Smut & Sensibility

Copy:

Aly and Amber are joined by author Neena Noon to chat all about writing craft and the path to traditionally publishing her new cozy, witchy, enemies to lovers romance novel, TO VEX AND TO HEX! This delightful read is available everywhere now! Listen in if you love:

• a hot irish professor and magical hijinks and pranks directed at said hot irish professor who irritatingly yet sexily won't return to ireland 
• found family 
• learning to love and appreciate your unique talents even if they are misunderstood by others
• "good girl" IYKYK
• the dreamiest bookshop worth fighting (and falling in love) for 
• Fun and games

Time stamps:

0:00 – Introduction

0:27 – Book Nook

0:47 – Married With Benefits by Ellie Palmer

4:32 – Disenchanted by Lucy Jane Wood

6:12 – A Vow of Vengeance by Jaclyn Rodriguez

8:55 – Craft Corner: To Vex And To Hex with Author Neena Noon

27:52 – Fun and Games

44:22 – Happy Endings

Subscribe to the Smut & Sensibility newsletter for updates and future bonus content: https://tr.ee/tW4kS7LqwT

Check out our Book Nook recs and author interview featured titles on Bookshop(dot)org (affiliate): https://tr.ee/booknookrecs

OUT NOW from Smut University Press: A MINNESOTAN’S GUIDE TO BREAKING THE ICE: http://tr.ee/MNguide (all proceeds to http://ILCM.org)

Connect with the Squad:

Amber

IG: https://instagram.com/amberchristineauthor

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/Amberchristineauthor

Aly

Substack: https://substack.com/@alyafterall 

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@alydaltonwrites 

Connect with the Pod:

TT: https://tr.ee/uepfsftdpc

Instagram: https://tr.ee/MKqmAdLiLT  

YT: https://tr.ee/Osti-mKDCc

Website: http://smutandsensibilitypod.com

Bluesky: https://tr.ee/-pb4yhfqfV

Aly and Amber are ready to help you prep your spooky season reading list with Monster Romance 101! There’s literary history, literary critique, book recs, (and probably tentacles) everyone can enjoy. Listen in for:

- Fourth Wing casting update commentary

- The literary origins of the monster romance sub genre

- What makes a monster romance 

- A TBR busting monster romance syllabus

- Discussion of appendages

By the end of this episode we hope that when faced with the man or the bear, you confidently choose the bear (shifter). 

00:00 — Intro

02:50 — Tea Time: Fourth Wing casting updates and thoughts

18:33 — Book Nook: One Moore Time by Mariana Zapata

21:43 — Craft Corner: Monster Romance 101 intro, origins, literary background

36:26 — Romance novel history and critique

57:11 — Gothic literature history and critique

1:19:12 — Monster Romance defined

1:32:14 — Syllabus: Cambric Creek by CM Nacosta

1:37:17 — Syllabus: Girls Trip by CM Nacosta

1:38:00 — Syllabus: Mead Mishaps by Kimberly Lemming

1:41:29 — Syllabus: Cosmic Chaos by Kimberly Lemming

1:42:49 — Syllabus: Supers in the City by Elizabeth Stephens

1:45:25 — Syllabus: Deal with a Demon by Katee Robert

1:51:30 — Syllabus: Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon

1:52:06 — Syllabus: Psy/Changeling by Nalini Singh

1:55:22 — Happy Endings

Sources:

Crawford, Joseph. The Twilight of the Gothic? : Vampire Fiction and the Rise of the Paranormal Romance. 1st ed. Cardiff, Wales: University of Wales Press, 2014.

Regis, Pamela. A Natural History of the Romance Novel. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2003. 

Spooner, Catherine. Post-Millennial Gothic : Comedy, Romance and the Rise of Happy Gothic, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2017.

https://janefriedman.com/how-to-outline-a-gothic-novel/

Subscribe to the Smut & Sensibility newsletter for updates and future bonus content: https://tr.ee/tW4kS7LqwT

Check out our Book Nook recs and author interview featured titles on Bookshop(dot)org (affiliate): https://tr.ee/booknookrecs

OUT NOW from Smut University Press: A MINNESOTAN’S GUIDE TO BREAKING THE ICE: http://tr.ee/MNguide (all proceeds to http://ILCM.org)

Connect with the Squad:

Amber

IG: https://instagram.com/amberchristineauthor 

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/Amberchristineauthor 

Aly

Substack: https://substack.com/@alyafterall 

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@alydaltonwrites 

Connect with the Pod:

TT: https://tr.ee/uepfsftdpc

Instagram: https://tr.ee/MKqmAdLiLT  

YT: https://tr.ee/Osti-mKDCc

Website: http://smutandsensibilitypod.com

Bluesky: https://tr.ee/-pb4yhfqfV

Amber and Aly are joined by author Elizabeth Davis to chat about her new release, THE FRIENDSGIVING PACT, available everywhere now. This book is bringing the autumnal, yearning vibes with:

- high school best friends turned collegiate fake daters

- good girl x bad boy with a hero channeling Jess Mariano from Gilmore Girls (which may or may not trigger a 'who is Rory's best boyfriend' debate on this podcast…and Aly wants to know why it’s actually Logan?????)

