Spill the Smut

Gothic Grove & Spooky Reads with JA George

• Jordan • Season 1 • Episode 13

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Fog, streetlights, and a city that bites back—this one takes you straight into Gothic Grove, where witches and vampires fall hard and break rules even harder. I sit down with JA George, a therapist who writes before sunrise, to trace how a mafia draft transformed into a magic-soaked world and why letting the story lead can change everything. From scene-hopping chaos to Google Docs resurrection, she walks us through the tools, rituals, and brutal honesty that keep an indie series alive.

The conversation veers joyfully into genre play, too. JA opens up about a creative reset: an MMMF small-town dark cowboy romance spanning Halloween through winter, proof that switching settings can refill the well without losing voice. Expect sharp recs for spooky season reads, a one-sitting Halloween prequel (Venomous Love) with graveyard chases, and a collector’s heads-up on special editions with sprayed edges. We end on a surprising goal—nailing pole inversions without a spotter—which feels exactly right: core strength, on and off the page.

If this episode makes your TBR grow fangs, share it with a friend, hit follow, and leave a quick review with your favorite dark romance trope. Your words help others find the show.

Follow JA George on IG: @authorjageorge


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 calls the Pacific Northwest home and absolutely comes alive during spooky season. Honestly, who doesn't? She's the author of the Gothic Grove series where witches and vampires collide in the best possible way. If deliciously dark and spicy paranormal romances are your thing, then her books are an absolute must read. Please welcome to the podcast, J A George. Hi. Hi, thank you so much for having me.

JA George:

I'm so excited.

Jordan:

Oh my gosh, no. Like, thank you so much for coming on. I'm so excited. This is gonna be like a spectacular episode. And I actually am so excited. I love Halloween. I love spooky season. I know we just like discussed this, but I just I needed to reiterate it. It just needed to be done. It's the best.

JA George:

Like honestly, I really just wish it could be more than one like official month. Like, I feel like we need it longer.

Jordan:

Uh, I totally agree. I tell I give myself from like September to November, even though September doesn't, I feel like that's more fall. And then November is just like, I don't know why, but November is like I mean, I guess it works. It's like vampires for me, but I feel that October is the spooky, the gothic, the paranormal. Like that fits in October. Y But I agree. I I need it to be like longer. I need it to be more.

JA George:

Absolutely, yes.

Jordan:

Um, okay, so I do like to start off every episode with what uh what has been the highlight of your week so far?

JA George:

Um, well, so this week, I guess for like the week we're recording. Um I think it's kind of a future highlight. I am like sending my um standalone book off to my editor this week. And so I'm thrilled to get it like out of my hands and just not have to be doing like dealing with it anymore. So that's gonna be my win.

Jordan:

Oh, uh, that is a very big one. I feel like the first draft, I'm assuming this is the first draft, the first round. I feel like that's gotta be like the most intimidating and challenging part. Cause once you have it like that done, at least it's now it's just working off a first draft. And that has to be easier.

JA George:

Yeah, because you already have like, well, I don't know. I'm a chaos gremlin when I write, I guess. But like typically, yes, like I have that if gone to Bud Editor, I have a solid first draft enough that like the characters aren't gonna change much, stories not gonna change much when it comes back. It's really just like minor fixes.

Jordan:

Okay. Well, so I know this is way out of order, and I and I am just gonna say it now. I'm definitely very chaotic, and so I'm already so sorry. But I'm I'm curious. So then are you a pantster or are you a plotter?

JA George:

Oh, I'm a I'm a pantster. I'm literally the most chaotic little writing gremlin that you would ever um meet. Like I write scenes completely out of order, like I jump around. Um yeah, it's like I'm just pure chaos when I write. Like you my Google Docs is literally like there's different titles of like like what's happening in each scene that I wrote and like where it should go.

Jordan:

Like, but then there's at least some like organization so you can like find where it needs to go like later on. So that's yeah, that's all that matters.

JA George:

Yes, exactly.

Jordan:

I make notes now that I've learned now, like when you like you're like, okay, I need these, I need to refer back to these. Uh-huh. Yeah. Okay. So then I want to know how did you get into like writing and being being an author? I know, like, I'm assuming you haven't always like wanted to do this, or have you always wanted to do this? I know, I know too, you were like a bookstogrammer before, because I know we've like followed each other beforehand, which I thought that was so cool to it to see you grow into becoming an author, I think is the coolest thing ever. So I love it makes me so happy.

JA George:

I also love that like we've like connected for so long now because like really like we have been following each other for so long.

Jordan:

I know, and that's what I think is so I just it's so cool. I think it's honestly I feel like Bookstagram, sorry, side note, is the coolest place because it's I feel like we're all a group of like-minded people who just love books. And I I mean, I never would have known like you existed if I didn't like like we didn't have books to gram. So I think it's just such a cool. This is where I think the internet is cool and fun and nice, and I like it. Absolutely, yes. Everywhere else is just a dumpster fire and I don't like it. But booksogram, yes, I'm here for it. I love it, I want more of it. Yes, sorry.

JA George:

Sorry, the question. Uh oh, did I always want to be an author? Um, actually, so funny story, yes. Um, so when I was a kid, um well, so at elementary school, if you ask me, I wanted to be a marine biologist. Uh however, fun facts, I severely dislike seaweed and I don't like sea creatures. So I don't know why I thought I wanted to be a marine biologist, but here we are.

Jordan:

Um wait, wait, wait. I need to jump in. When I was younger, I wanted to be a marine biologist. But my yes, but my high school, my freshman year high school teacher said that I would never become one and the pay was awful. And honestly, I like took her word for it. But thank God I did, because I don't think I would like it.

JA George:

I'm like, that was that would not have been my my job. No, no, no, no, no. Um, but when I got into junior high, I I had always loved to write. Like I I have journals from like kindergarten. Like I always loved to write. And so when I got into junior high, I really started writing a lot more. And I had a teacher that really like fostered writing and especially like creative writing. Um, but at the time, like in high school, like in that era, I guess, um in order to be an author, there wasn't like the indie track, right? It was you had to go like to university to specifically study English, and there was like all of these, all these things that basically I was told, like, it's slim to none that you're gonna be an author. Like, you know, like it's like one in a million that actually gets like a New York Times bestseller and things like that. And so obviously, like I kind of took the track and like became a therapist, which I'm super thankful for. Like, love that. And then I kind of started bringing up that I really wanted to write. Like I had these like story ideas in my head and I just missed it and it just kind of clicked. Um, and my husband was like, Why don't you? He's like, why don't you? Um so I was like, Okay, I'll I'll dally in it, sure. Why not? Like, let's let's see if I can still do this. Um yeah, and I started honestly, but that's like so cool though.

Jordan:

Wait, so are you still doing your full-time job as being like a therapist and writing? Yeah, yes. That's how is that? That's gotta be very challenging. Cause like I know for being like a therapist, like you guys work crazy hours. Yeah.

JA George:

Um it's hard. But like it's really hard. So I get up typically when I write, I get up at 5 a.m. Um, and I write, which is really ironic to me. Like when I'm writing some of my spiciest scenes and it's like 5 45 in the morning, and I'm like, sure. Well, I know this makes sense. Like, this is great. Um, so yeah, I I get up typically my writing time is in the morning, and then um sometimes in the middle of the day, but I once I'm off work, my brain is like mushy. Like there's really no not a lot of writing that can happen when I'm done with work because I'm not off till 9 p.m. And so long hours. That's and that's not counting writing. No, like I mean, it's yeah, if being an indie author is is not for the faint of heart.

Jordan:

No, definitely definitely not. And but okay, but then I so I want to ask you, would you want writing to become your full-time job, or do you like also being oh, okay, okay. So that's like the goal.

JA George:

That is my goal. I would love to be able to write full-time. Um, I would love it.

Jordan:

Let's dive into your Gothic Grove series. How did you come up with the story? I I love the aspect of like the paranormal and the witches and the vampires, and it's just so fun.

JA George:

Um, so it actually didn't start as paranormal. Fun facts. Um, it started as Mafia, and I was writing it, and like the city had always been Gothic Grove, realistically. Like it was always that city, which is like to is like Seattle and Gotham had a baby, and that's what that's how I describe Gothic Grove. It's just this like really gritty place. Um, and as I was writing it, I realized that I like I didn't like normal. I was like, I want them to be able to like use magic. I'm like, you know? Um, and so I was like, why am I doing this to myself? So I switched it to paranormal and changed basically like the whole like the whole storyline realistically.

Jordan:

Oh my gosh. So you changed like the whole the whole base whole plot of the book because wow. So then I'm curious, like what made you start with mafia? Is it just like that's the story that came to mind? And then as you're writing it, you're like, wait a minute.

JA George:

I think because those were like the books that I gravitated towards at that time too. Like I was really in like my mafia era, um, as one sometimes is, right? And I'd always loved mafia. And so my brain kind of just went to that space of like, yeah, like this makes sense. Like this is a good space for me to start. Like, dark romance is my vibe. So why not start with mafia? And and then I remembered that like paranormal is my vibe.

Jordan:

Okay, fair. I know too, like anytime I read like a runics story, which she's definitely by far like one of my favorite authors, especially in the dark romance space. I uh I finished the book and I'm like, I could totally do that. I could do that. I'm like, I can't do that, I can't do that at all. But I finished the dark first series and I'm like, I can't mafia, I could do it. I could finish A Kana and I'm like, I could do that too. And I'm like, no, I can't. No, I can't. So it's like I totally get that, but I also like I I'm very like, see, this is like I read other people's stuff because my writing is basically like C spot run, C spot sit, C spot E. Like that is like my writing, and nobody wants to read that unless I'm not gonna be like, some of my first drafts are like that.

JA George:

Like, if you read some of my first drafts, like even like the first Gothic Grove, like I unpublished and like fixed because there was just so many things about it that I was like, I was learning, and so I like reformatted it fully in terms of like how it was structured and like fixed some things that just didn't flow well with the story. And I was like, Well, I was learning. So realistically, like, I don't know. I I am one of those people that's like your first draft is always gonna suck no matter what, and probably your sixth draft is going to be like a hot mess too. Um, and you might someday like your first book just you might have to fix it, and that's okay, at least in my opinion.

Jordan:

Oh, I I think I you live and you learn too. So it's like, and I see too, like you have like four books out in the Gothic Grove series. So it's like, as and I don't know, are you planning on writing more books in that series, or is that kind of like the end? Yes.

