In this episode of Makin’ Stuff, Bryce Oakley joins us to share her journey from a book-loving kid to an MFA student to a successful sapphic romance author. We explore the importance of authenticity, representation, and humor in Bryce’s writing and life. She digs into the joys and challenges of balancing motherhood with creative work, as well as the value of self-publishing and staying true to one's voice. Bryce and I then get into what it means to lose a fandom that matters to you, how authors think about events, how they create community, and how to use our privilege and platforms for good. We dive deep into creativity, identity, and why community matters now more than ever.
We also give a couple of sapphic lit hot takes that prove exactly why I couldn’t find a way to start a fight with her.
I hope you enjoy this conversation, and Bryce, as much as I did! It’s a heartfelt banger of an episode.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Bryce Oakley
02:38 The Journey to Writing Sapphic Fiction
05:11 The Impact of MFA Programs on Writing
07:42 The Legitimacy of Romance and Genre
10:38 The DIY Spirit of Queerness in Publishing
13:28 Authenticity in Writing and Representation
15:57 The Artist's Journey and Societal Expectations
18:47 The Value of Artistic Careers
21:29 Crafting Comedy in Romance
24:11 The Mechanics of Romantic Comedy
26:57 Exploring Dark Humor in Writing
29:36 The Unexpected Choices in Storytelling
32:55 The Art of Perspective in Storytelling
36:01 Crafting Humor Through Narrative Distance
39:29 Navigating Writing as a Parent
45:25 Balancing Identity and Creativity as a Parent
49:31 The Impact of Role Models on Parenting
53:05 Finding Inspiration in Music and Community
56:31 Betrayal of Trust in Art
01:05:20 Responsibility as an Artist
01:10:41 The Importance of Queer Representation
01:12:37 The Value of Happy Endings
01:14:44 Challenging Literary Tropes
01:18:02 Finding Joy in Storytelling
Find Bryce at her website (https://www.bryceoakley.com), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/bryce.oakley/), or being the coolest person you know in the real world.
25 Jun 2026
Makin' Stuff with JJ Arias
In this episode, JJ Arias shares her journey to becoming one of the most important and prolific sapphic romance novelists working today. We go deep into the craft of storytelling, the power and importance of writing internal journeys, and how JJ pushes her creative boundaries as part of her writing practice. We truly go full nerd mode in this one, dissecting the nuances of writing compelling characters, the importance of authenticity, and the power of queer stories.
I also go embarrassingly hard, far too hard, in picking a fight with JJ about Ice Queens.
I hope y’all have as much fun with this one as I did!
Chapters
00:00 Introducing JJ Arias
02:00 The Journey of Becoming a Writer
04:39 The Influence of Reading on Writing
05:26 Nora Roberts, Reading Broadly, and Learning the Rhythm of Story
07:37 Understanding Craft and Storytelling
10:26 Exploring Themes in Writing
12:53 The Intersection of Horror and Romance
15:09 The Role of Fear in Storytelling
17:56 The Complexity of Horror and Survival
20:31 Queer Identity in Horror Literature
23:24 The Safe Space of Romance for Dark Themes
31:11 The Creative Process: Inspiration and Story Development
39:11 Crafting Internal Journeys: The Art of Emotional Storytelling
47:03 The Nuances of Writing Sex: Character and Vulnerability
50:37 The Art of Storytelling and Twists
53:15 The Craft of Writing: Challenges and Joys
55:50 Finding the Right Editor: A Personal Journey
59:29 The Importance of Human Touch in Editing
01:00:00 The Co-Writing Experience: Collaboration and Discovery
01:05:15 Writing Queer Stories: A Personal and Community Choice
01:09:02 The Power of Storytelling in Understanding Identity
01:11:24 The Evolution of Mobile Phones
01:12:47 Reflections on the Future
01:13:14 Ice Queens vs. Cinnamon Rolls
01:19:10 Understanding Character Archetypes
01:22:29 Closing Thoughts
You can find JJ on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thejjarias/), and don’t forget to check out Yappin (https://patreon.com/yappin?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink)’!
11 Jun 2026
Makin' Stuff with Ana Hartnett
In this, our first episode, Ana Hartnett shares her journey from hating writing to becoming my favorite romance novelist. She discusses the intersection of creativity and anxiety, the importance of community building, and how now, more than ever, authentic queer representation matters. She also talks about starting her first wine label, Family Room Wine, and how she wants to use it as a platform for helping lift up other small queer-owned businesses.
Ana lets us into her writing process, showing us how her unique approach creates intimate, authentic stories that will leave you hopeful and less alone.
I also pick a fight with her.
I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did.
Chapters
00:00 - Welcome and Introducing Ana Hartnett
03:09 - How Ana Realized She was an Artist
11:23 - The Relationship Between Anxiety and Creativity
14:45 - Being a Writer v. Being an Author and How to be Both
17:12 - Ana's Writing Practice
24:01 - How Ana Understands Inspiration
27:35 - How Ana Knows When a Story is Ready to be Told
31:35 - Why Ana Wanted to Start Family Room Wine
35:29 - Why Having an Explicitly Queer Brand as a Writer and Winemaker Matters
37:51 - The Importance of Representation
39:50 - Talking About Ana's New Book
46:06 - The Romance of Friendship
52:30 - Real, Messy People are Likable People
54:43 - Ana's Mom is Her (*second*) Biggest Fan
59:40 - I Pick a Fight With Ana
Links
Find Ana on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ana.hartnett.author/), Threads (https://www.threads.com/@ana.hartnett.author), and her website (https://www.anahartnettbooks.com/)
Check out Family Room Wine (https://familyroomwine.com)
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