Monsters, Magic, and Mates, Oh My!: The Allure of Supernatural Romance

Presented by Charm City Books

I was working in the lab late one night

When my eyes beheld an eerie sight

For my monster from his slab began to rise

And suddenly, to my surprise

…I fell in love!

Why do we love monster romance so much? Join our authors as they discuss our cultural obsession with paranormal, alien, and monster romance narratives. From ‘fated mates’ and ‘touch her and die’ tropes to otherworldly passion and loving the outcast beast, we explore why the brooding magical monster continues to seduce us fragile mortals. 

Kimberly Lemming

Kimberly Lemming is a USA Today bestselling author who is on an eternal quest to avoid her calling as a main character. She can be found giving the slip to that new werewolf that just blew into town and refusing to make eye contact with a prince of a far-off land. But when she’s not running from fate, she can be found writing diverse fantasy romance. Or just shoveling chocolate in her maw until she passes out on the couch.

Audrey Goldberg Ruoff

Audrey Goldberg Ruoff is the author of the Hallowcross series and an English teacher with the enthusiasm of Valerie Frizzle, but for secondary education. She lives in a suburb of Washington, DC, with her family, a scrappy but loyal little dog, and a witchy black cat. Visit AudreyRuoff.com and follow her @AudreyGoldbergRuoff on Instagram and TikTok.

Natavia Stewart

Natavia Stewart is an independent author from Annapolis, Maryland, where she currently resides. Her love for storytelling began at the age of twelve, when she started writing short stories inspired by the world around her. Drawn to raw, unapologetic urban fiction from an early age, she connected deeply with stories that reflected the people, struggles, and realities she witnessed while growing up in her neighborhood.

At nineteen, Natavia self-published her first novel, Damages. After stepping away from writing for several years, she returned in 2014 with Who Wants That Perfect Love Story, an urban street-lit romance published under Shan Presents.

Although urban romance has always held a special place in her heart, Natavia has also been fascinated by paranormal and fantasy worlds. After noticing a lack of paranormal stories carrying the same raw, urban tone as the street-lit novels she loved, she decided to merge the genres herself. That vision came to life through her A Beauty to His Beast series, which introduced readers to a world of Black werewolves, witches, and warlocks while opening a new creative door in her career.

Today, Natavia has published more than sixty titles and continues to move effortlessly between urban street-lit romance and urban paranormal fantasy. Known for her bold, emotionally raw writing style, she creates unforgettable characters who come alive on the page and speak to readers, never at them.