Know Your Newlywed | Forced Proximity Interview
An exclusive interview with EP Elena Armas and writers Hillary Nussbaum & Heather Taylor!
As some of you know, I’ve worked in indie film and the surrounding industries for nearly a decade now, and far before I got into romance novels. On that journey I had the opportunity to meet, separately, two incredible fellow creators; Hillary Nussbaum (who I collaborated with in New York several times) and Heather Taylor (who we interviewed a few years back on my filmmaking podcast). And excitingly, the three of us have something new in common as well: romance!
Available December 10, 2024 and executive produced by Elena Armas (The Spanish Love Deception, The Fiancé Dilemma), Hillary and Heather are the co-writers of the romcom audiobook Know Your Newlywed, available here (and anywhere you can buy audiobooks). Performed by Mary Mouser and Tyler Posey, the story follows… well, I’ll let the creators speak for themselves in this exclusive Forced Proximity interview!
Forced Proximity: Thanks so much for agreeing to doing an interview! Please introduce yourself, in as much or as little detail as you would give if being introduced on a reality show. Bonus points if you tell us what b-roll they'd use in your intro montage!
Heather Taylor: My name is Heather Taylor. I’m originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I’m a writer, director, and podcaster and split my time between Toronto and New York. I used to play the saxophone and was planning on being a music teacher but changed my mind two weeks before I was supposed to go to university and did drama instead. I became a poet and playwright and now write features, podcasts, and TV shows like The Hardy Boys (Hulu/Disney+) and Revival (Syfy/Peacock). I also host a podcast with my sister, Sarah Taylor, called Braaains and it’s about the inner workings of our brains, mental health, and disability and how it’s represented on film and TV. Fun fact: Where I grew up, it’s usually so cold and snowy at Halloween that kids’ costumes have to be big enough to fit over their snowsuit so during class, when you aren’t wearing a snowsuit, you are swimming in it. That would definitely be part of my opening montage B-roll!
Hillary Nussbaum: I’m Hillary Nussbaum, a writer and producer. I live in the ‘burbs with my husband and kids and though I write mostly fiction now, I used to work at the Emmy-winning production company, Lion Television, developing unscripted series for national cable networks like TLC, AMC, and A&E. My b-roll would definitely include footage of me from my days as a sports photographer, snapping photos on the sidelines of college basketball games. I know this because it’s already b-roll in the documentary Linsanity, about the basketball star Jeremy Lin.
Elena Armas: I’m Elena Armas, self-confessed hopeless romantic, the Monica of my group of friends, a proud book hoarder, and a New York Times bestselling romance author. Formerly a chemical engineer who blogged about books in her free time, I was blessed by the TikTok Gods and had my debut (The Spanish Love Deception) be one of the first books to go viral, giving me the opportunity to turn my passion into my career. My intro montage is Selena Gomez (she plays me), in sweats and messy hair, tripping over the stacks of books that normally surround me.
How would you explain your audio book to a non-romance reader?
It’s like a movie for your ears, and it follows Cleo, an anthrozoologist from Boston and Javi, a project manager from Chicago, after they meet on a dating app and bond over their love of the 90s gameshow “Know Your Newlywed.” When the show announces a reboot, they pretend to be newlyweds—and quickly become fan favorites. From the moment they meet, their very real chemistry is impossible to ignore, but as they inch closer and closer to a life-changing cash prize, the mounting pressure and their individual ambitions threaten to get in the way of their blossoming romance.
How would you explain it to a regular reader of romance?
An audio original with full cast narration told through dual POVs. It’s about two strangers with a love for a retro game show who pretend they are married (fake marriage FTW!) in order to compete in a reboot. Their relationship starts long distance but soon they are together on the show trying to win it all while denying they are falling in love. Contains one pepper love scene, but it’s 100% sweet.
What’s something you wish you knew at the beginning of your writing career?
Heather: That it’s not a race and that my writing, though very much a piece of me, is not a reflection of my worth. I would feel so hurt by rejection and would be so scared to pitch my ideas as I was worried that people wouldn’t like them, and therefore not like me. None of that is true! Once I realized that, I started to share my writing and get better and better. Also, I wish I knew that not all feedback is created equal – if you hear the same feedback again and again, consider that note, but if someone says something really off and they aren’t integral to getting the project made, it’s okay to not make the changes! Go with your gut!
Hillary: That writing shouldn’t just be saved for the days when you have an hours-long stretch of free time, and the conditions for writing don’t have to be perfect. If you keep looking for perfection, you’ll never get anything done.
Elena: That’s it’s not a smooth ride, but one with peaks and valleys. That there’s no beauty in the lows, obviously, but there’s little we can do about them except survive them. That it’s important to find shelter in those pockets of time and air in which you’re purely writing. Creating. Not editing, revising, correcting, publishing or promoting.
What has surprised you about writing professionally?
Heather: How long everything takes to be made! Some projects take years to make – and others are quick but it’s really a long game. Also, I think the slight terror you feel at the beginning of starting something new still hits you every time. You gotta take the deep breaths and remind yourself that you know what you’re doing – and remember to reflect on how far you have come. You can do it!
Hillary: I agree – how long everything takes! Even just looking back at Know Your Newlywed, I’m amazed at how much life has happened since we started this project. Also, I’m always surprised when I start writing a particular scene and can just have fun with it. I remember being warned that turning something you love into a job will suck the joy out of it, but so far I’m still able to find the fun.
Elena: The way some scenes or lines you don’t give much thought to while writing can make a big splash. Not to quote Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben, but with great power comes great responsibility. Writing romance is powerful because you’re reaching inside readers’ chests and asking to pull at their heart strings. You’re crafting characters, emotions and relationships they can deeply relate to or feel for. It will never cease to amaze or surprise me. That’s why I try to be very conscious about what makes it to the page of my books.
What’s your writing routine, if you have one?
Heather: I am very systematic about my writing. I often ponder on an idea for a while. It just sits in my head and I test it out when I meet with different people. Then I do research, write an overview, do more research and interviews with people where I need to, then I outline, get notes, write a draft, notes – rinse and repeat. Day to day, I try to write in the morning and have meetings in the afternoon, but that doesn’t always work. I write on my laptop at my desk and then, when I’m doing an edit, I print off my script (or whatever I’m writing) and go somewhere else to edit it on paper. It helps give me a sense of novelty which keeps me engaged. Somewhere else can be a diner or coffee shop or kitchen table. I’ve even gone to the park and sat at a picnic table!
In terms of creativity, it comes when I least expect it. Usually when I’m at an event or talking to new people or interviewing someone, even reading the latest science innovations. I love to think out new ideas when I’m walking or dancing – dancing is particularly great as you can be on the dance floor with your friends and you don’t have to chat to anyone as you jump around. That way you can seem to be sociable while you’re actually thinking up fascinating new worlds in your head!
Hillary: My schedule can be unpredictable, so I’ve learned that I can’t be too precious about a writing routine if I want to actually write. I need caffeine and I need regular exercise, and beyond that, I just need to be disciplined about opening up pages and putting in the time however I can. I love writing in coffee shops, but I do plenty of writing at the dining table, and I’m not above sneaking in some pages during a kid’s basketball practice if I have a deadline. Actually, my least favorite place to write is my desk – I need a bit of background noise and activity in order to focus.
Elena: Ever since writing became a full-time gig, I have kept myself on a nine to five schedule (with exceptions depending on deadlines, of course). Despite being a chaotic creative creature at heart, I am also someone who thrives in order, routine and planned out milestones, so I’m more disciplined than not when it comes to writing. As for when I’m my most creative, it has varied, but mostly I’d say that at any point before dinner time. Once the sun sets, my brain tends to clock out.
What hobbies do you have outside of work that aren’t literature-related?
Heather: I am a Kindle-Unlimited fiend (all romances, all the time – with a little fantasy/ magical realism thrown in. Love me some paranormal romance!). I’m always reading. I actually slept with books instead of dolls as a kid so it isn’t surprising. I also love mobile games – especially storytelling ones. Everything Rusty Lake makes is amazing and I’m obsessed with Love and Pies – a casual merge game with a mystery/ love story at the heart. There are great characters and a lot of story so it’s easy to play when I want to wind down. I love day hikes and have even done some rock hounding (which is just a long walk where you look for rocks, something I’ve collected ever since I was a kid). I also love exploring and traveling – I’ve been to every continent except for Antarctica – one day!
Hillary: Hiking, cooking, and baking. I try to run a few times a week, and I watch a lot of sports with my family. I also love crossword puzzles, though I haven’t done one in ages.
Elena: I don’t think I can call it a hobby yet, but I’ve started taking pottery classes. Last year, while I was doing research for one of my books (The Long Game [ed. note- featured in this Forced Proximity edition!]) I somehow slipped into a pottery-tutorial rabbit hole and ended up forcing my two leads to get down and clay-dirty on paper. This definitely peaked my curiosity about trying it, not just for giggles, but to have something that’s just for me, with no expectations except creating an imperfect piece from scratch. One slightly-crooked bowl later, I can say that it’s as rewarding and liberating as I expected.
Which of your protagonists (from this project or any previous) would you most like to be forced into proximity with? Why?
