Backstage With The Book Babes – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

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Backstage With The Book Babes

Arts

Frequency: 1 episode/7d. Total Eps: 6

Welcome to Backstage With The Book Babes, the podcast where your favorite romance writers spill the tea. Hosted by romance authors Alby Blake and Nikki Jewell, we're taking you behind the scenes of the romance industry. From spicy storylines and smutty scenes to burnout, bad reviews, and why we still write through it all. It's real talk, racy revelations, and unfiltered author life from the babes behind the books.

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

🇨🇦 Canada - books
09/02/2026
#100
🇨🇦 Canada - books
08/02/2026
#71

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

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http://www.lovelunapress.com
5 shares
http://authornikkijewell.com
3 shares
https://books2read.com/BroAmazing
3 shares

https://www.instagram.com/author_alby_blake
10 shares
https://www.instagram.com/ruanwillow
2 shares
https://www.instagram.com/authorkadecharest
1 share

https://www.tiktok.com/@alby_blake
10 shares
https://www.tiktok.com/@authorkadecharest
1 share
http://www.tiktok.com/@nikkijewell_books
1 share

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Score global : 38%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

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Author Nuhaa Bardien

Episode 1

Wednesday, February 4, 2026 • Duration 41:02

Bridging Shakespeare and Romance: An Interview with Nuhaa Bardien

Join the Book Babes as we dive into the creative process of Nuhaa Bardien, a South African author who reimagines Shakespearean tragedies into delightful contemporary romance and rom-coms. Discover how she blends classic storytelling with modern love, and get insights on writing diverse characters, crafting spicy scenes, and balancing motherhood with authorship.

Key Topics:

Nuhaa’s inspiration for her Shakespeare retellings and their adaptation into light romantic comedies.

The process of developing characters inspired by real people, including diverse representation.

Her approach to creating engaging, nostalgic scenes reminiscent of 2000s rom-coms.

How she balances her roles as an author and a mother.

The significance of illustrated covers and collaboration with cover artists.

Strategies for staying motivated during long writing journeys.

Stories behind her books, personal inspirations, and reader interactions.

Managing cultural references and language differences between South Africa, the UK, and the US.

The joy of sewing, gaming, and the importance of mental breaks while writing.

Nuhaa was an absolute delight to talk to. Enjoy the laughs and the insights.

Music by Christopher Tallon

About Our Guest:

Nuhaa Bardien is a romance author from Cape Town, South Africa, known for her By the Book series, a collection of standalone novels inspired by Shakespearean plays. She has a standalone Christmas Novella, One Turned True, that features a side character from the By the Book Series.

Nuhaa writes romance novels with "swoon worthy men and strong women" and "happily ever afters". Her books often feature spicy, open-door scenes.

To connect with Nuhaa, follow her on social media:

Instagram: @nuhaawrites

TikTok: @authornuhaabardien

Website: https://nuhaawrites.com/

Books:

By the Book series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP2RG4CW?binding=kindle_edition&ref_=ast_author_bsi

Christmas Novella: https://www.amazon.com/One-Turned-True-Christmas-Novella-ebook/dp/B0FG8DS8DN

Keep Up With The Book Babes:

Social Media: Backstagewiththebookbabes

Email: backstagewiththebookbabes@gmail.com

Links & Guest Author Applications: linktr.ee/backstagewiththebookbabes

Find Alby Blake & Her Unique Sports Romance Books:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_alby_blake/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alby_blake

Website: www.lovelunapress.com

Learn about Nikki Jewell & Her Spicy Sports & Contemporary Romance:

Instagram/Threads/TikTok: @nikkijewell_books

Website: authornikkijewell.com

Event Links: ://linktr.ee/nikkijewellbooks

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Author Melissa Whitney

Episode 5

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 • Duration 01:10:54

In episode five of Backstage with the Book Babes, Melissa Whitney shares her journey as a contemporary romance author who focuses on disability and mental health representation. She discusses her unique writing process, the adaptations she makes as a blind author, and the importance of authentic mental health portrayals in literature. Whitney also highlights her experiences connecting with readers at events, the significance of book covers, and the challenges of balancing her writing career with full-time work. Throughout the discussion, she emphasizes the impact of reader feedback and the importance of self-care in the writing process. In this engaging conversation, Melissa Whitney shares her experiences as an author, discussing the balance between writing and personal life, her writing rituals, and the characters that inspire her. She delves into the importance of research, especially in paranormal romance, and explores the themes of consent and character development in her works. Whitney also reflects on her future goals as an author, the significance of celebrating book launches, and the joy of engaging with readers. With insights into her upcoming release, 'The Recovery Run', she emphasizes the importance of authenticity in storytelling and reader connections..

Music by Christopher Tallon

About our Guest:

Melissa Whitney hails from Western New York but resides in Southern California with her sports-obsessed husband and rescue pugs. With a master’s in social work from the University of Buffalo (UB), Melissa’s career has focused on people. What’s romance but the exploration of people? The transition from healthcare to romance author was a logical one (at least for Melissa).

When not in search of the perfect scone at a local bakery, Melissa writes contemporary romances that, much like the perfect cup of tea, are steamy, warm the heart, and nourish the soul. As a legally blind woman married to an autistic man, Melissa’s stories explore themes of disability, mental health, trauma, and family through a steamy, comedic, and sometimes heartbreaking lens. Life is not always a romcom nor a drama, neither are Melissa’s stories.

To connect with Melissa, follow her on social media:

Episode 4: Author Ruan Willow

Episode 4

Wednesday, January 21, 2026 • Duration 57:27

In this episode of Backstage with the Book Babes, hosts Nikki Jewell and Alby Blake chat with author Ruan Willow about her diverse writing journey across multiple romance subgenres. They discuss the challenges of balancing reader expectations, market trends, and the importance of female empowerment in romance literature. Ruan shares insights on her writing process, the significance of book events, and the impact of reader feedback. The conversation also touches on the role of humor in romance and the influence of real-life experiences on character development.

