Thank you so much, friends, for coming with us on this journey! We want to send all of our love to Donna and her family, please take a look at the novel collection available below and consider purchasing, if you can. Today Ana and Chelsea sit down to discuss the final three patreon shorts (for now!) and reflect on what the Beyond books and this project means to each of us.

Beyond the Sectors Podcast

Episode 22: Short Stories, Vol. 4

This week Ana, Chelsea and Baby Outlaw laugh and gurgle their way through a few more of the Kit Rocha Beyond the HEA shorts. This week we focus on four stories set in Sector One after Ashwin. 6th Sense Ashwin and Kora wrestle with all the unknowns around their baby. Makhai In this unsettling short, we get the POV of Samson, another Makhai who is watching over Ashwin and Kora and may or may not be as well calibrated as he thinks he is. Diplomacy Sector Three Style: Gideon and Six share lemonade and discuss the weight of leadership and the power of loyalty. And we like Gideon just adore the kind of leader Six is growing up to be. Zombies Laurel and Zeke, play a game together late at night and have a surprisingly emotional friendship breakthrough. We will be back in two weeks to discuss High Priestess, Girls Night Out, and Gia. 

Beyond HEA shorts: 6th Sense, Makhai, Diplomacy (Sector Three Style) & Zombies

 We're back, friends, with our final full-length installment for a little bit. Ivan is the third novel in the Gideon's Riders books, and our last official novel for the moment. Stay tuned, though, because we've still got several short story episodes and an AMA with the author duo Bree and Donna all about the process of writing these books we've spent the last year diving in to! This week, we dig into our most Regency-style romance to date, the forbidden romance between bodyguard Ivan and princess Maricela. We discuss found and biological families, the ways in which we talk about how to value life, and the importance and validity of love as a lasting legacy. As always, it was a blast, and we hope you have as much fun listening as we did recording! 

Episode 20: Ivan

 We're back, friends! This week, we continue our Sector One adventures with Deacon (a book we all know should really have been called Ana!) We dig even deeper into last week's discussion of creating a theocratic community, as well as our love of Kit Rocha's reformed assassins and the alluring overlap between tattoo artists Del and Ace. It was a fantastic conversation, and we hope y'all listening to it as much as we did having it! Just a heads up: Chelsea's new little at-home helper/intrepid Beyond the Sectors Infant Correspondant makes the occasional contribution, but this should be the last episode in which that's an issue (god willing and the creek don't rise)! 

Episode 19: Deacon

 Welcome, friends, to the brand new(ish) world of Sector One! This week, we launch into the world of Gideon and his infamous Rider's, the soldiers and saviors of Sector One. We had such an amazing conversation this episode, we had a hard time keeping it around the hour mark! We hit on our feelings about emotionally cold heroes, the role that religion plays in worldbuilding, and the deeply complicated man that is Gideon Rios. We see some familiar faces, and talk about what it feels like to be reading this book after the hugely climactic series end of the O'Kane books. We hope you have as much fun listening as we did talking. Just a heads up: Chelsea's new little at-home helper/intrepid Beyond the Sectors Infant Correspondant makes a bit of noise in the first 15 minutes or so. It calms down after that, and we did the best we could to clean it up, but just as a heads up! 

Episode 18: Ashwin

This is the second (and currently last) book in the O'Kane for Life novella series, and our final stop with all the favorites we'e gotten to know over the last dozen books. But never fear! We're moving on to Gideon and Sector One, an entirely new world of adventure. But first Ana and Chelsea discuss our ultimate Lex and Dallas story, a novella composed of flashbacks covering the beginnings of a relationship between the people we now know as the reigning king and queen of Sector Four. Chelsea and Ana talk through the joy of getting to know a well-loved character's backstory, the struggle to imagine what it would have been like reading the books knowing what we learn in this novella, and an incredibly poignant reminder that, occasionally, it's good to remember how our heroes can serve as other people's villains.

