Oh F*ck Yeah with Ruan Willow

Spicy to Non Spicy Character-Driven Romance and the Freedom of Indie Publishing with Author Starr Z. Davies

Oh F*ck Yeah with Ruan Willow

Show Notes

Season 6, Episode 741: Spicy to Non Spicy Romance: Character-Driven Romance and the Freedom of Indie Publishing with Author Starr Z. Davies. We chatted about the Honey and Jalapeno Romance Bookfair that I am hosting in Minnesota May 17th, 2026, and that both of us will be attending as authors at the Big Wood Brewery in Vadnais Heights, MN, learn more: https://pinkinfinitypublishing.com/honey-and-jalapeno-book-fair-a-minnesota-book-fair/ Author Bio: STARR Z. DAVIES is an award-winning author of over 20 tales that span dystopian realms, epic fantasies, and echoes of forgotten histories. Dubbed the "Character Assassin," she weaves stories where heroes are tested by fire—both emotional and physical. From her woodland home in northern Wisconsin, she crafts worlds while surrounded by her greatest allies: a supportive husband, two imaginative children, and a curious menagerie of robotic pets. When not conjuring new adventures, she dabbles in home enchantments, swims like a siren, battles through video game quests, and devours books like ancient tomes of power.

Connect with Starr: Kickstarter for Stormcrown (launches on Tuesday): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/szdavies/stormcrown?ref=4mzuls Website: https://www.starrzdavies.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s.z.davies/

Books (affiliate links): Stormvalor https://amzn.to/4tP57Vp Fractured Empire Series: https://amzn.to/4tYevpS

Topics of Discussion: Writing Across Romance Spectrum Writing Age-Appropriate Content as Authors Writing Sex Scenes Into Your Story Cutting Scenes That Don't Feel Genuine Navigating Genre Labels and Reader Expectations Amazon's Censorship of Sexual Content Amazon's Unfair Author Review Policies Dealing with AI Accusations and Online Bullying Creating Characters Over Twenty Years Ago How Language and Fantasy Changed My Writing Path Writing Fast and Managing Multiple Projects Social Media Presence and Book Fair Preparations

Key Takeaways: • Intimate scenes should emerge organically from character authenticity rather than being added to meet genre expectations. Both authors write what feels true to their stories, not what readers demand. • Indie publishing offers creative freedom that traditional publishing restricts, allowing authors to explore mature themes without censorship or pressure to fit commercial standards and limitiations. • Genre classification for romance blended with fantasy is different for Romantasy, romantic fantasy, and fantasy romance. Each of the blends is inherently subjective, making marketing challenging because readers interpret the same work differently regardless of authors' content descriptions. Podcast Host Ruan Willow: Get Ruan Willow's new dark romance suspense thriller fiction novel "Beach House Views" for only $0.99 (for a limited time only) universal link https://mybook.to/beachhouseviews ⁠Support the show and get exclusive content⁠ Sign up for Ruan's Newsletters ⁠https://subscribepage.io/ruanwillow Get 10% OFF ENTIRE ORDER (min. purchase $69, no usage limits) with code RUANWILLOW10 on pleasure sex toys at https://www.kiiroo.com/ https://offers.feeliate.com/to92wTJh Affiliate link, collect your body's health and sexual health info with a wearable device for men from Firm Tech 15% OFF with code ruan15 ⁠⁠https://myfirmtech.com/ruanwillow⁠⁠ Ruan's book Beach House Views https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/beachhouseviewsbook directly from Ruan https://payhip.com/b/pMxn3 Credit bundles are an easy, thoughtful gift and can be purchased at the last minute! Try out Libro FM (affiliate link) https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=2065431&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2Fgift Copyright 2026 Pink Infinity Publishing LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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Oct 23, 2026

Season 6, Episode 791: Finding Spiritual Truths in Sexuality with Suzannah Weiss. What if what has been expressed in mainstream religions by our society and current interpretations of the Bible about sexuality is all wrong? What if we were meant to enjoy our bodies and sexuality rather than hoard it, reserve it, "get" it and "take" it from others, and be shamed by it? If our creator gave us the capabilities and the equipment for pleasure, it's only logical that we were meant to enjoy our bodies, the sensations our genitals can produce, and sexual relations with ourselves and others. We weren't given taste buds to not taste food! This is ridiculous. We need to reevaluate our views and think outside the culturally and spiritually stagnant box we are in. Suzannah discusses alternate interpretations of sexuality from sentences from the Bible and examines them with a new lens, pointing out that perhaps they don't mean what has been propagated at all, but something entirely different, and more positive. She also discusses the idea of multiple messiah figures who are on a mission to save the world, radiating with the core thread of birthing a sex-positive Jesus inspired revolution. Other topics discussed include: feminism, patriarchy, pleasure, sex, anatomy, cultural views, hook up culture, adult films, sexuality, spirituality, Christianity, religion, relationships. Find out more about Suzannah's work http://www.suzannahweiss.com/ Suzannah's Books: affiliate links Eve's Blessing https://link.amazon/B0fas0q3l Subjectified: Becoming a Sexual Subject https://link.amazon/B05ESw2vc Sign up to receive Ruan Willow's newsletters. https://ruanwillow.subscribepage.io/ All Ruan's links: https://linktr.ee/RuanWillow Ruan's Books mentioned in the episode: Spring Break and Stranded https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/springbreakandstrandedwithherbestfriendsbrothersplus6menlaylagetsraunchy Neighborhood Secrets: https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/neighborhoodsexsecrets Copyright Pink Infinity Publishing 2026. All Rights Reserved.

