In this episode, I'm thrilled to chat with the fabulous Janet Leigh—author of snarky time-travel romances and laugh-out-loud romantic comedies. Janet shares how she turned her stash of wild family stories into her debut novel The Shoes Come First and how she balances being a full-time chiropractor and acupuncturist while writing her wildly fun Jennifer Cloud series.

We dive into her love for quirky characters, eighties movies, and why she believes ordinary people can do extraordinary things (especially with a little humor and a lot of heart). 🕰️❤️

ABOUT JANET:

Janet Leigh writes snarky time-travel romance and romantic comedy novels. She decided to take her love of storytelling and her archive of crazy family stories and write her first novel. Janet published her literary debut, The Shoes Come First, in 2015. Today, she is a full-time chiropractor and acupuncturist who splits her time between seeing patients and working on her next Jennifer Cloud novel.

Janet loves to write about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. She lives in Texas with her husband, three children, and two dogs. After working all day and writing at every opportunity, she enjoys the smell of an old library, relaxing on her porch swing with a glass of red wine and her dogs Fin & Bella, reading a good Rom-Com, an ice-cold Dr. Pepper, and binge-watching eighties movies with her husband.

WHERE TO FIND JANET:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkTree

In this episode of Miles Beyond the Page, I’m joined by the talented Mary Karlik, writing as Mary J. Wilson, to chat about her Scottish roots, her writing journey, and how she blends her Texas charm with Scottish magic to create heartwarming happily-ever-afters.

If you're interested in learning more about RWA, check out the org here.

About Mary Karlik / Mary J. Wilson:

Mary is the author of five indie-published contemporary young adult romance novels and two fantasy novels, crafting love stories that stretch from Texas to the Highlands of Scotland. With deep ties to her Scottish heritage and a passion for storytelling, Mary brings authenticity, heart, and a dash of Celtic flair to everything she writes.

She holds an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, a B.S. from Texas A&M University, and is currently studying Scottish Gaelic at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on the beautiful Isle of Skye.

When she’s not writing, Mary is a certified professional ski instructor, a Registered Nurse, and an active member of Romance Writers of America, Contemporary Romance Writers, and Dallas Area Romance Authors. Married to a real-life Scot, she splits her time between Texas and Scotland—two places that inspire her rich, romantic storytelling.

In this interview, we discuss:

• The influence of her Scottish heritage on her writing
• Her journey from Texas nurse to published author
• How she balances YA romance and fantasy
• Her experience studying Scottish Gaelic and how it adds depth to her stories
• The writing process, inspiration, and advice for aspiring authors

Listen now for a cozy, inspiring conversation filled with heart, heritage, and happily-ever-afters! Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more behind-the-scenes author interviews.

Where to find Mary: Website

Where to find Mary’s books: Available on Amazon

This episode discusses adult content, trauma, and themes of reinvention and redemption.

In this episode of Miles Beyond the Page, I sit down with award-winning author Jeanne Skartsiaris to discuss her powerful novel, The Magdalenes, as well as her writing and publishing journey. Jeanne’s books tackle real-life challenges with raw honesty, making readers laugh, cry, and deeply connect with her characters.

About Jeanne Skartsiaris:

Jeanne is the author of The Magdalenes, a novel about shedding the past and reinventing oneself after trauma, which has won and been nominated for multiple prestigious awards, including:

• 1st Place – San Antonio Writer’s Guild (2019)
• Finalist – 2023 Page Turner Awards
• Finalist – 2024 American Fiction Awards
• Finalist – 2024 Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award

She is also the author of:

• Dance Like You Mean It – A coming-of-middle-age story, finalist for the Best Book Awards in Humor (2017)
• Surviving Life – A YA novel tackling life’s hardships
• Snow Globe – A YA novel with emotional depth

By day, Jeanne is a sonographer in an OB/GYN office, with a background in medical and legal photography. She studied creative writing at Southern Methodist University and has built a career on crafting stories that explore the human experience with heart and humor.

In this interview, we discuss:

• The inspiration behind The Magdalenes and its themes of survival and reinvention
• How Jeanne brings depth and realism to her characters
• Her writing journey, challenges, and successes in publishing
• Balancing a full-time career with a passion for storytelling
• Advice for aspiring writers on writing deeply emotional and impactful stories

WHERE TO FIND JEANNE:

Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

BUY LINK: Amazon