Bookish Flights: Books, Author Interviews & Must-Read Recommendations

Send us Fan MailWelcome back to Bookish Flights, where we tell our stories through the books that shape us. Today’s episode is a celebration of libraries and the magic that happens inside them. I’m joined by Gigi Howard — librarian of 15 years and host of Drinks in the Library, the only library where drinks aren’t just allowed, they’re required.We talk about her librarian heart, the unwritten (and very real) rules of librarianship, and why protecting a reader’s experience matters so deeply. Gigi shares what it’s really like working in a library, why she started her podcast, and how books can meet us exactly where we are.Whether you’re a lifelong library lover or someone trying to find your way back to reading, this conversation is a reminder that there truly is a book for everyone.So grab your library card — or your favorite drink — and let’s dive in.Episode Highlights:What 15 years in libraries has taught Gigi about readersThe “rules” of librarianship (and why they matter)The brilliance of graphic novels and raising kids who love books and storiesThe question every librarian asks to find the right bookHow Drinks in the Library came to lifeWhy diminishing a reader’s experience does more harm than goodA full Xochitl Gonzalez book flightConnect with Gigi:InstagramDrinks in the Library PodcastSubstackSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:Gingko Season by Naomi Xu ElegantThe Thirteenth Tale by Diane SetterfieldOnce Upon a River by Diane SetterfieldBird by Bird by Anne LamottOn Beauty by Zadie SmithXochitl Gonzalez Book FlightAnita de Monte Laughs LastOlga Dies DreamingLast Night in Bro✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailToday I’m joined by author Chawna Schroeder, a fantasy writer who describes herself as a “boundary stretcher,” someone who explores what it means to live beyond the boxes we often place around ourselves, our faith, and even our imagination. After more than two decades studying the craft of writing, Chawna creates richly layered stories that blend faith, philosophy, and speculative worldbuilding.In this episode, we’re talking about Perplexity, the second book in her Sceptre & the Stylus series. This story weaves together political intrigue, hidden dangers, and characters navigating loss, responsibility, and purpose. We also dive into the books that shaped her as a reader, featuring a book flight centered on ensemble casts and found family.Episode Highlights:What it means to be a “boundary stretcher” in both life and writingWhy she’s drawn to large, interconnected character castsA simple breakdown of the difference between science fiction and fantasyHow faith, purpose, and identity show up in her storiesWhy stories allow us to step into someone else’s life in a meaningful wayConnect with Chawna:FacebookWebsiteSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. TolkienA Little Princess by Frances Hodgson BurnettAngela Bell’s episodeFirebird by Kathy TyresSharon Hinck booksThe Bandit of Ashley Downs by Dave & Neta JacksonGeorge Muller: The Guardian of Bristol's Orphans by Janet & Geoff BengeBook FlightRecorder by Cathy McCrumb (adult sci-fi)The Ark, the Reed, and the Fire Cloud by Jenny Cote (middle grade historical fantasy)Criss Cross by C.C. Warrens (contemporary adult suspense)✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Rachel Linden for the latest installment of the BFF Book Club, all about her novel The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake. This was such a fun conversation. Rachel shares the inspiration behind the story, why she loves weaving food into her writing, and the “research loophole” she’s fully embracing—traveling, wandering, and eating her way through her settings.We also talk about the deeper themes of the book, including healing, second chances, and what it looks like to live a fulfilled life in different seasons. Plus, she gives us a sneak peek at her upcoming novel A Sprinkle of Sweet Serendipity (releasing 05/19) and hints at a new genre she’s stepping into next.Episode Highlights:The inspiration behind The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake.Why Rachel keeps coming back to food as a storytelling thread.Her perspective on “research” and how it shapes her books.Exploring what a fulfilled life looks like in different seasons.The heart behind writing stories rooted in healing and growth.Connect with Rachel:InstagramFacebookWebsite📚 Next Meet the Author Book Club🗓️ June 1st | 🕓 5 pm PST / 7 pm CST / 8 pm ESTIf you’d like to join us for an upcoming discussion, next month’s pick is The Life She Forgot by Joanna Davidson Politano - a historical story woven with mystery and heart, following a woman uncovering fragments of a past she can’t fully remember. As she pieces together lost memories, she’s drawn into questions of identity, truth, and what it really means to start over. It’s a blend of intrigue, emotion, and discovery—perfect if you love stories about hidden histories and second chances. Register Here.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:Emily Henry booksKatherine Center booksAbby Jimenez booksA Second Chance Scottish Summer by Rachel Mae LindenRecipe for a Charmed Life by Rachel LindenBook FlightThe Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie BostwickKate & Frida by Kim FayRemarkably B✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Holly Gutwillinger, a heartfelt writer born and raised in a small town in northern Ontario. Holly is a proud dog mom to two rescue dogs and one cat, and her love for animals shines through in both her life and her storytelling. We talk about her podcast and debut book, North of Broken and Furever Home, and the creative journey that led her there. Holly shares what it looked like to build a creative life over time, the seasons of trying different paths, and what it finally felt like to land on writing as her true passion.Episode Highlights:The journey of trying different paths before finding writing.The inspiration behind her stories