Call Her Daddy – Sarah J. Maas: The Wait Is Over

Podcast: Call Her Daddy
Host: Alex Cooper
Guest: Sarah J. Maas
Date: March 5, 2026

Episode Overview

This highly anticipated episode features bestselling fantasy author Sarah J. Maas, creator of Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR), and Crescent City. With over 67 million books sold, Maas sits down with Alex Cooper for a candid, emotional, and hilarious conversation that dives into her creative process, career journey, literary legacy, personal challenges, and much-pondered secrets about her book universes. The episode brims with fan-favorite insights, female empowerment, honest accounts of mental health and motherhood, and exclusive details on upcoming releases.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Phenomenon of Sarah J. Maas (03:00–04:47)

• Alex and Sarah gush about the overwhelming fan excitement for this crossover, swapping stories about friends' sudden interest upon hearing about this interview.
• Sarah jokes: “Only for you would I drag myself across the continent to Los Angeles.” (04:50)

Writing, Motherhood, & Daily Life (05:02–08:35)

• Sarah shares the chaos of writing on a plane while caring for her kids and a napping husband.
• Reveals her passion for atmospheric playlists: “The Rob Pattinson Batman soundtrack” and “K-Pop Demon Hunters” are on repeat—even her kids are over it.
• Describes her ideal writing setup: private, cozy, with crystals, fun desk toys, and a rotation of water, lattes, Diet Coke, and Cheetos.
• “I don’t write publicly… I get very into my stuff. I’ll be crying, to feel what my characters feel.” (06:52–07:11)

Fan Encounters & Celebrity Moments (09:19–12:08)

• Sarah often thanks readers spotted in public, leading to confused reactions: “Normal Sarah covered in Cheeto dust… I look, like, unwell on a daily basis.”
• Starstruck by Margot Robbie, who’s now a friend: “She’s as beautiful on the outside as the inside… so smart, and it’s an overwhelming combination.” (11:02)

ACOTAR TV Series & Creative Control (12:08–14:49)

• Sarah confirms she’s regained all adaptation rights.
• “When I do it… you’re gonna do it my way. I will dedicate everything to making it right… I will be in there looking at all the design, but also, what does it sound like? Because music plays such a big part.” (12:08)
• No update on TV casting: “I have yet to find my perfect Rhys. I can’t be forced to pick someone.” (14:26)

Sarah’s Eras & Bookish Teenage Years (15:16–19:18)

• Recounts her path from “cool, popular girl obsessed with Sailor Moon and fantasy” to “emo Lord of the Rings phase Sarah”—complete with a Legolas cut-out she made out with.
• “If I saw Orlando Bloom now, I would piss my pants, vomit on myself, like, ovulate… every bodily fluid would just come spraying out of me. I would not be okay.” (18:26)

Path to Publication: Parental Doubt, Industry Dismissals (21:19–24:51)

• Parents were skeptical: “My parents… they’re intellectual, again, lovingly, snobs.” (21:19)
• Publishing fantasy wasn’t cool in her college years. Professor dismissed her genre.
• “I was a creative writing major… but all classes were geared towards poetry and short stories. I was like, ‘I will never write a poem in my life!’” (23:26)

Writing Universes: Planning and Overlap (27:06–31:41)

• Maas explains how her three series intertwine: “I don’t actually know how I have the brain capacity for this… all in my head. I have notebooks, but the overarching vision is in my head.” (29:22)
• Writing new worlds was a coping mechanism while waiting to be published: “ACOTAR came out of me… in like a two month span.” (27:39)
• Sometimes plotlines and connections align “in a really cosmic, psychic way… I jumped out of my seat and shut my computer. This worked out on a supernatural level.” (31:24-31:41)

Empowering Female Characters & Breaking Boxes (31:41–41:47)

Aelin & Strong Women in Fantasy (32:22–35:36)

• On Aelin: “She came out of me fully formed… I let her lead the way… her rage, her anger. I never got to see women being angry and bitchy the way I often felt… I wanted to write about a woman that didn’t have to be appealing to anyone.” (32:22)
• Characters allowed to grow, make mistakes, have different lovers—mirroring Sarah’s journey.

Double Standards & "Smut" Dismissal (36:03–41:47)

• “People hear romantic fantasy… They’re like, ‘Oh, she just writes, like, really sexy stuff.’” (36:03)
• “The sex is tied to the plot—it’s intensely tied to their own emotional journeys as a couple.” (37:16)
• Discusses double standards around women's sexuality in fiction: “Suddenly it devalues the work. Why? You’re writing so accurate to life and sex is a part of life.” (39:23)
• Wants to write about all realities, including periods and bodily concerns: “I want to write about … like what if you got your period when you were climbing Mount Doom?” (40:54)

Writing Trauma & Real-Life Inspiration (41:47–53:19)

Pregnancy & Motherhood in ACOTAR (42:39–51:52)

• Alex asks about Feyre's traumatic pregnancy storyline and internet debate.
• Sarah’s Story: Both pregnancies were traumatic; her first C-section left physical and emotional scars. Unkind, dismissive treatment by male doctors left her feeling powerless.
• “Motherhood doesn’t need to be glossed over or seen as weak. I’ve become a stronger person… the biggest badasses in the world are moms.” (50:34–51:52)

Mental Health Challenges, Therapy Reflected in Characters (52:21–59:36)

• Silver Flames mirrored her own postpartum mental breakdown and journey through therapy: “What Nesta feels in that book… I wrote as I was going through therapy. We dug our way out together.” (52:21)
• Feyre’s panic attacks in Mist and Fury also mirrored her mental state, though she didn’t realize it at the time.

