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S08.20: Trailblazer Lisa Kleypas
Episode 203rd February 2026 • Fated Mates - Romance Books for Novel People • Fated Mates
00:00:00 01:58:10

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It’s finally happened! In a perfect Derek Craven Day celebration, our Trailblazer conversations continue this week with thee Lisa Kleypas, historical romance royalty, who changed the game when she brought working class heroes to historicals. We discuss her four decades of work in romance, from historical to contemporary to magical realism and now into historical fiction, touching on the Kleypas hero, the way she builds series, and the ways that she continues to push herself as a storyteller. And yes, she was kind enough to play a round of Derek Craven Would Never.

We are so grateful to Lisa Kleypas for making time for us, for her amazing books, and for Derek Craven Day.

If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com.

Our next read along (in March) is Sincerely, Your Inconvenient Wife by Julia Wolf. Find it in ebook or paperback, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited.

Lisa Kleypas Books Mentioned This Episode

  1. Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas
  2. Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas
  3. Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas
  4. Forever My Love by Lisa Kleypas
  5. The Vallerands Series by Lisa Kleypas
  6. The Wallflowers Series by Lisa Kleypas
  7. Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas
  8. The Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas
  9. Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas
  10. Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas
  11. Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas
  12. Hello Stranger by Lisa Kleypas
  13. Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas
  14. The Queen of Lombard Street by Lisa Kleypas

Notes

  1. Welcome Lisa Kleypas. This fall, she’s releasing her first historical fiction novel, The Queen of Lombard Street.
  2. People mentioned: editor Carolyn Nichols, editor Ellen Edwards, author Laura Kinsale, author Rebecca Brandewyne, author Stephanie Laurens, author Julia Quinn, editor Jen Enderlin, editor Carrie Feron, author Eloisa James, author Jennifer Crusie.
  3. Other notable mentions: Louisa May Alcott’s House in Concord MA, William Crockford the inspiration for Derek Craven, the observation about industry vs crime was (of course) made by Sanj, and Elizabeth Garrett Anderson the inspiration for Dr. Garrett Gibson.
  4. Keep up with everything Derek Craven!

Sponsors

  1. Blue Box Press, publishers of Audrey Carlan’s Marriage Auction Series novellas Madam Alana and A Christmas Auction. Available in print or ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited. Learn more at TheBlueBoxPress.com.
  2. The Romantasy Letters, A new kind of romantic fantasy storytelling, delivered right to your door twice monthly. Use the code FATED to get 20% off your year's subscription. Learn more at RomantasyLetters.com.
  3. Jennifer Iacopelli, author of Game, Set, Match, available in print, ebook and audiobook at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books or wherever you get your books.
  4. Lumi Labs, creators of Lumi Gummies. Go to lumigummies.com and use code FATEDMATES for 30% off your order.

The Rest

  • For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2026/2/2/0820-trailblazer-lisa-kleypas
  • If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates.
  • Beyond your favorite podcast app, you can find us on Instagram, Threads, Blue Sky, Tumblr, and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough.
  • If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode, there's no better time than now.

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