Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast

In June 1989, Kathryn Falk published The Romance Reader’s Handbook, a 354 page spiral bound collection of everything a romance reader would need to know. Steve Ammidown leads us on a brief tour of this artifact of romance history.  There’s a collection of over 2000 pseudonyms, plus a directory of where to contact authors, lists of bookstores that love romance, and recommended reads. And of course, advertisements from authors inviting readers to correspond with them. This is early social media for authors and readers, and it’s a fascinating time capsule. A PDF scan of the pages we talk about is available for downloads at SBTB.You can find Steve Ammidown at RomanceHistory.com, and on Instagram @RomanceHistorian.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 611, we talked about the ads and features in the April 2005 issue of Romantic Times, and there was an ad on the back cover for Romance Soundtracks. We could not find anything about them, but Malaraa in our Patreon sure did!We’ve got samples! We’ve got MUSIC that you’re meant to read with, and Amanda tries to identify the genre/album the music was from.MASSIVE THANKS to Malaraa for finding this treasure trove!We’ve! Got! Links!Episode 611. Romantic Times Rewind: April 2005 Ads & FeaturesThe Wayback Machine copy of the Book Soundtracks Website – thanks to Malaraa!Pure Moods!Music LeagueThrowback Trivia TakedownMedieval Fantasy MusicMusic: Purple-Planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a review for Never Cross a Highlander, Shana came up with the ACAB scale, or the Alyssa Cole Anti-Slavery Book Scale, which ranks how central the horror of slavery is to the storyline. I asked her to tell me all about it, and Shana, kindly, said yes.Our conversation grows (of course) to include the field of narrative therapy and bibliotherapy, other evaluative rubrics for reading, and the subgenres, professions, settings we can, and cannot, relax into.NB: I had a cold when we recorded, so apologies for my very low voice.You can find Shana here at SBTB, and on Instagram @BlackBabeReads.We also mentioned:Shana’s review of Never Cross a HighlanderCarrie’s review of Ana María and the FoxMy interview with Erica Ridley about her Winchesters series Music: purple-planet.comSpecial offer from Lume: New customers get 15% off ALL Lume products with our exclusive code and link. Use code SARAH15 at LumeDeodorant.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amanda and I are traveling back in time to May 1994 and taking a look at the ads and features inside Romantic Times Magazine – oh, it’s a time.We have questions – and answers!Are Eric Braeden and Victor Newman the same guy? Is Kathryn Falk writing celebrity gossip and outing people? Are there Lorena Bobbit jokes? Were Glamour Shots™ very well represented among author headshots? We had a great time looking at the reviews, and the ads & features do not disappoint.Don’t miss the visual aids. Seriously. There’s crooning.Thank you to Mari the Romance Girl for this issue!Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harper St. George joins me to talk about The Stranger I Wed (look at that gorgeous cover) and the dollar princesses of the Gilded Age. We talk about transactional marriages, the power dynamics of marriages of convenience – and Harper has a few recommendations of her favorites!You can find Harper St. George at her website, HarperStGeorge.com, and on Instagram @HarperStGeorge.We also mentioned:Clayton, the preserved home of the Frick family in Pittsburgh, PAAlmina Wombwell Herbert, Countess of CarnarvonHistory Tea Time with Lindsay Holiday – YouTube – Dollar Princesses Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amanda and I are traveling to May 1994 and taking a look at the book reviews in this edition of RT Rewind!We’re answering many questions, including:Why does five stars mean something is a classic, but one star is acceptable?What do CS, RM, VR, and F stand for inside Contemporary and New Reality?What grade did Dreaming of You receive?There’s so much Fabio, a telepathic cat, blaming tornadoes for murder, and a lot of time travel.But my gosh, golly, gee whiz, do not miss the visuals for this episode!Music: purple-planet.comControl Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get 15% off with promo code [SARAH15 ] at LumeDeodorant.com! #lumepod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Len Pennie’s book of Scots poetry poyums is out in the US this week, and you might have seen my post about her book launch earlier this week. Len is my guest today and we’re going to talk about:Poetry!Healing from trauma and abuseThe subversive revolution of teaching a word a day in a minoritized languageUsing humor to overcome the “cultural hangover of linguistic oppression”More poetry!TW/CW: discussion of intimate partner violence and domestic abuse, depression, stalking.Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Y’all, the April 2005 issue of Romantic Times is a treasure of truly amazing fun. So many of you told me that episode 609, where we looked at the reviews, made you laugh so hard you cried.Well, let me share some highlights of what is about to happen to your eardrums.The Mr. Romance Cover Model Pageant was a Six-episode reality tv show on the Oxygen network, and we missed it when it ran. It’s not all on YouTube but we have a few links!We have the arrival of what I called the “venti sized” paperbackRomance writers with “dedicated rooms for Star Wars collectibles!”We’ve got some disturbing gimp masks on computer generated Poser people.It’s a glorious time. Come on over.Did you ever attend Mr Romance at RT? Did you see the Mr Romance Pageant on tv?! And gosh, do you have a Romance SoundTrack CD? Please tell me everything.Don’t miss the visual aids!Links! For your browsing pleasure!Jafar’s staff on EbayThe 2005! cover snark featuring The Big Sword and the Naked GuyThe 2006 post about the Venti sized paperbacksThe cover for Running Anonymous – NSFW, NSFLAnd visit the visual aids for a clip from Mr Romance on the Oxygen network! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when you write the books you want to read but are having a hard time finding? Many good things. Kimberly Lemming loves fantasy, and started writing her own catnip, which led to the joy that is the Mead Mishaps series.We answer ALL the tough questions, like how many mead mishaps have we personally experienced? How does one make the bananas spin? And why is Galavant the greatest production ever made?Note: in the middle of the episode, the email Kimberly sent that gave me a peek at the cover for That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human, which was in the final stages of development, so you’ll hear me lose my cool.For the book and video games we discuss in this episode, please visit our show notes page!You can find Kimberly Lemming at KimberlyLemming.com, and on Instagram @KimberlyLemming.We also mentioned cover artist Mike Pape, and the cover art for the Mead Mishaps series is visible on his website, too!Thank you for supporting our show, and our advertisers! new customers GET $5 OFF a Lume Starter Pack with code SARAH15 at LumeDeodorant.com. That equates to over 40% off your Starter Pack when you visit LumeDeodorant.com and use code SARAH15. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re taking a tour through the new releases across many genres from April 2005, nearly 20 (!!!) years ago. Romance has changed a wee little bit.How much cringe shall we find? Plenty!Other oddities? Mainstream includes YA and Chick Lit. Contemporary includes New Reality. Regency in Format includes Corinthians! And we’re trying to understand a character who wants to “dim the pain of turning 30.” It’s a ride, as usual.Side trips include Sea Breeze, Stridex, and St Ives Medicated Apricot Scrub.TW: for mention of sexual assault, body horror – we do announce it in the audio so you can skip ahead.You can find all the Romantic Times Rewind episodes, visual aids posts, and more in one convenient place!Don't miss the visual aids for this episode!We also mentioned:Regency in format, not genre: This r/HRNovlesDiscussion post shows a treasure trove of Regency/format books. Did you use St. Ives Medicated Scrub? I sure as heck did.RegRom.com answers the question, ‘What is a Corinthian?’Amanda mentioned author Naomi Hirahara in a recent Get Rec’d with Amanda post Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mel Blue was my guest when we discussed Spare – which has become one of my most listened-to episodes – so I asked her back to talk about the narratives of PR, why the weird stories around Kate Middleton grabbed attention worldwide, and why so many people were and are paying attention.On one level it’s a story that originated in gossip about rich and powerful people in an archaic power structure being weird. But it’s also a story of misinformation, propaganda, and a complicit media system, and we deal with that over here in the US, too.This was recorded on Wednesday, March 20, and we did a follow up this week following the announcement late Friday, March 22, that Kate Middleton is undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. So there are two parts to this episode.A few content warnings: Discussion of self harm, disordered eating, suicidal ideation, and child abuse and exploitation.Please visit the show page for all the resources used for this episode, including news articles, Instagram live recordings, and Twitter threads. Music: Purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re looking at the ads and features from the March 2016 issue of RT Book Reviews!We’ve got cowboy heads growing out of gravel roads, a dude who looks like he’s on fire, and that one guy who is always ripping his shirt off from romance covers. We decide on an in-house definition of “Castle Bangenschloss.”Oh! And a really angry reader wants self pub authors to stop using the same stock images for different covers. It’s wild, y’all.Don’t miss the visual aids that go with this episode! We’ve got links!Fanlore.org: Cassandra ClaireDahlia Adler’s LGBTQ Reads PatreonTirgearr Publishing’s T shirts!The podcast episode where we were at the Peppermill in Reno, and also on edibles, aka episode 304. “You Have a Type and it Might be Mullets” – Sarah, Amanda, and Elyse are VERY Silly About Books and VillainyThe Chippendales at the Rio Thank you to our sponsor, Lume! New customers get $5 off Lume’s Starter Pack with our exclusive code.Use code SARAH30 at LumeDeodorant.com.Music: Purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shirley Green and Sharon Spiak are the duo behind many, and I mean many of your favorite romance covers, and are absolutely 100% the duo behind one of mine – For the Love of a Pirate by Edith Layton. The hair. The waves. THE ROCKS.I connected with Shirley and Sharon and got a History Lesson in how cover shoots used to work. We’re talking costume, art direction, photography, and painting skills combined to make some very memorable covers, and how much deliberate emotional care went into some of the photo shoots with the cover models.You can find Shirley Green’s portfolio and stock image collection at ShirleyGreenPhotography.com. You can find Sharon Spiak at SharonSpiakArt.