682. Pivoting Between Historical and Contemporary Romance with Valerie Bowman

682. Pivoting Between Historical and Contemporary Romance with Valerie Bowman

Author: Sarah Wendell August 29, 2025 Duration: 58:11

Valerie Bowman returns to talk about her new book, The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn, out September 9. Valerie has written over 30 historical novels but when asked by her agent if she’d be interested in pivoting to contemporary, Valerie jumped on the opportunity.


Please join us as we puzzle through the reasons why historical romance isn’t as popular, and what led to the pivot that so many authors are making. Plus Valerie shares the differences and similarities in writing contemporary and historical romance, and what question she gets the most from historical romance readers.


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You can find Valerie Bowman at her website, ValerieBowmanBooks.com. 

And you can listen to her in Episode 586. Saying Yes to the Dress with Valerie Bowman.


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Support for this episode comes from Head Witch In Charge by Avery Flynn, out on September 2, 2025. Several romance bookstores in the UK, Canada, and the US will have signed swag goodie bags for anyone who orders Head Witch in Charge while supplies last. Many offer online ordering, too! See the list and place your order at AveryFlynn.com.


Plus, Bookshop.org is offering a 15% discount to anyone who orders Head Witch in Charge and uses the code LOVEBOOKSELLERS.


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Thank you to HelloFresh for sponsoring this week’s episode. Visit HelloFresh.com/SARAH10FM to get 10 free meals and a free item for life!



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If you’ve ever felt a little defensive about loving romance novels, or just want to dive deeper into the books you can’t put down, Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast is your perfect companion. Host Sarah Wendell approaches the genre with a critic’s sharp mind and a fan’s enthusiastic heart, creating conversations that are as thoughtful as they are joyful. This isn’t just author interviews, though you’ll hear brilliant voices like Ilona Andrews, Sarah J. Maas, and the wonderfully unique Chuck Tingle. The scope of the podcast is deliberately wide, bringing in reviewers, librarians, editors, and publishing professionals to examine every facet of the romance world. You’ll get honest talk about tropes and trends, the business behind the books, and why these stories resonate so powerfully with millions of readers. Regular appearances from Amanda Diehl add another layer of camaraderie and insight. Listening feels like being part of a smart, welcoming book club where no opinion is dismissed and passion is a given. It’s a celebration of a genre that dominates fiction, explored with humor, intelligence, and genuine curiosity. Whether you’re a longtime devotee or a curious newcomer, this podcast offers a rich, engaging, and deeply human look at the stories we love.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast
Podcast Episodes
685. RT Rewind: August 1996 Ads & Features [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:48
It’s the 90s so the Ads and Features from the August 1996 issue of Romantic Times are a treasure trove of confusion. We’ve got:A tour of Jude Deveraux’s Grade II Listed Home in SuffolkBarbara Cartland perfumesHow should…
684. Thief of Night with Holly Black [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:42
The second book in Holly Black’s Night duology, Thief of Night, is out now, and I was so excited to talk with her about it.We start right off by talking about creepy places – like, what kind of magic comes out of Jersey?…
683. RT Rewind: August 1996 Reviews [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:24
We’re going back to August 1996 – that’s a bit of distance – to take a peek at the new releases and the book reviews in Romantic Times magazine.We’re back in the era of time travel, a scifi imprint named Avonova, and pro…
681. RT Rewind: July 2016 Ads & Features [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:40
It’s July 2016, and we’re back in the time machine to check out the ads & features from this issue of Romantic Times Magazine!We spot an SBTB friend in the letters to the editor, and we talk about romances translated int…
680. Aro and Ace YA Romance with Molly Horan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:32
Molly Horan is a YA author, playwright, and professor who is writing a dissertation on aromantic and asexual characters in YA literature. Molly also teaches classes about YA literature, so we have a LOT to talk about.Exa…
679. RT Rewind: July 2016 Reviews [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:14
We’re back! Amanda picked this month’s issue and so we are journeying back to July 2016!We tackle vague reviews that tell us no things.I try to coin a new portmanteau!We come up with the most unhinged romance bingo squar…
678. The Osmanification of Fiction Covers with Kayleigh Donaldson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:45
Recently, I posted a collection of cozy, mostly British mysteries that all mimic the Richard Osman Thursday Murder Club covers in just about every way.Then, Kayleigh Donaldson said she had many thoughts about them.One of…
677. Everyone is Lying to You with Jo Piazza [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:06
Jo Piazza’s new book, Everyone is Lying to You, is a trad wife influencer murder mystery out this month. I loved this book. Jo has been covering trad wives and influencers for a long, long time – she has a podcast called…
676. Exploring Atonement Sky with Nalini Singh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:04
When I record with Nalini Singh, since she’s in New Zealand and I’m on the east coast of the US, it’s weird hours for both of us – so thank you to Nalini for speaking to me bright and early in the morning. We talk about…
675. Celebrating Confident Fat Black Women with Danielle Allen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:57
Danielle Allen is the author of 55 books, including the new release Plus Size Player, part of the Curve series alongside Curvy Girl Summer, and Big Girl Blitz. And the player, as you’ll find out, is the heroine.The trilo…