Episode #13
S. Rena on Navigating Author Burnout, Co-Writing, and Going Trad
With over a decade in the publishing industry, romance author and literary agent Sade Rena has navigated nearly every corner of the business. Today, I sit down with Sade to discuss the reality of author burnout after publishing 20 books in three years, the collaborative mechanics of co-authoring with close friends, and the transition from indie control to landing a traditional two-book deal with Forever. We also explore how writing helps process personal grief, the evolving boundaries authors must set against modern parasocial behavior, and her new adult hockey romance, On Thin Ice . S. Rena (Sade Rena) is a contemporary, dark romance, and sports romance author who has been writing stories since childhood. In addition to her extensive indie backlist and multiple co-written series, she is a literary agent at Beck Literary, where she advocates for marginalized authors across the industry. Her traditional debut, On Thin Ice, is out now. In this episode, we're discussing: Sade’s early start writing at 16, self-funding copyright registrations, and learning through early urban fiction. Using fiction to navigate profound personal grief and the emotional release of writing Last Chance Cowboy . The logistics and alternating-POV systems of co-authoring series with close author friends. Confronting severe industry burnout, the pressure of rapid-release schedules, and taking time away to recover creative drive. Transitioning to a traditional publishing deal with Forever and the realities of author income. Demystifying dark romance labels, consensual power dynamics, and the intricate mystery subplot in On Thin Ice . Establishing healthy boundaries in response to parasocial reader behavior. What writers need to know about querying agents and seeking representation at Beck Literary. CONNECT WITH SADE: Social Media (Instagram, TikTok, Threads): @saderenawrites Literary Agency & Query Submissions: beckliterary.com BOOKS/AUTHORS MENTIONED: On Thin Ice by Sade Rena Last Chance Cowboy by Sade Rena Hazard by Sade Rena B.L. Mute M.L. Preston J.L. Beck Zane Rina Kent Elizabeth Stephens Running list of books mentioned ( Doc ) Join the We Read Smut Lounge . Want early access to next week's episode, entry into our private Discord server, two monthly virtual silent book clubs, and a free monthly e-book? Head over to our Substack and join the paid community to access goodies and get early access to episodes. Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in these show notes are affiliate links. If you make a purchase or borrow a book through these links, I may earn a small commission at zero extra cost to you. Connect with Alesia: Storygraph Instagram Running list of books mentioned ( Doc ) This podcast was produced by Galati Media . Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective .
