Welcome back, Book Nerds! This week we’re bringing the chaos straight to Nashville because we’re talking all things Smutmas in the Smokies 2026 — the romance author signing event happening July 17-18 in Nashville, TN… and yes, What the Smut will officially be there as a vendor!

We’re joined by our Booksta bestie Jess from @thebookishclaus, the mastermind behind Smutmas in the Smokies, and y’all… this episode is packed with romance books, author event chaos, unhinged thoughts, and all the bookish shenanigans you expect from us.

We dive into:
The lineup of romance authors, narrators, and vendors coming to Smutmas
Sports romance, forced proximity, fake dating, and favorite romance tropes
Why Hallmark movies are elite comfort viewing
Parenting feral children while surviving on caffeine and delusion
Why people driving slow in the left lane should absolutely move over immediately

Jess also shares behind-the-scenes details about building a first-year romance book signing event, supporting indie romance authors, and creating a space where readers can discover new-to-them authors, narrators, and vendors.

If you love:
Romance books
Bookish podcasts
Indie romance authors
Sports romance
Forced proximity & one bed tropes
Bookstagram chaos
Christmas in July vibes
…then this episode was made for you.

Smutmas in the Smokies Details:

📍 Nashville, TN
📅 VIP Party: July 17, 2026
📅 Signing Day: July 18, 2026
🎟️ VIP tickets are SOLD OUT
🎟️ GA tickets are nearly gone

Featuring:
55+ romance authors
Narrators
Vendors
Christmas-themed romance book chaos

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