About this episode
In this episode, Kelly chats with rom-com author Marline Williams about her bold and nostalgic Jesus Revolution Romance Series. With a heart for storytelling and a deep love for the 1970s era, Marline shares her journey from advertising to independent publishing—and how God called her to write laugh-out-loud romances set in the heart of the Jesus movement.
Kelly and Marline dive into the setting of Love the One You’re With (book two in the series), unpack the spiritual truths woven into her heroine’s journey, and even talk about campus revivals, witnessing with ginger ale, and the importance of letting your light shine. Whether you’re a fan of second chances, enemies to lovers, or a good ol’ Jesus Freak throwback, you’ll love this episode!
Listen to the episode here.
Meet Marline Williams
Marline Williams—rom-com novelist (and unapologetic Jesus freak since 1971)
In her pre-authorial existence, Marline Williams was an advertising copywriter and editor. Ideal for learning to craft fiction, really. After a quarter of a century of convincing consumers to buy things they don’t need with money they don’t have, Marline retired. She tossed her snarky coffee mugs and reunited with her childhood joy—writing crazy, wonderful stories.
Marline weaves midcentury-modern nostalgia and Jesus Movement memories into offbeat love stories for women who aren’t sure they believe in happily-ever-afters anymore. Her upbeat, faith-soaked romances are set in the swingin’ ’60s and funkadelic ’70s (with occasion trips to the nifty ’50s). Sweet-yet-swoony stories that go deep, but not dark.
Her debut novel, All Men Are Liars (Jesus Revolution Romance, Book 1) launched September 2024.Wild and Sweet, a 1960’s Christmas novella (part of the Christmas in
