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- [00:00]
BK Borison
Foreign.
- [00:09]
Mikayla
Hi guys. Welcome back to. I'll read what she's reading. I'm Mikayla.
- [00:13]
Reggie
I'm Reggie.
- [00:13]
Kennedy
And I'm Kennedy.
- [00:14]
Mikayla
And today we have a very special guest. New York Times bestseller, the Queen of Winter Romances. We have BK Borison with us and we're so excited.
- [00:27]
Reggie
Thanks so much for being here.
- [00:29]
BK Borison
Hello. I don't know about that Queen of Winter Romances thing, but I'll take it. So thank you for having us.
- [00:36]
Mikayla
It is well deserved. We're so excited about your new book and we can't wait to chat with you. Yeah, it's gonna be so fun. We first thought that we would start off with some rapid fire questions to kind of get you like the ice broken and just kind of like get your thoughts. Thoughts on this or that. Does that sound good to you?
- [00:58]
BK Borison
Yes.
- [00:59]
Reggie
So we didn't prepare you for this. So you're on. Okay. So first. So this or that. Friends to lovers or enemies to lovers.
- [01:10]
BK Borison
Oh, I love a good enemy. Still lovers.
- [01:16]
Mikayla
That's a good one.
- [01:18]
Reggie
Would you. Oh, I was going to say, would you rather it's not. Would you rather this or that? Host a radio show or own your own tree farm?
- [01:27]
BK Borison
Definitely own my own tree farm. I don't think anybody wants to listen to me talk on the radio for an extended period of time about nonsense. Definitely. I'd love to disappear into a field of trees. That's my job.
- [01:38]
Reggie
Yeah, that'd be magical too.
- [01:40]
Mikayla
It's actually a dream.
- [01:41]
Reggie
Yes. Small town or big city?
- [01:45]
BK Borison
I'm a big city girl. I grew up in a small town and since have very intentionally only lived in cities. I, um, I think the idea of like fictional small towns is really great, but reality is like. Nah, I like my.
- [02:02]
Kennedy
Yeah, someone coming from someone who lives in a small town. We have like one restaurant, one grocery store. It's, it's fun in theory, but in practice not so much. So I agree with you on that.
- [02:15]
Mikayla
I'm actually surprised by your answer just because you write such cute small town romances. But I totally understand where you're coming from. I was just surprised by the answer.
- [02:25]
Reggie
Yeah, same.
- [02:26]
BK Borison
I think I like to romanticize the idea of a small town because I think it small town romance in particular, like it encompasses all the things we crave in community. Like yeah, love us and support us and like comfort and belonging and knowing and stuff. But I think the reality they're in of an actual small town, it's a little less romantic.
- [02:49]
Kennedy
Oh, for sure, for sure.
- [02:51]
Reggie
Yeah. Okay. Are you more of a. Okay. I'M praising these. Wrong. I'm so sorry. Okay. Physical reading a physical book or listening to an audiobook?
- [03:01]
BK Borison
I cannot listen to audiobooks. I wish I could because I could read a lot more, but my brain tends to drift as soon as audio starts. Definitely a physical book. Girly.
- [03:12]
Mikayla
There. Have you listened to yours? Because they're fantastic.
- [03:16]
BK Borison
I love your audio. It's funny. My friend Sarah Adams this morning messaged me and was like, can I have the audio for Good Spirits? I was like, I don't have it. I don't. I haven't listened to it. And then she. I g. I got a link for my poster and I sent it to her and she's like, this is so cute. I was like, what are you talking about? And she's like, there's a jingle. I was like, there's a what? I had no idea. It's a surprise. I'm involved in the process of, like, selecting narrators, but I. After that, it's out of my hands.
- [03:50]
Mikayla
Well, they're fantastic. I love your audiobook narrators. They're so good. The audience enjoyed listening, especially first time caller, because it had like the element of like the radio and it's like.
- [04:02]
Reggie
You'Re on the air and it has the little, like. I don't know what you would call that.
- [04:06]
Kennedy
Like, it's almost like the calls kind of.
- [04:08]
Mikayla
Yeah.
- [04:09]
Kennedy
You know what I mean?
- [04:09]
Mikayla
Yeah, yeah.
- [04:10]
Kennedy
That kind of feature.
- [04:11]
Reggie
Yeah, Very funny.
- [04:11]
BK Borison
I've heard that, but I have not heard. I've not literally heard it. That's okay.
- [04:18]
Reggie
All right. Short chapters or long chapters.
- [04:24]
BK Borison
Probably. I write long chapters and I know that about myself. I've been trying to write shorter chapters because they're easily consumable, but I'm. I'm wordy. I can't help it. So as a reader, short chapters, as an author, long chapters.
- [04:41]
Reggie
Oh, okay. I like that answer.
- [04:42]
Kennedy
You want to know what's crazy, though, is reading your books. I don't feel like they're overly long.
- [04:47]
BK Borison
Thank you.
- [04:49]
Kennedy
Yeah, they're perfect.
- [04:50]
Reggie
Yeah.
- [04:50]
Kennedy
Because sometimes, like one that takes you five minutes or like three minutes to read is a little too short. But I feel like yours are in the right sweet spot.
- [04:59]
BK Borison
Okay, good to know. I'll keep that in mind. Yeah, keep that in mind.
- [05:03]
Mikayla
Never not be wordy. Okay. We really enjoy your wordiness. So.
- [05:09]
Reggie
Okay, we have just a few more. Slow burn or insta love?
- [05:14]
BK Borison
Slow burn. Always. I, as a reader, as a writer, I love a. I love the yearning. Everything about it. I love slowly inching your way towards the payoff yes.
