Episodes

In this interview, I chat with Saara El-Arifi about Cleopatra, researching Cleopatra and the time period, how daunting it was to write about Cleopatra and wanting to give her her dignity and her voice back, the stunning cover and her requests for it, deciding what to include and what to leave out, and much more. Saara's recommended read is The Immortal Heart by Jennifer Saint. Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page Winter Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In this interview, I chat with Elizabeth Heider about ⁠ Children of the Savage City, her main character's interesting job, the inspiration for Nikki, setting her books in Naples, her stunning covers, why she focused on systemic corruption, her view on friendships, and much more. Elizabeth's recommended reads are: A Woman of No Importance by ⁠⁠Sonia Purcell The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page Winter Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In this interview, I chat with Taylor Adams about ⁠⁠Her Last Breath, choosing a cave for the setting, creating a claustrophobic setting, his research for the novel including the police procedural aspects of the story, drafting twists and turns, his title and cover, and much more. Taylor's recommended reads are: King Sorrow by ⁠⁠Joe Hill A Simple Plan by Scott Smith Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page Winter Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a ti...

In this interview, I chat with Tory Henwood Hoen about ⁠Before I Forget, tackling Alzheimer's in fiction, making Arthur an oracle, decisding who would tell the story, writing in first person, how the audiobook narrator was selected, having her book selected as a December Book of the Month pick, her title and cover, and much more. Tory's recommended reads are: The Correspondent by ⁠Virginia Evans⁠ Heart the Lover by Lily King My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell Good Material by Dolly A...

In this interview, I chat with Libby Page about This Book Made Me Think of You, her inspiration for the book, selecting the books she wanted to include, creating the letters from Joe, the title and cover, stories about finding community, and much more. Libby's recommended reads are: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans The Lovelight Farms series by B.K. Borison The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page Winter Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠h...

Kelly joins me for January's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads. Kelly's Selections: Last: Upward Bound by Woody Brown That’s Not How it Happened by Craig Thomas Now: Love by the Book by Jessica George Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke Next: Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke DNFs: The Survivor by Andrew Reid Book Mail highlights: The One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh A Fortune of Sand by Ruta Se...

In this interview, I chat with ReShonda Tate about With Love From Harlem⁠⁠⁠, why she decided to write about Hazel Scott, her research and why she stays away from the internet for it, Billie Holiday, her writing process, the title and cover, writing biographical fiction, the setting, and much more. ReShonda's recommended reads are: Casualties of Truth by Lauren Francis-Sharma The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chanel Cleeton King of Ashes by SA Cosby A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict and Victor...

In this interview, I chat with Gary J. Walters about White House Memories: 1970-2007⁠, his role as chief usher and what that role entails, planning for inauguration day and evening, his background, his impressions of the various administrations, behind-the-scenes glimpses into life at the White House, reliving his memories at the White House, and much more. Gary's recommended reads are: Books by Michel Connally Books by John Sandford A White House of Stone by William Seale Looking for some ...

Kelly joins me for December's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads. Kelly's Selections: Last: My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney Good People by Patmeena Sabit Now: How to Get Away With Murder by Rebecca Philipson Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven Next: Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser American Han by Lisa Lee DNFs: None Book Mail highlights: This Book Makes Me Think of You by Libby Page The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer Cindy's Selections: La...

Mary Webber O'Malley and Pamela Klinger-Horn join me to recommend their favorites reads of the first quarter of 2026. Mary’s titles January: All The Little Houses by May Cobb Skylark by Paula McLain The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave February: Imposter by LJ Ross Saoirse by Charleen Hurtubise More than Enough by Anna Quindlen So Old So Young by Grant Ginder It's Not Her by Mary Kubica March : Wait For Me by Amy Jo Burns Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser Bloom by Robbie Couch Murder at 30...

In this episode, Kelly Hooker and I discuss our top reads of 2025. Our Top Shared Reads: Dead Money by Jacob Kerr This American Woman by Zarna Garg The Correspondent by Virginia Evans The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar Kelly’s Remaining Selections: Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild The...

In this interview, I chat with Matthew Norman about Grace & Henry's Holiday Movie Marathon, writing a holiday romance, choosing which movies to incorporate into the story and the movie that didn't end up in the book, exploring the many faces of grief, holidays as universal experiences, naming the dog Harry Styles, and much more. Matthew's recommended reads are: The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu The Holiday Season by Michael Knight Thanks so much to those of you who have donated to the s...

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....

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 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...

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 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 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...

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...