Get ready to learn more about the book Leveling Up in this discussion with sapphic author Jazzy Mitchell.
Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz Jazzy Mitchell about Leveling Up, writing, reading, and more.
This book is part of the Secret Crush category in the 2025 IHS Reading Challenge.
Why did you write Leveling Up?
In this second chance romance, Clarke re-enters Fran’s life to save her from entering a business deal that would ruin her company. Clarke used to be an intern for Fran six years ago and harbored what she believed were unrequited feelings for her former boss. They enter a relationship that is rife with misunderstandings, resets, and much growth. Clarke must learn to assert herself and see her own value, and Fran must learn to listen and care about another’s thoughts and feelings. I loved exploring two very different ways of navigating life and how they were able to find a middle ground.
Who is your favorite character in the book?
My favorite character is Fran. She’s at the top of her game in her professional life. She isn’t used to listening to anyone’s voice except her own, and she’s used to others anticipating her needs at work. That carries over into relationships, which often leads to misunderstandings as she navigates her relationship with Clarke. She is very flawed, but she wants to make the relationship work. That propels her toward introspection and change. I admire strong women who are willing to work on themselves.
What was the biggest challenge writing this book?
I wrote a scene reflecting Fran’s poor behavior when meeting Clarke’s family at a restaurant. They were visiting from out of town to celebrate Clarke’s birthday, and Fran’s insecurities get the better of her. She acts possessive and callous. It’s easy to see her as a bad person, but in a later scene she explains (in her unique way) what motivated her actions. She’s a complex, passionate woman, and it takes Clarke’s time to scale her walls to understand what’s happening.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
When I wrote the book, I didn’t have a title. It took some time for me to find the words I wanted to connect to one of the book’s themes and the plot. Leveling Up refers to the video game industry the main characters work in and how they must “level up” within their relationship by being open to changing the ways they approach life and love.
What is your writing process like?
I start with tons of research for whatever plot points I plan to write. I write an outline for the book with a chapter by chapter summary and in-depth character analyses. I include information on their backgrounds, quirks, challenges, their character growth arcs, ages, relatives, friends—anything I believe will be important. I also write lots of name variations, words I want to use, places my characters might be, and themes I want to weave into the story. Then I begin writing and ignore most of what I prepared. I end up rewriting the chapter summaries as I go along, and I reverse engineer the timeline after writing a chapter. I like using this process because it helps me to flesh out the characters, plot points, and themes. In fact, I end up writing most of the book in my head as I’m going through this process. Of course, I wish I could just sit down and start writing without all this preparation since it would certainly be faster. I have found this process works for me though. The bottom line is I try to be a plotter, but I tend to be a pantser.
Do you have any odd writing quirks?
I need to take breaks in between writing scenes. Oftentimes, this means I’ll promise myself that after I finish writing the scene, I can have a snack or go through my emails or read a chapter from a fanfiction story I’m following to reset my brain before writing another section of the book.
When you’re writing an emotional or difficult scene, how do you set the mood?
I try to write in a place where I won’t be interrupted or distracted. Many times I’ll listen to music which evokes the feelings I want to write about. I also think about what my character is like, how she would react, and why. For Leveling Up, I thought about how Clarke would react to Fran’s actions and lack of communication.
Do you feel bad putting your characters through the wringer?
To some extent I do, but life is all about challenges and how we react to them. Fran had to face the challenge confronting her fears and opening her heart, even though she worried Clarke might walk away from her again one day. Clarke had to grow a backbone and learn to communicate what she wanted from their relationship even though she feared Fran would be unwilling to listen.
Describe your favorite reading spot.
In a comfy chair on a deck or patio near moving water—a stream, river, a lake, or the beach. I love water, and I find the susurrations soothe me. I can get lost in a book for hours while listening to the water’s movement.
Have you ever thought you’d hate a book, but ended up loving it?
I always shied away from post-apocalyptic stories since I believed they would be depressing. Instead, I’ve found that the main characters ultimately overcome the odds and act in heroic ways to survive and thrive, even when they make mistakes. I’ve enjoyed reading their journeys.
