Amy & the podcast team sit down to discuss Aya de Léon's romantic suspense novel, Side Chick Nation, as part of our Climate Fiction month! 

Aya de León is an acclaimed writer of poetry, prose, stage, and screen. She teaches creative writing at UC Berkeley and is the 'acquiring editor for a new climate justice fiction imprint Fighting Chance Books, which will publish stories of people taking collective action in the here and now to solve the climate crisis' (ayadeleon.com). 

 

LINKS
Find Aya de Léon here: ayadeleon.com
Watch the Live Bookclub on YouTube: @AmyAndPodcast
Follow the Amy & Podcast on IG: @amyandpodcast
Join the Amy & Bookclub: Amy & Bookclub
Follow Amy Matthews on IG: @amymatthewsauthor
Follow Amy Barry on IG: @amybarryauthor
Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single "Same Old" here.

Amy &amp; the podcast team sit down to discuss Aya de L&eacute;on's romantic suspense novel,&nbsp;Side Chick Nation, as part of our Climate Fiction month!&nbsp;
Aya de Le&oacute;n is an acclaimed writer of poetry, prose, stage, and screen. She teaches&nbsp;creative writing at UC Berkeley and is the 'acquiring editor for a new climate justice fiction imprint <a href="https://shewritespress.com/fighting-chance-books/">Fighting Chance Books</a>, which will publish stories of people taking collective action in the here and now to solve the climate crisis' (<a href="https://ayadeleon.wordpress.com/2019/06/10/a-bit-more-about-aya/">ayadeleon.com</a>).&nbsp;
&nbsp;
LINKS
<ul>
<li>Find Aya de L&eacute;on here: <a href="https://ayadeleon.wordpress.com/">ayadeleon.com</a></li>
<li>Watch the Live Bookclub on YouTube:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AmyAndPodcast">@AmyAndPodcast</a></li>
<li>Follow the Amy &amp; Podcast on IG:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amyandpodcast/">@amyandpodcast</a></li>
<li>Join the Amy &amp; Bookclub: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/g/169K69qXsh/">Amy &amp; Bookclub</a></li>
<li>Follow Amy Matthews on IG: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amymatthewsauthor/">@amymatthewsauthor</a></li>
<li>Follow Amy Barry on IG: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amybarryauthor/">@amybarryauthor</a></li>
<li>Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single "Same Old" <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/7tmb12L3NfS3utyBbazqiR">here.</a></li>
</ul>

Amy & Book Club is a bookish podcast with benefits. Amy Matthews is joined by series regulars Justina Ashman, Abby Guy, Millie Heffernan, Payton Hogan and Harry Stewart and by a cast of guesties, both special and specialer. Featuring genre deep dives, author Q&As, and a live book club with a signature cocktail/mocktail, we’re your new favourite interactive book club with an accessibly academic flair. Listen to the pod, embrace the community on socials, and tune in to the livestream for the monthly book club – whether you’re a new book lover or a seasoned bibliophile, we can’t wait to meet you!

Amy &amp; Book Club is a bookish podcast with benefits. <a href="https://auscastnetwork.com/talent-profiles/dr-amy-matthews/">Amy Matthews</a> is joined by series regulars <a href="https://x.com/justinaashman">Justina Ashman</a>, <a href="https://au.linkedin.com/in/aabbyguy">Abby Guy</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Milzilla"> Millie Heffernan</a>, <a href="https://www.paytonhogan.com/">Payton Hogan</a> and <a href="https://au.linkedin.com/in/harrison-stewart-7a29a021b">Harry Stewart</a> and by a cast of guesties, both special and specialer. Featuring genre deep dives, author Q&amp;As, and a live book club with a signature cocktail/mocktail, we&rsquo;re your new favourite interactive book club with an accessibly academic flair. Listen to the pod, embrace the community on socials, and tune in to the livestream for the monthly book club &ndash; whether you&rsquo;re a new book lover or a seasoned bibliophile, we can&rsquo;t wait to meet you!

Amy & Book Club

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Auscast Literature Channel

BOOKCLUB: Side Chick Nation by Aya de Léon 

Continuing a banger month of unconventional romance (Bad ra-ra ah-ah-ah), this week we're digging into the phenomenon of Sentient Object Romance. What initially seems like a silly, goofy genre is revealed to have hidden depths as we get into the topics of women's pleasure, consent, being seen, and the kindness of these stories. Don't worry, we also play games! We learn things about ourselves with a game of FMK, and test our resolve as Payton delights us with select readings from the genre. It's worth noting: this episode may be particularly NSFW.

