Rebel Ever After

Ella Dawson

Fight fascism and fall in love with Rebel Ever After, a new romance podcast. Join sex & culture critic and BUT HOW ARE YOU, REALLY author Ella Dawson as she interviews her favorite authors about writing swoony, sexy and progressive romance novels.

  1. 25 May

    Romance cover art with Leni Kauffman

    On this episode of Rebel Ever After, my guest is romance cover illustrator Leni Kauffman. She is the creator of iconic covers like Hannah Grace's Icebreaker, as well as covers for books by Olivia Dade, Ashley Herring Blake, Emma R. Alban, and many more. I guarantee that you have some of Leni's work on your bookshelf or Kindle.  We talked about how she started working in the romance genre, what the process of cover design looks like, whether or not she reads the books she illustrates, and many more questions you've always wanted to ask a cover designer. We also talked about our mutual loathing of AI and how it is impacting visual artists.  Follow Leni on Instagram @lenikauffman or go to her website www.lenikauffman.com Subscribe on Patreon at patreon.com/brosandprose to get access to the Rebel Ever After Discord server, Ella's newsletter, and other bonuses! Save 10% when you buy an annual membership — your financial support makes this independent podcast possible.  Purchase recommended romances from the Rebel Ever After affiliate bookstore at bit.ly/REAbooks Books and authors mentioned this episode include: Along for the Ride by Mimi Grace Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli Spoiler Alert, At First Spite, and ZOMROMCOM by Olivia Dade, as well as her other works Dream on, Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake, as well as her other works Amy Award Lyla Lee Lily Chu Emma R. Alban Please remember to RATE AND REVIEW the podcast wherever you like to listen. Theme music created by Dalton Deschain. This show is brought to you with the support of my patrons.

    49 min
  2. 11 May

    Stoner rom-coms & chronic illness with Laura Piper Lee

    My guest this week is a returning champion, my friend Laura Piper Lee! Her third romance POT SHOT comes out on May 19th and was just named an indie next pick. We talked about what inspired her to write about a woman living with Crohn's Disease who opens a dispensary in her hometown, happily-ever-afters that include chronic illness, and why the world needs more stoner rom-coms. This episode contains a lot of conversation about cannabis, and I apologize in advance for how much I sound like a narc. I promise I am not anti-weed, I am just from Connecticut and deeply uncool.  Follow Laura on Instagram and Threads @laurapiperlee, and at laurapiperlee.com Purchase Laura's books from the Rebel Ever After affiliate bookstore at bit.ly/REAbooks Remember to get your tickets to Laura's book tour events! You can find more information at linktr.ee/laurapiperlee. Subscribe on Patreon at patreon.com/brosandprose to get access to the Rebel Ever After Discord server, Ella's newsletter, and other bonuses! Save 10% when you buy an annual membership — your financial support makes this independent podcast possible.  Other media mentioned this episode: Parks & Rec Broad City Laura's past books Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair and Zoe Brennan, First Crush Please remember to RATE AND REVIEW the podcast wherever you like to listen. Theme music created by Dalton Deschain. This show is brought to you with the support of my patrons.

    1hr 5min
  3. 30 Mar

    BDSM romance, power exchange & consent with Kate Hawthorne

    This week my guest is queer BDSM romance author Kate Hawthorne, who also writes as Nikki Markham. We talked about the nuance of depicting ongoing negotiation and consent on the page, accountability in kink communities, and the long-lasting appeal of submissive coming out stories. Plus: why everyone needs a good platonic spanking. We do discuss some potentially triggering topics like what abuse can look like within a BDSM dynamic, particularly in undernegotiated power exchange relationships. That being said, BDSM is not inherently abusive and we do not conflate the two. Follow Kate on Instagram and Threads @kate.hawthorne or go to www.katehawthornebooks.com.  Breaking The Mold is available for pre-order now! You can find Kate's books on Kindle Unlimited, and in the Rebel Ever After affiliate bookstore on Bookshop.org at bit.ly/REAbooks  Reserve your ticket to our Romance Read-In to benefit Authors Against Book Bans on April 29th: https://bookclubbar.com/events/4612720260429 Subscribe on Patreon at patreon.com/brosandprose to get access to the Rebel Ever After Discord server, as well as premium episodes of the podcast. Save 10% when you buy an annual membership! Your financial support makes this independent production possible.  Please remember to RATE AND REVIEW the podcast wherever you like to listen. Theme music created by Dalton Deschain. This show is brought to you with the support of my patrons. Books and authors mentioned this episode: Danielle Steele Norah Roberts Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James Heated Rivalry (Crave, 2025) The Princess Knight by Cait Jacobs

