Podcasts about romantasy

Bridget, Caitlin, and Hilda are back to finalize their coverage of "Devour Me," book 1 in Emily Rath's Devour Me series. Please note: this is book 1 in a series with 3 books, and we don't know when the other books are coming out! But you should still read it for the spice, although you might get annoyed by some of the repetitive statements made by the characters. Anyways, listen to the episode to get all the unfiltered thoughts and commentary. Join our Patreon for exclusive behind-the-scenes content and let's be friends!Instagram > @Booktokmademe_podTikTok > @BooktokMadeMe

Your beasts are back and ready to kick off Season 6 with whimsy and swords!In this episode, you'll hear Ghabiba and Courtney chat about:- Storybeast's upcoming Romantasy conference (use code STORYBEASTRS26 to get $30 off the early bird price)- Your new (and thrifted) beasts- biological shifts that can change your perspective- calling the GUARDS!- Courtney's peaceful endeavors involving pirates, poison, and assassins.- and of course, our summer snacks!A special thank you to Deore for our music. You can find her incredible work on Spotify.The Storybeast podcast is where you'll find Courtney Shack and Ghabiba chatting about the transformational power of story (and snacks). Thank you so much for being here! If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love if you could leave a review.

Send us Fan MailBurn of the Everflame, book four and the final installation in The Kindred's Curse Saga by Penn Cole is the talk of the town in the Romantasy world. Today we're doing our deep dive, reviewing one of the most anticipated releases of the year… and our opinions might be different than you think. After deep diving Spark, Glow, and Heat and having the lovely Penn Cole on the podcast twice to talk about strong female characters, deep themes, and writing under pressure, was Burn what we thought it would be? Did it live up to the expectations we had for the end of Diem and Luther's story? And when all is said and done, what rating did we officially give it? Stick around for special commentary from Penn herself on the emotional ending to her debut series, and get our star rating, spice rating, five sentence summary, faves and least favorites, and our discussion… in detail… about whether Luther is still book boyfriend material or not. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)Shop our Merch line | * https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comCheck out these narrator interviews? ⬇️Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it's like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJCheck out these author interviews? ⬇️Watch our Spoiler-Free interview with the Author Penn Cole herself all about Burn of the Everflame https://youtu.be/nYDN-XCTkbM?si=gUv1FBT3ugk7FyhoWe go behind the book with Autumn Krause and The Gods Will Sing Our Song https://youtu.be/656QHeao6F4?si=VMLZ-zAa6pltOio9THE Sheila Masterson yaps with us about going trad & her NYT Bestseller The Poison Daughter! Don't miss it! https://youtu.be/V9MpoOX3CyQ?si=e2uOKPVRQjsIhVCbCheck the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNE____Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:Ashley is wearing: Vans Warped Tour Hoodie https://vanswarpedtourmerch.com/Liz is wearing : A “I Still Read Fairytales” Villian Crew by @shadowboundspines | https://shadowboundspines.com/products/i-still-read-fairytales-just-for-the-villains-now-crewneck?_pos=13&_sid=5377b326e&_ss=rAny link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!Support the showYouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix

O najgorętszym gatunku literackim ostatnich lat rozmawiam z literaturoznawczynią i krytyczką literacką Agnieszką Budnik.Romantasy (romance + fantasy) sprzedaje się w milionach egzemplarzy: Rebecca Yarros sprzedała 2,7 mln kopii „Onyx Storm" w tydzień (a to tylko trzecia część sagi), a Sarah J. Maas ma na koncie 40 mln książek. Ale kto naprawdę to czyta? Okazuje się, że nie nastolatki, a dorosłe kobiety między 25 a 45 rokiem życia. Rozmawiamy o tym, skąd wziął się ten fenomen (od Owidiusza, przez „Zmierzch" i Harry'ego Pottera, po Wattpad i BookTok), dlaczego schemat „enemies to lovers" działa na nas tak mocno i, najważniejsze, czy te książki zmieniają nasze oczekiwania wobec prawdziwych związków.Rozmowa o miłości romantycznej, kliszach patriarchatu, kobiecej sprawczości, marketingu bestsellerów i o tym, jak czytać romanse mądrze. Na koniec Agnieszka poleca 5 książek dla tych, które pokochały ten gatunek.Agnieszkę Budnik znajdziecie tutaj: IG: https://www.instagram.com/raportzliteratury/podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2VGOciq4sOFDpYbHi3n3kHmnie znajdziecie tu:IG: www.instagram.com/nataliakusiak o mnie: https://www.nataliakusiak.commój tajny podcast na herohero: https://herohero.co/pierwszarandka/

WIR GEHEN AUF TOUR!

Bridget, Caitlin, and Hilda discuss part 1 of "Devour Me," book 1 in Emily Rath's Devour Me series. And boy, does this book start setting the tone for spooky season: secret with covens, a mysterious burial site, spooky ravens, and a ravenous wraith, but you also know it needs to have something more than pumpkin spice, so you we're supposed to get some MMF action. Anyways, half-way through and we highly recommend reading along with us. Join our Patreon for exclusive behind-the-scenes content and let's be friends!Instagram > @Booktokmademe_podTikTok > @BooktokMadeMe

