Amanda and I talk food, Key West, more food, writing bilingual characters, family drama, food, baseball, and writing with Priscilla Oliveras. Her latest book, Anchored Hearts, is out now, and there is SO much to discuss. This book made Amanda full on sob, and we have a really good time talking to Priscilla about it (don’t worry – no spoilers!). If you caught my goof last week, that was episode 453, not 463. I’m ahead … Continue reading 454. Anchored Hearts and Appetites with Priscilla Oliveras →

Uzma Jalaluddin joins Amanda and me to talk about Hana Khan Carries On, which caused one of us some Bad Decisions Book Club membership. We discuss the book (no spoilers, don’t worry!) and the fabulous podcasting heroine, Hana, who’s got a You’ve Got Mail kind of relationship with the owner of a rival Halal restaurant. We cover representation, gorgeous cover art, and writing about characters finding and using their voices. It’s so much fun – … Continue reading 453. Uzma Jalaluddin and Hana Khan Carries On – with Bonus COVID Vaccine Info with Dr. Jen Gunter →

The latest book in Anna Lee Huber’s Lady Darby series is out, and she’s my guest this week to talk all about it. If you haven’t read this book yet, there are no spoilers, so fear not! And if you haven’t read the series, this might tempt you to try it (it’s great) because we’re going to talk about history. A Wicked Conceit has several relevant parallels to life right now.  History totally went through … Continue reading 452. Historical Pandemics and Ye Olde Social Media with Anna Lee Huber →

Victoria Helen Stone has a new book out! The Last One Home is a dual-timeline domestic thriller in the genre of “Earl Had to Die.” In this conversation, we discuss her moving from writing romance as Victoria Dahl to writing domestic suspense and thrillers, growing up in poverty, and the power of nostalgia. Then Victoria figures out a key reason why “Earl Had to Die” books about revenge are so very satisfying. There are some … Continue reading 451. More Earl Had to Die: Victoria Helen Stone’s The Last One Home →

This week I am joined by Shani and Bridget from the Romance at a Glance podcast! We talk about their current season, where they’re focusing on dark romances, and about podcasting. Then, we talk about a book. For this episode, we all read Draekon Mate: Exiled to the Prison Planet. Check this blurb: “Crashed spaceship. Prison planet. Snarling, lethal predators. Two big, hulking, bronzed aliens who turn into dragons. The best part? The dragons insist … Continue reading 450. Dragons on the Sex Planet with Shani and Bridget from Romance at a Glance →

As a follow up to last week’s podcast, I share the broadcast of Amanda and I making peanut butter and mayo sandwiches, inspired by folks who have shared strong opinions. Yes, we eat PB and Mayo sandwiches. Live on air. I’m sorry. But we also talk a LOT about cookies so if you’re hungry, maybe have snacks before you press play? We also cover: Good roommate code of behavior The culinary roles of the Wendy’s … Continue reading 449. PB & Mayo Sandwiches (and Girl Scout Cookies) With Amanda and Sarah →

Need a break? How about highlights from another Stereo broadcast with Amanda and me! We started by asking what keeps folks feeling happy (pizza FTW), but when we bring up mayonnaise, things go way off the rails. Way, way off the rails. We are going to cover crucial debates and fundamental food opinions such as: the egg-continuum of quiche to pie whether a food is a soup or a quesadilla is red velvet the Very … Continue reading 448. Strong Food Opinions and Sandwich Debates With Amanda and Sarah →

Sometimes I’m fortunate enough to do an interview with an author I’ve never met, but with whom there’s an instant connection. That happened for Amanda and me last year when we interviewed Sarah J. Maas in Episode 395.. And now, Sarah J. Mass is back, nearly one year later to the date, to talk about her new book, A Court of Silver Flames, and about sexytimes, the magic romance house, rage, mental health, and re-reading … Continue reading 447. Hanging Out with Sarah J. Maas →

Caroline Perny, Publicity Manager at Tor, joins us to talk about what books are coming out in 2021. We recorded in mid-November, so we start by talking about carbs, which is a perennial subject, and about genre descriptors, which are perennial as well. But the books? OH we have a LOT to tell you about. If you like sci fi, fantasy, speculative, We talk about books from 2020 that you might have missed, and what’s … Continue reading 446. Fantasy and Sci Fi in 2021 With Caroline Perny from Tor →

Every Tuesday night at 730ET, Amanda and I are live on Stereo (download and join us at stereo.com/smartbitches!) and this is one of our broadcasts! This is a live recommendation extravaganza: witches, baking, mysteries, older heroines, and great audiobook suggestions. Plus we daydream about what we’ll do when the world opens up, and I share my theory of the universal expression of human love. … Podcast After Party! Tune in Tuesdays at 730pm ET on … Continue reading 445. Hot Locksmith Action, Dumplings, and Murder: Book Recs from Amanda and Sarah →

Rose Lerner has a new Audible exclusive audiobook out this week, The Wife in the Attic. It’s a f/f retelling of Jane Eyre (I just heard a whole bunch of you one-click to buy) and fear not, the ebook will be released later this year. In this episode, Rose and I chat about the differences between Gothic and historical romances, and why (and when) Gothics surge in popularity. We also talk about the subgenre I’m … Continue reading 444. The Wife in the Attic: All Things Gothic and More with Rose Lerner →