    1hr 3min
  4. 15 Mar

    Joy vs liberation in queer romance with Adib Khorram

    This week on Rebel Ever After, my guest is Adib Khorram, a queer Iranian American author of fiction for all ages. His adult romances are I'LL HAVE WHAT HE'S HAVING and IT HAD TO BE HIM, and his newest YA novel ONE WORD, SIX LETTERS comes out March 17th. We had a wide ranging conversation about queer joy versus queer liberation, writing hot sex scenes with occasional farts, and dysmorphia and body neutrality in fiction. Plus: Checking in with the Iranian diaspora, and why we should all move to Kansas City.  Follow Adib on Instagram/Threads @adibkhorram and on BlueSky at @adibkhorram.bsky.social. Join Adib's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ChateauAdib Purchase Adib's books from the Rebel Ever After affiliate bookstore at bit.ly/REABooks Reserve your ticket to our Romance Read-In to benefit Authors Against Book Bans on April 29th: https://bookclubbar.com/events/4612720260429 Subscribe on Patreon at patreon.com/brosandprose to get access to the Rebel Ever After Discord server, as well as premium episodes of the podcast. Save 10% when you buy an annual membership! Your financial support makes this independent production possible.  Please remember to RATE AND REVIEW the podcast wherever you like to listen. Theme music created by Dalton Deschain. This show is brought to you with the support of my patrons. Books and authors mentioned this episode: Rafe by Rebekah Weatherspoon Adriana Herrera's Dreamers series Alexis Daria Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson Sierra Simone Julian Winters M.A. Wardell

    55 min
  5. 2 Feb

    Black heroines deserve to be treasured with LaQuette

    This week my guest is LaQuette, author of many contemporary romances including The King's Pregnancy Proposition and the brand new rom-com Janae Sanders' Second Time Around. We talked about her Savvy, Sexy, and Single Club series about couples in their 40s that explores communication, healing and mental health. Then we discussed the beautiful ridiculousness of romance and the perils of expecting a character's choices to be "plausible."  Plus: LaQuette told me about her Ph.D. research on representations of Black women in popular media and how stereotypes limit the types of stories Black romance authors are able to get published. Follow her on Instagram @la_quette and at https://laquette.com/.  Purchase LaQuette's books from the Rebel Ever After affiliate bookstore at bit.ly/REABooks Subscribe on Patreon at patreon.com/brosandprose to get access to the Rebel Ever After Discord server, as well as premium episodes of the podcast. Save 10% when you buy an annual membership! Your financial support makes this independent production possible.  Please remember to RATE AND REVIEW the podcast wherever you like to listen. Theme music created by Dalton Deschain. This show is brought to you with the support of my patrons. Books and authors mentioned this episode: Carole Mortimer's The Devil's Price Kimberla Lawson Roby Donna Hill Sandra Kitt Rochelle Alers Francis Ray Zane Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee is an all-volunteer, grassroots, multiracial, and multinational immigrant rights mass-movement organization. MIRAC fights for legalization for all, an end to immigration raids and deportations, an end to all anti-immigrant laws, and full equality in all areas of life. Donate to MIRAC here: www.miracmn.com

    1hr 13min

Trailer

About

Fight fascism and fall in love with Rebel Ever After, a new romance podcast. Join sex & culture critic and BUT HOW ARE YOU, REALLY author Ella Dawson as she interviews her favorite authors about writing swoony, sexy and progressive romance novels.

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