Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

45. Interview with Kristen Ashley

In this week's podcast, Kristen Ashley talks with us about writing younger characters, a departure from her usual writing, she says, and about her interactions with her fans. She also tells us about her favorite reader interactions, and what her writing life is like. This interview was a lot of fun, in part because she knows her characters, and her readers, so well.

Here are the books we discussed during this podcast:

This week's music was provided by Sassy Outwater, and this track is called Martha Stuart by Enter the Haggis. You can find them on their website and you can find them on iTunes as well.

If you like the podcast, you can subscribe to our feed, or find us at iTunes. You can also find us at PodcastPickle.

You can email… read more »

44. More on the DABWAHA, Plus Reader Questions about Triad Erotic Romances

We start by taking a look at the reader nominations while they were still in the process of being decided, and we talk about the DAWBWAHA tournament and how it works. Then we answer a reader letter about erotic romance polyamory and triad romances. Here are the books we talk about in this episode:

read more »

43. The DABWAHA, What We’re Reading, and Listener Voicemail and Email

Sarah and Jane talk about the 2013 DABWAHA: what it is, what it means, and how it works! We also talk about what we're reading, plus we answer listener voicemail and email.

Here are the books we mentioned in this week's podcast:

The music this week was provided by Sassy Outwater, and the track is called Calgary Caper and it's by the Peatbog Faeries from their album Dust. You can find them at their website, or at iTunes.

If you like the Podcast, you can subscribe to our feed, or find us at iTunes. You can also find us at PodcastPickle.

You can email us at sbjpodcast@gmail.com, or you can call and leave us a message at our Google voice number: 201-371-DBSA. Please don't forget to give us a name and where you're calling from so… read more »

42. Cheating Romances and Male-Male Romance

More reader mail! Jane and Sarah answer letters about cheating and infidelity in romances, and one reader's ethical concerns about male/male romance.

This week's music was provided by Sassy Outwater, and this track is called "Dragons," by a Parisian group called Caravan Palace. You can find their album, "Caravan Palace," on iTunes, and you can find the band on MySpace and Facebook.

If you like the Podcast, you can subscribe to our feed, or find us at iTunes. You can also find us at PodcastPickle.

… read more »

41. Plot Moppets and Pet Moppets

Time for another podcast! We answer a reader letter from Elyse about kids and pets in romance - and how often they become matchmaking plot devices. Plus, while I'm reading Elyse's letter, you'll hear my dogs being podcast moppets in the background.

We also talk about what we're currently reading, including a discussion of Lisa Kleypas' upcoming novel, Crystal Cove.

Here are the books we discuss in this podcast: 

40. Listener Mail - and A Quiz!

We start with a quiz that was entirely inspired by Linda Holmes' Television Pop Quiz on Pop Culture Happy Hour. Sarah challenges Jane to identify which book description is an actual book. Jane does abominably well - five correct, two wrong.

Then we tackle reader mail. AWESOME reader mail. Or listener mail? Either way, you wrote, we respond. We talk about a whole assortment of topics thanks to your way-too-interesting email messages.

A word about the sound. You might notice that Jane sounds a bit different. I could try to say that we had some technical difficulties, but the truth is, I threw her down a well and made her record from the murky depths under the bucket. She knows why.

And we have a special addition to the podcast entry this week!

One of the email messages we answered was from Kathryn, who wanted to know why Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series isn't shelved in romance:

I find them the perfect mix of romance, humor, suspense, and time jumping that I marathoned all of them from the library. 

So my question is this, why are those books not… read more »

39. Getting the Billionaires Right

Jane and Sarah discuss getting the habits and attitudes of billionaires right - and when depictions of wealth in some romances leave us laughing. We also talk about burgling Nalini Singh's home, and the books we're looking forward to in 2013.

Here are the books (and shoes and handbags and documentaries and magazines) we discuss in this episode: 

Our music in each episode is provided by Sassy Outwater. This podcast features a song by Three Mile Stone titled "Snug in the Blanket." You can find out more about Three Mile Stone at their website or on iTunes.