- he fell first

- small midwestern hometown 

- Taylor Swift Evermore “Tis the Damn Season" vibes

00:00 — Intro

00:36 — Book Nook: The Poison Daughter by Shiela Masterson 

04:50 — Book Nook: I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara

05:14 — Book Nook : In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

05:58 — Book Nook: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder by Ally Carter 

08:00 — Craft Corner: THE FRIENDSGIVING PACT by Elizabeth Davis

1:00:37 — Happy Endings

Fast Drafting Resources:

• “How I plan my novel so I can draft in 30 days” by Hayley Milliman: https://hayleyiswriting.substack.com/p/how-i-plan-my-novel-so-i-can-draft
• “This is how I write so fast” by Elizabeth Richardson: https://elizabethrichardsonbooks.substack.com/p/this-is-how-i-write-so-fast 

Subscribe to the Smut & Sensibility newsletter for updates and future bonus content: https://tr.ee/tW4kS7LqwT

Check out our Book Nook recs and author interview featured titles on Bookshop(dot)org (affiliate): https://tr.ee/booknookrecs

OUT NOW from Smut University Press: A MINNESOTAN’S GUIDE TO BREAKING THE ICE: http://tr.ee/MNguide (all proceeds to http://ILCM.org)

Connect with the Squad:

Amber

IG: https://instagram.com/amberchristineauthor 

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/Amberchristineauthor 

Aly

Substack: https://substack.com/@alyafterall 

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@alydaltonwrites 

Connect with the Pod:

TT: https://tr.ee/uepfsftdpc

Instagram: https://tr.ee/MKqmAdLiLT  

YT: https://tr.ee/Osti-mKDCc

Website: http://smutandsensibilitypod.com

Bluesky: https://tr.ee/-pb4yhfqfV

Amber and Aly cannot wait to chat about THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS movie adaptation! They loved the book so the real question is: does the movie deliver on those Ali Hazelwood moments that started it all? In this episode we’ve got:

• Publishing Tea
• The highly anticipated return of audio rock, paper, scissors
• Book Recommendations 
• THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS movie thoughts including casting, production, key moments, overall impressions

00:00 — Intro

05:02 — Tea time: Private Equity buys Podium Audio 

23:59 — Book Nook: The Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating and Other War Crimes by Tiffany Hunt

28:06 — Book Nook: Once Again, Always by Amanda Gayle

31:47 — Craft Corner: The Love Hypothesis movie adaptation 

1:16:16 — Happy Endings

Subscribe to the Smut & Sensibility newsletter for updates and future bonus content: https://tr.ee/tW4kS7LqwT

Check out our Book Nook recs on Bookshop(dot)org (affiliate): https://tr.ee/booknookrecs

OUT NOW from Smut University Press: A MINNESOTAN’S GUIDE TO BREAKING THE ICE: http://tr.ee/MNguide (all proceeds to http://ILCM.org)

Connect with the Squad:

Amber

IG: https://instagram.com/amberchristineauthor 

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/Amberchristineauthor 

Aly

Substack: https://substack.com/@alyafterall 

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@alydaltonwrites 

Connect with the Pod:

TT: https://tr.ee/uepfsftdpc

Instagram: https://tr.ee/MKqmAdLiLT  

YT: https://tr.ee/Osti-mKDCc

Website: http://smutandsensibilitypod.com

Bluesky: https://tr.ee/-pb4yhfqfV

Amber and Aly are back with another manuscript minisode! Today the ladies chat about setting as character and how they plan to use setting in their contributions to the forthcoming ONLY ONE SLEEPING BAG anthology from Smut University Press. The question remains: will Aly and Amber meet their deadline? Who is to say!

