Spill the Smut

Books & A Small Press Dream with MK Ahearn

• Jordan • Season 1 • Episode 11

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What if the publishing experience felt personal, fast, and genuinely supportive—and the books brought the heat? I sit down with MK Ahearn, the romantasy author behind Broken Flames and the founder of Azala Press, to talk about building a small press that acts like a trusted partner. From a pandemic spark that led to her first manuscript to a growing catalog of romance and fantasy romance, MK shares the choices, systems, and scrappy experiments that turned a lone imprint into a full-service publisher.

Romantasy and dark romance take center stage as we explore the genre’s rise, the power of BookTok and Bookstagram, and the cultural shift from hiding steamy reads to celebrating them. MK spotlights her spiciest release yet, Hollow House—a Halloween novella filled with masks, secrets, and a house of pleasures—plus rapid-fire recommendations. 

We close with a roadmap for what’s next: more audiobooks for accessibility, smarter distribution, and a thoughtful path to international reach.

Follow MK Ahearn IG: @authormkahearn and Azala Press IG: @azalapress and Azala Romance IG: @azalaromance

Cover Art by: moi

Intro/Outro Music: positive vibes by nanaacom on Capcut

Contact Email: spillthesmutpodcast@gmail.com

Podcast IG: @spillthesmutpodcast TT: @spillthesmutpodcast

Jordan IG: @sipsoffiction TT: @sipsoffiction

Jordan:

She's an author who knows how to weave both fantasy and romantic suspense in the perfect for the perfect story and never forgets the spice. You might recognize her from Broken Flames, the first book in the Elemental Arrangement series. It's got everything Slowburn, Enemies to Lovers, and Dragons. Need I say more? But that's not all. She's also the powerhouse behind the Azala Press, a small publishing company that publishes a wide range of romance with plenty of spice, of course. Please welcome to the podcast, MK Ahearn.

MK Ahearn:

Hi, thank you so much. I'm so excited.

Jordan:

So this is so exciting. Plus, you're an author, so like you literally understand both sides, which I think is so cool and so valuable to each person on each side, I believe.

MK Ahearn:

Weird thing because sometimes I forget like that I run a whole press and do all this other stuff. And I'm like, oh yeah, I do that too. That's right. I do know about that.

Jordan:

It's like, oh, uh-huh, uh-huh. Um, but before we get into that, I do want to ask you what is the highlight of your week so far?

MK Ahearn:

So the highlight of my week is that this is so weird and random, but I am a huge like Facebook marketplace, like shopper. I am constantly looking for like random things on there. And like two months ago, I saw this reel where this girl had found these like library steps. They were like, it's like this little spiral three-step thing for her like library bookshelves, and they're like vintage, and so I've been obsessed with them since then, and they popped up on my Facebook. Someone was like selling them for like 40 bucks, and I was like, Oh, I have to have that, and ended up getting it, but these things are like $1,500 steps, so that has to be the highlights because I don't think I've ever found something so like cheap like that.

Jordan:

Oh, a hundred percent. I honestly like I need to use Facebook Marketplace more. I don't, but everybody tells me these good deals or this like amazing thing, like these library steps that you can have in your library. Like, I want that. I didn't even know that existed, but now I want it.

MK Ahearn:

They're really cool. People listening to this are not gonna be able to see them, but they're like behind me. They're really neat. Oh my gosh, wait, okay.

Jordan:

Well, so no one else can see them, but I can see them. So, like now I I want that. I want that.

MK Ahearn:

It's very cool. It's probably a very useless thing because like my shelves aren't that tall, but like I like it, so it's like the aesthetic of it all.

Jordan:

Like you need a good aesthetic. So I I'm here for it. I I support this purchase, I support it. Okay, so now we can like dive in. Um, I do want to ask you how you got into writing as like this first thing.

MK Ahearn:

Yeah, uh, I feel like my story is just so cliche because, like, of course, I was a reader growing up and like spent all day, every day at the library, but I didn't really start writing, like seriously writing, until the pandemic. Like it was my like random hobby I picked up. I had gone to like once things started opening back up, I had been toying around with the idea of just like writing and like writing a story or things like that. And I had jotted things down and brainstormed, but it hadn't gone anywhere. And then once things started to open back up, there was like a book festival in DC. I live in Maryland, so I'm close to DC. And it was like the national book festival where a bunch of authors were gonna be there and talking on panels. And I went and like listening to them talk about how they got started and their advice for people starting, a lot of them were like, You just have to do it, like you just have to go write it. Doesn't matter if it's good, like just go go do it, and you're gonna feel so good once it's done. And I was like, you know what? I have all these ideas floating around. I've been practicing during the pandemic, why not? And then I just went home and immediately set up like my software to write and started writing, and I wrote my first book within a month. It was insane. I did that because I will never do that again. But I was just writing all day, every day.