Episode 17: Beyond Forever

 This is the first book in the O'Kane for Life novella series, and one of our last two Beyond episodes before we officially switch to the world of Gideon and Sector One! But not before Ana and Chelsea get to fawn all over their joint favorite novella to date. We watch as Six and Bren figure out how to walk new lines, lead a sector, and form a family - and an HEA - that is all their own. Chelsea and Ana are given the chance to discuss PTSD, trauma, the power of literacy, the shifting lines couple continue to draw over the course of a sprawling series, and of course the vital theme of the importance of an individual happily ever after.

Episode 16

 Find our latest podcast on Podbean &  iTunes! Ana and Chelsea continue to discuss the Beyond HEA vignettes Bree and Donna wrote for their Patrons. All these shorts take place before the Gideon Rider Books and discuss how Kit Rocha continues to expand the worldbuilding and relationships beyond the original HEAs. All the stories discussed in the episode are now available for free to all readers on Kit Rocha's website including Flash.Efficient: Mia plots make Sector Eight a little less predictable and efficient and a little bit more like home.Fierce Protector (6:30): A sweet little vignette where Hawk brings home a puppy for Jeni.A Little Bit Bad (10:58): Zan and Tatiana's sexy and playful interlude is interrupted by a badly timed delivery.Flash (16:25): This flashback is set after Beyond Pain, where Flash and Amira share some sweet baby time together and Flash thinks about what kind of father he wants to be. Closing:(24:14)

Episode 15: Beyond HEA Part 2

 After a brief break Ana and Chelsea are ready to dive back into the Sectors, reading the Beyond HEA vignettes Bree and Donna wrote for their Patrons. For the next two episodes Ana and Chelsea will focus on the shorts that take place before the Gideon Rider Books and discuss how Kit Rocha continues to expand the worldbuilding and relationships beyond the original HEAs. All the stories discussed in the episode are now available for free to all reader on Kit Rocha's website.Creative Incentives is a short Ace/Cruz centric short where Cruz works to motivate Ace to work harder at his PT.Cravings (8:40): Noelle and Jas, sweet cuddly interlude from a couple we typically don't see in a homey domestic environment as they prepare their suite for the new baby.Dessert (13:10): Bree and Donna write a great post-war slice of life interlude for Jeni and Hawk as they enjoy some hot domestic bliss in their farmhouse.Ravished (18:08): Trix and Finn attempt to get ready for Halloween party and get a little distracted by some sexy pirate roleplay in Trix's dressing room in the new Broken Circle. Books Mentioned:Patreon Shorts:Creative IncentivesCravingsDessertRavishedThe Complete Beyond Series Book BundleBeyond JealousyGideon's RidersThe Silver Devils/Mercenary Librarians   Where to Find us on the Web: Chelsea Outlaw co-hosts the Not Now I’m Reading podcast with Kay Taylor Rea.  She is @anoutlawlife on Twitter. Ana Coqui reviews romance, SFF and more at AnaCoqui: Immersed in Books and Love in Panels and on Twitter

Episode 14: Beyond HEA Part 1

Hello, friends! Just a quick note to say that we won't be around this week - Chelsea is currently still on maternity leave, and Ana is finally recovering from her whirlwind trip to RWA! However, we will be back in two weeks to discuss the first five stories in the "Beyond Happily Ever" series that we haven't already discussed - which means we'll be reading "Creative Incentives", "Cravings", "Dessert", "Ravished", and "6th Sense", all of which are available online for free. So get reading and join us in two weeks for all our thoughts!