- [05:26]
Kennedy
They brush hands and your readers are screaming, kicking their feet. Yeah, yeah, you're good at that. You're good at that.
- [05:34]
Reggie
Dual point of view or single point of view?
- [05:36]
BK Borison
You know, I was thinking about this last night, so Love light was single point of view, and everything since has been dual point of view. And I'm really itching to write a single point of view again because I kind of like the mystery of that where you don't know what's up. The love interest is thinking and doing and all. I like the. The like. Does he like me? Does he like me? Not type of that, but the next probably dual point of view for right now, but I'd love to go back to a single point of view.
- [06:06]
Mikayla
I think there's greatness in both.
- [06:10]
BK Borison
Yeah.
- [06:11]
Mikayla
Sometimes you love hearing what the love interests is thinking, but then sometimes it's like you love screaming at the just single point of view, like he loves you.
- [06:22]
Reggie
Yeah. All right, last one. Inglewild in the summer or winter?
- [06:33]
BK Borison
Winter. Because of the farm, I would say. There's just something that was really magical about writing it during that season. So I would like to be there for all the seasonal goodies.
- [06:48]
Reggie
Yeah, that sounds nice.
- [06:49]
Kennedy
Honestly, small towns in the fall and winter are just so much more magical than the summer.
- [06:53]
BK Borison
Yeah. No one likes to be hot and sticky. Like, what is there to do in a small town?
- [06:58]
Kennedy
Unless you have a lake?
- [06:59]
Mikayla
Nothing.
- [07:00]
BK Borison
Yeah. Miserable.
- [07:01]
Mikayla
Okay, we're done with this or that. But to kind of like go off of the last this or that. Was there an inspiration for Inglewild but like a real town or.
- [07:13]
BK Borison
I think it's like a. It's a combination of a bunch of small coastal towns in Maryland. That's where I grew up. There's a small town, probably the closest you could get to it. It's probably a combination of Annapolis, which is not a small town, but feels like a small town, and Berlin, Maryland. It's like towards the coast heading towards the beaches. So I try to sort of mash those together and just make it everything I wanted in a small town. Very Gilmore Girls esque, very romanticized version of what I want this little community to be.
- [07:51]
Kennedy
You say Gilmore Girls, and that's literally the perfect way to describe love life. Farms is Gilmore Girls in book form?
- [07:58]
BK Borison
Yeah. Yeah. I think I was very. I was a big Gilmore Girls girly growing up. So I think it was just inevitable that that would impact my work in some way, shape or form.
- [08:10]
Reggie
Yeah.
- [08:11]
Kennedy
Do you feel like any of your female main characters are highly like, highly resemble Rory or Lorelai, you know, I don't think so.
- [08:22]
BK Borison
I don't know if they do. I think probably the closest character that's come to any book is probably shades of Emily Gilmore. Okay. Definitely in good spirits. I feel like she pops up. But I think Lorelai and Roy are such, like, a distinct, you know, they're so distinct in their personalities that I feel like anybody would spot it right away. There's shades, I think, of their relationship in Lucy and Maya and first time caller because they're, you know, she became a mother very young and sort of Maya's very involved in her mother's love life and trying to make it what she wants it to be. But no, I don't think there's a specific character. Probably elements of relationships more so than characters.
- [09:07]
Kennedy
That makes me so excited to read your newest book, Just Emily Gilmore. I'm like, yeah, I'm sold. I'm absolutely sold.
- [09:14]
BK Borison
Yeah. Sassy matriarch.
- [09:16]
Mikayla
Yep. So you get a lot of inspiration from Gilmore Girls. Is there anything else that you get your character's inspiration from? Like, is it part of you? Part of friends and family, Family, music, tv?
- [09:32]
BK Borison
Probably a combination of everything. Usually when I start to write a book, I don't know if the characters come first or second. It usually. Usually depends on which book it is. But I was telling someone the other day, whenever I start writing a book and I know who the characters are, there's always a point in the drafting process where I'm like, this is something you clearly need to talk to your therapist about because, like, something that's bothering me at the time always comes out in the book. Good spirits. Probably the most of any book. It was the most, like, trauma dumping of me to, like, get out. Low key. Afraid of my parents ever reading that book. But they aren't okay. But, yeah, it's definitely. It's whatever I need to work through at the time. Definitely inspired by, like, you know, just observing people in community and, like, Daytoday. And Jessica Joyce said once that, like, she. She's just, like, hyper observant of the world around her and, like, how people interact. And, like, I think that's a beautiful thing about being a writer is, like, you're so stuck in your head and your imagination that you can see two random people on the street and be like, make a whole story for their world, you know? So I think it's probably a combination of what I'm watching, what I'm reading, what I'm listening to. If my husband's annoying Me or not, whatever mashes together at that point.
- [11:00]
Reggie
Yeah, you're just kind of putting a piece of everything around you into your books, which I think that that makes it even more special, especially for you and great for listen listeners and readers, but also just like, that's got to be so special for you, especially when it's all done.
- [11:16]
BK Borison
Yeah, it's fun to like, look back on each book and be like, it's a. It's a bookmark on that part of my life and what I was feeling and what I was thinking, what my kids were doing, where our family was. So it's like, like Good Spirits I wrote when I was very, very pregnant. And so I always remember that as the book when I was carrying my son. And like each book feels like that, that a different moment in my life. And it's nice to have that and keep that, you know, for me especially.
- [11:49]
Kennedy
I know some people say like they get tattoos and it reminds them of certain parts of their life, but cool that you have books to do that.
