Spill the Smut

Interview with Author: Laura Bishop

• Jordan • Season 1 • Episode 18

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Love, Lies, And A “Fake” AI Boyfriend

What if the flirty “AI boyfriend” on your phone wasn’t artificial at all? Debut author Laura Bishop joins us to unpack the addictive hook behind Love Me, Stalk Me—a slow-burn, body-positive romance where obsession meets accountability and intimacy waits for honesty to catch up. Laura shares the real-world spark that lit the concept. From there, she built a story that asks sharp questions about privacy, consent, and the comfort we seek in digital confessionals—then grounded it with a heroine learning to trust her voice and a security-chief hero who won’t cross the final line until truth is on the table.

And because a great book deserves great buzz, we dig into Laura’s unexpectedly brilliant marketing: partnering with BikeTok creators, filming bookstore rides, and keeping content authentic to each creator’s voice. We also preview the series trajectory. 

Come for the spicy tension and morally gray hero; stay for a candid, generous look at creativity, confidence, and the line between fantasy and reality.

Loved the conversation? Follow and share the show, subscribe for more author deep-dives, and leave a review to help other romance readers find us.


Follow Laura on IG & TT: @laurabishopauthor and her website: https://laurabishopauthor.com/

Cover Art by: moi

Intro/Outro Music: positive vibes by nanaacom on Capcut

Contact Email: spillthesmutpodcast@gmail.com

Podcast IG: @spillthesmut TT: @spillthesmutpodcast

Jordan IG: @sipsoffiction TT: @sipsoffiction

Jordan:

I am so excited to welcome today's guest, a debut author whose brand new novel, Love Me Stalk Me, just hit shelves. You can find the book at Barnes Noble, BAM, Target, and Walmart. But also don't forget your indie bookstores too. If you're a fan of Lights Out and you with a splash of a fake AI boyfriend, but really it's just him, then this is your next must-read. She delivers obsessive, morally gray men and strong, clever women who match them beat for beat. Please welcome to the podcast, Laura Bishop. Hi. Hi. Thank you for having me. Thank you for having me again.

Laura Bishop:

Yeah. So the reader doesn't know, but we already recorded once, but we messed it up. So it was probably my fault.

Jordan:

And honestly, no, it was probably my fault.

Laura Bishop:

No, I think it was. I think the low key, the plan was actually that I just wanted to spend an extra hour with you. So like you didn't say, but I hacked your computer.

Jordan:

The Cal, the AI boyfriend. Exactly.

Laura Bishop:

And distorted your audio so that you would have to talk to me for another hour.

Jordan:

Yeah, we're back, we're back again. Yes, we're back. We are um, but then but it's perfect because this interview is gonna be even better. Second time around, we'll have time to practice. Honestly, though, like we really do. Um okay, but before we start into the interview, I do want to ask you what has been the highlight of your week so far.

Laura Bishop:

Um, so I would just say, like, it's really close to release, and I'm getting like all of these tags for the book now, and I get to see them, and people are like creating such amazing content for it, which is just so bizarre to me. Um, like in such a good way. Like I just, it's something I never anticipated. And seeing people, especially there was this one reel that someone posted the other day, um, and they were like, they got it. Like they understood like the concept of the book in terms of like body positivity, like what the female main character was like going to. It definitely I could tell, like, spoke to them in the way that like I really wanted this book to speak to a lot of women. Um, and that was just like such for me, like seeing all of this content, seeing women connect with the book, like that's been such a highlight for me.

Jordan:

I honestly I get so happy and excited when I see people post about it. And I'm like, because I saw somebody with like the physical book, and I was like, yes.

Laura Bishop:

Yes, yeah. It's like it's so I was at Target this morning and I was like, oh my gosh, it's so bizarre to think that the book is like somewhere in the store, right? Because it's like we're recording on Saturday and then the book comes out Tuesday. So, like, presumably, I would feel like the book is like some back shelves. I know, I actually low key went like asked somebody and they they were not helpful.

Jordan:

Oh damn it.

Laura Bishop:

I was like, Can you tell me like how many copies are gonna be available? Like what, like, right? Like where it's gonna be. And they were like, I'm sorry, I don't have any information on it. And I was like, Okay, I guess I'll just go to Starbucks.

Jordan:

Like, no, they definitely have information, they just didn't share it.

Laura Bishop:

Exactly. Yeah, I was about to be difficult, but I thought maybe I shouldn't.

Jordan:

Look at you go being a nice human. I'd be like, no, god damn it.

Laura Bishop:

I know, I try, I try.

Jordan:

Okay, so we'll dive into the questions now. And it's broken up into three parts. Um, you get to hear everything twice. Um, but the first part is author, and we'll just dive into those first. Um, what inspired you to be an author and to write romance stories?

Laura Bishop:

So I think I've just always been writing, and I didn't really understand that this was like what I wanted to do with my career. Um, and like or even just the ability to turn it into a career, um I didn't understand that like that would ever be something that was feasible for me. But I like as I reflect back on it, I've always been writing and I didn't even realize it. So I was like the nerdy girl in school. Um, like everybody would be out in the hallway talking, and I was like in a classroom somewhere, just like sitting with my I I predominantly read fantasy novels when I was younger, like high fantasy. Um, and I would just be that nerdy girl that was just like reading book after book after book. And then I think when you read so much, you just have this, at least for me, it just became this thing where it's like I just really, really wanted to write. So then I was like writing all of these little ideas down on these little slips of paper that I had or something uh for all of these different like book ideas that I had. Um, and I still have, I need to find it, but I still have somewhere this journal that, like, or not a journal, but was like a binder that I had since like middle school of like me, like even like handwriting part of books. Um, so I've just always wanted to do this. Um, and it's just like one of those things, it's just become a compulsion for me. Like I just I write more than I read now. Um, and so yeah, I mean, like, so I just kind of like just always wanted to write, but I didn't, I don't know, I didn't like real I don't know. It's just this weird thing that happened to me. We can't explain it. I'm doing such a good job answering this question the second time, clearly.

Jordan:

No, I think it's good. I think it's good. But it's like it's just uh it's so crazy to me that like you had like you had this idea, like you had these ideas to write these stories ever since you were younger, but like you went and you I don't want to say lived a completely different life because that's not like what I'm saying. But like you did this yeah, you did this whole different career and and but like you were still like writing, I must or did you kind of stop writing at some point?

Laura Bishop:

I think there was a period of time where I was like reading more heavily than I was writing, like especially when I was in school, and I very much remember like when I started writing again, I was in my um like I was supposed to be taking a final exam. And I ended up just like I didn't want to write this final exam. It was like you had 24 hours to write it and I didn't want to write it, but I did want to write, and so I ended up writing a fan fiction and I like that's like how it got started again, and then I like wrote it and published it, and then I, you know, of course, like went on and wrote the my stupid final exam and stuff like that, and and finished it. Um, but then I just like went down the fan fiction like writing hole for a little while and developed like a pretty big following on that site back when the site was really popular. Um, and yeah, I just like it just I don't know, it just kind of like grew from there.

Jordan:

Wait, what you were writing like fan fiction like stuff that yes, but you're gonna ask me what I was fanfiction I was writing, and I'm not gonna tell you.

Laura Bishop:

So I will tell you off air. It's way too embarrassing. I can't. I can't, I can't ever let it come out. No.

Jordan:

Okay. Fair, but like, was this like fanfiction? Like, I don't really know fanfiction, I've never really read fanfiction, but is this like was this on like Wattpad?