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amanda and I are diving into the reviews from the March 2016 issue of RT Book Reviews.In this episode you will learn about A Tale of Two Biddies. You’ll discover Baby Bothering and God Bothering. And most importantly, are demons really a natural fit for the Regency era?All these questions are more will be answered in this episode!Don’t miss the visual aids for this episode!Music: Purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katee Robert joins me to talk about her many releases this year, about marketing through Kickstarter and direct-to-reader options like Patreon, and about the foundational books in fantasy and romance that got her started.We also talk about current issues, like Findaway Voices and Spotify’s changes to the terms of service for authors.You can find Katee Robert on her website, KateeRobert.com. You can also check out her Patreon.We also mentionedModern PostcardBonkers RomanceThe Bonkers Romance KickstarterNK Jemisin's PatreonUrsula Vernon/T Kingfisher's PatreonChanges in the Findaway Voices ToSAnd former PRH CEO Markus Dohle's comments under oath:“The trial put the inner workings of the company on public display in sometimes unflattering ways. In his testimony, Dohle argued that success in publishing is driven by instinct and random luck, not necessarily a company’s size — an argument that the judge found unconvincing. And he revealed his dissatisfaction with the company’s performance since the 2013 merger.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re traveling back to April 2006 in this month’s RT Rewind!We discuss the evolving cover art for the Immortals After Dark series and style changes in illustrated covers. We also talk aboutWell water adventuresAuthor photo? MUST be leaningA contest made of author prom photosMany predecessors to GoodReadsA book from 1991, promoted in 2006, made into a movie in 2022.And a FULL PAGE of Mr. Romance.When I start talking about Redeeming Love, massive trigger warning and content warning, just a giant pile of YIKES. The book summary begins at 35:20.Thank you for the reviews, the support, and the positive feedback to this series! If you’re enjoying these episodes, please drop a comment below or on the visual aids post and let me know?Music: purple-planet.comDon't miss the visual aids! Really, I mean it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jennifer L. Armentrout joins me to talk about the books she considers the foundation of her fantasy romance reading, and what classical historical romances she adores. Her newest book, Visions of Flesh and Blood is out next week, so we’re looking forward, and back – and way, way back in the past. We talk about a series she’s paused, and why, and what it means to update a book that doesn’t ‘age well.’ What fantasy or historical romances were foundational reading for you? I’d love to know which are your favorites! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re traveling back to April 2006 in this month’s RT Rewind! We take a look at the reviews in this issue and we’ve got some one-star reviews, and curiously paranormal is part of contemporary? It’s weird.Things I initially pronounce wrong: demesneTW/CW: mention of suicide in book reviews, plus snakes and rat infestations.Link to visual aids!...Music: purple-planet.comCoupon! LUME: New customers get $5 off Lume’s Starter Pack with our exclusive code. Use code SARAH30 at LumeDeodorant.com.Support for this episode comes from LUV! LUV is an app that connects authors and fans with producers, actors, plus film and publishing industry folks to celebrate romance in many marvelous formats, and demystify the process of adapting books for film and television. LUV is available on Apple and in Google Play, and online: checkoutluv.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's our 600th episode!! Emily Nagoski is back to talk about her new book Come Together: The Science (and Art!) of Creating Lasting Sexual Connections.We talk about the genesis for this book, which is in part that writing a book is stressful and hard, and while writing Come As You Are, Emily noticed that her own interest in sex was missing. By diving headlong into all the research, she realized that people who sustain lasting sexual connections have a few major things in common, which is what this book is all about.CW/TW: we mention this in the conversation, but it's important to note that at 23:36 we talk about intimate partner violence, and at 1:00:45 we talk about intentional weight loss. We are also talking about intimacy, sex, and sexual practices.Music: Purple-planet.comYou can find out more about Emily Nagoski at her website, EmilyNagoski.com.We also mentioned Dr. Shamika Thorpe's work, which you can find at DrShemeka.com.And I mentioned this Tweet from author Racheline Maltese. Thank you to our sponsor, HelloFresh. Visit HelloFresh.com/smarttrashyfree and use code smarttrashyfree for FREE breakfast for life! One breakfast item per box while subscription is active.