- [11:55]
BK Borison
Yeah. Yeah, exactly. It's sort of, it's. It's weird though because you share it with so many people and it's, you know, this job is so public in that, like, there's pieces of me in every book and then people will review it online and, you know, say what they say about it and it's like, but wait, that. That's part of me. So that's been an adjustment sort of, I think, especially in this past year, because it's been. Love Light did great and it really launched me into the romance community. But first time caller was like, completely exceeded my expectations and you know, was like, so a lot more people with opinions and so a lot more to sort of sift through on my end.
- [12:41]
Kennedy
Which congratulations on that because that book took Book Talk by storm.
- [12:46]
BK Borison
It was, it's been bananas. Like, I remember the we. The week before it launched, I was like asking my agent, I was like, do you think it'll. Do you think it's gonna do well? And she was like, yeah, I think. I think it'll do good. And then like the team at Berkeley was like. I was like, do you guys. Do you guys like, you think it'll be okay? And they're like, yeah, it'd be good. And then it, like, it came out. Everyone's like, oh, okay, it's. It's doing this. Um, so it was. I. I think we were all a little surprised by the impact for sure.
- [13:18]
Mikayla
Which.
- [13:19]
Kennedy
This kind of leads us into one of our questions. First time Caller does have such a unique premise. How did you come up with the radio show idea for that book? Because I have never read a romance book that was like that ever.
- [13:34]
BK Borison
Well, I think we're sort of past the time of radio. You know, no one really listens to the radio anymore. And I wanted something very nostalgic that felt like the rom coms. I was raised on mid-90s Rom coms. Meg Ryan, Nora Ephron. The heartstring series is book one is Sleepless in Seattle Twist. Book two is when Harry met Sally. And book three is you've got male. So I knew I wanted to take these classic films. Look at your face. I knew I wanted to take these classic ideas and sort of modernize them. And so that was, that was like the foundation of that series. And I knew I want it centered around a radio show because it felt like, you know, the same way Lovelight romanticizes small towns, Heartstring series really romanticizes the idea of radio. And so it's been fun for me to play with the radio show as like a mechanism, as a different storytelling element within the story.
- [14:39]
Reggie
Yeah, well, you executed that very well. Because the first thing I thought when I started first time caller was this is giving like 90s Rom com. Thank you. I love that. Especially for like the next two books. All that. That's amazing.
- [14:53]
Mikayla
And I feel like a lot of us crave the 90s Rom com. Phil. I like, I want to go back to that because I grew up watching those and I, yeah, I feel like.
- [15:07]
Reggie
Have a lot of, yeah, great rom coms nowadays.
- [15:10]
Mikayla
I just felt like nostalgic reading your book because I'm like, I grew up reading or like watching things like this and it just felt like I was going back in time and I loved it.
- [15:19]
BK Borison
I loved it. I feel like, you know, the 90s Rom coms was when Hollywood like actually invested in like female creators and like female centered storylines. And we have deviated so far away from that. I think it's why romance is so successful as a genre because it's female created, delivered to women, owned by women centers women. And I don't, I don't know why Hollywood is just sleeping on this massive money maker. Like, it's just, it's silly.
- [15:51]
Kennedy
Well, you know what, I do feel like we have to give all of you romance authors your flowers because I can sense in my soul that there's going to be a rise in romcoms because they're going to take books like yours and adapt them to on screen because how could they Not.
- [16:09]
BK Borison
Yeah, I mean, Ali Hazelwood's Love Hypothesis, which everyone's already losing their mind over, and then Tessa's It Happened One Summer. It seems like a bunch of books are being acquired. So it's. It's my hope that we have a lot more rom coms.
- [16:27]
Kennedy
Well, and kind of like Reggie just said, I. Your books are begging to be picked up because they just have that nostalgia in them. And I could just perfectly see your book in my mind as a movie, especially First Time Caller. But even. Yeah, Love Light Farms.
- [16:46]
BK Borison
That would be.
- [16:46]
Mikayla
So.
- [16:46]
BK Borison
Yes, that would be.
- [16:48]
Mikayla
That's.
- [16:49]
BK Borison
That would be. I don't. I don't think I would even know what to do with myself if that were to happen. But we'll see.
- [16:55]
Reggie
Well, let's say if it were. Maybe you don't like this question. I feel like some authors don't like this question. But, like, if you could fan cast anybody for any of your books, do you have, like, any people in your brain?
- [17:08]
BK Borison
I. I'm so bad at this question because it feels like, you know, when you. You love a book and you watch the adaptation and you're like, that actor isn't quite right because, like, the thing, the character in your head, there's just no perfect interpretation of. I feel like I have that times, like five because, you know, I made the characters. I think Lucy is probably the only one that I had, like, a clear visual of. And Dakota Johnson, I feel like, would be a really good Lucy.
- [17:38]
Reggie
Oh, yeah.
- [17:41]
BK Borison
Everyone else, I don't know.
- [17:46]
Reggie
Got to be a tough question for you.
- [17:48]
BK Borison
So, yeah. Would.
- [17:51]
Mikayla
Would you want to be involved in the process of casting or would you prefer not to?
- [17:58]
Reggie
I don't know, like, a little more hands off.
- [18:00]
Kennedy
Yeah.
- [18:00]
BK Borison
Yeah, probably. Probably just there to, like, observe. I don't think I would have many opinions. Like, if the team thinks it's a good fit, then I'm probably on board because, like, I remember when they announced the Love Hypothesis cast, I was like, I don't know. And then they started doing all this TikTok. So I was like, okay. Like, this is great.
- [18:23]
Reggie
Have to trust the process a little bit.