0:00 -- Intro + personal updates

07:10 -- Setting as character

Sources:

- Setting as Character in Fiction (Writers.com) https://writers.com/feature/setting-as-character-in-fiction-writing

- Tips for Writing Setting as Character (Writers Digest) https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/5-tips-for-writing-setting-as-a-character

Subscribe to the Smut & Sensibility newsletter for updates and bonus content: https://tr.ee/tW4kS7LqwT

Check out our Book Nook recs on Bookshop(dot)org (affiliate): https://tr.ee/booknookrecs

OUT NOW from Smut University Press: A MINNESOTAN’S GUIDE TO BREAKING THE ICE: http://tr.ee/MNguide (all proceeds to immigrant legal aid via http://ILCM.org)

Connect with the Squad:

Amber

IG: https://instagram.com/amberchristineauthor 

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/Amberchristineauthor 

Aly

Substack: https://substack.com/@alyafterall 

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@alydaltonwrites 

Connect with the Pod:

TT: https://tr.ee/uepfsftdpc

Instagram: https://tr.ee/MKqmAdLiLT  

YT: https://tr.ee/Osti-mKDCc

Website: http://smutandsensibilitypod.com

Bluesky: https://tr.ee/-pb4yhfqfV

Amber and Aly are joined by contemporary romance author, Elizabeth Richardson, to talk about her Substack serialized novel, TRAD, which is inspired by the zeitgeist Join us for a fun and inspiring chat with Elizabeth about:

• Book recommendations 
• Writing craft talk
• The ups and downs of traditional publishing and the different publishing options that can offer authors more agency
• Serializing a novel on Substack
• Fun & Games (literally)
• What writing romance can teach us about writing in other genres

00:00 — Intro

00:57 — Book Nook: The Paddock Club by Madge Marie

04:07 — Book Nook: Succubus by Kate Fox (Available 10/20/26)

07:31 — Book Nook: The Very Definition of Love by Sophia Benoit

11:32 — Craft Corner: Elizabeth Richardson TRAD

1:18:32 — Happy Endings

1:25:14 — Bloopers (and ice cream/cocktail inspo)

Read TRAD and follow Elizabeth! https://elizabethrichardsonbooks.substack.com 

Subscribe to the Smut & Sensibility newsletter for updates and bonus content: https://tr.ee/tW4kS7LqwT

Check out our Book Nook recs on Bookshop(dot)org (affiliate): https://tr.ee/booknookrecs

OUT NOW from Smut University Press: A MINNESOTAN’S GUIDE TO BREAKING THE ICE: http://tr.ee/MNguide (all proceeds to http://ILCM.org)

Connect with the Squad:

Amber

IG: https://instagram.com/amberchristineauthor 

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/Amberchristineauthor 

Aly

Substack: https://substack.com/@alyafterall 

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@alydaltonwrites 

Connect with the Pod:

TT: https://tr.ee/uepfsftdpc

Instagram: https://tr.ee/MKqmAdLiLT  

YT: https://tr.ee/Osti-mKDCc

Website: http://smutandsensibilitypod.com

Bluesky: https://tr.ee/-pb4yhfqfV

Amber and Aly are back with another manuscript minisode! Today is all about brainstorming and crafting compelling main characters for their anthology contributions to the forthcoming ONLY ONE SLEEPING BAG from Smut University Press. Will Aly and Amber meet their deadline? Who is to say!

00:00 — Intro + character chat

51:45 — Bloopers

Subscribe to the Smut & Sensibility newsletter for updates and bonus content: https://tr.ee/tW4kS7LqwT

Check out our Book Nook recs on Bookshop(dot)org (affiliate): https://tr.ee/booknookrecs

OUT NOW from Smut University Press: A MINNESOTAN’S GUIDE TO BREAKING THE ICE: http://tr.ee/MNguide (all proceeds to immigrant legal aid via http://ILCM.org)

Connect with the Squad:

Amber

IG: https://instagram.com/amberchristineauthor 

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/Amberchristineauthor 

Aly

Substack: https://substack.com/@alyafterall 

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@alydaltonwrites 

Connect with the Pod:

TT: https://tr.ee/uepfsftdpc

Instagram: https://tr.ee/MKqmAdLiLT  

YT: https://tr.ee/Osti-mKDCc

Website: http://smutandsensibilitypod.com

Bluesky: https://tr.ee/-pb4yhfqfV

Amber and Aly are so excited to chat about DOOMSDATE with USA Today Bestselling author, Laura Piper Lee! DOOMSDATE is available everywhere now and just in time for spooky season. Grab the Fun + Stun and your favorite familiar, who also serves as a zombie alarm. In this episode we have:

• Book recommendations for however you’re feeling this autumn
• Fun & Games (literally)
• Writing Craft talk and advice from USA Today bestselling author, Laura Piper Lee
• Reconnecting with the inspiration for your manuscript

1:36 — Book Nook: Lost and Found by Tarah DeWitt 

06:15 — Book Nook: Bromantasy by Maire Roche

09:54 — Book Nook: Wrong Cabin, Right Time by C. Hallman

12:17 — Craft Corner: DOOMSDATE and Laura Piper Lee Interview 

1:03:29 — Happy Endings

1:22:53 — Bloopers 

Subscribe to the Smut & Sensibility newsletter for updates and bonus content: https://tr.ee/tW4kS7LqwT