Send us Fan MailToday we're bringing you our deep dive coverage for The Gods Will Sing Our Song as the follow up to our extremely impactful author interview with young adult romantasy author Autumn Krause. Autumn is the author of four novels (so far): A Dress for the Wicked, Before the Devil Knows You're Here, Grave Flowers, and OUT NOW… her very timely and extremely important fourth novel The Gods Will Sing Our Song, inspired by her own family's experiences in the World War 2 Japanese American Incarceration Camps.We met the lovely and beautiful Autumn at Romantasycon LA where we had the privilege of interviewing her for the Gothica panel, chatting all things horror, dark fantasy, and gothic themes and just knew she was an instant bestie with a big message to share. We encourage you all to pick up this book and experience the perfect balance of fantasy storytelling and real-world history, and listen to our previous interview with Autumn to learn about her family's experiences and the impact Japanese American incarceration during World War 2 had on this book. We give our star and spice ratings, least and most favorites, five sentence summary, and discuss the important tie-ins with real US history, the balance of reality and lived experience with fantasy and folklore, and even go over important facts we should all know. Recently an offering editor at auction described The Gods Will Sing Our Song as a book that changes the way we look at the world. They said that “Books like these have the power to break our hearts and remake them. They open our eyes to injustice and bring a sense of catharsis to those who've encountered its sharp edge. They shout to be seen and heard and remembered - just as we must remember those who came before us, whose joys and scars go on to guide our own life stories. In my opinion, The Gods Will Sing Our Song is exactly such a book.” And we could not agree more. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comCheck out these narrator interviews? ⬇️Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it's like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJCheck out these author interviews? ⬇️We go behind the book with Autumn Krause and The Gods Will Sing Our Song https://youtu.be/656QHeao6F4?si=VMLZ-zAa6pltOio9THE Sheila Masterson yaps with us about going trad & her NYT Bestseller The Poison Daughter! Don't miss it! https://youtu.be/V9MpoOX3CyQ?si=e2uOKPVRQjsIhVCbWe interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4Check the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNE____Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:Ashley is wearing: A shirt from Gideon's Bakehouse | https://merch.gideonsbakehouse.com/Liz is wearing : A Down the Bond Starborn Crop Tee | Code: Bestiesandthebooks https://www.downthebond.comAny link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!Support the showYouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix

We're back another Recent Romantasy Reads episode, book besties!We're breaking down our latest reads and sharing what we loved, what worked for us, and which books we think are worth adding to your TBR :)Books discussed in this episode:✨ The Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterson✨ Fury Bound by Sable Sorensen✨ A Requiem for Fallen Stars by Hazel S. Wilkes✨ Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer✨ Between Tides & Thunder by Leena Kazak✨ Web of Vows and Vengeance by Aria Ashbrook✨ This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews✨ The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow✨ Beneath by Ariel SullivanOur other Book Rec Episodes!✨ Love the show? Make sure you're subscribed so you never miss an episode! Leaving us a rating and review is one of the best ways to support the podcast and help more fantasy romance readers find our book club! ✨Join the Flights of Fantasy community:PatreonWebsiteInstagramTikTokFollow along for episode updates, book recommendations, theories, reactions, and all things romantasy! 

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Pirates, mermaids, sea witches, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance — this episode has everything.Leslie Vedder joins us to talk about The Siren's Kiss, a sapphic fantasy romance she describes as Pirates of the Caribbean meets The Little Mermaid, following a cursed pirate and a fierce mermaid who team up to take down ancient sea gods. We dig into her love of anime and manga, her upcoming graphic novel, and get five (okay, six) can't-miss pirate and fantasy-romance recommendations for your TBR.

Send us Fan MailPenn Cole returns to Besties and the Books Podcast returns to Besties to prepare us for all things Burn of the EverFlame! The final installation in her New York Times bestselling Kindred's Curse Saga drops EVERYWHERE on September 8th! That means that exactly one short week from today we will all know how Diem and Luther's journey ends… for better or for worse. How high on The Cryometer™ should you expect to get? We'll tell ya! This interview is completely spoiler free so we hope that it gets you excited for book four, and if you're new here, or to this series, that it'll encourage you to go pick it up! We have deep dives on Spark, Glow, AND Heat if you need a refresher, and a previous Penn Cole interview in which we ask her completely different questions than the ones we dive into today! Today we'll talk about how Penn handled the pressure to get this book out, how Burn is different than the previous three books, what the overarching themes and tropes are, and the unexpected POV's! Penn explains how important redemption and growth are to this story and how the heroine's journey often can look very different from the hero's experience, and why this is important. We also get the tea on whether or not this story is truly finished, what's next on Penn's horizon, and… the Hulu adaptation! Stick around for all of this, PLUS an unexpected smash or pass, Penn Cole style. And make sure to follow Penn @authorpenncole and at PennCole.com!

ACOFAE Podcast Presents: SPECIAL EPISODE 29 : Our new friend, Geneve Lee! ACOFAE welcomes to the podcast New York Times Bestselling author, Geneva Lee, to discuss her UPCOMING release Harbinger. Discovering that Laura Marie, Jessica Marie, and Geneva Lee can talk about just about anything fandom related, this spoiler free episode covers Geneva's writing process, writing hole, organization, and inspiration. It also covers William Riker, and his general appeal as well as his similarities to another book boyfriend - clock it. Focusing on Harbinger, Arden and Bishop are our mains and their story is filled with tension, yearning, sarcasm, and a bit of spiciness. ACOFAE loves birds representing our heroine and that symbol makes itself known early on. Geneva Lee is a delight and ACOFAE welcomes her back to discuss ANYTHING! TW / CW: For additional TW/CW information for your future reads, head to this site for more: https://triggerwarningdatabase.com/ Spoilers: Spoiler free! Mentions: Harbinger by Geneva Lee, Star Trek, Gargoyles, Thornbirds, Stranger Things *Thank you for listening to us! Please subscribe and leave a 5-star review and follow us on Instagram at @ACOFAEpodcast and on our TikToks! TikTok: ACOFAELaura : Laura Marie ( https://www.tiktok.com/@acofaelaura) ACOFAEJessica : Jessica Marie (https://www.tiktok.com/@acofaejessica) Instagram: @ACOFAEpodcast https://www.instagram.com/acofaepodcast/ @ACOFAELaura https://www.instagram.com/acofaelaura/

Bridget, Caitlin, and Hilda are back to wrap up their discussion on book 1 of "Dungeon Crawler Carl" the latest #booktok sensation by Matt Dinniman. And yes, Princess Donut is still the best character ... but also, there may be a short ACOTAR tangent at the end of the episode, because you know these three can never stay on task. Join our Patreon for exclusive behind-the-scenes content and let's be friends!Instagram > @Booktokmademe_podTikTok > @BooktokMadeMe

Although this book is in a genre they don't normally cover, since everyone on Booktok is talking about it, you know that your favorite booktok girlies had to weigh in on book 1 of "Dungeon Crawler Carl," by Matt Dinniman. Important things to call out as they cover the first 50%: Princess Donut is the best, listening to the audio book is the elite way to consume this series,, and did we mention Princess Donut is the best. I mean Carl is alright I guess, but you know the feline is proud to be the crowning achievement of this series.  Join our Patreon for exclusive behind-the-scenes content and let's be friends!Instagram > @Booktokmademe_podTikTok > @BooktokMadeMe

There are millions of posts on TikTok all about ‘spicy books' and someone who's become famous for reviewing them is author and content creator Tierney Page.In this ep, she chats about why she thinks there's been a massive rise in people reading and posting about romantasy and smut, her fav tropes and genres and her journey to becoming an author. SHOW NOTES:watch our romantasy ep with Esme Louise James here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXKoC94haC4Tierney Page TikTok here - https://www.tiktok.com/@tierney.reads?lang=enDM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: thehookup@abc.net.auThe Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

Send us Fan MailAt this point we think most of us are willing to admit that romance and fantasy novels saved publishing. We watched Barnes & Noble come back from the brink of collapse, Target bring back their book section, and movies made from book adaptations like Wuthering Heights and The Housemaid bring people back to theaters. If you don't believe us, maybe you'll believe math - just go look it up. These genres have historically been diminished in seriousness and importance because women not only see themselves in these stories, but experience joy and pleasure from reading and watching this content. And nothing makes the patriarchy more angry than women having a good time and critiquing the system in the process. So today, in that similar vein, we will be talking about serious and not-so-serious things that we've learned from this community and “kinks” we've unlocked because of the books we've read in the fantasy, romance, and romantasy genres. Because of the tenacity, intelligence, perseverance and all out badassery of the women who came before us, we're able to talk about tentacles, flavored “juices,” tactical pants, mafia men, stalkers, and spicy audio on a public platform. WHAT A DAY TO BE ALIVE!And then we take it even further to random pieces of useful information we (and others) have learned from reading these books, and why this community is so important. Everything from the difference between a Wyvern and a dragon, to bodies preserved in bogs, to how to load a canon are on the table, with an overarching theme of: YOU ARE NOT (AND NEVER) ALONE. We promise. This community has taught us that much.Stick around for all of this, a fave and fail movie edition, and a smash or pass upcoming MMC edition. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comCheck out these narrator interviews? ⬇️Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it's like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJCheck out these author interviews? ⬇️Penn Cole talks with us about Strong Female Characters, Feminist Themes, and her debut bestselling Spark of the Everflame Series! https://youtu.be/7ukNImyoObw?si=7C3Y9kOUMN4hfcKbWe interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4Check the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNENikki St. Crowe, the queen of spicy fairy tale retellings chats with us about diving into the land of Oz with West of Wicked! https://youtu.be/wwFYSDKcbtE?si=X6iNmUVAE6Xhmv7B____Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:Ashley is wearing: Discontinued Crescent City NecklaceLiz is wearing : Obey Me Tee from @darkanddisturbed shop | CODE: VEGAN10 https://darkanddisturbedshop.com/products/obey-tee?_pos=2&_sid=259fdc487&_ss=rAny link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!Support the showYouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix

NYT and USA Today bestselling author Michelle M. Pillow joins Samantha Tennant to talk about the re-release of The King of the Unblessed (Book 1 of the Realm Immortal series) through Tor Bramble — a lush, epic dark romantasy that Michelle wrote long before "romantasy" was even a coined term. They dig into the Labyrinth-inspired origins of the Goblin King story, Michelle's massive world-building across 100+ books and eight series, and what it's like to revisit older stories with fresh eyes. Plus: the Fresh Fiction Facts Q&A gets into zombie aspirations, campy horror DVDs, Darcy's botched proposal, and why Sarah absolutely should have stayed in the Labyrinth.

Disney is getting in on the "monster love" romantasy trend with a Beauty and the Beast WEBTOON written by an author who... loves the spicy stuff. Isn't it just slash fanfic at this point? Will Belle milk the Beast?! Watch the podcast episodes on YouTube and all major podcast hosts including Spotify. CLOWNFISH TV is an independent, opinionated news and commentary podcast that covers Entertainment and Tech from a consumer's point of view. We talk about Gaming, Comics, Anime, TV, Movies, Animation and more. Hosted by Kneon and Geeky Sparkles. Get more news, views and reviews on Clownfish TV News - https://more.clownfishtv.com/ On YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ClownfishTV On Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4Tu83D1NcCmh7K1zHIedvg On Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clownfish-tv-audio-edition/id1726838629 MORE CLOWNFISH TV - Official Merch Store: http://ClownfishMinus.com Facebook - https://facebook.com/ClownfishTV X - https://x.com/ClownfishTVcom Clownfish TV subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ClownfishTVOfficial/ Disclaimer: This series is produced by Clownfish Studios and WebReef Media, and is part of ClownfishTV.com. Opinions expressed by our contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of our guests, affiliates, sponsors, or advertisers. ClownfishTV.com is an unofficial news source and has no connection to any company that we may cover. This channel and website and the content made available through this site are for educational, entertainment and informational purposes only. These so-called “fair uses” are permitted even if the use of the work would otherwise be infringing. #Podcast #Commentary #News #Reaction #Gaming #Comedy #Entertainment #Hollywood #PopCulture #Tech #Anime #FYP Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Whether you have or haven't read books like Heated Rivalry, A Court of Thorns and Roses or Fourth Wing, you can't deny the rise in smutty literature. In 2025 romantasy and sports romance experienced triple-digit growth.But there's been some criticism around how DR and romantasy books often glamourise SA and are too accessible for young readers. In today's episode Dee is joined by guest co-host Esme James, a sex historian and author, to discuss why we're all so obsessed with fantasy smut. SHOW NOTES:https://lighthouse.mq.edu.au/article/2026/feb-2026/romance-revival-why-we-love-stories-about-love?utm_source=chatgpt.comWhy romance novels thrive on tiktok - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-27/why-romance-and-romantasy-novels-are-so-popular-on-tiktok/103198518?utm_source=chatgpt.comEsme's book! https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Esme-Louise-James/244716193Dr Esme Louise James IG - https://www.instagram.com/esme.louisee/?hl=enDM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: thehookup@abc.net.auThe Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