Oct 21, 2026

Season 6, Episode 790: Haunted Hayride Erotic Improv, The Secret Meet Up on the Haunted Trail, by Podcast Host Ruan Willow. Enjoy an excerpt in honor of the new spicy Halloween audiobook coming out, Halloween Spice: Hot Short Stories for Spooky Spiced Listens. Get it on online audiobook sellers. EVERYONE who signs up to our giveaway wins a FREE spicy toy or gift card for toys from the Bellesa Boutique! https://www.bbvibes.com/Ruan #bbpartner Get Ruan's spicy Halloween collection of spooky, spicy, hot and steamy Halloween themed short stories...witches, wizards, magic, enchantment, deception, and so much more! https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/halloweenspiceaudiobook

Oct 16, 2026

Season 6, Episode 789 (789 total over all 6 seasons): Oh F*ck Yeah with Ruan Willow Podcast interview with Queer Trans Adult Romance Author Cozy DuBois. We chatted about normalizing pleasure in romance books and in real life! (Please note the narration of the excerpt by podcast host Ruan Willow from the fiction book "For Luck's Sake" by Cozy DuBois is at the end of the episode). Special Announcement! EVERYONE who signs up to our giveaway wins a FREE spicy toy or gift card for toys from Bellesa Boutique! Visit https://www.bbvibes.com/Ruan bbvibes dot com backslash Ruan #bbpartner Author Bio: Based in Minneapolis, Cozy Dubois (they/them) is a queer, trans, and neurodivergent author of queer adult romance, full of sweet and spicy happily-ever-afters for everyone under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella. They hope to bring mor books into the world that represent the complex and entangled relationships between friends, lovers, and chosen family found in the queer community they love. http://cozydubois.com/ Find Cozy's book online, including this affiliate link: For Luck's Sake https://link.amazon/B0eFOIKdk Topics in this discussion include: Pleasure, discussion of including pleasure sex toys in fiction, self care, relationships, friendships, sexuality, sexual wellness, sexual health, the origin of intimate toys, the benefits of sex toys/tools for everyone and also specifically for the disabled community, sexual liberation, sex ed, spicy romance, queer romance, trans romance, non-binary rep, character development, intimacy, polyamory, fiction book fairs, romance book fairs, queer book events, LGTBQIA+ rep and characters in books, Indie authors, self publishing, purity culture, culture, society, writing books, special editions Podcast Host Ruan Willow's link: https://linktr.ee/RuanWillow Sign up to receive Ruan Willow's newsletters https://ruanwillow.subscribepage.io/ Copyright Pink Infinity Publishing 2026. All Rights Reserved.

Oct 13, 2026

Season 6, Episode 788: Finger Licking Good Threesome Roommate Rendezvous Hookup: Sam and Mariana are dating, and the roommate Jordan is prepping dinner with Mariana while Sam is at the gym. Jordan wants an opinion on his homemade sauce, and he offers his sauce-coated finger for Mariana to taste. She is a horny girl and gets a little carried away. The erotic aura burns out of their interaction and when Sam arrives home, things between the three of them heat up quick! Special Announcement Giveaway! EVERYONE who signs up to our giveaway wins a FREE spicy toy or gift card for toys from Bellesa Boutique! https://www.bbvibes.com/Ruan #bbpartner Ruan's links: https://linktr.ee/RuanWillow Copyright 2025, 2026 Pink Infinity Publishing. All Rights Reserved.

Oct 9, 2026

Season 6, Episode 787: You can test for STDs in the privacy of your own home! No more embarrassing visits to the doctor, no shame filled eyes to endure. You don't even have to drive anywhere to get tested! You can conveniently test yourself at home and get the results within hours to a couple of days, which is way faster than going to the doctor anyway! There shouldn't be shame for getting an infection, but our culture has the bad habit of shaming such infections. Your sexual health matters to your sexuality, your fertility, and your overall health. Sexual wellness is important and Better Life Science, aka STD Hero, can help you achieve a healthier body and life. You can also share your results with other people from your phone's wallet. DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY! As a special promotion please read below! This is a sponsored episode. EVERYONE who signs up to our giveaway wins a FREE spicy toy or gift card for toys from Bellesa Boutique! https://www.bbvibes.com/Ruan #bbpartner Learn more about Better Life Science, aka STD Hero: https://mybls.com/ Podcast Host Ruan Willow's link: Sign up to receive Ruan Willow's newsletters https://ruanwillow.subscribepage.io/ https://linktr.ee/RuanWillow Copyright Pink Infinity Publishing 2026. All Rights Reserved. More on the episode: I chatted with the owner of the company and we chatted about how this amazing service is the kind of concierge service for sexual wellness that's the future. This is an easy way to get yourself tested and be sure you are healthy so you don't spread any illnesses/infections around. We had a fun chat! We talked, we laughed, and we brought up how we need to bust the stigma of std infections.

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