Queer Authors on Queer Romance: Part 2
By: Seth Betzler
We are BACK! With 10 more authors to celebrate Pride month and talk about queer romance.
Once again you will find some of your favorites discussing queer romance, the industry, as well as the community around queer romance.
Note: Answers have been edited for clarity.
Alexandria Bellefleur—author of Written In The Stars, Hang The Moon, Count Your Lucky Stars, The Fiancée Farce, Truly Madly Deeply, and the upcoming The Devil She Knows
Alexandria Bellefleur—author of Written In The Stars, Hang The Moon, Count Your Lucky Stars, The Fiancée Farce, Truly Madly Deeply, and the upcoming The Devil She Knows
1. What is important to you about writing queer romance?
AB: When I was growing up, even into my early twenties, I wasn’t exposed to much positive bisexual representation in media and, therefore, I didn’t see myself reflected in the movies and television shows I was watching and the books I was reading. Seeing queer characters, characters who are like me, in books getting a happily ever after, both in the sense of finding a romantic partner(s) who sees them and loves them as they are, and also finding or maintaining meaningful friendships and a community, will never not be comforting and affirming to me.
That I now get to tell these stories and perhaps provide a safe place for readers to explore themselves or to see themselves not only reflected, but celebrated, is really a dream come true. It’s extremely healing to the younger me who didn’t always see herself reflected and it continues to be affirming now, when regressive ideologies and legislation threaten progress. In a world where books are being banned and silence is akin to compliance, writing queer romance and combatting erasure is more important to me now than ever. As perhaps trite as the phrase is, I firmly believe we didn’t come this far to only come this far.
2. How have you seen queer romance change over time?
AB: In traditional publishing we’ve seen an uptick in the number of queer romances being acquired leading to one of the most exciting changes I’ve noticed, which is the variety of types of stories being published. Coming out narratives, while extremely important, aren’t the only type of story worthy of being told. The more queer romances that are published, the less pressure there is on any one book to be all the things for everyone.
3. What do you wish the publishing industry would do better to help uplift queer voices? And what can readers do to advocate for queer authors?
AB: The most basic thing I would love to see the publishing industry do is pay their employees a living wage. These employees who are making the least are often the strongest supporters of marginalized authors. I’d also love to see the publishing industry, particularly those who have remained silent, take a stronger and more vocal stance in support of libraries and against federal funding cuts for the arts.
The most straightforward way that readers can advocate for queer authors is to preorder their books. The importance of preordering really cannot be overstated. Preorders signal to publishers that there’s early interest in a book and encourage them to invest more in marketing and publicity. Preorders also count toward first week sales, which are important for authors hoping to hit a bestseller list and hitting a bestseller list can in turn lead to increased exposure. You can also support queer authors by checking their books out from a local library, and if your local library doesn’t have a book in their catalogue, you can usually request that book be purchased and added to the collection.
There are other ways to uplift queer authors, like attending launch events, selecting queer books for your local book club, posting about queer books on social media, and recommending them to your friends.
4. Where do you see queer romance going in the future?
AB: It’s difficult to say where I see queer romance going, but I certainly hope to see more queer authors hitting bestseller lists in the future. In particular, I’d love to see more trans and BIPOC authors hitting those lists.
5. What is your favorite part of the queer romance community? What has being a part of the community meant to you?
AB: I love how affirming and empowering it is to have this virtual and sometimes physical space where we can loudly and proudly celebrate our love of queer romance and gush over our favorite stories. Romance as a genre is often maligned, queer romance even more so, so having this community where we can discuss books without fear of judgment or discrimination is really special.
6. What is a queer romance book you recommend?
AB: Everyone needs to read Thank You For Sharing and Whenever You’re Ready, both by Rachel Runya Katz. Poignant, sexy, and emotional, these two are without a doubt desert island keepers.