and connection to her own animals.Writing anthropomorphic characters and asking readers to see the world through a dog’s perspective.The mindset shift from “rescuing” her dogs to truly accepting them.Why creativity doesn’t have to be rushed and can evolve over time.Connect with Holly:InstagramRamblings from the Little Shed PodcastWebsiteSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:Too Good to be Real by Melanie JohnsonAnnie Hartnett’s episode (Ep. 199)Animals in Fantasy Book Flight with Books Are Magical Podcast (Ep. 54)The Red Tent by Anita DiamantBook FlightLily and the Octopus by Steven RowleyThe Road to Tender Hearts by Annie HartnettFaking Christmas by Cindy Steel✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Jennifer van der Kleut (née McBride). Jennifer is an award-winning former journalist of both print and digital publications, including the D.C. affiliate of ABC7 News. A graduate of San Jose State University, she spent most of her life in the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to the Norther Virginia suburbs of D.C., where she currently lives with her husband and two sons. When she is not writing, she loves going to the beach with her family, going to concerts with her girlfriends, and getting lost in the pages of a book. We are here today to discuss her debut psychological thriller, The Better Mother.Episode Highlights:How journalism trained her to write with clarity, focus, and purposeThe shift from reporting facts to creating fictional worldsWhy she’s drawn to writing from a villain’s perspectiveWhat she loved most about writing The Better MotherHow understanding “why” drives both journalism and fictionConnect with Jennifer:InstagramFacebookWebsiteSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:Lucy Foley booksCarol Goodman booksKaira Rouda booksRobyn Harding booksAshley Winstead booksDream Harbor book series by Laurie GilmoreElin Hilderbrand booksThe Storyteller by Jodi PicoultThe Locked Ward by Sarah PekkanenThis is Not a Game by Kelly MullenBook FlightThe Last Celebrity by Madeleine HenryTell Me What You Did by Carter WilsonThe Only One Left by Riley Sager✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Jennifer N. Brown. Jennifer is the Dean of Arts & Sciences at Bentley University, where she is also Professor of English and Media Studies, with a specialization in medieval literature written for and by women. She has published a lot on this topic but The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton is her first novel. She lives in the Boston area with her husbnad, their two children, and two miniature dachshunds. Episode Highlights:The real history behind Elizabeth Barton and the lost manuscriptWriting as both a historian and a novelistThe freedom fiction offers compared to academic writingBalancing historical accuracy with compelling storytellingWriting across dual timelines (historical + modern)How present-day perspectives shape historical fictionThe role of empathy in both history and readingLetting go of perfection and knowing when to finish a bookConnect with Jennifer:InstagramWebsiteSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:Orlando by Virginia WoolfHeart the Lover by Lily KingFlashlight by Susan ChoiBook FlightThe French Lieutenant’s Woman by John FowlesThe Weight of Ink by Rachel KadishWolf Hall by Hilary Mantel✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailToday I’m thrilled to welcome back Janyre Tromp. If her name sounds familiar, that’s because she previously joined us on Episode 106, where we talked about her novel Darkness Calls the Tiger. Janyre is an award-winning, bestselling historical suspense novelist known for weaving together rich history, myth, and stories that search for beauty—even when it isn’t pretty. Her newest book, The Scorpion Thief, takes readers into a Cold War political game involving a cursed Egyptian artifact, two estranged sisters on opposite sides of a dangerous heist, and a mystery that stretches from the streets of Cairo to Washington D.C. and even New Orleans. Episode Highlights:The fascinating real-life history behind the Cold War setting—and why it almost feels too wild to be fiction.How Janyre balances being a self-proclaimed “history nerd” with writing fast-paced, gripping suspense.The inspiration behind The Scorpion Thief and weaving Egyptian myth into a political thriller.Her creative process, including sketching her book covers before they’re ever designed.What it looks like to make space for writing in a full and busy life.Why she describes herself as an eclectic reader and how that shapes her recommendations.Her three-word description of the book: noir, mystery, and Egyptian.Connect with Janyre:InstagramFacebookWebsiteBooks and authors mentioned in the episode:Brene Brown booksThe Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der KolkDeath Was Not on the Guest List by Jenni Walsh (publication date 06/16/26)Burning the Raven Tree by Janyre Tromp (coming 09/08/26)The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter WohllebenThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. LewisBeautiful Ugly by Alice FeeneyBook FlightThe Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie BostwickRebecca by Daphne du MaurierVera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Chelsea Bobulski, author of A Deal with a Debutante, her latest release with Haven Fiction and the first book in her London’s Most Eligible series. Chelsea is also the author of the YA fantasy novels The Wood and Remember Me, and brings her background in history into the heart of every story she writes. In this conversation, we talk about what it looks like to step into the past through research, how storytelling connects us across time, and why romance novels might just make us better at loving the people in our real lives.Episode Highlights:Chelsea’s love of history and how research becomes a doorway into another world.Writing A Deal with a Debutante and bringing Edwardian England to life.What it looks like to “live inside” the stories you’re writing.The