Episode 33: Morally Gray and Made to Love: Character Deep Dive in Beautifully Cruel

Welcome to Story Deep Dive!

In this episode, Dana and Rachel dive into Beautifully Cruel by J.T. Geissinger, a slow-burn romantic suspense that brushes the edges of dark romance without fully crossing the line.

Whether you're a romance writer, genre explorer, or story craft enthusiast, you’ll gain valuable insights on using calibration reads vs. comp titles, crafting morally gray characters, and understanding the emotional spectrum of dark romance.

You can also watch the video version of this podcast on YouTube!

Estimate Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome & Podcast Overview

Dana and Rachel introduce the new book pick and reiterate the podcast’s mission: helping writers become more intentional readers. They preview the exciting conversations to come in this arc on Beautifully Cruel.

02:25 – The Addictive Romance Blueprint Launch

Dana shares the journey behind launching her Addictive Romance Blueprint, a comprehensive program that distills 20 years of writing and teaching into a powerful tool for romance authors. She breaks down its structure, goals, and the lessons learned during the soft launch.

09:20 – Rachel’s Writing Academy Kickoff

Rachel gives a behind-the-scenes look at the first month of her new Academy, including her approach to ideation and mind mapping. She reflects on early fears about her teaching content and how the community has already begun thriving.

19:08 – Coaching, Creativity & Rediscovering Joy

The hosts reflect on group coaching vs. 1:1 mentorship and the joy of returning to fiction after extended nonfiction work. Rachel talks about writing at 3 a.m. and rediscovering creative flow.

26:02 – Creative Practice & Growth through Trial

Drawing parallels between writing and quilting, Dana emphasizes how creative confidence comes from doing. The hosts celebrate trial and error as essential to evolving both process and product.

32:45 – Book Introduction & Summary

Rachel reads the summary of Beautifully Cruel, and Dana frames it as a perfect entry point for writers interested in morally gray characters or mafia-adjacent stories. They discuss how this book touches on dark romance without going all in.

34:25 – What Is Dark Romance, Really?

Dana defines dark romance and explores its hallmarks: obsession, trauma, power dynamics, and love in the shadows. She positions Beautifully Cruel as a “dark romance light” and shares how she uses it to calibrate her clients’ tastes and comfort levels.

41:40 – Comps vs. Calibration Reads

The hosts explore the difference between calibration reads and comp titles. Dana explains how she uses comps to identify tone, structure, and emotional arcs. Rachel adds how comps help writers orient themselves across any genre, including fantasy and crime.

50:10 – Using Comps to Define Your Story Voice

Comps aren’t just marketing tools—they’re mentors. Dana and Rachel walk through how to build a “triple threat” list of comps to understand character type, emotional tone, and reader expectations. This helps writers narrow their creative funnel into a distinctive voice.

58:08 – Crafting with Intent: What J.T. Geissinger Delivers

Dana shares signature elements of Geissinger’s brand—protective alpha males, confident heroines, humor, and heat—and how writers can learn from those elements while crafting their own original stories.

1:03:12 – The Power of Limited POV in Romance

They preview the impact of Geissinger’s choice to use a limited POV instead of the genre-standard dual. This decision keeps tension high and helps hold back some of the darker content—something they’ll explore in depth in future episodes.

1:06:45 – Final Takeaways & What’s Ahead

The episode wraps with a reminder that craft, like creativity, is ever-evolving. Dana and Rachel encourage listeners to see reading as a form of fuel and discovery—and to use calibration reads like this one to sharpen their storytelling.

About Beautifully Cruel

King (noun):

1) Having the highest rank in a dominance hierarchy

2) The most powerful man in a group

3) Liam Black

He was a stranger to me, a dark and dangerous presence who materialized from the shadows one rainy night to save me from a vicious attack. I didn’t know his name or where he was from. All I knew was that the only place I’d ever felt safe was in his arms.

But safety is an illusion.

And not every savior is a hero.

And—as I’d soon find out—having a king save your life comes with a price.

Liam Black wanted something from me in return.

Where to Find the Book

Beautifully Cruel by J.T. Geissinger is available in several formats. It’s also widely available in libraries and online retailers. Details on the author’s website.

Next Episode:

In the next episode, Dana and Rachel explore the plot structure of Beautifully Cruel—from setup to midpoint to payoff—and analyze how J.T. Geissinger uses limited POV, slow reveal, and genre expectations to control tension and reader immersion.

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