Julian Winters—author of I Think They Love You, Prince of the Palisades, As You Walk On By, Right Where I Left You, The Summer of Everything, How To Be Remy Cameron, Running With Lions, and the upcoming Last First Kiss
Julian Winters—author of I Think They Love You, Prince of the Palisades, As You Walk On By, Right Where I Left You, The Summer of Everything, How To Be Remy Cameron, Running With Lions, and the upcoming Last First Kiss
1. What is important to you about writing queer romance?
JW: Being able to remind queer readers that we are deserving of all those love stories we saw for everyone but us. We deserve the meet-cutes, the first dates and first kisses, the falling for someone, the big and goofy romantic gestures, and the tender moments of growth and vulnerability. We deserve it over and over again.
2. How have you seen queer romance change over time?
JW: It’s gotten much bigger. We’re no longer telling or reading about just one kind of queer love story. And our stories are no longer the tragic backstory for a straight character’s growth. I adore that I can pick up a queer romance and it won’t be anything like the last one I read,from the character’s identities to how they navigate love.
3. What do you wish the publishing industry would do better to help uplift queer voices? And what can readers do to advocate for queer authors?
JW: I hope that we as a whole—publishing, readers, community—make space for more voices to tell their stories, especially from queer BIPOC, trans, disabled, neurodivergent, and other marginalized voices. Create more opportunities for those books to be visible. Promote books outside of just Pride month or other identity-specific months. Be more vocal on every level about fighting book bans. Shout about more than just the books we see in constant rotation when we scroll social media.
4. Where do you see queer romance going in the future?
JW: I’m hoping for a more diverse movement: more books with intersectionality and more books that celebrate the wide spectrum of the queer community.
5. What is your favorite part of the queer romance community? What has being a part of the community meant to you?
JW: My favorite part is definitely the community aspect. We’re all hungry for great romances where we finally get to see the happily ever afters we craved growing up. The limitless enthusiasm I see online and in-person once we find those books is so heartwarming and healing. Being able to contribute to this community in any way (as an author, a reader, a passionate fanboy) has felt the way it did when I attended my first Pride—like I’ve found a home where I belong.
6. What is a queer romance book you recommend?
JW: I’ll Have What He’s Having by Adib Khorram.
Page Powars—author of The Borrow A Boyfriend Project and the upcoming And They Were Roommates
Page Powars—author of The Borrow A Boyfriend Project and the upcoming And They Were Roommates
1. What is important to you about writing queer romance?
PP: Having fun with it! I'm a big advocate of adding as little trauma to the storyline as possible, since that's all queer people were allowed to write for so long, even in romance. Of course, those trauma-heavy books are equally important, but I've made it my mission to help offer both kinds.
2. How have you seen queer romance change over time?
PP: Editors are looking for queer romance more than ever before, and in all shapes and kinds. The problem is that the executives and financial teams at the top are still gatekeeping. Tons of your favorite queer romance authors, even NYT bestsellers, are being rejected to write more books. Trust me, I've been told by them! So it's more important than ever for bookish influencers to be LOUD and as amazing as always about these books.
3. What do you wish the publishing industry would do better to help uplift queer voices? And what can readers do to advocate for queer authors?
PP: PREORDERS! READERS, PREORDER YOUR FAVORITE QUEER AUTHORS' BOOKS! Preorders determine how much and how well those books will be stocked in stores, let alone at all. We're in a new era where stores are barely stocking new books. I feel lucky to even be stocked at Barnes & Noble. All contemporary romance, not just queer, especially is a hard no from stores right now. Most contemporary romance isn't stocked at Barnes & Noble anymore. And Target? Absolutely not. Unless you're Colleen Hoover. Right now, I sincerely appreciate the romance-dedicated indie bookstores that are popping up around the world to combat this issue.
4. Where do you see queer romance going in the future?
PP: Romance comes and goes in desirability by consumers. At least, in the publishers' opinions. In 2020, it was huge. Now, in 2025, not so much. Publishers are buying less romance than ever before. (And by that, I mean contemporary queer romance. Straight romantasy, of course, is and will always be fine.) But good news! By 2030, we'll be in another boom again, I hope. We'll just need to wait another cycle to get there.