Heather: I’d go with Javi. I love watching cooking shows but cook more out of necessity. Javi would keep me well-fed and then I could hang out with his grandma, Marisol, all the time. They’re like firecrackers together and make everyone seem welcome so I’d love to be welcomed into their family.
Hillary: Javi! He’s thoughtful and a good conversationalist.
Elena: To be completely honest: any of them. But if I *really* need to choose: both Javi (from Know Your Newlywed) and Lucas (from American Roommate Experiment) will make sure to keep a smile on your face and tasty food on your belly, so them. Let’s just say that I wouldn’t mind it if the three of us happened to be snowed-in somewhere cozy with a fully-stacked pantry.
Is there a romance trope that’s an auto-read/listen for you? What about one you’re suspicious of unless a favorite author tries it out?
Heather: I love a good fake dating/ forced proximity love match – and I don’t mind a grumpy-sunshine (as long as there is a good reason). Maybe Jane Austen just rubbed off on me. I DETEST enemies to lovers (which is not the same as grumpy-sunshine) and am not a big fan of friends to lovers as I’ve been in too many uncomfortable situations where a friend tried to cross that line. I’ll still try those two tropes if I’m reading a series, but it usually falls flat for me. I love when characters help each other heal – I have cried many times reading romances where healing happens! Swoon.
Hillary: It depends on the execution! But I’m a sucker for a good fake dating story, as long as the characters are in it together.
Elena: As a mood reader, it really depends for me! Lately, I’ve been gravitating towards the kind of angsty reads/listens that leave me clutching my chest, so any combination of tropes that promise that. It very well can be a good ol’ forbidden romance mixed in with forced proximity, or a deliciously emotional marriage in crisis + second chance romance. There’s no trope I don’t enjoy if the mood is hitting.
For Heather and Hillary: do you remember your first romance genre loves? Movies, books, anything that comes to mind!
Heather: Harlequin regency romance, westerns, and paranormal romance (witches and magic mainly) were my main stay as a young teen. Nora Roberts was one of my favs.
Hillary: Definitely the teen movies of the late 1990s and early 2000s.
For Heather and Hillary: how did this project come about, and why audio as the format?
Hillary: I used to work in reality TV development, at a company that was known for its game shows and formats. I spent a few years mining my life for game show inspiration, asking myself things like, “how can I turn planning a wedding into a game show?” We came up with this idea years after I left that job, but I always had a soft spot for it for that reason. It was really fun turning my game show development brain back on and thinking about what challenges to put in a show like this and how they would impact our characters at specific parts of the story. On top of that, Heather and I are always fascinated by the difference between how people are in private and how they present themselves in public, so this idea was a great way to explore that.
We love that the audio format draws the reader into Cleo and Javi’s relationship, creating an intimacy that plays against the screaming crowds of fans and flashy nature of the game show. It helps play up the contrast between those two worlds, and gives the listener a glimpse of what it might feel like to be them, together on the same team, while there’s so much happening around them.
Heather: We really leaned on Hillary’s experience in reality TV to build out the world of Know Your Newlywed. As we fleshed out the characters, we also thought it would be perfect to have one of our leads work in marketing like we have – and as I’m a huge science fan, we thought a scientist at the center of our romance would honor that love! That’s how Javi and Cleo came to life.
Audio is so intimate that it’s a perfect medium for a romance. It allows you to really feel like you are part of every conversation and private moment. When a story is told on film and TV, you can be moved by it, but you are very aware of your role as an observer. With an immersive audio experience, you’re right there beside the characters, experiencing everything as they are experiencing it.
For Elena: how did you get involved with this project, and what appealed to you about the audio format from a storytelling angle?
When I heard about Heather and Hillary’s idea, I noticed elements I’m drawn to in my own novels: a fun take on fake dating, the reality tv elements, a strong female lead in STEM, and a male lead I’d helplessly swoon over. The fact that we would work on script format that then would become a full-cast audio was the cherry on top. It took me no time to know that this was something I’d love to be involved with.
Thanks again to Heather, Hillary, and Elena for their insightful answers and their swoon-worthy romance audiobook! Snag it December 10th here (and anywhere you can buy audiobooks).
More from:
Heather | Hillary | Elena | Cereal Made (Heather & Hillary’s company)
Next week, I’ll be recommending meta romance books: as in, romance books with characters VERY aware of tropes and romance mechanisms that play with that knowledge narratively.
What should I be reading next? Let me know in the comments!
Follow me on social: Twitter | Instagram | Bluesky
Available now: my debut marriage of convenience romance Rehabbing the Billionaire! Buy your copy on Amazon, or snag it on Kindle Unlimited! Then, rate it on Goodreads to help more people discover it!