- [18:25]
BK Borison
Absolutely.
- [18:28]
Reggie
So fun.
- [18:29]
Mikayla
I feel like, yeah. Especially with recent adaptations. I always am like, oh, I don't know. But then as soon as they start doing promo, I'm like, okay. They obviously knew a lot better than I did because it fits so, so well. Once they, like, the actors are the character, I'm like, okay, obviously I had no idea what I was talking about. I shouldn't have questioned you. I feel like that also with. What is it? The Emily Henry one that's coming out.
- [19:02]
Reggie
Oh, people.
- [19:03]
Mikayla
Vacation.
- [19:04]
Kennedy
Vacation.
- [19:05]
Mikayla
I was at first like, oh, yeah, this is cute. But as soon as they started doing promo, I was like, this is good.
- [19:10]
Reggie
Stamp of approval.
- [19:11]
Mikayla
Yeah.
- [19:12]
BK Borison
Yeah, I agree completely.
- [19:13]
Mikayla
I am manifesting that your books get turned into movies because I think they would be such a success. And I love. I love the way you bring these stories to life.
- [19:29]
BK Borison
I will manifest with you.
- [19:35]
Mikayla
We're just putting it out into the world.
- [19:36]
Reggie
Yes.
- [19:37]
Mikayla
Please contact her for some adaptations because they would do what so well. And like you said, I think Hollywood is doing themselves a disservice by not doing more rom coms because look at book talk and the romance genre in general. I'm like, I feel like they're slowly starting to pick it up, but I think they could be doing so much more. Oh, yeah, because, you know, everyone's gonna go see it. Everyone's gonna go see it. They're gonna make their money back. No problem. Just do it.
- [20:08]
Reggie
So along those lines with, like, romcom, I feel like your books do such a great job of balancing humor and emotion very naturally. Is there a way that you do that? I don't know. To make it feel so natural?
- [20:24]
BK Borison
I don't know. I don't know if there's a way to describe it. It's definitely a focus when I'm writing. Usually when I do the first draft, I'm very focused on, like, crafting the plot and, like, getting everything the way it. I want it to progress and end. And then the second draft is a lot more dialogue focused and getting everything to feel, like, snappy and making sure it sounds like two real, actual adults talking to each other. It's definitely something I've spent more time on as I've grown from Love light to here. But, yeah, I. I don't know if I can say it's intentional. It is intentional. It's just.
- [21:07]
Reggie
Yeah, but it, like, comes not pretty naturally to you.
- [21:10]
BK Borison
Yeah. I always say, like, the best. Like, the best way to draft is, like, if I'm not aware I'm drafting. Like, if I'm not thinking too hard of, like, you are writing a book. This is a scene in the book. These are characters in your book sort of just not thinking it and letting the characters take the wheel. Like, that's the sweet stuff spot. That's where you're trying to get. But it's kind of hard to get there some days.
- [21:35]
Kennedy
We've talked to a few other authors, and it's interesting because Some authors, the plot comes first and then the characters come, but for others, it's the opposite. Do you feel like you have characters in your brain that are begging for a story, or is it kind of like this is kind of the setting, this is the start and end, and then the characters come after?
- [21:55]
BK Borison
I think I usually start with characters because I think in my stories at least, the plot is really dependent on the characters and what they're doing and the journeys they need to take. So for me, definitely characters first. Like, if I don't. If I don't know who the character is, it's really difficult for me to figure out the plot and the journey and the resolution. So definitely a character first. Girly.
- [22:21]
Kennedy
Do you, like, map out their life from birth to adulthood in your mind, or is it just like, you're like, what is that question? But, like, how much backstory do you give for your characters prior to writing their story?
- [22:36]
BK Borison
I usually know if there's something that's shaped who they are. I think a really good example is probably Aiden in First Time Caller. You know, he was really shaped by his mother's cancer diagnosis as a kid, and that shaped, like, his relationship with love. And so usually I know, like, the broad beats of, like, what has made them this adult person and how they interact with the idea of love. But, yeah, I have writer friends who, like, do like, whole character profiles with, like, horoscopes and stuff. And I'm like, no, I do not. Yeah, yeah, I usually know who they are, like, pretty strongly. Before I begin.
- [23:21]
Mikayla
Do you have, like, a favorite couple that you've written so far?
- [23:27]
BK Borison
Oh, my gosh. This is like, a Sophie's Choice question.
- [23:32]
Kennedy
Your favorite child.
- [23:33]
BK Borison
I know. I don't know if I can pick one I really love. It's hard because usually whoever I'm working on at that point tends to be my favorite. I really love Jackson and Delilah, which is the follow up to First Time Caller. I really love Harriet and Nolan because it felt like a departure from my usual. Like, it was fun to play with the ghost element of the story, but, yeah, probably those two. It's also the two that I'm talking about the most right now. So, yeah, those two for sure.
- [24:10]
Mikayla
Well, I'm so excited to read the second First Time Caller. Remind me, what was the name of that one?
- [24:15]
BK Borison
It's. And now back to you. And it comes out in February.
- [24:19]
Mikayla
Oh, my gosh.
- [24:21]
Kennedy
Which you've kind of touched a little bit on your latest release that's coming out soon, which is Good Spirits.
- [24:27]
BK Borison
Yes.
- [24:28]
Kennedy
You've said it kind of has that little spiritual element for maybe someone who hasn't read the back of the book or anything like that. Give us, like, a short little synopsis. Because it's like a Christmas Pass. Retelling, Correct?
