Today I’m speaking with editor, writer, and podcaster Amanda Jean about aro and ace-spectrum romance, and the expectations of romance from aro and ace-spectrum readers. She discusses acquiring titles for a romance press that foster and include good representation. And she discusses the structure of romance fiction, too: What does a romantic story and a happily ever after look like or feel like when representing aro- or ace-spectrum people?We also discuss:The challenges of reaching readers in print marketsThe importance of representation of varied sexual identities for readersAnd we also talk about the various ways we learn to recognize pieces of ourselves, and the powerful relief that comes with understanding who and how you are.Podcast And we have SO MANY RECOMMENDATIONS if you’re looking for aro/ace romance stories. OH, so many. I’m sorry in advance to your wallet and your TBR. Join our Patreon for complete mayhem, shenanigans, and more! Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

357. Aro and Ace Representation in Romance: An Interview with Amanda Jean

Each week on Smart Podcast, Trashy Books, Sarah Wendell interviews authors, readers, reviewers, bloggers, publishing professionals, editors, and librarians about romance novels, which are among the most popular genres in fiction worldwide. Popular guests include: Ilona Andrews, Robin Bradford, NPR's Barrie Hardymon, Chuck Tingle, Sarah J. Maas, and Rachel Aaron. Amanda Diehl, co-pilot of the SS Smart Bitches, makes regular appearances with maximum silliness, especially during our Romantic Times Rewind episodes, where we take a look at old issues of Romantic Times Magazine (1981-2018). Frequent topics include romance novels, the way the genre is changing, and the brilliant and interesting people who read, write, and produce it, and issues common among romance readers. Plus, we always recommend some books we're reading and really enjoying. Learn more at SB-TB.com/Podcast. Join our Patreon for complete mayhem, shenanigans, and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Books

Fiction

What happens when you write the books you want to read but are having a hard time finding? Many good things. Kimberly Lemming loves fantasy, and started writing her own catnip, which led to the joy that is the Mead Mishaps series.We answer ALL the tough questions, like how many mead mishaps have we personally experienced? How does one make the bananas spin? And why is Galavant the greatest production ever made?
Note: in the middle of the episode, the email Kimberly sent that gave me a peek at the cover for That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human, which was in the final stages of development, so you’ll hear me lose my cool.
For the book and video games we discuss in this episode, please visit our show notes page!
You can find Kimberly Lemming at KimberlyLemming.com, and on Instagram @KimberlyLemming.
We also mentioned cover artist Mike Pape, and the cover art for the Mead Mishaps series is visible on his website, too!
Thank you for supporting our show, and our advertisers! new customers GET $5 OFF a Lume Starter Pack with code SARAH15 at LumeDeodorant.com. That equates to over 40% off your Starter Pack when you visit LumeDeodorant.com and use code SARAH15. Join our Patreon for complete mayhem, shenanigans, and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

610.  Writing Super Fun Fantasy with Kimberly Lemming

We’re taking a tour through the new releases across many genres from April 2005, nearly 20 (!!!) years ago. Romance has changed a wee little bit.
How much cringe shall we find? Plenty!
Other oddities? Mainstream includes YA and Chick Lit. Contemporary includes New Reality. Regency in Format includes Corinthians! And we’re trying to understand a character who wants to “dim the pain of turning 30.” It’s a ride, as usual.
Side trips include Sea Breeze, Stridex, and St Ives Medicated Apricot Scrub.
TW: for mention of sexual assault, body horror – we do announce it in the audio so you can skip ahead.
You can find all the Romantic Times Rewind episodes, visual aids posts, and more in one convenient place!
Don't miss the visual aids for this episode!
We also mentioned:Regency in format, not genre: This r/HRNovlesDiscussion post shows a treasure trove of Regency/format books. Did you use St. Ives Medicated Scrub? I sure as heck did.RegRom.com answers the question, ‘What is a Corinthian?’Amanda mentioned author Naomi Hirahara in a recent Get Rec’d with Amanda post Join our Patreon for complete mayhem, shenanigans, and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

609. Romantic Times Rewind: April 2005 Reviews

Mel Blue was my guest when we discussed Spare – which has become one of my most listened-to episodes – so I asked her back to talk about the narratives of PR, why the weird stories around Kate Middleton grabbed attention worldwide, and why so many people were and are paying attention.
On one level it’s a story that originated in gossip about rich and powerful people in an archaic power structure being weird. But it’s also a story of misinformation, propaganda, and a complicit media system, and we deal with that over here in the US, too.
This was recorded on Wednesday, March 20, and we did a follow up this week following the announcement late Friday, March 22, that Kate Middleton is undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. So there are two parts to this episode.
A few content warnings: Discussion of self harm, disordered eating, suicidal ideation, and child abuse and exploitation.
Please visit the show page for all the resources used for this episode, including news articles, Instagram live recordings, and Twitter threads. 
Music: Purple-planet.com Join our Patreon for complete mayhem, shenanigans, and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

608. Women as Shields and Scapegoats: Talking Kate Middleton with Melissa Blue

We’re looking at the ads and features from the March 2016 issue of RT Book Reviews!
We’ve got cowboy heads growing out of gravel roads, a dude who looks like he’s on fire, and that one guy who is always ripping his shirt off from romance covers. We decide on an in-house definition of “Castle Bangenschloss.”
Oh! And a really angry reader wants self pub authors to stop using the same stock images for different covers. It’s wild, y’all.
Don’t miss the visual aids that go with this episode! 
We’ve got links!Fanlore.org: Cassandra ClaireDahlia Adler’s LGBTQ Reads PatreonTirgearr Publishing’s T shirts!The podcast episode where we were at the Peppermill in Reno, and also on edibles, aka episode 304. “You Have a Type and it Might be Mullets” – Sarah, Amanda, and Elyse are VERY Silly About Books and VillainyThe Chippendales at the Rio  Thank you to our sponsor, Lume! New customers get $5 off Lume’s Starter Pack with our exclusive code.Use code SARAH30 at LumeDeodorant.com.
Music: Purple-planet.com Join our Patreon for complete mayhem, shenanigans, and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

607. RT Rewind: March 2016 Ads & Features

Shirley Green and Sharon Spiak are the duo behind many, and I mean many of your favorite romance covers, and are absolutely 100% the duo behind one of mine – For the Love of a Pirate by Edith Layton. The hair. The waves. THE ROCKS.
I connected with Shirley and Sharon and got a History Lesson in how cover shoots used to work. We’re talking costume, art direction, photography, and painting skills combined to make some very memorable covers, and how much deliberate emotional care went into some of the photo shoots with the cover models.
You can find Shirley Green’s portfolio and stock image collection at ShirleyGreenPhotography.com. You can find Sharon Spiak at SharonSpiakArt.com. Join our Patreon for complete mayhem, shenanigans, and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

357. Aro and Ace Representation in Romance: An Interview with Amanda Jean

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