What if the stories we create can help us better understand our own trials, and even change the way we see those who are different from us?In this week's episode of Latter-Day Lights, Scott and Darla sit down with fantasy author and Praiseworthy Award winner Christie Valentine Powell, who shares how her lifelong love of storytelling became an unexpected way to process grief, prejudice, and judgment. Through writing her book series “The Centaur Choice,” Christie drew from her own experiences with loss while exploring characters on opposing sides of conflict, ultimately challenging the “us versus them” mentality she once carried.Christie also shares her journey from childhood storyteller to author of more than 20 books, along with the lessons she's learned through writing and self-publishing, and how studying story structure has deepened her understanding of God's role in our lives.Ultimately, Christie's story is a beautiful reminder that God is the author of our lives, that our tribulations can help shape us into who He wants us to become, and that seeing others as His children can help us move beyond judgment and find greater love and understanding.*** Please hit SUBSCRIBE to get our latest episodes, and hit the SHARE button to help us share Christie's story and light with others. ***To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/pQZdRx7XMRk-----To READ Christie's Praiseworthy Award-Winning book series, “The Centaur Choice,” visit: https://a.co/d/04JvixPUTo LEARN MORE about Christie's work, visit: https://www.thespectrabooks.com/-----To READ Scott's new book “Faith to Stay” for free, visit: https://www.faithtostay.com/-----Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylightsAlso, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.

On this week's episode of Local Legends Martin chats with best-selling author of over 80 books, Sue Bentley! As Sue explains, her decision to 'become a writer' didn't happen particularly early in her life, though she was ever a reader, inspired by books like Denys Watkins-Pitchford's The Little Grey Men, Kenneth Grahame's Wind in the Willows, and C.S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.Only when she was a Mum with children off at school did she decide to put pen to paper, and after ten years of work found herself in print - as an erotic novelist, working under the first of what soon became many pen names!From children's fairy stories to ghost written celebrity books to the dark Gothic fantasy she most enjoys writing today, she has had a fascinating career, rooted in a fascinating place!We dig into Northamptonshire's folklore and heritage, including Sue's love of the Romantic poet John Clare, and, because it's 'Birth Week' on Three Ravens we chat birth folklore as well, including fairy 'stocks', changelings, and 'Chime Children'.We of course get into Sue's most recent novels as well, including We Other, Second Skin, and her upcoming book Flesh Endures - and along the way dig into condescending ideas of 'Women's Fiction' and Romantasy, the significance of the Lang Fairy Tales, and a whole bunch more!Learn more about Sue and her wonderful books at https://www.suebentley.co.uk - though Sue's brand new website goes live on 28th August - which is also the day of the cover reveal for Flesh Endures, so mark your diaries!And as for where to find Sue on social media, she is on Instagram @therealsuebentley, Facebook @suebentleyauthor and on TikTok @suebentley09About Three Ravens

Send us Fan MailThe Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterson has taken the Romantasy and Dark Fantasy world by storm and as of August 18th will be rereleased and traditionally published by Zando Publishing in hardcover and dual narrated audiobook! We're here to celebrate with none other than Sheila herself, the beautiful, smart, and incredibly talented woman behind one of our favorite books of the year, multiple monthly picks for Besties and the Book Club, and USA bestselling author of The Poison Daughter! You've seen the iconic purple cover everywhere. You've heard about the chronic illness representation, the sister bond that pulls on every reader's heartstrings, the forced marriage between enemy kingdoms, and a badass female assassin who unalives dangerous men with her poison kiss… until one day a certain man proves he's immune.

What's the bet you or someone you know has been affected by gambling? Probably pretty high. Around 3 million Australians experience some sort of gambling harm each year. And 1.2 million Australians are affected by someone else's gambling. And it can have a real impact on your dating or love life. In today's episode we speak with Luke Bateman, ex-NFL star turned author, about his past addiction and tips on reaching the other side. SHOW NOTES:Lifeline - 13 11 14Gambling Helpline - 1800 858 858Gambling Help Online - https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au/Luke Bateman IG - https://www.instagram.com/lukebateman_/?hl=enLuke Bateman Australian Story - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-27/turning-the-page-luke-bateman/106963436Compulsive Gambling - https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/compulsive-gambling/symptoms-causes/syc-20355178The Psychology of Gambling Addiction: https://equilibriapcs.com/the-psychology-of-gambling-addiction-why-the-brain-craves-the-bet/Gambling Disorder Psychology: https://www.reachlink.com/advice/general/gambling-disorder-psychology/