balance between historical accuracy and creating a story that feels alive.How good stories—especially romance—can shape the way we show up in our own lives.Why romance novels remind us to slow down and be intentional in our relationships.The idea that dreams can evolve over time—and that’s not failure, it’s growth.Finding joy in storytelling, creativity, and building a life you actually want to live.Connect with Chelsea:InstagramFacebookWebsiteShow NotesSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:Harry Potter series by J.K. RowlingThe Girl of Fire and Thorns by Ray CarsonThe Berenstain Bears books by Jan & Mike BerenstainTheo of Golden by Allen LeviBook FlightConsuelo & Alva Vanderbilt by Amanda Mackenzie StewartA.K.A. Lucy by Sarah RoyalEven After This by Deborah Clack✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Amy Schweizer. Amy is a USMC military spouse of 15 years, mom to three boys, and an expert in youth sports development. She has played soccer for over 20 years, culminating with being a member of the Cincinnati Ladyhawks of the USL. She is the Founder and Owner of Tiny Troops Soccer, a developmental program for children ages 2-5 with 35 locations worldwide. She loves creating physical activity programs that benefit the overall well-being of military children, families, and the surrounding communities. She is also a passionate advocate for military spouse employment. Her first book - I Will Be Okay - Adventures of a Military Kid - was selected as the 2021 Inspirational Leader of the Year by The Rosie Network. If you are interested in grabbing a copy or a few of I Will Be Okay - Adventures of a Military Kid, please connect with Amy at [email protected]. Episode Highlights:Navigating frequent moves while trying to build and maintain a career.The reality of parenting without nearby family support.How Tiny Troops Soccer started from a personal need.Why early childhood movement and play matter so much.Building a business that can move with military life.Supporting military kids through transition and change.Advocacy for military spouse employment and flexible career paths.Encouragement for military spouses trying to build something of their own.Connect with Amy:InstagramFacebookWebsiteBooks and authors mentioned in the episode:Winter Garden by Kristin HannahBook FlightTraction by Gino WickhamProfit First by Mike MichalowiczA Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. MaasNever Lie by Freida McFadden✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Carmela Dutra, a Bay Area–based writer who loves food trucks, family, and cozy mysteries. With a love for quirky characters and humor-filled storytelling, Carmela draws inspiration from everyday life, farmers’ markets, and the unexpected moments that make a story memorable.In our conversation, we talk about the inspiration behind her food-truck-centered mystery, A Murder Most Fowl, writing sibling dynamics, and how she balances humor with high-stakes crime. Carmela also shares what readers can expect next in the series—including book two, Hot Wings and Homicide.Episode Highlights:The inspiration behind a food truck–centered mystery, including brainstorming sessions with her husband.Writing twins and the dynamic between Beth and Seth.Why food and cozy mysteries are such a perfect pairing.Balancing humor with suspense in a murder mystery.A peek into book two: Hot Wings and Homicide. If you’ve pre-ordered a copy of the book, make sure to email, [email protected] for your exclusive recipe cards. Connect with Carmela:InstagramFacebookWebsite📚 Next Meet the Author Event🗓️ April 21st | 🕓 5 pm PST / 7 pm CST / 8 pm ESTIf you’d like to join us for an upcoming discussion, next month’s pick is The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake by Rachel Linden - a beautiful story set in Italy that weaves together a magical cookbook, family history, and a summer of second chances. Rachel will be joining us live, and you’re invited to read along and be part of the conversation. Register Here.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:Carmela’s previous Bookish Flights episodeSarah Adams booksAnd Now, Back to You by B.K. BorisonThe Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar WildeBook FlightThe Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco by Michelle ChouinardA Tour to Die For by Michelle ChouinardMurder and Mamon by Mia P. Manansala✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailToday’s conversation is a tender one. I’m joined by Sheila Hamilton — journalist, speaker, and author of All the Things We Never Knew, a memoir she wrote in the aftermath of her late husband’s descent into mental illness. This book is part story, part resource — and it captures the confusion, grief, hope, and fierce love that come with navigating a fractured mental health system while trying to hold a family together.If you’ve ever loved someone who was struggling…this episode is for you. We talk resilience, motherhood, sisterhood — and the powerful books that shaped Sheila along the way.Episode Highlights:Why Sheila felt compelled to write All the Things We Never Knew after her husband’s mental health crisis.How her background in journalism shaped the book into both memoir and resource.The realities of navigating the mental health system while trying to support a family.Why honesty about struggle can help people find connection and community.What resilience really looks like in the middle of grief and uncertainty.The role motherhood played in helping her move forward.Connect with Sheila:InstagramPodcastWebsiteBooks and authors mentioned in the episode:Virginia Woolf booksThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott FitzgeraldThe Chronology of Water by Lidia YuknavitchMcGlue by Ottessa MoshfeghBook FlightThe Year of Magical Thinking by Joan DidionWild by Cheryl StrayedThe Bell Jar✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Wendy Hively—a Navy spouse, retired scientist, and entrepreneur who has spent more than a decade building a business that supports military families. After