Antonya (she/her) is all about the romance genre and is a local, indie dark romance author under the penname, Ashley Matthews, and is the co-founder of Immersia Reading & Coffee Lounge, a romance-focused initiative launching this fall! Romance has been at the heart of her own sexual exploration and she’s passionate about helping others make the connections between fiction and their own personal journey. She believes fiction is a safe way to discover hidden curiosities and interest and hopes to help reduce the stigma around the romance genre so that more reader may feel more comfortable to reach for that next spicy read. Guided by her background as an author in the genre and women’s empowerment coaching, she brings a unique take on smut and erotica, and what it could mean for the curious reader.

Website: immersialounge.com

Instagram: @immersialounge

LinkedIn: @antonyaradu