231. Trauma-Informed Romantasy Magic: Healing Through Creativity ft. Lily Luz
Fri Feb 06 2026
What happens when fantasy, romance, and trauma collide?
You get something raw, powerful, and deeply human. You get traumantasy—a genre that author Lily from Mother of Stories stumbled into… and then fell in love with.
In this episode of the Embodied Writing Warrior Podcast, we dive into the world of traumantasy and what makes it so unique. Lily shares how her original intention to write high fantasy was gently overtaken by a deeper calling: to write stories about trauma, relationships, identity, and healing. What emerged was a genre that offers more than escape—it offers reclamation.
We talk about:
Why trauma-centered fiction can be a form of therapy—for both writer and readerThe importance of diverse representation in fantasy and romanceThe healing power of community, especially when readers recognize themselves in each otherWriting through the lens of Internal Family Systems and parts workWhy intention and execution matter when writing outside your lived identityAnd how embracing your nonlinear, neurodivergent process can still create magicLily's current projects include a novel titled Hearts Change My Scars, a monster erotica novelette, and ongoing work on her Substack newsletter Mother of Stories. Her writing is filled with emotionally complex characters, moral nuance, and the kind of catharsis we don’t always get in real life.
Whether you're a fellow writer or a devoted reader of darker romance and trauma-informed fantasy, this conversation will leave you feeling seen—and maybe even a little more whole.
Links Mentioned:
Lily On SubstackLily On Instagram
More
What happens when fantasy, romance, and trauma collide? You get something raw, powerful, and deeply human. You get traumantasy—a genre that author Lily from Mother of Stories stumbled into… and then fell in love with. In this episode of the Embodied Writing Warrior Podcast, we dive into the world of traumantasy and what makes it so unique. Lily shares how her original intention to write high fantasy was gently overtaken by a deeper calling: to write stories about trauma, relationships, identity, and healing. What emerged was a genre that offers more than escape—it offers reclamation. We talk about: Why trauma-centered fiction can be a form of therapy—for both writer and readerThe importance of diverse representation in fantasy and romanceThe healing power of community, especially when readers recognize themselves in each otherWriting through the lens of Internal Family Systems and parts workWhy intention and execution matter when writing outside your lived identityAnd how embracing your nonlinear, neurodivergent process can still create magicLily's current projects include a novel titled Hearts Change My Scars, a monster erotica novelette, and ongoing work on her Substack newsletter Mother of Stories. Her writing is filled with emotionally complex characters, moral nuance, and the kind of catharsis we don’t always get in real life. Whether you're a fellow writer or a devoted reader of darker romance and trauma-informed fantasy, this conversation will leave you feeling seen—and maybe even a little more whole. Links Mentioned: Lily On SubstackLily On Instagram