Romance fiction is dominating the chart. It's also redefining how stories are told and sold.

In this episode, I sit down with author and industry veteran Noel Stark to talk about why happy endings aren’t clichés.

They’re promises. We dig into how a genre once brushed off as “women’s fiction” built one of publishing’s most loyal and profitable audiences.

Noelle takes us from the secret paperbacks she once hid in her backpack to the binge that launched her writing career.

Along the way, she breaks down what makes romance work: authentic voice, emotional honesty, and that feeling of safety that keeps readers coming back for more.

We also talk shop: how the “happily ever after” or “happy for now” acts as a contract with the reader, what happens when writers break that trust, and how gatekeepers like Harlequin shaped the genre’s evolution.

Noelle shares her own journey through Pitch Wars, agent rejections, the long wait on submissions, and finally landing her first book deal. It’s a reminder that persistence and mentorship can change everything.

We also compare traditional and indie publishing, discuss how to handle your own marketing, when to hire a publicist, and why podcasts and newsletters still move the needle.

If you love romance, storytelling, or the business side of publishing, this episode is full of hard-earned lessons, humor, and practical takeaways.

You can connect with Noel through her website here.

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