The Historical Romance Sampler

It is Banned Books Week here in the USA, so author Kit Caelsto joins me to talk about writing romance in a climate of censorship. Kit shares about their 20-year career as a romance author and how a new law in Missouri is forcing them to reconsider their publishing future.

Find out more about the law in Missouri: https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2026-08-28/age-verification-law-for-porn-sites-now-in-effect-in-missouri

Call your federal representatives to tell them to vote NO to HR 7661, HR 2616, and HR 8705. Find out more here: https://5calls.org/issue/federal-book-ban-hr7661/

Find out more about Kit Caelsto: https:/kitauthor.com/ and https://authoryogi.eponaauthorsolutions.com/

Follow HRS on Instagram (@historicalromancesampler)

Find out more about your host Katherine Grant:

Instagram (@katherine_grant_romance)

Facebook (@Katherinegrantromanceauthor)

Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19872840.Katherine_Grant)

Bookbub (https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katherine-grant)

Rachel Griffiths joins the podcast to read from her Regency romance, JUST FOR THE SEASON. We talk about her English heritage, how her experience as a successful children's book editor prepared her (or not) to write romances, and her perspective on: is historical romance dead?

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT Rachel Griffiths at rachelgriffithswrites.com

READ JUST FOR THE SEASON

If you're excited to read this book, support the podcast by purchasing it via these affiliate links:

• Paperback or Ebook from Bookshop.org
• Audiobook from Libro.fm

Or pick it up wherever you prefer to get your books!

THANK YOU TO THIS EPISODE'S SPONSORS:

The Society of Smut and Scandal - now available on Amazon and KU!

Otters and Obstacles by Alexa Santi - now available Amazon and KU!

Follow HRS on Instagram (@historicalromancesampler)

Find out more about your host Katherine Grant:

Instagram (@katherine_grant_romance)

Facebook (@Katherinegrantromanceauthor)

Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19872840.Katherine_Grant)

Bookbub (https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katherine-grant)

E. H. Lupton joins the podcast to read a sample from their fantastical romance, DIONYSUS IN WISCONSIN. We talk about world-building, the class dynamics behind the myth of Dionysus, and why 1969 is such an interesting year. Then E. H. takes Katherine's Quick Questions to reveal why she writes "rom com where the 'com' is communism"!

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT E. H. Lupton at www.ehlupton.com

READ DIONYSUS IN WISCONSIN

If you're excited to read this book, support the podcast by purchasing it via these affiliate links:

• Ebook or Paperback on Bookshop.org
• Audiobook on Libro.fm

Or pick it up wherever you prefer to get your books!

THANK YOU TO THIS EPISODE'S SPONSORS:

The Society of Smut and Scandal - now available on Amazon and KU!

Otters and Obstacles by Alexa Santi - now available Amazon and KU!

Follow HRS on Instagram (@historicalromancesampler)

Find out more about your host Katherine Grant:

Instagram (@katherine_grant_romance)

Facebook (@Katherinegrantromanceauthor)

Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19872840.Katherine_Grant)

Bookbub (https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katherine-grant)

Zen Cho reads from her 20th-century novella, THE PERILOUS LIFE OF JADE YEO. We talk about how she was inspired by Virginia Woolf's lifestyle to write this epistolary story, how H.G. Wells was a "horndog", and writing cross-culturally into different time periods. Then Zen takes my quiz, Katherine's Quick Questions!

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT Zen Cho at https://zencho.org/

READ THE PERILOUS LIFE OF JADE YEO

If you're excited to read this book, support the podcast by purchasing it from the publisher: https://www.homewardbooks.com/books/the-perilous-life-of-jade-yeo

THANK YOU TO THIS EPISODE'S SPONSORS:

The Society of Smut and Scandal - now available on Amazon and KU! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H3R3TDCB?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin

Otters and Obstacles by Alexa Santi - now available Amazon and KU! https://www.amazon.com/Otters-Obstacles-Scandalous-Avondales-Book-ebook/dp/B0GK7ZTRZG

Follow HRS on Instagram (@historicalromancesampler)

Find out more about your host Katherine Grant:

Instagram (@katherine_grant_romance)

Facebook (@Katherinegrantromanceauthor)

Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19872840.Katherine_Grant)

Bookbub (https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katherine-grant)

Lauren M. Hayworth samples her Regency romance, FAVORS FROM A GENTLEMAN. We talk about the museum exhibit that Jane Austen visited which inspired this scene, her journey to historical romance after writing mysteries, and why she loves historical romance no matter the era. then she takes my quiz, Katherine's Quick Questions!