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re traveling back to December 2015 in this month’s RT Rewind, and we're taking a look at the ads and features in this issue!We’ve got LONG series from Elizabeth Hoyt, Kresley Cole, and Shannon Stacey, plus SWAT team shifters, Navy SEAL Highlanders, and some memories, some not so great, of the 2016 RT convention in Vegas…at the Rio.And then! We have a supplement that only appears in the digital editions of RT at the time: the Indie/Hybrid News & Reviews Supplement. It’s a wild ride.Don't miss the visual aids for this week's episode!What's the longest series you’ve stuck with?What Duran book should Amanda read?Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mimi Matthews returns to the show to talk about her latest novel, The Lily of Ludgate Hill, which is the third book in her Belles of London series. Among the major themes of this book? PINING. SO MUCH PINING. Which I love.But this is also a book about grief: characters are pining for what was as much as other characters are pining for what could be. So we talk about grief, loss, hope, and about adapting to massive upheaval - and about The Gilded Age television show.CW: We talk a lot about grief, disordered eating, diet culture in the 90s and 2000s, the death of Mimi’s father, which inspired parts of Lily.Music: purple-planet.comThank you for supporting our sponsors! Sign up for the Red Feather Romance newsletter for free today at https://www.redfeatherromance.com/sbtb/ to start receiving free and discounted romance eBooks sure to keep you up all night long!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re traveling back to December 2015 in this month’s RT Rewind!We take a look at the reviews in this issue and along the way talk about audiobook series, historical romance, Jesus by Volume, and the ever-so-small range of grades in each genre. We also take a side trip into JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series.You can find the visual aids for this episode right here!You can find all the Romantic Times Rewind episodes, show notes, and visual aids at RTRewind.com!We also mentioned my review of Lover Revealed by JR Ward.And finally: thank you to the SFWA for sponsoring this episode! Be sure to check out HEA Quest on January 20! Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our final holiday wishes episode - thank you to everyone who makes these episodes such a treat. It’s an honor to connect with all of you!This week, Sneezy, Sandra, Tiffany, Lisa and Shana share recommendations, wishes, and terrible jokes. CW: we start off and end with some talk about anxiety brain gremlins, so FYI.Thank you again for making these episodes so fun! Happy New Year!We also mentioned:Baked by the Baroness (Tapas)Roni Loren's NewsletterTODY App Library Extension for ChromeEpisode 342. Stories are Everything with Arkady MartineNarrative TherapyHallmark's "Friends and Family Christmas"COUPON WOO HOO! Go to HelloFresh.com/smarttrashyfree and use code smarttrashyfree for FREE breakfast for life. One breakfast item per box while subscription is active. Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've got books, wishes, and wonderful jokes from Amanda, GarlicKnitter, Alanna, and Claudia! We’re traveling around the world with this episode! We’ve got many, many books to tell you about, and also wishes for cozy light and joy.Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More holiday wishes, book recs, TV recs, and bad jokes, with you as my guests!This week, I’m joined by Verity, Elyse, Carrie, and Rich, aka Mr. Elyse, and we talk about So Much Entertainment! Verity and I chat about books, tv, and writing - so if you’re looking for some British tv shows, you’re in a lot of luck. We do start with some critique of the early 2000s language about women, bodies, body shaming, and anti-fat bias.Then I chat with Elyse and Carrie, who review for SBTB, and maybe they liked the same book (they did!). And then Rich, aka Mr. Elyse, tells us about a book that rocked his world.What about you? Were any of these books on your list? Any anti-inflammatory cookbook ideas? Telly suggestions? Let us know!Happy Holidays from all of us, to all of you!Music: Purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s July 2004, and the ads and features are a wild ride.I might say that every month but this month it is especially true. We learn about a bunch of different bookstore that are still in business - and encounter a lot of ads for small presses that are, alas, long gone. There’s a lot of romance history in this issue.Bonus: I solve a HaBO for Amanda! Live! I’m so proud of me.Important: Do NOT miss the visual aids for this episode. My goodness me. Music: Purple-planet.comCoupon! New customers get $5 off Lume’s Starter Pack with our exclusive code and link. And for a limited time, returning customers can get $5 off their next purchase of $30 or more, too! Use code SARAH30 at LumeDeodorant.