Laura Bishop:

Like, that's the only one I know of, or is this um there was a site called fanfiction.net. I think it's still up. Um, and like there that was the site, and like so I was publishing on that site for a while, yeah. And then it became like, and then people started like cross-posting their fanfictions to like archive of our own. It's called like a03.com or dot org or something like that. Yeah, and then what pad started coming up, so this was all like before Wattpad was big, yeah. Oh, I didn't know that. Yeah, yeah. It was like very it was like 2015, maybe, yeah. Kind of the start of like indie romance time.

Jordan:

I had no idea that Wattpad was like the last to come out.

Laura Bishop:

Oh, I don't know that it was, I just know it was like it became very popular. I feel like it became popular like after, but maybe I was just like not up with the times, and it's possible.

Jordan:

Okay, fair, fair. I I feel like I because I was never into fanfiction, I have no idea. I just know Wattpad. That's literally, but I think I only know Wattpad because that was when um after like it like blew up on Wattpad for like Harry Styles fanfic and then became a movie and all that stuff. But I think I only knew of it because of that.

Laura Bishop:

Yeah, and I feel like it became a thing where like the company like the the company started like whereas the other ones were like open source platforms where it really wasn't there wasn't like a company, they really weren't making money off of it, so there wasn't anything to like I don't know, like you know what I mean, like they didn't grow the company, they're just these open source things where you can just kind of like post stuff kind of like Reddit. Whereas like with Wattpad, I feel like they're more of a cohesive company that like has competitions for writing. I mean, I don't know, I think I think that's like what I've seen, but I'm not I haven't looked at it super closely.

Jordan:

Okay, fair, fair. Yeah. I mean, also I would not know any of that.

Laura Bishop:

Just that's okay. Someone in the comments can like tell us what we're what we're saying wrong about it.

Jordan:

Exactly. Yes, I'm here for that. Um, okay, so we'll just dive into the next question. Uh, what is what is your writing routine like? Do you have the perfect setup or do you sit just sit down and write?

Laura Bishop:

No, I literally a lot of the times like I'll just go to Starbucks and write. Um, and the girls there, I go to like a specific Starbucks by me and they like know me and they always make me drink water, um, which is good. It's like all these people are taking care of me. I don't know what I I don't know why I give off the vibe that I can't take care of myself and to reflect on this. Um, but yeah, I generally will go there. Um, I'm much more of like an evening writer. Um, and that was like when I was writing like my fan fictions and stuff too. I would just like sit in bed and write. Um, and so uh, so yeah, I I don't know. That's kind of my routine. Just like sit coffee. Just sit down and write. Coffee shop. It's very Portland. I feel like I should move to Portland.

Jordan:

I feel like you should too. Oh, but is it like Portland, Maine? Is it Portland Oregon? Is it Portland?

Laura Bishop:

Oh, oh, like Oregon. Yeah, like, yeah, like, you know, like like naked bikers, Portland. Like wait, naked bikers? It was like they have a big protest and they like and their protest, like the way that they protested was like everybody went on a naked bike ride.

Jordan:

I had no idea this happened.

Laura Bishop:

Yeah, it's very Portland, yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Jordan:

I kind of love it. Okay, yeah.

Laura Bishop:

I mean, it hits their vibe.

Jordan:

It it really does. It really does. Um, so what's the favorite part? What is your favorite part of writing a story, a romance book? Is it the tension, the first kiss, the first fight?

Laura Bishop:

Yeah, I love the tension part, which in this book it's like very drawn out. So sorry, not sorry. Um, like it's yeah, like it's this is a super slow burn. I mean, there's like spicy parts, but like their actual like getting together in like a very like if we're to use like middle school euphemisms for it, like their home run does not happen like until further on in the book. Uh so there's a couple of bases, but um, but yeah, I really like the tension. I think that's really fun.

Jordan:

Honestly, like I think the tension is the best part. The tension with the like slow burn, it's like the buildup of it. It just makes it that much sweeter when you get it. So it's just so much better.

Laura Bishop:

Yeah, that's right. Yeah.

Jordan:

What is the most challenging part of writing a romance book? And then what is the most rewarding part?

Laura Bishop:

Challenging. Um editing it. Oh god, I like that's like so exhausting. Like I just don't want to edit my own books, no. Um, it's like because you you you do end up getting like fatigued by the story, you know, especially because you're like going through it like three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten times. Like, and you're just like, oh my gosh, I'm I'm just so exhausted by like running my eyes over this manuscript. Like, I kind of want to move on to the next thing because I already know what happens and I already like right. So, you know, and especially with this book, because like I wrote it and then I edited like the whole thing myself. Like, I hired my own editor and I had every intention to like indie publish it. Um, and so and then it got picked up, right? And so after I had already done like my whole round of editing for it, then Simon and Schuster had their whole round of edits that they wanted to do to it as well. So by the time I got to the end of the like this book, I can't tell you how many times I've like run through this manuscript. So that is that is a challenging part of of the of the writing piece. Wait, am I supposed to what's the second part of the question? Is it challenge and reward, or do we already answer that? I can't remember. Okay, so I'm supposed to say reward too. Okay, she's nodding her head. Yes, okay. Okay, uh so um, I mean, and I think the reward is like what I'm getting now is like seeing people connect with the book, right? Like seeing all of these, like for the most part, like women reading the book and like connecting to the female main character and being like and reaching out to me and being like, hey, like I felt like I was reading my own story when I read read this. Like that is very um, I don't know, that's like that's such like a heady thing, you know what I mean? To experience that like you feel like you've reached women um, like and that they can relate to you. So that's very rewarding.

Jordan:

I that I feel like that would be like a super rewarding part. Just I feel like for any author, I mean, I don't write and I haven't written anything, but I think it'd be super cool to have to know someone that can connect with the the characters that I wrote or like I put down on paper. So I think I can totally see that, but I can also totally see the editing thing. I did not realize how many times you had to edit your own book, which that's gonna be that's gotta be tough. And I feel like too, it almost gets like not I'm not I don't mean to say like repetitive because that's not the right word, but it must like almost get like frustrating because I feel like you see the book so many times, you know what you're trying to say. So like when someone's like, no, this is like you need to change this. I feel like I would be like, no, it is the way it's like I don't and it is a push and pull between you and the editor, right?

Laura Bishop:

And so like the second book right now is in the middle of edits, and so like it's gone through like two cycles of edits, like larger developmental edits. And there is like a point where you say, like, okay, I as the writer like disagree with I don't want to do it that way. Like, I specifically want the story to be this way, right? And so, like, you know, and sometimes you can push back on that, right? Like, I try really hard to take a step back whenever I'm getting edits and and not like it's it's hard because sometimes you take like these stories are very personal, so it's hard sometimes to separate like your personal feelings about a story and then like recognize that, like, no, like what people are giving you is good feedback, and it doesn't mean they don't like your story and stuff, it just means that like they they have suggestions to like help it shine even more. Um, so you kind of have to remove ego from it, but you know, it can be hard at times. But I I always try and take a step back and really think through like, okay, am I being resistant to this change because I'm just being difficult, or am I being resistant to this change because I actually fundamentally disagree with, you know, XYZ, like, oh, I really want the character to be like this, right? And and this is how I want the story told. Um, so there's like a push and pull in in the editing process, which which is is like that and stuff, but it just um you yeah, I mean, this first book, just because of the way, like because I already had done my first edits and stuff, it just ended up being edited a little bit extra. Um, but um hopefully that won't be the norm for for going forward.

Jordan:

Oh, that's true, because now you won't like have your own edit. Yeah, it would be like just like their edits, but like you still I guess so.

Laura Bishop:

I don't know. I still like I still use my my editor that I used for the first book. So I still put myself through it. I don't know why. I guess I just yeah, I don't know.

Jordan:

You're like, I just need more work. I just need to do more.

