Y’all, if you haven’t felt the rush of seeing a plus size heroine command her power, save the world, and look fabulous doing it… buckle up. Because this week’s feature in our “Curve Behind the Story” spotlight is going to blow your velvet-cloaked mind. We cannot wait to introduce you to Julianne Munich!
But first, let’s talk about why we even started this whole TCF Book Club thing.
If you’ve ever curled up with a romance or fantasy novel and realized… yet again, that no one in the story looked like you, you’re not alone. We created the TCF Book Club AND this author series, because we were tired of seeing curvy characters either sidelined, made the punchline, or shoved into the tired old “she lost weight and then found love” trope. Ugh, no thanks.
Did you know plus size characters still make up a teeny-tiny slice of the literary pie? And when they do show up, they’re often stuck in background roles or written like their body is the obstacle to overcome. Nah. We want more books where the plus size babes are the adventurers, the romantics, the heroes, and yes, the ones getting kissed and saving kingdoms.
Enter: Julianne Munich.
Meet Julianne Munich: The Velvet-Clad Voice of Gaslamp Fantasy
Julianne is a small-town Wisconsin writer with big ideas, a love of all things historical, and a passion for putting plus size women front and center in fantasy. Her book Of Lightning and Silver brings us something rare and oh-so-needed: a curvy heroine with magic, heart, and agency. Yes ma’am!
Julianne told us:
“I grew up as a mid to plus size teenager in the 80s and into college. I loved reading historical fiction, romance, and classic fantasy. Yet, I never found a female character, a young adult heroine, who was ever described as looking like me. Always ‘slender,’ ‘slim,’ ‘willowy.’ If there was a fuller figured woman, she was matronly, a grandma, a background random, or worse… a negative character to be looked down upon.”
So, Julianne decided to change the narrative… literally.
Her main character is plucky, compassionate, and resilient (our favorite trio), and her story is powerful because:
“She represents the everywoman even in a world where mage folk like her inherit these supernatural powers.”
We love a magical everywoman with depth and agency!
But Wait… What Even Is Gaslamp Fantasy?
We’re so glad you asked. If you’re picturing foggy Victorian streets, dramatic capes, and mysterious magical societies, you’re on the right track.
Gaslamp fantasy is like the dreamy cousin of steampunk. Think 19th-century vibes but with magic instead of machines. It’s corsets and candlelight meets curses and power struggles. Less gearhead, more spellbook.
Julianne’s world in Of Lightning and Silver delivers all that gothic richness; dark velvet gowns, cloaks, silver jewelry and throws in a plus size heroine ready to shake up the mage hierarchy. Y’all, this book is basically a mood board for how we want to dress at our next fantasy-themed brunch.
Tropes We’re Tossing and Stories We’re Claiming
Julianne is DONE with the tired tropes that plus size girls get saddled with.
“The weight loss storylines, and always the ‘maidservant’ or ‘bawdy tavern prostitute’ tropes for plus size women in historical romance or fantasy. I’d like to see more noblewomen, fantasy heroines, and plus size spies, queens, and members of adventure quests.”
Can we get an AMEN?
She’s writing what she wanted to read growing up: fantasy with fuller-figured women who get to be complicated, powerful, and yes, desirable. She’s not here to make the body the punchline or the hurdle. She’s here to center it. Period.
Her Advice for Fellow Writers? Let It Get Real.
Julianne keeps it 100:
“Don’t be afraid to show your character feeling bad about her body and experiencing internal fat phobia. Even in a fantasy realm, it’s hard to picture a society where it doesn’t exist. It would be nice to have an ideal world where we aren’t looked down upon, and that’s OK if you want to write that. But showing the character get good things and be loved even despite the fatphobia, external or internal, is effective.”
That’s the kind of nuance we love. It’s not all sunshine and body confidence all the time, but it’s real. And in that reality, there’s growth, power, and yes, a little bit of fantasy sparkle.
Why She Writes for Plus Size Readers
“Simply because I’ve spent most of my life either plus size or mid-size and wanted to see myself in some of my main characters. I’ve also written several thin heroines, but the fuller figured ones were more relatable.”
And relatable is the name of the game. We love that Julianne isn’t just writing about plus size women, she’s writing from that lived experience. It’s honest. It’s vulnerable. And it’s necessary.
What She Hopes to Contribute to the Plus Size Community
“I’d love to join the new growing trend of authors who write body diversity. I’d like readers to see themselves in my characters.”
More of this energy, please. This isn’t about fitting in… it’s about belonging.
If Of Lightning and Silver Were an Outfit…
It’d be:
“A Gothic 1800’s gown in dark velvet with a cloak and silver jewelry.”
We’re obsessed already. Picture it, wear it, read it.
Want to Know More? Good News…
Julianne Munich’s down to join us for a TCF Book Club virtual author chat (squeal!), so stay tuned for updates on that. And oh… her next book? A historical pirate-themed romantasy coming in 2026. We’re ready to set sail.
Calling All Curvy Creatives!
Are you an author writing body-diverse, plus size-centered fiction? We want to feature YOU in our Curve Behind the Story series. Drop us your book, your story, your sass. Let’s celebrate the stories that make space for all of us.
Let Julianne’s journey remind you: we don’t have to wait for representation… we can write it. And read it. And wear velvet while doing it.
And yes, you can grab her book Of Lightning and Silver right now on Amazon.com!
Go ahead and treat your TBR pile.
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