689. RT Rewind: May 2016 Ads & Features

We’re going back to May 2016 to look at the Ads & Features in Romantic Times magazine. The kilts are kilting and the abs are ab-ing, and we’ve got some questions.

• How do we feel about the terms “book boyfriend” and “pre-con”?
• How much of the 2016 conference depended on Twitter to announce pop up signings and special limited time events?
• And do you remember how important Twitter was to a conference?
• How many different ways are there to photograph a very muscled shirtless man? I think we’re going to see all of them.

So hop into the time machine, we’ve got the snacks, and we’re off to May 2016.

Patreon folks, you have an extended cut of this episode, available through the app or through your private feed.

❤ Read the transcript ❤

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Here are the books we discuss in this podcast:

We also mentioned Elyse’s review of Imagines, complete with Amanda’s specialty Photoshop.

Visual aids? But of course!

“His job is chin.”

The 2016 Men of Romance.

We were particularly charmed by Michael Foster, bottom right, who is wearing a big black puffy blouse unbuttoned but still tucked in (YEAH), and holding a big sword while standing in front of a major wind machine. Also, Vikkas Bhardwaj’s picture looks like his head was added afterward and it’s uncanny.

She’s ripping his clothes off! That’s pretty cool.

This is the centerfold image, or part of it. We spent a lot of time with this image: the hat. The jeans. The striped socks (is this Anita Blake!?). The giant rifle with scope and the even more giant bullets around her waist. Look, she’s even got a flask in her back pocket for when she’s done.

WTF?