Bridget, Caitlin, and Hilda are wrapping up "Broken Dove," book 2 in the Silver Elite series by Dani Francis. And ... !@#$%&* ... THERE ARE FEELINGS. FEELINGS. Mostly coming from Hilda. But still feelings. This was unexpected, so listen now to get all the details about how this book ends, but we will say it's Twisted Sisters-coded.  Join our Patreon for exclusive behind-the-scenes content and let's be friends!Instagram > @Booktokmademe_podTikTok > @BooktokMadeMe

Dan sits down with Carissa Broadbent, the #1 New York Times and USAToday bestselling author behind the wildly popular "Crowns of Nyaxia"series, to talk about her new book, *The Lion and the Deathless Dark*.Carissa shares how she went from marketing to indie publishing, whyromantasy is having such a huge moment, and the real-world habits thathelped her finally finish books instead of obsessing over chapter oneforever. She gets candid about productivity, burnout, and writingwhile eight months pregnant. Expect smart tips and tons of inspo forcreators and entrepreneurs alike. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The world of fanfiction has changed a lot since our 2017 episode, Fanfiction (Don't Judge.) At the time, I thought that 50 Shades of Gray – the novel that began as Twilight fanfiction – was a fluke. It turned out to be a harbinger of a controversial fanfiction-to-media pipeline. I talk with Elizabeth Minkel, editor of the site Fansplaining, about how a financial motivation has altered the way fanfiction writers tell stories and the characters from pop culture they choose to focus on. We also discuss how the conversations around representation in fanfiction have become more complicated over the past decade.   This episode was inspired by an episode of The Allusionist podcast. If you like this episode, you should check out our interview with Archive of Our Own co-founder Francesca Coppa and our episode Swept Away by Romantasy, which looks at how the blending of romance and fantasy took over the publishing industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a cross over episode, JKL Media Reviews discusses Rebecca Ross's YA romantasy Divine Rivals, chosen by Karen after previous picks by Lou and Jesse. Lou, not a romance fan, says the book didn't change his view of romance novels and critiques passive characters, trope-heavy misunderstandings, and underdeveloped worldbuilding, especially the vague setting and limited exploration of the warring gods Dakra and Enva. Jesse enjoys the premise of a WWI-like magical war, likes the characters and love story, and praises elements like the magic typewriters, Roman's conflict with his family, and supportive elders. The group debates the typewriters as a plot device, the gods' role in the war, and the twist involving Iris's brother Forest, then speculates about where the sequel Ruthless Vows will take the story. 00:00 Intro and Pick 01:15 Lou Romance Skeptic 02:22 Jesse Loves Premise 05:26 Lou Worldbuilding Critique 08:04 Why This Book 12:15 Comfort Food Debate 19:10 Magic Typewriters 24:43 Deceit and Tropes 29:05 Genre Tropes Talk 31:11 Flanagan Does Carrie 31:51 Gods And War Lore 35:04 Worldbuilding Complaints 38:53 Forest Twist Reveal 43:47 Romance Tropes Debate 48:29 Dakra Cold Or Hot 49:18 Predictions Next Book 51:28 Wrap Up And Thanks 56:37 Where To Find Us Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bridget, Caitlin, Hilda and cover the first part of "Broken Dove," book 2 in the Silver Elite series by Dani Francis. Unsurprisingly, there are LOTS of opinions on what's happening in this book, so they're going to talk them out, all for your listening pleasure.  Join our Patreon for exclusive behind-the-scenes content and let's be friends!Instagram > @Booktokmademe_podTikTok > @BooktokMadeMe

Send us Fan MailToday we have a very special spoiler free author interview episode for you with young adult Romantasy author Autumn Krause! Autumn is the author of four novels (so far): A Dress for the Wicked, Before the Devil Knows You're Here, Grave Flowers, and coming soon…her very timely and extremely important fourth novel The Gods Will Sing Our Song. Out everywhere (including Audible!) on September 1st, The Gods Will Sing Our Song is a magical and tragic story inspired by her own family's experiences in the World War 2 Japanese American Incarceration camps.We met the lovely and beautiful Autumn at Romantasycon LA where we had the privilege of interviewing her for the Gothica panel, chatting all things horror, dark fantasy, and gothic themes and just knew she was an instant bestie with a big message we can't wait to discuss with her, and share with you all today! This episode is here for us to get to know Autumn better and to find out what you'll be getting into when you pick up her new book The Gods Will Sing Our Song… which every single one of you needs to go pre-order immediately! We also talk in depth about what inspired her to write this book, and why conversations about the darkest parts of our history are still SO incredibly important to keep having. We'll also briefly discuss her previous releases so you guys know what to expect if you decide to deep dive into the backlog before we do OUR deep dive coverage of The Gods Will Sing Our Song, coming soon! Autumn Krause is a writer, young adult author, a gothic romantic at heart and loves spinning stories full of macabre magic. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, where her morbid imagination ran rampant—so much so that her parents became concerned and told her to stop writing stories where everyone dies at the end. Most often, she can be found in Orange County, California, wearing a black lace dress while spending time with her husband and three children. Other times, she can be found out with lanterns in the tradition of Emily Dickinson, searching for herself and stories.Recently an offering editor at auction described The Gods Will Sing Our Song as a book that changes the way we look at the world. They said that “Books like these have the power to break our hearts and remake them. They open our eyes to injustice and bring a sense of catharsis to those who've encountered its sharp edge. They shout to be seen and heard and remembered - just as we must remember those who came before us, whose joys and scars go on to guide our own life stories. In my opinion, The Gods Will Sing Our Song is exactly such a book.”Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comCheck out these narrator interviews? ⬇️Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it's like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJCheck out these author interviews? ⬇️Penn Cole talks with us about Strong Female Characters, Feminist Themes, and her debut bestselling Spark of the Everflame Series! https://youtu.be/7ukNImyoObw?si=7C3Y9kOUMN4hfcKbWe interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4Check the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNENikki St. Crowe, the queen of spicy fairy tale retellings chats with us about diving into the land of Oz with West of Wicked! https://youtu.be/wwFYSDKcbtE?si=X6iNmUVAE6Xhmv7B____Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:Ashley is wearing: a Twilight Vintage style t-shirt from LambComedy | *  https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT9JWeP68q2yk-I0EzA/ Liz is Wearing our Besties and the books beanie: https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comAny link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!Support the showYouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix

JKL Media Reviews discusses Rebecca Ross's YA romantasy Divine Rivals, chosen by Karen after previous picks by Lou and Jesse. Lou, not a romance fan, says the book didn't change his view of romance novels and critiques passive characters, trope-heavy misunderstandings, and underdeveloped worldbuilding, especially the vague setting and limited exploration of the warring gods Dakra and Enva. Jesse enjoys the premise of a WWI-like magical war, likes the characters and love story, and praises elements like the magic typewriters, Roman's conflict with his family, and supportive elders. The group debates the typewriters as a plot device, the gods' role in the war, and the twist involving Iris's brother Forest, then speculates about where the sequel Ruthless Vows will take the story. 

Romantasy (the portmanteau of romance and fantasy) is more than just fairy smut. Award-winning author Anuja Varghese explains why the out-of-this-world romantasy genre tells us A LOT about the real world. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

Over 270,000 people have been evacuated in France and Spain following a spate of wildfires, with areas surrounding Bordeaux and Madrid particularly affected. Spain has declared the incident a national emergency. We hear from a woman in the impacted French commune of Biscarrosse who has not yet left the region.Also in the programme: India's education minister resigns following protests from the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party movement. And we take a look at ‘Romantasy' – a genre of fiction that has taken readers on the internet by storm. (Photo: Wildfires rage in southern France, Cap Ferret - 24th July 2026. Credit: Damien Rembert/EPA/Shutterstock)

Whitcoulls has released its 2026 Top 100 books list. The annual list is voted on by readers, and this year they've, you've, picked a record number of new books. A new genre 'romantasy', has emerged as a firm favourite. Whitcoulls Book Manager Joan Mackenzie joins us in the Auckland studio now.

About Our Guest – Danielle La BueThis week we're delighted to welcome back our good friend, Danielle La Bue, to Moonlighting The Podcast.Danielle has been a valued guest on the show several times, sharing her extensive knowledge of the original Moonlighting shooting scripts and offering fascinating behind-the-scenes insights that fans have come to love.In this episode we discuss a few episode scripts from Season Two.Away from Moonlighting, Danielle writes under the pen name Daniella Blue, authoring Young Adult Fiction and Romantasy novels. She is also an avid athlete, a former ski racer, and, just like us, has an enduring love of 1980s television.Her brand-new novel, Match Point, is available now, joining her previous books Treading Water and False Start.If you'd like to support Danielle's work, be sure to check out all three books, available through Amazon.We always enjoy having Danielle on the podcast and are grateful for the passion, knowledge, and enthusiasm she brings to every appearance.Purchase Danielle's new book hereMOONLIGHTING THE TV SHOWThe show is all about the hit TV Show Moonlighting which aired from 1985 to 1989 starring Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd.Grace Chivell and Shawna Saari take a look at each episode in chronological order from the Pilot to the end of the fifth and final season.They discuss the direction, the production, the outfits, the lighting, the car chases, and the tumultuous relationship between Maddie Hayes and David Addison.FOR MORE INFORMATION:https://moonlightingthepodcast.comMOONLIGHTING COMMUNITY:Fans Facebook Group:Facebook Page:Instagram Twitter/XPURCHASE:Moonlighting: An Episode Guide Bookon TuckerDSPressOR on Amazon:Moonlighting MerchandiseSubscribe to our Podcast YouTube Channel New YouTube ChannelLive With Grace & ShawnaLearn more about Grace here:Learn more about Shawna here:Donate at Ko-fi.comPersonal Instagrams:https://instagram.com/grace_chivellhttps://instagram.com/saari_not.saari Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us Fan MailJoin the Crew as they conduct a 2nd attempt for the drawing of the prize giveaway after reaching 200 SUBSCRIBERS!  They are very excited to give away some Star Wars merch for reaching that milestone, as promised.  Thanks to all of the love and support!Mike then has a couple of surprises that he's been holding onto for awhile.  That's right, he has some Black Series Helmets to open up.  Two of them, to be specific.  Which ones are they?  Come see!Finally, Mike looks to promote a #ROMANTASY novel, written by a friend [and former co-worker] of his.  The name of the first book is #StarsAndStone, which is the first of a trilogy called The Corinian Series.  If you enjoy a good #fantasy, or romantasy novel, come check it out and support the author, LK Martiny. #StarWars #Jedi #Sith #Rebel #Empire #Republic #Force #cosplay #lightsaber #toy #nerd #geek #photography #tv #film #gamer #comic #book #movie #scifi #LucasFilm #scifi  #playstation #xbox #pcgaming #LEGO #legobuild #build #CloneWars #Rebels #Animation #Maul #Mandalorian #Grogu #MandalorianAndGrogu #Disney #Jedi #Sith Social Media Handles:TikTok: @DetBlockAA23Twitter: @DetBlockAA23PodInstagram: detention_block_aa_23FB Group: Detention Block AA-23: A Star Wars PodcastYouTube: Detention Block AA-23: A Star Wars #PodcastDon't forget to #SUBSCRIBE to our #YouTube channel for #podcast episodes and other content! #Prize #giveaway at 200 subs! Goal = 500!Sponsors:Under Pressure #BrewingGolden Valley, MNMirror Twin BrewingLexington, KYSource: #Comics & #GamesRoseville, MNStar Wars ComicsStar Wars Games: X-Wing & Armada strategy games; Star Wars: Legion strategy #gameTwin Cities Geek - Magazine & Online #CommunityMy Star Wars Life - FB Group (Join Now!)#StarWars #Jedi #Sith #Rebel #Empire #Republic #Force #cosplay #lightsaber #toy #nerd #geek #photography #tv #film #gamer #comic #book #movie #scifi #LucasFilm #scifi  #playstation #xbox #pcgaming #LEGO #legobuild #build #CloneWars #Rebels #Animation #Maul #ShadowLord #Disney #Jedi #SithSocial Media Handles:TikTok: @DetBlockAA23Twitter: @DetBlockAA23PodInstagram: detention_block_aa_23FB Group: Detention Block AA-23: A Star Wars PodcastYouTube: Detention Block AA-23: A Star Wars #PodcastDon't forget to #SUBSCRIBE to our #YouTube channel for #podcast episodes and other content! #Prize #giveaway at 200 subs! Goal = 500!Sponsors:Under Pressure #BrewingGolden Valley, MNMirror Twin BrewingLexington, KYSource: #Comics & #GamesRoseville, MNStar Wars ComicsStar Wars Games: X-Wing & Armada strategy games; Star Wars: Legion strategy #gameTwin Cities Geek - Magazine & Online #CommunityMy Star Wars Life - FB Group (Join Now!)

