Episodes

  • Mary Alice Monroe - WHERE THE RIVERS MERGE

    Mary Alice Monroe - WHERE THE RIVERS MERGE
    May 13 2025
    In this interview, I chat with Mary Alice Monroe about ⁠⁠⁠Where the Rivers Merge, setting the book in the ACE Basin, writing a duology, her love of the land and its ecosystems, crafting a strong sense of place, writing her first historical novel, her title and cover, and much more. Mary Alice's recommended reads are: The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry The Alchemist by Paolo Coehlo Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page ⁠⁠⁠2025 Winter Reading Guide⁠⁠⁠ with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings. Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead. Where the Rivers Merge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month. Link to my article about ⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠. Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • Judith Viorst - MAKING THE BEST OF WHAT'S LEFT

    Judith Viorst - MAKING THE BEST OF WHAT'S LEFT
    May 8 2025
    In this interview, I chat with Judith Viorst about ⁠⁠⁠Making the Best of What's Left, living the fifth fifth of your life, dealing with loneliness and redefining happiness, what surprised her the most when writing this one, her cover, the importance of community, reader response, and much more. Judith's recommended reads are: Avid Reader by Robert Gottlieb The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page ⁠⁠⁠2025 Winter Reading Guide⁠⁠⁠ with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings. Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Making the Best of What's Left⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month. Link to my articles about ⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠ and Gifting Books for Mother's Day. Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 mins
  • Elisabeth Dini - BEARER OF BAD NEWS

    Elisabeth Dini - BEARER OF BAD NEWS
    May 6 2025
    In this interview, I chat with Elisabeth Dini about ⁠⁠Bearer of Bad News, the idea of a bearer of bad news, what surprised her the most when writing this one, how she settled on the format, honoring real women through her character names, her job at the International Criminal Court and how it informed the story, and much more. Elisabeth's recommended reads are: Tartufo by Kira Jane Buxton I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue The Expert of Subtle Revisions by Kirsten Menger-Anderson Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page ⁠⁠2025 Winter Reading Guide⁠⁠ with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings. Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead. ⁠Bearer of Bad News⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠Buzz Reads⁠ column with five new recommendations each month. Link to my article about ⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠. Connect with me on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    31 mins
  • Friends & Fiction - Celebrating 5 Years

    Friends & Fiction - Celebrating 5 Years
    May 5 2025
    Friends & Fiction authors Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey, and Patti Callahan Henry join me to chat about celebrating their fifth anniversary. We discuss how the group formed originally, centering independent bookstores on their platform, impact of Friends & Fiction on their writing, how inclusive they are, how they handle disagreements, and more. Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page ⁠⁠2025 Winter Reading Guide⁠⁠ with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings. Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead. Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠Buzz Reads⁠ column with five new recommendations each month. Link to my article about ⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠. Connect with me on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠. Friends & Fiction links: Subscribe to their PODCAST. Subscribe to their YOUTUBE channel. Join their FACEBOOK group. Follow them on INSTAGRAM. Find details about everything F&F on their WEBSITE. Shop their MERCH STORE. Find out about their LIVE EVENTS. Join the F&F Official BOOK CLUB with Brenda & Lisa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 mins
  • Kelly Hooker - April's Real Time Reading

    Kelly Hooker - April's Real Time Reading
    Apr 30 2025
    Kelly Hooker joins me for the April's Real Time Reading episode where we highlight our current, past and upcoming reads. Kelly’s Selections: Last: Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby Now: The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb This American Woman: A One-in-a Billion Memoir by Zarna Garg Next: The Midnight Estate by Kelly Rimmer The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison DNFs or Didn't Like: Notes on Infinity by Austin Taylor The Marigold Cottage Murder Collective by Jo Nichols Book Mail Highlights: Mean Moms by Emma Rosenblum Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan Cindy's Selections: Last: My Friends by Fredrik Backman Valley So Low: One Lawyer’s Fight for Justice in the Wake of America’s Great Coal Catastrophe by Jared Sullivan Now: Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green The Names by Florence Knapp Next: The Passengers on the Hankyu Line by Hiro Arikawa All the Glimmering Stars by Mark Sullivan DNFs or Didn’t Like: Aftertaste by Daria Levelle Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston Book Mail Highlights: A Most Puzzling Murder by Bianca Marais The Last Assignment by Erika Robuck Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page ⁠⁠2025 Winter Reading Guide⁠⁠ with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings. Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead. Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠Buzz Reads⁠ column with five new recommendations each month. Join my ⁠Patreon⁠ group to support the podcast. Other ways to support the podcast can be found ⁠here⁠. Connect with Kelly Hooker on ⁠Instagram⁠. Connect with me on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠, and ⁠Threads⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    54 mins
  • Virginia Evans - THE CORRESPONDENT

    Virginia Evans - THE CORRESPONDENT
    Apr 29 2025
    In this interview, I chat with Virginia Evans about ⁠The Correspondent, how her blurbs helped her encapsulate the book's description, the role Ann Patchett has played in her life, Sybil's story arc, her lengthy cover story, the power of human connection, and much more. Virginia's recommended reads are: The Boy From the Sea by Garrett Carr The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page ⁠2025 Winter Reading Guide⁠ with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings. Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠ ⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead. The Correspondent⁠⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly Buzz Reads column with five new recommendations each month. Link to my article about older protagonists in fiction. Connect with me on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠, and ⁠Threads⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    51 mins
  • Kristin Koval - PENITENCE

    Kristin Koval - PENITENCE
    Apr 22 2025
    In this interview, I chat with Kristin Koval about Penitence, why she decided to write about forgiveness, choosing who would tell the story, tackling such a difficult topic, her stunning cover, how the book's title was chosen, and much more. Kristin's recommended reads are: Elita by Kirsten Sundberg Lunstrum God of the Woods by Liz Moore Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page 2025 Winter Reading Guide with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings. Want to know which new titles are publishing in January - May of 2025? Check out our third Literary Lookbook which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead. Penitence can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Threads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    35 mins
  • Kelly Hooker - Our Favorite Reads of January through March 2025

    Kelly Hooker - Our Favorite Reads of January through March 2025
    Apr 21 2025
    In this episode, Kelly and I chat about our favorite books that published in January through March 2025. Our shared top reads: Dead Money by Jakob Kerr Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson Kelly’s remaining top reads: More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy The Favorites by Layne Fargo Dream State by Eric Puchner Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley The Snowbirds by Christina Clancey The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens The Mother Next Door by Andrea Weber and Mike Weber Seeking Shelter by Jeff Hobbs Cindy’s remaining top reads: The Unexpected Diva by Tiffany L. Warren In Gad We Trust by Josh Gad What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange Head Cases by John McMahon Beartooth by Callan Wink Nesting by Roisin O’Donnell Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister Follow Me to Africa by Penny Haw Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton (I mistitle this one in the episode- I was clearly having a moment) Dissolution by Nicholas Binge Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page 2025 Winter Reading Guide with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings. Want to know which new titles are publishing in January - May of 2025? Check out our third Literary Lookbook which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead. Join my Patreon group to support the podcast. Other ways to support the podcast can be found here. Connect with Kelly Hooker on Instagram. Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Threads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    52 mins
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