How Bestselling Romance Authors Build Unforgettable Worlds w/ Ava Rani | Talk Spicy to Me

In Episode 5 of Talk Spicy to Me, hosts Giana Darling and Kandi Steiner are joined by USA Today bestselling author Ava Rani for a deep dive into one of the most important (and often overlooked) aspects of storytelling: world building in romance novels. Whether you're writing fantasy romance, dark academia, sports romance, mafia romance, small-town romance, or contemporary romance, this episode is packed with practical advice on creating immersive settings, weaving sensory details into your scenes, and making your fictional world feel like a character of its own. The conversation also covers Ava's exciting four-book publishing deal, the importance of setting in series, balancing description with pacing, research tips for writers, and a thoughtful discussion about comparison, confidence, and finding joy in the writing journey. 💬 Got a question you'd like us to answer on the podcast? Send us a voice message on SpeakPipe → https://www.speakpipe.com/TalkSpicytoMe Timestamps 00:00 - Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me 02:22 - Kandi's Knoxville signing & Close Quarters special edition 05:39 - Sponsors: Lauren Blakely & Cat Singleton 06:59 - Introducing Ava Rani 11:02 - Ava's new Legacy series & four-book publishing deal 13:15 - Spice Report: Reality TV, TikTok obsessions & Will Ferrell 20:01 - Confidence, authenticity & why people judge confident women 28:19 - What makes world building feel immersive? 31:37 - Building romance, plot & setting together 33:12 - Why Book One builds the foundation of a series 37:48 - How to balance world building without slowing the story 39:30 - Using sensory details to make readers feel transported 44:02 - History, culture & creating unforgettable fictional worlds 51:38 - What authors actually cut during edits 57:11 - Finding the right balance in genre-specific world building 1:00:04 - World-building process: maps, Pinterest, playlists & research 1:10:17 - Red Flag, Green Flag: Sex in Public 1:13:07 - Listener Question: Dealing with comparison as an author 1:22:39 - Where to find Ava Rani & After Dark preview FOLLOW AVA RANI: Website: https://www.authoravarani.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoravarani SPONSORS: This season of Talk Spicy to Me is brought to you by Lauren Blakely and Kat Singleton! Lauren Blakely is the bestselling author of sexy, funny, feel-good romance, including Just Playing for Keeps, a grumpy-sunshine hockey romance with fake dating, viral heartbreak, and a broody tattooed hockey hero.  Follow Lauren Blakely:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenblakelybooks/ Website: https://laurenblakely.com/ Kat Singleton is the author of In Good Company, a forbidden billionaire romance featuring an ex's brother, private chef, age gap tension, and a dreamy Hamptons setting. Follow Kat Singleton:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkatsingleton/?hl=en Website: https://authorkatsingleton.com AFTER DARK (Patreon Exclusive) Want the extended, unfiltered conversation? Each week's After Dark mini-episode dives deeper into topics we don't cover on the main feed. Join the Patreon for early access and bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkSpicytoMePodcast