Reclaiming smut and spice! Say hello to Katie Duggan (she/they), a romance author renowned for their spicy contemporary romances, shares their journey in writing and self-discovery. Katie, who identifies as fat, queer, and disabled, brings representation to the forefront of their work, emphasizing the importance of seeing diverse and marginalized identities in literature. Throughout the conversation, Katie delves into their early love for storytelling, the evolution of their writing to include authentic experiences of characters with identities similar to their own, and the impact of romance novels on healing and pleasure, particularly through the lens of body positivity and consensual intimacy. With their witty and heartfelt writing, Katie aims to offer representation and visibility, inspire others, and continue breaking down the barriers set by societal norms.

Guest Bio: 

Katie Duggan is a New England transplant currently living in Northern Virginia. She writes romances that give fat, neurodivergent, and queer characters spicy happily-ever-afters. When Katie’s not writing or being kept up at night by her characters, she can be found drinking iced chai lattes, going to therapy, convincing people to read her favorite books, and doing whatever hobbies give her neurospicy brain the most dopamine at the moment.

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