- [24:41]
BK Borison
It's not a retelling. So I basically. Yeah, yeah, it's a. It's a Chris. I borrowed the characters from a Chris Dickens. A Christmas Carol. So the. The story is the ghost of Christmas Past comes to haunt this woman, but when he shows up, she's actually like, a really nice, lovely person. And. But he's bound to her for the holiday season to sort of uncover her wrongs. And so that book is them trying to figure out why he's been assigned to her when she's a very, like, sweet, kind, generous person. And, yeah, I basically just borrowed the characters from Dickens and made them horny. That's how I describe it.
- [25:23]
Kennedy
I love romance books that kind of throw in a little bit of magical realism and the fact that that has magical realism and it's a. It's familiar enough because we all know the Charles Dickens characters. I cannot wait.
- [25:41]
BK Borison
I had so much fun writing this book. I've been itching to do something with a little bit of magic. I remember I had lunch with my agent right before Business Casual came out, and she was like, first time color had been written, and so we knew what was happening there. And she's like, what do you want to work on next? And I was like, I really want to write a book about the ghost of Christmas Past. And she was like, what? Let me just write it, and then you can tell me if you hate it. Luckily, she didn't hate it and Avon didn't hate it. But, yeah, it was after, especially going between contemporary and going to a world with magic where you can sort of make your own roles. It's been a real treat for my brain in terms of creativity, because I'm just like, oh, I get to do whatever I want over here. And then back to contemporary, and then a magic book where you get to play with all these different ghosts and spirits and beings. It's been a lot of fun.
- [26:37]
Reggie
That's got to be so fun as a author.
- [26:40]
BK Borison
Yeah.
- [26:41]
Reggie
Get to explore different things. Would you ever consider stepping out of the romance genre or, like, more specifically, I don't know, like, fantasy. Is there any other genres you want to, like, dip your toes into?
- [26:55]
BK Borison
I don't think I'll ever step away from romance. I think all of my stories will have, like, a heavy, strong, central romance. Maybe Someday more like women's fiction or. I don't know. I don't think I'll ever go any heavier into fantasy than, like, magical realism because I always say I'm not smart enough for that because, like, the world building with, like, it's a lot. So this is probably a lot too fantasy. Ish. But, yeah, it's been. It's been a treat. And I feel really lucky that a publisher liked the concept enough for me to pay me to do it.
- [27:35]
Mikayla
Did you write it during, like, the holiday season or did you. What season did you write it in? Was it tricky if you didn't write it during the holiday season?
- [27:45]
BK Borison
It was a little tricky. I definitely irritated the crap out of my husband because, like, I was just playing. I think it was. It was summer because I was thinking my son was born in June and I was very pregnant, and I was just playing Christmas music on loop. Hudson was like, you have. You are driving me crazy. I think I had her. I think I had our Christmas trees up. I just kept them up because I was like, I need them up to write this book, which means our trees were up. I put them. I put them up in October because I'm a lunatic. The trees were up from October to, like, the summer. And we have a. We have a big tree and all the bulbs burnt out in the tree. And I was like, oh, it's so sad. Like, the bulbs burnt out in the tree. And my husband was like, well, when you keep it plugged in 247 for 11 months, the lights burn out. So, yeah, I. I definitely irritated my family, but it. It was worth it.
- [28:42]
Kennedy
We got scene.
- [28:43]
BK Borison
Yeah.
- [28:44]
Reggie
Is Christmas your favorite season?
- [28:46]
BK Borison
Yes, for sure.
- [28:47]
Reggie
Okay. I was gonna say. That's what I would have guessed. That's so fun.
- [28:51]
Kennedy
Would you ever write a book themed around, like, Halloween or. I don't know.
- [28:57]
BK Borison
I think.
- [29:00]
Reggie
Patrick's Day. Yes.
- [29:01]
Mikayla
St. Patrick's Day.
- [29:03]
BK Borison
Yeah. I have a good Labor Day book planned.
- [29:06]
Mikayla
Yes.
- [29:08]
BK Borison
No, I think Batuu in the Ghosted series, the follow up to Good Spirits, is probably Halloween themed. I would say it takes place around Halloween and it's spooky and ghosts, so that's probably as close as I'll get to Halloween. Maybe. I don't know. I. I try not to bar myself from anything in the future, but maybe.
- [29:32]
Reggie
Oh, fine.
- [29:33]
Mikayla
Oh.
- [29:33]
Reggie
So much to look forward to.
- [29:35]
Kennedy
Ghost romances, like magical realism.
- [29:38]
Mikayla
That's.
- [29:40]
Kennedy
I don't know what's wrong with me, but that's right up my alley.
- [29:42]
Reggie
Well, it feels cozy. There's something so cozy about it, which I love, especially with, like, the season we're entering right now.
- [29:49]
BK Borison
Yeah, it feels great.
- [29:50]
Reggie
It feels cozy and magical.
- [29:52]
BK Borison
So, yeah, I've just.
- [29:54]
Kennedy
Yeah.
- [29:54]
Mikayla
I've been waiting to read Good Spirit when I have my Christmas tree up, and I just. Yeah, I can't. I can't wait. That's, like, one of the books I'm most excited to read during winter. And, like, just right next to my Christmas tree.
- [30:13]
Reggie
Yeah, there's not enough books like that, so that's what I love.
- [30:17]
BK Borison
Yeah, it's been. It's been kind of funny because obviously I've been promoting Good Spirits for the past couple months. And, like, I'm like, no one wants to hear about a Christmas book in June. And so it's been.
- [30:27]
Kennedy
I do.
- [30:27]
BK Borison
I know I do look forward to entering the time. Their time.