Laura Bishop:

I guess so. I think um, so her name's Mara White, she um she's phenomenal. Um, and she uh I just think her feedback is like so so so so useful and so like just just amazing feedback. So I would never not give her my book to read. So that's why.

Jordan:

Okay, fair. And then also, too, I feel like even though they take a look at it too, I feel like there's the continuity of using her the same editor, her, and like then sending it over to them to like for whatever they like do. So I I get that. Yeah. Do you ever write with your readers in mind, or is it purely for yourself and the readers will find your story?

Laura Bishop:

This book was definitely more of like a personal write for me. I just didn't like I didn't necessarily like think that this was all gonna happen from it. It was just like a story that I felt like I needed to write, and I wrote it really, really fast. And it was just, yeah, I mean, it just like spoke to me. Um I it just I I like had to write it. So I didn't I didn't write it with anybody in mind other than just like I guess I was processing stuff and needed to like like write it out somehow. Um, but yeah.

Jordan:

Which rope would you love to write in the future?

Laura Bishop:

Oh, I love so it's like I mean, this is a little bit of a spoiler, but like it's like second chance is like my favorite thing to write. I don't know why. I think I probably have like some long lost love from like high school or something that I need to reconnect with. Just kidding. Um just kidding, I'm married. Um, so um, but uh you know, um I just love writing second chance. Um, I just think that there's like so much to explore when you have a history with somebody. Um, and so uh, and like the second book is second chance. So I'm really excited about that.

Jordan:

Yeah, I was never I always used to be like, no, I don't like second chance. Like I don't, I don't know, like I've never been one to be like for it, but like I've read some pretty good second chance books, and I'm like so excited for this one to be second chance because I feel like if done like well, it's like done well.

Laura Bishop:

Yes, that's right, yeah. And this one, book two, is Amanda's book. So I know we're all so excited. It had to be, it had to be, you had to do it. Well, there was like I was thinking like originally I was like, I don't know, do I want to save her for last in the series? Because like she's such a favorite character, and then I was like, I feel like there will be a revolt if I do not make her book two, like people will be so upset if I don't make her book two, so she is book two.

Jordan:

Okay, okay. I can I always but then I do you ever think that because you make her book two and she's like this character that so many people want, that then the next book, whoever you decide to make the next book, or whether it's in this series or not, um, do you ever feel like it people will think it will like fall short because you build up like this one character and then you give it to us like so soon?

Laura Bishop:

So hopefully not. Right? Like, hopefully not. Hopefully, book three is really good. But um, I Amanda has um it's not really discussed much in book one, but Amanda does have uh a sister, um, and her sister is like very opposite from her. So it's like, whereas like Amanda's like all hot pink and like very over the top. Her sister is um like a goth uh TikTok influencer, like a like a one of those like fairy goths, right? So she's like pretty gothic, like has a TikTok following, and um, and so like she's just this like very vibrant character in her own way, it's like very opposite. Um, and so uh I feel like hopefully people through the course of reading Amanda's book will want to read Raven's book.

Jordan:

I could see that because I already want to read Raven's book. So I get that. Yeah. Um, what advice would you give to an aspiring author?

Laura Bishop:

Yeah, and so like I and so it's so funny because I um wrote like there was this thing that they asked for me to like share my query letter for like how I got like an agent, and I didn't actually have to write a query letter to get my agent. Like uh I'm with Kim Riley Whalen, and it just happened like organically. I had like a book scout saw the cover reveal, and then she put me in touch with Kim Riley, and then Kimberly reached out to me and asked for a copy of the book, and I sent the copy of the book to her and they liked it, and they, you know, I signed on with her, so it was completely like I didn't like they people came to me for this book, and the only reason, and I I wrote this in the little sort of like thing that they were asking me, because they were asking me like, share your query letter, and I was like, I don't have what, but this is how it happened, and like the biggest thing that I kind of like honed in on in that in that little like vignette that I wrote for that uh for that website was like you just need to write what's in your heart. Like, don't write what people, what you think people want to read, don't write what um like you know what someone told you to write. Like you need to take time to sit down and like think about like what story like is in your heart and you want to tell, and then pour that into the characters. I mean, at least for me, like that's what worked for me with this, but like every piece of this book is reality. Like, and it's so funny because um, like I'll look at the reviews, and there's like people that leave reviews on like um, so it's not like a spoiler, but like Callahan's backstory is that like he was he's he's ex-military, he was engaged before he was deployed. And in the course of like his um deployment, like he finds out that like his, you know, then ex-fiance like had basically like she wrote him a Dear John letter and she left and went off with someone else. And then he gets home and he finds out that she's like pregnant with triplets for this guy. And like people were like, This is so unbelievable! Like, how corny is that? Like, that could never happen. And it was like that was my college roommate. 100% she was engaged to a man in the army. He went off and freaking deployed to Afghanistan during the course of his deployment, right? She fell in love with some other guy. Okay. He came home, she broke off the engagement with him, right? And then uh I saw on Facebook like a month later that she had triplets with the guy that she like met that was like not, you know, that like her new guy. Um, so like, you know, and I did not like this woman for the record. And I still to this day, like, I don't even think I said two words, like her and I did not. It would just, I was not friends with her. Um, but like I like so much of this book is me and everything, like as unbelievable as these things sound and feel, it's everything that I like everything comes from a place somewhere. So I would just it like my best advice to anybody who's trying to figure out what they want to write is just write what is in your heart. And I know that sounds corny, but you know, it's true. It's true.

Jordan:

No, it's so true because I feel like there's I've talked to a few authors that like wrote based off a trend. And while I do think if you like self-publish, indie published, I think you can follow a trend to a degree a lot faster than like traditionally publishing, because like I know that can be a lot longer, but it's still not what you want to write. And I feel like sometimes you can tell in a book like that it's like not the story they want to tell. And if that's like what they if you if that's what you want to do, like please go and do it. But like I think there's a you can really tell the difference when it's like a story that like an author wants to write or has like a this story that they like need to write versus following a trend or writing a story because someone told you to. But I feel like the trends, it's like when you you can really see those because I don't know, like I feel like when I don't, I don't know. I just feel like when like reverse harem came up like a few years ago, everybody was writing it and it's just it was like too much. It was like too much, and like they're just you it's just no pun intended. Oh, I know, right? I'm just have you seen the gif where it's like a woman and then all these like hot dogs are thrown at her, yeah, yeah. That's what I think of every time I think of like reverse harem or like why choose. I'm just like picturing that one gif with all the hot dogs being thrown at that girl. Yeah, good times, good times.

Laura Bishop:

Just a sausage fest, yeah, really.

Jordan:

Um so when this episode releases, your debut book, Love Me Stalk Me has released. Can you tell the readers no, let's well, unless it's throwing up from excitement, which I still don't want to do.

Laura Bishop:

Sure, let's yeah, let's say that.

Jordan:

Yeah, that's yeah. But can you tell the readers a little bit more about your book? But we'll keep this like spoiler-free, so then that way, yeah, everybody.

Laura Bishop:

I have a very practiced elevator pitch. Okay, here's the elevator pitch. So we have our female main character. Yes, we have our female main character. She is in a horrible toxic relationship with a man who basically puts her down, and over the course of this, she has like no self-confidence. And so then she um so at the same time, there's this new head of security at the store that she manages, and he sees her and is just like instantly obsessed with her. And so um he ends up giving himself like backdoor access to her phone through like his work credentials, and she um, her best friend tells her that she needs to dump her current boyfriend, and she downloads an AI boyfriend app onto her phone because she's like, it's 2025, we don't need tech, we don't need men, we need technology. Um, and so she starts to interact with this, like what she thinks is an AI, and then because he's given himself like backdoor access, he basically takes over the AI. And so the entire time that she thinks that she's talking to a spicy chatbot and kind of like sharing everything that we would share, like everything that we feel comfortable, like pouring into, you know, like Google or an AI, asking all of these like crazy questions that you feel like safe to ask because or say things because nobody's ever gonna read it, right? Um, like she's doing this and he's on the other side and he's reading and it and and and responding to her. So that's the elevator pitch.

