The Quick n Dirty Romance Podcast

Time to getting brutally honest about the top five things we love and the top five things we hate about being romance authors. From the readers who make this job magical to the creepy DMs that make us want to throw our phones into the ocean, nothing is off limits. Basically: the highs are really high, and the lows are deeply unhinged. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, sharp opinions, and lots of l...

This week, we’re diving into romance’s favorite walking red flag: the billionaire hero. In Romancelandia, billionaires are everywhere, always emotionally available, and ready to whisk a heroine away at a moment’s notice. In real life, it's way more complicated. (And rare!) Is the billionaire a modern Prince Charming? Have hockey heroes become the new fantasy royalty? And what are these tropes are...

You know that moment when you’re fully in a book and then suddenly… you’re not? In this episode, we share their romance icks. The lines, character choices, and plot moments that instantly pull us out of the story and make us question everything. We get into awkward language, forced chemistry, unbelievable character behavior, and the little details that can completely kill the vibe. Some of these a...

There’s the romantic idea of writing a book. And then there’s what actually happens. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on our real writing process from first spark of an idea to finished novel. We’re talking plotting versus pantsing, messy first drafts, mid-book meltdowns, and how we build emotional arcs that actually hit. We also get into what it looks like to write solo versus as a duo,...

Some scenes just stick with you. The kind you reread. The kind you think about at completely inappropriate times. The kind that quietly raise the bar for every moment that comes after. In this episode, Skye and Sarah are talking about the steamy scenes that live rent-free in their heads. The ones they’ve loved as readers, the ones they’ve written as authors, and what actually makes a scene unforge...

People love to call romance “fluff.” Easy. Predictable. Not real literature. In this episode, Skye and Sarah challenge that assumption head-on. They break down why romance is so often dismissed, what “substance” actually means, and why stories centered on love and emotional growth are taken less seriously in the first place. Spoiler: it has nothing to do with the quality of the genre, and everythi...

Pop culture taught us that love is proven with spectacle. Flash mobs. Public proposals. Last minute airport chases. But are grand romantic gestures actually romantic? In this episode, Skye & Sarah break down why some big moments make us swoon while others feel manipulative, uncomfortable, or hollow. For once, size isn't the issue. ;)  Romance readers know the real secret. A grand gesture only...

Valentine’s Day sells grand gestures, expensive dinners, and picture perfect love. So why does it leave so many women feeling unseen? In this episode, we break down the biggest love myth behind the holiday and why romance novels deliver something far more satisfying. Real intimacy. Emotional accountability. Being chosen consistently, not just publicly. If you have ever rolled your eyes at roses bu...

If you know exactly how it ends and still reread it anyway, this episode is for you. In this episode of the Quick and Dirty Romance Podcast, Sarah & Skye talk about comfort stories and why readers crawl back to the same stories again and again. From emotional safety and guaranteed happily ever afters to intentional rereads of favorite scenes, we explore how romance becomes a form of self-sooth...

Romance loves a fresh start. Real life loves a mess. In this episode of The Quick and Dirty Romance Podcast, we unpack why romance loves reinvention and why the fantasy hits hardest in January. From fresh starts and glow-ups to the reality of change that is anything but tidy, we explore how romance stories let characters grow without erasing who they already are. Sarah's new release is out now! CL...

Is his size really the point… or is it just shorthand for fantasy? In this episode, we start with a cheeky romance-reader favorite and dig into the deeper conversation underneath: why romance novels so often depict “ideal” men, how those ideals intersect with body image, and where readers (and writers) draw the line between realism and fantasy. We talk about: Why romance heroes are idealized on pu...

When a meet-cute becomes a meet-hate. Want to talk conflict, sparks, and all the delicious tension that comes when two people shouldn’t be meeting, yet absolutely do? In this episode, hosts Sarah Smith & Skye McDonald dive into the trope of the “meet-hate,” that moment when attraction isn’t instant, misunderstandings fly, and rivalry becomes the unlikely prelude to romance. We’ll unpack: Why a...

Join Sarah & Skye for the Quick & Dirty ins and outs of Romance Book Conventions. In this episode, we dive deep into: 💖 What makes cons an amazing place for readers & authors to connect 🙅‍♀️The pitfalls, disasters, and behind-the-scenes drama of book conventions gone wrong ⁉️ A sneak peek at a possible bookish retreat with us (yes, it could really happen!) If you’ve ever wondered wha...

