Latest / Cait & Court's Cozy Corner: Romance Readers / Let's Talk About: Meet Cute Magic with the author Morgan Elizabeth
Transcript
- Cait: Hi. Court: Hi. Cait: Welcome back to season two of Cait and Court's Cozy Corner: Court: Romance Readers. Cait: Where we only talk about books that we love. And we're bringing you all of our favorite romance and romantasy reads because Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: our motto is Court: When people say that you don't need spice to make a book good, well you don't need running shoes to run, but it helps. Caitlin Stryker: And you know the drill, like and subscribe wherever you listen to our podcasts. Cait: Hi. Welcome back to Cait and Court's Cozy Corner. And as you can see, we have a special guest with us today. Morgan Morgan Elizabeth: Mm-hmm. Court: Yes. Cait: Elizabeth. Say hi. Morgan Elizabeth: Hi, how are you guys? Thanks for having me. Court: So good to have you. Cait: We're good. Yeah. Thank you for coming on. All right, today we are talking about Morgan's book, Meet Cute Magic. Morgan Elizabeth: You have Court: Woo. Morgan Elizabeth: the ARC! Slay. I had to steal one of those for Cait: What Morgan Elizabeth: my PA. I was at an event and I literally texted her, I was like, Do you want one? She's like, please, I will give you the child that I'm never gonna have. Like, please. I'm like, I just shipped it to her and she's like, thank you. I have the real one. yeah. I finally got Court: That is amazing. I don't have the ARC. I did I did Net Gallery. But yes, it's coming out this week, so you should have it. Morgan Elizabeth: my like real, my real copies. They're so pretty. They're like really Cait: I'm so crazy. Court: So pretty. Ugh. Morgan Elizabeth: floppy. Like. Court: love a good floppy paperback romance. You don't feel like you're wrecking it. Morgan Elizabeth: I know. There Cait: Ooh. I love I Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: actually I really love the cover. I'm so glad Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: the art stayed the same 'cause when it was the ARC, and I was it was like it might not be final and I was like, I hope it is. I Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, that Cait: was like Morgan Elizabeth: was like the original, like the sketch. Like they sent me a bunch of different, like like d mock-ups, I guess, I guess is the right word. And that was one Court: Mm-hmm. Morgan Elizabeth: of the sketches, like second draft, first draft, I don't know. so it's really cool that they used that. I love that they did that for the ARC. I think it's like a really cool thing they did. Court: Yeah. Then you get the ins and outs. Well Cait: Yeah. It's so cool. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: let's tell everyone what we're talking about now that we've seen the two covers of it. Morgan, do you want to tell us about your book? Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Yeah. So I would love to. Meet Cute Magic is a witchy rom com that feels like Halloweentown meets Practical Magic in a Gilmore Girls setting. And it's about Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: Mm-hmm. Morgan Elizabeth: a bookstore owner named Rosie. She's a witch and she specializes in love magic. And unfortunately for her, she helps people fall in love, but she has a family curse that stops her from falling in love, which is like total bummer and kind of the worst case scenario for someone who's like a hopeless Court: Mm-hmm. Morgan Elizabeth: romantic. And after a really, really bad breakup, she is like, screw this. I'm kind of over it. Summons the warlock who's cursed her family, and he's like, Yeah, I can totally break this curse. Unfortunately for you, I need you to get my grandson to help you. And unfortunately for her, he's the grumpy gamer who lives across the street and cannot stand her. So, like, they have to work together to get all the ingredients for this potion to help break the curse and also help his grandfather move over to the afterlife. And it's just chaos and silliness and A Halloween treat. Court: Yes, yes, Cait: Yes. Court: It's a perfect cozy fall romance with some slutty little glasses that we all love on our main male character. I Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Yeah. Yes. He's my like slutty nerd. I love him. Court: love I'm wearing my husband's Cait: no. Court: gamer shirt in honor of his gamer side, his Elden Ring. I was like, I've got the shirt for this book because I fell for the geeky gamer dude. So I totally get the appeal. He owns the gamer store. Morgan Elizabeth: I love to see it. Yeah. Love it. Yeah. Court: Across the street from a romance Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: bookstore, which obviously match made in heaven in any romance setting in this small Cait: Totally. Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: town. And it's so fun. Like you start it and you've got the Cait: It's so Court: pumpkin, you've got the title. You're like, this is gonna be a perfect October cozy fall read. But Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: Yeah. Court: then it takes you on this unexpected ride that I we aren't doing spoilers yet, but when we get there, Cait: Not yeah. Court: like I Morgan Elizabeth: Ha ha ha. Court: will just say without a spoiler, but the steam you threw into this book. The spice Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: that comes at at us I wasn't expecting it to go. I'm like, my god. Okay, Morgan is now my new best friend because she knows how to write a very sexy main male character. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: Yes. Court: and very well. I will say that. Cait: Yeah. Well that's what makes it so fun. Morgan Elizabeth: Ha Cait: It's so cozy and sweet and you Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: sell it so well when you're like, yeah, it's like Practical Magic meets Halloweentown, meets Gilmore Girls. And then you get real spice in there too. And it's like, Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: yes, this is everything I want in a fall book. And even I was Court: Yes. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: selling my sister on it and I was like, It's also a Halloween advent calendar. Like, you know, it Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: chapter is like forty nine days Court: Yeah, it's a countdown to Halloween. Cait: till Halloween, X amount of days till Halloween. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. We did find out that it technically does start September eleventh and I was like, the timing of that wasn't great. My friend texted me and I was like, Do you know that that's technically September eleventh? And I was Cait: no. Morgan Elizabeth: like, No, I did not know that. so no Cait: You're like that is not an Easter egg. Oops. Court: Pretend it's the eighth. Well pretend it's the eighth, the drop day. We're gonna go with the eighth. Morgan Elizabeth: dying. When she Cait: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: texted me that I was like Court: No Morgan Elizabeth: So shout out to Ashley for figuring that out because that's very funny to me. But Cait: I mean, I guess it was something I had intended to count back to be like when is the perfect day to start each chapter? Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, me too, honestly. Court: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yes. Yeah, I know. Morgan Elizabeth: But yeah, no, it's it was mostly- so that was so The, the publishing house that picked up Meet Cute Magic also picked up Tis the Season and Big Nick Energy, which are my two holiday re-releases that did really well and they are redoing the print for it. I kept the ebook, but those books have a countdown to Christmas. And she was like, Can we do the same thing for Halloween? I was like, Yeah, sure. But then I had to do math and I was like, Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: I'm trying to now do math around moon phases, which the amount Cait: Ooh, yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: of like things I had to figure out was I'm always anxious someone's gonna look it up and then be like, that's not accurate. Court: Yes. Yes. Cait: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: No one's gonna be looking up the moon phases, I promise. Like I can almost guarantee. But like I was so, I'm always so anxious that someone's gonna be like, actually... So I was trying. Court: Right, and you want to back it up. Cait: We've all been on the internet, you know, like we know. We know what they will troll you for. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Well, yeah. Court: Yeah. If there's something they can pick. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. If you a if someone will post me on threads and then my stomach will hurt for like four weeks. Like it'll it'll Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: be a whole thing. Court: But we should tell people the reason we have this amazing countdown is so basically Rosie, as you were saying, she wants to break the curse. She summons this ghost who appears to her in the circle and is supposed to be trapped there, but her cat Percy comes in and knocks the salt circle and he gets loose in her place. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Court: And she's like, no, like her mom had warned her never to call ghosts. Never do it Cait: It's very Yeah. Court: alone. Don't- She ignores all of that, breaks all the rules because Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Yeah. Court: she's so upset about her last breakup. And he gets loose in her apartment and is basically like, okay, if you break my curse by gathering this potion by the next full moon, or something that's 44 days away, I Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: think? Halloween. It was Halloween. It was lining up with Halloween. Morgan Elizabeth: It wa yeah, it was I don't I don't yeah. How yeah, I just know it's Halloween. I just know because I had to do a full moon on Halloween and I was like, this is so much work. The math you Court: Yes. Morgan Elizabeth: guys. Court: So Cait: It is I wouldn't even I wouldn't have even thought of that. I was just like this is such a like way to go and you do Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. I, I and I'm sure no one else will. But for me, like again, the anxiety of it all, I was like, what if someone says this isn't when the half moon would be. I yeah, I was like waning, waxing and then I'm looking at moon phases. Oh it was a mess. Court: Yeah, you got you had your waxing moon, you had your lum you were there. You were fully in it. Yes. Yes. Cait: Well but it and it's Court: I was there with you though. Cait: But also because like Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: she's a witch and her sisters are witches and the whole thing, it's like I mean, she does need to know. You know what I mean? They would Morgan Elizabeth: They would know. Yeah. Unfortunately Court: Yeah, they would know when it's happening. Morgan Elizabeth: I don't know. Court: No. Like honestly, Kate and I have a book we've been writing for a long time that's on the back burner, but it has witches and spells. And like even us just trying to figure out the different equinoxes and when it would line up and the timing. It's, it's a mental game of like, wait, when would that have Morgan Elizabeth: dude, it's bruff. Yeah. Court: to be? What y what time of year? Like it's Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, even like Court: So good job. Morgan Elizabeth: trying to think of like cool ingre- potion ingredients is just like... I'm like, you guys, this is more this is intense. Court: Yes. But you did a great job though, because you made Cait: Changed my Yeah, you did. Court: it magical, but you made it magical in a way Morgan Elizabeth: Thank you. Court: that just felt like, I just accept that this is normal. Like it wasn't too far either direction. You're just like, yeah, this is their life Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: Yeah, really. Court: and this is what kind of witches they are. And it totally Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: felt like, yeah, I buy that. That's what Cait: Yeah. Court: this Morgan Elizabeth: Ha ha Court: is. Cait: You need golden rules for their magic and that that is the like leeway. Court: Yes. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. I try to I try to keep it as simple as like, because I always say like the thing- I read a lot of fantasy. My two favorite Court: Mm-hmm. Morgan Elizabeth: genres, which makes no sense because I write all rom coms is fantasy, like romantasy, and mafia, which again makes no sense. But those are my two, those are like my brand. Dude, give me a mafia romance all day, every day. I love a mafia. So, which again, it makes no sense, Court: but a mafia romances are also put it together, right? my gosh, yes. Morgan Elizabeth: but I could never write a fantasy because the, the the creating an entire world and the magic Court: Yes. Morgan Elizabeth: system and the world building... Oh, it couldn't be me. That's why I was like, okay, this Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: is a town. This is a normal town. Everything is very normal, except for this one thing. So it's easier that way. It's easier to also keep my brain like on it. Court: It is, but it's hard to do well. And you did. So that's the thing. Everyone that seems Morgan Elizabeth: I appreciate it. Thank you. Court: like the simple thing to do, Cait: Yeah. Court: but it's so easy to go wrong in so many books that you start to read like that. And you almost just get a toothache, or you're it's just it's too much Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: and small and trying to grab too many things. And your simplicity of it made it so enjoyable as the reader and able to just dive in with it. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. I appreciate that. Cait: Yeah. Court: So it it's great. Yeah. And I agree with you. I read fantasy I'm always like, could never do this. Like the world feeling like this is too much. Morgan Elizabeth: Dude, even just like the names of things, like I hate that's the other thing. Like everyone makes fun who works with me, like makes fun, makes I hate naming things. I hate naming places, Court: There. Morgan Elizabeth: I hate naming people. The amount of times I've had like side characters that are mentioned in like five different books, like, are they related? No. I just don't Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: have that many names in my brain. Like, you guys, I don't know. so I hate- but I can't imagine having to Court: Mm-hmm. Morgan Elizabeth: name like an entire fantasy land. No. No, no way. Could never be me. Dude! Court: No, and get the pronunciations wrong or if someone comes at you that you butchered a language that you're like, I didn't know that was a word. I thought I meant Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: It surely it would I w it could never be me. I'm just like you guys, this is a lot of work for me. Court: But this is good. This, this genre suits you. I mean, I would love to see you Morgan Elizabeth: Ha ha ha. Court: do a mafia romance too, because now you saying that, do you? Morgan Elizabeth: I ha so I do, I have a mafia duet, but it's like a, a, a mafia rom-com. It's like a it's we call it non-dar- So my readers call it closed door violence, open door smut. So it's like it's like mafia Court: I love those mafia ones. Morgan Elizabeth: that's like funny, silly, goofy. It's inspired by The Sopranos, because I'm from Jersey, so I was like, I feel Court: There. Morgan Elizabeth: like I need a Sopranos book. Anyway, that's that's my plug Cait: Yeah, you do. Morgan Elizabeth: for my, my, my random ass. Court: Yes. What is it called? No, what's Cait: Yeah, what's it called? Okay. Court: it called? Okay. Morgan Elizabeth: the mastermind duet. It's Ivory Tower and Diamond Fortress, so Court: Okay, I will read them for sure. I love Well, and I can see your influence on our main male character a little bit of that mafia when he's in the bedroom. Like there's okay, so to go into spoilers a little bit, it's a Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. no. Okay, so I love a dirty talk. Court: romance. We know they're gonna get together. This is a romance. It'd be very weird if there was no love interest. So Morgan Elizabeth: They're gonna get together. Cait: They have to make Yeah, no. Court: Obviously he Cait: Yeah. Court: becomes the lovin', just the grumpy across the Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: street gamer. the, the, the ghost tells her, you have to go get my grandson because he has this flask that I've touched and the potion has to be in something I've touched. So you have to go steal it from him and you can do this potion. She goes to try to break in and do that. He catches her and she's forced to reveal the truth to him and prove that his grandfather is not only back from the dead a ghost, but she's a witch, which Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: Yeah. Court: of course he doesn't believe right away. And she shows him and then he's Well, I'm doing this with you. And then the grandfather changes the rules and is like, Well, it has to be given willingly. And if he won't give you the flask... She's like, What are you talking about? You just told me I could go get it. Yeah. And he's nope, he has Morgan Elizabeth: She's like, I'm just gonna steal it. Yeah. Court: to go with you. It's so fun. And they start this, and he's Morgan Elizabeth: Dad. Court: this like geeky, grumpy guy because she messes up, like, she's just I recognize myself and her. She walks in, doesn't mean to, but knocks over. Yeah, things get knocked Morgan Elizabeth: She's a human tornado. Court: over accidentally. Best intentions. But you know, it happens to the best of us. And all Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: of a sudden this geek ends fumbling. And then when they get together and they decide and their like tension has been building and building, they finally get together. He turns into like the hottest man that Cait: my gosh. Court: takes control in the bedroom. Like Cait: Yes. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: total speaking. Morgan Elizabeth: So that's like Cait: It's Morgan Elizabeth: my favorite thing to write. Cait: true. You don't see it coming and then you're like and then I was like, Okay. Court: You don't Yes. Morgan Elizabeth: It fits. Like, I think that there's a weird Court: Yes. Morgan Elizabeth: line sometimes where, like, you ever read a book where it's like he is golden retriever and then he's randomly like, suck my and it's like, sorry, where does this come from? Court: Yes, yes, and you don't like it. Yes, no, no, no. Cait: You're like, what? Morgan Elizabeth: I think the brooding helps make it make sense. Like, he's very Cait: It does. Court: Yes. Morgan Elizabeth: broody, very to himself. And then later there's a scene he's like, no, I can get girls, I just don't want to. Court: I loved that part. Cait: Yeah. Court: I loved Morgan Elizabeth: She's like, Court: that. Morgan Elizabeth: Well you're you don't have girls and he's like, Wait, wait, wait, wait. Back up. I can get girls. Like I can get it. I thought that was very funny to myself. Cait: Yeah. It's Court: Well and that he's He's only bumbly to her. Yeah. Yeah. Cait: funny and like needed. Yeah. I also Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: He Cait: at that point, like and it dropped in like all of this drops in like at the right time with Jack, you know, like where he can get girls, where he is like dominating in the bedroom and everything. It's like right at that Court: Mary's confidence. Cait: moment where it's like, I he's I've bought in that he's the sexy gamer with glasses next door. Like I've bought in on that. