Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast

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.

Librarian Robin Bradford has a new book: The Reader’s Advisory Guide to Romance! We talk about what reader’s advisory is, and how she teaches libraries to welcome readers looking for romance, and introduce romance to readers who aren’t aware it’s something they like.Robin talks a lot about book covers as marketing devices on Twitter, so of course we talk about the evolution of romance covers, too, plus summer book lists from schools and the media, and different online sources for book discovery. (Yes, I’m still navigating low-grade grief at the loss of Twitter personally and professionally.) Robin also gives library workshops to other librarians (a profession that is eighty-six percent White) about diversifying collections, and we talk a lot about that experience.Most important - how do you support your library? Robin has suggestions!Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Melanie Hamrick is a former ballerina at the American Ballet Theatre and has just released her debut romance, First Position. So we are talking about ballet, and about balancing - both on your toes, and in career changes. We also cover how much writing and ballet have in common.We are talking about professional ballet, so there is some mention of disordered eating and extreme body consciousness.Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alison Goodman’s new book, The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is out this week, and you are definitely going to want to read this book - and listen to this episode! We talk about her book, of course, and about writing female-forward action scenes featuring “old maids.”We also talk about her recently completed doctorate, which was in historical fiction research methodology. So come for the Regency spinsters, and stay for the deep dive into research. This is a very fun conversation, which is fitting because it’s about a very fun book.A special thank you to Yazmine Hassan for setting up this interview!Music:Purple-Planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recently KJ Charles tweeted about how absolutely devouring the Blessings series by Beverly Jenkins helped “save her sanity during the 2020 lockdown.”So I asked if she’d talk to me about it - and to my surprise this is a popular topic at the moment! She recently did a panel about comfort reading, and I’m really excited to take a look at what makes a comfort read, well, comfy. Plus, we learn what a HFY ending is.And brace yourself, we have a LOT of recs....Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elissa Sussman has a new book, Once More with Feeling, so of course I could not WAIT to have her back to talk about the story, the pop culture inspirations for this novel, and her research methods.We also talk about the way stardom and pop stardom specifically has changed since the early 2000s, and how we’re now examining the way we talked about young women and young people at that time.TW/CW: I want to flag that because we’re talking about pop stars in the early 2000s, there are references to disordered eating, anti fat bias, and staggering misogyny.I have QUESTIONS: Do you have a favorite musical? Did you or do you have a favorite pop star?...Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In September of 2022, we snarked a cover, Planet Oster: Fertility Fusion.The cover designer, who is also one half of the writing team behind the series, reached out to me saying that they were unironically flattered that we’d snarked the cover, and asked if I’d like to talk about the process and the behind the scenes of the design work.Of course I said yes.Music: Purple-planet.comCoupon! Control Body Odor anywhere with @lumedeodorant and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code SARAH30 at lumedeodorant.com/SARAH30! #lumepod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You asked questions, and we have answers! We talk about paranormal worldbuilding mysteries, choosing recommendations to introduce folks to romance, and our origin stories - plus the enigma that is Amanda’s ability to remember book details.Thank you to Varian, Norette, Rachel, Elizabeth, Sandra, and Sol for the questions!...Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amanda and I are back, trying to shock one another, and possibly you, with astonishing covers. We have Easter and bunnies and our latest guess as to what the next monster schtupping romance trend will be! For extra fun, try to imagine what the cover looks like based on our baffled descriptions, then have a look at the show notes to see the cover in question. How close are you to the stunning reality? You can see all the covers right here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meredith Goldstein is the host of the Boston Globe’s Love Letters podcast, and she’s been writing their Love Letters advice column for years.The newest season of Love Letters has arrived, and this season is all about money. We talk about the stories from couples featured in this season, and what she’s learned about love and relationships writing an advice column for so long.And of course, we talk about books, too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amanda and I are answering listener questions about reading when you’re burnt out, saving the last book of a series, and mood reading. We also talk video games, cozy horror especially, and more.Thank you to Agatha, Malaraa, Clay, Ellen, and Abigail for the questions for this episode! ...We also mentioned:The Merlin Bird identification app Shana's review of The No-Show by Beth O'Leary...Coupon! Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get over 40% off your starter pack with promo code SARAH30 at lumedeodorant.com/SARAH30! #lumepodMusic: Purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeff Adams, who you may know as one half of The Big Gay Fiction Podcast, is also a credentialed expert in web accessibility, and he’s co-written a new book, Content for Everyone.This book is for creative people to help ensure that all your online content, from websites to social media posts, is accessible to everyone.We’re going to talk about the top four things you can do to make your web content accessible, and spoiler: they’re really not difficult.Then, of course, we’ve got tv and book recs, because that’s what we do here.music: Purple-planet.comCoupons! Honeylove.com/SARAH - Get 20% off! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chels, who is on TikTok as Chels_Ebooks, has been doing a series debunking the myths of BookTok, and let me tell you, when people say everything old is new again? Myths about the sales power of readers on social media are recycled with every new platform.We’re going to debunk some myths about romance and TikTok, and cover what Chels really loves about TikTok, too.And we have some very special discussions of classic romances and even more classic cover art. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amanda and I make a startling discovery at the start of this episode! Author Karelia Stetz-Waters collects clitoris images and research and we have so many questions. After we take a side trip into the French Olympic mascot design, and cliteracy, a term coined by Sophia Wallace.Then we talk about Karelia’s latest book, Behind the Scenes, which was one of Amanda’s favorite books.Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Olivia Waite joins me to talk about her New York Times romance column, and her best-of coverage for 2022. We talk about her favorite books of 2022, about writing grief, writing her column, and what’s next. We take a side trip into discussing the emotionally intense books that are popular now, and the properties that had an emotional wallop on us when we were younger. …Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get over 40% off your starter pack with promo code SARAH at lumedeodorant.com/SARAH! #lumepod...Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jessica Morgan and Heather Cocks, also known as The Fug Girls, have been blogging since 2004, and, like me, have seen a lot of changes in the business world online. We talk about how it seems like there’s yet another media contraction happening, and how that affects us, and about their new Substack, Drinks with Broads.But of course, we also talk about fashion, stylists, and current trends, too. If you’re still looking at pictures from the Oscars, this episode will be a treat....Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In February, Tor announced their new romance imprint, Bramble, and we had some questions about it!Fortunately, VP and Executive Editor Monique Patterson sat down with me on her first day in her new position at Bramble to tell us all the things.We also discuss how romance has changed and evolved over her career as an editor, and about being a nerd about many things including sword collecting and baking.My favorite part of this conversation: How James Baldwin and Zora Neale Hurston influenced Monique’s acquisitions as a romance editor.…Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kelly Farmer is the author of the Out on the Ice series of hockey romances, including her latest, Calling the Shots, and a former improvisational actor. We talk about cover artist magic, her series, and identify a few reason why hockey is such a popular setting for romances.Then we talk about how improvisational theatre exercises and techniques influence and improve writing. So if you’re stuck in your writing, maybe this will help. I also finally learn to say Megan Rapino’s name correctly. WIN! ...This is one of the episodes I didn’t run due to the HarperCollins Union strike. Kelly Farmer and I recorded this episode in October 2022 in anticipation of her book Calling the Shots. I want to thank Kelly for her understanding and for her support of the strike. I’m very happy to share this episode with you now.  …Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not all contemporary romances are romcoms, but many are, and Melonie Johnson joins me this week to talk about both, and about her new romcom, Too Wrong to Be Right. She too wrote a character who works in the funeral industry, so we talk a bit about that, too! The talk about different burial options and discussion of the funeral industry starts at 14 minutes in.We also touch on burnout in the publishing industry, and grieving the professional relationships that are lost.Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I connected with author Helena Greer, who wrote Season of Love, which you might have heard me talk about, because I liked it a LOT. And I also connected with Sam Brody, the acquiring editor at Hachette who worked on the book with Helena! So we talk about behind the scenes details of writing and editing, and how this book came to be.There are a few audio skips or what I think of as sound bubbles, and my apologies for that.…Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Part II of our Heaving Bosoms Crossover! Some of our most popular episodes in our archive are our crossovers with Heaving Bosoms, and we have a new one for you!If you tuned in to the Heaving Bosoms episode this week for Part I, you’ll know that we are discussing and recapping The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley. Originally published in 2009, this book inspired So Much Discussion when it was first published.You can find part one of our conversation at Heaving Bosoms: https://bit.ly/HBXoverPart1And let’s get started with Part II!…Music: purple-planet.com…Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get over 40% off your starter pack with promo code SARAH at lumedeodorant.com/SARAH! #lumepod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Melissa Blue tweeted that she wanted to talk about Spare.So did I! So, we did!We talk about the book itself, but we also look at the book from our perspective as romance readers and writers, and also as a larger narrative about dismantling propaganda. As Melissa points out, narratives constructed around Meghan and Harry echo narratives we’ve seen about other people, especially women, in public life who are subjected to propaganda to undermine them.I talk a lot about how dismissing romance ignores a lot of what romance says and does, and what it represents about people, about sexuality, and about relationships. I think the same is true about celebrity narratives: the public narrative, or the approved narrative, is also very distant from the messy, complicated reality, and this particular set of stories gives us a lot to think about and discuss....Spice things up this Valentine's day with the game Let's Get Deep from the creators of What Do You Meme? and get 20% off with promo code SARAH at whatdoyoumeme.com/letsgetdeep.Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily Nagoski has a new podcast, Come As You Are! If you’ve read her books, you know what this is about. We dive right into questions of consent and enthusiasm, the way the ace/aro community has developed conversations about sexuality within the field of sex education, and how the pandemic has affected sexuality. So much of her show and this conversation center on how to address sexual satisfaction in your own life.We also talk about her next book, which is about how couples sustain sexual attraction over the long term.Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was recorded on Monday 23 January 2023. On Thursday, 26 January, the HarperCollins Union announced that HarperCollins has agreed to enter mediation.In this interview, we go over the breakdown in negotiations that led to the HarperCollins Union strike, and the demands of the union.Thank you to Barb, Bransler, Clay, Agnes, and Susan for the questions and to the Patreon community for the enthusiastic support and encouragement for this interview.Music: Purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ali Hazelwood has a new anthology in print, Loathe to Love You, and she joins me to talk about becoming a full-time writer and the development of the novellas in this anthology. And then I hit her with a series of silly questions. Woo hoo! Bring on the mayhem.Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marjorie Ingall and Susan McCarthy are the authors of a new, dishy, and fascinating book, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry: The Case for Good Apologies. We’re going to talk about public apologies, celebrity mishaps, and the psychology of what creates a good apology. If you’ve been thinking of making amends, or are writing a good grovel, this is a perfect episode for you.…Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nobody brings just one book to the recommendation party! Our first podcast of 2023 features Amanda and me talking about her favorite books of 2022, and a new 2023 title, too! Plus, we discuss her discovery of the unique joys of cozy horror. Plus, Melonie Johnson also shares her wishes, books, and wins. Thank you for being part of our year end episodes! Happy New Year! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Almost New Year’s Eve!Today Martin joins me from Norway to talk about his wins and wishes for you this year, and the books that made his year better, and why. Then Cara joins us to share what author got her out of a massive reading slump. Settle in for a nice global holiday visit that will definitely lift your spirits.Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shana and Maya join me to talk about the books that absolutely rocked their world this year, and because Shana was reading Seressia Glass’ The Love Con, we take a nice detour into “what we would do if we were in charge of reality television shows.” From GBBO to Project Runway, we have some thoughts!Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tara and AJ and I connected to talk about books, wins, and wishes, and took a great side trip into why the term “quiet quitting” is hot garbage, and how to achieve contentment and peace by being as mediocre as possible. If you’re feeling burnt out, you might find a lot to love in this conversation.We also discuss AJ’s new favorite genre: gay longing in spooky landscapes.…Music: purple-planet.com...Visit LifeMD.com/SARAH today to experience healthcare the way it should be! #lifemdpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More holiday fun! I hope you’re enjoying these year-end recaps as much as we are!This week, Carrie and Sneezy from the SBTB review team join me to talk holiday wishes, year-end wins, and their favorite books of 2022. We also hear from Claudia, Darlene Marshall, Sandra and Katherine with their picks, too, so hold on to your holiday TBR....Sleep better with Blissy and use SARAH to get an additional 30% off at blissy.com/SARAHMusic: Purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s time for the first of several end of the year episodes! This year I’ve invited the staff reviewers at SBTB and our podcast Patreon community to tell me their holiday wishes for everyone, a book that made their year better, and their big win for 2022.This week: Sue, JFHobbit, Maria Vale and Lilisonna share their picks - and of course, no one brings just one best of book!...Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today is Nikki Payne, debut author of Pride and Protest, a contemporary retelling of Pride and Prejudice, set in DC between an activist DJ and a CEO developer.Nikki is also a tech anthropologist, so this conversation hits on some major current events like what’s happening at Twitter, and how Jane Austen was an anthropologist (and shade queen) as well....Connect with your partner every day using Paired. Download the app at https://www.paired.com/SARAHMusic: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ready, set: CLICHÉ. Amanda and I are facing off in a romance cliché battle! What does that even mean? I know, my brain is a very silly place. Can you out-cliché the two of us? The Heat will be on!What's your favorite or least favorite romance cliché? Tell us all about it!…Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Becca Title is my guest this week as we celebrate the grand opening of Meet Cute, a romance bookshop in San Diego! We talk about the process of opening a bookstore, the lawyer-to-romance pipeline, and the establishment of one of the greatest murals I’ve ever seen.Then we squee at each other about books. Obviously....Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I didn’t know this, but author Freya Marske has been so eager to be a guest on my show, and today, it’s happening! Her latest book, A Restless Truth, is out this week, and if you like queer magical historical mysteries with murder, this series is for you. We talk about magic having a physical cost, and how she highlights the classism and sexism of a magical system controlled and maintained mostly by men. We also talk about her favorite magical systems in fiction, magical spells, and we end with Many, Many recommendations. Grab a cauldron and join us!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.