Smut Smitten: Naughty Narratives puts KC’s spiciest authors on top

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Ladies, we don’t have to pretend anymore. We all know that the romance novel you’re devouring isn’t a Hallmark movie meet-cute; It’s 400 pages of smut. We’re finally embracing our degeneracy in the novel department, and the demand for our sexy stories is being met right here in Kansas City. 

On Nov. 2, KARMA Community Market in Blue Springs hosted “Naughty Narratives”—a romance book fair featuring local authors. With cheeky decor, discount lingerie, a vibrator table, and wall-to-wall flirty fiction, it was essentially a spicy reader’s heaven. 

Lexie Scott—one of the many writers present—explained the emergence of smutty books into the mainstream; “I think TikTok probably helped a lot. Everyone’s just being more open and real about it. It takes just one person to open up and realize you’re not alone and that there’s no shame in it.”

Photo by Kaylynn Mullins

Scott pens “paranormal/why choose” novels, which essentially means supernatural reverse harems. Perfect for those who were both team Edward and Jacob. “There’s no jealousy or love triangles. All the men choose her and don’t make her choose between them,” Scott says. 

Her largest series—nine-part The Sorcerer’s Society—brings the leading lady magic, turmoil, and five boyfriends. These gals got very creative on these pages, writing love stories about werewolves, shapeshifters, and even aliens. Titles varied from the sweet and heartwarming to the steamiest scenarios, leaving no reader without a new addition to their good reads shelf.

For those new to romance novels, they’re a trope-centric genre. Some crave the tension and build-up of “slow burns,” some look for provocative “enemies to lovers,” and others for scandalous office affairs. Maybe it’s the pre-teen AO3 and Wattpad phase, but categorizing the books makes finding exactly what excites you seamless. And KC writers have delivered anything your risqué heart could desire. 

Author of the Vampire’s Melody series, Sophie Stern, brought a much-needed queer voice to the smut scene. Her series follows a human, Melody, who stumbles upon a vampire’s den and joins their undead polycule. “I’m a queer author, so I really loved the chance to write a queer vampire romance,” Stern say. “A lot of time when I come across vampire books, it’s all male/female relationships. So I wrote what I wanted to read.” 

The popularity of fantasy romance continues to rise after the widely loved A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Mass hit mainstream bookshelves. For those awaiting the next ACOTAR installment, look local for your next fae fable. 

M.A. Kilpatrick’s fae novels combine Kansas City, Ireland, and the Fae home world. The three-part Dúbailte Chronicles details forbidden elemental magic, fated pairings, and found family. “The fae can do all of the things we wish we could do,” says Kilpatrick. “They can heal themselves, and they can fly. So, being able to immerse yourself in a world that’s much less anxiety-inducing as our own is definitely the appeal.”

Photo by Kaylynn Mullins

When Kansas City-born Keegan dismisses the eerie prophecy and visits the fae homeland in a desperate attempt to help her sick mother, she meets fellow fae Calder. While they both conceal major secrets, they team up and, of course, fall in love. The three-part series seems to be the perfect cozy read to get you through another harsh Midwest winter. 

The real magic, however, is the amount of heart poured into these independent authors’ works. Just about every table had character art, custom stickers, candles that smell like the fae home, and other goodies that invite readers into their worlds. Kilpatrick even has a tea blend and lamb stew recipe in her book box, showcasing just how passionate they are about their stories and sharing them with their readers. 

Kilpatrick isn’t working alone, however. Her daughter, Morgana Black, had a stand just down the hall. “She printed all these stickers for me and helped with the magnetic bookmarks. She has done a lot to help me get started,” Kilpatrick says.

Black also dipped her pen into the fantasy ink, but her work has a much darker twist. Her Hamlet-inspired The Sorrow of Shadows combines the classic with a scandalous enemies-to-lovers story. The main character’s only hope is to join forces with a man she loathes, but could this tension be caused by something a little more alluring? “There’s a bit of a taboo, forbidden romance between them… he’s actually engaged to her mother,” says Black. 

With the help of another local author, E.C. Garrett, Black sells character candles and even tarot cards inspired by her debut novel—another example of the wonderful community local writers have formed around their work. 

Though most stories presented at the fair leaned more into the supernatural, there were still options for those wanting an earthly love story. “Bathe in the Moonlight” by Stacia Kaywood takes place in World War II when a hiding German woman finds a wounded American soldier stumbling into her home. The story not only details the strong connection between the main characters but also delves into rebuilding themselves post-war.

Photo by Kaylynn Mullins

As endearing and emotionally impactful as this Kaywood tale is, her alternative pen name offers a different type of passion. Under Kat Cummings, her series of erotic office romance books are full of escapades between an HR director and the head of marketing. I can only imagine the water cooler talks their co-workers have during lunch. 

So, if your girlfriend always has her nose buried in a book, or your friend’s Barnes and Noble addiction has left them pacing the aisles for a title they don’t already own, consider one of these homegrown romances as the perfect gift this holiday season. Not only will you give them something that BookTok hasn’t recommended yet, but you’d be supporting local artists, which is extremely sexy. 

Visit these author’s websites, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, or KC’s romance bookstore—Under the Cover—to find all your spicy book needs. And who knows? Maybe you and one of these books will even share the same bed at the overbooked inn together. Only for warmth, of course.

Click below to read the December 2024 Issue of The Pitch Magazine;