Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: Reviews, Interviews, and Discussion About All the Romance Novels You Love to Read

Sarah chats with Robin Bradford, known as @Tuphlos on Twitter, and the 2016 RWA Librarian of the Year! They discuss how collection development works, what her responsibilities are, and how she acquires different materials for her library system. They also cover how library acquisitions and methods of cataloging genre fiction have changed since she started her career as a librarian. The conversation touches on greater inclusivity in library collections and on librarians accepting and acquiring self published materials - related topics given how much increased racial and cultural representation is found particularly in self-published genre fiction.

If you’re not familiar with Chuck Tingle, prepare to have your life irrevocably changed. Dr. Tingle is the author of world-famous books such as My Billionaire Triceratops Craves Gay Ass, Pounded by the Gay Color Changing Dress, Pounded in the Butt by my Book, “Pounded in the Butt by My Book,” Slammed in the Butt by My Hugo Award Nomination, Feeling the Bern in my Butt, Pounded by the Pound: Turned Gay by the Socioeconomic Implications of Britain Leaving the European Union, and Pokebutt Go: Pounded By ‘Em All. His bio is equally diverting: Hugo Award nominee Dr. Chuck Tingle is an erotic author and Tae Kwon Do grandmaster (almost black belt) from Billings, Montana. After receiving his PhD at DeVry University in holistic massage, Chuck found himself fascinated by all things sensual, leading to his creation of the "tingler", a story so blissfully erotic that it cannot be experienced without eliciting a sharp tingle down the spine. Recently on Twitter, he did an AMA wherein I asked if he’d be a guest. To my complete shock and utter joy, he agreed. Tingle’s books and his online persona are surreal and fascinating, and so is this interview. I had a number of questions from podcast listeners and Patreon supporters, plus several questions of my own, and Dr. Tingle was kind enough to answer all of them. We talk about Tingle’s mission to prove love and prove that love is real, and dealing with people who are not on your wavelength. He talks about educating buckaroos, how one becomes a buckaroo or a lady buck, and why he doesn’t want to write about famous women in the news and in current events. Dr. Tingle also mentions his GoFundMe, to help people avoid thinking about the man with wieners for hair and benefitting the Billings Public Library, and we discuss his experience with his Hugo nomination, and what books he is working on now. SPECIAL NOTE: I know many people listen to podcasts at 1.25 or 1.5 speed - I definitely do. I want to encourage you to drop the speed down to normal levels for this episode because of the way Dr. Tingle speaks. He has a unique cadence to his speech, and if you listen at regular speeds, you should be good.

After losing the audio for the first interview conducted at RWA, I talk to Tracey Livesay for the second time - special thanks to Tracey for agreeing to speak twice! We talk about her experience at RWA this year, being starstruck when meeting Beverly Jenkins, and attending a conference during the release week of her book, Love on my Mind. She discusses her favorite sessions at RWA, and we debate who her cover model looks like. Tracey also talks about writing characters with Aspergers, reading social cues, and being one of many recovering attorneys writing romance, as well as her gateway to the romance genre, and the power of saying, “This is OUR genre, and it belongs to US,” as a reader, and as a writer.

Sarah chats with Ashleigh Gardner from Wattpad, who has been a guest of the podcast previously, about Muslim romance on Wattpad. They discuss the growing collection of romances by and about Muslims that are tremendously popular, and some of the very familiar tropes and plot hooks being explored - converting the bad boy, arranged marriages, surprise encounter with a rock star, etc. They also cover other trends that aren’t represented much in mainstream publishing that are growing exponentially inside this community, and what happens when readers say, “I don’t see me, so I’m writing me.” Plus! Your email messages and voice mail recordings helping us celebrate our 200th episode by talking about the books that made each of us into romance readers.

After many conversations online about Dragon Age: Inquisition that introduced more romance fans to this game, Sarah sits down with Amanda and Bree Bridges to talk about video games. Both are seasoned players of many different games, and they talk about the ones that got them started, and the ones they recommend for romance fans and new players alike.

Sarah chats with Lisa Kleypas about her upcoming historical Marrying Winterbourne, and about the ecstatic fan response to the upcoming book Devil in Spring. This episode was recorded shortly after her announcement, which made a lot of people in romance fandom very, very happy. They discuss writing in the Industrial Era amid inventions and societal changes, and talk about writing books that stand up to the three-in-the-morning test among readers. There are also some questions from Patreon podcast supporters, too.

Back in March, Amanda and I did an interview with Emily Nagoski, and she agreed to take listener queries from all of you once her semester was over. It’s done! We’ve got questions, and answers. We discuss pain, orgasm, shame, and fantasy, sex and sexuality, masturbation, orgasm, pain during sex, better paths toward orgasm, sex games for fun and enjoyment, ethical porn and feminist porn. Thank you for trusting me with your letters so that I could relay them to Emily, and thank you for trusting us both with your problems. You are definitely not alone. WARNING: at about the hour mark, we begin discussing a letter that may be triggering for many of you. There’s plenty of verbal warning from both of us, and Emily gives a short TL;DR answer to some of the questions raised, but if you are sensitive to discussions of sexual abuse and rape fantasy, please be aware that this portion of the podcast may be upsetting. I want you to feel safe while you’re listening. Listener discretion is advised.

Sarah, Amanda, Carrie, Elyse, and Redheadedgirl gather to talk about the book that made them romance readers, and the romance that changed their lives in some way. We of course start off with TMI discussions about pet farts, and ask really important questions like what would happen if Stephanie Plum was sent back in time, and what books are required for the zombie apocalypse? We also have some special guest callers telling us about the books that made them romance readers! I put out a request to the Patreon supporters to ask them to call our Google Voice number and leave a message answering all my nosy questions to make sure the voicemail audio would still work for the podcast. It does! So, thanks to the Patreon volunteers, we have some special guests mixed in with our discussion, plus I got Sassy Outwater on the phone, too, because she was doing the dishes and couldn’t get away from my calling her. We want to hear about the book that made you a romance reader! Just dial +1 201.371.3272, and leave a voicemail telling me about the book that made you a romance reader. And if you can’t call, just record an audio file and email it to me! A R This is a long episode, but hey, we’re celebrating. Come celebrate with us!

Sarah and Mel Jolly discuss the two workshops they’re giving at RWA: one on newsletters and one on hiring a virtual assistant. They discuss organization, newsletters, pens, time management, and building efficient habits. Mel also shares what books have rocked her world. NB: it’s slightly TMI in the beginning as they discuss the benefits of conferences where you’re surrounded by women.

Sarah interviews Shelly Laurenston, and tries very very hard to keep herself together through the excitement. We talk about the book that brought Shelly into writing paranormal romance, and how her mother inspired her heroines. We talk about writing badass sisterhoods in romance, exploring different paranormal romance series, and identifying the elements of alpha women. There’s also reminiscing about Kate Duffy, one of Shelly’s original editors at Kensington, and talk about some seriously scary books Shelly reads for research. She also shares news about Call of Crows book 3 - and who the hero and heroine will be!

Two episodes in a row with an abundance of Sara(h)s! Sara Brady is a copyeditor of many books, including many romances. Full disclosure: she copyedited my novella, Lighting the Flames. My entirely biased opinion: she does a terrific job. We discuss in depth what a copyeditor does, and how her job works. We make terrible copyediting jokes, and how the choices of context and language have large consequences. There’s also a discussion of words we hate, and books we love, including a recommendation from Sara that I think many of you will want to read. Bonus extra at the end after the outro music: gardening! Sarah nerds out about gardening.

Sarah chats with Sarah Morgan about American weather, the Berlin Love Letter Convention, and the importance and delight of meeting romance readers. They also discuss finding community in small towns and in big cities, and explore Sarah Morgan’s new series, From Manhattan With Love.

If you've been following us on social media, you might have seen that there's a crowdfunding campaign to help Sassy Outwater. Sassy's got ongoing medical craptitude, with seizures and medication changes and brain cancer "afterparty" as she calls it, all sorts of stuff that interferes with everything, including her ability to work. Setting up crowdfunding was a very difficult decision for her, and I wanted to give her the opportunity to explain in her own words what's going on, and why it's happening. Special warning: you might cry if you're a sympathy crier. I am and I totally did. We also talk about our next dream form of support currency (hint: it involves some nobility) and the heroes that are getting her through all the bleak moments. The Helping Sassy campaign is going on now at bit.ly/helpsassy, and any support is much appreciated. She also mentions WECHope.org, or or World Eye Cancer Hope, dedicated to helping children worldwide who are diagnosed with retinoblastoma. As Sassy mentioned, if you read, listen, share, talk about or support her campaign, she is deeply thankful, and has unlimited love for you and for the romance community.

Sarah interviews Dr. Kristen Nielsen Donnelly, who studies women and religion in Northern Ireland, as well as religion in popular culture like video games and romance novels. She’s currently conducting sociological research into the intersection between romance novels and sex. This project began after many conversations with her mother about the sex scenes she does - or does not - like reading. We also discuss growing into and out of religious communities, and the portrayal of religious people and people of faith in the romance genre. Plus, Kristen has a ton of recommendations for readers who are looking for romance and fiction set in contemporary Ireland. Her husband is Irish and they’ve recently moved back to the US after living there, so she’s got a bunch of recommendations if Irish-set fiction is your jam. You can find a link to the survey she’s running - and yes, she would be delighted to have you complete it, though you’re certainly not obligated - in the show notes for this episode at SB-TB.com/podcast.

Sarah met Lia from Lia’s Bookish Obsession at RT in Las Vegas. When Lia told Sarah all the stories, Sarah begged her to be on the podcast so you too can enjoy: The Worst Librarian Story Ever. The Best Husband Story Ever. The Second Best Husband Story Ever. The Third Best Husband Story Ever. The Most Adorable Book Blogging Story Ever. Lia also talks about library rush, book squee, the emotional connection that readers have with the books that they love, and of course, what books she’s reading that she wants everyone to know about. PLUS we have pictures of Lia’s husband clutching his invisible pearls (that’s not a euphemism) while listening to a romance, and some pictures of her library in the podcast entry - sb-tb.com/podcast.