- [30:32]
Reggie
Yeah. And so it's. Is there a line from Good Spirits you can share with us that you loved writing the most or you're most excited about?
- [30:44]
BK Borison
I don't know. There's a scene. There's a scene where Nolan, who is our ghost, sort of realizes how much he's like. It's the love confession scene. That one. I really. I don't like spoiling, like, the actual quotes, but the love confession scene is really good. And there's, like, there's a moment at the end of the book where they realize why Nolan has been paired with Harriet that I love very much. There's this. This is, like, Good Spirits is probably the book I'm most tender about. Like, that I am most invested in. Usually, like, I can separate myself from performance and be like, okay, well, I wrote a book that I'm really proud of. I don't care how it does. Unfortunately. I care very much about Conspir, which has been not a great space to live in, but it means I'm really excited about the next month and all the stuff I get to do for it. But, yeah, I'm really excited to see how. Because it's, like, a really kitschy idea. Right. Like, Ghost of Christmas Past haunts a woman. People. I think people have certain expectation it's going to be, like, corny or cheesy. And it might be in some ways, but in the other ways, I feel like it's a very romantic love story story. And so I'm hopeful that people overlook, you know, the corniness, the cheesiness of the premise and maybe give it a chance for the Love story.
- [32:11]
Mikayla
Yeah.
- [32:12]
Reggie
And the release date for that is October 21st.
- [32:16]
Kennedy
The COVID Okay. The one thing. I, I mean, outside of your writing, the covers of your books are always so good. This cover is beautiful.
- [32:25]
Mikayla
It's so cute.
- [32:26]
BK Borison
Britney's incredible. I really desperately wanted to work with Brittany Keller, who's the illustrator. I fought very hard to get her to do the artwork because I knew she does, like, her color work, the way she does characters and makes them look magical. I'm thrilled with how this cover turned out.
- [32:46]
Reggie
Yeah, you should be.
- [32:48]
Kennedy
It's literally beautiful. I'm obsessed. And also, I have more than 100% faith in you that this is going to be absolutely incredible. You kind of said like, the, the premise is a little kitschy, whatever, but with the way you write, your banter and just the way you, you have these vibrant settings, I think everyone is going to love this because like Reggie said earlier, there's not a lot of books like this out there and I know women are craving it and so I just think people are going to eat it up. I really do.
- [33:22]
BK Borison
I hope so. Thank you.
- [33:24]
Mikayla
I'm so giddy. You're making me so giddy to read.
- [33:27]
Reggie
I know. I'm like, is it how many more days till Christmas?
- [33:29]
Mikayla
Like, I'm like, can I get your fouse?
- [33:30]
Reggie
It's like not even fall yet. I guess today's officially the first day of fall, but I'm like, I need a little. Yeah, a little snowfall. Yeah. Stunning. You should be so proud of that. I, like, want to put it on the frame.
- [33:42]
Mikayla
It.
- [33:45]
Reggie
Is the fan art for, for him. Yeah. Sorry. We're just like swooning over this.
- [33:53]
BK Borison
No, I'm, I'm literally staring at my shelf full of the copies of it and it's just.
- [33:57]
Reggie
Yeah, we're all just like oohing and awing over it.
- [34:00]
BK Borison
It's Britney's incredible. I'm. We're getting ready to do the COVID for book two and I, I annoy the crap out of my teams with the book cover stuff because they'll email and be like, do you have any thoughts? I'm like, well, yes, actually. Here's a 14 page document on my very detailed thoughts on what I want for the COVID And so thrilled with how this one turned out. I'm really excited to see what she does for, for book two.
- [34:27]
Reggie
Oh, that's got to be such an exciting feeling to like, waiting for that and then get it.
- [34:33]
BK Borison
Yeah. To see like the physical manifestation of your story. Like, and I'm so lucky too, with first time caller Miriam Strasberg, who did the illustrations for those. Like, phenomenal. Like, I feel so Lucky with both sets that I'm just like, having my dreams fulfilled on both ends.
- [34:54]
Kennedy
But you know what I mean. The fact that you have such a vision for your covers I think is an asset because, you know, if someone's walking through Barnes and Noble or just an indie bookstore, the first thing they see is the COVID And honestly, every single time I see your books in a bookstore, it's so eye catching because the colors are the illustration. It's just everything. So there's a reason you should be picky about your covers.
- [35:21]
BK Borison
Thank you. I will let my publishing team know that you said so.
- [35:25]
Mikayla
And first time caller is the COVID for. It is such a unique cover.
- [35:30]
Reggie
Oh, yeah. Like the orange and the pink and.
- [35:33]
Mikayla
Yeah. And I think it's. It's done it a service to it because it. I feel like a lot of the covers nowadays look a little too similar, and I think that just makes it stand that much more out. And then I feel like it's. That's also why I feel like it honestly did really well on TikTok, because the premise of it is incredible, but also the COVID is so eye catching and like, I feel like when you see it, you can't help but add it to your tbr. Tbr. And you see it in the story, like, oh, I saw that on TikTok.
- [36:07]
Kennedy
So.
- [36:07]
Reggie
And it's one that I'm like, I listen to the audiobook, but I'm like, I actually need that cover on my shelf.
- [36:14]
BK Borison
Yeah, Yeah.
- [36:15]
Reggie
I can't say that about a lot of romance books when it comes to, like, the COVID art. So anyways, sorry, we're clearly obsessed.
- [36:23]
BK Borison
They. When they told me it was releasing in February, I was like, okay, well, it needs to be pink and red like I was. Or pink red and like the color tones. Because I knew visually, like, the girls on social media would be like, holding it up and like, I wanted people to love the color palette. And that's why we went with Miriam too, because Miriam is so, so talented with, like, gradients and colors and so definitely very specific about all those choices.
