Finding Where You Belong with Joanna Monahan

What does it mean to find where you belong? This week in The Literary Lounge, Jennifer welcomes author Joanna Monahan to discuss her second novel, Welcome to Blooms, a warm, feel-good story about siblings Daisy and Bud, who must learn to work together to save their family's flower shop. Think of it as a Hallmark movie in book form! Jennifer and Joanna discuss the inspiration behind the novel and explore themes of family expectations and belonging. Joanna also shares her own path to becoming a published author, from querying agents to finding the right home for her work with an independent press. She reflects on what she’s learned from publishing two novels, why working with a small publisher has been the right fit for her, and the importance of finding the communities that help sustain a creative life.In This EpisodeExploring themes of family, identity & belonging Joanna’s path from querying to indie publishing Finding the right publishing path for youThe importance of independent bookstoresFinding your writing & literary community How Joanna’s writing process has evolved Navigating the challenges of writing a second book How book coaches can support the writing process The unexpected realities of becoming a published author Meet Joanna Monahan  Joanna Monahan is the author of the award-winning Something Better. Her newest novel, Welcome to Blooms, was published in April 2026 by Blue Ink Press.  Joanna writes contemporary Women's Fiction that is clean, cozy, and full of humor and heart. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, their two children, and two distracting cats. She is a member of The Authors Guild, North Carolina Writers' Network, and the Women's Fiction Writers Association.  When she isn’t writing, Joanna enjoys theater, baseball, and bookmarking recipes she will never make. A child of the 80s, she regrets that she no longer receives pizza coupons in exchange for reading books.Connect with Joanna  www.joannamonahan.comInstagram @joannamonahanauthor FacebookPinterestGoodreadsPurchase a copy of Welcome to Blooms Purchase a copy of Something Better Books & Authors Mentioned Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica BrodyStory Genius by Lisa CronChristopher PikeGoosebumps series by R. L. StineThe Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher Beverly Cleary Ramona series by Beverly Cleary STAY CONNECTED The Literary LoungeFollow and subscribe to The Literary Lounge wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a new conversation. Continue the conversation by subscribing to The Literary Lounge on Substack, delivered every Sunday and featuring:The Guest Book (extended guest Q&A)The Bookshop (a featured independent bookstore) Recommended readsLiterary discoveries and behind-the-scenes updates Instagram: @theliterarylounge.co Jennifer CashHost, Creator, Producer & Editor of The Literary Lounge Instagram: @readwithjennifer