Oh F*ck Yeah with Ruan Willow

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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