Jordan:

I love it, I love it so much. Yeah. Um okay, so how did the idea, the inspiration for Love Me, Stalk Me come to you? Was it a story that you've always wanted to write, or did it just come to you?

Laura Bishop:

No, this just like really came to me with like the advent of all the AI stuff. Um, like I had been scrolling and I was like seeing people like on like mask talk, bike talk videos and stuff like that. Um, like people saying, like, oh, like please turn this into a spicy chat character. There's like a few different ones that are very popular and stuff. So I just had this, like, I don't know, it just kind of like came to me this idea of like someone talking to a spicy app, but then what if there was someone like on the other side of it? Um, so I think there was actually like even an ad like now that I'm thinking about it, there was actually like an ad for a spicy chat um that was specifically saying, like, oh, these other spicy apps, like just so you know, like, you know, they were trying to like put their competition down, but they were like, just so you know, like their employees have access to all of your chat history, right? And like we don't, like all of your stuff just gets like, you know, deleted or whatever as soon as like, right? So like come to our app instead, right? And then like people in the comments were like, you know, oh my god, like let me go kill myself, like that. They like people could be possibly reading like what I'm writing, right? So like that could have also like, I don't know, like I'm I can't remember if I saw that when I started writing it or if I had seen or if I saw it before, but like all of that and all of this like stuff that's just come up, like it just kind of like it was like inspiration hit, and then I had to write it.

Jordan:

Oh, I love there's a uh girl on Instagram that I don't follow her, but like sometimes her videos will come up and she like takes a little bit of a little bit of a little module now that you said that.

Laura Bishop:

I'm just kidding.

Jordan:

I don't follow her, but oh I know, right? Like listening, she's like, oh my god. Well, I yeah, like maybe so awkward. I'm trying to like say face now. Um, but she'll she posted this like stitch of like it was like a video of like a guy putting his hand on this girl's head and like steering her around. And then she was like, This should be like an idea for a plot. And then she gave this like whole idea for a plot from this like one video of like there, he's a pilot, she's a flight attendant, and she's like super bubbly, he doesn't talk much, and then they lay over in New York, and she just kept going. And I was like, Yeah, that's not what I saw when I saw this video.

Laura Bishop:

That's like uh Yeah. Like inspiration can hit. Yeah. I mean, like inspiration can hit whenever, right? That is true.

Jordan:

Fair. Fair. Um, okay. So did Cal and or Izzy ever surprise you when you were writing their story and take the story in a different direction you didn't plan?

Laura Bishop:

Yeah, I'm much more of a panther when I write, and especially with this book, like I had no no concept, like no idea. I just started writing and it just kind of like came out. Um, so I definitely think like the the slow burn aspect of it, like really like I just didn't anticipate it would be such a slow burn, but I really liked it by the end of it. Like, you know what I mean? Like Cal had all of his justifications for like not wanting to engage with her in that way until he was being like truthful about what was going on. Um, and I just hadn't anticipated that was gonna happen, but that all came out in writing, so and I I like that too.

Jordan:

I also like because there's like body positivity in it, like Izzy's not totally comfortable in her body. So I I like that you wait until too, she is like comfortable in her body and really does love herself before that happens. And I mean it could happen before because I feel like you've kind of you've read books that it happened, but I don't know, like I felt like it had a different meaning because you waited or because Cat waited. Like I think it just made it. We all had to wait, but I think it made it better. Yeah, well, that's good. I'm glad. Yeah. Um okay, so what is the spiciest line in Love Me, Stalk Me? Okay, so I'm prepared.

Laura Bishop:

So because like we posted it on Instagram just the other day. Okay, here it is. Let's see. Okay, it's not like spicy, but it's like spicy. Well, it is kind of spicy, but it's like it's not explicit. It's like more like what we were talking about before, like with the tension, right? So, um, so this is like Cal saying, um, because there's like a part like specific to this where we're like, okay, she's like, why are you not like going all the way with me? Like this is frustrating, right? And he internally is like, I don't want to do that until I've like told her the truth about everything that's going on. So um his response to her being like, Why are we not? Right. He goes, like, every time you walk into a room, I'll clear it just to bend you over the nearest surface. You'll be begging for a break, pretty girl. And then he's kind of like, so enjoy it while it lasts, right? So um I just kind of like that one. It's like spicy and you know, tension.

Jordan:

I like that one too. That one's that one's a good one. That one's a good one. Yeah. Um, okay, so then this one, I I actually hopefully you also love this question. I love this question, but how has your definition of success as an author changed since writing Love Me, Stalk Me? And has it changed?

Laura Bishop:

Yeah, I mean, I didn't really have like plans. I think it's really it's really tempting to like change your definition of success based on like whatever is going on. And it's that's hard, like as an author, you shouldn't do that because like then you're constantly moving the goalpost on yourself and you're never gonna feel like you've achieved anything, right? And so, like, in and of itself, like writing a book is an achievement, and that is is a piece of success, like that should always be celebrated. Um, so in some ways, like I definitely am trying to like keep a level head about everything because I just did not in my wildest dreams think that this book would be picked up and would be available in stores. Like it's really mentally, like I still think like I don't know, maybe I need to like talk to an AI therapist or something. Like, but like mentally, like it's uh a really heavy thing for me that like this book is so much of like my own insecurities poured into this character. Um, and then like it's gonna be in stores and people are reading it, which is amazing because they're connecting to it and it's kind of one of those like very like reassuring things where it's like, hey, you're not alone, everybody else feels like this too. But at the same time, it is like very much like my own personal life and insecurities, like writ large on the page. Um, and so you know, I mean, like, you know, you could sit there and be like, oh, well, like my definition of success has changed now because now my book's gonna be in Target and all that type of stuff. And I just like I mean, we assume I haven't seen it on the shelves yet. Like the release hasn't happened. I have this like recurring nightmare that I'm gonna go into like all of the bookstores on the day that the book releases and it's not not gonna be available for sale. Oh my gosh, no, no, no, no. Like it's not there. Like, where is it? Like, oh, I guess it's just oh well. Like, we didn't order any copies. We're so sorry. Who are you? Um, so uh, but it's you know, I mean, like that's the thing. It's like for me, uh, the success comes from successfully writing a book. And like I, and every time I write a book, I want to feel like that is the success. So that's kind of like where I'm trying to keep it grounded.

Jordan:

No, and I kinda I like that, but I also kind of want to go back to um what you were kind of saying before because you were going to self-publish this book and you were planning on doing it all yourself. So, and you kind of mentioned you've like a book scout found it. So I was kind of hoping you could dive more into like how did somebody come across your book to then like be like, okay, here I want to get you in touch with like this agent. And like, how did that happen? Like, how did this?

Laura Bishop:

I don't even I didn't have control over it. I literally like posted this book like for its cover reveal, right? I mean, like that was the one thing where it was like having the confidence in a book like that you believe in. So like I wrote it and then it was like I shared it with some very close friends, and they were like, This is really amazing. Like you should, you know, because it's it's really hard. Like it's your debut book, like you don't have money coming in to like fund anything, right? So, like, but like, you know, like get a good cover, right? Spend the money on it to get a good cover made. And I had an idea for the cover, like I really wanted it to be like the phone and like have like little text messages like on the phone and stuff like that. But like I wasn't gonna be able to execute my vision in a way that like actually looked good, right? So, like hiring a cover artist for like a couple hundred dollars is even like a difficult thing because to spend the money on it, like you have to have belief that the book will make back what you're spending on it, and that can be hard, and especially if you don't have the money right away, right? Um, so you know, I'm I spent the money for like a cover designer and he did an amazing job. Um, like the indie version is slightly different than the traditional version, but it's pretty much the same thing. Um, pretty much. I don't know why I see it that way. Pretty much the same, pretty much, pretty much the same thing. Um and um and yeah, so we we did the cover reveal, um, and it was the same thing. Like I I, you know, did blog tours for it, right? Like I I went to like a couple different blog tour companies because I just really wanted to like get it out there and get it seen, and it worked. I mean, it was just the cover reveal and this book scout, her name is Sarah, um, she saw it and like reached out to me. I got this email at, you know, and was like, hey, like this is who I am. I'm interested in your book. Would you consider like sending it to me? Um, you know, and you know, she works with like foreign publishers. And so I sent it to her and she was like, Oh, I really loved it. Um, you know, there's like people that I work with and you know, that might be interested in it. So you might be getting some interest in the next couple of uh weeks or whatever. Um, and so I had a few like foreign publishers reach out to me um saying that they were interested after I, you know, spoke with her. And then obviously like Kimberly, um, like my now agent reached out to me too. So it just kind of like happened, but you had I had to believe in the book enough to like spend money on it to package it correctly, um, for and you know what I mean, and then for it to be seen.

Jordan:

But oh my goodness, and it's like one of those things that like if you didn't believe in the book enough, you wouldn't have done all of that and it would have been self-published and you you believed it enough to get it to where it is right now.

Laura Bishop:

Yeah, and I mean I think that's the thing, like that's the lesson, which is like no one's gonna like you could write the best thing in the world, but if you don't have the ability and you don't have the confidence in it to tell other people, like, hey, I wrote the best thing in the world, nobody's gonna see it. Like the the the days of people like kind of just like organically finding gems by themselves is over. It's just the market is far too saturated for that, unfortunately. Right. Um, like could you imagine like going on Amazon and not like it there the amount of books that are out there is just impossible. Like you have to be told from somewhere that this thing exists, right? And so um I think like that's like a point for like any other authors and stuff like that. Like they need to, you know, just believe like if you write something and you feel so strongly about it, believe in it, believe in yourself and put the effort and the work behind marketing it because that is the hardest part. Like writing the book can in some ways is is easy, um, at least for me. The marketing side is is like is you know, it's a little more fun now because of like the direction that I've taken my marketing, but uh I I do have to say I really like your marketing, like I love the whole like the bikes and then like the bookstore, and it's just so fun. I yeah, so for the listeners, like if they're not familiar, so like basically what I've done is I have combed the internet and I have contacted pretty much if you're an attractive man on a bike, I have contacted you essentially, and been like, would you like to uh do what you're doing, but just hold my book while you're doing it? Um and it's amazing how many of them say yes. Um, and so uh yeah, so I've partnered with a lot of uh bike talk creators and um and it's like so fun. And I love it because I tell them, I'm like, listen, if you had if you need ideas for the content, like I will certainly, I'm not just gonna like leave you, you know, without direction, right? If you if you're like coming up blank, but if you don't like if you want to just create whatever you want to create, like I'm sure I'll love it. And they do like for the most part, pretty much everybody actually, I don't think I've actually had to give any like real ideas to anybody, they just go off and they create and it's all to their style. Like I told them, I'm like, don't do anything different. Like the whole point is is like let's like make it match your feed, and they just come up with like the the most amazing stuff, and I love it. Like they'll send it to me, and I'm just like and they're like, What do you think? And I'm like, I think it's amazing because it is, it's so good.

Jordan:

And wait, so then do they share it on their feed, or is it something that they send to you to share?

Laura Bishop:

So we have two. So, like, we have um a couple of guys that are in our area here in Florida, and I have um the most amazing content creator, her name is Sydney, and she works with me, and she and I film like pretty much once a week. We'll like meet at a Barnes Noble's or something um to film when we we just invite uh men on bikes to come to the bookstore with us. Um, and so we so we film, we will do our own content like for my own TikTok um that I'm trying to like build and stuff like that. Just it's just fun. Um, so people like kind of can get familiar with who I am and stuff. And then I have other creators that are just you know all over the all honestly, all over the world. Um, like I have people posting for me and stuff, which is amazing.

Jordan :

So it's okay.

Jordan:

Um, that's like so cool, and I feel like that makes it fun because I feel like that's like what you need like the most is to keep it fun. Because I feel like if it's not fun, then it's like you'll dread having to do this like marketing and that sort of stuff. So it's like kind of cool that you can keep it fun and it's different because I feel like most like authors, like I've never seen like an author do something like that. So I think it's kind of cool, it's different, it's fun, it makes people want to like come to your page and then stay on your page. So I think it's the way to do it.

Laura Bishop:

Yeah, it's you know, it's it's a full-time job, and it's not as easy as it may appear.

Jordan:

So it's like you're part author, part marketing whiz.

Laura Bishop:

It really is, yeah, it really is. You know what I mean? So I don't know, but it's fun, like it's just and the guys are all fun, you know what I mean? And then they're motorcyclists, like I mean, they're just their general vibe is like recklessness and fun, right? So it's like it's like it's just fun, yeah.

Jordan:

Okay, so this is the last question in like author, and it's if love me, stalk me was made into a movie, who would you cast for Cal and Izzy?

Laura Bishop:

Oh my gosh. Okay, I messed this up the last time too. I have no idea. I'm so bad at this. Like, I just have no idea right now. Like, I don't know who's popular in actors, I don't watch TV. I forgot that this was a question. I don't know. Like, okay, I think we should put I think we should put it on the listeners, and I want them to um drop in the comments, like after they've read the book, like who they think would be great for like the female and male leads.

Jordan:

Ooh, okay, I like that. I like that. I was going to say, though, I kind of I I know too, like for the first time we recorded this, you put it on me, and then I totally forgot. Yeah. When we were like, okay, we're gonna record this again. Um, but I'm thinking, what if Cal was a tattooed channing Tatum? I feel like with the ex-military, and then like put him on a motorcycle, motorcycle motorcycle, then it would be good. But I don't I don't know about Izzy though.

Laura Bishop:

I don't know. I just don't know. I don't know.

Jordan:

I got but I did one, I did 50% of the work.

Laura Bishop:

There you go. There you go. Yeah, I like that. I think that works.

Jordan:

Okay, thank you. You're like, no, absolutely not.

Laura Bishop:

No, I do. I think that works, yeah.

Jordan:

Okay, so we'll go into reading next. What kind of what kind of reader are you? Are you slow and savoring or are you read the whole book in one sitting?

Laura Bishop:

Um, I'm more slow, mainly because I just don't like have time right now, and I haven't been reading a lot, and I wish I could read more. Um, and I need to read more because reading, especially like reading in other genres, is really good for like your writing and stuff. Um, you know, and so I need to read more. I just don't, I just haven't been reading more. But I would say just definitely probably like slow, slow.

Jordan:

But if you were reading, would you still be a slow and savoring kind of reader or are you like read it really fast?

Laura Bishop:

I don't know. I mean, I've had I've definitely had like reading like times of my life where I was just like reading, reading, reading, and I would just like sit and read for like hours of the day, right? Like I had the specific, I remember when I was a kid back at our like childhood house, um, we always had what was called the piano room because my mother's a pianist, like a professional piano. So she we had this room, which the entire room was basically taken up by a Steinway. Um, but there was like a sofa and little like armchair in the room, and I used to sit on the armchair, like so. I would put my legs over one arm and then I would lean against the other arm, and I would just like sit and read in that chair, like all the time. That was just yeah, I was a very easy child, clearly. Um, and um until I got my license, and then I was a little more, but um, but yeah, but yeah, like freedom. Um, but yeah, so yeah, I mean, so I would just like sit, I so I was probably binge reading, like the equivalent of binge reading. So yeah.

Jordan:

It's it's funny that you say that. So like granted, I didn't get read into reading until like college. It was probably like my freshman year of college, and it was actually when the Hunger Games trailer came out, and I was like a huge, I was a huge Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson fan that I was like, oh, like they're gonna be in a movie together. Like, I need to know what this is. And so I bought like the first book and I like binged it in a day. But my I like lived, well, yeah, I lived at home because I was going to like a local college and um my mom in her house, we had like the playroom, and there was like a couch with a like a like a love seat, and then there was like a sofa, and I would do the same thing. I'd have like my legs over one side, and then I would be leaning up against the other, and I was just like binging books like no other. So it's like I finished that, and then I remember reading Twilight and then um the morning instrument series, like I was binging all these books, and I would just like go back, but like I'm so bad. Like I should have gone to the library and I didn't. I just like would go back to the bookstore and I'd buy more books, and then I'd like take them home and I'd read them all, and then I'd go back to the bookstore and buy more books.

Laura Bishop:

And like sometimes it's nice to have like a collection, you know, especially if like because like I still have certain books that like I had from childhood that like I don't I never I held on to. Like I have my copy of The Secret Garden from childhood still, and then I had this one book that I was like so in love with. I kill I really want to read it again. It was called Chasing Red Bird. I I don't even fully remember exactly what it was about right now, but I remember as a child just loving it, and um it was just um so like and I still have that. I saw it on my bookshelf the other day, and I was like, oh, I remember this book from from like you know, my middle school years. Um, so it's just like nice to have those things, you know, because like who knows? Like in a decade, you'll go back to it and be like, oh, I forgot. It's almost like you know, how you're like, I wish I could read this book again, like for the first time. If you do wait long enough, you can read the book again for the first time.

Jordan:

So that it that is true. That is true. And fair, fair. Um, okay, so do you read? I know you kind of answered this, but do you read while you're writing, or do you need to save reading for when you're done with like your current book?

Laura Bishop:

Yeah, I don't really. Um, I mean, like I said, I just haven't been reading a lot lately. Um, because I've just been like kind of trapped in deadlines and editing and all that type of stuff, um, which is kind of new to me. So I really haven't been reading at all while I'm writing, but like I do kind of want to take a break and read some books.

Jordan:

Be nice. It's got some you wow, you gotta get some reading in. But if you're also like, would you read outside of the genre if you're currently writing romance? Would you read outside of it when you're writing, or do you save it? Would you still save it for like when you're done writing?

Laura Bishop:

Yeah, I don't know. I mean, I've never really had the leisure of like writing, reading while I'm writing. Um, so I don't, I don't know. I don't know if it would impact my writing. I think the concern is always that it would like like you're you know what I mean? Like you your style would start to become that person's style. And I want I always want to be careful of that. Like if I spend too much time with someone, like I'm very, like, I'm very, like, I'm I'm a sponge. Like I will just sponge up, I will like find myself talking like that person. And I'm like, what is wrong with me? Like, why why am I doing that?

Jordan:

Um, I think I think there's like uh psychology, like there's like a reason behind that. Like we want to adapt to like the person that we're with. So that's why you're gonna be loved.

Laura Bishop:

Israel, god damn it. Like, yeah, you know, um, and it's like this is the fastest way to get this person to like me. Um, but like, yeah, I mean, so I always would want to be careful of that. Like, right, if I were reading, like, say, like a, you know, a dark rom-com or something like that, I would be worried that like my style would end up like becoming like I would lose my own style, you know. So I don't worry about that so much in terms of like reading a different genre of book. Um, but I would be careful about doing it in the same genre.

Jordan:

Yeah, no, I get that. Cause and that's why I was like wondering if like maybe outside of the genre, but then it's like I don't know too if you would want to go when you're not writing, if you want to read like dark rom-coms to like kind of I don't know if you just like stay away from the genre completely, or if you're like, okay, I'm gonna read some to get not inspiration because I feel like that's like too much of like, are you copying it? But do you no?

Laura Bishop:

I mean, I mean, I I think inspiration is fine, you know what I mean? Like, we're all inspired by each other, right? And I think that that's kind of like the collective human spirit. Um I I was like, I was sick over the summer and I was watching this like TV series, which was a dark dramedy, I guess you would call it. Like it was um, and it was called Mr. In Between, and it was this like story of this, it was it was an Australian dramedy, and it was uh the story of this hitman who like also was like leading a very normal life. And I was just so obsessed with this show. And there was no like overarching plot to this show, but it was just funny, like that there, you know, there were these like these moments of like dry humor in the situations that he's in, like which were funny. Uh, but then the overall tone of the show was like very dark, because right, like his his career choice is is literally to be a contract killer. Um, and so stuff like that, like I think can can hunt kind of help with um, you know, inspiration for things versus um like impacting your writing style and stuff like that, right? Because it's a TV show, so it's different, you know.

Jordan:

That that's true, but then it's kind of like cool because you could get inspiration, like even like it could be like those random things of like how you took this like your like college roommate and her like life in that way and put it in your story. So I feel like you could also sent essentially do that with certain pieces from like a TV show and be like, oh, like whatever it may be. So like that's kind of cool.

Laura Bishop:

And I also have never heard of this show, and it sounds really good and now it's really good. It's on Disney Plus. I'm so obsessed with it. I'm so upset that it's like over. I don't, I mean, it was like made in a while ago, like 2015 or something. I don't know, it's crazy, but like I like I I you know I'm behind always. Um, and so like I was just so obsessed with it. I watched, I like kept binging it. I was like, I need to stop watching this, but I was also like sick in bed, so there was nothing I could do.

Jordan:

So it like it helped pass the time. That's right, that's right. Uh okay, so are there any romance authors who have influenced your writing?

Laura Bishop:

Probably I this I mean, this is like total cop-out answer, but like I just I had been reading, so I can't say I cannot remember the last time that I read a full book. Like, isn't that terrible? Like, I cannot remember.

Jordan:

You've been you've been spending your time editing editing your book a bunch of times on your screen.

Laura Bishop:

It's literally been years since I fully read a book, like other than my own to edit.

Jordan:

Yeah, I know. Oh my gosh, I didn't know it had been that long.

Laura Bishop:

Oh, it's been a really long time. Yeah, yeah.

Jordan:

Oh my goodness.

Laura Bishop:

Okay, okay maybe I maybe I like I keep telling myself, I'm like, I'm gonna take a week off in December because I have been working like flat out, like every single day. Like I've just been, it's I mean, literally like 9 a.m. to like 6, 7 p.m. Like I've just been working flat out. So um I feel like I keep telling myself, I'm like, I'm gonna take a break for a couple of days uh in December. I don't know, we'll see. It maybe it'll never happen. I don't know.

Jordan:

Oh god, no, hopefully it does. Uh yeah, maybe maybe, yeah, maybe, probably not. Yeah, I know, probably not. It's just reality. Right. Um, okay, so is there a book that you think every romance reader should read at least once in their life?

Laura Bishop:

I can't remember what I recommended last time. It's not like so, I feel like you you recommended your book. Oh, yeah, good job. Okay, yes, yes. Shameless plug, my book. Yes, go read my book, go, go to the bookstore, support me. I concur, I concur. Go read Laura's book, it's so good.