Intimate Relationships & Character Dynamics (66:05–82:52)

• Alex and Sarah bond over the excitement of sexual tension and push-pull in romantic pairings.
• “If I’m like, does that kind of turn me on? Yeah, okay, then I’m gonna write it.” (66:34)
• Reveals Rhysand wasn’t planned—he just “walked on” into the manuscript and changed the entire series’ trajectory (68:13).
• Favorite couple? “That’s impossible. I love them all. I have to be obsessed with them.” (69:19)
• On naming hot characters: “Google searches: ‘sexy Celtic warrior god with abs of steel…’” (70:54/onwards)

Nuanced Discussions On Consent, Power, and Redemption (72:33–81:07)

• Tamlin & Feyre: depiction of trauma responses, abusive backgrounds, and the importance of making mistakes in relationships.
• Marriage and partnership modeled on her own equal relationship: “They want a lover who is also a best friend that they can be equal with.” (77:38)
• On Rhysand not telling Feyre about pregnancy risk: “I think it’s more interesting for me as a writer to have him make a bad call… He’s still learning.” (79:12)
• Most romantic Rhys/Feyre moments: Starfall and, of course, Chapter 55. “It was such an emotional release.” (81:07)

Rapid Fire Fan Questions & Book Announcements (92:13–110:48)

The Instagram Arrow, ACOTAR6, and a Massive Release (92:13–95:11)

• Internet went wild over a cryptic Insta post: “That was ACOTAR6 with the arrow going forward. It’s for the next Acotar book, coming out October 27th.”
• Exclusive News: Two ACOTAR books will be released in rapid succession—first on Oct 27, then on Jan 12. It's one massive story in four parts, published in three volumes for logistical reasons. (95:11–99:00)
• “I’m not playing by anyone else’s rules. I want to honor my fans and write these stories the way they need to be told.” (99:32)

Deeper Dive: World-Building, Arcane Questions, Future Plans (102:15–110:48)

• Playful yet evasive answers to fan theories: “Everything is possible. Everything you’re asking me right now could just be… yes. You’ll find out.”
• Confirms: Bryce and Hunt are "endgame". Asriel = not Bryce’s mate. (108:23–108:30)
• On cross-series mysteries: “You’re asking me things I’m not sure if I should confirm or deny or let people… have their dreams.” (109:04)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If I saw Orlando Bloom now, I would piss my pants, vomit on myself, like, ovulate… every bodily fluid would just come spraying out of me.” — Sarah J. Maas (18:26)
• “I want to write about women that didn’t have to be appealing to anyone—and I did not give a shit if anyone reading it liked her.” — Sarah (34:00)
• “There is a tendency for people to roll their eyes at things that bring women joy.” — Sarah (38:35)
• “Motherhood doesn’t have to be seen as weak… I have become a stronger person because I’m a mother. The biggest badasses in the world.” — Sarah (50:34)
• “Anytime someone told me I couldn’t do something, I would say, ‘Watch me. Just watch me.’” — Sarah (115:23)
• “Writing's the thing I love most. So during that waiting time, ACOTAR came out of me.” (27:39)

Timestamps: Segment Highlights

• 03:00 — Sarah’s intro & fan frenzy stories
• 05:02 — Writing while parenting & music inspiration
• 07:13 — Writing setup & creative process
• 09:19 — Public fan encounters, Sarah’s reactions
• 11:02 — Margot Robbie story, celebrity fans
• 12:08 — ACOTAR TV adaptation, creative control
• 15:16 — Sarah’s “Eras” explained, Sailor Moon love
• 17:44 — Emo phase & Legolas obsession
• 21:19 — Family doubts, challenges publishing fantasy
• 27:06 — Explaining the convergence of her three series
• 31:41 — Writing strong women, addressing genre sexism
• 41:47 — The realness of pregnancy and female bodies in fantasy
• 52:21 — Nesta’s arc reflecting Sarah’s mental health journey
• 66:05 — Sexual tension, push-pull dynamics in romance
• 68:13 — Rhysand’s unplanned arrival, character “chemistry”
• 77:38 — Partner relationships modeled after her own
• 92:13 — The infamous Instagram arrow & book news
• 95:11 — The landmark announcement: double ACOTAR release in 2026
• 108:23 — Bryce and Hunt confirmation, merging theory debunks

Legacy, Impact, and Advice (111:02–116:15)

• Success is “getting to tell the stories I want to tell, how and when I want… but also: Am I happy?” (111:20)
• On legacy: “When I started writing, I told myself it didn’t matter if it took me until I was 90 to publish… Everything else has been insane.” (112:44)
• Motivating message: “Anytime someone told me I couldn’t do something, I would say, ‘Watch me. Just watch me.’” (115:23)

Tone & Atmosphere

True to Call Her Daddy’s signature style, the episode is raw, vulnerable, riotously funny, and deeply affirming. Sarah J. Maas is self-deprecating, open about her struggles and strengths, and playful with the show’s spicy questions and fan theories. The dynamic between Alex and Sarah is one of mutual respect, genuine fandom, and feminist camaraderie.

For Listeners New & Old

This episode offers a must-hear blend of personal history and deep-dive book nerdery, while serving both long-time fans of Sarah J. Maas and those peeking into fantasy, writing, and women’s voices in literature for the first time. With exclusive revelations about her process and upcoming work, plus frank discussions on being a woman—and a mom—in publishing and pop culture, it’s an episode guaranteed to inspire, entertain, and empower.