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s time for holiday wishes, book recommendations, and absolutely dreadful jokes, with listeners and reviewers as my guests!Each year I invite the review team from SBTB and the members of the Podcast Patreon to connect with me to offer recs, wishes, and, if they wish, a bad joke. These episodes are so popular and are like weekly hugs for your ears and your brain, with some potential hugs toward your TBR, which is definitely about to get a little taller.In this first of our holiday wishes series, Agnès, Sue, Jo and Varian join me.Find out what books made up 10% of Agnès’ reading this year!What series and what webtoon did Sue get lost in?What series did Jo and I have in common? What book did Varian text absolutely everyone about?And what happens when I’m on the receiving end of all the wonderful terrible jokes?Happy Holidays from all of us, to all of you! Coupon! New customers get $5 off Lume’s Starter Pack with our exclusive code. And for a limited time, returning customers can get $5 off their next purchase of $30 or more, too! Use code SARAH30 at LumeDeodorant.com.Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thanks to Kay Sisk for sending us this issue! We’re taking a look at the book reviews from the July 2004 issue of RT Book Club – yup, the magazine had a different title back then.This issue predates the founding of SBTB, in fact! The genres are different, and so are the books inside. And! We have some one-star reviews!We’re going to talk aboutColor changing taffeta!Sex in department store fitting rooms!American historicalsAnd heads up for some absolutely incredible amounts of exoticism, racism, and something called “Lad Lit.”Music: purple-planet.comLink to visual aids! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recently, Mara Wilson was talking about her favorite (and least favorite) romance tropes on social media, so I invited her onto the podcast to tell us all about it. You may know Mara Wilson from Matilda or Mrs. Doubtfire, but she’s currently working very happily as an audiobook narrator, most recently for Chuck Tingle's Camp Damascus!Please note: we don’t talk a lot about the films she has been in, because this was recorded while SAG-AFTRA and the WGA were on strike. Special thanks to Basil and Freya!COUPON! Find your new favorite fits and get 15% off @marinelayer with our exclusive link -> marinelayer.com/SARAH15. #marinelayerpodMusic:Purple-planet.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are back with the June 2014 issue of RT Book Reviews, and we are taking a look at all the advertisements and features – and it’s a ride.We discuss the RT awards, the ads congratulating the winning authors, strange distorted feet, and wolf eyed vikings.No, we don’t know what that means, either.But we do have a question! Amanda, it seems, has never read a Harlequin Presents! Which one should she read for Maximum Presents experience?Music: purple-planet.comCoupon! Coupon! New customers get $5 off Lume’s Starter Pack with our exclusive code and link. And for a limited time, returning customers can get $5 off their next purchase of $30 or more, too! Use code SARAH30 at LumeDeodorant.comLink! Link! Check out all the visual aids for this episode right here at SBTB! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Weinman joins me to talk about true crime, a genre which I absolutely cannot read! We talk about how true crime “can be a catalyst for social change” and why people, especially White women, obsessed with true crime.Plus we talk about Sarah’s latest books, Scoundrel, which has a surprising (to me) literary angle for true crime, and the anthology, Evidence of Things Seen. We discuss at length looking at the true crime genre as a whole, and exploring what true crime can do better ethically and socially.VERY IMPORTANT INFO: We are talking about true crime in a larger context socially and ethically, but we also mention specific cases, and when possible we name the victims. We also talk frankly about the mental health costs of doing this kind of writing and investigative journalism.The timestamps for when we mention specific cases, which include murders of young people, and talk about mental health are:13:45.7119:19.55624:24.12632:43.584Please look after yourself, ok?Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re heading back to June 2014 to look at the nearly three hundred new books reviewed in RT Book Reviews.Come on a journey with us through historical, contemporary, thrillers, and inspirational, and learn more about cattle fraud. We are obsessed with boilers.Also: apologies in advance for the fact that I cannot say "minutiae," which, my bad. It's a word that never comes out of my brain correctly. My apologies.All the book covers, images, and more are right here at this link.Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the May 2014 Ads and Features episode of our Romantic Times Rewind series, the cover feature was all about Valerie Bowman, her latest book - and inside was a mention of her appearance on Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta in 2014!So Amanda and I connected with Valerie to hear all the details! We talk about weddings and dresses and reality tv, including a side trip discussion to the real housewives, Scandoval, and $17,000 sunglasses. Then we invent our own reality shows. This is a goofy, silly, very fun episode.Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back, traveling in time to May 2014 to take a look at the ads and the features inside RT Book Reviews magazine! Side trips include Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta, the immortality of strange stock images on book covers, and the importance of alligator fritters in the marketing budget.You can find all the ads and images on SBTB! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

