Two Debuts in One Year: Zakiya N. Jamal | Sparks Fly & if We Were a Movie

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.If you love late-bloomer romances, sex-positive storytelling, and YA coming-of-age vibes, today’s episode is for you.In this conversation, I chat with debut author Zakiya N. Jamal about her two 2024 releases — the YA romcom If We Were a Movie and her upcoming adult romance Sparks Fly. We dive into the behind-the-scenes of book packaging, the realities of writing two debuts in one year, and why she wanted to flip the virgin-trope on its head. We also get into her writing process, K-drama obsession, telenovelas, Turkish dramas, and the book recs she’s currently loving.📚 Books Mentioned If We Were a Movie by Zakiya N. Jamal — YA Romcom | \Coming-of-Age | First Love| Audio ✅Sparks Fly by Zakiya N. Jamal — Contemporary Romance | Late Bloomer | Virgin Trope Flip | Sex-Positive | Audio ✅The Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson — Thriller | Campus Drama | HBCU Setting  | Audio ✅Mate by Ali Hazelwood — Paranormal Romance | Werewolves | Steamy | Audio ✅🕒 Timestamps [00:00] — Intro + Overview of Zakiya’s debuts[01:00] — What If We Were a Movie is about[02:00] — How she ended up releasing two debuts in one year[03:00] — What book packaging is + how it works[06:00] — Transitioning to her adult debut Sparks Fly[07:00] — Rewriting the virgin trope: crafting a sex-positive late-bloomer heroine[09:00] — Dating culture, late blooming, and real-life parallels[10:00] — Plotting vs pantsing[11:00] — Writing under contract + deadlines[12:00] — Her favorite part of the writing process[13:00] — Self-care: K-dramas, sitcoms, telenovelas, Turkish shows[16:00] — Book recommendations she’s loving[17:30] — Romance recs + non-romance reads[18:00] — Where to find Zakiya onlineJoin the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review! Mentioned in this episode:Advertise with UsDo you have a book or service that you want to share with our engaged audience? Check out our opportunities to sponsor with us.Advertise With Us🎧 Try Audible Today I love Audible for their original novellas, binge-worthy Plus Catalog (like Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series), and their amazing audiobook sales. Currently, Audible is offering a special promotion for new members and returning listeners. Audible