This week, I’m interviewing author Chanel Cleeton about her new book, Next Year in Havana, a dual-timeline mystery and romance set in part against the Cuban revolution. Don’t worry – no spoilers! We talk about the cover, which we hosted a reveal for because it’s simply stunning. We discuss the origin of the book, the ways in which her family influenced the story, and the intricacies created by including political nuance and multiple historical perspectives … Continue reading 284. Romance, Mystery, and the Cuban Revolution: An Interview with Chanel Cleeton →

Amanda and I have a lot to talk about in this episode! First, we chat about the recent episode of The Bachelor that we recapped for Smart Bitches (it was TWO HOURS y’all), and what we (might have) learned about the series by watching one episode. (Clearly, we are now unquestionable experts. *Unquestionable* experts!) We then answer a request for advice from Katie, who is looking to make new friends in her new home outside … Continue reading 283. Making Friends and Finding Bisexual Romance Characters: Recommendations and Advice from Amanda & Sarah →

A Treacherous Curse, the third book in the Veronica Speedwell series is out, so I chat with Deanna Raybourn about the book, the series, and more. We start with dick jokes because obviously, but we also talk about writing mysteries, research, dealing with grief in characters, and the perils of sleuthing. We also discuss similarities and differences between mysteries and romances, and the spaces that are created by women-centered stories in both genres. Special note! … Continue reading 282. Sleuthing, Victorian Women, and Dick Jokes: A Conversation with Deanna Raybourn →

Hooray! Thanks to Politics and Prose on the Wharf, I have the audio of the November 29, 2017, panel with Alisha Rai and Alyssa Cole, Romance and the Resistance. We talk about their favorite scenes in one another’s books, and which character is an homage to Alisha’s dating life (heads up for the Alisha Rai Dating Story Fans, we have a great one in here). We also discuss joy, romance, and the ambition of happiness … Continue reading 281. Alyssa Cole and Alisha Rai: Romance and the Resistance from Politics and Prose →

Amanda, Carrie, Elyse, Redheadedgirl and I look forward to many, many things in 2018, most of them books. Amanda has a recommendation for a book she really liked that came out on January 2, but I made her wait for the 2018 podcast because I’m terrible. We take a quick glance at the current rankings of the Chris list, Redheadedgirl takes a look at the movies she’s very much looking forward to, and we discuss … Continue reading 280. We Look Ahead to 2018 →

Amanda, Carrie, Elyse, RedHeadedGirl and I sit down to look back at 2017, the things we enjoyed and treasured, and the books we loved that got us through the year. We talk a little about the high-grade, high-potency medicinal romances we discovered this year, and what authors we count on for that kind of read. We cover movies, music, and other uplifting pieces of entertainment that give us a lift this year. Expect many recommendations!

Sarah and Amanda take on your reader rec requests! We’ve got historical romances, historical fantasy with knitting, Jewish protagonists, heroines who save the hero, terminology to find the books you’re looking for, romances about single mothers, and historical erotica with menage. Amanda asks after Sarah’s romance writing, and, as expected, we talk about a lot of books. A lot. Of Books. Chance of cat and dog during the podcast? 85%!

Author Sonali Dev is back with us to talk about her new book – and here are some words in a very tempting order: a retelling of Rapunzel set in Mumbai. Her latest, A Distant Heart, comes out on 12/26, and we talk about the story, the angst level, and how these two characters came to be. We also discuss the common elements between this book and her last novel, A Change of Heart, and … Continue reading 277. Retelling Rapunzel in Mumbai: An Interview with Sonali Dev →

This week, I have a long conversation with prior guest of the podcast and Romance Writers of America President-elect HelenKay Dimon, who is also the author of more than fifty romances. We talk about what exactly RWA is, and what it does, what it means to be on the board, and what it means to be President-Elect. We discuss the changes in recent years and what the goals of the organization are, and we talk … Continue reading 276. An Interview With RWA President Elect HelenKay Dimon →

Amanda and I talk about the behind the scenes elements of running Smart Bitches, and what parts we love most of all. We discuss our favorite features and how some of them came to be. We also talk a little about how we organize our reading for SBTB and for other outlets (SPOILER: There are spreadsheets involved – and I’ll link to mine in the show notes) and how we schedule and track our reading … Continue reading 275. Reading, Writing, and the Power of Dairy: A Little Behind the Scenes with Amanda and Sarah →

This week, we are saying thank you to the authors who wrote books that made our lives better. This episode was inspired in part by Tom Petty. After Tom Petty died, I saw and heard so many people online and off talking about how much his music had meant to them. And reading those tributes and others this year me think about the people who have created things I value and treasure, and how I … Continue reading 274: We Say Thank You to Everyone Many, Many Times →