This month we’re reading How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson. If a slasher x Rom-Com mashup appeals to you, get yourself a copy and stay tuned for our interview with the author on March 19, followed by our live book club over on YouTube on March 26!

MENTIONS

Books
Hallowpeen by Holly Wilde
The Deviled Egg Made Me Do It by Holly Wilde
Cold Sweat by Vera Valentine
Taken by the Tetris Blocks by Leonard Delaney
Melt for Daddy by Holly Wilde
Pounded by Produce by G.M. Fairy
Bedding the Bedding by Annara Layne
Penetrated by the President's Twitter Feed by M.J. Edwards
Pushin' Cushions by Vera Valentine & Unfortunate Reads
Pounded by Pluto by Leonard Delaney
Squeak by Vera Valentine
Stuffed by Sylvia Morrow
Midori Days by Kazurou Inoue (anime series by Studio Pierrot)

Film/TV
Pinnocchio, Disney
Toy Story, Disney
Beauty & the Beast, Disney
Star Wars, Lucasfilm
Doctor Who, BBC
Dukes of Hazzard, CBS

OTHER MEDIA
Date Everything, Sassy Chap Games
I'm in Love with my Car, Queen
Chuck Tingle (author)
Grapie Deltaco (Youtube)

LINKS
🎵 Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single SAME OLD here: https://tr.ee/Mn6oTQ2AOW

🌸 Our Socials:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/amyandbookclub
FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/169K69qXsh/
TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@amyandbookclub

💛 Where to find Amy:
Amy Matthews on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amymatthewsauthor/
Amy Barry on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amybarryauthor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAmyTMatthewsauthor
Website: https://amymatthewsauthor.com/

Thank you so much for listening!💞

Continuing a banger month of unconventional romance (Bad ra-ra ah-ah-ah), this week we're digging into the phenomenon of Sentient Object Romance. What initially seems like a silly, goofy genre is revealed to have hidden depths as we get into the topics of women's pleasure, consent, being seen, and the kindness of these stories. Don't worry, we also play games! We learn things about ourselves with a game of FMK, and test our resolve as Payton delights us with select readings from the genre. It's worth noting: this episode may be particularly NSFW.
This month we&rsquo;re reading How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson. If a slasher x Rom-Com mashup appeals to you, get yourself a copy and stay tuned for our interview with the author on March 19, followed by our live book club over on YouTube on March 26!
MENTIONS
Books Hallowpeen by Holly Wilde The Deviled Egg Made Me Do It by Holly Wilde Cold Sweat by Vera Valentine Taken by the Tetris Blocks by Leonard Delaney Melt for Daddy by Holly Wilde Pounded by Produce by G.M. Fairy Bedding the Bedding by Annara Layne Penetrated by the President's Twitter Feed by M.J. Edwards Pushin' Cushions by Vera Valentine &amp; Unfortunate Reads Pounded by Pluto by Leonard Delaney Squeak by Vera Valentine Stuffed by Sylvia Morrow Midori Days by Kazurou Inoue (anime series by Studio Pierrot)
Film/TV Pinnocchio, Disney Toy Story, Disney Beauty &amp; the Beast, Disney Star Wars, Lucasfilm Doctor Who, BBC Dukes of Hazzard, CBS
OTHER MEDIA Date Everything, Sassy Chap Games I'm in Love with my Car, Queen Chuck Tingle (author) Grapie Deltaco (Youtube)
LINKS
<ul>
<li>🎵 Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single SAME OLD here: <a href="https://tr.ee/Mn6oTQ2AOW">https://tr.ee/Mn6oTQ2AOW</a></li>
</ul>
🌸 Our Socials:
<ul>
<li>IG: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amyandbookclub">https://www.instagram.com/amyandbookclub</a></li>
<li>FB: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/g/169K69qXsh/">https://www.facebook.com/share/g/169K69qXsh/</a></li>
<li>TT: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@amyandbookclub">https://www.tiktok.com/@amyandbookclub</a></li>
</ul>
💛 Where to find Amy:
<ul>
<li>Amy Matthews on IG:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amymatthewsauthor/">https://www.instagram.com/amymatthewsauthor/</a></li>
<li>Amy Barry on IG: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amybarryauthor/">https://www.instagram.com/amybarryauthor/</a></li>
<li>Facebook:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DrAmyTMatthewsauthor">https://www.facebook.com/DrAmyTMatthewsauthor</a></li>
<li>Website: <a href="https://amymatthewsauthor.com/">https://amymatthewsauthor.com/</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you so much for listening!💞

The Power of Making Your Own Lover: Sentient Object Romance

Oh it is good to be back for Season 2! This month’s theme is Bad (ra-ra, ah-ah-ah) Romance and today we’re kicking the year off with a discussion of serial killer Romance Fiction. The episode begins with a very reasonable conversation about the ethics of True Crime entertainment and then … well. But within the proceeding chaos — games, Harry’s “incontinence”, and Amy’s determination to be the easiest prey a murderer could ask for — are a few gems regarding K-Dramas, Dark Romance novels, serial killers as patriarchs, and humanity’s fixation with the macabre.