- [36:55]
Mikayla
I guess we kind of skipped over this question and I really just want to know, like, what is your writing process look like from, like, start to finish? Does it take you a long time to write a book? Do you, like, write a little bit of one book and then go to a different one? Like, what is your entire writing process look like.
- [37:16]
BK Borison
A mess?
- [37:18]
Mikayla
Sorry, that's a hard question.
- [37:19]
BK Borison
No, no, I'm so. I can only work on one project at a time because if My brain splits up. Then, like, the character starts sounding like the same. So I'm definitely, like, one at a time. My first draft takes the longest because I'm trying to figure everything out. And I write in order. Like, I don't. I only write and I. I plot out a little bit before I start. Like, I know the big things, but, like, everything in between is a surprise when it happens. So that makes for very slow drafting. Usually my draft takes, gosh, anywhere between, like, three to six months to write a first draft, but then the next draft is very, very quick. So, like, I just turned in the first draft for Ghosted 2, just got edits back on that, and then it's due in two weeks. So, like, I can turn it around in two weeks because everything, like, all the big pieces are there. I'm just filling in, like, the cracks. So once that first draft is done, it's fairly quick from there. Unless, like, I have a mental breakdown during the tractor, which was kind of. And now back to you was such a show, for lack of a better word, because I was. I had just had a baby. I was postpartum. My brain was not functioning at the level it should have been. Or maybe it should have been because I just created a whole human life. I don't know. But that editing process, I think it shifts with every book in terms of, like, where I'm at as a human being. But, yeah, ideally, heavy first draft. Everything else goes as it goes. Wow.
- [39:06]
Mikayla
Well, it seems like you've been so busy.
- [39:09]
Kennedy
Yeah, I'm in awe. How many books ahead you are. I'm like, oh, my gosh, we're going to be, like, fed.
- [39:15]
Mikayla
Yes.
- [39:15]
BK Borison
You, like, you have to be in trad, like, traditional publishing. Like, I started out indie, and you sort of. You write a book, you publish it. You write a book, you publish it. In traditional publishing, like, you have to have the manuscript in a year before it's published so that they can do, like, the distribution and, like, make the arcs and like, all this stuff that takes this long amount of time. So, yeah, I'm working on fall. What year is this? 26 right now.
- [39:47]
Reggie
Oh, my gosh.
- [39:48]
Mikayla
Wow. Well, are you taking care of yourself? Are you Seriously, vacations, like, you deserve one. So I hope you have, like, a vacation plan sometime soon.
- [39:59]
BK Borison
Take a little break after tour this fall for good spirits. I will have a vacation with my family. But yeah, no, this is. This is not a job I ever thought I would get to have. And writing doesn't feel like work. Like, it's. I Tell love stories. Like, that's the best job in the world. So it doesn't. It doesn't feel like it's busy, but it doesn't feel like work, you know?
- [40:24]
Mikayla
Yeah, I love that.
- [40:25]
Reggie
That's so nice.
- [40:27]
Mikayla
Well, it honestly comes across that way that it just comes so naturally to you. And I love that it doesn't, like, feel like work for you, because I think it correlates to your work and how natural the characters come and. And I think, you know, you said you kind of like trauma dump on the pages, but I think it's refreshing to have characters that a lot of people can relate to or, like, trauma that other people can relate to. So I think you just have something so special with, like, your work in your brain. We're just big fans of your brain.
- [41:04]
BK Borison
Yeah, my. One of my best friends always says, like, I love whatever's wrong with you. And so. So I feel like. Yeah, that summarizes it.
- [41:14]
Reggie
Oh, that's amazing. Well, we have a few questions that aren't necessarily related specifically to your books, but kind of like you as a reader.
- [41:24]
BK Borison
Okay.
- [41:25]
Reggie
Do you read a lot?
- [41:26]
BK Borison
Oh, yeah.
- [41:26]
Reggie
Like, I know you're writing a lot, but do you have time to read? Is that something you even enjoy doing? Or you're like, no, I need to focus on writing if I'm.
- [41:37]
BK Borison
I. I think it's important if you're a writer to read in the genre and to read diversely so that you can see, like, what other. I think it's good for your brain. It, like, feeds the creative part of your brain. So I try to take in between, like, rounds of drafting. I try to take two weeks for just reading. And if I get a really exciting arc that somebody wants a blurb for, then I usually just stop and read it, because I did. I always say that the long. The long game for becoming a writer was because I wanted more books. So, yeah, I definitely am a big reader still, for sure.
- [42:12]
Reggie
Cool. So do you have a favorite romance book? Is there one that you even like from growing up?
- [42:22]
BK Borison
It's hard to choose a favorite. Princess Diaries probably really shaped me as a young person. Um, I'm trying to think what. I read a lot of fantasy growing up. Like, that was my genre of choice. And then post college, I got back into romance, I think, with the Hating Game by Sally Thorne.
- [42:43]
Reggie
Oh, yeah.
- [42:45]
BK Borison
That was like my re entry back into romance. And then it was just like a snowball effect in terms of devouring everything. And I feel like we're in such a boom of romance. Right now that there's no shortage of really excellent writers.
- [43:02]
Mikayla
Well, you mentioned your friend Sarah Adams at the beginning. Hey, Sarah, do you guys, like, like, get ideas from each other or do you guys, like, how does that work between, like, the dynamic between, like, your author friends?