giving up two jobs in her career field during her husband’s service, Wendy experienced firsthand the employment challenges many military spouses face. That experience led her to entrepreneurship as a way to create both stability and purpose.She is the founder of Charliemadison Originals, a lifestyle brand named after her daughters and inspired by three generations of military service in her family. The brand not only celebrates military life but also gives back—5% of every purchase is donated to organizations supporting servicemembers and their families. Wendy also shares about her newest venture, Charliemadison Labs, a women-led coaching community that helps entrepreneurs get out of their own way and grow their businesses.Episode Highlights:Starting a business with $200 in the bank.The employment challenges military spouses often face.Why entrepreneurship can be a powerful alternative career path.Skills military spouses develop that translate to business success.Building community through Charliemadison Originals.Wendy’s newest venture: Charliemadison Labs women-led coaching for entrepreneurs.Her book flight celebrating women who empower women.Connect with Wendy:InstagramFacebookWebsiteShow NotesSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness OrczyThe Alchemist by Paolo CoelhoKills Well with Others by Deanna RaybourneBook FlightThe Red Tent by Anita DiamantThe Queens of Crime by Marie BenedictKillers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourne✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailToday on Bookish Flights, I’m joined by Katherine Scott Crawford, award-winning author of The Miniaturist’s Assistant and Keowee Valley, history enthusiast, and self-proclaimed recovering academic. An eleventh-generation Southerner, Katherine directs writing retreats at a remote mountain lodge in Western North Carolina, where she lives with her family and would much rather be in the woods with her dog than anywhere else. A former backpacking guide and adjunct professor, her writing has appeared in newspapers across the country and abroad. If you love historical fiction, this conversation is for you.Episode Highlights:The deep, layered history of the American SouthHer novel The Miniaturist’s Assistant, set in Charleston and the research and imagination behind bringing 1804 and 2004 to lifeWhy historical fiction is the best form of time travelHer writing process and the rhythms of a creative lifeThe idea that reading is a hobby you actively choose above all elseHow living in Western North Carolina means you can’t “trip over a rock without tripping over history”Katherine describes herself as a history nerd, and it shows in the best way. We talk about time as something mysterious and porous,  how the past presses into the present, and how fiction allows us to experience that overlap in deeply human ways. Her biggest hope for readers? A truly transportive experience into both 1804 and 2004 Charleston.Connect with Katherine:InstagramFacebookWebsiteShow NotesSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:Anne of Green Gables by L.M. MontgomeryThe Black Wolf by Louise PennyThe Everlasting by Alix E. HarrowThe Electricity of Every Living Thing by Katherine MayBook FlightThe Frozen River by Ariel LawhonThe Lost Book of Eleanor Dareby Kimberly BrockThe Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann by Virginia Pye✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Tracie Peterson, often called the Queen of Historical Christian Fiction. An ECPA, CBA, and USA Today bestselling author of more than 110 books, Tracie has spent decades weaving together faith, history, and romance for readers around the world. Her guiding motto in both life and writing is Soli Deo Gloria — For God Alone the Glory. A Kansas native now living in the mountains of Montana with her husband, Jim, Tracie joins me to discuss her latest novel, Faithful of Heart, part of the Minnesota Legacy series.Episode Highlights:Her deep research process, especially her love of firsthand historical accounts.Why setting functions almost like a secondary character in her novels.The heart behind Faithful of Heart and what’s ahead for the Minnesota Legacy series.Balancing reading and writing, and how deadlines shape her reading life.The themes of hope and forgiveness that thread through her stories.Her book flight includes historical Christian romances that beautifully blend faith, perseverance, and love.This conversation is thoughtful, grounded, and rooted in a lifetime of faithful storytelling.Connect with Tracie:InstagramFacebookWebsiteShow NotesSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:Jane Austin booksTom Clancy booksJaime Jo Wright booksBook FlightA Song in the Dark by Kimberley WoodhouseMail Order Duchess / Mail Order Baroness by Misty M. BellarChristy by Catherine Marshall✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I sit down with USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and internationally bestselling author Wade Rouse. Many readers know Wade by his pen name, Viola Shipman, his grandmother’s name chosen to honor the woman whose stories and heirlooms inspire his fiction. But this novel marks something new. That’s What Friends Are For is the first book he has published under his own name. Inspired by The Golden Girls, the novel follows four gay men “of a certain age” who have built a vibrant chosen family in Palm Springs, until an unexpected family arrival begins to unravel long-held secrets.Episode Highlights:Why Wade chose his grandmother’s name as his pen nameWhat publishing under his own name represents at this stage of his lifeThe Golden Girls inspiration behind “The Golden Gays”Writing about aging in AmericaThe power of found family and chosen friendshipHumor as a doorway to deeper emotional truthThe legacy behind his beloved Viola Shipman novelsIf you have ever built family beyond blood, navigated reinvention, or believe friendship carries us through life’s hardest seasons, this episode is for you.Connect with Wade:WebsiteInstagramFacebookShow NotesSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:Erma Bombeck booksDavid Sedaris booksI Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora EphronRunning with Scissors by Augusten BurroughsThe Last of the Savages by Jay McInerneyCatcher in the Rye by J.D. SalingerSo Old, So Young by Grant GinderBook FlightAwake by Jen HatmakerThe Forget-Me-Not Library by Heather WebberHazel Says No by Jessica Berger Gross✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailI’m chatting with Matt Mattson, a writer, speaker, social mystic, & spiritual leader dedicated to cultivating sacred human connection. Matt is the founder of BETWEEN, an innovative and deeply inclusive global faith community that invites people into curiosity, conversation, and shared moments of meaning. His work blends ancient wisdom with modern insight, helping people notice and name the sacred woven into everyday encounters. We are here today to celebrate the release of his newest book, Cathedrals of Connection.Connect with Matt:InstagramFacebookWebsiteBooks mentioned:Kitchen Confidential by Anthony BourdainHow to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale CarnegieEverything is a Story by Kaitlin B. CurticeBook FlightAflame by Pico IyerThe Healing Power of the Santuario de Chimayó by Brett HendricksonHoly Envy by Barbara Brown Taylor✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailToday is our latest BFF Book Club. This month, we’re joined by by Annie Harnett, author of The Road to Tender Hearts. Annie is the award-winning author of two additional novels, Rabbit Cake and Unlikely Animals. Episode Highlights:The inspiration behind The Road to Tender Hearts and how Annie transformed personal anxiety into sharp, heartfelt fiction.Her writing process of “going for the joke first” and then layering in what she calls the “emo copy” to bring emotional depth.Why humor is her entry point into heavier themes.How her experience as a former bookseller shaped her storytelling and reading life.Annie’s book flight featuring four of her all-time favorite books.Connect with Annie:InstagramWebsite📚 Next Meet the Author Event 🗓️ March 15th | 🕓 3 pm PST / 5 pm CST / 6 pm ESTWe’re thrilled to welcome Carmela Dutra, author of A Murder Most Fowl, a cozy food truck murder mystery, to our next Book Club gathering! Come for the conversation and stay for the community. 👉 Register Here.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:Karmen Somers episode featuring The Road to Tender Hearts (E168)Moby Dick by Herman MelvilleGone Girl by Gillian FlynnSave the Cat by Blake SnyderEmily Henry’s bookMargo’s Got Money Trouble by Rufi ThorpeShark Heart by Emily HabeckThe Wedding People by Alison EspachRemarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van PeltAnxious People by Fredrik BakmanBook FlightLincoln in the Bardo by George SaundersThe Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee BenderSwamplandia! by Karen RussellJohn Irving’s books✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Lindsay Marie Morris, a novelist and journalist based in Los Angeles whose work is deeply rooted in her Sicilian-American heritage. Lindsay’s debut novel, The Last Letter from Sicily, was inspired by her grandmother’s story and explores love, resilience, and long-held family secrets during World War II. Her second novel, Beneath the Sicilian Stars, returns to this era, following a family divided between California and Sicily as the war forces them to confront questions of loyalty, belonging, and sacrifice.Episode Highlights:The often-overlooked history of Sicilians and Italian Americans during World War II, including the impact of the Alien Enemy Act and the internment of Italian Americans, history rarely taught in American schools.How family stories are often passed down in fragments, and the role fiction can play in uncovering the fuller, more complicated truth.Exploring Sicilian culture through food, including why arancini are shaped differently depending on where you are on the island.A Sicily-focused book flight, plus additional reading recommendations on Italian and Italian-American history.How Lindsay connects with readers through her newsletter, sharing behind-the-scenes insights, upcoming events, and travel notes from the road.Connect with Lindsay:WebsiteFacebookInstagramShow NotesSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:Una Storia Segreta by Lawrence DiStasiLaura Ingalls Wilder booksNeopolitan Quartet by Elena FerranteEternal by Lisa ScottolineRenata Tebaldi: The Voice of an Angel by Carlamaria CasanovaBook FlightThe Peoples of Sicily by Louis Mendola & Jacqueline AlioThe Leopard by Giovanni Di LampedusaSicily on My Mind by Joseph Cione✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I am chatting with Ashlee Sullivan. Ashlee, CEO and founder of woman + warrior®️THE first OFFICIAL APPAREL BRAND line of it’s kind, made for the military family! Because we deserve to be seen, look good, and feel great while doing this thing called the military. This episode is part of our Military Spouse Series, and Ashlee shares her journey transitioning from a Coast Guard Reserve family to an Active Duty Army family. We talk about starting a business rooted in representation, using creativity and humor to cope during hard seasons, and the challenge of finding support in a transient military lifestyle.Resources MentionedMilitary One SourceInDependent, for military spouse wellnessStronghold Food Pantry, to help military families facing food insecurity. Episode Highlights:Starting a mission-driven business as a military spouse.Using creativity and humor to cope during difficult seasons.Why finding military resources can feel so hard.Building real community in a constantly changing lifestyle.Mental health, burnout, and giving yourself permission to rest.Reading as both a luxury and a necessity.Showing up online with intention and influence.Her book flight is for those with big dreams and how to get you there.Connect with Ashlee:InstagramFacebookWebsiteShow NotesSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:Wisdom