Buzzing about Romance Booking Policies.
Buzzing About Romance Podcast: Booking Policies & Criteria
Buzzing About Romance is a reader-focused podcast created by romance readers, for romance readers. Our goal is to create thoughtful, entertaining conversations about romance books, publishing, reading culture, and the stories that have us buzzing.
When selecting guests and featured books, we focus on authors, stories, and topics we believe will genuinely connect with our audience. Features may come from personal reading, community recommendations, industry relationships, direct pitches, or conversations already happening around Romancelandia.
Submitting a request does not guarantee an interview, feature, or podcast appearance. Buzzing About Romance maintains editorial control over all standard podcast content.
Our Podcast Formats
Buzzing About Romance currently produces two primary types of podcast episodes: Sunday Episodes and Author Spotlights.
Sunday Episodes
Our Sunday Episodes are conversational, reader-focused shows covering whatever has us buzzing that week.
Topics may include:
- Romance tropes and microtropes
- Book Club reviews and discussions
- Bookish topics and conversations happening around Romancelandia
- Publishing and reading trends
- Romance stories in television, movies, and other media
- New releases, backlist favorites, and books we can’t stop talking about
- Occasional conversations beyond romance books when a topic interests our hosts and community
Sunday Episodes are recorded and livestreamed on YouTube on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. ET. After the livestream, the episode is released through our RSS feed and becomes available on all major podcast platforms.
Sunday Episodes are primarily hosted by our regular Buzzing About Romance contributors. From time to time, we may invite authors, narrators, booksellers, publishing professionals, or other guests to participate when they are a natural fit for a specific conversation.
Participation in a Sunday Episode is not considered an Author Spotlight and is not intended to function as a dedicated promotional interview.
Author Spotlight Episodes
Our Author Spotlights are dedicated, pre-recorded conversations with romance authors about their books, characters, writing careers, creative process, and the stories behind their stories.
Author Spotlights are typically conversational interviews rather than scripted Q&As. We want the discussion to feel natural, engaging, and useful to readers discovering the author and their work.
Interviews are recorded remotely for audio quality purposes. Author Spotlight episodes are not livestreamed. Once completed and scheduled, they are released directly through the Buzzing About Romance RSS feed and become available wherever you listen to podcasts.
Who Can Request an Author Spotlight?
We welcome requests directly from authors as well as pitches from publishers and professional PR representatives.
Because Buzzing About Romance is a romance-focused podcast, priority is given to books and authors whose work aligns with our audience and the genres, subgenres, and conversations we regularly feature.
Not every request will be accepted. Availability, host interest, audience fit, publication schedules, and our current editorial calendar all factor into booking decisions.
Scheduling & Release Timing
Standard Author Spotlights are not guaranteed to air on a book’s release date or on any specific requested date.
When possible, we make every effort to release an Author Spotlight within approximately six weeks of the featured book’s publication date. This is a scheduling goal rather than a guaranteed publication window.
Exact timing depends on host and guest availability, our recording and production schedule, holidays, vacations, previously scheduled episodes, and other editorial considerations.
If an author, publisher, or publicist requires an episode to publish on release day, on a specific date, or within a guaranteed promotional window, that must be arranged as a paid sponsored episode and is subject to availability.
A sponsored episode guarantees the agreed-upon publication timing. It does not guarantee a positive review, endorsement, sales results, or any particular audience response.
Advance Materials
To prepare for an Author Spotlight, we may request an advance or finished copy of the featured book. Digital copies are preferred unless otherwise arranged with the host.
Requested reading materials should be provided with enough time for the host to prepare for the interview. In most cases, we ask to receive the book at least 14-21 days before the scheduled recording date.
If requested materials are not received in time, the interview may need to be rescheduled or canceled.
Interview Expectations
- Standard Author Spotlight interviews are editorial features and do not require a booking fee.
- We do not provide scripted interview questions or require authors to submit pre-written answers.
- Episodes are conversational and designed for a romance-reading audience.
- Authors should be prepared to discuss their book, characters, writing process, and other relevant topics.
- Our standard Author Spotlights are generally spoiler-free unless otherwise discussed before recording.
- Scheduling is coordinated directly with the Buzzing About Romance host conducting the interview.
Advertising & Sponsored Episodes
Buzzing About Romance is not currently offering traditional podcast advertising, mid-roll advertising, or general paid promotional placements.
Paid opportunities are limited to sponsored episodes when an author, publisher, or publicist needs a guaranteed publication date or coordinated promotional timing.
Sponsored episode availability is limited and must be arranged in advance. Please contact us directly regarding current availability and pricing.
Payment for a sponsored episode guarantees the agreed-upon scheduling and placement only. Sponsored content does not guarantee a positive opinion, endorsement, review, sales performance, or audience response.
Before You Submit a Request
Before requesting an Author Spotlight or pitching a guest for Buzzing About Romance, we strongly encourage you to listen to several recent episodes.
Our interviews and conversations have a distinct, informal style, and we want guests to feel comfortable with the tone and format of the show before booking.
- Please make sure the book or guest is a strong fit for our romance-reading audience.
- Provide complete and accurate information when submitting your request.
- Include the book title, author name, publication date, genre or subgenre, and a short description of the book.
- Let us know if there are significant scheduling restrictions before an interview is booked.
- If a specific publication date is required, please state that clearly when contacting us so we can discuss sponsored episode availability.
We reserve the right to decline requests that are not a fit for the podcast, our audience, or our current editorial direction.
Our Editorial Approach
Since launching Buzzing About Romance in 2020, we’ve had the opportunity to talk with hundreds of authors and publishing professionals while building a large archive of romance-focused conversations.
Guests and featured titles may come from direct community interest, personal reading recommendations, industry relationships, pitches from authors and publishing professionals, or outreach from our team.
We do not work through exclusive booking agencies, and authors are not required to use a publicist, PR firm, or booking service to be considered for an Author Spotlight.
Our goal is simple: talk about great romance stories, create conversations readers actually want to hear, and keep Buzzing About Romance a reader-first space.
