Claim OwnershipThe Quick n Dirty Romance Podcast
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Description
A romance podcast for readers and writers who love tropes, steam, and emotionally satisfying happily ever afters.
Hosted by bestselling contemporary romance authors Skye McDonald and Sarah Smith, Quick & Dirty Romance explores romance novels, writing, and the real-life desires behind the stories we obsess over.
Each episode blends smart analysis, honest conversation, and unapologetic love for the romance genre. We talk inspiration, publishing realities, character growth, self-love, and why love stories matter in real life.
Perfect for romance readers, authors, and anyone who believes a good love story can change everything.
58 Episodes
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Some scenes just stick with you.
The kind you reread. The kind you think about at completely inappropriate times. The kind that quietly raise the bar for every moment that comes after.
In this episode, Skye and Sarah are talking about the steamy scenes that live rent-free in their heads. The ones they’ve loved as readers, the ones they’ve written as authors, and what actually makes a scene unforgettable instead of just fun.
Because a great intimate moment isn’t just about what happens on the page. It’s about tension, emotion, character, and perfect timing.
Let’s get into it. [Headphones in!]
*Titles Mentioned in the Pod:
In The Dark by Chelsea Curto
Odd Man Rush by Kristen Granata
Beautiful Player by Christina Lauren
Dream Weaver by GG Gleason
So Pucking Good and Desperate Pucker by Sarah Smith
Deked and In the Crease by Skye McDonald
People love to call romance “fluff.” Easy. Predictable. Not real literature.
In this episode, Skye and Sarah challenge that assumption head-on. They break down why romance is so often dismissed, what “substance” actually means, and why stories centered on love and emotional growth are taken less seriously in the first place.
Spoiler: it has nothing to do with the quality of the genre, and everything to do with what truly scares us.
Read Skye's books here.
Read Sarah's books here.
Pop culture taught us that love is proven with spectacle. Flash mobs. Public proposals. Last minute airport chases.
But are grand romantic gestures actually romantic?
In this episode, Skye & Sarah break down why some big moments make us swoon while others feel manipulative, uncomfortable, or hollow.
For once, size isn't the issue. ;)
Romance readers know the real secret. A grand gesture only works when it amplifies trust, accountability, and consistency.
Let’s talk about why the best love stories are built long before the big moment.
**Both Authors Have New Releases!**
Skye McDonald's Amazon Page
Sarah Smith's Amazon Page
Valentine’s Day sells grand gestures, expensive dinners, and picture perfect love. So why does it leave so many women feeling unseen?
In this episode, we break down the biggest love myth behind the holiday and why romance novels deliver something far more satisfying. Real intimacy. Emotional accountability. Being chosen consistently, not just publicly.
If you have ever rolled your eyes at roses but swooned over a fictional man who listens, grows, and shows up, this conversation will hit home.
Let’s talk about why romance readers expect more and why we should.
**Both Authors Have New Releases!**
Sarah Smith's Amazon Page
Skye McDonald's Amazon Page
If you know exactly how it ends and still reread it anyway, this episode is for you.
In this episode of the Quick and Dirty Romance Podcast, Sarah & Skye talk about comfort stories and why readers crawl back to the same stories again and again.
From emotional safety and guaranteed happily ever afters to intentional rereads of favorite scenes, we explore how romance becomes a form of self-soothing, trust, and pleasure that never gets old.
Sarah's new release is out now! CLICK HERE
Skye has two books on preorder! CLICK HERE
Romance loves a fresh start. Real life loves a mess.
In this episode of The Quick and Dirty Romance Podcast, we unpack why romance loves reinvention and why the fantasy hits hardest in January.
From fresh starts and glow-ups to the reality of change that is anything but tidy, we explore how romance stories let characters grow without erasing who they already are.
Sarah's new release is out now! CLICK HERE
Skye has two books on preorder! CLICK HERE
Is his size really the point… or is it just shorthand for fantasy?
In this episode, we start with a cheeky romance-reader favorite and dig into the deeper conversation underneath: why romance novels so often depict “ideal” men, how those ideals intersect with body image, and where readers (and writers) draw the line between realism and fantasy.
We talk about:
Why romance heroes are idealized on purpose
What fantasy bodies do (and don’t) mean about real people
Whether idealized men create unrealistic expectations or safe emotional escape
And why romance doesn’t have to apologize for being fantasy
It’s funny, honest, a little spicy, and ultimately about what romance is really offering us when we open the book.
Check out Skye's books here.
Check out Sarah's books here.
When a meet-cute becomes a meet-hate.
Want to talk conflict, sparks, and all the delicious tension that comes when two people shouldn’t be meeting, yet absolutely do? In this episode, hosts Sarah Smith & Skye McDonald dive into the trope of the “meet-hate,” that moment when attraction isn’t instant, misunderstandings fly, and rivalry becomes the unlikely prelude to romance.
We’ll unpack:
Why authors love pitting characters against each other at first sight
How a strong “hate” stake raises the emotional and romantic tension
Examples of meet-hates in our books romance
Reader reactions: what works, what flops, and when the hate flips to love
Whether you’re a writer building your next meet-hate scene, or a reader who thrills at enemies-to-lovers in fast-forward, you’re going to want your headphones for this one. It’s quick, it’s dirty (romance-style), and we promise to leave you satisfied.