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT Lauren M. Hayworth at https://laurenmhayworth.com/

READ FAVORS FROM A GENTLEMAN from your preferred bookstore: https://books2read.com/favorsfromagentleman If you're excited to read this book, support the podcast by purchasing it via these affiliate links:

THANK YOU TO THIS EPISODE'S SPONSORS: The Society of Smut and Scandal - now available on Amazon and KU! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H3R3TDCB?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin Otters and Obstacles by Alexa Santi - now available Amazon and KU! https://www.amazon.com/Otters-Obstacles-Scandalous-Avondales-Book-ebook/dp/B0GK7ZTRZG

Follow HRS on Instagram (@historicalromancesampler)

Find out more about your host Katherine Grant: Instagram (@katherine_grant_romance) Facebook (@Katherinegrantromanceauthor) Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19872840.Katherine_Grant) Bookbub (https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katherine-grant)

I'm thrilled to report that Season 3 will resume starting on Monday, September 7th! Get ready for new weekly episodes featuring historical romance stories of all kinds.

In the meantime, here are some ideas for how to keep up with Historical Romance Sampler:

• Catch up on my episode backlist
• Learn more about how book bans impact romance readers in my episodes with Olivia Waite, Anne Knight, and TJ Alexander
• Shop my official playlists on Libro.fm and Bookshop.org!
  • Shop Libro.fm
  • Shop Bookshop.org

Thanks to everyone for your patience. I can't wait to talk historical romance with you soon!

Samplers, I'm here to share that I have to put the podcast on hiatus for the foreseeable future while I recover my health. Picture me like a Regency heroine taking the waters in Bath, and don't worry too much, because I'm very confident I'll be better soon...perhaps even in time for a summer house party!

In the meantime, here are some ways to keep up with me and historical romance:

• Catch up on past episodes! Check out the podcast on your preferred app, or go to YouTube for curated playlists. (https://www.youtube.com/@HistoricalRomanceSampler)
• Check out my interview with Andie James on First Encounters - A Historical Romance Podcast. (And for that matter, check out all of Andie's interviews and book discussions!)
• Bid on a stack of queer historical romances featured on the Historical Romance Sampler for the Trans Rights Readathon auction! Now through March 31, 2026. Check it out here.
• Call your US House of Representatives congressperson to tell them to vote NO to HR 7661! Find out more here.
• Join me and Ella Dawson in NYC on April 29 for a Romance Read In to benefit Authors Against Book Bans! Get your tickets here.

And as always, here are some ways to support the podcast and find me on the Internet!

HRS is an affiliate of Libro.fm! Sign up for a new monthly membership and get three audiobooks for the price of one with code HISTORICAL! (As an affiliate, HRS may earn a portion of your purchase, for which we thank you!) Check out the official HRS playlist at: https://tidd.ly/4hgCquh

Shop the official HRS bookshelves on Bookshop.org to support authors, independent bookstores, and this podcast! Check it out at https://www.bookshop.org/shop/katherinegrantromance

Follow HRS on Instagram (@historicalromancesampler)

Find out more about your host Katherine Grant:

Instagram (@katherine_grant_romance)

Facebook (@Katherinegrantromanceauthor)

Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19872840.Katherine_Grant)

Bookbub (https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katherine-grant)

Logan Sage Adams joins the podcast to read FROM THE ASHES, a queer historical romance set during the Chicago World's Fair of 1893! We talk about how this romance was inspired by The Devil in the White City, how Logan Sage is called to different eras, and how parenthood became a big theme in this novel. Then Logan Sage answers my quick questions and reveals themselves to be a rivet counter!