Episode Thirteen: An Interlude

 This is the last official book in the Beyond Series but not the last Beyond the Sectors podcast! In this episode Chelsea and Ana gush about Nessa and Ryder's romance and tackle the explosive and powerful way Bree and Donna close out their series and set up what is next for the Sectors. Chelsea and Ana discuss passion, purpose, loss of innocence, isolation and loneliness, grief, revenge, justice, all the other consequences of war, and the power of the ADHD representation. In Beyond Surrender, Nessa, the O'Kane Princess, everyone's little sister and the secret to O'Kanes fabulous liquor finally meets her match. Ryder has lived and trained for one purpose his whole life, and just he finally attains it he comes to realize he has never learned to dream for more, that is until he meets Nessa. Together they will face the ugliest bits of war and dream of life after it. Also mentioned: Ashwin, Kora, Dallas, Lex, Flash, Amira, Stuart, Finn and pretty much everyone else! And Ana rants about Knitting and we talk about Bree's crafting and the Kit Rocha Etsy Store. Please send us your questions for Bree and Donna as we plan to have a special  Q&A episode with them soon! Books Mentioned: The Complete Beyond Series Book BundleBeyond the HEA StoriesGideon's RidersThe Silver Devils/Mercenary Librarians Where to Find us on the Web: Chelsea Outlaw co-hosts the Not Now I’m Reading podcast with Kay Taylor Rea.  She is @anoutlawlife on Twitter. Ana Coqui reviews romance, SFF and more at AnaCoqui: Immersed in Books and Love in Panels and on Twitter     

Episode 12: Beyond Surrender

Going to war has consequences! In Beyond Ecstasy Hawk and Jeni have been circling around each other for ages but with the start of the war they feel they can't wait any longer. Ana and Chelsea look at the ramifications this rush has on their relationship and discuss the thematic echoes to series themes that are reflected back in different ways in Beyond Ecstasy. In this episode Ana and Chelsea also talk about the cultural differences between the sectors, agency, marriage rituals and finding overlooked strengths and building from disaster.

Episode Eleven: Beyond Ecstacsy

The intense and suspenseful run-up to war and the most complicated relationship dynamics in the series compete for our attention in Beyond Ruin. Ana and Chelsea could have talked forever about this book, and only scratch the surface. In this episode, our complicated quartet's, Mad, Dylan, Scarlet and Jyoti, emotional scars and secrets are dissected and the ramifications of Eden's surprising assault on Two are discussed. Ana and Chelsea wrestle with all the forces drawing Mad, Dylan, Scarlet and Jyoti together and the misunderstanding & assumptions that nearly drove them apart as the O'Kanes gear up for war and the sector's political landscape is forever changed. Chelsea and Ana discuss all the tantalizing new knowledge about Sector One, Bree and Donna drop in Beyond Ruin, from its unique way of life, to the inner workings of the Rios's family and their complicated Theocracy. Also mentioned in this episode are Gideon, Avery, Ashwin & Kora and Marciela.

Episode Ten: Beyond Ruin

In this episode Ana and Chelsea discuss the storytelling and world-building nuggets embedded in these two "Beyond the HEA" vignettes, that explore the growth and changes to Lex, Dallas, Jas, and Noelle, as well as and Rachel, Ace and Cruz 's relationships since the end of their books. Both books are set as the Sectors and Eden are at the brink of war, and these couples & triads take some time away to be together and showcase how much the series has evolved since we first met them. We talk about the radical acts of hope and love in action that take place in these stories, from momentous choices to smaller promises. Did you read the vignettes as your worked through the series, or did you discover them after the fact?

Episode Nine: Closed Doors & Blank Canvas

 As the world building expands and the plot rapidly picks up pace, Ana and Chelsea spend this episode diving in to what exactly makes it feel just a little different than all the other O'Kane books. They discuss the underlying, often dismissed queerness of both the book and the series, while also noting the variety of ways female agency is expressed and the development of the main theme for the rest of the series: the ability to choose how one fights for the things one loves. Along the way, Ana and Chelsea also discuss the old Hollywood feel of the novel, the appeal of spy novels, and, of course, the sex on the piano. This book also sets up the final stages of the relationship between Mad, Scarlet, Jade and Dylan, whom become the central quad of our next book! 

Episode Eight: Beyond Innocence

A bi-monthly podcast dedicated to discussing the Beyond books, diving deep into the world of author duo Kit Rocha! Hosted by Chelsea and Ana.

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Beyond the Sectors Podcast

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