Tune in and let’s stir up some tension. 🔥
Join Sarah & Skye for the Quick & Dirty ins and outs of Romance Book Conventions.
In this episode, we dive deep into:
💖 What makes cons an amazing place for readers & authors to connect
🙅♀️The pitfalls, disasters, and behind-the-scenes drama of book conventions gone wrong
⁉️ A sneak peek at a possible bookish retreat with us (yes, it could really happen!)
If you’ve ever wondered what really happens at a romance book convention—or you’re planning to attend your first—this episode is packed with tips, laughs, and insider secrets.
Put the headphones in for this one! Sarah and Skye are talking about the steamy bits in books, and we are explicit!
Skye recently polled her newsletter and Facebook group to learn what readers want in their steamy romances. Do you agree? We break down the "dirty" data and discuss how it informs our writing.
Join Skye's the Limit by clicking here.
Read Sarah's Books Here.
New Year, New Topic, Same Fascinating Conversations!
Sarah and Skye kick off 2025 by diving deep on how fast romance authors should publish books. In the Bookstagram/Booktok era of rabid fandoms, authors are working hard to make sure they give their readers more, more, more.
Is this a smart approach? Must you crank out a book a month to keep a fanbase? Should you push the speed of your publishing as an indie author?
We tackle all these questions and more!
Have an idea for an episode? Reach out!
Thank you for leaving a review.
Read Sarah's books here.
Read Skye's books here.
What A Year! Skye & Sarah look back on 2024's highs and lows of author life.
We Each Published a Hockey Series!
Growth, Learning, & Disappointments. All Part of Our Journey!
Join us as we celebrate another year of friendship and romance. AND we're celebrating 5 years of Quick & Dirty Romance Podcast!
Thank you listeners, we love you!
Read Skye's New Holiday Novella Free on KU. CLICK HERE
Read Sarah's Books! CLICK HERE
Sarah & Skye, both professional romance authors, dive deep on what it's like to write for a living. Join us as we discuss our daily schedule for cranking out word counts, how we juggle marketing and writing books, plus what we REALLY think about social media!
Read Sarah's DIRTY PUCKER now.
Read Skye's IN THE CREASE now.
Enter to win our hockey book box!
Should authors vent about their jobs on social media??
Skye & Sarah are ruffling feathers!
Hot takes on whether authors are doing themselves favors by bemoaning the publishing industry on social media. Warning-we don't hold back here!
**We both have new releases right now! And we're giving away a hockey themed book box!**
Hockey Book Box Rules & Submission: CLICK HERE
Read Skye's books! Click here.
Read Sarah's books! Click here.
Join Skye & Sarah for a discussion of why choose romance. From rebranding (reverse harem) to polyamory, from Adirondack chairs to upside down pineapples, we get quick and dirty on this trope and its rise in popularity!
Read Skye's books! Click here.
Read Sarah's books! Click here.
Skye and Sarah discuss the delicate dynamic between authors and ARC readers.
-Do authors have a right to request positive reviews only?
-Do readers have an obligation to communicate with an author if they're unable to meet expected deadlines?
Listen and learn! And the leave a review!
Romantic Suspense author Lori Matthews joins Sarah & Skye. Today, we discuss how we give our audience what they're thirsty for--while staying true to our own ethical boundaries. This convo goes deep, so get ready!
Learn more about Lori on her website http://www.lorimatthewsbooks.com
Sarah's new hockey romance: https://shorturl.at/R1nEB
Skye's new hockey romance is out this week! https://amzn.to/4bkQboi
Queer and AuDHD author Allie Lasky joins Sarah & Skye to talk about expectations and ideals on relationships, in fiction and real life.
Does romance set too high a bar for real life dynamics? How do we know when we're in our happy-ever-after phase?
Let's dive into this fascinating topic!
Learn more about Allie on her website and check out her new release on Amazon, coming June 30!
Preorder Skye's new hockey romance, Scored On HERE
Sarah's new hockey romance is out now! Click HERE
Sarah & Skye welcome R.L. Merrill to the show to talk about music.
R.L. ("Ro") writes contemporary, paranormal, and horror romance. Her newest book, UNDER HIS SHEETS, is a M/M light Romantic Suspense and part of the Accidentally Undercover series.
In this episode, we dive deep into the impact music has on our writing. From soundtracks to inspo, all of us use music in some way or another. Ro especially hears her works set to songs.
Join us and laugh as we discuss first concerts and more!
Click here for Ro's new release
Click here for Sarah's new release
Click here for Skye's new release
Sarah & Skye welcome special guests to the pod! Tonya Clark & Naomi Springthorp are contemporary romance authors. They team up to photograph romance covers and host the LOVE & DEVOTION reader con.
Partnerships. How do we collaborate for success in this industry? What are best practices for working with your bestie?
AND what are some of the wild and wackier moments these ladies have had when working with hot cover models??
Listen & find out! Then follow these ladies for more.
Click here to follow Tonya on Facebook
Click here to follow Naomi on Facebook
Click here to follow Love & Devotion on Facebook
Click for Skye's book
Click for Sarah's new book
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