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Book Thingo Podcast

The Book Thingo podcast features lively discussions between readers, academics, and bestselling authors about romance books, culture, and Tim Tams. Find out about upcoming romance titles and old favourites. Discover how the romance genre reflects feminism, sexuality, morality, and culture. Happy endings are mandatory. Hosted by Kat Mayo and produced in Australia.
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Now displaying: 2019

Hi, there! Thanks for checking out the Book Thingo podcast. If you enjoyed our show, visit us at bookthingo.com.au/podcast for show notes and contact details. We'd love to hear from you!

Nov 17, 2019

Guests: Gabbyand Rudi| Host: Kat Mayo | Audio producer: Rudi Bremer | Recorded: 7/09/2019 Sydney

We turned 4 in August (hurrah!), so of course we're bringing you our anniversary special in November. Because that's how we (ie Kat) roll. As usual, Rudi is the architect of all shenanigans, and this year, she's assisted by some of our podcast listeners!

Thank you to Ana, Ben, Chachic, Jen, Mel and Sarah for taking part in this episode. You were all AMAZING!

And now, over to you, dear listener -- who do you think would make the best Gabby? Tweet your vote (write-ins welcome!) and tag us using #BTpod.

Guests

Gabby-- Irreplaceable: @penneclearwater

Rudi-- Best audio producer ever: @rudi_bee

Jennifer Hallock-- Author of Sugar Sun historical romance series: @jen_hallock; InstagramFacebook; jenniferhallock.com; Amazon

Chachic -- Filipino book reader, blogger and Instagrammer: @chachic_Instagramchachic.wordpress.com

Melissa -- Pork roll tragic: @moetical

Sarah-- Bringer of sweet things: @Bluestocking_a

Ana Cocqui-- Blogger, librarian and podcaster: @anacoqui; podcast; website

Ben-- Romance reader and Instagrammer with impeccable taste in podcasts: @bentchbites; Instagram

People

Sophie Ly, Danielle Steel

Links

Missed a previous episode? You can find a list of all the Book Thingo podcast episodes here and catch up. You can also email your feedback and suggestions to podcast@bookthingo.com.au.

Nov 3, 2019

Guests: Sophie Ly and Rudi Bremer | Host: Kat Mayo | Audio producer: Rudi Bremer | Recorded: 9/06/2019 Sydney

I've been sitting on this episode for a little while, but hold on to your one-click buttons because Sophie Ly joins Rudi and me with a huge number of graphic novel recommendations. (But please note: not all of them are HEA romances, but we try to identify which of the titles fall into that bucket. We do also talk about the difficulty of knowing if a graphic novel series will have a romantic HEA.)

Shout out to Vikki, who tweeted in response to our #rombklove episode (EP69). If you're on Twitter and listening to the podcast, we'd love for you to live tweet or just send us your reactions by using the hashtag #btpod.

Guests

Sophie Ly -- Host of Gaggle of Geeks podcast, and best known on the Book Things podcast as Rudi's alter ego: @Soph_Ly; podcast

Rudi Bremer -- Amazing audio producer and recommender of books: @rudi_bee

Books

  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Twilight graphic novels by Stephenie Meyer and Young Kim [ review]
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- The Umbrella Academy Volume 1: Apocalypse Suite by Gerard Way
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Sunstone by Stjepan Šejić
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Witchblade by David Wohl, Brian Haberlin and Michael Turner
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Nightwing
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Black Magic by Nicola Scott
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Fresh Romance Volume 1
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Lucifer by Neil Gaiman
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Sandman by Neil Gaiman
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Saga by Ryan K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Runaways by Ryan K. Vaughan
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Ice Planet Barbarians series by Ruby Dixon
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Anita Blake graphic novels by Laurell K. Hamilton
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Mercy Thompson graphic novels by Patricia Briggs
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Great Expectations graphic novel by Charles Dickens
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Mills & Boon comics
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- A Girl Like Her by Talia Hibbert
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Tikka Chance On Me by Suleikha Snyder
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward (Rhage)
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Stranded With a Mountain Man by Aislinn Kearns
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Blossom Among Flowers by Jay E. Tria
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Sidekick by Auralee Wallace
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Birds of Prey by Gail Simone
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Locked Box by Eve Dangerfield
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Fence by C.S. Pacat

People

Dustin Nguyen, Fiona Staples, Nicola ScottChris Evans

Links

The Umbrella Academy cover:

The Umbrella Academy Volume 1: Apocalypse Suite by Gerard Way

Missed a previous episode? You can find a list of all the Book Thingo podcast episodes here and catch up. You can also email your feedback and suggestions to podcast@bookthingo.com.au.

