Season 6, Episode 727: The episode starts off with Ruan narrating excerpts from Alexandria Swanson's Dark Romance books, Defiance (affiliate link book link ) and Balance (affiliate link book link, then we chat about writing, crazy sex related stories Alexandria has dealt with in her job, and the lovely parts of publishing as an indie author, but dealing with the crap in a world full of censorship.

Ruan's book mentioned, Beach House Views: https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/beachhouseviewsbook

Dark Romance Fantasy Author Alexandria Swanson bio: https://linktr.ee/alexandriaswansonauthor

Alexandria has been writing short stories and poems her entire life in journals and had a great idea for a novel. Defiance was the first book she finished, with more to come! Alexandria has her B.A.s in criminology, sociology, and criminal justice with a minor in forensic science. She works as a 911 dispatcher and lives in the Minnesota metro area with her dog and cat, who keep her busy. In her free time, she enjoys rock climbing, hiking, travel and of course, writing. Alexandria is passionate about herbalism and is really bad at surfing, but she considers herself a masochist.

Episode Summary:

Author Alexandria Swanson shared she draws inspiration from real experiences when writing (though her writing is fantasy, not memoir), including working as a 911 dispatcher, plus with her background in her studies impacting her characters, her supernatural tales feature werewolves, witches, and vampires who have real psychological disorders, and this plays out as fully fleshed out and named in the storyline.

We also discussed the crazy stuff...like the bizarre emergency calls Alexandria has handled: sex toys left in ovens, swallowed handcuff keys, and patients making dangerous decisions with household appliances. These real-life incidents are both interesting and intriguing, and a bit comical and shocking!

Alexandria's books *Defiance* and *Balance* explore something rarely addressed in fantasy: how centuries-old supernatural beings experience PTSD and mental health challenges. Her pack therapist character Naya treats werewolves dealing with multi-lifetime trauma, while her protagonist Chloe struggles with night terrors based on Alexandria's own experiences.

Listen to hear about the cover designer who hand-draws everything, why Alexandria loves editing (yes, really), and the book fair she will attend that podcast host Ruan Willow is hosting in Minnesota, The Honey and Jalapeno Book Fair, My 17, 2026.

Topic timeline:

Ruan narrates excerpts from Alexandria Swanson's books

Meeting an Author at a Book Fair From Journals to Published Author Fiction vs. Reality: Blurring Personal Stories Emergency Room Stories: Handcuffs and Bad Decisions Mental Health in Fantasy and Paranormal Romance The Value of In-Person Book Fairs Censorship, Leaving TikTok Over Algorithm and Ownership Social Media Double Standards and MORE Censorship Finding a Sustainable Writing Routine

Pet-Friendly Work Schedule and Writing Rituals Finding Creative Space Away From Home Loving Editing vs. Hating First Drafts Authors Must Review Every Editorial Change Designing Dual Book Covers with Human Artistry AI in Book Covers: Avoiding Hidden Technology Amazon Lost My Book and Pre-Orders! Book Printing Struggles and Independent Solutions Wrapping Up with Alexandria: Books and Social Media Instagram alexandria_swanson_author

Affiliate links and Ruan's links: https://linktr.ee/RuanWillow

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