WRITE IN SPAIN with trad pub author Sam Tschida: https://tr.ee/D9ouCWkHHQ

Check out our Book Nook recs on Bookshop(dot)org (affiliate): https://tr.ee/booknookrecs

OUT NOW from Smut University Press: A MINNESOTAN’S GUIDE TO BREAKING THE ICE: http://tr.ee/MNguide (all proceeds to http://ILCM.org)

Connect with the Squad:

Amber

IG: https://instagram.com/amberchristineauthor 

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/Amberchristineauthor 

Aly

Substack: https://substack.com/@alyafterall 

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@alydaltonwrites 

Connect with the Pod:

TT: https://tr.ee/uepfsftdpc

Instagram: https://tr.ee/MKqmAdLiLT  

YT: https://tr.ee/Osti-mKDCc

Website: http://smutandsensibilitypod.com

Bluesky: https://tr.ee/-pb4yhfqfV

Cue NFL intro music: Amber and Aly are so excited to chat with international bestselling author, Laura Carter, on the pod to celebrate the release of her latest sports romance, OUT OF BOUNDS, which is the 2nd book in the Wild Card Series (available everywhere now) and just in time for football season. Grab the buffalo dip! In this episode we have:

• Nuggets of wisdom from 17x published author, Laura Carter
• Fun & Games (literally)
• Thoughts on AI and the Romance genre
• Advice on how to get writing, stay writing, and working through burnout. 

00:00 — Introduction

01:36 — Book Nook: Chase Me If You Can by Heather Fancy

05:11 — Book Nook: Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

06:03 — Book Nook: Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

07:16 — Book Nook: Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

09:34 — Craft Corner: OUT OF BOUNDS with Laura Carter

1:31:11 — Happy Endings

1:35:57 — Bloopers

Subscribe to the Smut & Sensibility newsletter for updates and bonus content: https://tr.ee/tW4kS7LqwT

Do you want to come to Spain with trad pub author Sam Tschida (and us, duh) for a writing retreat? https://tr.ee/D9ouCWkHHQ

Check out our Book Nook recs on Bookshop(dot)org (affiliate): https://tr.ee/booknookrecs

OUT NOW from Smut University Press: A MINNESOTAN’S GUIDE TO BREAKING THE ICE: http://tr.ee/MNguide (all proceeds to http://ILCM.org)

Join Smut University, a writing group for all genres run by traditionally published author, Sam Tschida! 14 day free trial. https://tr.ee/SmutU

Connect with the Squad:

Amber

IG: https://instagram.com/amberchristineauthor 

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/Amberchristineauthor 

Aly

Substack: https://substack.com/@alyafterall 

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@alydaltonwrites 

Connect with the Pod:

TT: https://tr.ee/uepfsftdpc

Instagram: https://tr.ee/MKqmAdLiLT  

YT: https://tr.ee/Osti-mKDCc

Website: http://smutandsensibilitypod.com

Bluesky: https://tr.ee/-pb4yhfqfV

Amber and Aly are going to SPAIN for a writing retreat in 2027…and you can too! Plus, the ladies chat about some exciting updates to the podcast including:

• New newsletter platform (don’t worry, we will still be hanging around on Substack)
• Community Chat
• Subscriber original content (you’re going to have to listen to find out)

0:00 – Introduction

2:42 – Writing Retreat Announcement & Details

7:19 – Book Blog on smutandsensibilitypod.com!

8:59 – Amazon affiliate page (coming soon!) with all proceeds in 2026 going to uniteagainstbookbans.org

10:27: Patreon Announcement. Patreon.com/smutandsensibilitypod will be the new home of our newsletter, community chat (maybe critique??) space, and other fun things in the future!

15:44 – Subscriber Novella

22:44 – Bloopers

Subscribe to the Smut & Sensibility newsletter for updates and bonus content:   https://tr.ee/ai0iU_amqZ

Check out our Book Nook recs on Bookshop.org (http://bookshop.org/) (affiliate): https://tr.ee/booknookrecs

E-book OUT NOW from Smut University Press: A MINNESOTAN’S GUIDE TO BREAKING THE ICE: http://tr.ee/MNguide  

Join Smut University, a writing group for all genres run by traditionally published author, Sam Tschida! 14 day free trial. https://tr.ee/SmutU

Connect with the Squad:

Amber

IG: https://instagram.com/amberchristineauthor

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/Amberchristineauthor

Aly

Substack: https://substack.com/@alyafterall 

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@alydaltonwrites 

Connect with the Pod!

TT: https://tr.ee/uepfsftdpc

Instagram: https://tr.ee/MKqmAdLiLT  

YT: https://tr.ee/Osti-mKDCc

Website: http://smutandsensibilitypod.com (http://smutandsensibilitypod.com/) 

Bluesky: https://tr.ee/-pb4yhfqfV