Katie Duggan on Giving Marginalized Characters the Spicy Happily-Ever-Afters They Deserve

Who says that romance is only for able-bodied or thin characters? In this episode, Northern Virginia romance author Katie Duggan joins the microphone to look at how we can take regular contemporary romance tropes and subvert them to center fat, neurodivergent, disabled, and queer representation.We discuss her journey from high school creative writing magazine editor to falling into the romance genre during lockdown, how she uses her day job at a massive chain bookstore to advocate for diverse shelf placement, and the intense process of moving past childhood religious shame to find your true identity.Katie Duggan is a New England transplant currently living in Northern Virginia. She writes romances that give fat, neurodivergent, and queer characters spicy happily-ever-afters. When Katie is not writing or being kept up at night by her characters, she can be found drinking iced chai lattes, going to therapy, convincing people to read her favorite books, and doing whatever hobbies give her brain the most dopamine at the moment.In this episode, we're discussing:How to build a romance plot around an autistic lead by addressing the sensory challenges of intimacy through an explicit sex curriculum.Why relying purely on factual research falls short when writing disabilities like Type 1 Diabetes, making sensitivity readers vital for capturing lived experiences.When navigating purity culture clouds your understanding of your sexuality, and how uncovering demisexuality in therapy helps reframe sex positivity.How to challenge the toxic expectations of bounce-back culture by writing mid-size mothers dealing realistically with postpartum depression.Why the traditional third-act breakup serves as a necessary mechanism for character growth, forcing partners to choose emotional maturity over comfort.This conversation serves as an essential reminder that true happily-ever-afters are built on the gritty reality of being believed and accepted for exactly who you are.CONNECT WITH KATIE DUGGAN:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiedugganwrites/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/katieduggan BOOKS/AUTHORS MENTIONED:From the Start by Katie Duggan (Amazon | Bookshop)Back to Me by Katie Duggan (Amazon | Bookshop)On My Side by Katie Duggan (Amazon | Bookshop)Beloved by Toni Morrison (Amazon | Bookshop)Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (Amazon | Bookshop)Scribbles BookshopFriends to Lovers RomancelandiaAmazon Kindle UnlimitedRunning list of books mentioned (Doc)Join the We Read Smut Lounge. Want early access to next week's episode, entry into our private Discord server, two monthly virtual silent book clubs, and a free monthly e-book? Head over to our Substack and join the paid community to access goodies and get early access to episodes. Connect with Alesia:StorygraphInstagramRunning list of books mentioned (Doc)This podcast was produced by Galati Media.Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.