5. What is your favorite part of the queer romance community? What has being a part of the community meant to you?
PP: The friends made. I know that's sappy and gross and disgusting, but it's true. Getting to meet influencers and fellow authors who eventually become my friends is the best feeling.
6. What is a queer romance book you recommend?
PP: TJ Alexander's A Gentleman’s Gentleman, , which released March 11th. It's sole purpose, in my opinion, is to allow trans people to have a fun historical romantic romp, minus the research, like so many straight authors have been allowed to do for so long. It's a blast.
Brian D. Kennedy—author of A Little Bit Country and My Fair Brady
Brian D. Kennedy—author of A Little Bit Country and My Fair Brady
1. What is important to you about writing queer romance?
BK: It’s important for me to be able to tell stories from my own identity. I think people can write outside their identities, if done with care. But for me, since I see the world through a queer lens, it makes more sense for my characters to have that viewpoint as well. Especially when it comes to romance, which feels very personal. Maybe it’d be different if I were writing in a genre where navigating a romantic relationship wasn’t the main plot. But if I’m writing about love, it’s going to feel most honest if I’m writing characters I can understand and relate to. (No offense to straight men, but I wouldn’t even know where to begin.)
2. How have you seen queer romance change over time?
BK: I think there’s been an expansion in which kinds of queer romances are being published. “Queer” is an umbrella term that encompasses a lot of identities. Generally speaking, Male/Male romances have often been given the bigger spotlight, and therefore a better chance at breaking into the mainstream. In the past decade or so, I think we have seen a bigger push for identities outside of M/M romance. It’s far from perfect, and there’s still plenty of work to be done. But I do believe we’ve seen signs of progress.
3. What do you wish the publishing industry would do better to help uplift queer voices? And what can readers do to advocate for queer authors?
BK: Give us bigger marketing budgets, please! But seriously, I’d love to see queer romance books get the same kind of support that many of the “big,” straight romance books are given. Publishing is a business, so they’re going to put their money behind the books they think will bring in the largest audience. And statistically speaking, there are more straight readers. However, I would love for publishing (and readers!) to think (or read) more widely. A good story is a good story—it can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of their sexual identity or preference.
4. Where do you see queer romance going in the future?
BK: I wish I had a more optimistic answer here, but I’m finding it hard given our current political and economic climate. Again, because publishing needs to make money in order to keep producing books, they’re going to court what’s “popular.” Queer romance is already facing an uphill battle with book bans and censorship, making it more of a financial risk. Unfortunately, as a result, I think there’s going to be a shrinkage in how many queer books we see published each year. Will it be permanent? I really hope not. But we’re going to have to continue to fight back in order to start making progress again.
5. What is your favorite part of the queer romance community? What has being a part of the community meant to you?
BK: I love the sense of belonging that it fosters. Growing up, I felt very isolated in my queerness—an experience that is probably common for many queer people. So now, to be part of a community that celebrates not only being queer, but queer love…it’s a pretty amazing feeling.
6. What is a queer romance book you recommend?
BK: Just one?! I thoroughly enjoyed Adib Khorram’s adult romance debut, I’ll Have What He’s Having. It’s a book that will leave you equal parts horny and hungry. And it’s part of a series! The second book, It Had to Be Him, comes out this fall. (Ha! I cheated and got two recommendations in.)
Jenna Miller—author of Out of Character and We Got The Beat
Jenna Miller—author of Out of Character and We Got The Beat
1. What is important to you about writing queer romance?
JM: I love writing stories where two people can fall for each other and their identity is just a part of who they are rather than a perceived “problem” or traumatic experience. Queer people deserve to see themselves in stories and feel as worthy and beautiful in a non-queer romance.
2. How have you seen queer romance change over time?
JM: Similar to the above, more stories are about romance as a positive rather than trauma. All stories are important and have a place, but I’m happy to see a shift toward the positive. I’ve also seen more queer romances include other representations (BIPOC, disabled, etc.). There aren’t nearly enough, but it’s shifting well beyond what existed even five, ten years ago.
3. What do you wish the publishing industry would do better to help uplift queer voices? And what can readers do to advocate for queer authors?