Aug 5, 2019

Guests: Rudi Bremer and Gabby| Host: Kat Mayo | Audio producer: Rudi Bremer | Recorded: 9/02/2019 Sydney

The Book Thingo bloggers decided to knock one book off our TBR piles. Spoiler alert: only one of us actually did the work, and you get no prizes for guessing who. We also talk about the books we lie about having read, books we feel guilty about not having read, and romance classics that didn't really work for us.

Guests

Rudi Bremer -- Amazing audio producer and recommender of books: @rudi_bee

Gabby -- Wearer of socks and gloves, epilogue hater: @penneclearwater

Books

  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- On the Road by Jack Kerouac
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Sheltered by Charlotte Stein
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Never Sweeter by Charlotte Stein
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- The Wolf and the Dove by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Manhunting by Jennifer Crusie
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- The Dream Hunter by Laura Kinsale
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Maiden Lane series by Elizabeth Hoyt
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- The Perfect Rake by Anne Gracie
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Kissing Comfort by Jo Goodman

People

K.J. Charles, Alyssa Cole, Victoria Dahl, Alisha Rai, Georgette Heyer, Julie Anne Long, Eloisa James, David Copperfield(magician), Johanna Lindsey, Jude Deveraux, Susan Andersen, Rosemary Rogers, Bertrice Small, Anna Cowan, Anna Campbell, Patricia Gaffney, Judith McNaught, LaVryle Spencer

Links

Missed a previous episode? You can find a list of all the Book Thingo podcast episodes here and catch up. You can also email your feedback and suggestions to podcast@bookthingo.com.au.

Jul 21, 2019

Guest: Aislinn Kearns| Host: Kat Mayo | Audio producer: Rudi Bremer | Recorded: 19/08/2018 RWA

What happens when you combine a love of 80s action films with romance genre tropes? You get Ainslinn Kearns's books! Rudi and I caught up with Aislinn at the Romance Writers of Australia convention last year, and we  talked about romance characters with disability, favourite tropes, and dealing with food intolerance in the apocalypse. 

Thank you to Clairefor being such a wonderful listener!

Guest

Ainslinn Kearns-- Australian author of contemporary romance: @ardentaislinnfacebookaislinnkearns.com

Books

  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Station Alpha by Aislinn Kearns
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Stranded with the Mountain Man by Aislinn Kearns
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Mission Recovery series by Dana Marton
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Smoke Screen by Sandra Brown
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Whiskey-Eyed Woman by Aislinn Kearns
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Soldiering On by Aislinn Kearns
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Christmas Tango by Aislinn Kearns
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Underground Fighter series by Aislinn Kearns
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- On the Move by Aislinn Kearns

People

Jean-Claude Van Damme, Steven Seagal, Dolph Lundgren, Idris Elba

Links

Missed a previous episode? You can find a list of all the Book Thingo podcast episodes here and catch up. You can also email your feedback and suggestions to podcast@bookthingo.com.au.

May 27, 2019

Guests: Rudi and Gabby| Host: Kat Mayo | Audio producer: Rudi Bremer | Recorded: 23/05/2019 Sydney

#RomBkLove, the brainchild of the amazing Ana Coqui, is a month-long celebration of romance books, authors and readers. Book Thingo is excited to host today's topic: Rebellious readers.

2019 RomBkLove Day 27 by Ana Coqui Source: Ana Coqui

In this episode, we thought it would be a good time to take a pause from title recommendations, and instead focus on our habits as readers. Rudi, Gabby and I talk about our personal reading rules, how they affect our enjoyment of books, and whether we've broken our rules for particular authors or books.

