Smart Podcast, Trashy Books Podcast

198. Alpha Women, Heroine Friendships, and Paranormal Romance: An Interview with Shelly Laurenston

Sarah interviews Shelly Laurenston, and tries very very hard to keep herself together through the excitement. We talk about the book that brought Shelly into writing paranormal romance, and how her mother inspired her heroines. We talk about writing badass sisterhoods in romance, exploring different  paranormal romance series, and identifying the elements of alpha women. There’s also reminiscing about Kate Duffy, one of Shelly’s original editors at Kensington, and talk about some seriously scary books Shelly reads for research. She also shares news about Call of Crows book 3 – and who the hero and heroine will be!

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This Episode's Music

Peatbog Fairies Blackhouse, a glowing ball in a very old foundation for a house by a small body of water

Our music is provided by Sassy Outwater each week.

This is the Peatbog Faeries brand new album Blackhouse. This track is called “The Real North.”

You can find their new album at Amazon, at iTunes, or wherever you like to buy your fine music.


Podcast Sponsor

Clean Break

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Transcript

Click to view the transcript

This podcast transcript was handcrafted with meticulous skill by Garlic Knitter. Many thanks.

Transcript Sponsor

Chasing the Heiress

The podcast transcript this month is sponsored by Kensington, publishers of Chasing the Heiress by Rachael Miles, in the new Zebra Shout imprint featuring the Rising Stars of Romance at an affordable price of $4.99.

Rachael Miles’ witty and sexy Regency romance series centers on the intelligent, outspoken and talented ladies of The Muses Salon, and the gentlemen who strive for the love of a lady who knows her mind. In this second installment, an heiress on the run from an arranged marriage uses her medical training to disguise herself as a sickroom maid, where an injured spy finds himself in her very capable care.

Lady Arabella Lucia Fairborne has no need of a husband. She has a fine inheritance for the taking, a perfectly capable mind, and a resolve as tough as nails. But what she doesn’t have is the freedom to defy her cousin’s will—and his will is to see her married immediately to the husband of his choosing. So is it any wonder that she dresses herself as a scullery maid and bolts into the night?

Colin Somerville’s current mission for the home office is going poorly. Who would have expected otherwise for a rakish spy tasked with transporting a baby to the care of the royal palace. But when, injured and out of ideas, Colin stumbles upon a beautiful maid who knows her way around a sickroom, it seems salvation has arrived. Until he realizes that though Lucy may be able to help him survive his expedition, he may not escape this ordeal with his heart intact…

Chasing the Heiress by Rachael Miles is sale now wherever books are sold!

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  1. Julie says:

    Loved the interview even though this isn’t a genre I read. 🙂

    Quiet sounds very intriguing. I picture all of us introverts in the same room tapping away on our keyboards… ‘talking’ to one another.

    The podcast is always the start of my TGIF. Thank you, Sarah, for the time and effort you put into the site, the podcast, and the contribution to this amazing community of romance readers/writers/et al. 🙂

  2. TheoLibrarian says:

    I love this. The Pride series on audio got me through the stress of my most recent move and the Crows on audio is currently getting me through a stressful period at work.

    Thank you, Sarah for this interview! It made my morning. Thank you Shelly for sharing your unique voice! Enjoying a book of yours for the first (or second or third) time is always a treat.

  3. SB Sarah says:

    Oh, wow. It makes me so happy to hear that the site and the podcast make people happy, and I am really honored to be part of your Friday. I am so excited to share this episode because, like I said, I barely kept myself together while recording it. Thank you!!

  4. marie dry says:

    I always enjoy the podcasts but this one was extra special. I’m a long time fan of her shifter and dragon books and are so impressed that I got to listen to Shelly talk. In case she’s reading the comments I’d like to ask a question. Do you plan to write the story of Victoria Loewe, the leader of the lions. I’ve been looking forward to her story for a long time now.

  5. Carol says:

    OMG!!!!!! Shelly Laurenston!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I haven’t listened yet and can’t right now. Ahrgggggggggggggg. Thank you Shelly and Sarah, I can’t wait to listen. You are the best!!!

  6. SQ says:

    OMG – I was on board for the Unleashing after last week’s podcast – now I want to read the Undoing and the Unleashing even more!!

  7. Sarah Y. says:

    More crows! More crows! More crows!

  8. DonnaMarie says:

    Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! This was such a pleasure. I second the request for a Betty romance.

  9. Christine says:

    Sarah, I got to the county park to walk the dog this morning and I was like, “oh no! It’s Friday and I have not worn my podcast pants with the pockets so I can listen to the SBTB podcast with ease!” That’s how importantly your podcast figures into my Friday routine–it dictates my choice of yoga pants 🙂 I am now going to make a gratuitous trip to Target so I can finish listening in the car…

  10. SmugAussieGuy says:

    The Pride series is my favourite return-to series (3 re-reads so far). One of the few series that doesn’t fall-off in quality at all! I love kick-ass heroines but these women are “REAL”! I love that the Alpha men aren’t verging on abusive. Really enjoying the Crows as well. Shelley sounds EXACTLY how I imagined she was – natural, charming, smart and funny. I love Smart … err… Women. In my experience the ‘B’ word is like ethnic slurs … only appropriate for Rap videos and those who ‘own’ the word. Thanks for the interesting podcast.

  11. Kimberly Lindsey says:

    Shelley Laurenston I just want to say thank for allowing Sarah do this interview. I love your books and they have helped me get through some really hard and depressing time since I’ve found them a few years ago. I think I’ve read all of at least twice if not more., but the Pride series and the Season Kin have got be my favorite. I wish we knew when she will be releasing a new book for Pride series. So thanks for the opportunity to read your books and Sarah thanks this amazing pod cast.

  12. SB Sarah says:

    I’m so glad that you’ve enjoyed this episode so much! It was a HUGE thrill for me, and hearing how much you’ve liked it too is just great. Thank you!

  13. Virginia says:

    OMG! I love Shelly Laurenston books. Enjoyed this podcast so much. First podcast I’ve ever done but will be a frequent listener fron now on.

  14. Ripley says:

    Ladies And Gentlemen one of the greatest authors of our era. This woman get so much right, I can barely contain my damn self! I LOVE this woman!!! May she THRIVE for the rest of her freaking life. I mean that shit!!!

  15. Pam says:

    So glad to hear this interview. I love shelly Laurenston and I believe I have read every book she’s released at least 3 times. The Pride,Dragons(which are my favorite comfort books). Plus I have them all on audio in one form or another. Now the Crows it just keeps getting better and better. I felt like crying when I read that there would be no more Pride books. But–I hope somewhere down the line there will be more Pride stories.

  16. kathy cole says:

    that was a great interview – thanks so much to you, Shelley and her publicist. It was made of squee

  17. Jo says:

    YES! Four years down the line and I’ve just come across this interview!

    I LOVE Shelley Laurenson’s Shifter Universe like none I’ve ever come across before. There is so much catnip in her writing overall for me, but I also think her chaotic multi-POV style, and how she seamlessly writes the various animal characteristics into her human characters is really clever. And the Honey Badgers trilogy was literally comedy gold.

    She gets nowhere near enough mainstream love IMO.

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