The time machine is all charged up, and we’re headed back to May 1996 to take a look at the ads & features from Romantic Times magazine. It’s the late 90s, so you know that means Incredible Cover Art.
We also discover just how much creepy stuff Amanda owns currently, debates about babies in romance, cheap conference hotel rooms, woman flamingos, and incredible women heroines.
I don’t know if you’re a video watcher, but the video for this episode has ALL the visuals on screen.
But if you’re NOT a video watcher, the visual aids were so bountiful I needed to give them their own post.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
723. Magic and Gardens with Ashley Poston
06/19/2026 | 1h 16 mins.
My guest today is bestselling author Ashley Poston, whose new book, The Someday Garden, is out this week.
The Someday Garden was inspired by The Secret Garden, so we’re going to talk about inspiration, gardening, fandoms, changing genres and having your readers grow up with you as a writer.
TW/CW – discussion of grief, and of suicide at almost exactly 1 hour into our conversation.
You can find Ashley Poston on her website, AshPoston.com, on IG as @HeyAshPoston, and on Threads @HeyAshPoston. We also mentioned:
Diary X (RIP) Cheerful Plants app (when to water your succulents!) Apple Android Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Parody Musical Boothbay Garden, Maine Jardin de Quatre-Vents, Quebec, Canada The Butchart Garden, British Columbia, Canada
Do you like to listen to your favorite podcasts on YouTube? We’re there, too! Come on over! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
722. RT Rewind: May 1996 Reviews
06/12/2026 | 1h 8 mins.
We love the 90s, and that’s where we’re headed this month, gazing at the impossible mullets from Romantic Times magazine.
We’re talking about the newest books from May 1996, including the second book in what is now a 15-book much-loved series, and some truly memorable character names.
We’ll investigate, “What’s wrong with this man?” We’ll have “lashings of good fun.” Plus we learn a SHOCKING TRUTH about Amanda’s reading history.
Want to watch on YouTube?
We also mentioned:
Movie Pooper Classic Romance: Which One First? Nora Roberts Edition My Reddit post about the centerfold
Music: Purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
721. Exploring Platform Decay with Martha Wells
06/05/2026 | 1h 2 mins.
Martha Wells is back, and we are taking a deep spoilery dive into Platform Decay.I want to be clear here: if you haven’t read Platform Decay, we are about to spoil the dickens out of it. Yes, Charles Dickens is in Platform Decay, you heard it here first. We’re going to discuss infrastructure fury, trains in Japan, Honor Princess Detective, and more – and when I say we are spoiling, we are spoiling.
In other words, if you haven’t read Platform Decay, and you don’t want to know much about the story, skip this episode until after you’ve read it. This is a very book club kind of conversation.
You can find Martha Wells on her website, MarthaWells.com, and she's on Bluesky, Goodreads, and Instagram. Please note: Martha Wells is NOT on Threads or Facebook. If someone contacts you on there, it is not really her!
We also mentioned: Legend of Zeng Hai Unveil: Jadewind
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
720. RT Rewind: December 2012 Ads & Features
05/29/2026 | 1h 18 mins.
We’re back in the time machine, heading to December 2012 to look at the ads and features from Romantic Times magazine.
This episode features a high amount of extreme zany. We’ve got so many treats for you this week, including the Steeple Hill Drinking Game, the reverse Colonel Sanders, Jude Deveraux’s thoughts on modern romance heroes of the time, shifters and more.
Watch the episode and see the ads we're talking about on YouTube, or find the visual aids at SBTB.com! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
About Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast
About Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast
About Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast
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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
USA