Jordan:

Holy poop. Now, is that like book published, or is that like something that won't be the light of day?

MK Ahearn:

Oh my gosh. Yeah, so my first book was Promise Shadows. It's called The Fate of Azala series, which is also where I got my press name from. Um books for that. It's meant to be a trilogy. I really have not got to the third book yet because it's one of those things that, like, after I published two and then really got serious about writing, I realized those should probably be scrapped and redone. They're not the best. They need an editor badly, but they are floating around out there.

Jordan:

They they do exist. Okay, so then I know too, like, because I mentioned the broken. Oh my gosh, I'm so bad. Broken flame. So then is that the I'm guessing that series is done, the elemental arrangement series?

MK Ahearn:

Yes, so the first two books of that are technically their own little duo. That's done. And then I just had a spin-off come out for that, and then there will be one more spin-off, and then it will be complete at four books because I wanted it to be the four elements.

Jordan:

Oh, I like that. Okay, that makes sense. That does make sense. Okay, so but then so since you were saying like you grew up as being a reader, and it wasn't until like the pandemic that you like really sat down and like started writing. So then I'm guessing you didn't always want to be an author, or did you secretly always want to be an author?

MK Ahearn:

Definitely toyed with the idea, but I think like just like growing up, you kind of hear like author's not a sustainable career, and that's not a real thing. Um, and only if you get lucky and you're one of those ginormous authors will it be your career. So I think it was just kind of defeating, like, and really daunting. Cause I was like, oh my gosh, like I have to pick a career that's gonna like be it and like keep a roof over my head, and author is not a stable thing. But once the world kind of shut down for a bit and I had so much time, I was like, you know what? I'm gonna give it a try, because why not? What else am I gonna do with my time right now? My job is like remote, and then after that, like I have all this time, I can't go do things. Um I just realized like how much I love it, how much happiness it brings me, like my mental health was so much better, and I was like, you know what? I can balance this, like I can make this work. So now it's more so that I think of it as like a a hobby that makes me money.

Jordan:

I like that. We like that. Wait, so do you I have are you also working not like are do you run the press, you write, and you have another job?

MK Ahearn:

I do. I have a full-time job.

Jordan:

Oh my gosh, where do you find the time?

MK Ahearn:

That's what everybody says. Um, I so I'm really lucky. My job, I have a very flexible schedule where I can kind of like work crazy hours to be able to have days off. So, like if I work nine-hour days, I get every other Friday off. Or if I work 10-hour days, I get both Fridays off. Um, and I use that time a lot for my book stuff. My weekends are filled with book stuff. Um, I have a really long commute. My commute is an hour and a half. Half of that is on a train. So I do work on the train.

unknown:

Oh, okay.

MK Ahearn:

So at least an hour and a half every single day is either dedicated to like writing or catching up on press stuff.

Jordan:

Oh, okay. So then you really like have found time. I don't I don't know if this is like you've you've found how to like multitask in a way, like on your commute in on your probably then your commute home. You can like do other things and like exactly.

MK Ahearn:

And like with the press, I have such a great team. So like a lot of the stuff is delegated. Um, so it's not like I have to be present all day every day. I have other people who are helping run it.

Jordan:

Okay. Well, the and so then we can kind of dive into that. I feel like this episode's probably gonna be all over the place because that's also how my mind works. So I'm so sorry. So then how did your press become to be?

MK Ahearn:

It was it it kind of just happened. Um, I it started off as like my own little imprint for my books. I wanted I knew I wanted to have my books be under like an LLC, kind of legitimize it once it started to blow up and stuff. So it started off as that. It also started off because I saw someone make like a TikTok or a reel, and they were talking about marketing um and something that indie authors could do. And they were like, one thing that really stands out to me on my shelves is indie author books never have like the little logo on the spine for like a press. Um, and that's just one really simple thing. You could throw anything at the bottom of that book to look like a logo, and it's one simple thing to make your stuff blended on a shelf so you don't stand out as like, why does that book not have that when people are looking at a store or a library or things like that? Um, and I was like, you know what, that's easy. I can do that. I'm just gonna make up my own press. I'm gonna name it after my book, add a little crown on there, and I'm golden. But once I did that, I also realized like this is a really great marketing opportunity because I can start an Instagram for it. Um, like, why not? I can schedule a bunch of posts on it, I don't have to monitor it that much. Um, and it just kind of started to grow. Like people were finding it, they're like assuming that it was this legitimate big press, and really it was just me and my little books. Um, and it kind of just like grew itself. And then people started to ask if I was gonna take on books, and for a while I was like, absolutely not, I don't know what I'm doing. Um, but then the opportunity came to host a charity anthology. I had seen a few floating around. I was like, that sounds really fun. I would love to do that for a Halloween one. And I that was back in like 2023. Um, and I hosted that, and so many authors loved that. So I did a few anthologies and realized I really like publishing things. I really like doing the back end stuff, I like working with authors, and it got to a point where like my books were taking off. I really felt like I knew what I was doing, and I was like, you know what? I'm gonna go all in. And I found a few authors who are willing to basically be my like testers, and it's grown since then. Now I have I think 15 authors total under us.

