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Jess and Trisha celebrate important progress at the RITAs, talk through romance authors writing outside their own experience, and brainstorm what romance series they’d like to see get the fanfic treatment.

This episode is sponsored by the podcast Hot and Bothered from Spoke Media; The Rogue to Ruin by Vivienne Lorret; and The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai, published by Avon Books.

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News

Ripped Bodice giveaway! Ripped Bodice Great Big Romance Read!

You can still watch the RITAs AND the Romance Trailblazers video – lucky you!

Here’s the post Jess wrote about the RITAs, the full list of RITA winners, and the statement about the process from the RWA Board.

Jess mentioned this thread about writing and representation from the exceptionally thoughtful and talented Adriana Herrera.

And here’s the list of new Smarty Pants Romance books.

Books

The Color of Love by Sandra Kitt

The Winston Brothers series (first book is Truth or Beard)

Merry Inkmas by Talia Hibbert

The Reluctant Royals series by Alyssa Cole (first book is A Princess in Theory)

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes

Let us know what you think of romance written outside an author’s experience and what extended or alternate universes you’d like to see in romance! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address (wheninromance@bookriot.com) or you can still catch us at trisha@riotnewmedia.comand jessica@riotnewmedia.com. You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).