218 episodes

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 Rewind episodes, where we take a look at old issues of Romantic Times Magazine (1981-2018). Frequent topics include romance novels, the way the genre is changing, and the brilliant and interesting people who read, write, and produce it, and issues common among romance readers. Plus, we always recommend some books we're reading and really enjoying. Learn more at SB-TB.com/Podcast.
Join our Patreon for complete mayhem, shenanigans, and more!
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Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast Sarah Wendell

    • Arts

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 Rewind episodes, where we take a look at old issues of Romantic Times Magazine (1981-2018). Frequent topics include romance novels, the way the genre is changing, and the brilliant and interesting people who read, write, and produce it, and issues common among romance readers. Plus, we always recommend some books we're reading and really enjoying. Learn more at SB-TB.com/Podcast.
Join our Patreon for complete mayhem, shenanigans, and more!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    617. A Romance Soundtracks Sampler

    617. A Romance Soundtracks Sampler

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

    616. Reading Rubrics with Shana

    In a review for Never Cross a Highlander, Shana came up with the ACAB scale, or the Alyssa Cole Anti-Slavery Book Scale, which ranks how central the horror of slavery is to the storyline. I asked her to tell me all about it, and Shana, kindly, said yes.Our conversation grows (of course) to include the field of narrative therapy and bibliotherapy, other evaluative rubrics for reading, and the subgenres, professions, settings we can, and cannot, relax into.
    NB: I had a cold when we recorded, so apologies for my very low voice.
    You can find Shana here at SBTB, and on Instagram @BlackBabeReads.
    We also mentioned:
    Shana’s review of Never Cross a HighlanderCarrie’s review of Ana María and the FoxMy interview with Erica Ridley about her Winchesters series 
    Music: purple-planet.com
    Special offer from Lume: New customers get 15% off ALL Lume products with our exclusive code and link. Use code SARAH15 at LumeDeodorant.com.
    Join our Patreon for complete mayhem, shenanigans, and more!
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    • 50 min
    615. RT Rewind: May 1994 Ads & Features

    615. RT Rewind: May 1994 Ads & Features

    Amanda and I are traveling back in time to May 1994 and taking a look at the ads and features inside Romantic Times Magazine – oh, it’s a time.
    We have questions – and answers!
    Are Eric Braeden and Victor Newman the same guy? 
    Is Kathryn Falk writing celebrity gossip and outing people? 
    Are there Lorena Bobbit jokes? 
    Were Glamour Shots™ very well represented among author headshots? 
    We had a great time looking at the reviews, and the ads & features do not disappoint.
    Don’t miss the visual aids. Seriously. There’s crooning.
    Thank you to Mari the Romance Girl for this issue!
    Music: purple-planet.com
    Join our Patreon for complete mayhem, shenanigans, and more!
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    • 1 hr 5 min
    614. Dollar Princesses and Marriages of Convenience with Harper St. George

    614. Dollar Princesses and Marriages of Convenience with Harper St. George

    Harper St. George joins me to talk about The Stranger I Wed (look at that gorgeous cover) and the dollar princesses of the Gilded Age. We talk about transactional marriages, the power dynamics of marriages of convenience – and Harper has a few recommendations of her favorites!
    You can find Harper St. George at her website, HarperStGeorge.com, and on Instagram @HarperStGeorge.
    We also mentioned:
    Clayton, the preserved home of the Frick family in Pittsburgh, PAAlmina Wombwell Herbert, Countess of CarnarvonHistory Tea Time with Lindsay Holiday – YouTube – Dollar Princesses
    Join our Patreon for complete mayhem, shenanigans, and more!
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    • 46 min
    613. RT Rewind: May 1994 Reviews

    613. RT Rewind: May 1994 Reviews

    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
    Join our Patreon for complete mayhem, shenanigans, and more!
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    • 1 hr
    612. Poetry in Scots with Len Pennie

    612. Poetry in Scots with Len Pennie

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

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