Stacey McEwan on Romantasy, Bad Sex Words, and Converting Men 2026

Stacey McEwan, the romantasy star behind the hit novel A Forbidden Alchemy, shares her hilarious and unfiltered takes on love, bad sex scene vocabulary, and winning over skeptical male readers. In this exclusive interview, she reveals the lengths she went to for a crush—and why she thinks men who mock BookTok are all bark and no bite.

The Weirdest Thing She Did for Love

McEwan recalls a teenage crush on a boy working at a sushi shop across from her bakery. After closing, they’d both toss leftovers. One night, she decided to entertain him by turning herself into “Bread Girl”—hollowing out a cob loaf, stacking bread on her arms, and skating around in Vienna loaves. His response? He asked for her older sister’s phone number. “I thought he’d find it hilarious,” she says. “He did laugh, but clearly not enough.”

Words That Should Never Appear in a Sex Scene

McEwan has strong opinions on overwrought romantic prose. Her top offenders include “cream,” “seed,” and especially “engorgement.” “That’s just a personal preference,” she says with a laugh. “If you’re using those words, you’re probably not writing a scene that feels real.” She advises aspiring authors to avoid clinical or euphemistic language and instead focus on emotional and sensory details.

Converting Men to Fantasy Romance

When asked how she’d convince a straight man to love fantasy romance, McEwan didn’t hesitate: “I’ll start with my own book. It’s harder for someone to badmouth it to my face.” She cites The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones as a gateway—horror with fantasy romance elements. From there, she’d guide them to female-authored titles where romance takes center stage, like Shadow Reaper. “I’ve converted a few men with my own work,” she says proudly. “That was a proud moment.”

Men Invading BookTok

McEwan’s TikToks have recently highlighted a trend of men leaving mean comments in BookTok spaces. “These people are brave on a keyboard, but they turn to water in person,” she says. Her advice? Don’t engage the trolls—just keep writing stories that captivate millions.

Table: Romantasy Starters for Skeptical Readers

Key Takeaways from the Interview

• Bread Girl moment – Even the most awkward attempts at love can become great stories.
• Avoid clichés – Words like “cream” and “engorgement” kill the mood instantly.
• Start with accessible authors – Jones and McEwan make fantasy romance less intimidating for men.
• Don’t fear the keyboard warriors – Most critics wouldn’t dare say it to your face.

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