In this episode of Miles Beyond the Page, Michelle chats with Zoe Allison, romance author, doctor, and self-proclaimed notebook hoarder, about balancing real-life intensity with fictional happily-ever-afters. Growing up in Yorkshire in a mixed-race family, Zoe loved stories of love and bravery—but instead of being saved by the knight, she imagined fighting dragons beside him.

Now based in Scotland with her family, Zoe shares how writing became the creative outlet she needed to escape the emotional toll of her medical career. Her stories are packed with strong heroines, slow-burn romance, and the kind of swoony, satisfying endings we all crave.

Tune in for a heartwarming conversation about identity, resilience, and why the best love stories are the ones where both characters come out stronger—together.

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ABOUT ZOE:

Zoe lives in Scotland with her husband, two children, and massive notebook collection—having been brought up in a mixed-race family in Yorkshire. Her favourite past times include reading, movies, music and pop culture, and walking into rooms and then forgetting what she went in there for.

Growing up, she always enjoyed stories about falling in love. But rather than daydreaming of being rescued by a knight in shining armour, she would imagine fighting dragons alongside him.

As an adult, she went to medical school and became a doctor. However as time passed, she began to crave a creative outlet to counter the burnout that her career inflicted upon her, and also to achieve the happy endings that were so often lacking in the real world. So, she began to write romance featuring heroines who are not only their heroes’ equals in ability and intellect, but whose heroes equal them in emotional intelligence.

WHERE TO FIND ZOE:

Website | Newsletter sign up

X | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

WHERE TO FIND HER BOOKS:

Linktree

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Are you a plotter or a pantser? Or somewhere in between?

In this Behind the Mic special from Miles Beyond the Page, 10 bestselling and award-winning authors weigh in on one of the biggest questions writers face: Should you plan your novel—or fly by the seat of your pants?

From detailed outlines to wild creative chaos, each author shares their unique process, favorite tools, and the lessons they’ve learned about storytelling.

Featuring:

- Adrienne Giordano (Romantic suspense powerhouse)

- Amanda Reid (Mystery with bite)

- L.E. Sterling (YA sci-fi/fantasy author)

- Harry Turtledove (Legendary alternate history author)

- Jami Gray (Urban fantasy and romantic suspense)

- Janet Leigh (Time-travel rom-com queen)

- Jeanne Skartsiaris (Women’s fiction & suspense)

- Elizabeth Hobbs (Historical romance with heart)

- Misty Evans (Paranormal & espionage thrillers)

- Tracey Devlyn (Romantic suspense & historical intrigue)

✍️ Whether you swear by spreadsheets or thrive in the unknown, this compilation will inspire your writing journey—and maybe help you find the process that works best for you.

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In this episode of Miles Beyond the Page, Michelle chats with Lyndsey Lewellen, author of The Chaos Grid duology—a gripping YA dystopian series set in a futuristic Texas landscape pulsing with danger, heart, and a rebellious spirit.

Lyndsey shares how her love of comic books, punk music, and sci-fi shaped her writing style and fueled the bold, high-stakes storytelling in her novels. We explore the power of “what if” in dystopian fiction, the risks her characters take to stand up for what matters, and how growing up surrounded by creativity and chaos (yes, including peacocks!) influences every word she writes.

When she’s not writing or conquering her massive TBR pile, Lyndsey is designing gorgeous book covers and custom-painting shoes—because, of course, her creativity knows no bounds.

If you love fierce YA heroes, dystopian drama, and a dash of punk-rock heart, you won’t want to miss this episode.

ABOUT LYNDSEY:

Lyndsey Lewellen is the author of The Chaos Grid duology, a YA dystopian series set in futuristic Texas. Growing up on a healthy dose of comic books, punk music, and sci-fi, she infuses all three loves into novels written for young adults. Inside her “what if” worlds, her characters take risks, grow, and fight for what matters. When she’s not writing or whittling down her endless TBR, she designs novel covers and paints on shoes. She lives on a small Texas farm with her best friend/husband, five children, and what some might call a zoo of animals (especially after meeting the peacocks).

WHERE TO FIND LYNDSEY:

Instagram | Facebook | Newsletter

WHERE TO BUY HER BOOKS:

Amazon | Direct | B&N

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