Podcast Title: I'll Read What She's Reading
Episode: Book Talk w/ CARISSA BROADBENT
Release Date: November 27, 2024

Introduction and Guest Appearance

In this engaging episode of I'll Read What She's Reading, hosts Reggie, Mikayla, and Kennedy welcome esteemed author Carissa Broadbent (00:15), whose captivating works have resonated deeply with their audience. The episode dives into Carissa's literary journey, creative processes, and the intricate worlds she builds in her novels.

Carissa Broadbent's Journey to Becoming an Author

Carissa shares her early passion for storytelling, recounting how she penned dark tales during her elementary and middle school years, including a particularly intense story about a girl dying alone in the woods (01:01). Despite a hiatus during high school and college, she rekindled her writing passion in her early twenties while navigating corporate life. This resurgence led to her initial, albeit unsuccessful, forays into publishing. However, her perseverance paid off with the creation of Daughter of No Worlds, the cornerstone of her acclaimed War of Lost Hearts series (02:00).

Carissa Broadbent ([01:01]): "I felt like I needed something else to work towards, so I wrote a couple of really bad books... they're no longer available. For good reason. They're not good."

Overview of Carissa's Series and Reading Order

Carissa elaborates on her two primary series: the War of Lost Hearts trilogy and the expansive Crowns of Nyaxia series. The former is a straightforward epic fantasy with strong romantic elements, beginning with Daughter of No Worlds. In contrast, Crowns of Nyaxia is a six-book saga divided into three duologies, each focusing on different vampire kingdoms—House of Night, House of Shadow, and House of Blood—while maintaining a continuous overarching fantasy narrative (07:59).

Carissa Broadbent ([07:59]): "The Crowns of Nyaxia series is a six book series... The fantasy arc goes across all six books."

The conversation also touches on fan favorites and the optional spin-offs, Six Scorched Roses and Slaying the Vampire Conqueror, which offer additional depth to the main series without disrupting the primary narrative flow (10:34).

Writing Process and Inspiration

Carissa delves into her meticulous writing process, emphasizing the importance of emotional journeys and thematic exploration in her work. She begins with identifying the core theme she wishes to convey and then crafts a broad plot outline, allowing flexibility at the scene level to adapt organically. Her commitment to ensuring each book offers something unique prevents creative stagnation and keeps her stories fresh (05:09).

Carissa Broadbent ([05:09]): "At the core of all of my books is the emotional journey... I always want to do something kind of unique and different."

Carissa also candidly shares the emotional challenges of writing, including moments of doubt and imposter syndrome, highlighting the vulnerability inherent in the creative process (06:58).

Fan Reactions and Impact of Carissa's Work

The hosts express immense admiration for Carissa's ability to evoke strong emotional responses from readers. Reggie recounts personal moments of emotional investment while reading, such as uncontrollable sobbing during a road trip (15:20), underscoring the profound connection her audience feels with her characters and narratives.

Reggie ([15:20]): "I just started gushing about him to these two, and they're like, do you like him more than you like another? And I was just, I just love him."

Carissa reflects on the slow burn of her writing career, appreciating the enduring traction her books receive over time, particularly noting the five-year anniversary of Daughter of No Worlds and the rising popularity of her War of Lost Hearts trilogy (15:20).

Fan Art and Collaborations with Artists

A significant portion of the discussion celebrates the vibrant fan art inspired by Carissa's work. Carissa enthusiastically supports and collaborates with artists, commissioning portraits and scenes that bring her characters to life visually. She acknowledges the challenges posed by spoilers, carefully managing the release of fan-created content to respect readers' experiences (32:21).

Carissa Broadbent ([32:21]): "I have, like, no self control when it comes to art. I love working with and supporting artists... I really love commissioning artists."

Audiobooks and Narration

The conversation shifts to the audiobook adaptations of Carissa's work. While Carissa does not personally listen to her audiobooks, she commends the narrators for their exceptional performances. She highlights the narrator's ability to distinguish between diverse characters across her series, enhancing the listening experience without compromising the integrity of each unique voice (25:41).

Carissa Broadbent ([25:41]): "I've tried to be involved in choosing the narrators... they do an excellent job at it."

