All Episodes

November 14, 2025 94 mins

Send us a text

Ep 689:  Dive into the world of hot spicy monster romance with Ruan Willow and special guest Cassandra Medcalf, a talented author and audiobook narrator. In this episode, they explore the intricacies of writing romance, the allure of monsters, and the creative process behind bringing characters to life. Cassandra reads an excerpt from "The Kraken's Castaway". 

Her book is a cozy yet steamy monster romance that intertwines with Greek mythology and explores themes of love, vulnerability, and acceptance.

Discover how Cassandra's characters navigate the challenges of their unique worlds in "Milking with the Minotaur", including a human mother and her Minotaur son, and how their intertwined fates lead to unexpected connections. 

Ruan and Cassandra discuss the importance of representation in romance, the evolution of indie publishing, and the joy of creating stories that resonate with readers.

This episode highlights the beauty of storytelling and the importance of community in the creative process. Whether you're a fan of romance, fantasy, or simply love a good story, listen and enjoy!

Key Highlights:
• Cassandra's journey as a romance author and audiobook narrator
• Insights into the world of monster romance and its appeal
• The creative process behind "Milking with a Minotaur" and its connection to Greek mythology
• The importance of representation and diversity in storytelling
• The evolving landscape of indie publishing and the power of community
**Want to support Cassandra's Kickstarter for Milking with a Minotaur?** Check out the link below for more information!


Estimated Timeline: 
00:00:00 - Welcome and Introduction
00:01:45 - Meet Cassandra Metcalfe
00:04:30 - Excerpt Reading from "The Kraken 's Castaway"

00:10:15 - The Appeal of Monster Romance
00:15:00 - Writing and Narrating: A Dual Journey
00:20:00 - Representation in Romance
00:25:00 - Indie Publishing Insights
00:30:00 - Closing Thoughts and Support Links
Connect with Cassandra: http://cassandramedcalf.com/
Kickstarter: Milking with a Minotaur

Topics:

  • Narration
  • Indie Authors
  • Writing Process
  • Character Development
  • Romance Tropes
  • Spicy Storytelling
  • Creative Community
  • Kickstarter
  • Sexual Expression
  • Monster Romance

Books:

(affiliate links)

The Kraken's Castaway https://amzn.to/3M2BD5i

Bride of the Kraken: An MFFM Dark Monster Romance https://amzn.to/4oFRpSj

Milking the Minotaur, coming soon!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/892606232/milking-with-the-minotaur-a-minotaur-romance-prequel?ref=bf2nxu



Support the show

Exclusives https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/subscribe
Newsletters https://subscribepage.io/ruanwillow
https://linktr.ee/RuanWillow

Affiliates Firm Tech 15% OFF with code ruan15 https://myfirmtech.com/ruanwillow

BeeDee dating app https://beedee.app/?r=ohfuckyeah
The Fantasy Box DATE30 for $30 OFF 1st box https://thefantasybox.sjv.io/c/6250602/2141126/26423


Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
Ruthie's Table 4

Ruthie's Table 4

For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.