Welcome back to Talk Spicy to Me! In Episode 3 of Season 3, bestselling romance authors Giana Darling and Kandi Steiner are joined by two very special guests: their husbands, Haden and Jack. In this episode, Giana and Kandi pull back the curtain on what it's really like being married to a romance author. Haden and Jack share how they were first introduced to the romance book world, what surprised them most about the size and passion of the reader community, and what it's like watching their wives build careers in the romance industry.
They also get into the hilarious misconceptions people have about spicy romance authors, including the assumption that steamy scenes are autobiographical, what it's like attending book signings as "the husband," and how much they are actually involved in the business side of their wives' author careers. Plus, Giana and Kandi talk current obsessions in the Spice Report, including the World Cup, The Bear, House of the Dragon, and balancing TV time with parenthood. Kandi also shares her new forbidden sports romance, Illegal Formation, and the group plays Red Flag, Green Flag with the messy trope of dating your best friend's ex. If you love romance books, author behind-the-scenes conversations, spicy book talk, romance tropes, and getting a peek at the real-life relationships behind your favorite romance authors, this episode is for you.
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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me
03:05 - Patreon shoutout + After Dark episodes
03:33 - Season sponsors: Lauren Blakely + Kat Singleton
04:23 - Introducing the husbands: Haden and Jack
05:10 - Proposal nerves and engagement stories
07:18 - Spice Report
07:42 - World Cup obsession + taking a baby to the game
11:11 - The Bear, House of the Dragon, and TV obsessions
15:25 - Kandi's shameless plug: Illegal Formation
16:33 - Why authors feel awkward asking friends for help
18:09 - How Haden and Jack entered the romance world
19:26 - Haden's first romance signing experience
21:00 - Jack finding out Kandi was a romance author
23:36 - Being recognized as the romance author husband
25:34 - What surprised the husbands about romance readers
30:30 - Are spicy romance scenes autobiographical?
34:53 - What romance trope fits their marriages?
39:08 - How involved are the husbands in the author business?
42:10 - What it's like working with your spouse
46:40 - Separating work, marriage, and the romance business
49:46 - The pressure of being a full-time author family
51:40 - Do the husbands benefit from spicy romance?
52:26 - Haden has read all of Giana's books
55:48 - What readers may not know about Giana and Kandi
59:20 - Jack on Kandi's work ethic and generosity
1:00:47 - Why supportive partners matter
1:02:19 - Talk Spicy to Me Book Club Pick: The Hot Shot by Piper Rayne
1:03:47 - Red Flag, Green Flag: dating your best friend's ex
1:07:03 - Reader question: writing third-act breakups
1:09:46 - Where to find the husbands + closing
BOOK CLUB PICK: Read along with us! Our next Talk Spicy to Me book club pick is The Hot Shot by Piper Rayne. We'll be discussing it on the September 9th episode, including favorite moments, favorite characters, and, of course, the spice.
The Hot Shot: Tropes: Best Friend's Older Brother/Little Sister's Best Friend, Fake Dating, Athlete (Sports Romance), Found Family, Single Guardian Follow Piper Rayne:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorpiperrayne/?hl=en
Website: https://piperrayne.com/
SPONSORS: This season of Talk Spicy to Me is brought to you by Lauren Blakely and Kat Singleton! Lauren Blakely is the bestselling author of sexy, funny, feel-good romance, including Just Playing for Keeps, a grumpy-sunshine hockey romance with fake dating, viral heartbreak, and a broody tattooed hockey hero.
Follow Lauren Blakely: I
nstagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenblakelybooks/
Website: https://laurenblakely.com/
Kat Singleton is the author of In Good Company, a forbidden billionaire romance featuring an ex's brother, private chef, age gap tension, and a dreamy Hamptons setting.
Follow Kat Singleton:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkatsingleton/?hl=en
Website: https://authorkatsingleton.com
AFTER DARK (Patreon Exclusive) Want the extended, unfiltered conversation? Each week's After Dark mini-episode dives deeper into topics we don't cover on the main feed. Join the Patreon for early access and bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkSpicytoMePodcast
Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more romance author conversations, publishing behind-the-scenes, spicy book talk, romance tropes, and author interviews.
