Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast

Once Upon a Time, Princess Mabel van Oranje, founder Vow for Girls, an organization dedicated to ending child marriage, met Stacey Abrams, author and the former minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives.They hatched a plan to unite the romance community with Vow for Girls, which led to Every Girl Deserves Happily Ever After. Today, Princess Mabel and Stacey Abrams are here to tell us all about it.Please be aware we are talking about child marriage in the US and around the world, about childbirth, trauma, domestic violence and gender inequality.We are also talking about inspiration, hope, and determination – if you need a lift right now, you might find it here.You can find out more about Vow for Girls: Every Girl Deserves Happily Ever After online.You can find Princess Mabel van Oranje on LinkedIn and on Instagram.You can find Stacey Abrams at StaceyAbrams.com.We also discussed:The Elders organization founded by Nelson Mandela(PDF) Devolution’s Discord: Resolving Operational Dissonance with the UBIT Exemption (1999)The Fistula FoundationMusic: Purple-Planet.com

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 Loose Cravat: Romantic Times vs PlaygirlAn interview with Cherif FortinBertriceSmall.com and the auction that ended in December 2024An eBay listing for the comic “Romance Novel Madness”Waxing galleys!

Kimberly Lemming’s new book, I Got Abducted By Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in A Rom-Com is 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 at her website, KimberlyLemming.com, and on TikTok, Instagram, and Bluesky @KimberlyLemming. 

RT is celebrating their 200th issue, and we’re celebrating, too!We’ve got the OG Monster Schtupping book, a guy whose arm appears to end in a ham, and some incredible covers. You know I’m going to tell you not to miss the visual aids, but I mean it.There’s a series where the focus of every cover illustration is someone's backside? It's wild.You can find all the visual aids here.We also mentioned:Tazo Glazed Lemon Loaf TeaConstant Comment Decaf (Bigelow)Orange and Spice Tea (Bigelow)Marilyn Hagerty, reviewer extraordinaire (Wikipedia)The Rec League: Feminist FantasyMy review of Who’s the Daddy by Judy Christenberry

My guest today is Candy Tan, who 20 years ago co-founded Smart Bitches Trashy Books with me. Yay!!We’re looking back at the founding of SBTB, about her reactions to Bridgerton, and her perennial favorite romances. We talk about different ways that romance has changed since 2005. Then I show Candy the casting photos for the Black Dagger Brotherhood adaptation.You can find Candy @BeautifulDuckweed on Bluesky, on AO3, and on Tumblr.We also mentioned:MrsGiggles.comLayla F SaadThe Reddit thread with all the images of the Black Dagger Brotherhood casting.Music: purple-planet.comCheck out the Fits Everybody Collection at https://www.skims.com/sarah #skimspartner

Savannah Carlisle is the author of The Library of Second Chances and 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 some of the comments fans make about her. If you want to skip that part, move ahead 2 minutes.You can find Savannah Carlisle at her website, SavannahCarlisle.com. She’s on Instagram and TikTok @SavvyCarlisle.You can find Kristi Dosh at her website, KristiDosh.com, and on socials @Sportsbizmiss.We also mentioned:The Montgomery BiscuitsThe Jersey DinersThe Rocket City Trash PandasThe Jacksonville Jumbo ShrimpMusic: purple-planet.com