Put the headphones in for this one! Sarah and Skye are talking about the steamy bits in books, and we are explicit!  Skye recently polled her newsletter and Facebook group to learn what readers want in their steamy romances. Do you agree? We break down the "dirty" data and discuss how it informs our writing.  Join Skye's the Limit by clicking here. Read Sarah's Books Here.    

New Year, New Topic, Same Fascinating Conversations!  Sarah and Skye kick off 2025 by diving deep on how fast romance authors should publish books. In the Bookstagram/Booktok era of rabid fandoms, authors are working hard to make sure they give their readers more, more, more.  Is this a smart approach? Must you crank out a book a month to keep a fanbase? Should you push the speed of your publishin...

What A Year! Skye & Sarah look back on 2024's highs and lows of author life.  We Each Published a Hockey Series! Growth, Learning, & Disappointments. All Part of Our Journey!  Join us as we celebrate another year of friendship and romance. AND we're celebrating 5 years of Quick & Dirty Romance Podcast!  Thank you listeners, we love you!  Read Skye's New Holiday Novella Free on KU. CLIC...

Sarah & Skye, both professional romance authors, dive deep on what it's like to write for a living. Join us as we discuss our daily schedule for cranking out word counts, how we juggle marketing and writing books, plus what we REALLY think about social media! Read Sarah's DIRTY PUCKER now. Read Skye's IN THE CREASE now. Enter to win our hockey book box! 

Should authors vent about their jobs on social media?? Skye & Sarah are ruffling feathers!  Hot takes on whether authors are doing themselves favors by bemoaning the publishing industry on social media. Warning-we don't hold back here!  **We both have new releases right now! And we're giving away a hockey themed book box!** Hockey Book Box Rules & Submission: CLICK HERE Read Skye's books!...

Join Skye & Sarah for a discussion of why choose romance. From rebranding (reverse harem) to polyamory, from Adirondack chairs to upside down pineapples, we get quick and dirty on this trope and its rise in popularity! Read Skye's books! Click here. Read Sarah's books! Click here.

Skye and Sarah discuss the delicate dynamic between authors and ARC readers. -Do authors have a right to request positive reviews only? -Do readers have an obligation to communicate with an author if they're unable to meet expected deadlines? Listen and learn! And the leave a review!  

Romantic Suspense author Lori Matthews joins Sarah & Skye. Today, we discuss how we give our audience what they're thirsty for--while staying true to our own ethical boundaries. This convo goes deep, so get ready! Learn more about Lori on her website http://www.lorimatthewsbooks.com Sarah's new hockey romance: https://shorturl.at/R1nEB Skye's new hockey romance is out this week! https://amzn.t...

Queer and AuDHD author Allie Lasky joins Sarah & Skye to talk about expectations and ideals on relationships, in fiction and real life. Does romance set too high a bar for real life dynamics? How do we know when we're in our happy-ever-after phase? Let's dive into this fascinating topic! Learn more about Allie on her website and check out her new release on Amazon , coming June 30! Preorder Sk...

Sarah & Skye welcome R.L. Merrill to the show to talk about music. R.L. ("Ro") writes contemporary, paranormal, and horror romance. Her newest book, UNDER HIS SHEETS, is a M/M light Romantic Suspense and part of the Accidentally Undercover series. In this episode, we dive deep into the impact music has on our writing. From soundtracks to inspo, all of us use music in some way or another. Ro es...

Sarah & Skye welcome special guests to the pod! Tonya Clark & Naomi Springthorp are contemporary romance authors. They team up to photograph romance covers and host the LOVE & DEVOTION reader con. Partnerships. How do we collaborate for success in this industry? What are best practices for working with your bestie? AND what are some of the wild and wackier moments these ladies have had...

(New logo!) Sarah & Skye discuss the SLOW BURN in romance. What even defines the slow burn? How slow is too slow? The Quick & Dirty ladies then go deeper on steamy scenes in their novels. (This episode isn't for kids!) *Special Announcement!!* Get ready for new episodes featuring guest romance authors! We're very excited about these new special shows! Preorder Skye's new book: https://amzn...