Rebel Ever After

This week's guest is Sophia Benoit, author of the historical romance The Very Definition of Love and the essay collection Well, This is Exhausting. I asked her about putting her own spin on the "rake accidentally compromises a bluestocking" historical romance trope. We talked about our favorite historically accurate dirty slang terms and why there are so many euphemisms for sex workers. Plus, how she thinks about responsible depictions of relationships and intimacy as a sex writer and a romance author, and why we both have strong feelings about choking and breath play. Follow Sophia on Instagram @sgbenoit, and purchase The Very Definition of Love from the Rebel Ever After affiliate bookstore at bit.ly/REAbooks Rep the podcast with Rebel Ever After MERCH! Browse our new store here: rebeleverafter.creator-spring.com The best way to support the show is now to subscribe on Bindery, a home for booklovers and the (hopefully!) future Rebel Ever After romance publishing imprint. We are 49% of the way to reaching our goal of 100 subscribers! Join at rebeleverafter.binderybooks.com Theme music created by Dalton Deschain. Media mentioned this episode: A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grouse The works of Jane Austen The works of Nora Ephron Upcoming Events:  9/30: Launching Happily Ever Afterlife with Emma R. Alban at the Ripped Bodice BK. Tickets here. JUST ADDED 10/5: I'm hosting another Romance Read-In to benefit Authors Against Book Bans at Book Club Bar in Manhattan on October 5th at 7:30pm! Tickets just went on sale here.

This week my guest is Alicia Thompson, the author of five adult romance novels including With Love, From Cold World and Never Been Shipped. We talked about balancing magical realism with grounded characterization in her new book In Every Possible Way. Plus: Alicia's amazing newsletter about music, our hatred of the "reverse" trope, and how she writes men worth falling for. Follow Alicia on Instagram @aliciabooks and on Substack at aliciabooks.substack.com. Purchase Alicia's books from the Rebel Ever After affiliate bookstore at bit.ly/REAbooks Rep the podcast with Rebel Ever After MERCH! Browse our new store here: rebeleverafter.creator-spring.com The best way to support the show is now to subscribe on Bindery, a home for booklovers and the (hopefully!) future Rebel Ever After romance publishing imprint. We are 40% of the way to reaching our goal of 100 subscribers! Join at rebeleverafter.binderybooks.com Don't forget to rate and review on your favorite podcast app, too! Theme music created by Dalton Deschain. Media mentioned this episode: Hype & Type marketing newsletter: bethearchetype.substack.com Ulysses by James Joyce Groundhog Day (1993) Chernobyl (2019, HBO) The Cranberries Tom Petty Kelly Clarkson Upcoming events: 8/12: Celebrating Sea of Charms with Sarah Beth Durst at Northport Books in Northport, Long Island. Tickets here. 8/26: Rebel Ever After Bindery virtual launch party with special guests Adib Khorram, Laura Piper Lee, and Erin Baldwin. Join for free on Bindery to attend. 9/3: Launching Love Me Like a Rock Song with Shelly Jay Shore at the Ripped Bodice BK. Tickets here. 9/30: Launching Happily Ever Afterlife with Emma R. Alban at the Ripped Bodice BK. Tickets here.  

In her upcoming sophomore novel Let's Kiss and Tell, Joss Richard explores sex-positive topics like sex work, vasectomies, and childfree happily-ever-afters. In this episode of Rebel Ever After, we dug into what romance genre conventions are made to be broken, and writing stories that make readers feel seen. Plus! You will not guess what fan fiction Joss wrote as a teenager. She shared how an idea for a Three's Company fic led to her first novel, It's Different This Time. This episode is not appropriate for children, or people who don't want to bonk radioactive ghouls in the post-nuclear fallout wasteland. If you know you know. You can find Joss on social media at @joss.richard or on her website jossrichard.com. Purchase Joss's books from the Rebel Ever After affiliate bookstore at bit.ly/REAbooks Rep the podcast with Rebel Ever After MERCH! Browse our new store here: https://rebeleverafter.creator-spring.com/ The best way to support the show is now to subscribe on Bindery, a home for booklovers and the (hopefully!) future Rebel Ever After romance publishing imprint. Join at rebeleverafter.binderybooks.com Don't forget to rate and review on your favorite podcast app, too. Theme music created by Dalton Deschain. Authors and media mentioned this episode: Emily Henry Ali Hazelwood Elissa Sussman Kennedy Ryan Emily Griffin's Something Borrowed Sophie Kinsella's Confessions of a Shopaholic Fallout (video game franchise and Amazon Prime show) Three's Company Mary Poppins The Sound of Music How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days Heroes

I've been sitting on this secret for months and I cannot WAIT for what's coming next. Go to rebeleverafter.binderybooks.com to become a Rebel and help us reach our goal of 100 subscribers by the end of September! You can also join our Bindery community for free and receive updates about the podcast and our progress toward starting a publishing imprint. 

This week my guest is queer rom-com author Amy Spalding. Her new sapphic romance IN HER SPOTLIGHT is about Tess Gardner, the closeted star of a superhero film franchise who finds out the director of her next play is her super hot ex-girlfriend. We talked about how Amy wrote all of the competing power dynamics of a fling backstage in post-Me Too theater. Plus, writing a villain I wanted to punch through the page, and misogyny's ripple effects on set and on stage. Follow Amy on social media @thatames and subscribe to her newsletter at amyspalding.substack.com Purchase Amy's books from the Rebel Ever After affiliate bookstore at bit.ly/REAbooks Please remember to RATE AND REVIEW the podcast wherever you like to listen! This show is brought to you with the support of my patrons. Support my work and the show financially by becoming a subscriber at patreon.com/brosandprose. Theme music created by Dalton Deschain.