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.

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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

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