Jordan:

Oh my goodness, that is insane, but that's like also so cool because I was looking too at your like press's website and it mentions how you do it all. So, like editing the cover, the like it sounds like people can basically submit their book. Well, I don't know if you're actually taking on any submissions right now, but like essentially an author or somebody who wants to be published could submit their book to you and they and you would handle like editing and make sure everything's like correct and then get it out there.

MK Ahearn:

Yes. Um, yeah, so we have pretty much all the capabilities of like a big five press. We run on the same model as them, we're just not like a billion-dollar corporation or anything like that. Um, we have an in-house editor, we have an in-house cover designer. I have an admin team, like all of that. Um, so basically the author just hands us a manuscript and says, run with it. And we handle everything besides like edits. Like once once the edits are done, they gotta go through them and things like that. And then, like, yeah, your typical things that you would do if you were at like a big five. Um we pretty much handle it all.

Jordan:

My goodness. So if someone okay, so if someone like hands you like their manuscript, how long does it take to get the book out there? Like as like on average, I would say, because I'm sure there's probably multiple rounds of edits, but maybe not for everybody.

MK Ahearn:

It depends. It really depends. I'm one of my big things because I am an author, is like wanting to be kind of in this middle ground of like being like a big press and giving them the benefits of a big press, but also like still respecting like their like kind of creative freedoms and things like that. So recently we had one that we took on in our last round of submissions and like we turned it around in like three or four months. That's really fast. Um, but her main goal was to get it out this fall because it was a fall book, and I was like, you know what? I'm not passing up this opportunity. I absolutely love your story and believe in this book. I'm not gonna pass that up until you know just because this is a fast turnaround. For the most part, we try to keep it under a year. Um But there are some people who are like, you know what, like life happens, I need longer, and we work with that too.

Jordan:

But I feel and I feel like that's really good because I think I mean I I don't work for a big five publisher, so I don't know, but I feel like they're probably more on like a schedule, so it's like I'm sure too, they're probably also I don't not trying to stick my foot in my mouth foot in my mouth at any point, but I feel like I'm sure they would work with you if something happened. But I I feel like working with a small press, you have more like control in a way and more like flexibility as an author.

MK Ahearn:

Yeah, that is a huge goal for me. Like that's one of my main priorities for them. And like, for example, we have one author who just had a baby, like in the like beginning of the year. So she's a new mom, and she was kind of like, Hey, this one book's coming out. I know I want to do a sequel, but like I just can't promise like a certain timeline. And like we were like, absolutely, like, of course we will work around that. I wouldn't want her to rush into something. Um, so like with her, we've just been working with her and playing it by year, um, which I think is a big advantage of a small press because like we get to know people on a personal level like that, whereas I don't know if a big corporation would.

unknown:

Yeah.

MK Ahearn:

Because it's just not like you're not having daily conversations.

Jordan:

And like I feel like exactly. And I feel like you're also not necessarily working with like the same person every time. And I'm sure you probably have like the same editor, but like there it's going through a whole round of not just your editor that's like taking a look at this book. So it's like I feel like having such a small knit group like yours is like I feel like very nice. And also probably easy, easier for a new time author, too, because it's essentially like you can hold their hand through the whole process and be like, hey, so like this is what's gonna happen next. This is gonna this is what's gonna happen next, like so on and so on. So it's like I feel like that's almost has it's like reassuring for them.

MK Ahearn:

Yeah, like even with bigger publishers, like so like my books have audiobooks and they're under like a big audiobook company. Sometimes when I ask questions, I don't get answers for weeks. Like you just don't hear from them. Whereas like with a small press, when I have personal relationships with authors, like they know they can reach me anytime. Like even with we had a release last week, one of the authors like checked the Amazon listing, and for some reason it was telling people it was gonna deliver in 2026, which is like crazy. It was like a weird Amazon glitch. And she immediately texted me, I was like, Um, help. I was like, Don't worry, I'm on the phone with Amazon, like we're getting it sorted. It's just a glitch. It'll update like and refresh the metadata in an hour. But like if you were with some big corporation, you're not getting that answer. Like, you're gonna have to sit on it and just wait and hope that someone gets back to you.

Jordan:

And that's the tough part too, is like sometimes I feel like people don't understand that sometimes people just want a response, even if it's just, hey, we're working on it. Like, I think people value that. So it's like to just not hear anything can be so frustrating because I know too that's like these books are like their babies, and I totally get that. And so it's like I can just that would be so like I can I feel like it would just be so frustrating at like coming from like an author. So I feel like this is where it's so nice that you aren't also an author, so it's like you see it from their side, and then they like know that you're taking into consideration like you being an author, and so it's I feel like it really is just like the best of both worlds having you, yeah.