JA George:

No, so more books are coming. Um, there's at least there's at least one more um that's gonna wrap up this like arc of like Gothic Grove. So it'll close some of the doors for some of the characters in terms of just like you'll kind of just get like a resolution. Um, and then some of the characters that I have like introduced um through the way that have been like side characters, um, will get kind of like spin-offs. My whole thing is I don't want people to have to read a super long series, right? Like, because I think sometimes that's intimidating to see a series and be like, oh, there's 15 books in this, like what? Um but I also some of those side characters I really like and I really want to like visit their stories, and so I want it so you know, you don't necessarily have to read the first chunk of them if you don't want to.

Jordan:

You should because you'll get Easter eggs, but like oh see, that's that's like the best part. But then that's also because like I feel like for that too, it unless you have like the whole thing plot out, you don't know necessarily like the Easter eggs to put in. So I can see how like when you want to like go back and like put in some of those Easter eggs, they totally especially because okay, then I have okay, so wow. When you started writing Gothic Grove, did you think it would be to this point? Like, do you think it did you no? Okay. So you it grew.

JA George:

So as most people, um, Shadow, Drago, and Ava, uh, were never going to be like main characters. Uh, and then it happened and they were like, hi. And so I started writing book two while I was still writing book one. Um and because they were just like, hello. I was like, all right, cool. Here we are. Yeah. So it never, I never I honestly thought it would be a standalone. I never intended it for it to be this like series. Um and I will like now when writing magic systems and like paranormal like cities, I would and my editor will say, Yes, please do this, please help us with this. As I will take more notes, right? As I will like add, like, okay, hey, like this, right? Like this needs to travel to this book, um, just so that I don't have to keep rereading my own books over and over again to make sure that I'm like closing all the gaps and things like that.

Jordan:

It does, I guess it would make your life a little bit easier. So I I get it to agree. Now, do you think you'll only write in this like genre of like paranormal romances, or do you think you'll venture into other like maybe fantasy? Would you write something that's like contemporary? But like, you know what I mean, not contemporary.

JA George:

My next one is actually is um so uh I went on a side quest this summer um and decided I was gonna write a uh small town dark cowboy romance. Stop it. I'm obsessed already. That's what I did. Uh that's what's going to my editor on Friday. I I had called, I was on a either a call, I think I was on a call with my friends. Um and I had said it's like, oh yeah, every summer I want to write a cowboy romance. And they were both like, oh my God, do it. Like, why wouldn't you? And I'm like, they're like, I was really struggling with the last Gothic Grove to write it. And like I was just not wanting to be in it because writing Ruined Kingdom, which is the most recently like full novel I published from it, was a lot. Um, and so I was just struggling. And so they were like, take a break. And so I did. And yeah, it's been a lot of fun. It's um MMMF, uh, cowboy, firefighter, sheriff, and then the main female character.

Jordan:

Um, yeah. I'm obsessed. I'm obsessed. There's not very many, like you. I mean, don't get me wrong. Like, I love a good cowboy romance, but they're all very light. And I I read them. I love them, don't get me wrong. But there's not very many like dark cowboy romances.

unknown:

Yeah.

Jordan:

So it's like, sure. Why not? Here we are. Yeehaw.

JA George:

I totally side quested it and was like, here we go. This is what we're doing. Um, so yeah, it comes out November 7th.

Jordan:

Oh, oh my god, wait, so that's like perfect timing. Like it's gonna be out shortly after this episode airs. So, like, that's very cool. And it does span through all the holidays.

JA George:

It it hits um Halloween. I mean, kind of Thanksgiving. I don't really do Thanksgiving, so it's kind of just there as like a whatever, but it also goes into like winter, so like solstice and Christmas. Um, so yeah, so it's good for all of the seasons.

Jordan:

Ooh, I like it. I'm here for it. Is it like a full length or is it more of a novella? It's full day. Oh, so you really spent like your whole time writing this summer. Shockingly, yes.

JA George:

Uh and I yes, and I got delayed when I had surgery, and so I was like, I couldn't write because it was on my arm, and so I was like, cool, this is great. So I then I did delay the release because it was supposed to release earlier, but that's okay.

Jordan:

Life happens, and that's so that and that must be nice too. Like being indie published, you're not relying, or do you have to rely on a schedule? Do you have more free reign or because I know you said it went to your editor, so I don't know, I I really don't know how any of that works.

JA George:

So, yes and no. So, like, I'm lucky because my editor is one of my good friends and she's able to be flexible with me. So, like we are able to kind of work out a schedule, at least as of now. In the future, she might be busier, and so like, you know, I might not be able to do that. Amazon um gets real mad at you if you move the the dates too much, and so they will um like as right now, I'm not allowed to do after this pre-order, I'm not allowed to do a pre-order for a year. So if the next Gothic Grove is going to come before the year mark, I'm gonna have to like just drop it and there won't be able to be a pre-order, um, which sucks because it's like hi, like things happen.

Jordan:

Like, yeah, and this is and like what is it to Amazon to like not you know what to to do this sort of thing? So it's like why why does that matter? That's so weird. I've also seen so many authors too, like where their pre-orders are just dropped, yeah, and like it just like they lose it. And I'm like, why why? Why? I don't like I but I also like don't under understand Amazon at all.

JA George:

So I don't either, yeah. I I am just there so people have access to my books, basically, like more wide, wide access.

