A bold debut, a full-circle moment, and the craft of writing funny with heart
This week on Writes4Women, Pam is joined by debut author and former student, Holly Brunnbauer, for a warm, laugh-filled, and insightful conversation about writing her first rom-com What Did I Miss. From school staff rooms and awkward first drafts to awards, agents, and publishing deals, Holly’s journey is one of grit, grace, and great humour.
Pam and Holly delve into:
The path from blogger to published author
Navigating character arc, emotional depth, and laugh-out-loud moments
Writing strong female leads (and sizzly sex scenes 👀)
How a high school sweetheart breakup sparked a brilliant story idea
The ups and downs of pitching, publishing, and finding the right agent
This ep is not just for rom-com lovers—it’s for any writer wondering whether their words are “good enough” and what can happen when you follow the joy.
Timestamps:
[00:00] - Introduction and hello from Pam[00:07:10] – From First Writing Teacher to Podcast Guest[00:12:40] – “Always a Bridesmaid” and the Power of Competitions[00:23:40] – The Call from HarperCollins[00:34:30] – Building a Rom-Com with Depth[00:41:45] – The Power of Pettiness (and School Staff Rooms)
