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PODCAST

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast

Sarah Wendell & Jane Litte

Each week on Smart Podcast, Trashy Books, Sarah Wendell interviews authors, readers, reviewers, bloggers, publishing professionals, editors, and librarians about romance novels, which are among the most popular genres in fiction worldwide. Popular guests include: Ilona Andrews, Robin Bradford, NPR"s Barrie Hardymon, Chuck Tingle, Sarah J. Maas, and Rachel Aaron. Amanda Diehl, co-pilot of the SS Smart Bitches, makes regular appearances with maximum silliness, especially during our Romantic Times

arts literature

All Episodes

1:01:23

689. RT Rewind: May 2016 Ads & Features

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast ·

2025/10/17

We’re going back to May 2016 to look at the Ads & Features in Romantic Times magazine. The kilts are kilting and the abs are ab-ing, and we’ve got some questions.How do we feel about the terms “book boyfriend” and “pre-con”?How much of the 2016 conference depended on Twitter to announce pop up signings and special limited time events?And do you remember how important Twitter was to a conference?How many different ways are there to photograph a very muscled shirtless man? I think we’re going to

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1:00:16

687. RT Rewind: May 2016 Reviews and New Releases

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast ·

2025/10/03

Grab your carry on, your snacks, and a blanket, because we’re hopping in the time machine again to go back to the May 2016 issue of Romantic Times to look at the new releases and reviews!This issue caused some big questions.Coke or Pepsi?Backstreet Boys or NSYNC?Did you worry about spontaneous combustion?Should I read the Midnight, Texas trilogy by Charlaine Harris?How many erotic romance titles in this issue contain the word “dirty?”We have lots to talk about so let’s get started!We also

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46:40

681. RT Rewind: July 2016 Ads & Features

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast ·

2025/08/22

It’s July 2016, and we’re back in the time machine to check out the ads & features from this issue of Romantic Times Magazine!We spot an SBTB friend in the letters to the editor, and we talk about romances translated into English, the appeal of the wounded hero, and we spot an ad that’s very clearly some Tay-fic, as I’m calling it. We also discuss an article about Kickstarter in romance – and this is 2016. Look how far we’ve come – and how much RT had its finger on the pulse of new trends.The

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1:31:14

679. RT Rewind: July 2016 Reviews

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast ·

2025/08/08

We’re back! Amanda picked this month’s issue and so we are journeying back to July 2016!We tackle vague reviews that tell us no things.I try to coin a new portmanteau!We come up with the most unhinged romance bingo squares ever – tell us if we should use them!We have some plot summaries that are a RIDE, folks.Hop into our newly refurbished time machine – we needed a bigger drinks fridge – and let’s look at the July 2016 new releases!…Inspired by other Patreon folks, including Chris DeRosa atFixing

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1:03:06

677. Everyone is Lying to You with Jo Piazza

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast ·

2025/07/25

Jo Piazza’s new book,Everyone is Lying to You, is a trad wife influencer murder mystery out this month. I loved this book. Jo has been covering trad wives and influencers for a long, long time – she has a podcast called “Under the Influence,” and has been writing about celebrity culture for most of her career.We are talking about trad wives, celebrity influencers, and how celebrity has changed with social media. We also talk about how and why trad wife influencers are so, well, influential, and how

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48:33

674. Enchanted Romantasy Feasts with Gaby Leon,...

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast ·

2025/07/04

You may know Gaby Leon asHappyGabyCooking on TikTokandInstagram. She’s also the author of a new cookbook!The Enchanted Feastis a gorgeous book filled with recipes inspired by Gaby’s favorite Rrrrrromantasy titles. There are cocktails, snacks, entrees, and terrific cookies and desserts. This episode, and this cookbook, might make you hungry.If you’re thinking you might need to check out this cookbook, yes, yes you do. And if you’ve got a potluck coming up, this book has you covered.Inspired by other

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1:12:34

673. RT Rewind: May 1995 Ads & Features

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast ·

2025/06/27

This is a delightfully unhinged issue. We’ve got a plethora of old-skool covers, weird language about China and Taiwan, Poconos hot tubs, and Elizabeth Lowell is thrown under the bus – twice?Are you one of the most privileged readers in the world? I crave satisfaction in this matter!Don't miss the links and visual aids for this episode - they're at SBTB.com. A few housekeeping notes:In July, I won’t be doing any RT Rewind episodes. This is partly because I have a BUNCH of interviews I am very

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1:57:04

665. RT Rewind - February 2015 Reviews

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast ·

2025/05/02

We are traveling back to February 2015 to take a look at the new releases in RT magazine, and my guest is the cover author, HelenKay Dimon, who also writes thrillers as Darby Kane.This was VERY fun because HelenKay is an author, so she has a different perspective on the magazine, the convention, the reviews, and the way different genres have changed. We cover how HelenKay discovered romance, and how her career has evolved over the years – and of course we talk about all the books.This is a long one

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50:26

662. What’s Deeanne Gist Been Up To? With Dakota Lacoy

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast ·

2025/04/11

What happens when a bestselling and award winning author of historical inspirational romances decides, after a break of a few years, to write spicy contemporary?If you’re Deeanne Gist, you start over from scratch as Dakota Lacoy.Amanda and I were just asking recently what had happened to Deeanne Gist, who wrote some SBTB favorites like Tiffany Girl and Fair Play. Well, as Dakota Lacoy, she’s been busy setting up a series of hot contemporary romantic comedies set in Honky Tonk, Texas, a small town

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49:41

661. RT Rewind: July 2000 Reviews

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast ·

2025/04/04

We’re heading back in time to July 2000 to check out new releases in Romantic Times Magazine!Highlights include:Amanda’s memories of reading Daughter of the Forest, one of her all-time favorite booksA surprising number of 2- and 1-star reviewsA heroine obsessed with pirates!Question: Did you read ebooks before the Kindle was released? What device did you use, if any?Visit the covers and the cool eReader at the episode's SBTB page! Join our Patreon for complete mayhem, shenanigans, and more! Hosted

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56:13

655. RT Rewind: October 2000 Ads & Features

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast ·

2025/02/21

It’s time for the ads and features of the October 2000 Romantic Times magazine, where they’re both talking about new releases AND celebrating their 200th issue.What did we learn?We learned about waxing, magazines, and galleys, but not about skin care, gun parts, or boats.We’ve got Extreme Troy, everyone. Grab a drink and come hang out with us.And don’t miss the visual aids!WE HAVE LINKS.The Angelfire site devoted to Cherif Fortin(warning, loads very slowly, it’s not your internet connection)The

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45:12

654. Dialogue and Shenanigans with Kimberly Lemming

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast ·

2025/02/14

Kimberly Lemming’s new book,I Got Abducted By Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in A Rom-Comis out this week.What’s inside? A fantasy world with underfunded researchers and mishandled animal restoration caused by fiscal irresponsibility, academic malfeasance and nepotism.And talking lions and fire breathing aliens powered by garlic bread.Music: purple-planet.comYou can find Kimberly Lemming ather website, KimberlyLemming.com, and onTikTok,Instagram, andBluesky @KimberlyLemming. Join our Patreon for

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50:38

651. Little Free Libraries and Sports with Savannah...

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast ·

2025/01/24

Savannah Carlisle is the author ofThe Library of Second Chancesand is a sports business reporter and nonfiction author under the name Kristi Dosh.Her romance centers on a Little Free Library, so of course we are talking about that. We also discuss the difficult economies of small coastal towns, and the ways that memories can be attached to a place. Then we talk about sports romance – and why she doesn’t want to write one.CW/TW:At about 18 minutes in, we talk about online harassment Kristi faces and

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57:37

650. “I’m Going to Keep Daring” - Romance and History...

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast ·

2025/01/17

Joanna Shupe posted a TikTok on November 11, 2024, in response to angry readers chastising her for writing in her newsletter about her disappointment with the election results. I have included the audio with her permission.She says in her comments that she could teach a whole class about the parallels between the Gilded Age and the current political and cultural climate, which I am calling The Dumpster Age. I reached out and said,I can’t offer a class, but how about a podcast episode?Joanna was kind

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1:03:49

646. Swashbuckling and Historical Romance Classics...

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast ·

2024/12/20

My guest this week is Elizabeth Hoyt!! This episode was SO MUCH FUN to record and produce and I am so excited to share it with you.We talk about her latest book,No Ordinary Duchess,writer’s block, emotionally constipated heroes, and the special place for sunshiny heroines. Plus we talk about how genres have changed in popularity over the course of her career.Side trips include the magic of writing about people who slowly reveal themselves to one another, K dramas, and a tour through some Georgian

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50:50

644. Fanfic, Generosity, and Really Long Books:...

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast ·

2024/12/06

My guests this week are, in the words of my home vernacular, yinz n’at.We’re traveling all over the country this week and we’re talking about fanfic, finding an unending treasure trove of books to read from a new favorite author, and taking time for restorative actions.There is still time to sign up if you’rea member of the Patreon community! Head over to Patreonand you’ll find the link.We have SO many VERY important links this week.Cat Sebastian’s AO3 BookmarksAO3 useryoucouldmakealifeAO3

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49:11

640. Cozy Witchcraft with Lucy Jane Wood

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast ·

2024/11/08

Lucy Jane Wood’s debut book,Rewitched, is out, and we connected to talk all things cozy, witchcraft, all the different 90s witches in pop culture, and the big feelings around turning an age with a zero on the end. Ultimately, this is a book about a person who wants to keep her own power – a theme I could certainly celebrate!Lucy Jane is also a TikToker and YouTuber with a sizeable following, so we also talk about her best practices for social media as a creator and author.You can find Lucy Jane Wood

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1:05:08

639. RT Rewind: November 2015 Reviews

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast ·

2024/11/01

It’s time to take a look at the new books in November 2015 inside Romantic Times! We’ve got spanking and small towns, and a magazine that seems more targeted toward aspiring writers than readers. That yielded a mixed bag! But we have some books to talk about so let’s get to it!So many small town contemporaries, so many historicals, so many Four Star reviews with word salad. And some cat poo.TW/CW: very brief and nonspecific discussion of abusive relationships in the Erotica section.Please note: I

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45:53

636. Swordcrossed Cozy Romantasy with Freya Marske

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast ·

2024/10/11

Freya Marske’s new bookSwordcrossedis out this week, and she’s joining us from the other side of the planet to talk about what she calls, “Fantasy of manners, mercantile edition.” We also talk about writing fanfic and her new favorite show, Interview with the Vampire.Yes, I did mis-number last week’s episode – sorry about that.Music: purple-planet.com Join our Patreon for complete mayhem, shenanigans, and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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48:21

635. RT Rewind: October 1988 Reviews

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast ·

2024/10/04

It’s time to journey back to the October 1988 issue of Romantic Times!That’s right, we’re going all the way back to 1988, a time when one of us on the show wasn’t born yet. We’ve got absolutely appalling plots, some extremely luscious covers, and more – like Amanda’s engagement!Congrats Amanda and Brian!TW/CW: crappy family tales in the first 4 minutes, and overall, a number of references to enslavement, violence, colonialism, predatory behavior and assault in the reviews.Music:

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