Jordan:

It's like uh it's like one of those things where it's like I hate Amazon, but I love Amazon in the fact for indie publishing. Like they've made it to they've made it so easy for people to find your books because this is like everybody knows to find your books through Amazon. So it's like it's like the necessary evil. Is that like that saying? It's like a hundred percent. What what you gonna do? Um, so okay, so I uh I want to know like what is the story you're dying to tell? Like not the like stories that you've already written, but like, is there a story that you're just like, oh, I really want to tell this story?

JA George:

Um, so outside of like this the characters that I really want to write about in that are in Gothic Grove already. Um I really so this is another side quest, and I haven't decided if it's gonna be paranormal or not, because it's literally just like a thought bubble in my brain. Um, I really want to write a street racing one. Um yeah, I really want to write like a dark street race. Um yeah, so that's in my brain. Funny, like my fun facts. My husband used to street race um when he was a teen. There's like in Washington. So if you live in Washington, you know, like down in Kent, there are the Kent street races. Um, and so when he was like 19 or 20, he used to do that. Um and we always laugh about it because it's like the only thing that he did that was like bad, bad, I'd say in quotes, right? Like, um, and so yeah, so he uh like has like inspired because he obviously like loves fast cars and I just love it also as a side. Like I'm like, yeah, sure, this is really fun. Uh so I've always wanted to write one, and I kind of included street racing in the last Gothic row, but it wasn't enough for me and it it wasn't deep enough. And so I was like, this could be a fun side quest.

Jordan:

Ooh, I like it. I feel like that's also like not something I've ever, I only one. Have you ever read any ammo Jones or Ammo Jones? I don't know how she says her name. Yes, I have, and I'm like, I can't remember what I read. Understandable because I think this one is not as well known of her books. Like I read her, I like found her way before I started Bookstagram and I loved her like books then, but like I don't think she really focused. She might have taken them down, but there's like a book called And the Swearing Fucker, and then there's one right before it too, but they're both about street racing, and it's like that's the only book I've ever like read that has them, but it's like the girls do the street racing, and so I love it. And that's like what I'm here. Like, I'm here for it. I'm here for the bad. I just I love a good badass female character. Yes, they are my favorite. Like, I don't and to each his own, like I'm not saying this is like we shouldn't have these books, but I'm just so over the weak, timid, virgin, Mary main character. I'm just like, I'm not about it.

JA George:

Yeah, I I really like a badass female. I mean, I I mean, yes, like if you look at any of the most of the females in Gothic Grove, if not all, uh, are very much like, I'm gonna burn the world down. So like, get out of my way. Thank you.

Jordan:

But like, I feel like they those are like, I don't, I don't know. Maybe that's because like I want to be one of those. So it's like I like to read about them. And that's like one of my I um I read the mafia series, but I read Ruthless People by JJ McAvoy. Have you read that series? Yes, yes, a long time ago, yes. Yes, because it it was really big for like a hot second, like years ago. Yes. I but I love Melody so much and her, like the badass that she is that I like fully embrace her in moments of like sheer terror for me. Like, but like sheer terror, as in like I'm so I'm a socially awkward person, I don't like doing things outside of like my comfort zone, so I have to like embrace her, right? So it's like, but I try to embrace this like melody essentially because she's like such a badass and she would not be like freaking out over this social interaction, and it's so she's like my go-to badass female character. I love that, yes, love that. It's like I mean, we do what we gotta do, we just do what we gotta do. Yes, um, oh okay, so what are some of the stories that inspire you? Whether it's like stories that inspired you to like write Gothic Grove or just in general, uh so Harley LaRue's like her soul to take, like those books were are like my all-time favorite.

JA George:

They're a comfort read for me. Like I think their writing style is just like so good, beautiful and just perfection. Um, and so definitely those books. Um I would also say uh Nicole Fiorini for like Hollow Heathens, Bone Island, like yes, I love Hollow Heathens with my whole heart.

Jordan:

Yes, that is so good, so good. I I need like everybody to read that book. But I think I think uh Nicole is the perfect example that because I feel like so many authors, and that's why I was curious if you would write more outside of paranormal romances. I feel authors not that they get stuck, I don't think they they're stuck, I think they they're doing what they want to do, but they write the same book, it's the same book, just like rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat with like a different plot line. But I think Nicole does a great job of she wrote this dark romance with Stay With Me, and then she writes this like paranormal witchy Hollow Heathens book, and I think that is so cool, and I think it's so cool because you're doing the same. You're right, you wrote the paranormal romance with Gothic Grove, and now you're writing this like dark cowboy one, and I think that's so cool, and I don't think many authors do that.

JA George:

I think another author that I that I see do that is like Pam Godwin, who did um so she has a dark dark um cowboy series that is real dark, um, and then Sea of Ruin is her like pirate series, right? And so, like, yeah, it's not paranormal, but like you've got a vastly different setting, and it's that they're amazing.

Jordan:

Oh, I've only read Sea of Ruin, which I really really liked, but I haven't read anything else by Pam. So I don't, but now I want to read this like cowboy one. Notted is the first one.

JA George:

Uh uh Trails of Sin is the series.

Jordan:

Okay. Wait, that's the the cowboy one?

JA George:

Yeah. And the first book in that series is Notted, which is the cowboy, yeah.

Jordan:

Okay, just writing that down, you know, when you need it, just writing it down. Um okay, sorry, I definitely cut you off. What were some of the other stories that inspire you?

