Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast (Sarah Wendell)

Elissa Sussman joins me to talk about her book, Funny You Should Ask, and all about: 

• Writing a horny heroine’s POV
• Dual timelines
• Celebrity profiles
• Life as a celebrity and managing a fandom
• Things that do, and do not twitch

Elissa is an extremely fluent fan of the romance genre, and we talk a lot about romance conventions we love and loathe, and what it means to subvert and undermine some very familiar dynamics, characters, and tropes. 

If you love celebrity profiles, the narratives that construct fame, and behind the scenes details, you’ll like this book, and you’ll probably really like this conversation. Please join us! 

Thank you to Melissa Folds and Courtney Mocklow at Penguin RandomHouse for setting up this interview! 

So - what’s your favorite celebrity profile? Do you follow celebrity gossip narratives? What sites are your faves? Email me - I would love to know. I personally love the DeuxMoi subreddit (not the instagram feed itself). Tell me yours? 

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Dr. Perpetua Neo is a psychologist and author of the new book, This is What Matters: A Step-by-Step Workbook for Identifying Your Values, Priorities, and Path Forward after a Crisis. I’ve been reading and working through the journaling prompts, and wanted to interview her to talk about the origins of this workbook, and her practice working with people.

This is What Matters is a series of questions and prompts to help people with post-traumatic growth in identifying on an individual level, well, what matters to you.

We also discuss:

• Sleeping like a lion
• Embracing free unscheduled time
• Cognitive Photoshop
• Identifying the life one wants and starting to build it now
• When was the last time your heart really sang?

If you’re someone who keeps a journal, this episode will give you a lot to think about.I love books that encourage people to identify their individual desires and goals and enable them to practice the life they want to lead.

Thank You to Maria Orlandi from Adams Media.

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Sutanya Dacres is a podcaster whose new memoir, Dinner for One: How Cooking in Paris Saved Me, just came out. Her memoir is the story behind her podcast: she met and married a French man, moved to Paris…and then her marriage didn’t work out. It’s also the story of her staying in Paris, rebuilding her life, and learning to embrace her new home. Her podcast features Sutanya cooking dinner for one while telling stories about her life, the food she’s making, and challenging the more easily discovered narratives about Americans in Paris. In this episode, we are going to talk about being a Black American in Paris, roasted red pepper salad, and whether or not there are chicken fingers in French supermarkets. 

Thank you to Justine Sha and Laura Gianino for helping schedule this interview!

Would you like the recipe for the red pepper salad? Merci beaucoup to Sutanya for giving permission to share it!

Algerian Felfla Salad (Bell Pepper Salad) 

Sutanya Dacres

Ingredients 

4 bell peppers (any color or color combination) 

2 tomatoes, chopped 

1 garlic clove, minced 

1 tablespoon olive oil 

Salt 

Pepper 

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to gas mark 8/ 450 ° F/ 230 ° C 

2. Put peppers on a baking sheet lined with aluminum and bake for 30-45 minutes, until the peppers are soft. Black spots on the skin are normal. 

3. Remove and allow to cool. Once cooled peel off the skin, remove stem and seeds and cut peppers into strips. 

4. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat, add garlic, tomatoes and peppers. 

5. Cook until tomatoes are soft and all of the vegetables are well incorporated. Add salt and pepper to taste. 

6. This salad can be enjoyed by itself, on toast or over rice.

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Sonali Dev has some very big news! Her upcoming book, The Vibrant Years, is one of the debut titles of Mindy Kaling’s new imprint, Mindy’s Book Studio. So we talk and squee and talk some more about Kaling’s work, about The Vibrant Years, and what Mindy’s Book Studio means for her new book. Has she texted Mindy yet? I will ask!

We also talk about her recent interview in Town & Country magazine, and what she’s working on now. Plus, because Sonali is the greatest, she brought jokes. Multiple bad jokes at the end for everyone to enjoy!

Special thanks to Jen Jacobs for editing this episode, and to Garlic Knitter for the transcript. Thanks to Jes Brock for setting up this interview.

Special note about the intro/outro: Yup, I have COVID. My voice sounds exceptionally weird. I'm doing okay, and thank you for understanding.

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Danielle Jackson’s new book, The Accidental Pinup, is out now, and I bet you’ve seen the cover in many, many places. It’s terrific. Danielle and I chat about her book, what happened when she saw the cover, and about every professional role she’s had within publishing. She’s been a publicist - she was my publicist for one of my books! She’s also a bookseller, and now she’s an author. So her perspective on the book world is very informed, and pretty unique. We talk about her book, about bookstore events behind the scenes, and what trends we think might be coming next.

You can find Danielle Jackson on her website at DanielleJacksonBooks.com. She also co-hosts the Fresh Fiction podcast!