- [43:22]
BK Borison
Well, it's funny because, like, it's such a weird job that not a lot of people understand it. And I feel like the romance community is a lot smaller than people think. And it's very isolating to just be, like, drafting all day, like, by yourself. It's a job that you don't have co workers, and so it's great to connect with other authors to sort of discuss the different pain points with publishers and drafting and experiences with, like, touring and are you working with this artist or that artist? So, yeah, I have a bunch of author friends who have been really great in terms of community. Sarah's one of those. Sarah was, like, one of the first authors that reached out to me when I was indie because she started Indy, too. And we're at a very similar place in our life with our children and our families and our careers. So it's great to have someone to be a sounding board on all things authory.
- [44:18]
Reggie
So fun.
- [44:19]
Mikayla
It's so good to hear that there's.
- [44:21]
Kennedy
Yeah, like, a little community of romance authors. All three of us were wedding photographers. And so not that it's the same thing, but it's kind of an isolating job because you're sitting in an office by yourself. And that's how we originally met was just through community that way. So it's good to hear the other creative fields also have the same thing.
- [44:40]
BK Borison
You would be surprised by how many of us talk to each other and, like, across subgenres and stuff. Like, I'm seeing Bryn Weaver later this week, and I'm excited to just squeeze her. You know, it's just like. It's like, people are like, I'll have a signing. And people are like, well, I don't know if you know this book, but, like, Butcher and Blackburn. I'm like, of course, Butcher and Black. Just because I write soft, cozy romances doesn't mean I. I don't read dark romance, you know, like. Or if someone was like, I asked someone what their book club was called, and she was like, well, there's this book called Morning Glory Milking From. I'm like, of course I know Sam. Like, people assume that I have no idea who these, like, titans in the industry are, but it's funny. Yeah, it's funny.
- [45:24]
Mikayla
It makes me feel Glad that, like, you guys can get a release from that, but also have your community that can relate. Because I'm sure your husband, he's probably very supportive, but he sometimes probably just doesn't get.
- [45:39]
Reggie
Yeah.
- [45:40]
Mikayla
Your industry. And so I'm just glad that you guys have friendships.
- [45:44]
Reggie
That's what's fun.
- [45:45]
Mikayla
Yeah, it just honestly makes my heart melt that you guys can just like talk to each other and you guys can relate to each other because I feel like we can all relate to that.
- [45:56]
Kennedy
I want to be a fly on the wall and just like a little lunch that you guys have and just.
- [45:59]
BK Borison
See what you guys talk about. It's just goofy. It's just goofy.
- [46:03]
Reggie
You don't sound weird at all, do you?
- [46:08]
BK Borison
Sorry. The best part about tour is like getting to see your friends, like in different cities. So that's. I'm looking forward to that in October.
- [46:16]
Reggie
Oh, fun.
- [46:17]
Mikayla
That's so fun. So almost like a vacation before your vacation. Like see your friends meeting up and stuff like that.
- [46:24]
BK Borison
Yeah, I get to catch up with all my. All my buddies.
- [46:29]
Reggie
So fun. Well, we like to end every interview just asking you a question of something. Like, what is something that you are just currently obsessed with for listeners to get to know you a little better, Whether it's like a TV show you're watching, a product that you're loving. A snack.
- [46:48]
BK Borison
A snack. I like foodies, so I love eating probably too much.
- [46:56]
Kennedy
We love a good snack.
- [46:57]
BK Borison
I love a chip. I'm big in my chip phase right now. I'm a salty over sweet. I literally was unpacking. I'm in my office right now and I was unpacking a purse from a trip I just took and there were two bags of half eaten chips in there. I was like, I should probably stop doing that. But then I ate the chips. I have no idea.
- [47:20]
Reggie
What's your favorite chip?
- [47:21]
BK Borison
I. So I'm a Maryland girl. I really love crab chips, which are potato chips with like crab seasoning on them. They're really delicious.
- [47:28]
Reggie
Okay, Never had that.
- [47:30]
BK Borison
I also just love a wavy potato chip. Like, nothing. We're talking about chips now. Things I'm obsessed with writing wise. I just read Cat Sebastian has a book coming out next year called Starship. And I had never read any of her books before. And Avon sent me this one to read. And I read it and, like, it instantly, like, lit up all my brain synapses and I was like, this is incredible. So I bought her entire backlist and I've just been crushing through all of her books because it's just something about her writing does beautiful things to my brain and I'm just consumed entirely. So highly recommend Starship, I think. When does it come out? March. March of next year.
- [48:17]
Mikayla
Adding that to my tbr. Yeah. Oh that's so fun. Well this was such a fun interview. Thank you for letting us pick your brain and letting us ask weird questions. We are so excited to read your book and everyone else should go add this and pre order it. Can you pre order it pretty much anywhere?
- [48:42]
BK Borison
Any you can pre order it anywhere. I think there's a Target Special edition that's red. I don't. Oh here it is.
- [48:49]
Kennedy
Oh wait, do I need the Target Special Edition? I might. Oh yeah. Are you kidding?
- [49:00]
BK Borison
And there's a. I think there's a bonus chapter maybe.
- [49:03]
Reggie
Oh fun.
- [49:05]
BK Borison
There's like a million and one special editions. Owlcrate is doing one, Afterlight's doing one and then it's available. The blue version will also have sprayed edges in the US and that'll be available wherever. Books are so amazing.
- [49:21]
Kennedy
Well, we cannot wait.
- [49:23]
Reggie
October 21st. Can't wait. And yeah, thanks again. We really appreciate it. It's so fun to meet you and chat with you and best of luck with all that you have coming. It sounds so fun.
- [49:37]
BK Borison
Thank you for having me sa.