JA George:

Yeah, so Nicole Harley, um Santana Knox has always been somebody that I've like loved.

Jordan:

Oh, okay. So then I also wanted to ask, can you still read while you're in the middle of writing, or do you need to essentially separate both parts and like disassociate from the other to do the other? If that makes sense.

JA George:

Um, I think it just depends on what I'm writing. So, like right now, I'm not reading a ton right now. Normally, when I get to this point in writing where it's almost to the editor, or like when I when we release this, it will be to the editor, right? I'm I slow down a lot on my reading. Um and so typically at the start of a story, I will I will read a lot more towards the end. Also, like it's just nice to read because sometimes I forget that other words exist when you're writing. Like I'll be writing and I'm like, I know, I know other words. I I know that's just they're not coming.

Jordan:

They're not coming to you.

JA George:

Yeah.

Jordan:

Oh, okay. So then also, too, is that like you like I don't know, because I'm like so can I'm so curious because when when you're reading, you can like essentially get inspiration, but is it ever like a fear of like steal not I don't want to say that stealing's not the right word, but like take taking the idea, but like in this not meaning to, I'm not saying like totally, yeah. So I feel like that would be like a fear of what did I just like take somebody's like words?

JA George:

So I that's why I really I try to have like an alpha and beta readers for my stuff, just so that like that's part of it, right? Is I do read so much, and so I'm always like, hey, I want to know if this sounds like somebody else, right? And and again, like there's gonna be times where we are going to sound like other authors, not like sound like them, but like our stories might be similar, right?

Jordan:

Like and the thing there's gonna be those moments. Exactly. And like you can't, I I do keep coming back to like, I don't know if you remember, um, this was like years ago when Cassandra Claire Clare was being sued by somebody who also wrote like a demon hunting. Yes, yes, but it's like you can't like everything that Cassandra Clare was writing was definitely very biblical, so it's like she can't steal from another author, just like you're not stealing from the Bible, like that's not actually possible, and you can't like you can't do that. So it's like I but there but I can understand too, there's like a very fine line there too. Like, but it's also like you can't copyright or trademark certain things that it's it's kind of like I don't like you can only write vampire so many ways, right?

JA George:

Or you can only write like shifters so many ways. And so I do think there is that like overlap sometimes. Um Um, but I I do try to be really cognizant of like, hey, if this sounds really similar, I want to know. That's the purpose of like alpha and b is to like be able to like call, like, not just that, obviously, that there's other things that they do, but to kind of help be a second set of eyes, because I've stared at the story for so long, I'm not gonna be able to pick that out anymore.

Jordan:

Oh, that's a good point too. Cause it's like even like I'm thinking grammar-wise, like I you like write a sentence, you know what you're trying to say, so you're reading it that way. And even just like a new set of eyes can take a look and be like, oh no, it's not coming across that way because of X, Y, Z. But then that kind of makes sense for the story too, like as a whole, because you are the one that's like reading it, you're I mean, writing it, so you are reading it the way you're intending to write it, but you're not necessarily seeing all like the outside. Totally. Oh, what advice do you have for someone who wants to be an author and wants to write books?

JA George:

I would say get the story out because I think a lot of people get hung up on that first draft and they're like, it has to be perfect. And I'm like, oh, I literally deleted all of the last Gothic Grove and rewrote it from the very start. Like, so it doesn't have to be perfect. And like, does that suck when that happens? Sure. And the story needs to get out, anyways, in order for you to go to work.

Jordan:

Oh my goodness. I feel like that would be so frustrating. I don't know if I like get myself to delete it just because if I like worked so like hard, but I'm assuming the story wasn't going where you wanted it to.

JA George:

No, it just didn't, it didn't make sense, it didn't flow. And like I, you know, I'm so sorry, Breen, who's my editor that I did that. Um, yes, although I will say, like, using Google Docs, I am a very visual person. And so when you when you edit with Google Docs, you could go into the like suggestion mode. And so I will like delete stuff in the suggestion mode because you can then go back and like just kidding, I'm not gonna delete this. And so I do that. And then when I write new stuff in a in a draft that I've already started writing, I will then write in the suggestion mode as well so that I can like go through and see what I've added that's new or changed, and I can either accept or decline it when I go back and add it again.

Jordan:

Oh, oh, that's kind of nice. I didn't know that like you could do that. Oh it's lovely. So what would you say is like the most challenging and then the most rewarding part of like being an author?

JA George:

Um I think the most well start with the most rewarding. I think the most rewarding is when people resonate with my characters. Um like when they're able to message and say like it's also like my heart also breaks a little bit with some of my characters when people are like, yeah, I resonate with this one, and I'm like, so sorry. Um but it just like I'm glad because some of the stuff I write about, I don't feel like there's a lot of representation for um at times. And I want people to be able to see those struggles outside of themselves too. Um so I think that's the most rewarding part is being able to like give those stories so that people can see themselves in other characters and see their struggles. Um probably marketing. Like I like I truly, truly despise having to keep up on Instagram at times. Like they'll be because you have to like, I mean, so shout out to Elijah who like helps me make things now, and like I truly appreciate this human because um yeah, they help me with my graphics and help me stay motivated.

Jordan:

I feel like marketing is the hardest part, and it's also like to be marketing your books, it's not like just another book like that you read or whatnot. It's your book. I feel like that's gotta be even tougher. It's like, but that imposter and imposter syndrome like rears its head, I feel like.

JA George:

So I think totally also when people ask me at like events, um that they're like, oh, like what's your book about? And I'm like panic. I'll just like like like I'm like, uh I mean there's some words on page, dark, paranormal. There's like witches and vampires, and like uh the first like big event I went to was Fire Bay, and my editor and I were like, she PA'd for me, and we like looked at each other and we were like, how do we describe like we both panicked, like you saw like panic for both of us, and I was like, okay, like we should have thought this through. Oh, oh no. But like oh but I did, I did start like so now I've learned I've like figured like after the first couple of people I figured it out, and I was like, great, like it's okay. I'll just I've got I've got the buzzwords, it's fine. Um, and I did like put out like trope cards and cards so that we could kind of look at those, and that did help a lot of people because they're like, Oh yeah, I love this. So I'm you don't even have to tell me more.

Jordan:

Sold. Sold. I got it. We're good, we're good, we're gold, golden. Um, okay, so now I kind of want to dive into like the spectacularness of this episode. And I want to know maybe some of I could I know too, you kind of listed some spooky stories that were ones that inspire you, but I want to just know some of your favorite, like spooky stories, spooky authors. I just I want to make this a spectacular episode.

JA George:

Uh so obviously Harley LaRue, like obviously, like her soul to take. I think those books I reread every October.

Jordan:

So like I I I read Her Soul to Take, and it's amazing. I need I bought the other two because I panic bought them, not since those were picked up by somebody. And I I didn't know if the covers would stay the same. Of course they did, but they're still like slightly different. So I I got the indie ones, but I haven't read them yet. But I I want to, I need to. It needs to happen. So good.

JA George:

I have like my whole not that anybody else can see, but like I have a whole shelf that's dedicated to different like versions of like it's the one series that I have multiple versions of and like and the other losers series that um they do.

Jordan:

I've heard that. I like haven't read that one either, but I want to. I've heard it so good. So good. So good. But I have to, I have to say, like, my favorite series. Well, my favorite book that I have multiple editions is Scothakana by Runick. So I totally you could just never have too many editions of your favorite. I know it's I yes, I love that like book with like my whole heart. Like that is like one of my all-time favorite books. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone, even though I definitely know it's not for everyone.

JA George:

Right, yes. Yep, that is, but it's the same with like you know, her soul to take. Um do you like demons? I like demons. I like demons and vengeful gods. Like, here we go. Here, give this a show. Um looking behind me right now. Um, I also would say, like, um, I don't know if these are like Halloween spooky, but um Hellfire and Honey by Marie Um Honeroy.

Jordan:

I don't know if you've read. I've definitely seen those like on Bookstagram, but I have not read because I think that's fantasy, right?

JA George:

Or yeah, I mean it's I would say it's like I don't know, I would say it edges fantasy and paranormal, but it's definitely it's definitely dark. So I would say like it's got the spooky season vibe to it. Um they're like beautifully written. The series is not complete yet. So if you're into like completed series, like you know, um that is the other one I have in multiple columns of now that I think about it.

Jordan:

But I I feel like when it's like books that you really love, it's totally worth it. It's like you totally you need the multiple editions. You you you covet them, you love them, and so I'm totally here for it. But I'm also one that will buy multiple editions of like the same book in the way of like I'll have like a physical and then I'll get the ebook and then I'll get the audio book so that way I don't stop reading it. Yeah, yes, 100%, right? Because it's like also too, you need the trophy for your shelf, and I want to be be able to read it before bed, and yes, I'm working, so like I gotta listen to it.

JA George:

Yes, 100% accurate.

Jordan:

Reader problems, yep, but also not problems at all. Uh like uh so have you we're wait, oh my gosh. So if you're not reading that much right now, are you not able to like read any spooky stories right now?

JA George:

No, I'm so I um I am going to be reading more spooky stories. So like I'm going to start my reread of her soul to take. Um and I actually think I'm gonna do a reread Hall of Heathens because I haven't reread that in a really long time. And so um yeah, I mean I always end up like in October deep diving into not that I don't read spooky season stuff all year long, but I deep dive. It's different now, totally different.

Jordan:

It hits different now. And I so yes, sorry, do you have some you're gonna like dive into?

JA George:

Not at the moment. I th so I think once I'm done writing this, like once I'm once the cowboy romance is off my plate, I think I will have like be able to go into Kindle and go into like everything and be like, okay, this is what I want to read new. Um yeah, I think right now it's the rereads that I'm like, yes, these are like familiar spooky stories, and I can just like curl up in them.

Jordan:

A fair. I do have to say, like, I I mean, I love Hollow Heathens. I should reread it too. And I'm not one to reread stories, but they're like a select hand food of hand food handful that I will. And uh I have to say the Hollow Heathens audiobook is amazing. And if you need an audiobook, I say give it a shot.

JA George:

I don't know if you do you listen to audiobooks. I do. Um, I prefer to listen to audiobooks that I've already read, um, because I have a hard time taking in the new information. Because normally when I'm doing audiobooks, like, you know, doing a million other things at the same time. And so I miss stuff. Um, but that would be a good way to reread.