THIS is episode 584 (I said in the intro that last week was 584 but I was wrong. Oops - my bad).Maggie Tokuda-Hall returns as a guest to talk about The Siren, The Song and the Spy, and so much has changed since our last conversation in Episode 406 when the first book, The Mermaid, The Witch, and the Sea released in May 2020.We also talk about racism and her experience with Scholastic regarding her book Love in the Library, and we talk about Baldur’s Gate and queer pirate fantasy. Come for the discussion of dismantling facism, and stay for the video game and book recs. You know, as usual.You can find Maggie Tokuda-Hall at her website, PrettyOKMaggie.com.We also mentioned:"Scholastic and a Faustian Bargain" Maggie's podcast, Failure to AdaptHarper's Bazaar: "Refusing to Censor Myself" by Maggie Tokuda-HallAnd the picture from Our Flag Means Death that had us both on the floor.I also mentioned my appearance on the Rephonic.com list of 12 Best Author Interview Podcasts - thanks, y'all!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s our first Romantic Times Rewind episode, starting with May 2014! We are looking at all 298 (!) book reviews in issue 363 of RT Book Reviews Magazine.Amanda and I are going to pick a book from each of the review collections by genre, from historical to urban fantasy to the Teen Scene. We also discuss the very narrow grading rubric, and the rarity of two- and one-star reviews.Journey back to May 2014 with us! And come find all the fun visuals and books in the show notes at https://bit.ly/RTRW584 and at Instagram and Tumblr!You can find all the visual aids, screengrabs, and covers right here at SBTB.And the entire RT Rewind archive is at RTRewind.comMusic: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Typically on Tuesdays I release bonus episodes for the Patreon community, but this week, everyone gets the bonus because Amanda and I are introducing Romantic Times Rewind, a new series of podcast episodes where we look back at old issues of RT Book Reviews and Romantic Times Magazine. WOO HOO!Amanda and I are going to re-read old issues of RT, and record two episodes each month. One issue will be looking at all the reviews by genre in a particular issue, and the other will look at the features, ads, and book covers inside.I’ll be posting images and screengrabs from the issue on Smart Bitches, and on Instagram and Tumblr (for that extra retro flavor!).Plus, as a member of the Patreon, you’ll have access to the complete issues we’re looking at, so you can read along with us - and tell us which books from back issues you’d most want to read.Part of the inspiration for this series comes from the absolutely wonderful podcast Listen to Sassy, where Tara Ariano, David T. Cole, and Pamela Ribon re-read old issues of Sassy Magazine, which was a formative part of my teenager-hood.Romantic Times Magazine and RT Book Reviews isn’t online anywhere that I’ve seen, and the site went dark in May 2018 shortly after the closure of the magazine and the conference was announced.Most humbly, I ask: if you have back issues of RT Book Reviews or Romantic Times, print or digital, and you’d like to send them to be, PLEASE get in touch with me - sarah AT smart bitches trashy books.com. I’m scouring eBay magazine vendors and trying to gather as many as I can, and right now I have some from 2014, 2015, and 2016.Links!Listen to Sassy at ListenToSassy.comTime Magazine, March 2008: “Crazy and In Charge.”Delia's Catalog NewType Magazine Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lorelei King has been a guest on the show before, and you may recognize her name and her voice from her work in romance audiobook narration. This week, Lorelei joins me to talk about her role as a core participant in the official UK government COVID Inquiry, which begins its second phase on October 3. We also discuss her volunteer work on the COVID Memorial Wall in London.A content warning: We’re talking about COVID, and about death, as Lorelei’s husband Vince Marzello died from COVID in March 2020. We’re also going to talk about Boris Johnson, so big content warning for buffonery there. So I want to give you a heads up now that this episode may not be what you want, and that’s ok. Please look after yourself.We’re talking about difficult things in this episode, but it’s fundamentally about living with grief, finding hope and finding purpose after terrible loss.Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Several years ago, Amanda had coffee with Maria Vale at a conference, and Maria mentioned a book she was working on that sounded really cool.And now, Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death is available to read! So we got together to talk about the book, what it’s like to write something that feels risky, different, and comes with warnings about HEA-expectations.This becomes a conversation about the HEA, how it works, and how it is interpreted by different readers. What are your expectations for an HEA?Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I had a whopping good time talking with Jennifer Armentrout about her new book, Fall of Ruin and Wrath, about ApollyCon - which is now almost 10 years old!We’re going to talk about the behind the scenes of ApollyCon, her launch title for the new Bramble imprint of fantasy romance, plus she takes questions from some of you about disability advocacy, living with a visual impairment, and what changes she’s seen in publishing.Music: Purple-planet.comYou can find Jennifer L. Armentrout on her website, on Instagram, and her Facebook Group JLAnders.We also mentioned:Retinosis PigmentosaThe Wilmer InstituteDragon DictationAnd, I request a humble favor: If you have a moment and your thumbs are not busy, would you be so kind as to leave a review for the show? I used to have a few on Apple Podcasts and now they are all gone! Apple is a mystery - but reviews help other folks find the show. So if you enjoy the podcast and you want to help me reach more nifty people, please review us. Thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Chuck Tingle is back!My episode with Chuck Tingle from 2016 remains one of my most popular, and I was very excited to have Chuck back on the show while he was in the middle of his tour for Camp Damascus.We’re going to talk about eliciting joy, proving love, the three most maligned genres and why they’re denigrated, and Chuck’s ever-evolving trot as an artist and a person.Thank you to Caroline Perny for coordinating this interview!Music: purple-planet.comLINKS! You can find Chuck Tingle on his website, ChuckTingle.com, and on Tumblr (!!) at DrChuckTingle.Tumblr.com.It's been a long time since I've linked to Tumblr. Ah, good times.We also discussed his prior episode, Episode 206. Proving Love: An Interview with Dr. Chuck Tingle.Finally, a humble request: if you are so inclined, would you please leave a review for the show? I used to have some on Apple Podcasts - and now I have none? I would appreciate your time and comments so very much. Thank you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Louise Hare is the author of the Canary Club mystery series, and book two, Harlem After Midnight is out this week! Louise joins me to talk about her main character, Lena Aldridge, and how Lena uses every asset at her disposal to navigate both a transatlantic cruise in book one, and Harlem in the 1930s in book two.We also talk about writing in dual timelines and the fun of writing family drama and murder, and most of all writing a character whose most familiar home is whatever stage she is on.It is a little tricky to do an interview for the second book of a mystery series, so to give you a bit more context, this is the cover copy for Harlem After Midnight:Harlem, 1936: Lena Aldridge grew up in a cramped corner of London, hearing stories of the bright lights of Broadway. She always imagined that when she finally went to New York City, she’d be there with her father. But now he’s dead, and she’s newly arrived and alone, chasing a dream that has quickly dried up. When Will Goodman—the handsome musician she met on the crossing from England—offers for her to stay with his friends in Harlem, she agrees. She has nowhere else to go, and this will give her a chance to get to know Will better and see if she can find any trace of the family she might have remaining.Will’s friends welcome her with open arms, but just as Lena discovers the stories her father once told her were missing giant pieces of information, she also starts to realize the man she’s falling too fast and too hard for has secrets of his own.…Music: purple-planet.com...A humble request from me, your podcast host and producer: If you have a moment and your thumbs are not busy, would you be so kind as to leave a review for the show?I used to have a few and now they are all gone? It is a mystery - but reviews help other folks find the show., so if you enjoy the podcast and you want to help me reach more nifty people, please drop us a review if you're so inclined? Thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Deanna Raybourn is back, and we’re talking about some of the unusual methods used to kill folks in Killers of a Certain Age –and there are mild plot spoilers for that book, please be aware. We also talk about the images she receives from fans of her series, and the larger context of why there’s a sense of catharsis reading about terrible people meeting terrible ends.TW/CW: I mention lice when talking about networks of women. And we’re talking about poison, murders, and some serial killers.Music: purple-planet.com...A humble request from me, your podcast host and producer: If you have a moment and your thumbs are not busy, would you be so kind as to leave a review for the show?I used to have a few and now they are all gone? It is a mystery – but reviews help other folks find the show., so if you enjoy the podcast and you want to help me reach more nifty people, please drop us a review if you’re so inclined? Thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pop culture critic and former book blogger Kayleigh Donaldson joins me to talk about BookTok, hockey romance, and the Seattle Kraken. We’re locating this conversation in a larger discussion about fandom, fanfiction about real people, and the ways