MK Ahearn:

It's the perfect little middle space, like there's gonna be authors who big trad is for them, they don't like that's their thing, and they don't care about those little things, like that's not important, they don't mind not being able to like text their publisher. Um, but I like to think that like we're a happy middle ground for things because like a lot of times authors ask, like, why should I go with a small press? Like, what are you providing for me that a big press can't or that I can't do for myself? Like as an indie author. And I'm like always try to say, like, we are the little happy medium, like we are the in the middle, we'll handle all that back end annoying stuff that you don't want to deal with. We don't, we're not some giant company that's got all these connections and a bajillion dollars to throw it ads, but we help you handle all these like little annoyances and have a million little connections to like really great resources. Okay, I really like that.

Jordan:

And a happ like a little happy middle ground. Um, okay, but then I so I also wanted to ask what is probably the most challenging of running like a small press and what is the most rewarding?

MK Ahearn:

I think the most challenging thing that I've had to like learn is that like when you run, I mean when you run any business, um trying to give up control over things sometimes, because like I can't do it all. Um, and learning to trust my team, that's kind of been a challenge. Just because like I'm very particular and this is my baby. So like I want to make sure things are done to the highest possible standard we can. Um, so like learning to trust them has been obviously a challenge, but like I love them so much and they do an amazing job. Um I think the highlight has been just being able to see how far these authors can go. Like some of them are coming in as debut authors or like little baby authors who maybe publish one book, but like me with my first book had no idea what they were doing, like didn't get an editor of things, and now all of a sudden they're getting audiobook deals. Like just to see the growth, that's so amazing to see it happen for people.

Jordan:

And that's that's cool too, because it's like that you can like share their success with them, and that's really exciting. Uh, when you first started, were you just you handling this press? I know too, you were saying like it was an LLC for your books, but when you decided to take on like more, like take on like new authors, more authors, was it just you handling it all, or did you have your team from the beginning?

MK Ahearn:

So for about two or three months, basically when we were in the baby phases of like recruiting authors to be like our test group and give us a try and chance and trust us with their book, it was me. And then I had one other person helping me, mostly with like the equivalent of like an author PA, but to the press, um, just helping with like outreach and sorting through things. Um, but they were like very part-time. Um and then I think a couple months in we onboarded our press attorney. We like our press has our own attorney. Um, and that's when things like really took off. Like she has been so amazing at telling us how to set up this team, how to do it right, how to make sure like we are best setting up the press and authors for success. And that's really when like I felt like Azala Press came together and was like not just me, it was actually a team.

Jordan:

Okay, I like that. And did you do you have like plans to keep growing, or do you want to keep it like this, like for maybe 15 authors or we just did a round of submissions where we took on five people.

MK Ahearn:

Um, so that's it when we grew to 15. So now I think I think the last release from that will be like spring 2026. And then after that, I'll probably reevaluate. I like to like keep it as is for a few months just to see like how it goes. Because also one of my big things is like Azala Press is like a little home for authors, and like my authors have become like this mini family, and like they have a group chat, and like they help each other and they go to events together, and like I just one of the most important things to me is like keeping that like vibe going essentially. Um, I wouldn't want to like all of a sudden be like, oh, here's 50 more authors, and now it feels like a little less personal.

Jordan:

And too, like when you say you're like take um this these authors are like a little family and you guys like are handling their book releases and things like that. What if like one of those authors has a new book? Is that essentially you guys will take it on, or is it or do they have to resubmit? Like, how does that work for your authors you already have?

MK Ahearn:

It's a little bit different than like the full submission process. Um, once you're an author under a Zala Press, my like belief is like I'd like to keep you here. I would like like you to feel like you can stay here, and if you're happy here, I want you to be here. Um, so essentially it's more so like an informal meeting where it's like the author kind of pitches the idea or pitches the story, and like we talk through it. Um, there's been a lot of times where I'll sit down with people and kind of brainstorm back and forth, like, okay, like what will make this story actually like the most successful it can be and things like that. And then once they have that idea and once they have a somewhat polished first draft, um, I just have them send it to me. Like, it doesn't need to be like a crazy formal thing. And then I review, and as long as it's like I don't know, like as long as it's not something crazy, offensive going to get us all canceled or like against our values, you're likely gonna be accepted. Um, because these are people who I took them on not just because I love their stories, but because like I see potential in their writing, like I see potential in them as an author in person, and like I know that like it is very rare for an author to take off on their first book and to just like have that megaviral moment. It usually takes a book or two to get into that groove and learn and things, so like I want them to feel like they can do that under the press.

