Nikki Clarke on Black Women in Speculative Romance Artwork

We Read Smut: Bookish Conversations for Romance Readers

Finally, a home for the spice you love and the representation you deserve. We Read Smut, hosted by Alesia, builds a judgment-free zone for readers who crave spicy plots and substance. We celebrate high-heat stories and inclusive casts. If you want open-door romance that features every body, you found the right show.

What to expect:

Trope Breakdowns: We dissect the best (and hottest) tropes in the genre.
Author Interviews: Hear the story behind the spice from your favorite creators.
Shelf Help: Expert guidance to help you conquer your TBR pile.
Inclusive Stories: We prioritize representative leads and diverse voices.

Whether you're a seasoned smut reader or just dipping your toes into the genre, this podcast is for you. We leave the shame at the door and celebrate the power of a well-written romance.

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We Read Smut: Bookish Conversations for Romance Readers

Nikki Clarke on Black Women in Speculative Romance

January 30, 2026 • Season 3 • Episode 4

0:00 | 32:57

Why settle for a boring reality when you can have a Space Daddy who is actually obsessed with you? This week on We Read Smut, Alesia sits down with MFA poet and speculative fiction author Nikki Clarke to discuss her mission to center Black women in the stars. We dive into why Nikki trades contemporary drama for expansive alien worlds, the anthropological roots of her unique world-building, and why her heroes are unapologetically soft and in love.

Nikki Clarke has always loved a good love story in books and on film. Her favorite on-screen love declarations, in no particular order, are Darius and Nina under the viaduct, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth in the field (Knightley and MacFadden version), and Dwayne and Whitley at the wedding. Nikki doesn't mind a little weird (or raunch) mixed in with her romance and hopes to contribute to more Black women love stories. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing.

Key Takeaways

The Flexibility of Speculative Fiction: Nikki prefers speculative worlds over contemporary ones because reality relies on drama that can feel boring; speculative fiction allows her to focus on culture and linguistics as the primary drivers of the story.
Grounding in Tropes: Nikki uses fated mates as a grounding concept ,which then gives her the freedom to improvise and explore complex character dynamics.
Unique World-Building: Nikki’s aliens are anything but stereotypical; they feature unique physical traits like gold wings and long, gray tongues.
The "Soft" Hero Requirement: Nikki is incapable of writing a hero who doesn't immediately adore and want to care for the female main character, ensuring her books stay cushy and sweet.
Creative Sovereignty: A proponent of writing the stories she wants to read, Nikki often changes established genre rules—like allowing her vampires to walk in the sun—to better serve her specific romantic plots.

"If aliens come down here and they’re fine, it’s for us. We deserve it." This week, we challenge you to step out of the real world and pick up a speculative romance that centers Black joy and otherworldly love.

Connect with Nikki:

Website

Instagram

Alien Reading Order

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Connect with Alesia:
Storygraph

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This podcast was produced by Galati Media.
Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.