celebrity culture, fan culture, and romance intersect.I want to mention that we do talk very briefly about Johnny Depp and fandom, and larger issues of misogyny and sexual harrassment.Music: purple-planet.comYou can find Kayleigh Donaldson on Twitter @Ceillidhann, and on Pajiba.com. Her newsletter, The Gossip Reading Club, is excellent.We also mentioned the Dundee Stars hockey team in Dundee, Scotland, and I mentioned Klout, which was a way, way old memory of online weirdness.And here are the articles she mentioned that she wrote:Paste Magazine: "The Hottest Romances of the Season are All Happening On Ice"Paste Magazine: "Why is Adam Driver the Hero of Every Romance Novel Now?"Pajiba.com: "Krack My Back: Booktok, the Seattle Kraken, and Why You Shouldn't Turn Real People into Your Playthings."Important Coupon News!To celebrate 5 years of HEAs, Love’s Sweet Arrow is offering Smart Bitches listeners 20% off purchases in store and online throughout the month of August with code SMARTBITCHES. All orders over 100 dollars will receive a free gift with purchase. Enter code SMARTBITCHES at checkout online or mention it in store to receive your discount. Code applies only to in-stock products. Free gift will be selected by staff when filling your order.Ritual is all about hot data and stone cold facts. Get to know your nutrients on a deeper level with 30% off during your first month. Visit ritual.com/SARAH to start Ritual or add Essential For Women 18+ to your subscription today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Time for another Heaving Bosoms Crossover!The first part of this recap of Dragon Called is up this week at Heaving Bosoms, and here for your listening pleasure is part II. I do a quick recap at the start, so no worries.This book, and episode, are both very NSFW though - heads up for that.***Important coupon news!To celebrate 5 years of HEAs, Love’s Sweet Arrow is offering Smart Bitches listeners 20% off purchases in store and online throughout the month of August with code SMARTBITCHES.In addition, all orders over 100 dollars will receive a free gift with purchase. Enter code SMARTBITCHES at checkout online or mention it in store to receive your discount.Code applies only to in-stock products. Free gift will be selected by staff when filling your order.***New customers GET $5 OFF a Lume Starter Pack with code SARAH30 at lumedeodorant.com/sarah.***Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mimi Matthews joins me to talk about self publishing historical romance, and about being one of many lawyers who write romance. We also talk about chronic pain and recovery, disability, and the joys of re-reading. Plus, she shares some of her all time favorite historical romances.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In past years, Amanda and I would be at different romance conferences around this time, and it got me thinking. So we connected to talk about what we miss about romance-focused conferences, and what would our ideal book-focused conference look like?So! Many! Links! To share with you! I wrote about the RT cling-film signage back in 2013The episode where we are high: Episode 304. You Have a Type and It Might be Mullets: Sarah, Amanda and Elyse at RTEpisode 566: . The Blessings of Comfort Reads with KJ Charles Episode 371. Amanda and AJ Have Major Book Hangover from Gideon the NinthThe Unofficial Romantic Times IndexBack issues of RT sometimes appear on eBayMy review of A Most Agreeable MurderSteamy Lit ConFall in Love with New EnglandApollyconBrookline Booksmith  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Agatha Andrews from the She Wore Black podcast joins me to share some summer horror recs perfect for romance readers! We also discuss her activism in Texas, how libraries are sanctuaries, and the origins of purse bingo as a charity fundraiser. Plus, what happens when Taylor Swift fans and Stoker Con share the same hotel. COUPON! Get 40% off your first order over $30 at http://lumedeodorant.com/sarah!Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cathy Yardley joins me this week to talk about her new book, Role Playing, which is a Gen-X romance featuring “an unapologetically grumpy forty-eight-year-old hermit” who joins an online gaming guild as Bogwitch and meets a healer named Otter. We talk about writing romance for 20 years and counting, and Cathy shares video game recs and book recs, too! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Rachel Lynn Solomon’s newest book Business or Pleasure and in Lana Ferguson’s new book The Nanny, both authors engage directly with sex positivity and honest intimacy through their characters and the plot.I’ll let the authors describe their books, but we’re talking about sex lessons where the heroine is teaching the hero how to be better at sex after a terrible one night stand, about OnlyFans and autonomous sex work, and most of all, about how romance is encouraging people to own their sexuality and advocate for their pleasure and satisfaction. I had a BALL recording this, and I hope you enjoy listening to it just as much. Thank you to Kristin Cipolla, their publicist at PenguinRandomHouse, for the incredible pitch and for setting up this interview. Coupons! Coupons: Get 20% OFF @honeylove with at honeylove.com/sarah! #honeylovepod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.