Jordan:

And for the press, uh what are you guys like picking up and like putting out? Like what kind of like romance or I believe like fantasy, maybe like romanticy. Like, what are you guys is do you have a focus or is it so?

MK Ahearn:

We have two imprints technically. We have Azala Press, which is like the main press slash fantasy, that's kind of what it's been known for and grew from. Um, and then we have Azala romance, and that's our like solely romance imprint.

Jordan:

Oh okay. I did I don't think I realized that because I think I saw Azala Press and I I think I just sh I saw all the fantasy. So I don't think I realized that you had like a a one for like strictly like romance. That is so cool. So you grew enough to like essentially have two imprints.

MK Ahearn:

Yes, yeah.

Jordan:

And how long has and this press has been since 2023?

MK Ahearn:

Yes, or I guess technically since 2022, since like that's when it technically started when it was just my books, but starting to actually be a press, 2023.

Jordan:

Oh my goodness, like wow. I I have to give you so many kudos for just like this like short amount of time that you've grown so much, and I think that's really cool. I like very cool. Um how do you handle like being an author and running a press? Like, how do you balance both of them?

MK Ahearn:

I try to keep it slightly separate from each other, like in a sense where like if there is a day that I'm planning to do like writing and really work on my stuff, I try not to touch like press things as I'm doing that. Like they're various like separated times. Like if I am dedicating a morning to writing, that means in the afternoon is when I'll address like my press stuff for the day. Um, it just becomes too confusing if I'm like back and forth, back and forth. Um my like commute times to work on the train, those are usually like my writing hours, and that's like when I get that all in and stuff. Um, and everything else, like beyond the writing, the editing, the covers, the release, that all falls into like press stuff, because it just like I publish under my press for my own book, so it just kind of like falls into the cycle of what everyone else is doing.

Jordan:

Like it kind of like flows into it.

MK Ahearn:

Yeah. It's like as long as I have time to write the book, after that I know it will be handled because like that's what the press does.

Jordan:

But now, do you ever find that sometimes like one is taking over taking more of your time than the other? Or are you really you pretty good about like balancing when you need to do what for what?

MK Ahearn:

I definitely think the press takes more of my time, just because it's like essentially doing what I would have done for myself for 15 other people. And like granted, I have a team that helps, but it's still a lot to manage. Um, but I found like a very good schedule and balance. So like I guess now that it's just like my life in my normal, I don't even like realize I'm like, oh, I guess the press takes a lot of time versus like writing. I'm just like writing here and there every day, and then once the story's finished, it's going off. But yeah.

Jordan:

Okay, but then I also have like another question. Do you ever find because it since you're reading other people's manuscripts and what their ideas are, does it ever put you in like a writer slump of like w what to write next for your book? Or do you are you really able to like uh like put your I don't I can never say the word, but carpet I'm not even gonna try saying it, but like able to like put it in boxes in your head, like this is writing, this is press. I'm just like so curious.

MK Ahearn:

So similar, like I think what a lot of authors do, this is kind of a long-winded answer. So like similarly to how like a lot of authors might not like read the same genre they're writing when they're writing a story and stuff like that. I do similar to that, where it's like either I'm not reading in that genre, or like I'm writing something that isn't the type of submissions we are taking. Um, but like for the most part, I try to schedule our submissions window in a time where I know I'm not gonna be writing because like I also need breaks from writing or I'll get burnt out. Um, and usually reading is like my go-to. I love reading. That's my my relaxation. So it's like my reward. So a lot of times our submissions will open at a time where like my book is off with the editor or something like that. So I have this free time to kill and read and things like that.

Jordan:

Okay, so you're really good about like time blocking, essentially. Like that's amazing.

MK Ahearn:

I'm a very structured person. I like schedules. I'm like one of those people who carries my planner around everywhere, and there's like always a little to-do list in there and things.

Jordan:

So, like, oh I love I love a to-do list to-do list. I I really like I want to kind of get back into like a physical planner myself because I I live off my um calendar in my phone and I put everything in my calendar. Like it could be the simplest, like, I need to send an email, but it's going in the calendar, or else I'm will forget. Like, if I it's not in my calendar, I will forget.

MK Ahearn:

Yeah, I used to use my phone calendar and like I still do sometimes. If it's like like if I have a meeting or something, I like to have it on there so it reminds me. But I also share a Google calendar with my husband. So I find that if I just rely on that, I get really confused because then there's a lot of like our random just life stuff in there, and I like to keep my life and like book things kind of separate, um, just for like healthy boundaries.

Jordan:

No, and that's smart. That is definitely very smart because I feel like sometimes I can just kind of like specially book things, and you doing so much writing and press stuff like that. Can I feel like that can definitely be like a lot. And and And for your press, like are you guys handling marketing for authors too?

