It’s a special episode with guest host Mary Lynne Nielsen reporting for duty to interview me about The Widower Without a Will! We talk about why Lord Preston gets two romance stories in one series, creating a progressive hero who isn’t perfect, and writing intimate scenes for older characters. Plus, Mary Lynne asks me what I hope readers will take away from the series! (Please note: this episode discusses grief and suicide)
The legendary Cathy Maxwell joins the podcast to read from her latest Regency romance, A Touch of Steele! We talk about her journey to writing books, why she considers romance novels to be adventure novels, and what she has learned writing 41+ books. To wrap things up, she plays Love It or Leave It? and reveals why rules are meant to be broken!
In this special episode of the Historical Romance Sampler podcast, trailblazer, icon, and bestselling author Beverly Jenkins sits down for an interview. Jenkins shares her journey from her first book 'Nightsong' to her expansive career spanning 30 years. We talk about how she stays inspired to keep writing, the evolution of the genre, her research process, and future projects.
Charlie Lane returns to the podcast to finish out the year with a holiday romance, NAUGHTY FOR SIR NICHOLAS! We talk about why historical romance readers also love holiday romances, what Charlie likes about writing holiday romances, and her transition into gaslamp historical romantasy. Plus, she finally plays LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT?
Award-winning author TJ Alexander comes on the podcast today for a special edition about book bans and censorship. We take a look at how bookstores and payment processors are participating in commercial censorship to block romance book sales and how these actions specifically target queer creators. Then, TJ offers some ideas for how to fight back!
Kate Hershberger comes on to read from her American West historical romance, BLACKPOINT. She shares the books that inspired her to write a historical romance, how it felt to switch into historical romance after writing in other genres like contemporary and paranormal romance, and we mutually fangirl over Jodi Picoult. Plus, Kate shares why she loves to write in first person present tense!
Jeanine Englert joins the podcast to read from CINDERELLA'S CHARADE WITH THE DUKE. She talks about foraying into the Regency world after writing Scottish historical romances, how she approaches fairy tale adaptations, and how her characters come to her voice-first. Plus, she reveals she is here for the DRAMA of romance, and she peels back the curtain of working with Harlequin!
Ramona Elmes joins the podcast to read from her latest novella, A WOMAN'S PREROGATIVE, the latest entry in our collaborative series, "Suffragette Uprising." She talks about what inspired her to contribute to the series, why she finds post-WWI USA so fascinating, and how she approached writing an older veteran of the Great War as her romance hero. Plus, she reveals whether she is a rule follower in a round of LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT?
Charis Michaels joins the podcast to read from YOU MAY KISS THE DUKE, one of her favorite books to read aloud! We talk about her commitment to exploring sexual attitudes in romance novels, her experience working for Romance Writers of America (RWA), and how she comes up with series ideas. Plus, she proves herself to be a rule follower in a game of LOVE IT ORE LEAVE IT?
It’s a special episode with guest host Mary Lynne Nielsen reporting for duty to interview me about The Widower Without a Will! We talk about why Lord Preston gets two romance stories in one series, creating a progressive hero who isn’t perfect, and writing intimate scenes for older characters. Plus, Mary Lynne asks me what I hope readers will take away from the series! (Please note: this episode discusses grief and suicide)
Nola Saint James joins the podcast to read from CURSE OF THE RAVENSCROFT BRIDES. She shares a scene from a key secondary character, talks about why she chose to write a romantasy about ravens instead of dragons, and discusses the theme of people who feel different finding happiness. Plus, she reveals why her authors' notes include so much more than research!
Hillary Bowen joins the podcast to read from her debut historical romance, OUT WITH LANTERNS. She shares why she decided to write a WWI story, her research into Britain Women's Land Army and how British attitudes towards women's work differed from other European countries, and the authors who inspired her to read and write historical romance.
Abigail Aaronson joins the podcast to read from her debut historical romance, LAVENDER & GIN! She talks about her inspiration for setting the story in Prohibition-era Detroit and how she approaches writing queer characters in historical settings. Then, we play LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT? and she reveals all the rules she loves to break!
Addy Du Lac joins the podcast to read a sample from MISS MASON'S SECRET BARON. She shares how Bollywood and Asian dramas influence her, her approach to matching creative hypotheses with historical research, and writing the immigrant experience in the Victorian era. Plus, she shares the historical romance rule she is happy to break!
In this special episode of the Historical Romance Sampler, we return to the topic of book bans with guest Anne Knight. Anne gives an overview of library defunding happening in her home state of Arkansas and opens up about growing up in a Christian fundamentalist community that censored her reading. Plus, we talk about ways for average people (like you, listeners of this podcast!) to get involved in defending libraries and fighting book bans.
Ella Dawson, host of REBEL EVER AFTER podcast and author of BUT HOW ARE YOU, REALLY, joins the podcast to sample one of her favorite historical romances!
After reading from Maya Rodale's WHAT A WALLFLOWER WANTS, Ella talks about why this book helped change her perspective on historical romances, why mass market paperbacks are so lovely, and why romance in general is a great place to explore progressive themes.
Alivia Fleur returns to the podcast to read a sample of her latest Victorian romance, BLUEPRINTS, BATTLELINES AND BALLROOMS. We talk about how her background in architecture inspired the occupation of the heroes of this novel, plus how she uses architecture to explore gender dynamics and class in her series about neighbors on a London street. She also shares her inspiration for Historical Romance Book Deals and why readers should be sure to subscribe to the free newsletter!
Alison Mckenzie joins the podcast to read from her debut historical romance, THE BLACKSMITH'S BRIDE! We talk about her inspiration for the book (a role playing game based off a Robinhood TV show), why she is fascinated by eras like 1380s in England when change is in the air, and how relationship dynamics can work as great metaphors for political systems. Plus, she shares the romance rule she broke when she decided to publish this book!
