Regina Black on Soap Opera Romance Tropes and Writing Authentic Character Choices

How much do your childhood experiences or the way you were raised dictate the choices you make as an adult? This week, I am sitting down with the incredible Regina Black, author of The Art of Scandal and her latest paperback release, August Lane. Regina has a masterful way of creating fully fleshed characters who make deeply human, interesting choices based entirely on their past structures. We discuss how growing up on daytime soap operas influenced her angsty voice, her winding path from writing online fan fiction to securing traditional publication, and the complex real-world realities she weaves into her small-town romance settings.Regina Black is a former civil litigator, current law school administrator, and life long romance reader who has always been passionate about the depiction of Black women in popular culture. She currently resides in Little Rock, Arkansas with her husband and daughter.In this episode, we're discussing:How her childhood of watching summer soap operas shaped her love for forbidden romance tropes.Why Regina chose traditional publishing because she preferred staying in her creative writing cave over running a business from scratch.When she learned how to revise a manuscript through the Pitch Wars mentorship program, which led to thirty agent requests.How she combined her Arkansas upbringing with the musical history of Helena-West Helena to construct a claustrophobic small-town setting.Why Regina intentionally writes through the heavy real-world realities of intergenerational trauma, recovery, and invisible illness.CONNECT WITH REGINA BLACK:WebsiteInstagramSubstackBOOKS/AUTHORS MENTIONED:Charish Reid (Episode | Website)Denise Williams WebsiteThe Art of Scandal by Regina Black (Amazon)August Lane by Regina Black (Amazon)The King of Scandal by Regina Black (Coming in 2027 in trade paperback!)Running list of books mentioned (Doc)Support the showJoin 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.