Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast

After mentioning Heather Graham, one of the Grande Dames of RT, so many times while recapping issues of Romantic Times, I got to sit down with her to talk about her career, the way the industry has changed, and of course, her memories of Romantic Times, both the magazine and the convention.We talk about…Her memories of meeting Kathryn FalkThe earliest Romantic Times ConventionsHer incredible RT partiesThe work of hosting conferences.Heather has had one of the most interesting career paths, and this is a guest with whom I could just turn on the mic and say, “Please, tell me everything.”TW/CW: At 48:40, there is a discussion of groping, and if you’d like to avoid it, please skip ahead one minute.You can find Heather Graham at her website, TheOriginalHeatherGraham.com, and find all her short stories under “For My Readers.” You can also sign up for her newsletter.We also mentioned:JR Ward meets WrathThe full collection of JR Ward meeting the different actors in full hair and makeup – please note she is really overcome and crying at one pointBoucherCon, the World Mystery Convention Music:Purple-planet.com

My guest today is Lux Raven, author of the Siren’s duology that starts with Siren’s Mark, which came out – together – in early October. Lux wanted to join me on the podcast to talk about disability portrayals in romance, and about her own journey to diagnosis and how it influenced her writing – and vice versa.We talk a lot about the pernicious ableism in the writing of disabled characters, and about writing your catnip when you desperately want to see your experience in a romance.Last week was Invisible Disabilities Week, and we timed this episode on purpose. So if you’re dealing with an invisible disability, we see you. You are loved and if no one has told you today, you’re fabulous.TW/CW: at 16:50, we discuss antifat bias and misogyny in medical care, and if you’d like to skip over that, it’s about 1 minute total.Music:purple-planet.com

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 see all of them.So hop into the time machine, we’ve got the snacks, and we’re off to May 2016.Patreon folks, you have an extended cut of this episode, available through the app or through your private feed.We also mentioned Elyse’s review of Imagines, complete with Amanda’s specialty Photoshop....Please consider joining our Patreon campaign to turn off all the dynamic insertion ads. We're more than halfway there!

I’m bringing back a classic episode from the archives of the show, and because she has excellent taste, Amanda said it should be this one. When I originally published this episode, I focused on how silly we were – and we are plenty silly.But since then Amanda and I have talked about the fact that when we recorded this, we were, in fact, baked out of our gourds.So it’s a different kind of time travel: We’re going back to June 22, 2018, when Amanda, Elyse, and I were cruising on the special herbs at the Romantic Times BookLovers convention in May – the last RT convention.You can see how many full circles that is – I think this is why Amanda suggested this episode.We’re going to talk about Amanda’s weakness for Val Kilmer, the ranking of Hemsworths in order of physical density, how bad of a style icon was Anita Blake really? And can Amanda and Elyse find a villain hero I’d be interested in? Nah.As I said in the original intro:This is what happens when Sarah, Amanda, and Elyse get really silly, and stop making sense. And given that this has been A Rough Week, we hope you enjoy our completely bubbly, goofy, discussion.It’s still been a rough week! So I hope this makes you laugh....We're on our way to turning off the pre- and post-show dynamic ads, and we're halfway! If you join the Patreon, you're helping me turn them all off, and you're supporting the show, while also getting some fabulous benefits. Visit patreon.com/smartbitches for more info.

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 mentioned:Our review of Summer Supernovas by Darcy WoodsElyse’s review of Sleeping Giants by Sylvain NeuvelAmanda’s review of the Sleeping Giants audiobook.

Alexandra Vasti is back, because her new historical romance Ladies in Hating is out this week!We are going to talk about:Good angsty yearningWhen a character is their love interest’s bitch eating crackersLesbians in history!Erotic Victorian fictionSide trips include historical publishing houses, how nothing in romance is new, and how a lot of our current erotica, including that book where someone schtupps a door, is connected to books with the same sexual pairings in the Victorian era.You can find your copy of Ladies in Hating wherever you most like to acquire your books. And if your library doesn’t have it, ask them to order it for you!And don't miss Alexandra's last appearance on the show in Episode 664. Haunted Abbeys and Hidden History with Alexandra Vasti!...Please consider joining our Patreon to help turn off dynamic insertion ads for everyone: patreon.com/smartbitches

It’s the 90s so the Ads and Features from the August 1996 issue of Romantic Times are a treasure trove of confusion. We’ve got:A tour of Jude Deveraux’s Grade II Listed Home in SuffolkBarbara Cartland perfumesHow should emoji faces be written? Nose or no nose?What is the appeal of “nursing him back to health” plots?And RT is going to answer the eternal question that has plagued womankind throughout the ages. It’s a doozy.We mentioned:Anne Rice: A Critical Companion by Jennifer Crusie (eBay) (Thriftbooks)Barbara Cartland perfumes (eBay)The Perfume Society’s remembrance of John Bailey, former president and personal perfumer to Barbara Cartland (that’s a job!?)Jude Deveraux’s former home in Suffolk, Ketton HouseIs this Peter Gallagher? Join the Patreon, and help me turn off pre- and post-show ads: Patreon.com/smartbitches

The second book in Holly Black’s Night duology, Thief of Night, is out now, and I was so excited to talk with her about it.We start right off by talking about creepy places – like, what kind of magic comes out of Jersey?Then we talk about world building, starting with atmosphere instead of plot, and the intricacies of shadow magic in her duology. Plus, we squee about books we’ve loved, magic powers we wish we had, and Kelly Clarkson.Truly, if you’re writing romance, this episode contains many pieces of advice and perspective – it’s a banger.Remember: you can’t hide from your own secrets.You can find Holly Black at her website, BlackHolly.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter, and on Instagram.We also mentioned:Drowned TownsLost towns of the Quabbin reservoirHolly Black in People MagazineHolly Black on The Kelly Clarkson Show---If you'd like to join the Patreon to help me disable all dynamic insertion ads, you can check out the details at patreon.com/smartbitches. Thank you!

We’re going back to August 1996 – that’s a bit of distance – to take a peek at the new releases and the book reviews in Romantic Times magazine.We’re back in the era of time travel, a scifi imprint named Avonova, and probable worms.NSFW worms.As usual, we learn astonishing amounts of unexpected information from this magazine. For example: we’re both obsessed with the 1996 movie Twister and we have many thoughts on tornadoes.Content warnings: the following episode contains discussions of large worms, racist language in 29 year old reviews, and spiders. Worm discussion: 5 minutes long at 35:00Spider discussion: 47 seconds long at 45:00We also mentioned:The Galactic Gourmet has its own Wiki page.NSFW! Google Search “the fat inkeeper”NSFW! Urechis unicinctus – the wormThe Monterrey Bay Aquarium: “The fat innkeeper worm: your shelter-in-place inspiration”The Mummers Parade Wiki pageSpecial thanks to the sponsor for this week's episode: The Spite Date by Pippa Grant, available in KU, special print edition, and/or duet narration audiobook.