Laura: Hi, Ellie, welcome to the What to Read Next podcast.

Ellie: Hi, I’m so happy to be here!

Laura: I’m thrilled to have you. So, tell us a little bit about yourself.

Ellie: I’m a long-time lover of rom-coms, romance, and reality television. I consider myself a historian because I’ve been there since the beginning. I’ve seen every iteration of The Bachelor and everything Bravo has to offer. A few years ago, I decided to try my hand at writing my own stories. It was an exciting creative outlet for me.

Laura: I love this! So, were you an MTV or VH1 viewer before transitioning to The Bachelor and Bravo, or was it always Bravo for you?

Ellie: I watched Alex Michelle back in the early days of The Bachelor. In college, I was definitely into everything VH1 had to offer, like Rock of Love. I even wrote a college paper comparing Tool Academy to a great work of literary fiction, and my professor had never seen it before!

Laura: VH1 had some unforgettable reality TV moments. They don’t make shows like that anymore, and MTV seems to have shifted to more shows like Ridiculousness. It’s not the same as the early reality TV era.

Ellie: Absolutely. The way The Hills led into The Real Housewives and everything on Bravo is fascinating. I remember when Bravo was all about operas and Inside the Actors Studio. Now, it’s a reality TV powerhouse.

Laura: It’s amazing how the landscape has changed. I’ve always loved Bravo gossip. I’m an early adopter of Bravo Cocktails and keep up with all the tea. The ecosystem of reality TV is so rich now.

Ellie: Yes, and with the whole gossip ecosystem, like with Salt Lake City, where a gossip blogger was accidentally brought onto the show, it’s incredible to see how these stories unfold. Scandoval was a big moment for reality TV fans, and it was exciting to see the whole drama play out.

Laura: I remember when the news broke on March 3rd. It was everywhere. I was glued to the updates and marathons to catch up on the timeline.

Ellie: Bravo really rose to the occasion with that. They knew what they had and didn’t let us down. It was a fun pop culture moment for us reality TV addicts.

Laura: Absolutely. Now, let’s talk about your book, Four Weekends and a Funeral. What’s the elevator pitch?

Ellie: Four Weekends and a Funeral is about Allison, who goes to her ex-boyfriend’s funeral and discovers he never told anyone they broke up. She’s enlisted by a family member to go along with the ruse for his grieving parents. It would be fine if she weren’t starting to fall for his grumpy best friend.

Laura: That sounds like a great premise! What was your process in writing this book?

Ellie: A few years ago, I was diagnosed with the BRCA1 gene mutation, which put me at a higher risk for breast cancer. I had to make decisions about preventative surgeries and read a lot of romance novels for comfort. I wanted to see women like me in love stories, dealing with their bodies and sexuality in a positive way. That’s what inspired me to write Four Weekends and a Funeral.

Laura: I love the idea of combining joy and optimism with real-life challenges in your writing.

Ellie: Yes, joy is so important. When I was preparing for surgery, I wanted to read about happy endings and positive experiences. I didn’t want to see characters facing tragic twists; I wanted to feel safe and uplifted by the stories.

Laura: That’s wonderful. Do you have any book recommendations for our audience?

Ellie: Absolutely! Here are some I’ve loved this year:

Say You’ll Be Mine by Naina Kumar

Flirting with Disaster by Naina Kumar

Beyond Repair by Laura Piper Lee

When I Think of You by Maya Ariel

The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava

Take Me Home by Melanie Sweeney

The Dividing Sky by Jill 2

Ne’er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti

Laura: Those are great recommendations! I’m definitely adding them to my list.

Ellie: Glad to hear it! There’s always room for more on the TBR list.

Laura: Where can our listeners find you online?

Ellie: You can find me on Instagram and occasionally on TikTok at @ElliePalmerWrites.

Laura: Thank you so much for being on the show, Ellie!

Ellie: Thank you for having me!