Jordan:

Okay, but now you cannot plug your book. What is your favorite book, a book that you would recommend to anyone and everyone? Now you actually have to get me a recommendation.

Laura Bishop:

I don't know. I can't remember. I mean, I have like my favorite books from childhood. Like The Secret Garden was like my favorite book as a like when I was a kid. I'm like upstairs in my office and looking at my bookshelves like across the way and kind of like looking at what books were you know what I mean? Like books that I was like really in love with and stuff like that. I don't know. I mean, I loved The Secret Garden. That was such a special book for me. Maybe that one. Everyone should read that.

Jordan:

Yeah, I've never read that book.

Laura Bishop:

I've never read it? Oh my god, okay.

Jordan:

No, I like honestly, I didn't read. So, like in school, like I like I never read any of the school assignments. Like, I in a way got out of it every time. Like, I remember, oh my gosh, in elementary school, I had like, remember when it was called like language arts? So it was like LA. Yeah, yeah. And in class we had like a book report, but everybody picked out like prompts on what this book report would be, and so I don't even remember what my prompt was, but I picked lemony lemony, wait, lemony snicket. Wait, what is it? It's not lemony, yeah.

Laura Bishop:

Why am I?

Jordan:

I don't know. But it's it was those books, and so I picked, I like read the first one, but I only read enough to fill that prompt, and it was something about the setting.

Laura Bishop:

So like I literally I think I read like 30 pages of that book, but like I I did not what I always say, which is like if you want something, if you want to figure out how to do something in a clever way, ask a lazy person.

Jordan:

But like literally, literally, and then there was another one where it was like, as I like this was like still in middle school, there was something else like for a prompt for like a book report you had to do, but it was like my prompt, like I for whatever reason, my prompt was like actually really bad, but I was able to pick again, and then the new prompt was like, How many times did they say this person's name? So, like, didn't have to read it. Read it, that's so and then like in high school, Spark notes the shit out of everything.

Laura Bishop:

Oh, I know. I so this is the thing, right? Where it was like everybody is like up in arms about like AI and the use of AI in school, and like, oh, kids aren't gonna learn and kids aren't gonna do the assignments. I'm like, what are you talking about? We haven't been doing the assignments since before the advent of all of this stuff. So relax.

Jordan:

I know. I just oh my gosh. And I remember too, because it would be like there would always be that stupid question of like, what color were the drapes in chapter eight? So then that way, like clearly, SparkNotes wasn't gonna give you the answer. So then the teacher would know if you didn't read it. Yeah, I always got that answer, that question wrong.

Laura Bishop:

But like I don't get that wrong anyways. I would like go into like a whole argument with the teacher and be like, why would I have to know like the color of the drapes? Like it doesn't like you know add to the plot of the book, it's a superfluous thing. It probably should have been reduced during editing.

Jordan:

Well, okay, yeah, I was not smart enough for that kind of thing. Oh my god, say that you were smart enough.

Laura Bishop:

I've just always been very argumentative.

Jordan:

Which honest honestly, like it fits what your job was before. Like it works. Um, yeah, but no, so but I have to say, when I did get back into reading, I was reading all the books that I like did not read in school. So like I went back and I read The Great Gatsby, I went back and I read Pride and Prejudice, which again, like, yes, Jane Austen was ahead of her time, but I did not like that book.

Laura Bishop:

Like a lot of those books were written in the style of the time. So for us reading it now, it's very difficult for us to read them, right? It's kind of like reading the Canterbury Tales, like it's like written in this like old English type stuff, and it's like, okay, this is actually like really boring. Like maybe someone should like modernize it and like bring it forward and make it relatable. I mean, because that's like ultimately at the end of the day, like you have to relate to the characters that you're reading. So a lot of the stories that we were forced to read, like weren't aren't relatable for us. Like they were like, right, like the Great Gadsby was written during that time period. It was a piece of contemporary fiction, right? And and it's like we're not in the roaring 20s now, right? So it's like all of these people and what they're experiencing, like I can't relate to this, right? Like that the first thing, they're sitting outside because it's so hot, and it's like, well, they don't have air conditioning, like we don't relate to this anymore, right? Like, you know.

Jordan:

No, that it is a good, it is a good point. It is a good point. But I do have to say I actually like the Great Gatsby. Okay, yeah. Well, I just I did not like Pride and Prejudice. I don't know like what it was, and like I just but I like want to try her like other books because I feel like people I love her.

Laura Bishop:

I um like from well, like so like the related, right, but not the same author, like like uh Jane Eyre, right, with Charlotte Bronte and stuff, right? Like that I really enjoyed reading Jane Eyre, but like candidly, I completely skipped over the middle portion. Like as soon as she left the manor. Did you ever read Jane Eyre? No, yeah. So I mean I like I really liked it, but I also skipped over the middle third because like she left the man. There was a third act breakup, okay? And I skipped over the third act breakup. Oh my gosh. I was just like, I don't want to read about them not being in the same location. Skip, skip, skip, skip, skip. Yeah. So yeah.

Jordan:

Honestly, I I I'm here for it. You gotta life's too short to me.

Laura Bishop:

That's right. Yeah. Yeah. Overall, 65% of it was a great book.

Jordan:

The other percent, I don't know, but maybe. I just I really did skip over it. To this day, I still haven't read it. I love it. I love it. Okay, so we are on the last two questions. I know. I know. Look at us go. Um, okay, so the first one is what is a fun fact about you that the readers and listeners might be surprised to learn?

Laura Bishop:

Uh um I don't read books. I don't I don't know.

Jordan :

I don't read.

Laura Bishop:

I don't read. Uh fun fact about me. I got nothing. I'm boring. Which in and of itself could be a fun fact. I've never okay, how about this? I got that, I got something. Okay, because like with all my like with all my stuff, right? I've never been on a motorcycle. And like, whereas this book like has like he drives a motorcycle, right? And like that's a piece that they talk about. It's not like so heavily like like talked about, you know what I mean? Like the motorcycle isn't like a huge thing in the book, but book two is all about the motorcycle. So as of the time of filming this, I have never been on a motorcycle. Um, but hopefully that will we will change that at some point. I'm gonna try and convince somebody to put me on a motorcycle safely.

Jordan:

You gotta yeah, you gotta change it. You gotta you gotta get on.

Laura Bishop:

Have you?

Jordan:

Yes.

Laura Bishop:

Okay, like all the time or or like just just a couple times.

Jordan:

Um, well, uh when I grew up, like my stepdad, he had a motorcycle, so I went on like the back of his bike a lot. Um, but I like recently, like that was like when I was younger, and then like maybe like years ago, like before I met my husband, a guy I hung out with had a bike, and so I went on his like a couple times. But like that, I mean no, I get it. There's a reason why we like men on motorcycles and books.

Laura Bishop:

Yeah, I mean, and that's like the whole thing where I'm like, okay, I also don't want to die because like some of the guys that we film with are the cutest, and they're like in their young 20s, and I see their other like reels and TikToks that they post of them going like a hundred and fifty on the highway, and I'm like, Yeah, I'm so I'm not getting on the back of your motorcycle, like never very much. Like, thank you so much. I enjoy living. No, I like the okay, he's so me, he's so sweet, right? Like, and we filmed with him um the last uh the last time, like Sydney and I filmed with him, and he's literally so sweet. And he then posted a reel, and he's like unpackaging my book while driving his motorcycle, yes, and he like filmed it and sent it to us. And Sydney and I, and our you know, like like these responsible women are like freaking out. We're like, oh my god, why would you do that? What's wrong with you? Like, you need to drive it safely. So I'm like, don't fucking crash your motorcycle, and then it's gonna be like my book on the side of the road. I know. So, anyways, uh, as of the time of filming, I have not been on a motorcycle. Um, so yeah, that's a fun fact. Fun fact.

