Description

To kick off this powerful episode of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, I sit down with award-winning Hamilton-based author Anuja Varghese - a literary force whose work centers women of color, queer characters, and stories that challenge who gets to be the hero!

Anuja is the author of the Governor General’s Literary Award-winning short story collection Chrysalis, and her highly anticipated romantasy novel A Kiss of Crimson Ash releases May 26, 2026. But beyond the awards and accolades, Anuja is a storyteller committed to making sure people like her - and people like so many of us - see ourselves reflected back with power, desire, and complexity.

In this bold, layered conversation, Anuja spills the tea on:

• Growing up without seeing herself in the books she loved - and choosing to change that
• What it cost (and liberated) her to write openly as a queer feminist woman of color
• Why romance and erotica are not “fluff”... but resistance
• Building a medieval India-inspired fantasy world after being told her character “didn’t fit”
• Balancing midnight writing sessions with motherhood and a full-time role in the social profit sector
• How grant writing is storytelling and why funders need to trust the people on the ground (hello trust-based philanthropy!)
• Protecting the dream of being a writer in a world obsessed with security

Anuja speaks candidly about choosing authenticity over palatability - and the overwhelming response from readers who finally felt seen. When asked what she hopes her work gives people, her answer was simple and profound, “I hope they feel seen. And maybe a little turned on.”

This episode is a love letter to representation, creative courage, and the audacity to build worlds where you belong.

🎙 Season 2 – Episode 9 is streaming now on What’s The Tea with Sarah E.

Connect with Anuja on Instagram @anuja_v and learn more about her books, upcoming novel release, and events at anujavarghese.com. Pre-order A Kiss of Crimson Ash wherever books are sold.

That’s today’s tea! If you loved this conversation, don’t forget to rate, review, and share the show with a friend. 

Join the Tea Party! New episodes drop every Tuesday, so hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast app. And for the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and even more bold conversations, follow me on Instagram at @sara_ernest. 

A Reminder - The views and opinions expressed by guests on What’s the Tea with Sarah E are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is a platform for diverse voices, stories, and perspectives - sometimes unpolished, always unapologetic.

Until next time, keep stirring the pot.

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