Episodes

John and I discuss Bad Moon Rising, the inspiration for Heidi Kick, weaving timely issues into his mysteries, connecting his community in rural Wisconsin with the bigger themes and conflicts in culture, the most challenging part of writing for him, how the pandemic upended his next book’s storyline, and much more.

Saumya and I discuss What a Happy Family, wanting to focus on mental health and the ways we do and do not talk about it, how memories are filtered through our own experiences, the origins of the title, balancing two careers and a young child, and much more.

John and I discuss Bad Moon Rising, the inspiration for Heidi Kick, weaving timely issues into his mysteries, connecting his community in rural Wisconsin with the bigger themes and conflicts in culture, the most challenging part of writing for him, how the pandemic upended his next book’s storyline, and much more. John’s recommended reads are: A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders Pilgrim’s Wilderness: A True Story of Faith and Madness on the Alaska Frontier by Tom KIzzia Dirty Kid...

Saumya and I discuss What a Happy Family, wanting to focus on mental health and the ways we do and do not talk about it, how memories are filtered through our own experiences, the origins of the title, balancing two careers and a young child, and much more. Saumya’s recommended reads are: What We Carry by Maya Lang The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon here. Other ways to support the podcast can be found here. If you enjoyed th...

Alka and I discuss The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, providing Malik with his own story and his popularity with readers, finding the balance between wearing her reader hat and her writer hat while writing, the inspiration for the Royal Jewel Cinema, launching her Reimagine series on Instagram, and much more.

Alka and I discuss The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, providing Malik with his own story and his popularity with readers, finding the balance between wearing her reader hat and her writer hat while writing, the inspiration for the Royal Jewel Cinema, launching her Reimagine series on Instagram, and much more. Alka’s recommended reads are: The Last Exiles by Ann Shin The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon here. Other ways to support the podcast c...

Clare and I discuss Hostage, the idea that it is far more terrifying when you do not know where a threat is coming from, landing a plane herself at a flight simulation center (listen to learn if she successfully landed), tackling radicalization, how her copy editor saved her from making a mistake regarding the airplane seat configuration, and much more.

Clare and I discuss Hostage, the idea that it is far more terrifying when you do not know where a threat is coming from, landing a plane herself at a flight simulation center (listen to learn if she successfully landed), tackling radicalization, how her copy editor saved her from making a mistake regarding the airplane seat configuration, and much more. Clare’s recommended reads are: Yours Cheerfully by AJ Pearce Three Women by Lisa Taddeo Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Pat...

Emma and I discuss Songs in Ursa Major, how the relationship between James Taylor and Joni Mitchell inspired her story, crafting the lyrics for the songs in the book, growing up with music as a language in her house, what she learned from writing the screenplay for Songs in Ursa Major, and much more.

Emma and I discuss Songs in Ursa Major, how the relationship between James Taylor and Joni Mitchell inspired her story, crafting the lyrics for the songs in the book, growing up with music as a language in her house, what she learned from writing the screenplay for Songs in Ursa Major, and much more. Emma’s recommended reads are: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia A Touch of Jen by Beth Morgan Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon here. If you enjoyed this episode and...

Sarah and I discuss We Are Satellites, what happens when a medical technology developed for one condition is used for another purpose or has a commercial application instead, how she chose to tell the story from four POVs, the ethical and moral issues related to using technologies in new and cutting edge ways, making sure her medical device would be realistic, and much more.

Sarah and I discuss We Are Satellites, what happens when a medical technology developed for one condition is used for another purpose or has a commercial application instead, how she chose to tell the story from four POVs, the ethical and moral issues related to using technologies in new and cutting edge ways, making sure her medical device would be realistic, and much more. Sarah’s recommended reads are: A Spindle Splintered by Alix Harrow A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers Suppor...

Kristan and I discuss Pack Up the Moon, how reading books about other people’s grief provides a safe way to cry over the things in your own life, why she chose to incorporate letters into her book, providing a story for a group of people who don’t often get their own story, the origin of her title, her own experience with a medium and much more.

Kristan and I discuss Pack Up the Moon, how reading books about other people’s grief provides a safe way to cry over the things in your own life, why she chose to incorporate letters into her book, providing a story for a group of people who don’t often get their own story, the origin of her title, her own experience with a medium and much more. Kristan’s recommended reads are: The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes by Xio Axelrod The Midnight...

Jess and I discuss Americanon, the way these thirteen books shaped culture, gender roles and beliefs in the U.S., evaluating American identity in terms of a different canon of books, looking into what books were owned in any given era, how she decided which books to include in Americanon, and much more.

Jess and I discuss Americanon, the way these thirteen books shaped culture, gender roles and beliefs in the U.S., evaluating American identity in terms of a different canon of books, looking into what books were owned in any given era, how she decided which books to include in Americanon, and much more. Jess’s recommended reads are: Negative Space by Lily Dancyger An Ordinary Age: Finding Your Way in a World That Expects Exceptional by Rainesford Stauffer Life on the Line: Young Doctors Comi...

Philip and I discuss The Appalachian Trail, crafting the history of the trail from the perspective of the people who built it and how and why they did so, the difficulty of knitting together a very long and narrow space that traverses many landscapes, Bill Bryson and his impact on the Appalachian Trail, and much more.

Philip and I discuss The Appalachian Trail, crafting the history of the trail from the perspective of the people who built it and how and why they did so, the difficulty of knitting together a very long and narrow space that traverses many landscapes, Bill Bryson and his impact on the Appalachian Trail, and much more. Philip’s recommended reads are: This Is Chance!: The Shaking of an All-American City, A Voice That Held It Together by Jon Mooallem A Dream about Lightning Bugs: A Life of Music...

Pam and I discuss The Woman with the Blue Star, looking for the gasp in a story, her struggle to write this book, how publishing during a pandemic is like learning to walk all over again, how each one of her books reflects a time in her life, the types of characters she identifies with, and much more.

Pam and I discuss The Woman with the Blue Star, looking for the gasp in a story, her struggle to write this book, how publishing during a pandemic is like learning to walk all over again, how each one of her books reflects a time in her life, the types of characters she identifies with, and much more. Pam’s recommended reads are: Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland You Will Remember Me by Hannah McKinnon Pack Up the Moon by Kristan Higgins ...

Jeff and I discuss Attachments, crafting a story about relationships, his personal connection to the novel, how watching soap operas helped him write this novel, creating Sleepless in Seattle and behind-the-scenes details about its development, and much more.

Laura and I discuss A Special Place for Women, how she loves the fake dating trope, exploring what happens when activism becomes performative instead of genuine, what her writing process look like, her COVID-19 book release video, and much more.

Jeff and I discuss Attachments, crafting a story about relationships, his personal connection to the novel, how watching soap operas helped him write this novel, creating Sleepless in Seattle and behind-the-scenes details about its development, and much more. Jeff’s recommended reads are: Anxious People by Fredrik Backman The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman Support or sponsor an episo...

Laura and I discuss A Special Place for Women, how she loves the fake dating trope, exploring what happens when activism becomes performative instead of genuine, what her writing process look like, her COVID-19 book release video, and much more. Laura’s recommended reads are: The Final Revival of Opal and Nev by Dawnie Walton People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry Support or sponsor an episode of the podcast here. If you enjoyed this episode and want to listen to more episodes, try Kathe...