🎤 Recorded the day before the US release date - one of Stacey's first in-depth interviews about A Forbidden Alchemy!

In this special Dear Fantasy Author episode, hosts Hannah, Kinsey, and Karly sit down with New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Stacey McEwan to get the inside scoop on her brand-new romantasy release, A Forbidden Alchemy!

Known for her signature blend of humor and heartbreak, Stacey delivers a world of gangster grit, slow burn tension, a wildly unique magic system, found family, devastating twists, and just enough banter to make the heartbreak hurt harder—and we were honored to be among the first readers to experience it!

This episode was recorded the day before the book's official US release, making it one of Stacey's first in-depth interviews about the story. As some of the earliest readers to dive into this world, the hosts came armed with questions, theories, and all the romantasy chaos you'd expect from fangirls!

The interview includes both spoiler-free and spoiler-filled sections (see timestamps below). In the first portion, Stacey walks us through her writing journey & the inspirations behind her story—including Peaky Blinders, her unique approach to worldbuilding, and why writing a unique magic system with real consequences was so important to her.

After a spoiler warning, the conversation dives deep into characters & scenes, world-building & theory clarifications, and an interrogation about the cliffhanger. Stacey also shares a few hints about what readers can expect in the sequel—and answers some chaotic theory questions along the way.

Bonus segments in this episode include a Swiftie Mania deep dive, where Stacey pairs Taylor Swift songs to her characters, a hilarious round of Are You Smarter Than a Fangirl? trivia, and a heartfelt Reader's Letter from the hosts.

Whether you've already devoured the book or you're just romantasy curious, this episode is full of laughs, lore, and behind-the-scenes chaos you won't want to miss!

Segment Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:56 Spoiler-Free Segment

35:17 Spoiler-Filled Segment

01:13:22 Swiftie Mania: Applying Taylor Swift Songs to A Forbidden Alchemy

01:24:14 Are You Smarter Than A Fangirl? Trivia

01:31:44 The Reader's Letter

01:37:06 About Dear Fantasy Reader

**Please note that ads may affect the timestamps by a few minutes**

Ready to add one more book to your TBR? Order A Forbidden Alchemy:

AUS - https://amzn.eu/d/ffna5L1

US - https://amzn.to/4jJDWW5

Follow Stacey McEwan's Journey:

Website - https://www.staceymcewanbooks.com/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@staceymcewanbooks

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/staceymcewanbooks/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574240476854

Want more from Dear Fantasy Reader?

The DFRP chapters so far:

• Season 1: Fourth Wing Deep Dive Through the Lens of Iron Flame

• Season 2: Onyx Storm Prep

• Season 3: Onyx Storm Deep Dive

• Season 4: Dear Fantasy Author — our ongoing author interview series featuring your favorite romantasy writers!

• Hazel McBride, author of A Fate Forged In Fire, interview - https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/9594e5aa-cf8d-4fdb-9ee4-ddd8eb5e9600/Season_3_E18.mp3

• Bree Grenwich & Parker Lennox, authors of Riftborne, Duskbound & The Ascended, interview - https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/9594e5aa-cf8d-4fdb-9ee4-ddd8eb5e9600/S4_DFA_Ep._2__Grenwich__Lennox_FULL_AUDIO.mp3

• Follow us on Instagram @dearfantasyreaderpod to see who we're interviewing next!

• Season 5: Book Reactions & Standalone Coverage — our ongoing collection of bonus book chats, reactions, wild theories, and anything that doesn't fit into a formal season but absolutely deserve their moment.

• & MORE TO COME!

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