JM: I wish publishing would actually uplift queer voices. Sadly, few imprints put energy and marketing dollars into queer stories, instead relying on the authors to do the work. That said, readers are incredible when it comes to shouting about queer stories. I see the representation online and in public spaces, and it warms my heart knowing there’s a clear need for more stories.
4. Where do you see queer romance going in the future?
JM: My hope is for publishing to get behind queer romance more so it can succeed alongside non-queer stories. I also hope for more stories with additional representation (BIPOC, disabled, less represented queer identities, etc.).
5. What is your favorite part of the queer romance community?What has being a part of the community meant to you?
JM: The queer romance community is incredible! The support I’ve seen and felt personally across age categories, along with the readers, makes it worth the stress related to the industry. Most people are kind and welcoming, and I feel spoiled to be a part of it.
6. What is a queer romance book you recommend?
JM: The impossible question! Two recent favorites are Kiss Me, Maybe by Gabriella Gamez and We Are the Match by Mary E. Roach.
Timothy Janovsky—author of Never Been Kissed, You’re A Mean One Matthew Prince, New Adult, The Fake Dating Game, You Had Me At Happy Hour, The Merriest Misters, Once Upon You & Me, and the upcoming A Mannequin for Christmas
Timothy Janovsky—author of Never Been Kissed, You’re A Mean One Matthew Prince, New Adult, The Fake Dating Game, You Had Me At Happy Hour, The Merriest Misters, Once Upon You & Me, and the upcoming A Mannequin for Christmas
1. What is important to you about writing queer romance?
TJ: Romance has always been such a touchstone genre in fiction. Writing queer romance is important to me because I’m adding volumes to the vast library of queer fiction that today’s readers and future generations of readers will have access to. As a kid, when I was coming into my identity, I felt starved for choices when it came to seeing myself in the fiction I read. I found myself gravitating toward romance as a safe space, but those romances were almost always stories about a heterosexual man and a heterosexual woman, so I had to do a lot of reading between the lines to make points of connection with the characters. What I find most rewarding about my work as a queer romance author is writing characters who live and love the way that I do, and I hope that gives other queer readers the opportunity to sink into a story that reflects their experiences and the beautiful world they live in.
2. How have you seen queer romance change over time?
TJ: Over time, queer romance has expanded to all the subgenres and all voices which is invaluable to readers and the culture in general. As the conversation about romance generally has become more mainstream, we’ve seen more queer romances land on bestseller lists, get big book club placements, and become mainstays of the genre. The coolest change I’ve witnessed in my own career is when Harlequin—a huge name in romance for 75 years—approached me to write for Afterglow Books, their first inclusive, spicy romance line. It really made me stop and reflect on how far queer stories have come.
3. What do you wish the publishing industry would do better to help uplift queer voices? And what can readers do to advocate for queer authors?
TJ: Publishing is a unique beast, but I think one thing I’d love to see soon is the industry moving away from referring to queer romance as a subgenre. It’s a little funny to me to refer to a group of people as a subgenre especially when brushing elbows with terms like “dark romance” or “paranormal.” In doing so, I hope that will create more internal opportunities for queer authors to be platformed alongside their straight romance peers for more visibility.
Readers can uplift queer voices by posting, sharing, preordering, and requesting our titles from your local libraries. I would challenge readers, especially those with big review or social media platforms, to recommend two romances from marginalized voices, queer or otherwise, for every bestselling heterosexual romance you post about. In doing so, you’ll help get our stories in front of readers who may pass them over or just not be aware of them.
4. Where do you see queer romance going in the future?
TJ: To me, queer romance is still just getting started. It feels like the gates for queer romance in traditional publishing really flew open in 2019/2020, and since then there has been an explosion of new voices. My favorite thing about queer romance is that the authors are constantly surprising me, whether through genre mashups, new series, or interesting takes on popular pieces of media. Because queer relationships don’t always chart the same paths as those of our straight peers, queer romance characters can take many different roads to happily ever after, which makes queer romances unique and sometimes unexpected. For that reason, I don’t know where I see queer romance going, only that I’m certain there will be more of it, and I can’t wait to be surprised by it all!