Jordan:

Mm-hmm. I do like it for like rereading, or I I can do like certain books, like I could never do a like a very like epic fantasy or high fantasy. I could not do that because it's just like it's too much information. I also like even in fantasy, I can there's so many made-up words like of places, of names, and I don't know how to say them. So I'm making up a name in my head. But if I'm like doing the audiobook, I'm hearing how the author actually wants it pronounced. But then if I were to go to the book, I would have no idea what place that is because I'm not, I'm like they're all Steve to me, like names, like I can't pronounce. So I'm like, okay, this is this is how it's yeah, how it's gonna be. Um one of my like spooky stories that I like I need to read this fall because it's been on my like TBR forever, is Fairy Dale. Like, I want to read that. Oh I was that's good. Oh, so you have read it, it's good. I'm like, it is it is a wild journey.

JA George:

Oh, okay, okay. But it's good, it's a really like it was one of those books that I was reading, and I was like, like my brain just was kind of short circuiting as I read it and was like, oh, this is like beautifully written. Like it was it was really good.

Jordan:

Sorry, my cat is chewing my cord. I'm like, what am I hearing? Oh no, dude, what are you doing? Sorry, okay. I'm gonna be able to do that.

JA George:

Both of them now, because the kitten especially will like go behind my computer and start to try to nibble my cords. And I'm like, ma'am.

Jordan:

That's what this sir was doing. He like, I you know, it's like you can hear something even though I have my headphones on. I'm like, what is that? And then I like have a mirror in front of me, so I saw him and I was like, excuse me. Uh-huh. Yep.

JA George:

I don't know why Caps must do that.

Jordan:

Right. Uh okay. Wait, fairy tales. Yes. Okay. So that has been on my TBR for so long. And I think I was actually gonna start it in the spring, but I was talking to somebody and they that read it, and they were like, no, no, no, you need to wait until the fall. Like, it will hit different in the fall. And I was like, okay, I will. Absolutely. I'm like, I know I need to read it this month, or else I'm afraid I won't read it because I then I'm now it's stuck in my head that I have to wait till fall. So if I'm not reading it in October, then I fear it will not happen. 10 out of 10. Like it was really good. Oh, I'm okay. I'm like so excited. I'm so excited. So, do you have any other like oh, I know you said like rereads.

JA George:

So then Yeah, I'll probably do a and then honestly, like straight up, I'm sure I'll find like some pure smut, like jam lantern crazy, like you know, like just the the ones that like I have one of my friends is like this is our goal every October is we send each other the most wild, like smut, like, you know, like the door one, right? Where it's just like oh my god, just thinking that one.

unknown:

Yes.

JA George:

Uh so yeah, so I'm sure there'll be some that will come out and I'll be like, yes, give me the pumpkin smut, and I'll laugh the whole time with my it's just like you can't like not.

Jordan:

I mean, I didn't laugh at this one, and I probably read it a couple of years ago, but like there's no place, like no hiding place. Fuck. I wish I remembered the name of it. No oh if I just put a bunch of words together when we figure it out. I love a strange book. I don't and of course I don't think I have it in my phone, but it was like this Halloween spooky like carnival where he's like chasing her around this like carnival and it was like spooky and it's Halloween y'all? It was a novella, yes. Was it Santana Knox's? No, I don't think so. Like an Ashley, maybe what I think it was two authors, so but I don't think Santana Knox was one of the authors. It was like an Ashley. Was there corn meetings involved? Fuck, I don't know. I don't remember. I remember I remember there was like a carnival. Like I know that they ended up in like a spooky, like uh like one of those like fun houses, and she's like seeing herself in like the mirror all wonky, and then she's like trying to roll, like run forward, but the things moving backwards and like one of those things.

JA George:

Was it well? I don't was it Aiden Pierce? Was that I think that was the author of Sinners Sinners Sideshow, um does things like that, but it's paranormal.

Jordan:

Oh no, I don't think this is oh no, yeah, there's no demons. Wait, I don't think there were demons. But it is a circus, and there is a fun house, and there is like so maybe I don't think so.

JA George:

I'm like trying to I really like you're gonna have to tell me this book, like whenever you find it.

Jordan:

You're gonna have to no place to hide. No place to hide. Oh I don't know if I've read it. Oh my gosh, it was like such a it was like it was the it itched, it itched, it scratched the itch I had for like a Halloween novella and I I loved it. Oh, Harper Ashley, oh, and then Ren Hawthorne. Hawthorne? I don't think I've ever read this, but I'm at it because my library it was like yeah, it because you can like finish it in one sitting in a night, and it was like spooky, and I read it at night, and honestly, I I loved it. I it it is just like pure smut, like I think every chapter of right. Sometimes that's like what I want. Now, don't get me wrong, sometimes I need like a plot, but sometimes I just want smut. Like, who doesn't want just smut?

JA George:

Exactly.

Jordan:

A hundred percent yes. Right, thank you. Um yeah, okay. Well, I do want to end this episode with two questions, or before I end this episode, I have two questions for you. So what is your all-time favorite book or like and or series? You can do like multiple books, but what is like one that you would recommend to like anyone and everyone?

JA George:

It's hard because most like Accord of Silver Flames will always be like one of my favorite books, and so like in order to recommend it, I have to recommend the whole series.

Jordan:

But like that is a good series, though. It is a good series, it's like just get through book one, like oh yeah, like but like honestly, like if you can just make it to the 75% mark, then like the rest of it you can't put down. Yes, yes. So it's like you just gotta be there.