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: But I, I want a little more. to get me excited about this, you know? And then you g- you deliver it and it's like, Okay, yes, this is how I wanted. Because Rosie is such a tornado. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. We're we're all in. I know, because you don't want it to be like a Court: Yeah. Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: You don't like... I feel like it's r- would have been really easy, because I thought about it for like a split second. I was like, no, I don't like that. Cait: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: of making him like a nerd, like almost like virginal, where he's like, Cait: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: oh man, I just- But like, not for nothing, that's not my vibe. That wouldn't do it for me personally. So Court: Yeah. No. No, it wouldn't have worked. It would have been too heartbreaking Cait: No. Mm mm. No, so Court: then later, which but like it all would have been like poor baby, as opposed to like Yeah. No, I, I think you did the right thing. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, it would have been like it would have been too Yeah. Cait: Even Rosie. Like Like even for the main, for the main female character, like she Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: needed somebody who could- because she's so strong and dominating Morgan Elizabeth: Yes. Cait: all these things. So like she does need somebody who can like take care of her instead. You Morgan Elizabeth: Yes. Cait: know what I mean? In some ways. Court: Mm. Cait: And so if he was more virginal, it'd be like, oh gosh, she has to do everything. Like... Morgan Elizabeth: It yeah. It Court: Yeah, another person to take care of. Morgan Elizabeth: it would have been like a dominatrix situation and like I don't think I could write that. Court: I think you could, but I don't think it's Rosie. Yeah. I think you can write it. Maybe one of the sisters will just Poppy, the sweet innocent Poppy. Cait: Yeah. Well I think you could. Morgan Elizabeth: I'm gonna call up Sara Cate and she's gonna give me some tips. It'll be fine. Court: Exactly. Cait: Okay, so from here on, there may be some spoilers. So if you have not read the book and you're listening, watching, go read the book and join us or carry on if you don't mind knowing in advance, which I feel like is also a thing, especially for romance readers. They're like, I kind of know what's gonna happen. Morgan Elizabeth: I know what's gonna happen. Yeah. Court: It's not really a big spoiler. Morgan Elizabeth: I I am, I will say, I am a let me read the last chapter person. People are, I am like a psycho because especially I think it started from like love triangles and being like really torn by love triangles. I won't read love triangle anymore. I never pick the right person. Court: Ugh I feel you. I hate them. Morgan Elizabeth: I never Cait: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: pick the right person, and that really pisses me off. Court: Jennifer Lynn Barnes ruined that. Sh- Jennifer Barnes ruined that for me. The whole the get- The Inheritance Games. Morgan Elizabeth: It pisses me off. Court: Yes. No, I get torn on love triangles. I don't like them. Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, so I like to know who I should be rooting for. I'm just like, let me just figure this out. Cait: Yeah. Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: So Cait: Yeah. Court: I I'm that way too. I've rushed. Like I either have to read it all in one sitting or over two days, or I have to Morgan Elizabeth: Mm-hmm. Court: like skip to the end to know if I'm not gonna have time. Cause I one, I read super fast, but Morgan Elizabeth: I mean just now. Court: also I need I need to remember and know what's happening. Like I don't know Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: if you've read Into the Blue we talked about on here. It's such a good book. Emma Brodie. It's really Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, I didn't read I've I've heard so good so many good things about it though. Court: good, but I had Cait: Right. Court: to skip ahead because everyone kept telling me it's gonna like kill you. And I'm like, I just need to know. I need to prepare. Like I can't go in blind. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. I just did that with Blood and Betrayal by Court: Ooh. Morgan Elizabeth: Jeanette and Alexis. It's so good. But I knew something bad happens at the end. And I was texting my friend, I was like, Does this happen? She's like, It's a very sensitive subject for me. And I was like, great, awesome. But I did guess it right. So there's that. Anyway. Yeah. No, there's no crying. Cait: There you go. Yeah. Court: You knew what was coming. But in this one you don't have to guess. There's no lamp triangle. This is a happy, cozy, perfect Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: That's what I love about it. Court: October romance. Cait: Like also because, you know, like spooky season and I just love Halloween everything, but I'm, I d- I don't love to be scared really. And I really can't read a scary book. And Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: so I'm like, this is the perfect Halloween read for someone like myself. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. No, Court: Yes. Morgan Elizabeth: It's, it's like Halloweentown. Like I know if you watched that movie when you were guys were kids, which is it's like a staple in my house. And Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: Mm-hmm. Morgan Elizabeth: I was really- I watched it every year with my kids and I was like, why is there not like a spicy version? 'Cause like I think this could be Court: Right? Morgan Elizabeth: sick. Like and then that, the, that Court: Nah, there is. Morgan Elizabeth: the rest is history, so. Cait: Yeah. Well, thank you. Court: It's the spicy version of that, of Gilmore Girls, of that, like that vibe that you want if you like those wholesome things, but then you want the spice. Cait: Mm-hmm. Yes. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: But I have to Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, you are Court: say, Morgan, like it's spice, but it's spice done well. It's satisfying spice. Like it Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: I appreciate that. Court: is fun to read spice that'll give you that little Cait: All right. Court: boost. Like it's a nice read before you go to bed to see your partner, husband, and then Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: like, Have a little fun after spice. Like it is good. Inspiring Cait: Yeah, totally. Court: spice, yes. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, yeah. No, that's like I never, I always say like I want it to feel like the spice had a right to feel realistic. Sometimes I think that like especially in like the worlds of like TikTok romance, it can get a little over the top. And Cait: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: I love that. Court: Mm-hmm. Morgan Elizabeth: But sometimes I'm like, I these are normal people I fear. we Court: Right. Morgan Elizabeth: don't need anything like crazy, crazy, crazy. So but it's fun. I just love dirty talk Court: No, it's well Morgan Elizabeth: to be honest. Court: That and I'm never like I hate the ones when I'm suddenly like, she'd have a UTI. Like I hate when I get pulled that way, Morgan Elizabeth: No! Litter! Court: right? This doesn't do that. This is just fun. And Cait: Yeah. No. Court: I'm like, no, this is all exactly like Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Yeah. If I have to again, I have really bad anxiety, so I'm always like, I don't wanna have to stress about things while I'm reading. Court: Yeah. Cait: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: I'm like, this is so stressful. Girlfriend's gonna get it, she's gonna get a yeast infection, guys. Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: They I like sometimes I read things and I'm like, did no one proofread this? Like, did no one like the her pH is off. Yeah. Like people are like they're- when they're like putting stuff up there and I'm like Court: Yeah, someone have her pee. Like at least let her pee. Do something. Like she needs I know. His warm cloth, I loved it. Cait: Like this not. Court: Oh yeah. I know. Cait: Yeah. Court: The things Morgan Elizabeth: Let's not do that. Court: the things that was are hot and I'm like, I'm just like itchy. Like I can't it just n Morgan Elizabeth: No, that's what he I'm like, that wouldn't feel good, guys. It's a mess. No. Yeah. Cait: No, no. Court: But this isn't that and he even gives her aftercare with a warm cloth and And she even talks about expectations from romance books, which was so smart that Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: you put in there. Like I, I loved that part of it too. Cait: Yes my gosh Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Well, Cait: I thought yes Morgan Elizabeth: I think like it was important for her to like she has these such high standards. So he needed to be able to hit all of those standards and hit all like the things that we love about a really good book boyfriend where he does, he takes care of her, but he also stands up for her and he teach- he teaches her how to like stand up for herself as well and the whole nine. A grand gesture. I love a grand gesture. I love a grand gesture. yeah, so Court: Yes. Cait: I do so much. So Court: It was so cute. Cait: yeah. Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: It was important for her to have all of those things because that's like her whole personality. And if she then settled for something outside of that, I'd like, What are you doing, girlfriend? Like, get off the floor. Cait: Yeah, no. Well it's we Court: Yeah. Cait: I kind of kept picking guys who were outside of that, right? Like self fulfilling. So random. So random. Court: Which I love the randomness of the randomness of of her exes. Then I was like, wait, this Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: This bar dude and now this vampire, like, who is she dating? Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. She's like, I'm gonna try a little bit of everything. Like what if maybe that's my problem? Cait: Oh my gosh, I loved the whole Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: like when we bump into when they go to the club scene and they Court: The above the vampire. Cait: bump into the vampire Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: and all of that. But Speaking of which, you did a very good job pulling on many different, you know, sort of supernatural creatures Court: Yes. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: and making them feel like they did exist like in our sort of normal Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: world and this was the rule for this club they were going to, which totally Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: made me think of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Silver, which Court: Mm-hmm. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. I grew up on Charmed. Like I loved Charmed Court: The bronze. Bronze. Morgan Elizabeth: as a like as a kid. I feel like so long. Yeah. Yes. Cait: 'Cause the sisters too. I like, Ooh, I've Charmed vibes here. This is good. Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, but it's hard to sell because like Charmed is such, it's much more niche than Practical Magic. So I'm always like it's easier to say Practical Magic, but yeah, it Cait: It is Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: is very Charmed. Like I grew up watching Charmed. I rewatched Charmed probably three or four years ago. And I also was watching Sabrina the Teenage Witch recently, another great iconic show. Yeah. It's such a good show. Yeah. Court: Mm-hmm. I love charmed. Me too, with my daughter. And I was like, this was so fun, the way that yeah. Cait: So it was so such fun shows And such fun, like fun witch shows, which is what this book is. It's like a fun witch Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Yeah. Cait: book, which is great. And actually on that note, let's spend a minute talking about the sisters, which is so fun too. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: And that this Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: is the first book in what will be so there'll be two more then. Morgan Elizabeth: Yep. Yeah, there's me three books in the series that the Heartwood Hollow series and yeah, so Violet is the next book, which Court: Mm-hmm. Morgan Elizabeth: isn't a spoiler because it is at the back of the book. It's like you get like a glimpse Court: It is, there's a sneak peek. Morgan Elizabeth: and a side story. And that's written. So that'll come out next year. I don't know when. I have no idea. Is the whole the trad is very confusing to me. But it will be out at some point, hopefully, unless they hate it and then Court: Is this your first traditional publishing book? Morgan Elizabeth: This This is my first traditionally published book. So I've been full indie up until now. And now this is like my little trad baby. So... I don't know. I'm like, I don't know, guys. I don't know what's happening. Court: Yay! So you're experiencing it. We'll see what happens. Cait: That's so exciting. But okay, so speak Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: for a second about cause I think this is really interesting that you're majority Court: Yes. Cait: of indie published and this is your first traditional published. What are you- you're speaking to it already a little bit like there's a difference 'cause you're going... Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: So what would you notice? I don't wanna Morgan Elizabeth: So the biggest Cait: like Morgan Elizabeth: difference is like timelines, right? So with indie, one and like the amount of control, obviously. With indie I am in control of everything and I have to make all of the decisions for better or worse. So like sometimes like they'll be like, What do you think? I'm like, I don't know. I don't know, guys. I actually don't know. And be like, so I fear this is your job. You're you're the only person in charge right here. So Cait: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: that. There's that. But also like the timelines are- I can write a book, finish it tomorrow, and release it the day after if I really want. With indie, there's or with trad, there's so many people and so many like different approval levels, and like there's 18 million editors, and it's such an interesting, very drawn-out process. Cait: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: for better or worse. Like I think I learned a lot through the process, so it's been really cool to like learn how trad does certain things and how I can apply that to indie, and then also be able to imply like my indie knowledge to trad, and then they're like, we didn't know, like that's how that could be done that way. And then like That's why indie is doing so well, guys. Like that's because we Cait: Yeah. Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: have this, like, we're able to keep on top of trends better. But Cait: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: yeah, it's so, so because right now I'm currently finishing up my book that will release in October for indie. And I just finished my book that will release next year, last month. And I'm like, what the difference is so astounding to me, where it's like, Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: one is a month, one is a year, and I'm like, I Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: don't know, guys. So it's Court: you doing notes in that time? Like your one that's now gonna release next year that you just finished. How long from now until release are you doing like good faith note sessions? Morgan Elizabeth: So I think I have to, like usually there's like I'll probably get my dev edits, which is like the, like my big edits, my editor, probably like I think I got them in October last year. And then I'll get... So there's, all right, there's dev edits, and then there's your like line edits, and then there's copy Court: Mm-hmm. Morgan Elizabeth: edits, and then there's like four rounds of what they call past pages, which is like proofreading. And making sure that like on this page, all of the words line up on one side. Court: Mm-hmm. Morgan Elizabeth: And I didn't know the first time I got it. I was like, am I supposed to be like approving these? They're like, no, no, no, just the typos. And I like, oh, okay. So Cait: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: it's interesting. There's like a lot of like, there's so much. And I think probably six months out, maybe, I think is like when they're like, okay, now you're done. Now you Court: Okay. Morgan Elizabeth: don't have to touch this ever again. But there is a lot of like, Court: It's a lot. Morgan Elizabeth: One more round, can you approve this? So it's just good that they want me to approve it and not just be like, we're Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: doing these things. But it is, it is, it's so many rounds. And then sometimes it's like the sometimes the edits are just like people's preferences. So then it's like I'm approving, it's like, do you want to approve this? And I'm like, no, because that's not what I like I, I get that that's how this person thinks, but That's not what- and then I'll have like go to my editor and be like, can I ignore that? She's just like, yeah, I, I, I was gonna ignore that. And I'm like, oh okay. So it's interesting. Yeah. Court: Interesting, yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: It's an interesting new system to kind of like be introduced into. Yeah, Court: That's cool that you're doing both too. Like that you're staying with your Morgan Elizabeth: it is. Court: indie stuff too and getting to ride the traditional because I'm seeing that more and more. I feel like authors kind of doing both. Like that right now, Because I Killed Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: Him, is doing huge on TikTok. And those two authors have been like, we're Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: not traditionally publishing right now, because we don't want the timelines Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah yeah. Court: and we don't want to be forced to like crank this out or whatever it would be. And so I Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, yeah. Court: think it's really cool, like one like you that's kind of walking both and on that line. It's amazing. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, I will say, like when I got my trad deal, one of like my, my mainstays with my agent, I was like, I don't want them to tell me when I can't, when I can and can't publish for indie. Like, I want to be able to do whatever I want, whenever I want. They can tell me what Court: be able to do whatever I want, whatever I want. Morgan Elizabeth: I can do trad-wise, but I don't want them to be able to tell me like you can't publish within- because I know there's some people who it's in their contracts, like, you can't publish three months on either side. And I was like, that Court: Okay. Morgan Elizabeth: would drive me crazy. Cait: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: so I get to do whatever I want. Court: Awesome. Good for you though. Morgan Elizabeth: So yeah, so that was like the one thing where we were- I was like, I will do this, but... So... But it's been fun. Cait: That is so cool. That's so interesting. It's just something that like I didn't really ever kind of think about before. Like you know that they're different, but I never really thought about it. Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Yeah. It's been interesting. Court: Yeah. So for So for this one, how did it come to be a traditionally published series? Like what was the birth- I know you got asked to do like an October one, but like is that what it was based on basically? Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, so Okay, so what happened was so what happened was, I have done a lot of Christmas books. I'm most well known for my Christmas books. So I- my favorite holidays are Christmas and Halloween. And because I'm so like yeah, but ca- but because I'm so tapped into Christmas, I like Court: Mm-hmm. Because you're a normal person, yes. Cait: Exactly. Morgan Elizabeth: Also was tapped into like Halloween and I had an idea for Meet Cute Magic because I had watched Practical Magic with my husband for the first time because he'd never seen it. And I was like, wow, this would be so much like a such a good rom com if I like you take all the dark stuff out. Because I didn't- I forgot how dark that movie was. Like, that's a dark Court: Right. It gets dark. Morgan Elizabeth: movie. So everyone just thinks like Midnight Margaritas, and I was like, I forgot. This is like a kind of a crazy movie. So I emailed my agent and I was like, I have an idea for a Halloween book, but I don't want to promote it because I know the time frame is really, really short. Court: Mm-hmm. Morgan Elizabeth: And I know from for Christmas, like the, the Christmas girl, the Christmas season, Christmas book talk season is kind of like November 1st through January 1st. Halloween, it's kind of like middle of September to like October 20th. And I was like, I don't want to do all this work for like It's that's so much promoting. I was like, so Court: Yeah, for a very short time. Cait: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: do you think we could sell this? So that's kind of how that happened. And then while they were at it, they picked up Tis the Season and Big Nick in print. So I kept the ebook and they picked up the print and they're republishing that next month. So... Cait: Awesome. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, again, is it really Court: Amazing. Morgan Elizabeth: crazy at like third, fourth quarter, whatever quarter this is about to be? I don't fucking know. yeah. Yeah. Court: Yeah. Third quarter. The holidays are the third quarter. In fourth quarter. Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: So So it's September to Oct- September, October are like actually insane in my house right now. So... Court: Yeah. It's amazing. Morgan Elizabeth: But yeah, that- Cait: Which is insane insane anyways. So now you're just at it. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, no, yeah. I'm like, you know Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: what? Back to school season, let's add to it. Let's just let's just fake it. Let's add a little. All Court: Yeah, let's just pile on. Morgan Elizabeth: three kids in my do- my, my kids are doing fall baseball this year. You know, why not? Let's just let's keep going. Court: Perfect. Yeah. Different days, Cait: Ooh. Court: Each different day, different times. Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, yeah. Cait: Baseball is a time Court: Baseball is a Cait: commitment. Like those games are Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. I mean it's rec baseball, like it, it so it's it is Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: like very low key. But yeah, it's just like I'm like, wow, we really did- I really did set myself up for it this year, didn't I? But it's fine. Cait: Yeah. my Court: But I'm glad, I'm so glad you're still doing this mini promotion of this one because it is if Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: you're gonna read an October book, even honestly, it could pass beyond Halloween. It's just a really fun, cozy read, even outside of the Halloween world. Of course, is that time. Yeah, but Cait: Good. It is. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, the market it's just the marketing season is like it's the shorter Yeah. Cait: surprised I'm actually surprised that it's dropping like it comes out on the 8th of September. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: But I- you know, it I think I'm like and this is again me, you know, and I guess Morgan Elizabeth: It could have been in mid August. Cait: it could have. Yeah. Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: I know. Cait: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: I'm gonna try I'm like, I yeah. Court: It'll still get busy in September too. People that come back thinking Cait: It would Court: fall. Like ar- the stores change Cait: take true. Court: over in middle August to start Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: doing Halloween fall, but people aren't in Cait: Yeah. Court: that mindset. It's last minute holidays, it's last things. The first week of school is like boom, we're back. Let's get a fall Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, I think that's the problem where it's like Yeah. Cait: Yeah, if you want it to like Court: book. Cait: big Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: I think that that's what they were trying to do, which is great. I love that. Like I, I saw someone is there's a trad book that's really saying, I wanna say early September and it's a summer book. And I was like, trad confuses me. It does. I don't know. Yeah. Court: Right. Right? Like why are we catching the end? Yes. Cait: That's for like the strange people who are like, I don't want summer to end. Meanwhile I'm like it's September 1st. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Yeah. Cait: Bye, summer. Like Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, I know. Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: I was like that's I'm like, get out of here summer actually. I would like you to leave. Thank you. Yeah. Cait: Done with you. Court: We talked about this We talked about this with your book because we were like, oh should we record it in August at one point? I'm like, no, I need to be able to like have my fall stuff. Like I need to like be in the mode so that I can feel... Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. No, it's so funny 'cause My PA, she's, she's putting her Christmas tree up and I was like, oh I didn't even think of that's a possibility. That is a possibility I would love to take advantage of. Cait: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: How do I make this happen? so yeah. Court: I love it. So, Cait: my Oh gosh. Court: okay, to this book, Cait: Yeah. Court: How did you come up with like where did Rose come for you and where did Jack come from? Like who did you figure out first or was it kind of together? Morgan Elizabeth: I think Well, so I knew it was I, it always was gonna be a romance reader and a grump like a gamer. Court: Mm-hmm. Morgan Elizabeth: Because like I was seeing yeah Cait: of all like that is I saw it recently on a like a c stand Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: up comedian did a thing on it and was like, yeah. Yeah, that is the match. And then I thought, Jake, oh my gosh. Morgan Elizabeth: It's, it's a perfect combo. Yeah. Yeah. So that's why I knew that that's like how I wanted it to go. And I like Grumpy Sunshine's my bread and butter. It's my favorite thing to write. Like Court: Yes. Morgan Elizabeth: you can take me to the grave with it. Like bury me with Grumpy Sunshine books. Like it's my favorite trope. And I so I knew if I was gonna like make this entryway into like paranormal whatever, I Cait: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: wanted to like still keep like that aspect of things because I just love that. But yeah, I, I, I think I just- I knew I wanted it to be a romance reader and a gamer. And it kind of after that kind of just worked out pretty naturally because you know, gamer a little bit nerdy. The romance reader is like a hopeless romantic, but also she's like the eldest daughter, so she's got like her own trauma of Court: Mm-hmm. Morgan Elizabeth: that stuff. So yeah. So Cait: Okay. Yes. Yeah. Which is Court: No, they Cait: super fun. Court: I love that you brought the mom in at the end as well to get some answers. And her like still mothering them from beyond. It was- it's so fun. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Yeah. She's like, you guys, Cait: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: You guys, let me rest in peace, like literally. They're like, nah, Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: actually, unfortunately, we can't. We can't do that. So... I know it because I was... Court: And each thing's like, you did what? You did what? Like What did I tell you? Morgan Elizabeth: In my head, like it was just like I just love the idea, and again this is also me. Like I only have a brother, but I love the idea of like sisters just tattling on each other. And I Cait: Yeah. Court: Yes. Morgan Elizabeth: just think that's fun. So that was kind of like a, yeah, well she did this. Yeah, well she did that. Like it's just so fun. I, I just love... I love like family like dynamics as, but I also most of my books, it's so funny because like most of my, my books, I usually write like a bad parent, like bad parent parental relationships. And this time I just said, let's just kill them. Let's just- they're dead parents. So it's a different kind of trauma. Cait: Yeah. Court: Let's just avoid it. Cait: Dead and then we'll bring mom Court: Mm. Cait: back as a guest. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, and then we'll just a ghost. Cause I cause the other thing was like in my head I was like, okay, if we're gonna have Philip here, there's no reason why they can't then resurrect the mom for a little bit just to say hi. So it also kind of helped solve that whole problem of how did she get this, this idea of the curse? Because spoiler, the curse isn't real. It's, it's all fake. Court: The curse was just to keep her away from this bad choice boyfriend. Like, especially as a mom, I'm like, I get that. I get that. Like if I could tell them there's a curse to avoid this guy. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. She She's like, no, that boy sucked. Yeah. Yeah. Wouldn't that be great? Cait: You, you believed me? She's like Morgan Elizabeth: Like all Court: my Morgan Elizabeth: this time. She's like, my bad. I actually didn't think you were gonna buy that. She's like, Yeah, well a week later, he broke my heart. She's Yeah, cause he was an asshole. I don't like, I don't know where we're going with this. But yeah, that was really fun. Court: It was so clear to everyone else, too. It was like Rosemary, no, you just have bad taste in men. Like, you've never been cursed. Morgan Elizabeth: She's like, you just have really bad taste in men. Like... And like she Cait: You pick the guys who are Morgan Elizabeth: That's my favorite part is like Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: internally, because she is the big sister, she's the eldest daughter, she's like trying to protect her sisters this whole time. And she's like, if I tell them about that's curse, it's gonna ruin their lives. And they're like, what curse? Cait: huh? Morgan Elizabeth: And it's so funny to me where she they're just like, no, you just weren't finding good guys. They were all assholes. Like, I don't know what to tell you. Court: Ugh, I loved that. And that one of the sisters Morgan Elizabeth: and that's so funny to me. So Cait: Yeah. Court: Yes, but I love that one of the sisters was like, she hasn't had a kiss bond before, but I have. And how fun it Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah yeah yeah. Cait: yeah. fun. Court: is. I loved that twist to it as well. Cause I also love the kiss bond, which is something I haven't seen. I love that you were able Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Yeah. Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: to bring that piece into it that was unique to this book as well. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. I thought it was like Cait: And make the spicy And it makes the spicy bits like so much spicier 'cause that you know. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. So I Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: That was like an easy way for me to kind of get them from like not hating each other, but like, you know, like combative, sort of not quite enemies, lovers, to like, what if we just make out? Like, I need like, you know, sometimes Court: Yes, which I loved. Morgan Elizabeth: you just need that gap. And I, I thought it was really fun. Like, are their first kisses so funny to me because she's just like, yeah, I've done this a million times. Just gonna Court: She's gonna bond you. Morgan Elizabeth: Kiss him and she's like, I'm so, so she's like, I'm so sorry. I just, just, just play along for two seconds. And he's like so alarmed. and he's so out of his depths. But I thought it'd be really fun because in my head, if a normal person goes into a supernatural like club, it's free game. Like anyone, anyone can just do whatever. And I if there's... yeah, yeah. Cait: to me too. Like that's dangerous for like a non marathon for like a non-magical person. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. So I was like, how could she protect him and ensure because she it does feel like they are friends. She very, very much wants to be friends with him. So she's like, How would she protect him? And that makes sense. And then my editor was like, wouldn't it be so funny if when her mom, like the if when the mom gives them like these amulets, it's basically like the, like the safe sex talk where it's like Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: instead of having to be like, here's a condom, it's like, here put this on so you don't accidentally bond yourself to some douchebag boy. Like that's so funny to me. So yeah, the kiss bond was really fun. And then being able, like doing a spicy scene with a kiss bond. And then also where Violet tells her she's like, Rosie felt him jack off. And he she's like, What, what do you mean when you say that? Like, what do you- what do you mean? She's like, What do you mean? Court: Yes, cause she I loved that 'cause of a hair scene. Cait: She just had this scene where she was like, Gosh, I can't like I'm just having all these feelings, I can't even trust Morgan Elizabeth: Like I'm just Cait: them And she goes for it and then she finds out afterwards that they are about can feel when the other- Court: That he would have felt it. Which Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. She's like, Thanks Thanks for not telling me. Court: Did you ever write him experiencing that or bring it up? Okay. Morgan Elizabeth: So yeah, I have a bonus scene of that. Like we cut We cut it out because it was like a lot. It was just like back to back. But yeah, it was it we either is one out in the, the, the retro, whatever the in the world somewhere in my Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: computer. I know. One day I'll Court: Yes. Morgan Elizabeth: do a bonus scene for it. But yeah, we did, and then it just, it was like too much because it was like self-care, self-care. It was just a lot going Cait: Yeah. Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: on. But yeah, I did write it. That was fun. Yeah, Cait: He's gonna take care of self care. Morgan Elizabeth: It's like, it's just like, you know, like there's only so much we can put in there. Yeah. Court: We needed to get Yes, yeah, yeah. Cait: The reason just get together, guys, just do it together. Court: But I had the feeling I'm like, she must have She must have written this from his point of view. Like I as ever I'm like she must have this some Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Yeah. I wrote that first, but then it wouldn't have made as much sense when she talked to her sisters, so I had to like swap it because Court: I wish I love. Morgan Elizabeth: it, it needs to have her like being really confident about this decision to like DIY it and then being like, when you say that, when you say that, what do you mean? Like Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: Yeah, yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: very like Jennifer Lawrence at that like that scene where she's like, What do mean? What do you mean? Court: Yeah, I'm sorry. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. So it's that I, I think that's really fun. And like sh- like Violet's like, I'm so sorry I didn't think that you were going to kiss bond yourself to your neighbor after you accidentally like resurrected his grandfather. She's like, Okay, great point. You do have a good point. Yeah. Court: Yeah, I didn't know that. Cait: Like good point. This is a downhill general spot. Speaking of which, okay, so then we're we're like working backwards now, but I, I also love Morgan Elizabeth: That's fine. Cait: when, when Jack, when she's like, No, I'll prove it to you. Like come over to my house Morgan Elizabeth: Mm. Cait: and meet your ghost, meet the ghost, you know? Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: And I'm thinking, like, oh great, she's gonna open the door and the ghost isn't like the ghost isn't gonna show up. Phillip's gonna be hiding. And no, Philip's right there, hey, and Jack's like, what? Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. He's right there. He's very meddling. He passes out, the poor boy. He doesn't know what's happening. Cait: But it was so great 'cause I was like, we are like breaking the fourth wall, lifting the fail, like right away. Jack is in Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Yeah. Cait: sees the ghost and we're going like all in. It was so fun. I love it. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. I she was like, Well, he's floating. He's like, So I'm just gonna see my grandfather just standing there. She's like, Well technically he's floating. So he's like Cait: Yes. And I think Court: Yeah. There is my only point with Philip. I Cait: it floated like a cartoon ghost. Court: was like, Philip, you couldn't have interrupted their fight to be like, hey guys, you're not gonna forget FYI. Like- you couldn't have brought that in a day before? Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. No, but he's too meddling. Cait: He's too mischievous. Exactly. Like... Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: He was having a grand time. He was having He was having a grand time causing like total havoc. Court: he was. He's so funny. I'm so glad Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: he's a part of and that he stays around too. Like even that loss would have felt like, oh no, he's gone even though he should. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Yeah, so he He does show up in book two too, because I was like... Court: amazing. Morgan Elizabeth: I just like, because book two is Violet. So inevitably he's constantly going to the bakery and being like, What you got today? Cait: Yeah, 'cause that you can't Morgan Elizabeth: What you got today? Court: Yes. Morgan Elizabeth: So he's Cait: I think it tastes food. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, that was the whole point because and like I- there's, I had a couple people that are like I did not think that's what- I was like, look, if I was a ghost, I would want to A be annoying. That's like, I would want to bother people that I love. What Court: Mm-hmm. Morgan Elizabeth: are they gonna do? Hit me. And I'd wanna eat. Cait: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: Like those are the things I'd want to do. I that's that would be like my life's goal. So in my head, of course if I'm dead, I want someone to make me a potion where I can eat baked goods. Like that sounds great to me. Yeah. So Court: Totally. Yes. When did you When did you decide that that was gonna be what the curse was? Morgan Elizabeth: Pretty early on because I, I so normally I hate a third act breakup. This book needed Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: it because it needed it to make sense. I do everything in Cait: you I feel like always happening Morgan Elizabeth: my power to avoid a third act breakup. I think I have like four books that have third act breakups because I just hate them so much. But it made sense in this book because I think that Jack or Rosie really needed to be able to make that decision on her own, and Jack needed to be able to be like, I'm letting her do this because she needs to like break this curse and bah blah blah. And he at the time thought there was a curse. He's like, Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: There's a curse. God, I just want her to find her true love. But yeah, I knew pretty early on that he was gonna be just a pain in the ass who really just wanted to eat. He's like, because he again with the meddling, he's like, I know my grandson's really into you. And he has been since before I died. And if I can just get a way to get both things to happen. Where I can eat whatever I want and Court: Mm-hmm. Morgan Elizabeth: my grandson's happy, game on. So Cait: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: yeah. Percy Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: and Philip are like, they're like besties and they're meddlers. And that's really... Cait: The Court: that was I wasn't sure if, if it was ever gonna be revealed for Percy to be something else, like some kind of magical thing. But he's just a cat. Okay. Morgan Elizabeth: No, Percy's just a pain in the ass. He's just like an annoying Cait: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: cat. Yeah. Yeah. No, he's just an annoying, he's just an annoying cat. And Court: Yeah, fair. Morgan Elizabeth: as someone who has a cat, real, because my cat is very annoying. Court: Yeah. Mine too. Yes. I, l and I love that he's the one that interrupted the magic with it all and did Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: it too. And th that's okay, so this reminds me of it though, but part of the reason I think it was such a twist in the spice for me was because of when they were on the couch and they had that like makeout, which was super hot and doing Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: the makeout scene. But then he goes from that to like fingering her in a blanket in this like total Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: like an sexy way. You're like, whoa! Like he totally... Morgan Elizabeth: Because he at first he's like So I think that with that it was more like neither of them wanted to toe the line too far because they both knew there was like I'm a really, I love consent in a romance book. I think it's really important Court: Yes. Morgan Elizabeth: and I think that it's like something that we shouldn't take for granted unless it's like a dark romance and that's a whole other can of worms. But I think that consent is really important. So I didn't want there to be any like spice while they were under the Kiss Bond, because I think it could blur the line of intentionality and what- Court: Mm-hmm. Morgan Elizabeth: if they wanted it. So I wanted them to be completely like free of any magic when they finally did stuff. And then it was fully Court: Nice. Morgan Elizabeth: their own decisions, fully their own like wants and desires. And that's why later they do do the kiss bond again and they're spice at that. But it's not until Cait: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: like their relationship is established. And that was one thing that I was like, I understand this is magic, but also Let's make sure that they actually are into this. So yeah. Court: No, I which I think is great and worked very Cait: I'm also really that Court: well. Yes. It was Cait: you brought it in again, you know, because like when they weren't Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: with the Kiss Bond, I was like, guys, come on, you know, it's all heightened and it's gonna be Okay. Then I was getting kind of frustrated. Morgan Elizabeth: Like this yeah. This could be so fun. Yeah. Yeah. Cait: So then when we came back around and we did it again, I was like, Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: Okay, I needed that. Court: Yeah, Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. No, don't worry. I was gonna get you guys. Court: yeah, yeah, you got to come back. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, don't worry. It was gonna Court: It's it serves. Morgan Elizabeth: come back around. He was, it was, it was fun. I, I love the Kiss Bond. I think it's like a cool, like a cool- and it comes back in book two in like a much more fun like it- So book two and I'm like, I don't know what I'm allowed to say. But I, it is like a second chance romance, so it's Court: nice. Cait: Nice. Morgan Elizabeth: fun in that sense. So which I normally hate second chance romance. I will say that. Like I am not a s- I'm a second chance romance hater. Cause in my head if it didn't work out the first time, what are we doing here? Cait: Yeah, you know what? Same, not huge fan of Court: Yeah. Cait: second chance romance. It's not Court: Yeah, it takes a lot I like the odd one, but it, it's more often that I don't like it than I do. But they can be done well. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Well okay. Yeah. Cait: But when I do when it's done well and I like it, I'm like, oh my god, I like it. Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, if it has to be done like to my personal standards. My Court: Yes. Morgan Elizabeth: problem is like if it's a second chance romance and they can't get over things, and then they if there's a third act breakup on a second chance. I'm gonna riot. Court: No. I agree. Yeah, no, no, no, no. Morgan Elizabeth: What do you mean we're doing this a third time? No. Get out of here. We Cait: Ha ha ha. Morgan Elizabeth: broke up twice now. Cait: What you just said. Court: Just Morgan Elizabeth: just call it a day. It's not working, guys. Try someone else, like. Court: Yeah. Yeah. Cait: Ha ha Morgan Elizabeth: That pisses me off. Like, what are we doing? Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: But yeah, that's my, that's my, that's my, my hatred of, of second chance romance. But this is not that. So it's, it's just, it's fine. But, but yeah, the Kiss Bond comes back, Philip comes back because I love Philip. Court: Yes. Morgan Elizabeth: When I wrote Meet Cute Magic, my editor, like after I gave her the first draft, she's like, I actually want more Philip. Put more in. And I was like, oh okay, cool. So... Court: That's Cait: So Court: That's awesome. Morgan Elizabeth: We can thank Mika for the excessive Philip representation. Yeah. Court: Yes, thank you, Mika. Cause he is great. All of it is. I'm so excited. I'm excited Cait: Thank you, Mika. Yeah. Court: for the second one. I'm excited for him to read this one. Yes. Cait: Like the magic you can see. I love like the pink temples Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: and the way that it's just like all very like pretty and cute and like. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. And also I think like if they're gonna have a long-term relationship in my head, he should be able to see the magic for his own protection. And also like the sisters are gonna try and fuck with him. Like we all know that. Like the sisters Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: are gonna try and screw with him. So he should have like some kind of safeguard. Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: to, to, to help not have that issue. So... It's just a fun... Court: I totally agree. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: It's so much Court: Yeah. Cait: It's so much fun, you guys. I mean, come on. It's a romance, romance author, no romance bookstore owning witch. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Yes. Yeah. Court: Yes. Yes. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: That's it, right there. Court: Like the holy Trinity of like The holy trinity of the main female character. Let's put it Cait: Yeah. Court: all in one. And we do. And she's fantastic. And then slutty glasses, gamer, Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: but confident in bed nerd. And... Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. So he knows what he's doing. Court: You know, enjoy it, which Cait, we should do. Yes. Okay. Cait: Yeah. my gosh. The pumpkin spice meter. Okay. Yes, of course. We've been spending all this time talking about the spice and we have a pumpkin spice meter. Like that's how we, we are such basic fall girlies that like we're leaning. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, I, I call this book Millennial Crack, so I get it. It's like Court: It is. Yeah. Cait: Exactly what it is. Yeah, so Court, where would you put this one? Ooh. Court: Okay, So we do one pumpkin, two pumpkin, three pumpkin, sassy pumpkin, sexy pumpkin. Basically. And what I say is over a three generally is like it can be uncomfortable to read on a bus. Like there's some scenes that you're like, I don't want to be in public reading this. Yeah, yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Like next to your mother in law. Yeah. That's like we don't I don't want to do this. Cait: If a stranger Like if a stranger was reading over your shoulder, you'd be like, oh god. Morgan Elizabeth: Let me read a little. Court: Yes. Morgan Elizabeth: Let Let me turn down the brightness on my Kindle like... Court: Yeah, exactly. And hide your face. So I would probably put this one probably at like a three and a half and a half when it goes into it. Cait: I think so. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: Cause it gets pretty descriptive and not like I definitely went and found my husband after reading some of these chapters. Yeah, like it definitely had that effect for sure. Morgan Elizabeth: yeah, there's there's big girl words in there. Yeah. Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's what's That's what's so fun is that I agree. I think it's like it is, it does land at a three and a half. Like it's it's between a three Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: pumpkin and a sassy pumpkin. And, but you don't think that's coming with this book. Like Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. I know and Court: Yes, it feels like it'll be a Morgan Elizabeth: it doesn't help that like the cover Court: three. A two and a half three. Morgan Elizabeth: is like so cutie patooty. And they're I keep getting Cait: Yeah. Court: Yes. Morgan Elizabeth: I had someone they're like, so it's closed door and I was like mmm Cait: Well. Court: No no no no no. In the best way possible, it is not closed door. But it is the perfect Morgan Elizabeth: So... So. Yeah. It's not closed door. Cait: Yeah. It is not. Court: But it is the perfect balance. Like I really feel like if Cait: Yeah. Court: someone asked me to m- I got my hair done today and she was like, so what? I was finishing the book and she's like, what about this book? Do you think like makes it different? Or so like why would you recommend this book over another romance? And I was like, honestly, I was so not expecting this spice. And I was like, it was such Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: Ha ha Court: a perfect combo of a cozy fall read, but then well done spice, that just doesn't happen very often. You kinda lean on one or the other. So I really think you found Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Yeah. Court: pun intended some magic in this book that you brought that Millennial crack together but gave it that super Cait: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, yeah. Court: satisfying three and a half spice pumpkin. Cait: It's so true Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Cait: The way that you can recommend it to somebody who wants really spicy and you can recommend it to somebody who usually wants it closed door. You know, like I Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. I'm like you can also Court: Yes, 'cause they'll still go Morgan Elizabeth: skip over the scenes Court: in for the ride. Morgan Elizabeth: and you'd be fine. Yeah. Cait: Yeah, but Court: Yes, Cait: Well but don't, don't do that. Don't do that. Court: but I don't think you'd be offended by the scene either. No. Morgan Elizabeth: I mean Look, like I if my if I Court: You'll get pulled in. Give it a ti g test the water. Morgan Elizabeth: if my mother-in-law is gonna read it, I'm gonna be like, I love you queen. Let's skip over this chapter, this chapter, this chapter, this chapter. Yeah. She's so... Court: Well yes. Mother in law's a little different. Yes. I think mother in law you do a little bit different. But everyone else, if you're if you're a closed door reader, maybe give the waters a little test. Test the waters. Feel it out. See yeah. Come on in. Yeah, and see what happens. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, just just you know and dip a toe. Just the season. Cait: Safety it's It'll feel, it'll feel safe for you. Like yes. Morgan Elizabeth: It's a It's a safe space, yeah. There's nothing too crazy. Like that's what I was saying. Like i- there is a lot of dirty Court: No, that's it. It's just hot. Morgan Elizabeth: talk, but it's not like anything... There's no like butt stuff. Like... Court: That's what's so great. It's normal. Yeah. There's no butt stuff. Cait: No. Exactly. Court: But it's also like, it's normal. Like, honestly, the amount probably Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: that you've written about fingering. Like I had a moment of that. I don't think I've read, but it's done in like a way you're like, yes, this is what it is. I know, I loved it. And I'm like, but that's it. Yes. Morgan Elizabeth: Dude, I dude, I love a fingering seat, I'm not gonna lie. We need prep, guys. Cait: Okay. You too. Court: But it didn't have to be crazy, it's Cait: Yes. Court: that, and then him tasting it. Like all the Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Court: it was just, it was very well done. The foreplay was very well done. The build to it, and then it's done in just a satisfying Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, I'm glad. Court: way. So great job. Kudos to you on all of the book. Morgan Elizabeth: Yay, thank you. Cait: Yeah. Court: Are you wearing a Taylor cardigan? I thought so! I love it. Morgan Elizabeth: I am I'm yeah, no I have like five of them. It's a problem. Yeah, I have this it's my normal one. yeah, I'm a, I'm a big Swifty. It's a an illness. Cait: Yes. Well, which we know is well, Court: Yes as well. Yes. Cait: this you have the playlist in here, which I love so much. I love a book with a playlist. I always listen to the playlist while I read the book and like get the full immersive experience and it makes me so very happy. Morgan Elizabeth: Yes, yep. Mm. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Court: Yes. Cait: There's obviously Court: Yeah. Cait: some Taylor on there, so... Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah, I think- I don't think I've ever written a book where I didn't put Taylor Swift on the playlist. If I did, I think people I would get like a wellness check. Court: How could ya how How can you write a romance book without Taylor on your playlist though? Really? Come on. Morgan Elizabeth: Yeah. Well I have a whole I don't know if I have it back here. I have a Taylor Swift book. I have a book where every chapter is a different Taylor song. Where is it? He takes Cait: Ugh I can Court: my gosh, I love it. Morgan Elizabeth: her on a love story bucket list. I'm literally trying to find it. Anyway, it's called The Playlist. And it's, it's a Taylor Swift vi- like themed romance where he takes her on a Taylor Swift like road trip off of like all the things that she wants to happen when she falls in love. So it's like throwing rocks at her window and dancing in the rain and kissing in a parking lot, like all the things. Anyway, that's Court: I love it. I'm gonna find that too. Your big swifty. Yes. I feel you. I'm there with you. I love it. Yes, I am. Okay. Morgan Elizabeth: I'm a very I'm a big swifty. Yeah. Yeah. Cait: Cute. Court is also a huge Swifty. Yes. yeah. Amazing. All All right. Well, that is it for today's episode of Cait and Court's Cozy Corner. Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: Morgan Elizabeth's book, Meet Cute Magic. So good. Perfect fall Court: So good. Cait: read, the perfect Halloween read. We can't recommend it more. Yeah. Court: Yeah. Morgan Elizabeth: Thank Court: Yes. Go enjoy. Thank you so much for coming, Morgan. Morgan Elizabeth: you guys. Yeah, Thanks for having me. Cait: Our pleasure. All right. Bye. Court: Bye. Morgan Elizabeth: Bye. Caitlin Stryker: You know the drill. Be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to our podcast. Courtney: Thanks for tuning in to Cait and Court's Cozy Corner Romance Readers. Caitlin Stryker: Executive producers and hosts, Caitlin Stryker and Courtney Richter, Producers, Canasia Ngo and Hollie Lobosky. Original music, Cassie De Silva.