Rebel Ever After
By Ella Dawson
Categories: Arts, Books, Society & Culture
Fight fascism and fall in love with Rebel Ever After, a new romance podcast. Join sex & culture critic and BUT HOW ARE YOU, REALLY author Ella Dawson as she interviews her favorite authors about writing swoony, sexy and progressive romance novels.
61 episodes indexed on PodSearch.
Recent episodes
- A thicc bitch Christmas with Betty Corrello
This week my guest is Betty Corrello, author 32 Days in May, Summertime Punchline, and her brand new Christmas romance Back For Seconds. She also writes paranormal romance as B.C. Dulce, including My Italian Vampire and Wild Ruin. We talked about anti-belly propaganda, why chefs are so sexy, and…
- No Republican love interests, with Kate Stayman-London
My guest is Kate Stayman-London, political strategist and author known for One To Watch and Fang Fiction. She shared how working for politicians like John Kerry and Hillary Clinton inspired her rivals-to-friends-to-lovers campaign trail rom-com See You Next Tuesday. We talked about what it was…
- Is true love with your apex predator possible? With Shirlene Obuobi
My guest this week is Shirlene Obuobi. She is a general cardiologist, an artist, and the author of several novels. Her latest is the outstanding paranormal romance Die For Me, published this summer by Penguin Books. We talked about how we are socialized by patriarchy to desire what is most…
- Vintage filthy vocab with Sophia Benoit
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…
- Alicia Thompson on magic, music and men worth loving
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…
- Breaking genre conventions with Joss Richard
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…
- Big, wild news about Rebel Ever After
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…
- Hollywood romance after #MeToo with Amy Spalding
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…
- The queer happily-ever-after with Emma R. Alban
This episode my guest is Emma R. Alban, the author of queer historical romances Don't Want You Like a Best Friend; You're The Problem, It's You; and Like In Love With You. Her first contemporary paranormal romance Happily Ever Afterlife hits shelves this September. We talked about writing…
- Creating romance cover art with Leni Kauffman
On this episode of Rebel Ever After, my guest is romance cover illustrator Leni Kauffman. She is the creator of iconic covers like Hannah Grace's Icebreaker, as well as covers for books by Olivia Dade, Ashley Herring Blake, Emma R. Alban, and many more. I guarantee that you have some of Leni's…
- Stoner rom-coms & chronic illness with Laura Piper Lee
My guest this week is a returning champion, my friend Laura Piper Lee! Her third romance POT SHOT comes out on May 19th and was just named an indie next pick. We talked about what inspired her to write about a woman living with Crohn's Disease who opens a dispensary in her hometown…
- TJ Alexander Returns! Queer love means breaking the rules
In this episode, TJ Alexander and I celebrate their new historical romance A Lady For All Seasons, a Shakespearean-esque screwball comedy with an unforgettable genderfluid lead. Then TJ introduces me to the real queer historical figures who inspired their characters, like the Ladies of Llangollen…
- BDSM romance, power exchange & consent with Kate Hawthorne
This week my guest is queer BDSM romance author Kate Hawthorne, who also writes as Nikki Markham. We talked about the nuance of depicting ongoing negotiation and consent on the page, accountability in kink communities, and the long-lasting appeal of submissive coming out stories. Plus: why…
- Joy vs liberation in queer romance with Adib Khorram
This week on Rebel Ever After, my guest is Adib Khorram, a queer Iranian American author of fiction for all ages. His adult romances are I'LL HAVE WHAT HE'S HAVING and IT HAD TO BE HIM, and his newest YA novel ONE WORD, SIX LETTERS comes out March 17th. We had a wide ranging conversation about…
- Black heroines deserve to be treasured with LaQuette
This week my guest is LaQuette, author of many contemporary romances including The King's Pregnancy Proposition and the brand new rom-com Janae Sanders' Second Time Around. We talked about her Savvy, Sexy, and Single Club series about couples in their 40s that explores communication, healing and…
- Ella's publishing hot takes on the 'It's a Lot' podcast
This week I'm the guest! I went on my friend Emily Hessney Lynch's podcast It's A Lot to talk about my romance novel, BUT HOW ARE YOU, REALLY. We dug into my writer's block and the depression a lot of authors experience thanks to the shifting goal posts of success in this industry. Plus I shared…
- Ashley Herring Blake wants to know your star sign
In the first Rebel Ever After episode of 2026, my guest is Ashley Herring Blake! I asked the author of DELILAH GREEN DOESN'T CARE and countless other queer books about her shift from writing kid-lit to adult romance, and the authors who inspired her along the way. Then we broke down the role of…
- Primal play & the catharsis of Dark Romance with Allie Oleander
This week my guest is Allie Oleander, author of the dark-ish romance WILLING PREY about a woman who gets paid $30,000 to let a sexy, awkward lawyer hunt her in the woods. We talked about the definition of primal kink, how Allie approached consent and power dynamics in the book, and the differences…
- Does "historical romance" need a new name? With Katherine Grant
This week my guest is Katherine Grant, indie romance author and the host of the Historical Romance Sampler podcast. We talked about the conclusion of her historical romance series The Prestons and how her characters live by their progressive principles in Regency Era England. On a craft level…
- A marriage of convenience for health insurance & housing, with Marisa Kanter
This week my guest is Marisa Kanter, author of the adult rom-com FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS, as well as several YA romance novels. We talked about writing the ultimate contemporary marriage-of-convenience about best friends who get married for health insurance and housing. We had a good venting session…
- Rachel Runya Katz on the rom-traum-com
My guest this week is Rachel Runya Katz, the author of Thank You For Sharing, Whenever You're Ready and the brand new instant USA Today Best Seller Isn't It Obvious? We talked about writing rom-traum-coms, balancing serious subjects with swoony romance, bipolar representation and our love of…
- Julian Winters on queer self-discovery and demisexual representation
My guest this week is Julian Winters, the author of adult rom-coms I THINK THEY LOVE YOU and LAST FIRST KISS, as well as many books for teens and children. We talked about his passion for writing inclusive love stories that make people feel seen and celebrated. Julian walked me through how he…
- Sexy unionized ballet dancers with Chloe Angyal
This week my guest is former journalist and current novelist Chloe Angyal! In her Dancers Down Under trilogy, Chloe writes about ballet dancers as athletes, employees, and hotties. We talked about her decision to self-publish BARRE FIGHT, the final book in the series, and how she wove the…
- Sample: Portland's Romance Bookstore with Katherine Morgan
It's time for another Rebel Ever After's premium episode! This month my guest is Katherine Morgan, the owner of Grand Gesture Books, Portland's first romance bookstore. She shared what she has learned during the store's first year at 814 SW 10th Ave — from managing stock to building community at…
- Alexandria Bellefleur won't stop writing queer romance
This week my guest is Alexandria Bellefleur, the author of many queer romances including Written In The Stars, The Fiancée Farce, and Truly Madly Deeply! We talked about her groundbreaking career and what it was like to publish one of the earliest breakout sapphic rom-coms in the trad space during…
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