00:59 Reading from From the Ashes 12:41 Inspiration from the World's Fair 15:40 Research and Writing Process 16:58 Fatherhood Then vs Now 19:00 Choosing Eras 22:08 Cover Art Inspiration 23:49 Katherine's Quick Questions: Realism, History, and Genre Blends 27:05 Conclusion and Farewell Find out more about Logan Sage Adams: https://www.logansageadams.com/

READ From The Ashes

If you're excited to read this book, support the podcast by purchasing it via our affiliate link:

• Paperback on Bookshop.org

HRS is an affiliate of Libro.fm! Sign up for a new monthly membership and get three audiobooks for the price of one with code HISTORICAL! (As an affiliate, HRS may earn a portion of your purchase, for which we thank you!) Check out the official HRS playlist at: https://tidd.ly/4hgCquh

Shop the official HRS bookshelves on Bookshop.org to support authors, independent bookstores, and this podcast! Check it out at https://www.bookshop.org/shop/katherinegrantromance

Follow HRS on Instagram (@historicalromancesampler)

Find out more about your host Katherine Grant:

Instagram (@katherine_grant_romance)

Facebook (@Katherinegrantromanceauthor)

Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19872840.Katherine_Grant)

Bookbub (https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katherine-grant)

Andie James returns to the podcast to read from her new release, BEGUILED! We talk about the theme of beauty versus function, how she explores classism in the Regency era, and what intimacy looks like in her books. Plus, Andie shares what inspired her to start her own podcast, First Encounter!

00:00 Welcome and Introduction 03:51 Reading from 'Beguiled' - Chapter 6 19:07 Andie James on Ethical Land Management 22:59 Exploring Themes of Classism and Character Development 24:33 Introducing 'First Encounter' Podcast 28:39 Katherine's Quick Questions 33:26 Where to Find 'Beguiled' and Conclusion Find out more about Andie James (and First Encounter--A Historical Romance Podcast) at https://www.andiejamesauthor.com/

HRS is an affiliate of Libro.fm! Sign up for a new monthly membership and get three audiobooks for the price of one with code HISTORICAL! (As an affiliate, HRS may earn a portion of your purchase, for which we thank you!) Check out the official HRS playlist at: https://tidd.ly/4hgCquh

Shop the official HRS bookshelves on Bookshop.org to support authors, independent bookstores, and this podcast! Check it out at https://www.bookshop.org/shop/katherinegrantromance

Follow HRS on Instagram (@historicalromancesampler)

Find out more about your host Katherine Grant:

Instagram (@katherine_grant_romance)

Facebook (@Katherinegrantromanceauthor)

Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19872840.Katherine_Grant)

Bookbub (https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katherine-grant)

Jennie L Spohr reads from her reformation era court romance, HEIRS AND SPARES. She talks about why she wrote two versions of each book in this series (one closed door, one open door), how her degree in theology inspired her plots, and writing a romance trilogy about a single couple.

00:33 Meet Jennie L Spohr: Bestselling Author 01:30 Reading from 'Heirs and Spares' 14:28 The Concept of Dual Versions: Spicy and Closed Door 19:44 Crafting a Historical Romance Series 22:48 The Intersection of Theology and Romance Writing 27:51 Love It or Leave It: Romance Rules 32:06 Conclusion and Farewell Find out more about Jennie L Spohr: https://jennielspohr.com/

READ Heirs and Spares

If you're excited to read this book, support the podcast by purchasing it via our affiliate link:

• Paperback on Bookshop.org

HRS is an affiliate of Libro.fm! Sign up for a new monthly membership and get three audiobooks for the price of one with code HISTORICAL! (As an affiliate, HRS may earn a portion of your purchase, for which we thank you!) Check out the official HRS playlist at: https://tidd.ly/4hgCquh

Shop the official HRS bookshelves on Bookshop.org to support authors, independent bookstores, and this podcast! Check it out at https://www.bookshop.org/shop/katherinegrantromance

Follow HRS on Instagram (@historicalromancesampler)

Find out more about your host Katherine Grant:

Instagram (@katherine_grant_romance)

TikTok (@katherinegrantromance)

Facebook (@Katherinegrantromanceauthor)

Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19872840.Katherine_Grant)

Bookbub (https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katherine-grant)