5. What is your favorite part of the queer romance community? What has being a part of the community meant to you?
TJ: My favorite part about the queer romance community is their passion. So many queer romances readers have been hungry for the warm-fuzzies and deep-angsties that straight romance has been providing to readers for decades. The voracious way queer romance readers consume our novels and shout excitedly about them online and at events is such a beautiful sight and a true testament that representation really does matter.
Being a part of the community has shown me that I’m not, and have never been, isolated in my desire for these stories. Writing can be such a solitary act, but the queer romance community makes it so that even if you do something alone, you never have to be lonely.
6. What is a queer romance book you recommend?
I will always recommend TJ Alexander’s Chef’s Choice, a T for T fake-dating foodie romance with delicious banter.
Adriana Herrera—author of A Caribbean Heiress in Paris, An Island Princess Starts A Scandal, A Tropical Rebel for a Duke, American Dreamer, American Fairytale, American Love Story, American Sweethearts, American Christmas, Heat and Run, The Bootleggers Bounty, Amor Actually, and many more!
Adriana Herrera—author of A Caribbean Heiress in Paris, An Island Princess Starts A Scandal, A Tropical Rebel for a Duke, American Dreamer, American Fairytale, American Love Story, American Sweethearts, American Christmas, Heat and Run, The Bootleggers Bounty, Amor Actually, and many more!
1. What is important to you about writing queer romance?
AH: Reading and writing queer romance has probably been one of the most powerful tools of self-discovery for me. There are so many parts of myself that I’ve been able to understand more deeply because of queer romance.
2. How have you seen queer romance change over time?
AH: My first foray into queer fiction with an HEA was probably fan fiction…back in the early 2000s! Probably around 2007 was when I found queer romance novels. In those days M/M romance was exploding there were so many stories and I loved being able to read about queer men finding love and getting an HEA. One thing I always talk about is that in those days one of the most popular tropes was “gay for you.”
That term is outdated now and those stories are much more nuanced whether they are a romance with a character having a bisexual awakening or just someone discovering their own sexuality. I think the big difference is that we have more language around sexuality, gender identity, desire, pleasure. That we have moved out of the binaries and can explore he full spectrum of what queer love can be and that is so freeing.
3. What do you wish the publishing industry would do better to help uplift queer voices? And what can readers do to advocate for queer authors?
AH: The first thing is talking about those books you love and why you love them. There is nothing more effective for a reader than to hear someone talk about why they loved a book.
Second thing would be to get curious! Explore what out there beyond what the algorithm is serving you. There are so many amazing authors that perhaps don’t get traction on social media but are writing amazing stories.
4. Where do you see queer romance going in the future?
AH: It is so hard to tell with romance because it moves so fast. But my hope is that more queer BIPOC authors are given the support they deserve.
5. What is your favorite part of the queer romance community? What has being a part of the community meant to you?
AH: I love how much queer romance has grown and that there is space for everyone. My queer community in books and in life has always been home to me.
Queer romance brought me back to reading romance! I was romance reader since I was in middle school but in my twenties I fell off, because in many ways I could not see myself. Finding queer romance in my early thirties was one of the reasons why I came back to the genre and when I decided to write it, it was the only kind of story I wanted to put out in the world.
6. What is a queer romance book you recommend?
AH: That’s a very hard question! I always recommend KJ Charles because she writes a fantastic story. I loved The Prospects by KT Hoffman. So tender and so hot! Another favorite absolute sapphic perfection is Even Though I Knew the End by CL Polk.