On this episode of Self-Publishing with ALLi, Dan Holloway covers three positive stories: KDP raising the upper price limit for its top royalty bracket from $9.99 to $12.99, effective July 7th; Bookshop.org launching audiobooks for UK readers on a £12.99 monthly subscription designed to deepen ties between readers and their local indie bookstores; and the rise of dystomance — the blend of dystopia and romance trending on BookTok, with a self-published title helping drive the wave. Sponsor Self-Publishing News is proudly sponsored by PublishMe—helping indie authors succeed globally with expert translation, tailored marketing, and publishing support. From first draft to international launch, PublishMe ensures your book reaches readers everywhere. Visit publishme.me. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. About the Host Dan Holloway is a novelist, poet, and spoken word artist. He is the MC of the performance arts show The New Libertines, He competed at the National Poetry Slam final at the Royal Albert Hall. His latest collection, The Transparency of Sutures, is  available on Kindle.

Bridget, Caitlin, and Hilda finalize their coverage of "Dire Bound," book 2 in The Wolves of Ruin series by Sable Sorensen. There's no World Cup to distract this half of the discussion, but they're still giving you their unfiltered thoughts and final conclusions on this book.  Join our Patreon for exclusive behind-the-scenes content and let's be friends!Instagram > @Booktokmademe_podTikTok > @BooktokMadeMe

I had stumbled across Becca's Threads account, WomenPlayDND, awhile back. I loved what she was doing with getting new players into Dungeons and Dragons and breaking people out of the rule book and getting them to the table. It was a pleasure having her join me on the podcast to talk about this, and more!   We start things off by talking about the Romantasy book genre. We talk about some of her early reads, and what draws her to the Romantasy genre. Becca also talks about how characters are portrayed, storylines, and more. I recommended previous guest, Gabriella Buba's "Saints of Storm and Sorrow", and we even had a non-Romantasy book mentioned that I grew up with (Redwall, by Brian Jacques)   Then we get into, you guessed it, Dungeons and Dragons. Becca talks about her early experiences getting into D&D, along with what kept her from the table and enjoying the game. She talks about how she found inspiration online, to then finding groups that worked for her and her play style, along with characters that she plays. We also talk about some of the past issues with D&D, the barriers and gatekeeping of getting into the game, and how she's worked on a system to teach others D&D and helping to make it more accessible, founding Women Play DND.   You can find Becca at:   https://www.womenplaydnd.co/   https://www.instagram.com/womenplaydnd/   https://www.threads.com/@womenplaydnd

A week on from the most locked-down wedding of the year, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have finally been spotted in public, and the internet's decided their marriage is already in trouble. We're unpacking the 'they're not in love' conspiracy, why she still hasn't posted a single wedding photo, and why that silence is pure mastermind behaviour.Plus, Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff's split just got a rare, blunt statement shutting down the infidelity rumours, but the internet's already blaming a certain best-selling book, and we're getting into why celebrities can't quietly break up anymore.And the Fourth Wing casting frenzy has fans decoding black-and-white profile pics and one very telling emoji. We break down who's (probably) playing Violet, and the one Aussie campaigning hard.Remember The Spill drops the tea twice a day in this feed so follow us for all the latest entertainment news OR you can WATCH our show in full length video on the Apple Podcast app - make sure your phone is up to date and enjoy the watch! Link here. THE END BITS Find and follow us on socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespillpodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thespillpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thespillpodcast/ Read all the latest entertainment news on Mamamia: https://mamamia.com.au/entertainment/ Support Independent Women’s Media. Your subscription helps us continue to tell the stories that matter to women. Want to join the conversation? Have feedback or a topic you want us to discuss? Send us a voice message or email us at thespill@mamamia.com.au and we’ll get back to you ASAP! Executive Producer: Monisha Iswaran Audio & Video Producer: Michael Kean Mamamia acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast.Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the final episode in our 26 part A-Z of mythical creatures we're slipping into some liminal spaces to talk about Fairies!Starting with the question of what even is "a fairy" and how did that word come to be?Should we think of them as handsome and seductive, like in the Romantasy genre, or as nature spirits that need feeding with human blood, via your sourdough starter?Do we still identify with the pagan idea of fairies shaping human destiny as they fancy, or the post-Reformation concept of the fairy as a form of beautiful ghost seeking to lead us to damnation?For most people today they're icons of cuteness and childish whimsy, but why did the Victorians shrink them down and give them wings?Also, why does nobody explain the rules of Fairyland in any Fairy Tales, and what makes marriage so important in so many tales about these poor, fallen, yet somehow powerful creatures?With examples from Ancient Rome to Medieval chronicles, Witch Trial transcripts to the case of the Cottingley Fairies, join us to explore how 'The Fairy' ultimately reflects the shape of human consciousness era-to-era.So feed your green child her broad beans, don't get off your horse until your fairy dog does, and toss your wishes into the river, as it's a topic befitting the end of this series - massive, but also tiny, and constantly transforming to mirror the strange shape of life in the real world...We also hope you increasingly pleased by our new Bestiary episode art, as drawn by our good friend Tom Peteuil of Creature Castle - check out brand new Fairy merch here and visit the Creature Castle shop for prints and other wonderful things here.Speak to you again on Thursday for this week's Lang Fairy Tale triple bill all before Saturday's Local Legends interview with author and Fairy Whisperer Karen Kay!Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, we take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?REGISTER FOR THE TALES OF SOUTHERN ENGLAND TOURVisit our website Join our Patreon Social media channels and sponsors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us Fan MailSci-Fi Summer is here in full force, boyo! Are you prime?

