#53: How Pride and Prejudice Inspired 'Behind Five Willows' With June Hur

More from Off The Shelf with Morgann Book All episodes →

1. 

   10 Sep 2026 · 35 min

   #58 Joss Richard: Why Romance Needs A Third Act Breakup

   Have you wondered why the second book is always harder to write than a debut? This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits (back) down with Joss Richard to chat about her latest release, Let’s Kiss and Tell. Inspired by one of her favourite romantic comedies, Joss shares her writing and research process for a book rooted in sex positivity. She also shares what it was like to write after the success of her debut novel, It’s Different This Time, and what is coming next… CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro & Welcome 00:39 Joss Weighs In On The Jeremiah vs. Conrad Debate 03:24 Why Authors Need A Life Outside Of…

2. 

   1 Sep 2026 · 37 min

   #57 Lily Chu: How Audiobooks Have Changed Her Writing Process

   Did you know Lily Chu found her agent through a Twitter contest? This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with Audible author Lily Chu to discuss her latest release, Just Kiss Already. Inspired by the hit television series Bones and her own archaeology background, Lily shares her research process, from interviewing a forensic anthropologist to filmmakers to craft the perfect story. She also shares what it’s like collaborating with actress and narrator Phillipa Soo and teases her next three books. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro & Welcome 02:04 Finding Her Agent Through Twitter 04:11 The…

3. 

   30 Jul 2026 · 44 min

   #56: Victoria S. Walsh Reveals What Everyone Gets Wrong About Writing Plus Size Heroines

   This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with Victoria S. Walsh to talk about turning a lifelong dream into reality with her debut fantasy novel, The Iron Hex. From manifesting and leaving her corporate job to building a fantasy trilogy, writing meaningful representation, and why book pre-orders matter more than you think, Victoria shares the story behind her journey to becoming a published author. Plus, she teases what's next for The Iron Hex series and beyond. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro & Welcome 03:49 Dreaming of Becoming an Author 05:08 Childhood Stories & Supportive Parents 07:01 Why…

4. 

   23 Jul 2026 · 40 min

   #55: How Taylor Swift Inspired Molly Fader's 'Lady X'

   This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with author Molly Fader, who's written more than 50 books under various pen names - including one that made its way into Suicide Squad. They talk about her latest release, Lady X, a vigilante girl gang story set in 1977 New York City that was partly sparked by Taylor Swift's "Vigilante Shit." Molly opens up about switching literary agents after 25 years, the research that shaped the book, and what keeps her chasing that "lightning strike" feeling after six decades' worth of stories. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro & Welcome 02:38 Publishing Her First Book…

5. 

   16 Jul 2026 · 46 min

   #54: How the Lucky Adaptation Came to Life with Marissa Stapley

   This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with bestselling Canadian author Marissa Stapley, whose novel Lucky became Reese's Book Club's first-ever Canadian pick and is now being adapted into an Apple TV+ series starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Drew Starkey, and Annette Bening. Marissa shares the heartbreaking story behind writing Lucky while caring for her mom, how Reese Witherspoon discovered the book, what it was really like keeping the Reese's Book Club secret, and why she always pictured Anya Taylor-Joy as Lucky. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro & Welcome 00:35 - Why Marissa always knew she'd be a…

6. 

   25 Jun 2026 · 50 min

   #52: Elle Kennedy Reveals Which Off Campus Character She Almost Killed Off

   This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with bestselling author Elle Kennedy, the writer behind the beloved Off Campus books. Elle shares how she knew she wanted to be an author at just six years old, what it felt like selling her first novel, and why she almost never self-published The Deal. They also dive into the biggest behind-the-scenes secrets from the Off-Campus series, including the original plans for Tucker, why Dean almost ended up with someone else, what it was like visiting the set of the TV adaptation, and more! CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro & Welcome 02:35 Wanting to be an author…

7. 

   18 Jun 2026 · 53 min

   #51: Why Matt Haig Reads 1-Star Reviews of The Midnight Library

   This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with Matt Haig, bestselling author of The Midnight Library, The Midnight Train, and Reasons to Stay Alive. Matt opens up about the mental health crisis that changed the course of his life, how writing became part of his recovery, and why The Midnight Library was the most freeing book he's ever written. We also discuss the upcoming film adaptation starring Florence Pugh, the inspiration behind Nora Seed, social media, AI, creativity, and what he hopes readers take away from The Midnight Train. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction 01:16 Why Matt Reads His…

8. 

   11 Jun 2026 · 50 min

   #50: Lauren Kate Was Rejected 76 Times Before Writing 'Fallen'

   This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with bestselling author Lauren Kate to talk about the teacher who inspired her to keep writing, the 76 rejection letters she still has, and how Fallen became a global phenomenon. Plus, Lauren shares the latest on the Fallen TV series and why she returned to the world of angels with her newest novel, White Lights. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction 01:04 International Emmy & The Fallen Legacy 02:04 Ballet, Books & Growing Up Creative 04:12 The Teacher Who Changed Everything 10:12 Discovering Writing in College 13:08 76 Rejection Letters Before Success…

9. 

   4 Jun 2026 · 47 min

   #49: Why Heartless Hunter Was Kristen Ciccarelli's Last Chance

   This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with bestselling fantasy author Kristen Ciccarelli to talk about the journey from writing stories on her dad's old laptop with no internet to creating the global romantasy phenomenon Heartless Hunter. Kristen shares the inspiration behind Rebel Witch, the surprising moment she realized Heartless Hunter was taking off around the world, why the book has two different titles, and more! CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 1:19 - The Real Story Behind Rebel Witch 2:43 - Writing Fantasy as a Kid 9:13 - Life Before Publishing 12:12 - The Writing Shed 15:00 -…

10. 

    28 May 2026 · 47 min

    #48: Why Brooke Averick Used Her Own Anxiety in Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It

    This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with Brooke Averick to talk about her debut novel Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It, going from teaching preschool to building a career online, and why writing a book felt more intimidating than going viral. Brooke opens up about imposter syndrome, pulling from her own experiences with anxiety, BookTok favourites, and the story behind bringing Phoebe to life. CHAPTERS: 0:30 - Introduction 1:08 - What is Brooke obsessed with right now? 2:35 - Brooke’s Teaching & Creator Career 5:25 - Brooke and Connor Make A Podcast 6:55 - Entering BookTok 14:10 -…