Ep #105

This week Ana hosts the podcast with special guest author Ruby Lang as we introduce our October theme and discuss the eternal appeal of the healer/patient trope

EP 105 HOST

> ANA COQUI (she/her) A lifelong genre reader, Ana grew up reading fantasy, sci-fi & mystery novels in Puerto Rico, before finally wandering into the romance section of the library in search of HEA’s after bawling through one too many dystopian novels. When she is not reading, knitting, writing about romance for Love in Panels or running #RomBkLove on Twitter as @anacoqui, Ana is a school librarian

EP 105 GUEST

> RUBY LANG (she/her) is the author of the acclaimed Practice Perfect series. Her alter ego, Mindy Hung, wrote about romance novels (among other things) for The Toast. Her work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Walrus, Bitch, and other fine venues. She enjoys running (slowly), reading (quickly), and ice cream (at any speed). She lives in New York with a small child and a medium-sized husband. Follow Ruby on Twitter @RubeLang and Instagram @ruby.lang


EP 105 DISCUSSION

> Love In Panels is a romance review blog focusing on both novels and comics, for which Ana is a contributing reviewer, and they host exclusive monthly chats for their Patreon subscribers
Link: http://www.loveinpanels.com/

> Harlequin Medical Romance is an active series that tells, “stories about dedicated (and delectable) professionals who navigate the high stakes of falling in love in the pressured world of medicine”
Link: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/brand/harlequin-medical-romance.html

> Title: Acute Reactions (Practice Perfect #1)
Author: Ruby Lang
Relation to theme: Doctor MC (allergist), MC with severe allergies
Representation: Asian author, Asian MC, Latinx MC, MC with severe allergies
Content Warnings: Depression, self esteem, anxiety, mother-daughter relationships
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24913000-acute-reactions

> Title: Hard Knocks (Practice Perfect #2)
Author: Ruby Lang
Relation to theme: Doctor MC (neurologist), MC with head injury
Representation: Asian author, Asian MC
Content Warnings: Parkinsonism, angry depression, parental decline, dementia
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28080614-hard-knocks

> Title: Clean Breaks (Practice Perfect #3)
Author: Ruby Lang
Relation to theme: Doctor MC (OB/GYN), cancer survivor
Representation: Asian author, Asian MCs, cancer survivor
Content Warnings: Cancer, difficult family relationships
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33844561-clean-breaks

> A link about HIPAA for those who don’t know
Link: https://www.hipaaguide.net/hipaa-for-dummies/

> Title: A Virtuous Ruby (Migrations of the Heart #1)
Author: Piper Huguley
Relation to theme: Doctor MC
Representation: Black author, Black MCs
Content Warnings: Racism, child out of wedlock, assault, industrial accidents
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25311325-a-virtuous-ruby

> Title: Vivid (Grayson Family #1)
Author: Beverly Jenkins
Relation to theme: Doctor MC
Representation: Black author
Content Warnings: Sexism, racism, arson, abduction, medical procedures
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1371130.Vivid

> Title: Tempest (Old West #3)
Author: Beverly Jenkins
Relation to theme: Doctor MC
Representation: Black author, Black MCs
Content Warnings: Sexism, grief, stalker, racism, attempted murder, guns 
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35068495-tempest

> Title: Band Sinister
Author: KJ Charles
Relation to theme: Doctor/patient side plot (inciting incident)
Representation: Queer MCs, Jewish/Spanish supporting character, Black supporting character
Content Warnings: Serious accident off-page, difficult family relationships, genteel poverty, coming out (not forced)
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39345944-band-sinister

> Title: The Cybernetic Tea Shop
Author: Meredith Katz
Relation to theme: Technician MC, MC in need of treatment
Representation: Queer author, Latinx MC, Queer MCs, Ace/asexual relationship
Content Warnings: Grief, harassment, hate crimes
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47489621-the-cybernetic-tea-shop

> Title: Caroline’s Heart
Author: Austin Chant
Relation to theme: Witch/healer MC, MC in need of treatment
Representation: Queer author, Trans author, Queer MCs, Trans MC
Content Warnings: Grief, harassment, misgendering, murder attempt  
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36353978-caroline-s-heart

> Title: The Doctor’s Discretion
Author: E.E. Ottoman
Relation to theme: Doctor MCs
Representation: Trans author, Queer MCs, Trans MC, disabled MC
Content Warnings: Racism, transphobia, homophobia, treatment of the mentally ill pre-1900
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35673510-the-doctor-s-discretion

> Title: Hither, Page (Page & Sommers #1)
Author: Cat Sebastian
Relation to theme: Doctor MC, former patient MC
Representation: Queer author, Queer MCs, WW2 veterans, PTSD
Content Warnings: Multiple murders off-page, PTSD
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44785311-hither-page

> Ruby mentions the Rochelle Alers title Man of Fate in the podcast, but she actually meant Man of Fantasy listed below, both books are part of Alers’ The Best Men series

> Title: Man of Fantasy (The Best Men #3)
Author: Rochelle Alers
Relation to theme: Psychotherapist MC, MC in need of treatment
Representation: Black author, Black MCs
Content Warnings: Childhood trauma, poverty
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6382496-man-of-fantasy

> Title: The Surgeon’s Secret Baby (Hopewell General #2)
Author: Ann Christopher
Relation to theme: Hospital setting, Doctor MC
Representation: Black author, Black MCs
Content Warnings: Secret baby, illness of a child
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11516131-the-surgeon-s-secret-baby


> Which #InclusiveRomance favorites of yours did we miss? Let us know on Twitter or Instagram @RomBkPod

Happy Reading!

EP 105 MUSIC CREDIT
Music: “Lift Off” by Jahzzar
From the Free Music Archive
CC BY-SA 3.0