JA George:

I feel like this is just one big advertisement for like Harley and Bruce. So that's you know, fun. But that's I mean, I think either of these series. Because honestly, like if you're coming to me for a book rec, I would assume you would read dark romance, but also like I don't like I don't really read a whole lot outside of dark romance, I would say that one. I would say any of their books.

Jordan:

Oh, any of Harley Brews? Oh, perfect. I I mean I really want to read the losers one, but is the losers that one's not paranormal, right?

JA George:

No, but the first book, The Dare, which is the novella to it, it's a prequel, it's Halloween. So if you are looking for like a novella for Halloween, the Dare is a hundred percent Halloween and it's short piercing, and it introduces you to the characters. Oh it was previously banned on Amazon. Wait, why? Why? Uh for content. Oh, oh as far as my understanding, it was for the trigger warnings and for the content warnings. Um and it's I mean, it's it's just smut and it's great.

Jordan:

That's amazing. And you know, a Halloween smutty book is like perfect. That's what I want. Like I could go for I did I sorry, side note, I did read Hollow House by oh, like MK and Ahern, Ahern, I think is how you pronounce her last name. And it was it's spooky, and it she does label as like dark, spooky, like Halloween. But and it is, it is, but I have read darker, but I think that's also like dark is subjective, like same with like spice and like all of that, it's like your level of, but it was like such a fun Halloween, like spooky book, and I loved it.

JA George:

Um, is it I'm gonna do like a little self-plug because uh the novella that I just released, Venomous Love, is can be read as a standalone because it's a prequel to Gothic Grove. Um, and it is a Halloween novella. So if anybody's looking for a spooky Halloween novella that's spicy and lovely, that by lovely I mean there's graveyard chases. Um, and it's lovely. We are here for it.

Jordan:

We are here for it. Like, because that's Halloween, and that's like what you want. And this is perfect because you still have a couple days before like Halloween, so you need this novella to fit in one more spooky read. Like, yes, you can get it in one sitting. So, like, this is perfect. And okay, so and then the last question I have for you is what is one future goal you have? I know you mentioned like one earlier being like a full-time author, but I want to know if you have like another goal or yeah, and it could be in anything.

JA George:

I mean, okay, so that's definitely my main goal. If you want a goal outside of like everything that's really random, um, I pull dance. And so I would like this that I can like fully do inversions, like confidently, or at least do one inversion. Like that's I that's my main goal. That is that I learned like confidently could do one inversion.

Jordan:

Oh my gosh, I'm so glad you brought that up because I think you pole dancing is the coolest thing on the planet. I have thank you. I have uh the grace of a baby giraffe. So like I could never do something like that, but I love seeing your stuff on your Instagram. I think it is so cool, and I am like in awe. But can you please explain to me what an inversion is? I have no idea.

JA George:

Yeah, upside down. So um, yeah. So basically, like you're you're pretty you're literally upside down. You're pretty much bracing the pole with your legs and like typically your torso. And so you can hold with your hands, but most of the time when you do an inversion, you end up not having your hands on the pole, or a lot of the time when you're confident. Um so I started learning them a while ago, but they do require a lot of core strength. Um, and I've had two babies, so my my core strength is not not quite there. Um it will be. However, once I'm there, I'm great because my legs are where most of my strength is. So I just it's hard to get into it without a spotter. So that's my goal is to be able to get into one without having somebody spot me.

Jordan:

Oh, okay. And we know you're gonna get there. We know it's gonna happen. Eventually, I will. I am determined. It is going to happen. We will be manifesting it. We, as me and all the listeners, we'll be able to appreciate that.

JA George:

Like the good manifesting energy.

Jordan:

Yes, we are here for it. Okay. Oh, I did want to give you the floor. Did you want to plug yourself at all? Like a website or an Instagram or TikTok or anything, and like your new release, anything else?

JA George:

Um, so my website um is authorja.com, and you can get um like I do website exclusive um formatting covers as well. So Gothic Grove has two covers. Um, there's a cover um only available on my website. Um, and then Kindle also has the model covered, but for physical copies, it's only on my website. Um I do for Cedar Edge, which is the new cowboy romance that's coming out. Um there is a special edition pre-order on my website. Um, the cardback character art in it and special edition formatting and sprayed edges. Um and it's only gonna be available for like pre-order release. So once once the book is released, then I'm not going to bring those website editions back, except for like probably like giveaways or something like that every now and again. But like that'll be done. Like it's so yeah, so that you can do that there. My Instagram is authorj. Um so you can find me there. Gothic Grove. Um, all of them are on can all my books are on Kindle Unlimited. Um, but they are a great spoofy season. The last one will be coming out sometime next year at some point. Um some point it'll uh yes, I I should be working on it right now once Cedar Edge is done. So yeah. And then if you are into Cowboy Dark Town, Cedar Edge is your thing.

Jordan:

Perfect. Perfect. Okay. Um, I just want to double check. So your Instagram handle is author at JA George.

JA George:

Yeah, so it's at um, so Instagram is at authorjajorge. Um yes, it used to be different, and then then I changed it to an author one because it got confusing at events to be like, hey, this is my Instagram. I know say author. So I swapped it over to author.

Jordan:

I get I get that, like marketing standpoint. So totally understandable. But okay, perfect. Thank you so much for chatting with me and making this like a spectacular episode. Thank you for having me. It was so much fun. I loved it.