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Julie Garwood’s latest book, Grace Under Fire, is out now, and I got to chat with her about her writing career, her process, and writing historicals and romantic suspense. Grab a snack and a beverage and come visit with one of the authors I admire most. (No, my inner 13 year old was not chill. Not even a little.)

You can find Julie Garwood at her website, JulieGarwood.com.

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Thank you to Julie Garwood, and thank you to Stephanie Felty for setting this up. And to Tara, Laura, and Deanna for questions!

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Let’s talk historical heist romances! Erica Ridley joins me to talk about her newest book, Nobody’s Princess, the latest in her Winchester series, which she describes as putting “Umbrella Academy, Oceans 11, and Batman in a blender and pouring out romantic comedy,” or, “Heists that Bang.”

You can find Erica Ridley at her website https://ericaridley.com/ She’s on all the socials and medias, and as she mentioned, you can join her VIP group for free books and early access to exclusive content.

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Agatha Andrews is the host of the She Wore Black podcast which focuses on gothic and horror, and a former librarian. I was a guest on her show, and now she comes over to visit with me! Horror and romance need to hang out. So we did!

We talk about readers advisory, all the ways to connect books to readers, and then we take a deep dive into the books that rocked her world as a reader.

Do you have any erotic unicorn horror to recommend to Agatha? Got a favorite gothic or horror you adore? Tell me about it, please!

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In the words of a spam comment, we have some nice and valuable content!

Amanda and I are catching up. What are we talking about? Shoes we are trying to break in, video games we are playing, and all the books we’ve been reading this summer! Amanda’s into sci-fi mysteries, and I’ve read a whole bunch of different genres. Grab a beverage and come visit with us!

What about you?

• What books have rocked your reading time?
• Have you broken in Birkenstocks? (Am I doomed to agony for eternity?)
• What are your most comfortable sandals?
• What is your preferred Mario Kart course?

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Author and award-winning audiobook narrator Julia Whelan visits with me to talk about her new book, Thank You For Listening. Along the way we discuss:

• Recent press coverage of her book
• Self Aware Book Fiction
• Competence p0rn
• Myths about audiobook narration
• And why Romance Is Amazing

Plus, we have book recommendations! (We always do that.)

What about you?

Do you listen to audiobooks? Do you have favorite books or favorite narrators? Tell me all about them!

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Romance will never stop bestowing glorious acts of graphic design upon us, so join us for some Cover Snark live! Amanda and I went foraging in the wilds of romance covers and surprised one another with images to discuss.

Check out the covers for yourself! Savor the glorious mayhem!

So many questions.

• Which M is the Preg in the MMMPreg?
• Where IS the Third M?!
• What is the job market like for alien vampires?

If you woke up tomorrow as a wealthy immortal alien vampire, what would YOU do?

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This week, we are catching up on what we’re looking forward to, and in particular, what BOOKS we’re looking forward to this fall!

Amanda shares trends she’s noticing amid the books that are being heavily promoted for this fall, too. We cover

• Witches
• Revenge
• Powerful scheming women
• Queer horror
• Heists
• Retellings of classic stories
• Adventure comedies

What’s on your list this fall?

Plus, I have the answer to last week's joke! Why does it take 645.5 librarians to change a lightbulb? Listen to find out.

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I’ve been talking about this book for weeks, and now I get to talk to the author: Deanna Raybourn joins me to talk about her new thriller, Killers of a Certain Age.

We talk about the power of being underestimated, and the painfulness of being expected to disappear as you age.

Battles against misogyny! Destroying the patriarchy! Aging is awesome!

Join us for a very casual discussion of hypothetical and and actual historical murder.

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Tara Scott joins me to talk about the television show A League of Their Own! You might have seen her review, and maybe you’ve seen folks talking about it online – it’s wonderful. So we’re gonna squee about it, and no worries – no spoilers.

Heads up – there is some discussion of the consequences of being arrested for being queer at that time period, and that discussion begins at about 24 minutes in.

Thank you to FashionablyEvil for making a surprise appearance in the episode thanks to their comment on Tara’s review!

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Reading romance can lead to many things, including…dyeing wool!

Today my guest is Nakia of Wild Star Fibers, who created the Romancelandia collection of yarn. Knitters and readers unite! We’re going to talk about what books inspired the Romancelandia collection, and how she translated tropes to color combinations.

I will have links to her shop in the show notes and she will be putting some of the extras up for sale very soon.

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Kyla Zhao is my guest this week ahead of the release of her debut novel, The Fraud Squad, coming out in January!

Kyla’s book was inspired by her time working for high society magazines like Tatler and Vogue in Singapore. We talk about cultural differences, Trader Joe’s, and how her book was her antidote to doom scrolling in 2020.

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Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty is the first in the Midsolar Murders series, and is out this week!Amanda and I both really liked Station Eternity, so we were very excited to ask a bunch of questions!

We talk about the absence of grief in the aftermath of murder in some mystery series, how aliens in Lafferty’s world perceive humans (spoiler: wet) and how a sentient ship is both creepy and comforting.

