S2E8: In Her Wildest Dreams: Romance Novelist Annabel Monaghan is Living a Love Story

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In this episode of I’ll Meet You There, host Paige Nolan welcomes Annabel Monaghan, the bestselling author known for her uplifting romance novels, to share her inspiring journey from aspiring writer to published author at age 52. Annabel reflects on finding her authentic voice, the joy of connecting with readers, and the creative process that brings her beloved stories to life.

The conversation explores how motherhood and life experience have shaped her writing, the supportive community within the romance genre, and the richness that comes from pursuing dreams later in life. Annabel offers valuable insights on embracing personal growth, balancing creativity with everyday responsibilities, and recognizing how wisdom and resilience make us more equipped for new endeavors.

This episode is a heartfelt celebration of authenticity, second acts, and the transformative power of feel-good stories to bring more love, hope, and connection into the world.

What We Explored This Episode

05:31 Growing up in Los Angeles and early memories

10:19 Writing Nora Goes Off Script during COVID

15:30 Balancing motherhood and writing career

21:22 Finding your authentic voice as a writer

26:12 Creating relatable family dynamics in fiction

31:30 Reflections on parenting adult children

37:13 The supportive romance writing community

43:05 Working with editors to improve manuscripts

45:23 Wisdom and qualifications gained with age

49:48 Possibility of Nora Goes Off Script movie adaptation

Memorable Quotes

"Whatever we're trying to do, if we show up as ourselves to do it, people relate to it more...we need to see authentic things. People speaking in their own voices."

"It's been fun to figure out my own kind of writing...it's fun to be yourself and be at peace with it instead of thinking it could be something else."

“You're never going to have as beautiful or as painful of a relationship with anyone you meet at 40 years old as you are going to have with the people in your family who you grew up with.”

Resources Mentioned

Headshot Photographer: @alisonrodilossophotography

Connect with Annabel

Instagram: @annabelmonaghan.com

Website: www.annabelmonaghan.com

Connect with Paige

Website - https://paigenolan.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paigenolanwrite

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/paigenolanwriter

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paige-nolan-0932751/

🎙️

Music by Boyd McDonnell

Cover art photography by Innis Casey

Podcast production & marketing by North Node Podcast Network