Takes Work by Ryan HolidayOriginals by Adam GrantBook FlightSteal Like an Artist by Austin KleonDiscipline is Destiny by Ryan HolidayCourage is Calling by Ryan HolidayThe Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today's episode, I am chatting with Joan Fernandez. Joan is a brings to light brilliant women’s courageous deeds in history. She is a former senior marketing executive general partner of the financial powerhouse Edward Jones. In 2018, she retired from a 30+ year career to be a full-time writer. In April 2020, she founded a Historical Fiction affinity group within WFWA that grew from a handful of people to nearly two hundred authors. Her short story, “A Parisian Daughter,” is published in the anthology, Feisty Deeds: Historical Fiction of Daring Women. Her debut novel, Saving Vincent, A Novel of Jo Van Gogh, published in April 2025. Joan calls both St. Louis and Sedona, Arizona home, enjoys foodie meals with her Cuban husband and antics with grandkids.Episode Highlights:How Joan’s first career shaped her writing life and the confidence that comes from starting something new after years of expertise.Applying the skills, discipline, and mindset from a long, successful career to the creative work of writing.Discovering the story of Jo van Gogh and what inspired Joan to center her debut novel on a woman often overlooked in art history.The realities of raising a child while running a business—and advocating relentlessly for Vincent van Gogh’s work.Using personal letters and historical documents as research, including the powerful reminder that “art must touch your soul.”A book flight focused on characters searching for identity and learning how to live authentically, carrying who they are into every part of life.Connect with Joan:InstagramFacebookWebsiteShow NotesSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow LindberghSong of Belonging by Michelle St. Romain (coming 04/21/26)Book FlightThe Hate U Give by Angie ThomasSuch a Fun Age by Kiley ReidOona, Out of Order by Margarita Montimore✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Theory Knight—a sci-fi lover, aspiring pilot, and thoughtful storyteller with a deep love of humor, humanity, and connection. Theory dreams of flying someday, loves Hawaii, and believes in the therapeutic value of road trips. She’s only organized because of technology, is thankful for good vacuum cleaners, and would absolutely rent an apartment inside Canadian Tire if they’d let her.We’re here today to discuss her new book, Jingle Bells, Sasquatch Smells, and the stories that help reset our nervous systems—especially during hard seasons. Theory’s reading life leans toward what she calls scary, funny books: stories that hold darkness with humor and leave you feeling more grateful for what you have.Episode Highlights:What Canadian Tire is (for those of us who didn’t grow up with it).Why being among others during hard times can be incredibly grounding.How humor helps us sit with scary or uncomfortable moments.Setting boundaries with dark books and knowing your limits.The sci-fi stories that shaped Theory’s reading life.Writing with intention and bringing only what you truly love into a book.Working creatively with a spouse (her husband is her cover designer, go check them out).Connect with Theory:InstagramWebsiteBook Playlists (how fun!)Buy Tiger in My TankBooks and authors mentioned in the episode:Ender’s Game by Orson Scott CardThe Complete Works of Oscar WildeDungeon Crawler Carl by Matt DinnimanBook FlightThe Street Lawyer by John GrishamAll My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews Jingle Bells, Sasquatch Smells by Theory Knight✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Susan L. Combs. Susan is the President of Combs & Company, a full-service insurance brokerage firm based in New York City. She started the company at just 26 years old with a drive to “do more, do better.” A self-described Missouri girl in a New York world, Susan draws on the lessons of her Midwestern upbringing and more than two decades in NYC in her book, Pancakes for Roger. The insights in these pages come from family, friends, colleagues, and life in general—but the most important teachings are from her late father. When she’s not running her business or helping others navigate challenges, you can find her flipping tires at her CrossFit gym, cheering on the Missouri Tigers, KC Chiefs, and Royals, or slaying the dragons that have come her way.Episode highlights:What it really looks like to own four businesses and manage them with intention.How a book that began with one chapter about her father became a collection of his wisdom—“Dad-isms”Why writing Pancakes for Roger pushed Susan far outside her comfort zone and how that stretch sparked growth and change.The importance of having creative outlets, even (and especially) for high-achieving business owners.Growing up in a family that believed if you have good advice, it’s your duty to share it.Reflections on legacy, gratitude, and being able to say she has no regrets about her relationship with her father.Susan’s book flight of impactful reads that have shaped her leadership, creativity, and perspective.This episode is a thoughtful conversation about leadership, courage, creativity, and the enduring influence of the people who shape us most.Connect with Susan:WebsiteInstagramBooks and authors mentioned in the episode:Crescent City by Sarah J. MaasPhillip Margolan booksThe Let Them Theory by Mel RobbinsThe Rose Code & The Alice Network by Kate QuinnThe Library Book by Susan OrleanGone Before Good by Harlen Coben and Reese WitherspoonVerity by Colleen HooverBook FlightSigns: The Secret Language of the Universe by Laura Lynne JacksonAmerican Sirens by Kevin Hazard✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Karen Winn. Karen is the author of two novels: The Society (Dutton, 2026), and Our Little World (Dutton, 2022). She earned her MFA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. For her undergraduate studies she attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she may or may not have belonged to a secret society. Writing is her first love and second career; she worked as a nurse for many years. Karen lives in the charming Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston with her husband, two children, and their 100-pound Bernedoodle.  Karen and I chatted about all this things - including switching careers and how her nursing skill set translated into her novel writing. Her book flight includes books about secret society and outsider protagnoists who get access.Episode Highlights:Transitioning from nursing to fiction writing—and navigating a second career.How medical training shapes character development and emotional realism.Writing as a “secret identity” before stepping fully into the role of author.The influence of place and setting, especially Boston’s Beacon Hill, on creativity.Exploring secret societies in fiction.Outsider protagonists who suddenly gain access to hidden worlds.Connect with Karen:InstagramFacebookWebsiteShow NotesSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:Lucy Foley booksAnne of Green Gables by L.M. MontgomeryThe Found Object Society by Michelle MarykBook FlightThe Cloisters by Katy HaysNinth House by Leigh BardugoThe Secret History by Donna Tartt✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Amanda Wen. Amanda Wen’s novels have released to both reader and critical acclaim. Her second novel, The Songs That Could Have Been, won both the Selah and the Carol Awards, and her debut, Roots of Wood and Stone, was a finalist for the Christy Award. In addition to her writing, Amanda is an accomplished professional cellist and pianist who frequently performs with orchestras, chamber groups, and her church’s worship team, as well as serving as a choral accompanist. A lifelong denizen of the flatlands, Amanda currently lives in Kansas with her patient, loving, and hilarious husband, their three adorable Wenlets, and a snuggly Siamese cat. Today we are here today to discuss her latest novel, Echoes of a Silent Song.Episode Highlights:Life in the flatlands of the Midwest and how place shapes story.The setting and inspiration behind the next book in her Melodies and Memories duology.Balancing full-time creative work as a musician, writer, wife, and mom.How Amanda realistically fits writing into a very full life.Why kids are often unintentionally funnier than adults.The way music and writing inform and strengthen each other.Research fears, perfectionism, and the pressure of getting details right.A deeper look at Echoes of a Silent Song and the heart behind the story.Amanda also shares a book flight featuring novels about musicians across different genres of music—perfect for readers who love stories where art and storytelling intertwine.Connect with Amanda:InstagramFacebookWebsiteShow NotesSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:O Little Town by Amanda Wen, Janyre Tromp, Deborah RaneyMy Friends by Fredrik BackmanEmily Conrad booksThe Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara BrunsvoldWhen the Road Comes Around by Katie Powner (Hear more on Ep. 161)The Atlas of Untold Stories by Sara Brunsvold (Hear more on ✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I am chatting with Susan May Warren. Susan is the USA bestselling, Awardwinning novelist with nearly 2 million books sold. She’s lived all over the world (including Russia), and has penned over 100 novels, writing across genres such as contemporary and historical romances, romantic suspense, and thrillers. Susan’s works have achieved USA Today, ECPA, and CBA bestseller status, won numerous awards  and have been translated into eight languages. She’s a renowned writing coach, founder of Novel.Academy, and author of the popular writing method, The Story Equation. She lives in Minnesota and Florida with her handsome hubby, has 2 messy labradoodles, loves good wine, travelling and hanging out with her husband, 4 kids and their spouses and her 5 grandchildren. We are here today to discuss her latest book, Track of Courage. Episode Highlights:Why writing can be a meaningful and flexible career, especially during seasons of motherhood.How Susan uses structure and story blueprints to stay creative and consistent.What it really takes to maintain momentum and finish books.The balance between deep research and trusting your own voice as a writer.Why reading widely and learning the craft matters.How travel and lived experience continue to influence her stories.Susan’s book flight and the books that helped shape Track of Courage.Connect with Susan:InstagramFacebookWebsiteBooks and authors mentioned in the episode:Debbie Macomber booksJames Scott Bell booksDonald Maass booksRedeeming Love by Francine RiversAcross the Ages by Gabrielle MeyerBook FlightNorthern Lights by Nora RobertsNashville Sweethearts by Rachel HouckWhat You Wish For by Katherine Center✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Katie Bernet. Katie is an author living in Dallas, Texas. She’s an award-winning creative director, a long-standing member of the DFW Writer’s Workshop, and the director of the 2025 DFW Writer’s Conference. The oldest of three sisters, she’s a diehard fan of Little Women. We are here today to discuss her debut novel, Beth is Dead.Episode Highlights:Writing Beth is Dead while living with her sisters, and how those real-life dynamics quietly found their way onto the page.A simple but powerful writing exercise that helped her move past resistance: making a love/hate list and choosing to write toward what felt hard.What changed for her when she reached the end of revisions and realized she understood Beth March in an entirely new way.She talks about which March sister was the most challenging character to write.A gentle reminder that creativity isn’t exclusive or earned - it’s something we all carry.Connect with Katie:InstagramWebsiteShow NotesSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara KingsolverDemon Copperhead by Barbara KingsolverHarry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (full-cast