ABOUT THIS EPISODE
🎤 Recorded before release day — one of Hazel's first interviews about A Fate Forged in Fire!
In the first Dear Fantasy Author episode, host Hannah Michelle sits down with Hazel McBride to get the inside scoop on her Celtic-inspired romantic fantasy debut, A Fate Forged in Fire. The story is filled with dragons, slow-burn romance, political intrigue, and a powerful exploration of misogyny, feminine rage, and identity. Think Barbie meets Outlander meets House of the Dragon.
This episode was recorded before the book's official release, making it one of Hazel's first in-depth interviews about the story. As one of the earliest readers to dive into this world, Hannah came armed with questions, theories, and all the romantasy chaos you'd expect from a fangirl!
The conversation covers Hazel's inspiration, elemental worldbuilding, character dynamics, her detailed "book bible," and what readers can expect next from the ever-expanding Hazelverse.
Rather than a traditional Q&A, this episode leans into a reader-first perspective. Hananh asks the questions romantasy fans are most eager to know, including the twist ending, publishing journey, and behind-the-scenes lore! Hazel shares exclusive insights throughout, especially in the spoiler-filled segment where she teases upcoming plotlines, character arcs, and details that may change how readers see the story.
Whether you've already read the book or are just romantasy-curious, this conversation is full of insights, laughter, and behind-the-scenes details you won't want to miss!
Segment Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:42 Spoiler-Free Segment
29:21 Spoiler-Filled Segment
36:00 Post-Attempted Sterilization Conversation (skipping it entirely)
48:53 About Dear Fantasy Reader
*Please note that ads may affect the timestamps by a few minutes*
Ready to add one more book to your TBR? Order A Fate Forged In Fire:
UK - https://amzn.eu/d/ffna5L1
Follow Hazel McBride's Journey:
Website - https://hazelmcbride035.wixsite.com/hazelmcbride
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@hazelmcbrideauthor?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hazelmcbrideauthor?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@HazelMcBrideAuthor
Want more from Dear Fantasy Reader?The DFRP chapters so far:
• Season 1: Fourth Wing Deep Dive Through the Lens of Iron Flame
• Season 2: Dear Fantasy Author — our ongoing author interview series featuring your favorite romantasy writers!
- Follow us on Instagram @dearfantasyreaderpod to see who we're interviewing next!
• Season 3: Dear Fantasy Community — our UPCOMING & ongoing chats with industry experts where we pull the curtain back on different aspects of the book community learning what all goes into getting these books to our hands!
Visit the Dear Fantasy Reader website for more info: https://www.dearfantasyreader.com
DEAR FANTASY READER POD MERCH: https://dear-fantasy-reader-podcast.printify.me/
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Follow along:
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Threads: @dearfantasyreaderpod
Don't forget to share this episode with your bookish friends!