This month we’re reading How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson. If a slasher x Rom-Com mashup appeals to you, get yourself a copy and stay tuned for our interview with the author on March 19, followed by our live book club over on YouTube on March 26!

MENTIONS

Books
The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule
Joe Cinque’s Consolation by Ann Rule
Mindhunter by John Douglas & Mark Olshaker
The Mushroom Tapes by Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper, & Sarah Krasnostein
Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver
Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton
How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates Shailee Thompson

Podcast
Serial from New York Times

Film/TV
Killing Eve, BBC
Flower of Evil, Studio Dragon
Come and Hug Me, MBC
Crash Course in Romance, Studio Dragon
Making a Murderer, Netflix
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Columbia Pictures

CITATIONS

Freud, Sigmund. Beyond the Pleasure Principle. Translated by James Strachey, London: W. W. & Company, 1961.

Marono, Abbie Jean et al. “A Behaviour Sequence Analysis of Serial Killers' Lives: From Childhood Abuse to Methods of Murder.” Psychiatry, psychology, and law : an interdisciplinary journal of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, vol. 27,1 126-137. 6 Feb. 2020, doi:10.1080/13218719.2019.1695517

LINKS
🎵 Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single SAME OLD here: https://tr.ee/Mn6oTQ2AOW

🌸 Our Socials:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/amyandbookclub
FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/169K69qXsh/
TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@amyandbookclub

💛 Where to find Amy:
Amy Matthews on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amymatthewsauthor/
Amy Barry on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amybarryauthor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAmyTMatthewsauthor
Website: https://amymatthewsauthor.com/

Thank you so much for watching!💞

Oh it is good to be back for Season 2! This month&rsquo;s theme is Bad (ra-ra, ah-ah-ah) Romance and today we&rsquo;re kicking the year off with a discussion of serial killer Romance Fiction. The episode begins with a very reasonable conversation about the ethics of True Crime entertainment and then &hellip; well. But within the proceeding chaos &mdash; games, Harry&rsquo;s &ldquo;incontinence&rdquo;, and Amy&rsquo;s determination to be the easiest prey a murderer could ask for &mdash; are a few gems regarding K-Dramas, Dark Romance novels, serial killers as patriarchs, and humanity&rsquo;s fixation with the macabre.
This month we&rsquo;re reading How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson. If a slasher x Rom-Com mashup appeals to you, get yourself a copy and stay tuned for our interview with the author on March 19, followed by our live book club over on YouTube on March 26!
MENTIONS
Books The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule Joe Cinque&rsquo;s Consolation by Ann Rule Mindhunter by John Douglas &amp; Mark Olshaker The Mushroom Tapes by Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper, &amp; Sarah Krasnostein Leather &amp; Lark by Brynne Weaver Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates Shailee Thompson
Podcast Serial from New York Times
Film/TV Killing Eve, BBC Flower of Evil, Studio Dragon Come and Hug Me, MBC Crash Course in Romance, Studio Dragon Making a Murderer, Netflix The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Columbia Pictures
CITATIONS
Freud, Sigmund. Beyond the Pleasure Principle. Translated by James Strachey, London: W. W. &amp; Company, 1961.
Marono, Abbie Jean et al. &ldquo;A Behaviour Sequence Analysis of Serial Killers' Lives: From Childhood Abuse to Methods of Murder.&rdquo; Psychiatry, psychology, and law : an interdisciplinary journal of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, vol. 27,1 126-137. 6 Feb. 2020, doi:10.1080/13218719.2019.1695517
LINKS
<ul>
<li>🎵 Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single SAME OLD here: <a href="https://tr.ee/Mn6oTQ2AOW">https://tr.ee/Mn6oTQ2AOW</a></li>
</ul>
🌸 Our Socials:
<ul>
<li>IG: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amyandbookclub">https://www.instagram.com/amyandbookclub</a></li>
<li>FB: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/g/169K69qXsh/">https://www.facebook.com/share/g/169K69qXsh/</a></li>
<li>TT: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@amyandbookclub">https://www.tiktok.com/@amyandbookclub</a></li>
</ul>
💛 Where to find Amy:
<ul>
<li>Amy Matthews on IG:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amymatthewsauthor/">https://www.instagram.com/amymatthewsauthor/</a></li>
<li>Amy Barry on IG: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amybarryauthor/">https://www.instagram.com/amybarryauthor/</a></li>
<li>Facebook:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DrAmyTMatthewsauthor">https://www.facebook.com/DrAmyTMatthewsauthor</a></li>
<li>Website: <a href="https://amymatthewsauthor.com/">https://amymatthewsauthor.com/</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you so much for watching!💞