Bridget, Caitlin, and Hilda start their coverage of "Fury Bound," book 2 in Sable Sorensen's The Wolves of Ruin series. And we apologize in advance, but there was a lot going on in this episode, and the ADHD was ADHDing. But that doesn't stop them from giving their unfiltered thoughts on the first 50% ... in between tangents.  Join our Patreon for exclusive behind-the-scenes content and let's be friends!Instagram > @Booktokmademe_podTikTok > @BooktokMadeMe

Starlog is back! The Le Guin shortlist is out. Why Tom is naked. We kick off our July read and struggle to understand why some people think Red Rising is Romantasy. Now we know. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us Fan MailBeth and Lisa welcome literary agent and debut author Alia Hanna Habib, whose book Take It From Me is a practical behind-the-scenes guide to getting a nonfiction book published. Alia represents acclaimed writers including Clint Smith and Nicole Hannah-Jones, was named one of New York Magazine's most powerful New Yorkers you've never heard of, and writes the Substack newsletter Delivery and Acceptance.WHAT IT'S REALLY LIKE TO BE A WRITER (WHEN YOU'RE ALSO AN AGENT)Alia shares what it was like to experience the writer's side of publishing for the first time — the anxiety of waiting for feedback, the obsessive inbox-checking, and the hard-won empathy for her own clients. Her takeaway: before you hit send on that panicked email to your agent, ask yourself — am I sending this because I need an answer, or to soothe my own anxiety? If it's the latter, wait.HOW THE BOOK CAME TO BEThe idea came during an afternoon nap. Alia was expanding a writing workshop for Stanford academics and realized there was no practical guide specifically about nonfiction publishing. She texted her colleague and friend Meredith Pafel Simonoff two paragraphs — and had a proposal within weeks. Writing the book took two years, complicated by divorce, loss, and the realities of doing it alongside a full-time career.THE NONFICTION LANDSCAPE RIGHT NOWWe're in an escapist moment. Romantasy, cozy mysteries, and rom-coms are dominating. In nonfiction, what's working is practical books that make your life better or give you hope. Alia also sees a coming wave of tech-critical books skeptical of our online lives. Her agenting philosophy: if something fascinates her, it'll fascinate readers. She doesn't chase headlines — nonfiction timelines are two-plus years, and you can't predict the news.CRAFT: WRITING A WINNING NONFICTION PROPOSALThe biggest mistake Alia sees is what she calls "death by PowerPoint" — leading with marketing bullet points instead of writing. Publishers are readers first. Her advice:Open with a scene in the voice of the book, not a summarySolve the "page 100 problem" — what's the engine that sustains 80,000 words?Keep marketing sections grounded in what you actually bring to the table — platform, expertise, existing audience. Publishers decide budgets and tours. Skip the hypotheticals.You're being judged on how you tell a story, not how great you are at bullet pointsWHAT ALIA IS LOOKING FOR RIGHT NOWBooks that provide guidance or reframe someone's life, historical true crime, and narrative nonfiction with a strong storytelling engine. Current projects include a Regency-era true crime story and My Jane Austen Breakup Album — a literary memoir about a man who lost his partner and his home and spent a year couch-surfing with his collected Jane Austen, reading her for romantic advice while navigating the gay dating scene in Manhattan.FIND ALIASubstack: Delivery and Acceptance Book: Take It From Me — available now wherever books are sold Support the show Visit the WebsiteFind Full Episodes on YouTube!Writers with Wrinkles Link Tree for socials and more!

Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Our last episode of Season 4!  What better way to say until next time than with the film 27 Dresses?! Our faces were hurting for days following this recording for all the laughter. On this episode you will hear strong opinions on the bouquet toss, analog living, and a particularly important safe word. We hope you have enjoyed Season 4 of the Tongue In Cheek Podcast.Head over to our socials and let us know what you would like to hear during Season 5.  August is just a short 6 weeks away. Until next time....Send us Fan MailSupport the showConnect with usInstagram: https://bit.ly/ourIGpageTikTok: https://bit.ly/ourTiktokpageIntro and Outro music, Sexy Fashion Beat from Coma-Media 

Bridget, Caitlin, and Hilda wrap up their coverage of "Dire Bound," book 1 in the Wolves of Ruin series by Sable Sorensen. The book definitely had some twists and turns that they didn't see coming, but it also felt like something they had read before. So, what were their final thoughts on it? Listen now and find out! Join our Patreon for exclusive behind-the-scenes content and let's be friends!Instagram > @Booktokmademe_podTikTok > @BooktokMadeMe