If you don't have time to listen to the podcast, but would still like to participate in today's #rombklove topic, here are the rules and habits we talk about:

  • Gabby: Don't trust anyone who doesn't like Passion by Lisa Valdez.
  • Kat: Don't read a series until it's finished.
  • Rudi: It's perfectly acceptable to skip books in a series, or even retcon it out of a series.
  • Gabby: I will not read a series with the same couple in multiple books.
  • Gabby: I won't read epilogues.
  • Gabby: I can't skip books, and I can't read them out of order.
  • Gabby: I don't hold physical books sacred. I will dogear the corners, which is the natural order of bookmarking. (Gabby went through a phase of ripping off or erasing clinch covers and spines.)
  • Rudi: Use digital bookmarks for returning to specific scenes in books, for good and bad.
  • Rudi: It's okay to spot-read -- ie just reading the scenes that resonated with me, and that I feel like rereading.
  • Kat: I will open keepers on a random page and just start from there.
  • Kat and Rudi: We will read the end of a book first (also known as killing fairies).
  • Kat: When I open a book, I expect it to be magnificent.
  • Rudi: I have to read 3-4 books from a new-to-me author before writing them off.
  • Gabby: Never read a novella.
  • Kat: No matter what the physical description of the hero is, I’ll imagine the same person.
  • Rudi: For every straight white het author that I read (and book that reflects that), I read a book and an author that sit outside of those parameters.

You can join in the conversation by using the hashtag #rombklove on social media. Let us know what reading rules and habits you've developed for yourself. Who would you break your rules for? We'll be hanging out mostly on Twitter, and we hope to continue the discussion there.

Finally, thank you to Fangirlxmillion for leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. We love hearing from our audience, and we truly appreciate it!

Guests

Gabby — Wearer of socks and gloves, epilogue hater: @penneclearwater

Rudi Bremer — Amazing audio producer and recommender of books: @rudi_bee

Books

  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Passion by Lisa Valdez
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Hidden Legacy series by Ilona Andrews
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Captive Prince series by C.S. Pacat
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Beard Science by Penny Reid
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Spymaster series by Joanna Bourne
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- The Day of the Duchess by Sarah MacLean
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- A Gentleman in the Street by Alisha Rai
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Mr. Impossible by Loretta Chase
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Passion and Ink by Naima Simone
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- A Seditious Affair by K.J. Charles
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Thirsty by Mia Hopkins

People

Laura Kinsale, Courtney Milan, Nana Malone, Melissa Blue, Rebekah Weatherspoon

Links

Missed a previous episode? You can find a list of all the Book Thingo podcast episodes here and catch up. You can also email your feedback and suggestions to podcast@bookthingo.com.au.

Mar 26, 2019

Guest: Melanie Milburne| Host: Kat Mayo | Audio producer: Rudi Bremer | Recorded: 18/08/2018 RWAus

When I heard Melanie Milburne's keynote at the 2018 Australian Romance Readers' Award, I knew we had to have her on the show. Her speech as a powerful personal statement about reconciling her feminism and her writing career. It as powerful because it was so honest and reflective in a way I hadn't heard from many romance authors before. I hope that comes out in our conversation in this episode. Melanie celebrates over 15 years and 80 books this week - an amazing achievement.

Shout out to stephnay14 for the awesome review on Apple Podcasts!

Guest

Melanie Milburne-- Australian author of contemporary category romance: @twitterfacebookmelaniemilburne.com.au

Books

  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Lexi's Secret by Melanie Milburne
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- The Prince’s Stolen Virgin by Maisey Yates
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Penniless Virgin to Sicilian Bride by Melanie Milburne
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- The Shepherd's Hut by Tim Winton
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Jane Doe by Victoria Helen Stone
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- The Choke by Sofie Laguna
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent

People

Kate Cuthbert, Victoria Dahl, Michael Robotham

Links

Missed a previous episode? You can find a list of all the Book Thingo podcast episodes here and catch up. You can also email your feedback and suggestions to podcast@bookthingo.com.au.

Feb 14, 2019

Guests: Gabbyand Rudi | Host: Kat Mayo | Audio producer: Rudi Bremer | Recorded: 18/01/2019 Sydney

To celebrate Valentine's Day, the BT bloggers are back on the podcast to talk about love languages. To find your own love language, you can take a free quiz here.

Shout out to Ben, whose Instagram spreads featuring the podcast are amazing!