Rachel Runya Katz—author of Thank You For Sharing, Whenever You’re Ready, and the upcoming Isn’t It Obvious
1. What is important to you about writing queer romance?
Rachel Runya Katz—author of Thank You For Sharing, Whenever You’re Ready, and the upcoming Isn’t It Obvious
RK: I like writing books that speak to the world I live in. I’m queer, as are many of my friends. I’m lucky to have been out for a very long time in places where it hasn’t felt like a big deal, so to me, trying to write romance that didn’t consider queerness would feel sort of like science fiction
2. How have you seen queer romance change over time?
RK: The most standout thing is the volume of it in the mainstream! Maybe to people a bit younger than me, it’s no big deal. But seeing unambiguously queer romance covers displayed prominently in major bookstores would’ve been foreign to me growing up.
3. What do you wish the publishing industry would do better to help uplift queer voices? And what can readers do to advocate for queer authors?
RK: I would love to see more market research on what works for queer books and a greater focus on tailoring marketing plans for BIPOC queer books. The influencer list you have for your white heterosexual title might not be suited for our work, and something needs to be done about it. I also recognize that the publishing professionals who do this work are already stretched thin, so in many ways it all starts with hiring more people and making sure they have manageable workloads.
For readers, I think it’s important to vote with your dollar. Of course, if you have a platform, shouting about the books you love is helpful, too! But I’d also advise thinking strategically about which books you’re actually buying vs. checking out from the library. The library is still a great way to support authors! But think about it, if you only have the budget for two books a month and you spend it on already mega popular straight white books but check out all the queer BIPOC stories by smaller authors, what message is that sending?
4. Where do you see queer romance going in the future?
RK: Everywhere, baby. More subgenres. More time periods. More kinds of queerness. More diverse voices. More, more, more.
5. What is your favorite part of the queer romance community? What has being a part of the community meant to you?
RK: I love how supportive queer authors are of one another. I am so lucky to have met several through events and conferences and it has only made me respect and love my favorite authors more. It’s special to get to be a part of a community that’s breaking through for folks in a way it hasn’t been when I was growing up.
6. What is a queer romance book you recommend?
RK: I just read Girl Next Door by Rachel Meredith. It’s a debut about a journalist, MC, whose editor realizes the latest bestselling sapphic romance is heavily inspired by MC, and likely written by her high school neighbor, Nora. MC has to return home to investigate. It’s got family drama, teenagers being stubborn and dumb, adults trying to find themselves, and of course, women kissing! I loved it. Out this September 9th!
Mason Deaver—author of I Wish You All The Best, The Ghosts We Keep, The Feeling of Falling in Love, Okay, Cupid, and the upcoming The Build-A-Boyfriend Project
1. What is important to you about writing queer romance?
Mason Deaver—author of I Wish You All The Best, The Ghosts We Keep, The Feeling of Falling in Love, Okay, Cupid, and the upcoming The Build-A-Boyfriend Project
MD: Getting to write the happy ending. As selfish as it seems, I'm always writing for myself first and foremost. Growing up just as the young-adult genre was experiencing a resurgence, I was faced with books that centered on trans and queer tragedy. Trans characters were outed publicly, shamed for their identities, killed off, or relegated to a secondary role. So many of the stories I read as a teen culminated in tragedy, which is exactly why I'm drawn to the romance genre. The happy ending. I love a happy ending, I love the guarantee of a journey and characters falling for one another. You know exactly what you're getting in romance, and I think that promise between the reader and the author is a beautiful thing.
2. How have you seen queer romance change over time?
MD: I remember reading Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda for the first time, and it was life changing. Seeing two gay characters get their happy ending, that was the book that changed everything for me, and told me I could write my own happy stories. Seeing publishing give more space to happy stories like Simon has been amazing. And yet there's also the acceptance that we have so much more work to do in allowing marginalized groups and writers the chance to tell stories of their own. There's a give and take, good and bad. We've made so many great strides, and at the same time, there's still so much more ground left to cover.
3. What do you wish the publishing industry would do better to help uplift queer voices? And what can readers do to advocate for queer authors?
