Weaving Worlds: The Art of Storytelling with Jo Riccioni
WRITING FAIRYTALES FOR GROWN-UPS
What does it take to turn folklore into a rich, immersive novel? This week on Writes4Women, guest host Jo Riccioni chats with the brilliant Kel Woods about crafting historical fantasy, blending research with imagination, and the writing process behind her stunning books After the Forest and Upon a Starlet Tide.
Kel shares how she found her unique voice, why mentorships transformed her writing, and the delicate balance between historical accuracy and storytelling magic. Plus—how do you create a male lead readers swoon over without falling into clichés? (Spoiler: Samuel might just be your new book boyfriend.)
For our Substack subscribers, there’s an exclusive bonus chat where Kel and Jo go deeper into the craft and business of publishing—don’t miss it!
Plug in. Get inspired. Let’s talk about writing stories that last.
Episode Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome & Episode Overview
00:06 – Meet Guest Host Jo Riccioni & Her Writing Journey
02:54 – Introducing Kel Woods: From Librarian to Bestseller
04:12 – Breaking Into Publishing: Kel’s Path to Success
08:05 – Crafting Upon a Starlet Tide: Blending Fairytale & History
11:17 – Research vs. Imagination: Building a Rich World
12:59 – Exclusive Reading from Upon a Starlet Tide
14:43 – Research Trips & Finding Inspiration in Brittany
19:44 – Weaving History into Story: How Much Research is Too Much?
24:46 – The Magic of Granite & Brittany’s Folklore
25:32 – Sensory Storytelling: The Role of Food & Fashion in Fiction
25:51 – Plotting & Writing: When the Story Finally Clicks
26:59 – Deep Dive into Historical Research & Mythology
31:13 – Why Add Fantasy? The Power of Magic in Historical Fiction
35:28 – Writing Swoon-Worthy Characters Without Cliché
40:07 – Love Triangles, Class Divides & Other Favourite Tropes
42:39 – What’s Next? Kel’s New Project & The Writing Process
44:34 – Navigating Publicity & The Reality of Being an Author
47:20 – Final Thoughts & Where to Find Kel Online