Smart Bitches

Dear Bitches, Smart Authors Podcast, Episode No. #24. An Interview with Nalini Singh

Dear Bitches, Smart Authors Podcast, Episode No. #24. An Interview with Nalini Singh

Surprise, surprise, Nalini Singh was in our hotel room, so we tied her to a chair and Sarah Wendell interviewed her. She’s live, not on Skype, and it’s a really fun and casual conversation because we didn’t plan to do this. We had the microphone and a half hour to chat. We did attempt to(…)

Dear Bitches, Smart Authors Podcast, Episode No. 22, The Romance Canon

Dear Bitches, Smart Authors Podcast, Episode No. 22, The Romance Canon

This is a big ol’ podcast: we start out talking briefly about novellas and short digital reads that I liked, but our main topic is the canon. What romances form the genre’s canon for historical, contemporary, and paranormal? We talk in circles a good bit (sorry about that) and we discuss what a canon is,(…)

Dear Bitches, Smart Authors Podcast, Episode DABWAHA 2012

Dear Bitches, Smart Authors Podcast, Episode DABWAHA 2012

It’s DABWAHA Time! We’re talking about what categories will be in this year’s DABWAHA Tournament of romance novels, and what books we think should appear in some of the categories. Also, we were both typing too close to the microphone, and I apologize for the tappity tap tap. This week's music was provided by Sassy(…)

Dear Bitches, Smart Authors Podcast, Episode No. 20. The Mysterious Hymen

Dear Bitches, Smart Authors Podcast, Episode No. 20. The Mysterious Hymen

We’re back! And it’s podcast time – wherein we talk about what YOU think the misplaced hymen should be called. We also decided that you should pick the winner, so make your choice from the selection below and let us know what you think is the best entry. Please note: there were some late entries(…)

Dear Bitches, Smart Authors Podcast, Episode No. 19

Dear Bitches, Smart Authors Podcast, Episode No. 19

This was recorded when I was coming down with the flu and pneumonia, and I’m slightly out of breath – and coughing. I edited out most of the coughing but if I missed one, I apologize. This episode includes Sarah’s nefarious plans for Romantic Times in 2012 in Chicago, reader mail from Sarah’s inbox about(…)

Dear Bitches, Smart Authors Podcast, Episode No. 18, Listener EMails and “Coltish”

Dear Bitches, Smart Authors Podcast, Episode No. 18, Listener EMails and “Coltish”

We are back with a new podcast! AND I have a new microphone that KICKS IN OMG about 4 minutes in, but after that I sound a lot better. Which is funny because I was coming down with the flu at the time we recorded. Heh. This week we are all about Listener Mail. We’re(…)

Dear Bitches, Smart Authors Podcast, Episode No. 17. Ridiculousness Threshold: 29 December 2011

Dear Bitches, Smart Authors Podcast, Episode No. 17. Ridiculousness Threshold: 29 December 2011

  We’re back for one last podcast in 2011, and we’re talking about the ridiculousness threshold – the point at which you can no longer accept character or plot insanity and can’t enjoy the book. We also talk a bit about books that we love and at the time of recording were reading. So it’s(…)

Shopping, Reading, and Renaming the Podcast: 16 December 2011

Shopping, Reading, and Renaming the Podcast: 16 December 2011

It’s a new podcast! WITH a WHOLE NEW NAME! YAY! Seriously. Sorry for the delay. Blame iTunes. We had to change the name of the podcast because iTunes didn’t like the word “Bitches.” I cannot imagine why! If you subscribe via iTunes, please UPDATE your LINKS: The New iTunes link is live here. Yes, the(…)

Dear Bitches, Smart Author Podcast, Episode No. 9

Dear Bitches, Smart Author Podcast, Episode No. 9

We have a special podcast this week: both of us had the opportunity to interview Stephanie Laurens as part of her media tour for Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue, and to raise awareness for Avon’s KISS and Teal program. Avon has made a $25,000.00 donation to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, and will donate .25(…)

Dear Bitches, Smart Authors Podcast, episode #8

Dear Bitches, Smart Authors Podcast, episode #8

We’re back with a new – and longer! – episode. This time around we’re talking about popular series in romance, specifically small town community romances for which I have a particular name. If you’ve ever wondered why it is that we so seldom choose a Save the Contemporary title, you’ll learn in this episode. We’ll(…)

Dear Bitches, Smart Authors Podcast, episode #7

Dear Bitches, Smart Authors Podcast, episode #7

Back in 2009, Sarah Wendell and I did a few podcasts about romance novels. We’re BACK. And the audio is NOT AS GOOD. (We don’t know what we are doing . . . yet) But we’re back, and we’re talking about what we’re reading, and which Harlequin Presents we both enjoy. Plus, we discuss at(…)

Welcome to the New World of Publishing

Welcome to the New World of Publishing

I’ve been watching the digital space ever since I started this blog.   We were early advocates of digital publishing because it provided convenience but more importantly an avenue for under recognized authors to seek new audiences.   In the past year, digital growth has accelerated at a rapid pace and is set to be at least(…)

Dear Author + Smart Bitches + Books + News = Newsletter

Dear Author + Smart Bitches + Books + News = Newsletter

Last year, Sarah Wendell, leader of the Bitchery at Smart Bitches and I formed The TBR, where we aim to build your To-Be-Read list one good book at a time. The TBR administers the Save the Contemporary campaign, an iPhone app, as well as the DABWABA (coming soon omg) our tournament with an improbable name,(…)

Monday Midday Links: Mass market sales continue to plummet

Diana Gabaldon disclosed to a reading group in Charleston that her eighth novel in the Jamie/Claire saga won’t be released for a couple of years. It sounds like the book is yet unwritten. Lord John and the Scottish Prisoner should be released in 2011. **** Heather Osborn, formerly an editor with Tor, has been announced(…)

A Room of Our Own: Romance Book Community & Virginia Woolf

A Room of Our Own: Romance Book Community & Virginia Woolf

This past weekend, I was part of a small panel sponsored by International Association for the Study of Popular Romance (IASPR) which was held during the Popular Culture Association conference in St. Louis. The panel that I sat on was about romances safe spaces. Dr. Pam Regis presented a paper based on the concept popularized(…)