MD: Sometimes it seems like publishing's desire to push more diverse stories begins and ends at acquiring authors and publishing the books. Unfortunately, the issue runs much deeper. Behind the scenes, publishing remains mostly white, mostly straight, mostly able-bodied. The dissonance comes when those editors, agents, and publicists are expected to understand the nuance and complications that come with belonging to any marginalized community; and the issue only runs deeper when author identity intersects. If we don't have people who can understand, relate, and empathize with where an author is coming from, who will recognize and appreciate how to market or sell something, or even trust an author to do their job well; we run into an issue I believe we're facing now. Where publishers aren't sure how to sell these books, and then blame any poor performance on the authors, rather than the industry as a whole. The solution is that we need more diverse groups in publishing behind the scenes, as well as diverse authors.
As far as reader advocacy goes, just talking openly about the books they love can do amazing things. Word of mouth is so powerful. Buying from your local indie tells the booksellers that these are books they should carry, requesting them at their local library encourages librarians to acquire more similar titles, posting about them online can inform their followers of a book they may have never heard of. Readers have so much power, and can do so much for diverse voices, and I hope they never underestimate their power.
4. Where do you see queer romance going in the future?
MD: I want to say things will only get better, the door will be opened further, more places at the table will be set for authors who haven't had the chance to tell their stories yet. I want to remain optimistic about this genre where so many readers have been able to find their identities and bodies represented. I also think a part of our responsibility comes with the knowledge that there is so much work left to be done. For Black and BIPOC authors, disabled authors, trans authors, there are still stories that have yet to be told. But we're making progress!
5. What is your favorite part of the queer romance community? What has being a part of the community meant to you?
MD: The joy. The community, by and large, is so positive and welcoming to readers and authors alike. We all love the same thing: love stories, and it's magical that we get to share that with one another. I certainly wouldn't be where I am as a person, a reader, a writer, without this community.
6. What is a queer romance book you recommend?
MD: Stars In Your Eyes by Kacen Callender remains one of my favorite books ever. The way Kacen approaches the characters, addiction, and the complications that come with being famous with such nuance and care is absolutely beautiful, and I'm desperate for more people to read it.
Bridget Morrissey—author of What You Left Me, When The Lights Went Out, Love Scenes, A Thousand Miles, That Summer Feeling, Anywhere You Go, and the upcoming Everything She Does Is Magic, This Will Be Interesting, and In What World
1. What is important to you about writing queer romance?
Bridget Morrissey—author of What You Left Me, When The Lights Went Out, Love Scenes, A Thousand Miles, That Summer Feeling, Anywhere You Go, and the upcoming Everything She Does Is Magic, This Will Be Interesting, and In What World
BM: As a queer person, writing queer romance feels like the fullest expression of myself and also a celebration of my community, and both of those things are vital right now. I will never take for granted what an honor and privilege it is.
2. How have you seen queer romance change over time?
BM: I don’t necessarily think queer romance has changed, because queer people have always found ways to share their voice and story, but I have appreciated that accessibility to these kinds of books has improved, and I hope that continues!
3. What do you wish the publishing industry would do better to help uplift queer voices? And what can readers do to advocate for queer authors?
BM: For the publishing industry, support and promote your queer authors at the same level as your cishet romances. The same goes for your BIPOC authors, and especially for every author who stands at both of those intersections. Put actual money behind these titles and don’t rely exclusively on word of mouth support. For readers, buy queer books not just during Pride month, but year round. Share those books with friends, because queer stories are for everyone, not just other queer people. Reading broadens perspectives and deepens empathy, so keep encouraging everyone to read about life experiences that don’t mirror their own.
4. Where do you see queer romance going in the future?
BM: The only thing I hope is that it doesn’t get diminished! Other than that, I’d love to see queer authors given free reign to play in any genre and category they desire!
5. What is your favorite part of the queer romance community? What has being a part of the community meant to you?
BM: I’ve loved the sincerity and enthusiasm I’ve felt from the community since I released That Summer Feeling in 2023. So many readers tell me about how they feel seen by that story, and that means the world to me.
6. What is a queer romance book you recommend?
BM: I just read Brewed With Love by Shelly Page, which is a cozy, witchy sapphic YA romance. It is a total delight, and is perfect for anyone who loves cozy, sweet, magical books like I do!
In case you missed it, check out Part 1 for more queer authors on queer romance books!