Indie Author Advent Day 11: J.S. Tazwell
Welcome to day 11 of the 2025 Indie Author Advent! This fun series will help us to get hyped for 2026 by celebrating some of the wonderful indie releases of 2025! Today I am interviewing J.S. Tazwell. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!
J.S.'s 2025 Release
1. What is your favorite thing about your 2025 release?
"I love that my novel has already touched so many readers. People have reached out saying it helped them heal their own grief or that they related so deeply to the characters that they were sad to finish. I wrote the book to be a relatable story about loss and love, woven with pieces of my own life with the hopes it would resonate with readers. Now that I’m seeing those connections happen, it means the world. I especially love getting DMs about how much people hate Aunt Diane or want to punch Amanda (the toxic-family representation and antagonist) or how much they adore Connor and feel like these characters are family. What more could an author ask for?"
2. What are your inspirations for your book?
"My father inspired so much of this story—his spirit, and the raw honesty of losing him. I gave that pain to Lucy, and writing her story helped me heal my own. There were moments I’d be writing an emotional scene and a photo of him would appear on our Google Home screen or a song would play that made me feel like he was right there with me.
My marriage inspired me as well. After my past, I chose someone kind and steady, someone who truly cares about me. I gave a lot of those qualities to Connor. Writing him, I could draw on my own relationship and the ways love can be both grounding and freeing. We all deserved to be loved for who we are, not who someone wants us to be."
3. Why do you think representation is so important in books?
"I want readers to see a little of themselves, or someone they love, in my stories. Without a personal connection, something’s missing from the experience, right? Thoughtful representation makes stories feel real and relatable, and it invites readers into experiences that may mirror or expand their own. Love Me Through the Grief is ultimately about loss, love, and healing—universal experiences that everyone will face in some way."
4. Any advice for people who want to publish in 2026?
"Always copyright your work before publishing. Give yourself at least six months of marketing time before your release so readers can get to know you. Use that time to gather beta and ARC feedback and make your final edits.
Most importantly, find an editor you trust: someone who challenges you, cheers you on, and makes you better. I found that in Derek Moreland, and he’s been incredible. And when editing seems to be taking forever, remember that editing isn’t one pass; it’s multiple rounds—developmental, copy, and proof. Patience through the process makes all the difference."
5. What are you most looking forward to in 2026? Any more releases on the horizon?
"I can’t wait to publish Love Me Through the Storm, the conclusion to Lucy and Connor’s story. Only so much healing could happen in Book 1, and Book 2 explores the final stretch of their journey. I’m so excited to give readers the ending they’ve been waiting for. After that, I’ll be exploring a new romance subgenre that I think will surprise my readers, in the best way."
6. Is there anything else you would like to add?
"Not every book is for everyone, and that’s okay. Authors, you wrote your story for the people who needed it. Love Me Through the Grief is for those who’ve loved deeply, lost deeply, and are learning to find themselves again. It’s for readers whose grief didn’t fit neat stages, but was a series of ups and downs, twists and turns you can find in a textbook. I’m not promising healing and connection to every reader, but if it does hit home, it’s probably because I wrote it for you. We’re alike in our experiences and our passions, and I’m so honored to have made that connection with you through my book."
Outro
Thank you to J.S. for getting involved in this advent! I am excited to see what they come out with in 2026. Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their releases!
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