Music by Christopher Tallon

About Our Guest:

Ruan Willow is a multi-pen name author who writes in spicy HEA romance subgenres, spicy romcom, alternative lifestyle (Ruan Willow), both queer and heterosexual, and open door Romantasy/magical/paranormal/dark romance (R.U. Ann). Her writing ranges across various levels of heat—but don't pen her in a box! Writing about love and relationships, especially open door, are her jam. She writes about empowered women seeking pleasure with their partners for mutual satiation, no needs ignored and mutual enjoyment a must. Her characters love to explore their sexuality and pleasure in unrestricted consensual ways. She's also a podcaster at Oh F*ck Yeah with Ruan Willow, and an audiobook narrator.

Links:

http://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/

https://linktr.ee/RuanWillow

https://ruanwillowauthor.com/

http://instagram.com/ruanwillow

https://www.facebook.com/ruan.willow/

Threads: ruanwillow and ruanwillowauthor

TikTok ruanwillow

Episode 3 Author Willa Drew

Episode 3

Wednesday, January 14, 2026 • Duration 01:14:15

In this episode of Backstage with the Book Babes, hosts Alby Blake and Nikki Jewell welcome authors Gala Russ and D.L. Croisette, who co-write under the pen name Willa Drew. The conversation explores the origins of their unique pen name, their co-authoring journey, and the evolution of their writing process. They discuss the importance of character development, the themes and tropes in their romance novels, and the varying spice levels in their books. The authors share their experiences meeting readers, memorable moments from book events, and their writing rituals that help them stay focused and creative. Listeners will gain insights into the challenges and joys of being a co-author and the emotional connections that come from writing romance. In this engaging conversation, the authors discuss their writing processes, the significance of character names, and how personal experiences shape their narratives. They explore cultural insights through their characters, the quirks of research, and the importance of reader engagement. The discussion also touches on the challenges of writing certain tropes, the emotional depth in romance, and their upcoming projects, providing a comprehensive look into the world of writing and storytelling. Backstage with the Book Babes is perfect for romance readers, authors, and anyone interested in the romance book community.Music by Christopher Tallon

Meet Willa Drew:

Two authors. Two countries. One obsession with love stories.

Willa Drew’s contemporary slow-burn romances are full of feels, playful banter, cinnamon roll vibes and high-stakes emotions. Their globetrotting characters fight for love as they discover who they are and where they belong.

Willa, a proud Canadian and devoted Leafs hockey fan, and Drew, a Russian American with a lifelong love of languages, always search for the perfect words to capture heartbreak and connection.

Their romance books guarantee swoon-worthy kisses and happily ever afters.

Come hang out with them @willadrewauthor or at willadrew.com

Find the Book Babes on social media: @backstagewiththebookbabes

Send us an email backstagewiththebookbabes@gmail.com

Episode 2 - Author Kade Charest

Episode 2

Wednesday, January 7, 2026 • Duration 01:05:39

In this episode of the Book Babes podcast, hosts Alby Blake and Nikki Jewell welcome their good friend author Kade Charest to discuss her journey in writing romance novels. They explore Kade's experiences at the Author Nation Conference, her writing process, and the various sub-genres of romance she writes. The conversation touches on character development, the spice levels in her books, and the influence of her nursing career on her writing. The hosts also share personal anecdotes about their romantic lives and the challenges of adapting books into films. With humor and insight, they delve into the world of romance writing and the connections formed within the author community. The book signing event Kade mentioned she'll be attending is Romance Atlanta Writers and Readers. It will be held on June 27th, 2026 in Columbus, Georgia.

Music by Christopher Tallon

You can find Kade Charest at https://authorkadecharest.com/

https://www.instagram.com/authorkadecharest/

https://www.threads.com/@authorkadecharest

https://www.facebook.com/authorkadecharest

https://www.tiktok.com/@authorkadecharest

Her books are available on bookshop.org or check her website for links to independent book stores who carry her works. They're also available on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited.

Find the Book Babes on Instagram, Threads, and Tiktok @backstagewiththebookbabes

Send us an email to backstagewiththebookbabes@gmail.com or if you're an author interested in a guest spot, you can find our application at linktr.ee/backstagewiththebookbabes

You can find Alby here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_alby_blake/

TikTok:

Episode 1 - Meet the Book Babes

Monday, December 29, 2025 • Duration 34:32

In the first episode of 'Backstage with the Book Babes' you'll get to know your hosts, romance authors Nikki Jewell and Alby Blake. We'll let you know all the details of our brand new author interview podcast. The Book Babes are all about sharing knowledge, building a community, and being inclusive. We'll share our 'fated mates' meet-cute story, discuss upcoming events and signings, and delve into the life of a romance author. We'll even be spilling the tea on our upcoming sports romance books in a brand new subgenre. This podcast episode is a fun little way to dip your toe in and get to know the babes behind the books.

The writing gloves Nikki mentioned are by Storiarts. We are not affiliated or sponsored by them, just happy to share.

Follow us on social media: Instagram, Threads, and TikTok @backstagewithebookbabes. Send us an email: backstagewiththebookbabes@gmail.com Or apply to be an author guest at linktr.ee/backstagewiththebookbabes

You can find Alby here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_alby_blake/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alby_blake

Website: www.lovelunapress.com

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/479556357934706

Bro Amazing: https://books2read.com/BroAmazing

You can find Nikki here:

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Backstage With The Book Babes – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

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Apple Podcasts

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Backstage With The Book Babes – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other11

Instagram3

Tik Tok3

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other11

Instagram3

Tik Tok3