“DON’T BUY ME FLOWERS”
This week Sarah Jean concludes our Platonic Friendship theme with special guest author and editor Claudie Arseneault and a focus on queerplatonic relationships in romance
EP 228 HOST
> SARAH JEAN (she/her) From the woods of Massachusetts, Sarah Jean has been reading queer romance for 12 years. She runs a queer book club called Rainbow Readers of Massachusetts (https://www.facebook.com/rainbowreadersmass/) that celebrates queer lives, joy, and empowerment through genre fiction. When not reading or listening to books Sarah is plotting her queer historical romances, cuddling with her cats, and planning her next adventure. Follow Sarah on Twitter @queer_reader
EP 228 GUEST
> CLAUDIE ARSENEAULT (she/her) Claudie Arseneault is an asexual and aromantic-spectrum writer hailing from the mostly-francophone Quebec City. The stories of her heart revolve around platonic affections, especially friendship and families, and her love for sprawling casts invariably turns her novels into multi-storylined wonders. Claudie is a founding member of The Kraken Collective as well as an editor for Common Bonds: an Aromantic Speculative Anthology, she’s well-known for my database of aro and ace characters, and her unending love of squids. You can visit Claudie’s website at https://claudiearseneault.com/ or follow her on Twitter @ClH2OArs
EP 228 DISCUSSION
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
NOTE: These notes include affiliate links to Bookshop.org and Amazon.com to support the RBP transcript project
NOTE: This episode was recorded in early-March during the coronavirus pandemic of 2020-21
> Title: Baker Thief
Author: Claudie Arseneault
Relation to theme: queerplatonic relationship
Representation: Queer author, queer MCs, aromantic rep, asexual rep
Content Warnings: theft
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-sarah-jean-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3f4mFaP
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39979131-baker-thief
> Title: City of Strife (City of Spires #1)
Author: Claudie Arseneault
Relation to theme: queerplatonic relationship
Representation: Queer author, queer MCs, aromantic rep, asexual rep, disability rep
Content Warnings: past family deaths
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-sarah-jean-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3bcZBG2
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34337942-city-of-strife
> Title: Common Bonds
Editor: Claudie Arseneault, et. al.
Relation to theme: queerplatonic relationships
Representation: Queer authors, queer MCs, aromantic rep, asexual rep
Content Warnings:
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-sarah-jean-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3f17wr0
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56652180-common-bonds
NOTE: This is an anthology
> Sarah refers to Fullmetal Alchemist is a Japanese anime series
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421357/
> Claudie refers to Tales of Symphonia
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_of_Symphonia
> Title: Syncopation (Twisted Wishes #1)
Author: Anna Zabo
Relation to theme: queerplatonic relationship?
Representation: Queer author, queer MCs, aromantic rep, allosexual rep
Content Warnings: toxic manager
Bookshop: unavailable
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3vNObA9
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37648566-syncopation
> Title: Two Dark Moons (Sãoni Cycle #1)
Author: Avi Silver
Relation to theme: queerplatonic relationship
Representation: Queer author, queer MCs, aromantic rep
Content Warnings: none identified
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-sarah-jean-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/33nkDx4
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50203226-two-dark-moons
NOTE: This is a YA graphic novel
> Sarah Jean mentions Three Seeking Stars by Avi Silver which is due out July 2021
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57251046-three-seeking-stars
> Title: The Thread That Binds (The Eternal Library #1)
Author: Cedar McCloud
Relation to theme: platonic life partners
Representation: Queer author, queer MCs, aromantic rep, asexual rep
Content Warnings: past trauma including emotional abuse, inferred physical abuse
Bookshop: unavailable
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3bsk5uD
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57166244-the-thread-that-binds
> Title: Ignition Zero
Author: Cedar McCloud
Relation to theme: queerplatonic relationship
Representation: Queer author, queer MCs, aromantic rep, asexual rep, disability rep
Content Warnings: none identified
Bookshop: unavailable
Kindle: unavailable
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35041313-ignition-zero-volume-one
> Claudie is the originator of the Aro & Ace Character Database which you can visit here
Link: https://www.aroacedatabase.com/
> Claudie refers to Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25533896-every-heart-a-doorway
> Title: Stake Sauce
Author: RoAnna Sylver
Relation to theme: queerplatonic relationship?
Representation: Queer author, queer MCs, aromantic rep, asexual rep, disability rep
Content Warnings: paranormal violence
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-sarah-jean-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3xWKI4r
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36309824-stake-sauce-arc-1
> Title: The Ice Princess’s Fair Illusion (Fairytale Verses #2)
Author: S.L. Dove Cooper
Relation to theme: queerplatonic relationship
Representation: Queer author; queer MCs, aromantic rep, asexual rep
Content Warnings: forced marriage
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/rombkpod-sarah-jean-recs/
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3xT52U8
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42129562-the-ice-princess-s-fair-illusion
> Claudie mentions the queerplatonic poem “Cucumber” by Penny Stirling
Link: https://www.pennystirling.com/2018/04/02/cucumber/
> Claudie’s TBR:
>> Claudie recommends Come Drink with Me by Michelle Kan and wanting to read the rest of Kan’s backlist
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2RuC1NU
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14229060.Michelle_Kan
NOTE: These fairytale retellings are short
>> Claudie mentions E.H. Timms’ Medusa retelling Create My Own Perfection which is out now, and recommends Birthday Landscapes
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3vJRqsk
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13444440.E_H_Timms
>> Claudie mentions reading The Heretic’s Guide to Homecoming by Sienna Tristen
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3h9zovz
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39751894-the-heretic-s-guide-to-homecoming
> Sarah Jean’s TBR:
>> Sarah Jean mentions The Reckless Kind by Carly Heath due out in Nov 2021
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3h8BZ9a
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57093519-the-reckless-kind
>> Sarah Jean also mentions He Must Go Walk the Woods So Wild by S.L. Dove Cooper
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3b7z8tu
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57452841-he-must-go-walk-the-woods-so-wild
NOTE: This is an anthology
> Interested in further discussion of aromantic and asexual rep in romance? Listen to the first episode of our 2020 Pride series featuring author Kara Jorgensen
LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/bonus-pride-ep-jorgensen/
> What your favorite queerplatonic friendships in romance? Let us know on Twitter or Instagram @RomBkPod
Happy Reading!
EP 228 MUSIC CREDIT
Music: “Lift Off” by Jahzzar
From the Free Music Archive
CC BY-SA 3.0
FULL TRANSCRIPT FORTHCOMING
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