Jordan:

I like it. I I remember like one of so this is kind of like side note, not really, but I saw your reel where you're like telling him like what to do, and he's like, Well, what direction do you want me to go? And you're like, Oh, it wasn't me, it was Sydney, but yeah. Oh, that was Sydney. Well, and she was like, Well, because traffic's going this way, you have to go this way.

Laura Bishop:

So that was like totally like a legit, like we weren't that was just B-roll. Like, I was just filming him getting on his bike to like right, and that like just happened organically. It wasn't she she wasn't trying to be facetious, like, and and then I like watched, I was like watching the b-roll, and I was like, that's so funny. If I add like this like tag where it's like you direct him towards you, right? You know what I mean? But that's that's that's the one I was talking about.

Jordan:

That's amazing. That is amazing. It was it was like so, yeah, but it was also like so funny, like that just that real too. It's like yeah, honest because it's it's like it that's always what happens when you film this stuff.

Laura Bishop:

It's like it's just the stuff that just happens like organically is the stuff that like does really well. Like I posted that on a whim. Like I literally because I don't post stuff, like Sydney handles it for me because I again like so much of this book is myself and like bot body positivity issues. Like, I don't like the way that I look in filming, like it literally, like filming all of this stuff has made me go back to the gym. Like, because I look at myself and I'm like, uh, I gotta go to the gym. So like I now have a gym membership. Second fun fact. Um, but like, yeah, so I don't post it because I can't, I will never post it. I would just not post any of the stuff. Like, I I don't even sometimes look at it because I'm just like, uh, but anyways, um, but I just like posted that one on a whim and and it did pretty well.

Jordan:

So I love it. And okay, I give you props too because you still like, even though I know you don't like necessarily post it and Sydney does, but I do give you props for still being in the reels and posting, like having it go up because I feel like I know too, it's like different because you're not posting it, but you're still letting Sydney post it. So I have to say, I give you props for that because yeah, I think that's really cool.

Laura Bishop:

I mean, I appreciate that. I mean, it's hard, it's just one of those things that you have to get better at doing, you know what I mean? And putting yourself out there and like not putting yourself down and tearing yourself down and like trying to see yourself in the way that other people see yourself, right? Like that can be hard, so but you know, it's a work in progress.

Jordan:

And it's it's you're doing it, you're getting there. It's like you're still posting it, so I think that's cool. It's like the little I'm very relatable. You you you are, you definitely are. Yeah, um, okay, so this is the last question.

Laura Bishop:

Last question.

Jordan:

What is one future goal that you would like to achieve, either long term or short term in writing or oh in like writing or life? Oh or yeah, or anything.

Laura Bishop:

It could be anything. Okay, it can be anything. Okay, go on a motorcycle. I love it. Yeah, yeah. I mean, I have a goal. I mean, go on a motorcycle and not crash.

Jordan:

So yeah, that's that's that's yeah, that's very important. That's very important.

Laura Bishop:

But writing-wise, right now, like my big thing is like trying to get through book two and get that all like wrapped up and stuff like that. So oh, I know that's boring. I know I'm listening. That's not boring at all. I really like book two. I really like Amanda's story. It's I really like it.

Jordan:

So this is it like weird. Sorry, now we're going, I'm gonna ask another question, but is it weird being in like the depths of one story, so like Amanda's story, but like technically Izzy's story is like not out yet? Is it that like weird?

Laura Bishop:

Yeah, yeah, because I'm already like, I'm like, you know, you know, you're kind of like, yeah, I already fell in love with these people and I love them still, but you have to like kind of break up with them to move on to the next people. So you're like, I'm so happy that you guys are all connecting with my ex. I've moved on and I'm over here now. No, but but to be fair, I like seeing the characters and everybody connecting with the characters again, and it hasn't been so long, right? Like, I think I wrote, I think I wrote Love Me, Stalk Me, like like wrote it, wrote it, you know what I mean? Like in February of 2025. Um, yeah, I think that's right. Um, so it was either February or March. So it's not been that long since I wrote it. Yeah.

Jordan:

You've wrote you didn't write it that long ago. I don't know why, but I thought you wrote this like a while ago.

Laura Bishop:

No, no, I wrote it like yeah, beginning of this year. I wrote it yesterday. Yeah, yeah. Um, beginning of this year, and then I wanted to take my time with like publishing it, which for like indie publishing it, like putting it out to September, which was the original date for it, was actually like a really long window. Um, but it's just one of those things, like and I had no clue that that would have benefited me. Um, but it did benefit me because then, you know, when I got the traditional publishing deal, it wasn't already out. Like so many people who indie publish, like, you know, the book's already out and stuff like that. And so that kind of kind of like impacts sales and deals and all that type of stuff. Um, and so I was very lucky that like, you know, I had given it a longer lead time.

Jordan:

So I I think that's like kind of I I think the story for like Love Me Stalk Me, like not these like the story of it's like the story of how it became, yeah. Yes, is so cool. I think it's like I don't know, I think it's so cool because it's like one of those things because you're right, it's like usually indie published books are like books that like the authors already put out before it like gets picked up traditionally, yeah. And then, but yours is like kind of it didn't happen that way, and I think that's so cool and so unique, and I'm like so excited, and I literally can't wait for your book to release.

Laura Bishop:

Oh my gosh, you're so sweet. Yeah, I don't know. I'm gonna like go crawl in a hole somewhere, it's gonna be great.

Jordan:

You're gonna hold all your like copies of Love Me Stock Me in this like hole.

Laura Bishop:

Like I'm telling you, I have this recurring nightmare that I'm gonna go to the stores and it's not gonna be there, and I'm gonna just gonna be like, oh, okay, okay, I guess I'll just go home.

Jordan:

No, no, gosh darn it. It's gonna be on that note, yeah. I know, right? Yeah, um, well, oh yeah. So I did want to see if you wanted to like mention yourself. Love me, stalk me is out now, so everybody go read it, go get it. Barnes and Noble, Bam, Target, Walmart, Indie Bookstore. Yeah, all those places.

Laura Bishop:

Yeah, yeah. So you can I pretty much I'm only on like two socials. So I'm on Instagram and TikTok. So you can find me at Laura Bishop Author. Um, and then I have a website which is uh LauraBishopauthor.com, uh, which is kind of set up like the app. Um, and so um, yeah, and then stay tuned because there might be like some little things every so often, like follow me because we we're working on some things in the background, which um like are would be kind of like fun, like tech things that might be coming out. So we'll see. We'll see. I'm in the process, so I'm just gonna leave it there, gonna create some tension for everybody, and we'll see what what uh gets announced um at some point.

Jordan:

Oh my gosh, I'm so excited. Yeah, I also don't think I realized you had a website, so I now can't wait to go on and like look at your website.

Laura Bishop:

Oh yeah, yeah. And I need to send you um uh the the box for your book. I need to do that. Yeah, okay, yes, I'm gonna send you that. Thank you.

Jordan:

You're welcome. Uh okay. Well, thank you so much for coming on the podcast again and answering all the questions again. It was by design. It was by design. It it really was, and I think this episode is even better than the first one.

Laura Bishop:

Yeah, so first one I botched it.

Jordan:

Uh honestly, I think I botched it.

Laura Bishop:

So no, no, no, it's not yes.

Jordan:

So, just listeners, just know you're getting the best interview. And um, yeah, thank you so much for coming on the podcast, Laura. And I am so excited for all the future books that are to come in this series. Yay! Thank you so much for having me.