I do have some exciting news - my second book is coming out in just over a month, on August 12th! THE TAILOR'S TREASURE, the sequel to THE BLACKSMITH'S BRIDE, is Isabel's story, and it has been a labour of love in every sense of the word. You can preorder it here: books2read.com/u/bMj8JB

I realize I haven't been #onhere for months. The reason for that is very simple: life became a three-car pileup back in January and I simply have not had the energy to do anything but work and sleep.

I did a podcast episode with the First Encounters Podcast! Tune in for thoughts on the Black Death, epilogue babies, gay angst, and economic mobility (single moms edition.) youtu.be/YPs3ShjgEWA?...

S1 E13—Life During the Medieval Period in Historical Romance with Alison McKenzie

YouTube video by First Encounter—A Historical Romance Podcast

youtu.be

New blog post! Are the dreaded Not Like Other Girls coming for your romance novels? No. Obviously not. That's dumb. amckenziewrites.substack.com/p/no-like-th...

no, like those OTHER girls

on gender essentialism and breaking the fantasy

amckenziewrites.substack.com

I'm finally sitting down to watch Heated Rivalry, and I think the simplest explanation for its popularity is that it's an adaptation that clearly respects romance as a genre.

The Thing (1982, John Carpenter)

My book "The Blacksmith's Bride" is part of the Smashwords 2025 End of Year Sale! Check out all the cool indie books for sale at 50% off at smashwords.com/sale #EOYsale25 #ebook #sale #books2read #indiebooks

a bit of a pivot for the newsletter this week! we're talking the real-life relationship between Hannah Cullwick and Arthur Munby, and what their play says about the society they lived in. amckenziewrites.substack.com/p/real-life-...

"this book is going to be a lot fluffier than normal" I say about a story in which everyone's moms are dying and their dads all hate them.

this is only literary opinion adjacent but it is definitely unhinged when I am stocking copies of a face-out book at the bookstore, I will put the fresh copies behind any copies already on the shelf, because they’ve been waiting their turn to be picked and I don’t want their feelings to get hurt

Rachel Feder@rachelfeder.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Tell me your most unhinged literary opinion, as a little treat

The discrepancy between the content of the Bridgerton books and their Netflix tie-in covers has been discussed already, but man oh man is it going to be awkward when they get to Francesca's book!

stephen king sure writes about love a lot for a guy whose whole thing is horror.

This week's newsletter is a postmortem on the Conjuring series, a franchise which managed to be a horror story, a romance, and tradcath propaganda all rolled into one open.substack.com/pub/amckenzi...

reflections on romance: the conjuring franchise (2013-2025)

on catholic superheroes, the protestants (me) who love them, and the appeal of sincerity

open.substack.com

the sex scenes in this new book might be some of the best I've ever written. they might also be some of the most unintentionally revealing I've ever written.

I am so bad at book promo... but #booksky, THE SHOOTING SEASON is a cracker, suitable for #mmromance #historicalromance readers. Available in ebook, paperback and audiobook, narrated by @garyfurlongvo.bsky.social Cover art by @noahdeaart.bsky.social www.amazon.com/Shooting-Sea...

I think Written? Kitten! is struggling a bit

me: still has three books and a novella to write in my current series the devil on my shoulder: you should start writing a lesbian romance set at the Moulin Rouge

okay, back in the saddle, that's a good paragraph

I am one of the 14 authors who chose to leave the Polari Prize, and I find myself frustrated and saddened at the way this entire story has been represented. 1/

The Guardian@theguardian.com · last yr.

John Boyne says LGBTQ+ fiction prize backlash brought him ‘close to the edge’

it's a special day :)

Show rec time!! We’re only 2 eps in so far, but Be On Cloud’s newest production ‘Shine’ is blowing me away. It’s a gay historical drama set in 1969, dealing with protest, politics, and (proscribed, complex) queer desire If you enjoyed ‘Fellow Travelers’ I definitely think you should check this out

Novel with a lesbian romance and mental health themes https://www.booksns.com/155620/ I'm looking for an urban fantasy OR realistic fiction novel, with a lesbian romance (no explicit scenes), that also explores mental health themes. I'd really appreciate some help, as I've been struggling to …

Novel with a lesbian romance and mental health themes - Trending Books

I'm looking for an urban fantasy OR realistic fiction novel, with a lesbian romance (no explicit scenes), that also explores mental health themes.

booksns.com

Today's the day! THE BLACKSMITH'S BRIDE is now available from all major retailers (and minor ones - ask your local indie bookstore!) Click purchase and immediately have 98k of friends-to-lovers class war yearning in your hands! Who doesn't love that kind of instant gratification?

'twas the night before bookmas, and all through the house . . .

I am not deliberately writing this novel as lesbian propaganda, but also. did I lie?

It's my birthday! And you know what would be a great present for you AND me? Pre-ordering my book ;)https://linktr.ee/amckenziewrites 🎂

I don't screenshot well lol

Alison McKenzie@amckenziewrites.bsky.social · last yr.

My episode of the Historical Romance Sampler Podcast is up! I read an excerpt from The Blacksmith's Bride, then chat with Katherine Grant about the end of feudalism, Robin Hood RPGs, and who gets an HEA in historical romance. youtu.be/tAA4TB_7pPE?...

My episode of the Historical Romance Sampler Podcast is up! I read an excerpt from The Blacksmith's Bride, then chat with Katherine Grant about the end of feudalism, Robin Hood RPGs, and who gets an HEA in historical romance. youtu.be/tAA4TB_7pPE?...

I am a school librarian and I would love to restock the library with books and supplies. Please repost. Thanks so much. www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/...

a cartoon of a girl says i want to read all the books

ALT: a cartoon of a girl says i want to read all the books

media.tenor.com

why don't we have any better synonyms for "damp" than "moist" or "dank." it's making this sex scene really hard to write.