Many huge thanks to Harlequin… read more »

38. Blue Collar Heroes

In this episode, we attempt to define blue collar romance heroes - and figure out whether they really exist. We talk about what drives Sarah nuts about sex scenes and erotica. And then, can Jane convince Sarah not to read the Kristen Ashley books?

Here are the books we discuss in this episode:

Our music is provided by Sassy… read more »

37. Holiday Romances!

This week: holiday romances! What we don't like about them (kind of a lot of things) and a few books that we do like. Plus, we attempt to answer the burning question, "How many Christmas brides are there?" Plus Jane tells us about one of her favorite old-style Regency romances.

Here are the books we talk about in this episode:

Many huge thanks to Harlequin for sponsoring the podcast. They have things to tell you! Here's one:

read more »

36. An Interview with Kat from BookThingo

Kat from BookThingo organized a tea to welcome me to Australia, and I sat down with her afterward to talk more about reading, reviewing and romance readers in Australia.  She also shared some authors and book titles she was most excited about, particularly Australian authors.

Here are the books we talked about in the podcast:

The three publishers Kat mentioned are:

Destiny Romance… read more »

35. Books as Gifts

In this episode, Sarah and Jane talk about books as gifts! We've crafted a mini book gift guide for different folks, talking about books we've given as gifts in the past. We've got suggestions if you're looking to give someone a book, and surprise! our recommendations are not just romance!

Here are some of the books we talk about in this episode:

read more »

34. Study in Seduction, Listener Mail, and the DoJ

In this podcast, Jane and Sarah disagree mightily about a book they've both read, Study in Seduction by Nina Rowan. Jane liked it, Sarah did not, and we debate the reasons why some parts of the book worked for one but didn't work for the other. We disagree so many times in this podcast, you might think we're going to meet out back and start dueling. One of us might have thrown a glove.

We both love quirky and intellectual heroines, but as usual our reading tastes do not line up - it's a rare thing when we both like the same book.

We also answer some more reader mail about our podcast episode on serial fiction, and Jane answers some of Sarah's questions about the Department of Justice settlement.

Here are the books we discuss in this week's podcast: 

We also mention a reader picture in the podcast - and have a look. It's the desk drawer of magical plenty! 

read more »

33. Listener Mail: Your Questions, Our Answers

This episode is all about listener mail! We respond to email and voice mail messages and discuss humorous romance, romances with GLBT secondary characters, and recommendations for folks asking for ideas of what to read next.

This week's music was provided by Sassy Outwater, and this track is called Martha Stuart by Enter the Haggis. You can find them on their website and you can find them on iTunes as well.

Many huge thanks to Harlequin for sponsoring the podcast. They have things to tell you! Here's one:

Calling all budding romance authors!… read more »

32. Serial Fiction in Romance

Podcast time! This week, Jane and Sarah discuss serial fiction, whether it works for us as readers and why it's a trend that's happening now. We talk about what we're reading and reviewing, plus the podcast begins with one of the best opening lines we've recorded yet.

Here are the books we discuss this week:

         read more »

31. RWA Interview with Molly O’Keefe and Stephanie Doyle

This is the final interview from RWA. I had two more brief interviews but alas, the background noise made it very hard to distinguish the audio, so I apologize that I can't add them to the podcast. The next time I see WahooSuze, I'm dragging her to a quiet place to chat with the small digital mic.

This interview with Stephanie Doyle and Molly O'Keefe took place on the day of the RITAs, and they were kind enough hot provide Coronas for all. So it's a very relaxed and candid interview. We talk about romance and how it deals with sex and sexuality -- and the ways in which romance sex is both powerful and also completely unrealistic and at times utterly bizarre. I also talk to both authors about their books that are coming up, and what unique ideas they're including in the story.

Here are the books we discuss in the podcast:

  read more »