Episodes

In this interview, I chat with Beck Dorey-Stein about Spectacular Things, having her book selected as a Reese's Book Club pick, writing about sacrifice and grief, tackling the sister relationship in fiction, writing about soccer, the hardest character for her to write, her title and cover, and much more. Beck's recommended reads are: Heart the Lover by Lily King Wreck by Catherine Newman Thanks so much to those of you who have donated to the show. Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠...

In this interview, I chat with Beck Dorey-Stein about Spectacular Things, having her book selected as a Reese's Book Club pick, writing about sacrifice and grief, tackling the sister relationship in fiction, writing about soccer, the hardest character for her to write, her title and cover, and much more. Beck's recommended reads are: Heart the Lover by Lily King Wreck by Catherine Newman Thanks so much to those of you who have donated to the show. Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Jayda Justus of The History Mom recommends books for gift giving this holiday. Favorite Fiction: ● Nostalgic reading - The Star of Camp Greene by Joy Callaway ● Old favorites made new - The Gatsby Gambit by Claire Anderson Wheeler, The Worlds of Jane Austen: The Influences and Inspiration Behind the Novels by Helena Kelly, and Jane Austen’s Fashion Bible by Ros Ballaster ● Old favorite/new favorite pairing - Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell and The Jackal’s Mistress by Chris Bohjalian....

Jayda Justus of The History Mom recommends books for gift giving this holiday. Favorite Fiction: ● Nostalgic reading - The Star of Camp Greene by Joy Callaway ● Old favorites made new - The Gatsby Gambit by Claire Anderson Wheeler, The Worlds of Jane Austen: The Influences and Inspiration Behind the Novels by Helena Kelly, and Jane Austen’s Fashion Bible by Ros Ballaster ● Old favorite/new favorite pairing - Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell and The Jackal’s Mistress by Chris Bohjalian....

Kelly joins me for November's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads. Kelly's Selections: Last: One & Only by Maureen Goo Orbital by Samantha Harvey Now: The Whisper Man by Alex North You & Me and You & Me and You & Me by Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees Next: Kin by Tayari Jones Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston DNFs: None Book Mail highlights: Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James Cindy's Selections: Last: A...

Kelly joins me for November's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads. Kelly's Selections: Last: One & Only by Maureen Goo Orbital by Samantha Harvey Now: The Whisper Man by Alex North You & Me and You & Me and You & Me by Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees Next: Kin by Tayari Jones Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston DNFs: None Book Mail highlights: Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James Cindy's Selections: Last: A...

In this episode, Kelly Hooker and I discuss our top reads of 2024. Our Top Shared Reads: First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston We Used to Life Here by Marcus Kliewer Kelly’s Remaining Selections: Mercury by Amy Jo Burns Everyone but Myself by Julie Chavez Drinker of Ink by Shannon Castleton Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Trafficking by Jason De Leon How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley Sa...

In this episode, Kelly Hooker and I discuss our top reads of 2024. Our Top Shared Reads: First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston We Used to Life Here by Marcus Kliewer Kelly’s Remaining Selections: Mercury by Amy Jo Burns Everyone but Myself by Julie Chavez Drinker of Ink by Shannon Castleton Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Trafficking by Jason De Leon How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley Sa...

In this interview, I chat with Emily Harding and Audrey Bellezza about ⁠Anne of Avenue A, modernizing Persuasion, the publishing process, co-writing books, setting the book in New York City, and much more. Audrey's recommended reads are: The Good Part by Sophie Cousens The Wedding People by Alison Espach Emily's recommended reads are: Backslide by Nora Dahlia This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone Thanks so much to those of you who have donated to the show. ...

In this interview, I chat with Emily Harding and Audrey Bellezza about ⁠Anne of Avenue A, modernizing Persuasion, the publishing process, co-writing books, setting the book in New York City, and much more. Audrey's recommended reads are: The Good Part by Sophie Cousens The Wedding People by Alison Espach Emily's recommended reads are: Backslide by Nora Dahlia This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone Thanks so much to those of you who have donated to the show. ...

Kelly joins me for October's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads. Kelly's Selections: Last: The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow Dominion by Addie E. Citchens Now: Wait for Me by Amy Jo Burns Bone Valley by Gilbert King Next: Good People by Patmeena Sabit Scavengers by Katherine Boland DNFs: Warning Signs by Tracy Sierra Book Mail highlights: The Astral Library by Kate Quinn Ruins by Lily Brooks-Dalton Cindy's Selections: Last: Yesteryear by Ca...

Kelly joins me for October's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads. Kelly's Selections: Last: The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow Dominion by Addie E. Citchens Now: Wait for Me by Amy Jo Burns Bone Valley by Gilbert King Next: Good People by Patmeena Sabit Scavengers by Katherine Boland DNFs: Warning Signs by Tracy Sierra Book Mail highlights: The Astral Library by Kate Quinn Ruins by Lily Brooks-Dalton Cindy's Selections: Last: Yesteryear by Ca...

