We Read Smut: Bookish Conversations for Romance Readers
We Read Smut: Bookish Conversations for Romance Readers
Podcast Description
We Read Smut, hosted by Alesia, empowers romance readers to embrace their love for smut and dive deep into the diverse world of this captivating genre. Tired of feeling judged for your love of steamy reads? Join us as we create a safe space to unpack the complexities and joys of smut, challenge societal norms, and celebrate the power of inclusive storytelling.We'll explore everything from trope deep dives and author interviews to thought-provoking discussions on topics like body positivity, LGBTQ+ representation, and reclaiming the word "fat." We'll also tackle reading challenges, offer "shelf help" for your TBR pile, and venture into the realms of fantasy romance, offbeat erotica, and the vibrant world of BookTube.Whether you're a seasoned smut reader or just dipping your toes into the genre, this podcast is for you. Subscribe now and join the conversation! Follow us on Instagram @WeReadSmut and use the hashtag #WeReadSmut to share your thoughts.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores a broad range of themes related to romance literature, emphasizing inclusivity and representation. Specific topics include discussions on body positivity, LGBTQ+ representation, and various romance tropes such as enemies-to-lovers and fantasy romance. Episodes may feature author interviews, challenges, and book recommendations to enrich the listener's understanding of the genre.
Finally, a home for the spice you love and the representation you deserve. We Read Smut, hosted by Alesia, builds a judgment-free zone for readers who crave spicy plots and substance. We celebrate high-heat stories and inclusive casts. If you want open-door romance that features every body, you found the right show.
What to expect:
- Trope Breakdowns: We dissect the best (and hottest) tropes in the genre.
- Author Interviews: Hear the story behind the spice from your favorite creators.
- Shelf Help: Expert guidance to help you conquer your TBR pile.
- Inclusive Stories: We prioritize representative leads and diverse voices.
Whether you’re a seasoned smut reader or just dipping your toes into the genre, this podcast is for you. We leave the shame at the door and celebrate the power of a well-written romance.
Join the Circle: Want personalized book picks and a private chat with Alesia? Join the After Dark Circle on Substack. Supporters get full access to every post and our private community of romance fans.
Connect with us: Follow @WeReadSmut on Instagram and use the hashtag #WeReadSmut to share your current read.
Why should speculative fiction and monster romance rely on tired, reductive stereotypes when whole universes exist to be imagined? Today, for a special Birthday Bash release, I sit down with speculative romance author Nikki Clarke to discuss world-building, language, and centering Black leads across sci-fi, paranormal, and fantasy romance.
We break down the importance of writing Black-coded aliens who reflect full, nuanced lived experiences rather than lazy historical trauma tropes. Nikki shares how her background in anthropological linguistics shapes the communication barriers and cultural world-building in her Lyca series. We also address the recent resurgence of purity culture in romance spaces, why unapologetic open-door scenes centered on female pleasure matter, and what readers can expect from her dark urban romantasy release, A Fairy Blue Moon.
Guest Bio Nikki Clarke is an author of speculative romance spanning sci-fi, paranormal romance, and urban romantasy. With roots in poetry and a background in anthropological linguistics, she crafts expansive alien and fantasy worlds featuring unapologetic spice, complex cultural dynamics, and deeply centered Black leads. She is the author of the Lyca series, the Threshers series, and the upcoming dark urban romantasy duology A Fairy Blue Moon.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Nikki’s path from poetry to speculative romance and how language flexibility fuels her world-building.
- Subverting colonial tropes in monster romance: writing Black-coded aliens with depth, culture, and full lived humanity.
- Why Black women deserve softness, joy, and unrestrained passion in speculative fiction instead of endless struggle stories.
- How an anthropological linguistics background informs alien dialogue, literal communication, and points of genuine culture shock.
- Developing characters from culture first rather than reverse-engineering artificial opposites.
- Pushing back against rising purity culture, closed-door trends, and the normalization of female pleasure on the page.
- Reclaiming the term urban: setting fantasy in contemporary South Side Chicago with elves in fitted caps.
- A preview of A Fairy Blue Moon: dark romantasy, Why Choose dynamics, and expansive storytelling.
CONNECT WITH NIKKI:
- Website: nikkiclarckeromance.com
- Social Media (Instagram, TikTok, Threads): @nikkiclarkeromance
- Patreon: Nikki Clarke Romance
BOOKS & AUTHORS MENTIONED:
- The Lyca Series by Nikki Clarke
- The Threshers Series by Nikki Clarke
- A Fairy Blue Moon by Nikki Clarke
- The Dreamer and the Space Warrior by T.K. Tucker
Join the We Read Smut Lounge. Want early access to next week's episode, entry into our private Discord server, two monthly virtual silent book clubs, and a free monthly e-book? Head over to our Substack and join the paid community to access goodies and get early access to episodes.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in these show notes are affiliate links. If you make a purchase or borrow a book through these links, I may earn a small commission at zero extra cost to you.
Connect with Alesia:
Storygraph
Running list of books mentioned (Doc)
This podcast was produced by Galati Media.
Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.
Disclaimer
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