MK Ahearn:

Yes. So we don't require that anyone markets their book in any like certain capacity. Like it is great if they want to be marketing on like social media and things like that. Um, and like we like to support them in that and provide resources. Like sometimes we've done little mini trainings on like how to like be better about setting up your like Instagram page or things like that. Like, how can you make it more conducive to like translating to sales or things like that? Um, but there's no requirement. Um, we have some authors who are on there like posting once a month, and others who are posting all day, every day. Um, but beyond that, we will post them on every single one of our pages. Sometimes we run paid ads, we do like influencer marketing and newsletter marketing for all of our books.

Jordan:

Okay, okay. That's kind of cool too. Cause I think I feel like a lot of authors like will get stressed about having to market their book. And honestly, I feel like that's like the hardest part in a in a way. It's like, oh, you you wrote the book, which you think is gonna be the hardest part. No, you that is done. Now you forever have to market your book. So I think taking that step out for them, but like also like you leave it in there. So if they want to, they totally can. It's not like they can't do it, but you guys are helping in a way.

MK Ahearn:

Yeah, I don't want them to feel like we just threw them into the deep end and we're like, good luck. Um, and I hate, like, absolutely hate this concept of like how big trad is moving towards all of a sudden you have to also be an influencer to be able to be published like traditionally. They're very much like yes, then such a movement of like we also expect you to make your book go viral. And it's like, okay, but then what was the perk of going trad? Yeah, and then it's not knocking them.

Jordan:

No, yeah, but it it's I'm so glad you brought that up because I feel like that is what I've seen, or it could be like people that have this huge following come up with just this most random idea, nothing's on paper yet, but like here we'll give you a uh a book deal when you write it because they just they're just like, oh well, because they have such a big following, like people will want to buy this book, but it's like are are they even a good writer? Like, are they even gonna write this book? Like, is it even gonna get out there? Like, what's gonna happen? But like you've seen the story, like like are are you sure you heard what I heard? Like, I don't know. Like, it's actually insane. I'm like, but but and I and nothing to knock, like I understand like being able to see your books in a bookstore, being able to see your books in like an airport. Like, I know that's like sometimes can be a goal for somebody, and nothing to knock that, but I feel that sometimes and also like they are a big corporation, so I I get it, like money is behind everything. So if they know a book is gonna sell because this person has a gajillion followers, like of course they're gonna put money behind it because they know they'll get their return back. But it's it also just boggles my mind.

MK Ahearn:

Yeah, it's a weird space now. Like, I don't love that idea, so I don't think like I would hope my press never moves towards that. Um, as long as I'm running it, it's not moving towards that. I but I'm also like very upfront and honest with my authors of like the more people posting about your book and the more we're like getting it out there, like the better, and the more likely chance that you will just have that random viral moment and take off. Um, because all it takes is one post. So the more posts that are going out there, the better. But that doesn't mean like you have to be doing that. It's a great added bonus, and we're gonna post you no matter what, but like you double your chances if you're also posting.

Jordan:

And and that's true though, because it you're right, it just takes this like one post to go viral, and there goes, and usually it's some like spicy quote. So if you just put some spicy quotes out there, you even increase your chances more. I'm also like, I see some posts that go viral, and I'm like, that went viral, but it's it's but it's true though, it's just like it's kind of crazy, and like you never know. I I know myself I've post the weirdest stuff, and it's like, oh, that one's the one that went viral. Okay, like here we are.

MK Ahearn:

Like, yeah, I think my most viral video was one where my mom, we were at the beach and she was reading like my most recent release, and I was like, Oh, let's make a funny video as if like I don't know you, and I'm like, Oh, someone at the beach is reading my book, but it's like the funniest little like skit because my mom's like, Oh my gosh, I'm your biggest fan. Can you sign my book? And it was so random and cringy, and I was like, you know what? It's funny, I'm gonna post it. And now I have like two million views, and I'm like, Are you kidding me? All this marketing, all this planning, and that's what it took.

Jordan:

The one that takes the most amount of planning and like thinking and creating and doing never goes viral. It's the quick, simple things that take off. Literally, it's actually crazy, but it's also it's funny and it's fun, and as long as like you guys have fun, it's like all that matters. Yeah, but I did want to see like because I know too, like you mentioned before about romance evolving and changing, and I kind of wanted to hear like your take on that. I don't know if that meant like romanticy or fantasy or just romance, but yeah.

MK Ahearn:

I feel like it's like changing in a sense of like romance has become such a big genre, and like I mean, right now it's the best-selling genre. Um, it's bringing in the most amount of money, and like I think with that has we've just seen a lot of change, and like the romanticy genre, like oh, 10 years ago, I don't even think it existed. Like, nobody knew what romantic was. Like, that is a very new concept. Um, and now I feel like we're seeing more acceptance of like dark romance. Like, I think everybody in their head always thought dark romance meant like 50 shades of gray, and that was it. Like, but now all of a sudden we're seeing all these people talking about it and like how healthy it can be for authors to write dark romance and readers to read it, and things like that, and it's opening up all these new conversations and stuff like that, and it's just like being a part of watching that happen, like it feels really cool because I'm like, oh, I'm a part of that. Like, this feels like it's gonna be like a big thing that people look back on someday and are like, remember when the romance genre just like took off and all these things happened, and it's like my books were a part of that.