Worry not, this is a spoiler-free conversation, and I hope it makes you curious about this book, too.

So. Would you want to be kidnapped or escorted off the planet by aliens?

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This is a weird one - enjoy!

Amanda and I have brought zany questions to answer, and we’re going to cover insults, ghosts, pets, and more.

But we want to hear YOUR answers, too!

Especially the one involving Grimace.

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One weekend, Alisha Rai got married. Then, two weeks later, her new book came out. So let’s talk about all the things!We cover her wedding, the parties, and how part of her wedding was at a celebrity’s mansion (but we had no idea until the end). And of course, we talk about her newest book, Partners in Crime. We discuss portraying mental health struggles and coping mechanisms, as well as sequel bait, and writing a great caper romance.

Come party, reminisce, and celebrate with us!

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Amanda and I are back for cover mayhem! We’ve got crimes against Tom Hardy, questionable titles, and lots of visual silliness. There’s background barking of support from Zeb, inquiries as to the union terms of the shifter cover wolves, and questions about the futility of truly ever knowing who it was that let the dogs out.

Thanks to David T. Cole for helping me figure out how to add images. You should be able to see the covers on your screen when we talk about them.

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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! 

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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.

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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! 

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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.  

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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/HBXoverPart1

And let’s get started with Part II!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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! 

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We also mentioned:

• The Merlin Bird identification app 
• Shana's review of The No-Show by Beth O'Leary

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.com

Coupon!

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 2013
• The episode where we are high: Episode 304. You Have a Type and It Might be Mullets: Sarah, Amanda and Elyse at RT
• Episode 566: . The Blessings of Comfort Reads with KJ Charles
• Episode 371. Amanda and AJ Have Major Book Hangover from Gideon the Ninth
• The Unofficial Romantic Times Index
• Back issues of RT sometimes appear on eBay
• My review of A Most Agreeable Murder
• Steamy Lit Con
• Fall in Love with New England
• Apollycon
• Brookline Booksmith

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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. 

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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

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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.com

You 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.

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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!

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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!

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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.com

LINKS!

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.

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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.com

You can find Jennifer L. Armentrout on her website, on Instagram, and her Facebook Group JLAnders.

We also mentioned:

• Retinosis Pigmentosa
• The Wilmer Institute
• Dragon Dictation

And, 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!

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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

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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

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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.com
• Time Magazine, March 2008: “Crazy and In Charge.”
• Delia's Catalog 
• NewType Magazine

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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.com

Music: purple-planet.com

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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 Adapt
• Harper's Bazaar: "Refusing to Censor Myself" by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
• And 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!

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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!

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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

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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

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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:

• 13:45.71
• 19:19.556
• 24:24.126
• 32:43.584

Please look after yourself, ok?

Music: purple-planet.com

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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.com

Coupon! 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.com

Link! Link! Check out all the visual aids for this episode right here at SBTB!

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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. #marinelayerpod

Music:Purple-planet.com 

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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 about

• Color changing taffeta!
• Sex in department store fitting rooms!
• American historicals

And heads up for some absolutely incredible amounts of exoticism, racism, and something called “Lad Lit.”

Music: purple-planet.com

Link to visual aids!

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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

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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.com

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.com.

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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

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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

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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 Newsletter
• TODY App 
• Library Extension for Chrome
• Episode 342. Stories are Everything with Arkady Martine
• Narrative Therapy
• Hallmark'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

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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

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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.com

Thank 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! 

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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

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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.com

You 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. 

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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: demesne

TW/CW: mention of suicide in book reviews, plus snakes and rat infestations.

Link to visual aids!

...

Music: purple-planet.com

Coupon! 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.

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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!

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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 about

• Well water adventures
• Author photo? MUST be leaning
• A contest made of author prom photos
• Many predecessors to GoodReads
• A 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.com

Don't miss the visual aids! Really, I mean it!

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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 mentioned

• Modern Postcard
• Bonkers Romance
• The Bonkers Romance Kickstarter
• NK Jemisin's Patreon
• Ursula Vernon/T Kingfisher's Patreon
• Changes in the Findaway Voices ToS
• And 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.”

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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

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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.

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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 Claire
• Dahlia Adler’s LGBTQ Reads Patreon
• Tirgearr 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 Villainy
• The 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

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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

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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

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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.

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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” paperback
• Romance 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 Ebay
• The 2005! cover snark featuring The Big Sword and the Naked Guy
• The 2006 post about the Venti sized paperbacks
• The cover for Running Anonymous – NSFW, NSFL

And visit the visual aids for a clip from Mr Romance on the Oxygen network!

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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 abuse
• The subversive revolution of teaching a word a day in a minoritized language
• Using 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

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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.com

Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get 15% off with promo code [SARAH15 ] at LumeDeodorant.com! #lumepod

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