in Las Vegas this May to connect with this thoughtful, engaging storyteller who brings warmth and authenticity to every romance she crafts.
To pre-order Heatherly’s upcoming “The Ex Next Door,” click here.
You can learn more about Heatherly at her website, just click here.
And you can find out about Book Lovers Con in May in Vegas here and Romance Con in Milwaukee in September here.
Milwaukee Romance Con Info: https://www.romance-con.com/
Our The Ripped Bodice Affiliate Link: https://www.therippedbodice.com/aff/romanceontherockspodcast_26867
(the best way to get your smut while supporting a fabulous women-owned business and our podcast!)
Trigger Warnings for the Episode:
N/A
Listen Now
Follow Us on Our Socials
Facebook … https://www.facebook.com/romanceontherockspodcast
Instagram … https:/www.instagram.com/romanceontherockspodcast
Pinterest … https:/www.pinterest.com/romanceontherockspodcast
Credits
Theme Music Created by Adam Wroblewsk
Main Art by PersonalisePortrait
Want to drink along with us? We’ve got a fabulous Romance on the Rocks Podcast Drinking Game. It’s yours free when you subscribe to our email list! Just fill out this form and will email you the PDF!
