Rae Shawn on Navigating Grief in Romance

Romance novels are an incredible way to navigate all aspects of our lives, including grief. Do you find yourself struggling to process loss or looking for stories that reflect the complexities of healing? Today on We Read Smut, we have a special interview with author Rae Shawn, who shares her personal journey of healing after loss and how she beautifully integrates themes of grief into her romance novels. Join us for a heartfelt and insightful conversation on processing grief and finding love on the other side.Rae Shawn is a candle-buying, night-owl, who overthinks everything, but manages to get things done. She writes contemporary Black romances that’ll have you up in arms for the heroes, and sometimes, even the villains. When she isn’t writing, she’s dancing around her living room or watching reruns of Supernatural and all the anime she can find. Rae lives on the East Coast but will never forget her summer-living Los Angeles days. In this episode, we're discussing:How Rae Shawn's personal experiences with grief have inspired her to write stories that showcase healing and reconnection.The importance of showing that grief is a lifelong journey, with moments that can still hit you years after a loss.Why it's crucial to portray a world with diverse characters, including queer and trans friends, reflecting the reality we live in.How romance novels can explore different kinds of loss, not just from death, but also the mental and emotional taxing of losing parts of yourself.Ready to read stories that feel like a warm hug and a good cry all at once? Tune in to this amazing conversation with Rae Shawn. CONNECT WITH RAE SHAWN:WebsiteInstagramRunning list of books mentioned (Doc)Support the showJoin the After Dark Substack CommunityConnect with Alesia:StorygraphInstagramThis podcast was produced by Galati Media.Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.