The Historical Romance Sampler

USA Today Bestselling author Bianca Blythe joins the podcast to read a sample of her comedic Regency romance, All You Need Is A Duke! Plus, she shares a little bit about her research process, her journey to reading romance (which surprisingly begins with her babysitter's Christian romance collection), and her experience working in a castle!   JUMP TO YOUR FAVORITE PART: 2:15 - Bianca reads from Al...

To celebrate the release of my latest novel, The Sailor Without a Sweetheart, my big sister Sarah joins the podcast as a special guest host!   In this abbreviated episode, we discuss family dynamics in historical romance, worldbuilding, creativity, writers' block, and community as a theme in my books versus my life. Plus, Sarah asks if I'll ever write in her favorite genre: fantasy-based romance a...

USA Today Bestselling author Caroline Lee stops by to read a sample from her latest Scottish historical romance novel, Kilty By Association. Plus, we discuss Disney in historical romance, why historical fiction is just applied social history, and how Caroline uses generative AI to assist her research.   JUMP TO YOUR FAVORITE PART: 3:15 - Caroline reads Kilty By Association 10:30 - The interview 30...

USA Today-Bestselling Author Rebecca Paula joins the podcast to read a sample from her marriage-advertisement Regency romance, In Want of a Wife. Plus, we chat about how her journalism experience helps her write romances, her strategy for getting in the mood to write her characters, and the real-life inspiration behind this book.    JUMP TO YOUR FAVORITE PART: 2:00 - Rebecca samples In Want of a W...

Tabetha Waite joins the podcast to read a sample from her seaside holiday regency romance: A Duke, Love, and Sunshine.  Plus, we discuss why it is so delicious to get details of how characters dress, the way Tabetha builds characters (as if they were Sims), and more about the real-life setting of Burnham-On-Sea!  JUMP TO YOUR FAVORITE PART: 3:00 - Tabetha's excerpt 10:38 - The interview 22:00 - Is...

Bestselling author Lisa Rayne joins the podcast to read a sample from Never Cross a Highlander, her Scottish historical romance featuring (at last) a Black highlander hero. Plus, we discuss power dynamics in romance scenes, writing across different eras, and incorporating tropes into the writing process. JUMP TO YOUR FAVORITE PART: 3:08 - Lisa reads her sample 21:12 - The interview   READ Never Cr...

Andie James joins me to read a sample of Bequeathed, the first book in the Beaumonts series and a new release this week! Plus, we talk about how she connects historical romances to our contemporary life, the delight of being a "late in life" romance reader, and the Ted Lasso motto that Andie lives by. JUMP TO YOUR FAVORITE PART: 3:28 - Andie reads her sample 16:06 - The interview 28:41 - Is Andie...

USA Today-Bestselling Author Meara Platt joins the podcast to read a sample of Marigold and the Marquess. Plus, we chat about how her writing has changed over 60 books, how she sustains an interest while writing super long series, and whether she'll ever return to romantasy...   JUMP TO YOUR FAVORITE PART: 2:40 - Meara reads her sample 10:31 - The interview 28:44 - Is Meara Platt a romantic?   Thi...

Ramona Elmes joins the podcast to read a sample of her Victorian romance, The Questionable Acts of an American Gentleman. Plus, we chat about how she plots her multi-book series, her research process, and what hooks her into a romance story. Find out more about Ramona Elmes: Read The Questionable Acts of An American Gentleman: https://www.amazon.com/Questionable-American-Gentleman-Nouveau-Riche-eb...

Andrea Jenelle joins me to read from her brand-new release, How Frances Wainwright Learned to Love! Plus, we talk about how she researched Florence Nightingale for this book, why she writes in so many romance subgenres, and misconceptions about historical attitudes towards steamy encounters.  Find out more about Andrea Jenelle: Read How Frances Wainwright Learned to Love: https://books2read.com/Ho...

Celeste Barclay joins the podcast to read a sample from her brand-new Scottish historical, Highland Love Comes Calling! Plus, we discuss how she writes steam into historicals, how she keeps track of all her series intersecting in a giant world, and what all her books have in common (across Viking, Scottish, Regency, and even kinky Mafia eras!) We could have talked for hours, so this is a trimmed v...

Cecilia Rene got her start in fan fiction and screenwriting, and now she writes steamy historical romances! In this episode, she samples her novella, A Scandal With a Scoundrel, plus we talk about how screenwriting influences her novel writing and her journey towards writing Black characters in Regency romances. Find out more about Cecilia Rene: Read A Scandal With a Scoundrel: https://books2read....

Award-winning author Heather McCollum writes Scottish historical romances with brawny heroes and feisty lasses. In this episode, she reads excerpts from her novel,  Highland Conquest. Plus, we discuss the tension of familial love versus romantic love in Scottish historicals, and Heather cracks out her vision boards to show me how she taps into her creativity while plotting. Find out more about Hea...

USA Today-Bestselling Author Charlie Lane writes funny, heartfelt Regency romances. Today, she joins me to read an excerpt from her novel: Portraits, Passions, and Other Pasttimes. Plus, tune in to hear her thoughts on how to write about creativity, finding interesting story lines for side characters who demand their own novels, and whether or not Jane Austen is the proto-type of historical romanc...

USA Today-Bestselling Author Gina Conkle reads a sample from her Scottish historical romance,  For a Scot's Heart Only.  Then, we talk about plotting versus pantsing, how much historical detail to include after doing hours and hours of research, and where Gina finds inspiration for her stories. Find out more about Gina Conkle: Read  For a Scot's Heart Only : https://ginaconkle.com/books/   Faceboo...

Courtney McCaskill is a research nerd, romance nerd, and (it turns out) a dialogue nerd! She joins HRS to read from her novel,  How to Train Your Viscount.  Plus, we discuss how she plots her historical romances (it involves talking to herself); her natural ear for witty dialogue; and the differences between being a reader, a bookseller, and an author. Find out more about Courtney McCaskill: Read ...

NYT-Bestselling Author Erica Ridley writes witty and heartfelt historical romances about found families. In this episode, she gives us a sneak peek of the "meet cute" in her upcoming release, Hot Earl Summer (available August 2024). Plus, we talk about her love of castles, how she researches the various talents her Wild Wynchester clan enjoys, and the surprising (or not so surprising) theme she di...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of The Historical Romance Sampler!  To kick things off, host Katherine Grant reads a sample of her Regency romance,  The Viscount Without Virtue . Then, her husband sits down to interview her about why she tried to write an alpha hero, how she finds creative challenges in writing romance, and what inspires her.  Watch the extended episode on YouTube Find out more a...

Try out a new author every week! Find your next historical romance obsession while getting to know the author, too! Each guest author reads an excerpt of their book, then chats with host Katherine Grant. In the time it takes you to drink your morning coffee, you can find a new author for your reading list!  Catch extended episodes on the Historical Romance Sampler YouTube channel .