Jordan:

I think that's really cool. I know too, like I know a lot of people like they don't realize romance is a billion-dollar industry, like as a whole, romance is huge, and I know too, like I'm like so grateful for like TikTok and Bookstagram in for this space specifically, just because I feel like I I've been reading romance forever and I love the genre as a whole, but like in my early 20s, I was embarrassed. Like, I didn't want to talk about I didn't want to tell anybody I was reading romance and that I liked my spicy stories. I just like read it uh like my best friend gifted me a Kindle, and it was like the best I gift I've ever gotten because I was able to read these romances without people knowing, and I and that's what I was doing. I I wasn't talking about it, I wasn't telling people about it, and I'm so grateful for TikTok and like essentially quarantine to happen and people reading this and posting about it, and then it like taking off and becoming something that is okay to love and to read and want to consume because and no one should be ashamed for it. So I know I'm so grateful for that happening because otherwise I'd still be in my like little corner on my bed reading these spicy stories that I was essentially embarrassed of, even though you shouldn't be.

MK Ahearn:

Yeah, a hundred percent. I think literally I was like maybe in high school, college, and I was like reading fanfic or reading those like little like they're the chapter by chapter, like spicy stories. I was consuming those, and I was like, oh no one can ever know I'm reading this. Like, this can't be a thing. Like, people would be funny.

Jordan:

Exactly. I no, exactly. It's like one of those things, and then it's it was so it's so funny because it took like one person, like this, not necessarily this, but I know like before like the pandemic, like somebody would mention something to me, and I'm like, wait, you you like romance, you like you like spicy stories? Like, I like I like spicy stories, like what? And it's it like and then you could talk about it, but it's like otherwise, like it was like one of those things that like no one could know. Like, I'm not uh no one knows. Literally, and then I'd always have like yeah, like I'd have another book that was like a literary fiction that I got. I don't know why I put that in quotes, but it would be like a literary fiction that I would like carry around that was like what I would tell people I'm currently reading, even though I'd also be reading like a romance, or like whatever's popular at the time.

MK Ahearn:

I'd be like, oh, of course I'm like reading Tawai Life. I'm not reading twice romances, you would never know.

Jordan:

Like right, right, because it's just like I this I can share, this I can't. So I think that I do have I really uh love that like TikTok and Books to Gram and Instagram really were able to take it off into the space that it is now because I think now we can like and more people I think are finding it. I love that it's bigger in bookstores, like and I think just essentially more people are go like becoming authors and writing this. I think it's really cool and hopefully it just keeps going and like keeps evolving and all that stuff. Um, okay, so I do want to ask you two questions before like we like end the episode. Uh, what is the spiciest book you have ever written, and then one that you've read?

MK Ahearn:

Ooh, that's a good question. Okay, so spiciest that I've written is my most recent release, Hollow House. It is very spicy. I quite literally told my mom, I was like, you will never ever pick up this book. Like I was like, if you want to read it, you can read it, but like also you may never ever look into the and what is that book about? So that one is it's like a fall Halloween novella. Um, it is about a journalist who like absolutely hates her job. She wants to be in the big city, but she's living in a small town. And every single year there is this place called Hollow House. It is this like gothic mansion that sits on the outskirts of town, and like all year long it seems abandoned. But then on Halloween, a giant party occurs. It is a big masquerade. All of these like bougie people show up dressed to the nines and wearing masks, and no one knows who owns it, no one knows who these people are. And she realizes hey, if I can get into this and like crack the code on all of this and write it like an article about it, that might be my big break. Um, so she goes and it turns out it's like it's a house of pleasures. So, like, my whole concept was instead of like a haunted house, it'd be a house of pleasures. Um, so it is this crazy mansion where all of their deepest desires can come true. It is run by this like very secretive millionaire that like no one knows who he is, but like it feels very like culty secret society vibes. Um, but it is definitely by far the spiciest thing I've ever written.

Jordan:

That sounds amazing and right up my alley. And honestly, this is like the perfect thing to read right now when you're listening to this, because this is like around spooky time. So I I think I'm gonna need to go pick this one up.

MK Ahearn:

I was shocked when I like released it because I was a little worried. I was like, I don't know if people are gonna get it. I was like, it's a bit out there, and I was like, and it's a lot and a lot of spice, and I was like, I don't know. Like they're used to me writing just like fluffy romancy, and like, yeah, that has spice, but it's like fluffy spice, and it's like a different level. This is like spice spice, and then just chased her down a hall with a dagger, like reading or whatever.