Hor-Rom-Com, Ho-Mance & Rom-Hor: Serial Killers in Romance Fiction

We powered through technical difficulties and wifi troubles to bring you a wrap up of 2025 and the finale of our first season of the pod! Thank you to everyone who read along, listened to or watched each episode, followed us on socials, or joined us for one of our live book clubs. We appreciate all your support and hope to see you again next year for season two! 

Also, apologies for how terrible we were at audibly naming all of the things we were talking about! All the books and movies we covered are listed below in the order we mentioned them.

 

MENTIONS

📚 BOOKS: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen; Emma of 83rd Street, Elizabeth of East Hampton & Anne of Avenue A by Audrey Bellezza & Emily Harding; Side Chick Nation by Aya de Leon; Playing Nice was Getting Me Nowhere by Alex Cothren; Salvage by Jennifer Mills; Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren; Love Unleashed by Melanie Saward; In Spite of You by Patrick Lenton; Dancer for the Dance by Andrew Holleran; Seven Brides for Beau McBride by Amy Barry; An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister; Conflict and Colonialism in 21st Century Romantic Historical Fiction edited by Hsu-Ming Teo & Poloma Fresna-Calleja; The World Was Whole by Fiona Wright; Plastic Budgie by Olivia De Zilva; Feast While You Can by Mikaella Clements & Onjuli Datta; Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin & Marissa Stapley

🎬 MOVIES: Pride and Prejudice (2005); Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

 

LINKS:
Watch the full episode on YouTube: @AmyAndBookclub
Follow the Amy & Podcast on IG: @amyandbookclub 
Follow the Amy & Podcast on TikTok: @amyandbookclub
Join the Amy & Bookclub: Amy & Bookclub 
Follow Amy Matthews on IG: @amymatthewsauthor 
Follow Amy Barry on IG: @amybarryauthor
Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single "Same Old" here. 

We powered through technical difficulties and wifi troubles to bring you a wrap up of 2025 and the finale of our first season of the pod! Thank you to everyone who read along, listened to or watched each episode, followed us on socials, or joined us for one of our live book clubs. We appreciate all your support and hope to see you again next year for season two!&nbsp;
Also, apologies for how terrible we were at audibly naming all of the things we were talking about! All the books and movies we covered are listed below in the order we mentioned them.
&nbsp;
MENTIONS
📚 BOOKS: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen; Emma of 83rd Street, Elizabeth of East Hampton &amp; Anne of Avenue A by Audrey Bellezza &amp; Emily Harding; Side Chick Nation by Aya de Leon; Playing Nice was Getting Me Nowhere by Alex Cothren; Salvage by Jennifer Mills; Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren; Love Unleashed by Melanie Saward; In Spite of You by Patrick Lenton; Dancer for the Dance by Andrew Holleran; Seven Brides for Beau McBride by Amy Barry; An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister; Conflict and Colonialism in 21st Century Romantic Historical Fiction edited by Hsu-Ming Teo &amp; Poloma Fresna-Calleja; The World Was Whole by Fiona Wright; Plastic Budgie by Olivia De Zilva; Feast While You Can by Mikaella Clements &amp; Onjuli Datta; Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin &amp; Marissa Stapley
🎬 MOVIES: Pride and Prejudice (2005); Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
&nbsp;
LINKS:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Watch the full episode on YouTube:<a href="https://youtube.com/@amyandbookclub?si=tNwaMcQpfgU6c8Uc"> @AmyAndBookclub</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Follow the Amy &amp; Podcast on IG:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amyandbookclub?igsh=OHZtZjd5NG5wNTd3"> @amyandbookclub</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Follow the Amy &amp; Podcast on TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@amyandbookclub">@amyandbookclub</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Join the Amy &amp; Bookclub:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/g/169K69qXsh/"> Amy &amp; Bookclub</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Follow Amy Matthews on IG:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amymatthewsauthor/"> @amymatthewsauthor</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Follow Amy Barry on IG:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amybarryauthor/"> @amybarryauthor</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single "Same Old"<a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/7tmb12L3NfS3utyBbazqiR"> here</a>.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

BOOKCLUB: Side Chick Nation by Aya de Léon

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