Potential Adaptations and Future Plans

Carissa discusses her openness to adaptations, expressing particular interest in animated series as an ideal medium for her fantasy worlds. She cites inspiration from successful animated series like Castlevania and Arcane, envisioning a format that can faithfully capture the magical and fantastical elements of her books without the bureaucratic challenges of live-action productions (38:03).

Carissa Broadbent ([38:03]): "Any adaptation of these books would be super, super expensive... I would love an animated series based on any of my books."

Looking ahead, Carissa hints at exploring new settings and genres, such as space fantasy, while remaining committed to the depth and originality that define her current works. She emphasizes her desire to create memorable and emotionally resonant stories, even as she contemplates venturing into uncharted narrative territories (42:17).

Carissa Broadbent ([42:17]): "I want people to be able to remember it a year from now... I have some thoughts about some new settings."

Favorite and Hardest Characters to Write

When asked about her favorite and most challenging characters, Carissa speaks fondly of characters like Septimus and Vincent, who bring joy and complexity to her stories. She acknowledges the initial difficulty in developing Aurea, a character distinct from her previous protagonists, but found her voice evolving over time (30:13).

Carissa Broadbent ([30:13]): "Aurea was very challenging at first because she was very different than other female main characters that I had written."

Current Reads and Reading Habits

Carissa reveals her current reading list, including Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Meyer, highlighting her appreciation for diverse genres and the balance she maintains between writing and personal reading. She admits to struggling with her ever-growing TBR (To Be Read) list but remains dedicated to exploring new literary horizons (48:26).

Carissa Broadbent ([48:26]): "My TBR just is perpetually long. There are so many books that I know I will love, but I just haven't gotten to them."

Music and Writing

Music plays a pivotal role in Carissa's creative process. She listens to emotionally neutral or instrumental tracks like binaural beats to maintain focus while writing, occasionally turning to specific songs like Jeff Buckley's cover of "Hallelujah" to enhance particular scenes (50:57).

Carissa Broadbent ([51:08]): "I listen to a lot of music when I'm thinking, like when I'm brainstorming. I get a lot of my emotional inspiration from music."

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, the hosts express their profound appreciation for Carissa's contributions to the fantasy and romance genres. They anticipate her upcoming releases with eagerness and encourage listeners to delve into her richly woven worlds.

Reggie ([54:30]): "Everyone listening, go check out Carissa's books if you haven't already, because if this hasn't inspired you to, then this is your sign."

Carissa reciprocates the gratitude, reflecting on her journey and the significance of engaging with passionate communities through platforms like podcasts and events (54:52).

Carissa Broadbent ([54:52]): "I'm really happy that we got to do this. Even as little as a year ago or two years ago, it was like, not something I ever thought was possible."

The episode concludes on a high note, celebrating the synergy between author and readers, and setting the stage for future literary adventures.

Notable Quotes:

• Carissa Broadbent ([01:01]): "I felt like I needed something else to work towards, so I wrote a couple of really bad books... they're no longer available. For good reason. They're not good."

• Reggie ([15:20]): "I just started gushing about him to these two, and they're like, do you like him more than you like another? And I was just, I just love him."

• Carissa Broadbent ([05:09]): "At the core of all of my books is the emotional journey... I always want to do something kind of unique and different."

• Carissa Broadbent ([38:03]): "Any adaptation of these books would be super, super expensive... I would love an animated series based on any of my books."

• Reggie ([54:30]): "Everyone listening, go check out Carissa's books if you haven't already, because if this hasn't inspired you to, then this is your sign."

Timestamp Reference:

• 00:15: Introduction of Carissa Broadbent
• 01:01: Carissa's early writing experience
• 02:00: Success of Daughter of No Worlds
• 05:09: Carissa's writing process
• 07:59: Overview of series
• 10:34: Discussion on spin-offs
• 15:20: Fan reactions and series popularity
• 25:41: Audiobook narration
• 32:21: Fan art collaborations
• 38:03: Potential adaptations
• 42:17: Future projects
• 30:13: Favorite and hardest characters
• 48:26: Current reads
• 51:08: Music and writing
• 54:30: Final thoughts

This episode of I'll Read What She's Reading offers a comprehensive glimpse into Carissa Broadbent's creative mind, her dedication to crafting unique fantasy worlds, and the profound impact her stories have on readers. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to her works, this discussion provides valuable insights and inspiration for aspiring authors and avid readers alike.