Jordan:

They're not similar, yeah.

MK Ahearn:

So I was shocked, like release day, people were loving it and like posting it everywhere, and I was like, I think I found my calling. Like, maybe I'm meant to write these crazy dark romances now. Um, so who knows? Maybe I'll write even spicier.

Jordan:

Ooh, or like make it keep like this theme reoccurring. Like, I Halloween and like spooky fall is literally my favorite season and favorite holiday by far. So I'm also saying like you should just keep writing every Halloween, like this kind of theme of like this house of pleasure, and I think that would be so fun.

MK Ahearn:

Yeah, but I'm not a writer, so I'm like, I I just want to keep writing like fall things. Fall is my favorite season, so I'm like it gives me a season.

Jordan:

It's just fall is just so perfect. I love fall. I love fall. Um okay, so oh, but then also one like a spicy book that you've read.

MK Ahearn:

Read. Oh okay. I think the spiciest, or at least my favorite, like spiciest book that I've read is Insatiable by Lee Rivers. Absolutely.

Jordan:

Yeah, it's on my TBR. Like I have a physical book, and I won't.

MK Ahearn:

I'm on the second book right now, and I'm devouring the series. Really? It's so good. Um, it's very dark. It is very, very dark, but like really good.

Jordan:

Oh, I need to I need to read it. It's like it's there, it's waiting for me. I just haven't. Oh, it is.

MK Ahearn:

I just feel like it has fall vibes. Like it's not like marketed that way, but I feel like it has fall vibes to it.

Jordan:

I like it. I'm here for it. I I definitely, yep, okay, sold. Um, okay, and then I also wanted to ask, what is one book that you would recommend to anyone and everyone? So when someone comes to you and is like, I need a book rec, what do you recommend?

MK Ahearn:

Okay, this is so out there and has nothing to do with spice, but my go-to recommendation is Red Rising. It's like a sci-fi dystopian vibe.

Jordan:

I've seen a lot of people talking about that book.

MK Ahearn:

Really good. It is, I don't I don't know. I guess I I'm like shocked that I love this so much because I don't read sci-fi, and usually I mostly just read things with romance. Yes. So then I was like mind-blown when I was like, I just consume that in like one sitting and need everything now written by this person.

Jordan:

Really? So it's like that good.

MK Ahearn:

It was really good. I would say more so like the dystopian vibes of it. Like it takes place in a sci-fi setting, but it feels more like a dystopian. I think that's why I loved it because like I was a major like divergent, Hunger Games, all of those like old school. I love Hunger Games, so I'm with you there. Um, but I guess along sci-fi along sci-fi lines, another book wreck that I wreck to everyone is Thrum by Meg Smithers. I think that's her last name. Yes, Thrum. It is a sci-fi horror mance. It is so good. Oh okay. Also a really good spooky season read. Um, she released it like last spooky season. Um, that I highly recommend.

Jordan:

Good to okay. I need to like write these down. I need to like I now need to, well, Red Rising I've seen everywhere. Like, so that one I don't need to write down, but thrum, I gotta write that one down. Okay, I do have like one more question because I know I didn't write this down and I'm so sorry, but I want to know what is the future goal you have with like the press or writing or both. I'm just kind of curious.

MK Ahearn:

I think my future goal for the press is going to be expanding beyond just like my capabilities here in the US. Like the big goal for me is to get our authors international. Um, whether that be like partnering with international publishers, because like some pot some small presses will do that and partner with bigger presses for distribution purposes abroad. Um, so that and then more audio. Um, I'm all about like accessibility and like making sure our books are accessible. So like I want to be able to expand that and find more ways to get more readers able to read us all our press books. Um, so I think in the like next couple years, that's my big goal.

Jordan:

I like the that goal. I know I'm like a huge audiobook person. I love audiobooks. I'm also because I work a full-time job too, so like it's so nice to be able to like read the book when I like want to read it. And then when I'm working, I listen to it. So it's just like I I love audiobooks. I know, and I know too, it's not for everybody, but there are people that, especially for accessibility reasons, like they need the audiobook. So I think I totally, I totally love that. Um, so I think that's really cool. Uh, I did want to give you the floor. I didn't know if you wanted to plug any websites, your Instagram for your uh press or your Instagram for yourself as an author.

MK Ahearn:

Um, so for Azala Press, um, you can find Azala Press just under Azala Press on both Instagram and TikTok. Um Azala Romance, you can find under Azala Romance for Instagram and TikTok. I am author MK Ahern on Instagram, and I'm just MK Books on TikTok.

Jordan:

Okay. Well, thank you so much in come and coming on and talking to me. This was literally the most interesting conversation I've ever had, and I'm so grateful for you like taking the time to have a conversation with me.

MK Ahearn:

Thank you for having me.