Guests

Gabby— Wearer of socks and gloves, new owner of the Fabio cover of Flowers From the Storm: @penneclearwater

Rudi Bremer— Amazing audio producer and recommender of books: @rudi_bee

Books

  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- The 5 Love Languages: How to express heartfelt commitment to your mate by Gary Chapman
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- One Dance with a Duke by Tessa Dare
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- My Imaginary Ex by Mina V. Esguerra
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- A Little Bit Wild by Victoria Dahl
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Talk Me Down by Victoria Dahl
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Harlot by Victoria Dahl
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Wicked West by Holly Summer
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Jane Doe by Victoria Helen Stone (not romance)
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat [reviews]
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Rock Hard by Nalini Singh
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Daughters of Arianne Series by Joey W. Hill
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- A Taste of Honey by Rose Lerner
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Bad Neighbor by Molly O’Keefe
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Baby Come Back by Molly O’Keefe
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Rafe by Rebekah Weatherspoon
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants by Ann Brashares
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Beard Science by Penny Reid
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Grin and Beard it by Penny Reid
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Until You by Judith McNaught
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Prep and Prejudice by Miren B. Flores
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas [review]

People

Jennifer Hallock, Julia QuinnJ.R. Ward

Links

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4DzoNkomQ0

Missed a previous episode? You can find a list of all the Book Thingo podcast episodes here and catch up. You can also email your feedback and suggestions to podcast@bookthingo.com.au.

Feb 2, 2019

Guest: Amy Andrews| Host: Kat Mayo | Audio producer: Rudi Bremer | Recorded: 18/08/2018

Following on from the theme set by Kate's 2018 RWA conference keynote, which we talked about on our previous episode, I chat with Amy Andrews on where she stands on the subject of safe sex in romance fiction. We also spend a bit of time talking about sports romance, and if you're fan of any of the rugby codes, you'll probably yell at me at some point because I very likely got them mixed up.

Thanks heaps to divaflip for leaving us a review on iTunes! We read every single review, and it really helps to know that you're enjoying the show.

Guest

Amy Andrews-- Australian romance author: @AmyAndrewsbooksfacebook; instagramamyandrews.com.auBDBT | Amz

Books

  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Long Game by Catherine Evans
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Fair Game by Amy Andrews
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Game On by Nicola Marsh
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- The Longest Night by Kathleen O'Reilly
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- A Christmas Miracle by Amy Andrews
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Troy by Amy Andrews
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Second Chance Summer by Kait Nolan
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Locked Box by Eve Dangerfield [ audio reading]
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Maggie’s Run by Kelly Hunter
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Elsa’s Stand by Cathryn Hein
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Captivated by Eve Dangerfield and Tessa Bailey
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Ride Rough by Laura Kaye
  • BDBT | Amz | Aud -- Nothing But Trouble by Amy Andrews

People

Kate Cuthbert, Jodi McAlister, Suzanne Brockmann, Stefanie London, Ainslie Paton

Links

Missed a previous episode? You can find a list of all the Book Thingo podcast episodes here and catch up. You can also email your feedback and suggestions to podcast@bookthingo.com.au.

Jan 15, 2019

Kate and Jodi talk about Kate's game-changing keynote, Consenting adults, at the 2018 Romance Writers of Australian conference, what happy endings look like in different cultures, condoms in romance, power politics, and cultural conversations.

Join our conversation on Twitter and Instagram by using #BTpod.

Shownotes: http://bookthingo.com.au/podcast
Feedback: podcast@bookthingo.com.au
Host: Kat Mayo
Audio producer: Rudi Bremer
Recorded: 19/08/018 RWA

Jan 1, 2019

What better way to celebrate the new year than with our (super very) belated podcast anniversary episode! *cue applause*

We talk about Lisa Valdez's books, whether you can have a multi-book romance, our urban fantasy faves, and Gabby's love for Flowers From the Storm.

Once again, Rudi has organised a special treat for us -- we're playing Book Thingo bingo!

Shownotes: http://bookthingo.com.au/podcast
Feedback: podcast@bookthingo.com.au
Host: Rudi Bremer
Audio producer: Rudi Bremer
Recorded: 21/09/2018 Sydney

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