In this special author interview, Jason and Laura sit down with Olivia Waite to talk about her beautiful new novella, MURDER BY MEMORY—a “sci-fi ode to the cozy mystery, helmed by a formidable no-nonsense auntie of a detective.” Listen in as Olivia shares how Star Wars unexpectedly led her to read her first romance novel, and reflects on the ways grief continues to shape her writing. She also opens up about which childhood memory she’d most love to recover, and makes a case for why the novella is the perfect length for impactful storytelling.Oh—and did you know a glass brain was found among the victims of Mount Vesuvius? Olivia did, and that’s just the start of the incredible things she wants to share with you.You can grab your copy of MURDER BY MEMORY now wherever books are sold!
Other books mentioned by Olivia in this episode:
All Fired Up by M.K. England
Discworld by Terry Pratchett
Imperial Radch Trilogy by Ann Leckie
Warrior’s Woman by Johanna Lindsey
Babel by R.F. Kuang
Murderbot by Martha Wells
Guest:Olivia Waite writes queer historical romance, fantasy, science fiction, and essays. She is the romance fiction columnist for the New York Times Book Review. When the birds are propitious, she sends out the Oliviary: a newsletter full of news, recommended reads, and intriguing content curated from niche corners of the internet. She is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary.
You can find her at
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53:20
After Dark: Married to the Alien Cowboy
Saddle up for one last ride before the season’s over! For our Season Four finale, we’ve headed to the cowboy colony planet for a discussion of MARRIED TO THE ALIEN COWBOY by Ursa Dax — a sci-fi western romance featuring a quiet alien cowboy, a human woman on the run, and one very messy marriage of convenience. Join us as Jason surprises his co-hosts with this pick, we ponder what makes a tentacle a tentacle, and question if Ursa Dax is secretly a pen name for our very own Laura.
CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.
Credits:Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and EmmaSkies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico.
Desert West by Dagored | https://freetouse.com/music/dagoredFree To Use | https://freetouse.com/musicMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Connect with SWR!Instagram | TikTok | Discord | WebsiteRequest transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact
Join our Discord!We love connecting with our listeners and are excited to have another way to connect with you all. Whether you're into sci-fi, fantasy, romance, or anything in between, there's a spot for you HERE.
Support SWR!Check out our MERCH STORE! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. Plus, keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.
We're also an affiliate on bookshop.org! Order books through our link HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.
Create your podcast today!
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59:36
35: Immortal Dark
This month, we’re sinking our teeth into IMMORTAL DARK by Tigest Girma—a dangerously romantic dark academia fantasy where a lost heiress must infiltrate an arcane society and live with the vampire she suspects killed her family. Join us as we celebrate the portrayal of Black characters, break down what makes this vampire story feel fresh, and examine the delicate relationship between humans and dranaics. Plus, get a peek at the types of books Bella keeps on her shelves.
Credits:Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.
The In-Between by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Connect with SWR!Instagram | TikTok | Discord | WebsiteRequest transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact
Join our Discord!We love connecting with our listeners and are excited to have another way to connect with you all. Whether you're into sci-fi, fantasy, romance, or anything in between, there's a spot for you HERE.
Support SWR!Check out our MERCH STORE! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. Plus, keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.
We're also an affiliate on bookshop.org! Order books through our link HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.
Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr
Thank you for your support!
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1:09:35
After Dark: Maneater
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, it’s the perfect time to indulge in a cozy, high-heat monster romance novella. But there’s one big question: Has Bella finally broken her streak of bad After Dark picks, or is this another miss? There’s only one way to find out! Join us as we discuss MANEATER by Emily Antoinette and examine how the 1980s play into the story’s setting, why Emma and Bella are craving more pathetic men in fiction, and what this book has to say about sex work.
CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.
Credits:Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and EmmaSkies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico.
Prod. by Vodovoz | https://danyavodovoz.bandcamp.com/Royalty-Free Music promoted on https://www.youtube.com/@DanyaVodovoz
Connect with SWR!Instagram | TikTok | Discord | WebsiteRequest transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact
Join our Discord!We love connecting with our listeners and are excited to have another way to connect with you all. Whether you're into sci-fi, fantasy, romance, or anything in between, there's a spot for you HERE.
Support SWR!Check out our MERCH STORE! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. Plus, keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.
We're also an affiliate on bookshop.org! Order books through our link HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.
Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr
Thank you for your support!
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1:01:24
34: Out of the Drowning Deep
We’re kicking off 2025 with the divine novella OUT OF THE DROWNING DEEP by A.C. Wise—set in the distant future, when mortals mingle with the gods in deep space, an out-of-date automaton, a recovering addict, and an angel race to solve the Pope’s murder in an abandoned corner of the galaxy. Listen in as we discuss Jason’s Pirate Era, the casting of Ryan Gosling in the upcoming Project Hail Mary film adaptation, and the use of neo-pronouns in this novella—plus what they mean for the future of literature.
Credits:Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.
Space Ambience by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Connect with SWR!Instagram | TikTok | Discord | WebsiteRequest transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact
Join our Discord!We love connecting with our listeners and are excited to have another way to connect with you all. Whether you're into sci-fi, fantasy, romance, or anything in between, there's a spot for you HERE.
Support SWR!Check out our MERCH STORE! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. Plus, keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.
We're also an affiliate on bookshop.org! Order books through our link HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.
Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr
Thank you for your support!
Shit We’ve Read is a sci-fi & fantasy book podcast hosted by geeky friends Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero. Each month, we get together to discuss a new-to-us book or graphic novel, sometimes giving it a spicy, adult twist with our After Dark episodes featuring co-host Emma Skies. Along the way, we’re joined by occasional guest hosts and noteworthy authors for insightful interviews, along with other fun surprises.
So, join us on our latest book journey and tell us - what shit have you been reading?
South Africa