In this episode, Kelly and I chat about our favorite books that published in July through September 2025. Our shared top reads: Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild Culpability by Bruce Holsinger Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey The Killer Question by Janice Hallett Kelly’s remaining top reads: Guess Again by Charlie Donlea The Grand Paloma Resort by Cleyvis Natura Life & Death & Giants by Ron Rindo Everyone Is Lying to You by Jo Piazza Do...

In this episode, Kelly and I chat about our favorite books that published in July through September 2025. Our shared top reads: Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild Culpability by Bruce Holsinger Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey The Killer Question by Janice Hallett Kelly’s remaining top reads: Guess Again by Charlie Donlea The Grand Paloma Resort by Cleyvis Natura Life & Death & Giants by Ron Rindo Everyone Is Lying to You by Jo Piazza D...

In this interview, I chat with Noelle Ihli about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ask For Andrea⁠ , her inspiration for writing this one, BookTok, her prequel to Ask for Andrea, her ghostwriting career, the publishing process, the various covers for this one, and much more. Noelle's recommended reads are: Too Close to Home by Serafina Nova Glass We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens Thanks so much to those of you who have donated to the show. Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠...

In this interview, I chat with Noelle Ihli about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ask For Andrea⁠ , her inspiration for writing this one, BookTok, her prequel to Ask for Andrea, her ghostwriting career, the publishing process, the various covers for this one, and much more. Noelle's recommended reads are: Too Close to Home by Serafina Nova Glass We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens Thanks so much to those of you who have donated to the show. Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠...

In this interview, I chat with Pamela Lamp about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Do the Next New Thing, how she came up with the ideas for her book, writing a book, how hard it can be to make friends as an adult, her blog Who I Met Today, and much more. Pam's recommended reads are: Let's Call Her Barbie by Renee Rosen One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune Thanks so much to those of you who have donated to the show. Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Venmo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want to...

In this interview, I chat with Pamela Lamp about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Do the Next New Thing, how she came up with the ideas for her book, writing a book, how hard it can be to make friends as an adult, her blog Who I Met Today, and much more. Pam's recommended reads are: Let's Call Her Barbie by Renee Rosen One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune Thanks so much to those of you who have donated to the show. Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Venmo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want to...

Mary Webber O'Malley and Pamela Klinger-Horn join me to recommend their favorites reads of the fourth quarter of 2025. Mary’s Titles: October The Bog Queen by Anna North Heart the Lover by Lily King A Guardian and A Thief by Megha Mujumdar November The Mad Wife by Meagan Church Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn The Dinner Party by Viola Van de Sandt Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino Next Time Will Be Our Turn by Jesse Q. Sutanto What Sheep Think About the Weather by Amelia Thomas Dece...

Mary Webber O'Malley and Pamela Klinger-Horn join me to recommend their favorites reads of the third quarter of 2025. Mary’s Titles: October The Bog Queen by Anna North Heart the Lover by Lily King A Guardian and A Thief by Megha Mujumdar November The Mad Wife by Meagan Church Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn The Dinner Party by Viola Van de Sandt Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino Next Time Will Be Our Turn by Jesse Q. Sutanto What Sheep Think About the Weather by Amelia Thomas Decem...

In this interview, I chat with Scott Carson about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Departure 37, categorizing this book, his pseudonym and how it came about, how the rhetoric around AI parallels that of the nuclear arms race, tying his timelines together, our relationship with technology, his research, and much more. Scott's recommended reads are: The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver The Devil Reached Toward the Sky: An Oral History of the Making and Unleashing of the Atomic Bomb by Garrett M. Graff Thanks so mu...

In this interview, I chat with Scott Carson about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Departure 37, categorizing this book, his pseudonym and how it came about, how the rhetoric around AI parallels that of the nuclear arms race, tying his timelines together, our relationship with technology, his research, and much more. Scott's recommended reads are: The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver The Devil Reached Toward the Sky: An Oral History of the Making and Unleashing of the Atomic Bomb by Garrett M. Graff Thanks so mu...

Kelly Hooker joins me for the September's Real Time Reading episode where we highlight our current, past and upcoming reads. Kelly’s Selections: Last: A Guardian and a Thief by Megan Majumdar A Good Animal by Sara Mauer Now: Indian Country by Shoba Rao Warning Signs by Tracy Sierra Next: The Sunshine Man by Emma Stonex The Exes by Leodora Darlington DNFs or Didn't Like: Adrift by Will Dean Book Mail Highlights: The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave Skylark by Paula McLain Cindy's Sele...

Kelly Hooker joins me for the September's Real Time Reading episode where we highlight our current, past and upcoming reads. Kelly’s Selections: Last: A Guardian and a Thief by Megan Majumdar A Good Animal by Sara Mauer Now: Indian Country by Shoba Rao Warning Signs by Tracy Sierra Next: The Sunshine Man by Emma Stonex The Exes by Leodora Darlington DNFs or Didn't Like: Adrift by Will Dean Book Mail Highlights: The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave Skylark by Paula McLain Cindy's Sel...