audio)Enchantment by Orson Scott CardGirl Dinner by Olivia BlakeThe Scammer by Tiffany D. JacksonBook FlightLittle Women by Louise May AlcottSo Many Beginnings by Bethany C. MorrowLittle Monsters by Máire Roche✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Sami Young - a mom, wife, PE teacher, and avid reader who is perpetually caught between just one more chapter and not knowing what to read next. She’s a proud millennial with a TBR list taller than my houseplants, and you might remember her from Episode 63, when she joined me alongside her son, Jarek.Episode Highlights:How Sami keeps a book with her everywhere she goes, even when reading time is short.What her real-life reading routine looks like right now and why nighttime has become her go-to.Easing into audiobooks by co-reading with a print copy.Why she likes to switch genres between books instead of reading the same kind back-to-back.Reflecting on reading aloud to her son when he was younger and how that shaped his love of reading.What it’s like to be a family of re-readers (and why their bookshelves are always full).Savoring quiet reading moments - like sitting in the sunshine with a book and wishing it could last forever.Show NotesSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:Alan Gratz books (book recs in Ep. 6 with Lilianna)Six of Crows by Leigh BardugoHarry Potter series by J.K. RowlingWhere the Crawdads Sing by Delia OwensThe Four Winds by Kristin HannahPrisoner of War by Michael P. SpradlinThe Other Woman by Sandie JonesBook FlightThe House Across the Lake by Riley SagerPeople We Meet on Vacation by Emily HenryThe Last Year of the War by Susan Meissner✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Connie Richardson. Connie is the debut author of Rapid City Summer. She teaches middle school English and Language Arts in the Chicago suburbs. She has published articles, short stories, and blog posts for the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and Scribbler. Additionally, Connie is a former graduate and current mentor in author Mary Adkin’s MFA-alternate program, The Book Incubator. When she is not teaching or writing, she enjoys fly-fishing out west, running, coaching cross-country and track & field, and cooking for her family and friends. This episode with Connie is so much fun, and her energy and passion for reading shine through the entire conversation. We talk about big life moments, the joy of finally seeing a debut novel out in the world, and what it means to fall in love with stories that open doors to new experiences. Episode Highlights:Writing for the space between middle grade and YA, which Connie calls lower YA.Her work as an ELA teacher and her school’s participation in a One Book, One School program that brings authors directly to studentsHow Rapid City Summer is set in South Dakota and centers around the niche topic of fly fishingWhy Connie loves writing and reading niche topics that readers may never experience firsthandA book flight featuring middle grade and YA novels that readers of all ages can connect toConnect with Connie:InstagramFacebookWebsiteBooks and authors mentioned in the episode:The Mystery of Locked Rooms by Lindsay CurrieSlider by Peter HautmanSunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne CollinsAlone by Megan FreemanCarrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins ReidHarry Potter series by J.K. RowlingIt’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny HanBook FlightThe Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny HanThe Canyon’s Edge by Dusti BowlingThe Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I am chatting with Shari Biery, NBC-HWC. Shari is a leading credentialed Purpose and Well-Being coach for midlife women empowering them to reclaim their identities and live with purpose and wellness after years of prioritizing everyone but themselves. Drawing from her two decades as a military spouse supporting her physician husband and as a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, Shari is the creator of the signature C.A.L.M. Method, author of the It’s YOUR Turn Bestselling book, and nationally recognized speaker and coach. Are you a doer? An overachiever? A woman who’s put herself on the back burner? Ever looked in the mirror and hardly recognized who you’ve become? This episode is for you. We dive into motherhood, peri-menopause, your body’s intuition, learning to listen more deeply, and what it looks like to finally put your needs first. I wish I had this episode years ago — and I think you will too. Shari has a new offering to find - What’s Your Spark Type? Take the short quiz and discover what your body and life are asking for in this season of your life.Episode Highlights:How Shari’s two decades as a military spouse shaped her purpose and perspective.Why so many midlife women lose their sense of identity — and how to reclaim it.Listening to your body’s intuition and reconnecting with your inner compass.The importance of self-prioritization without guilt.The rise of loneliness — and why community and connection matter more than ever.Connect with Shari:InstagramFacebookWebsiteBooks and authors mentioned in the episode:The Moment of Lift by Melinda GatesResisting Happiness by Matthew KellyThe American Woman by Zarna GargBook FlightBurnout by Emily Nagoski and Amelia NagoskiThe New Menopause by Dr. Mary Claire HaverIt’s YOUR Turn by Shari Biery✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailToday, I’m chatting with Angela Bell. Angela is a 21st century lady with 19th century sensibilities who resides in Texas with her charming pup, Mr. Bingley Crosby. She describes her historical romances as “a cuppa Victorian whimsy,” & today we’re discussing her delightful novel A Lady’s Guide to Marvel and Misadventure, which she describes as Around the World in 180 Days meets The Nutcracker Ballet. We also chat about her upcoming novel, now available for preorder - A Lady’s Handbook to Gadgets and Guile, pitched as Little Women meets Inspector Gadget. Angela’s love of whimsy, quirky characters, & heartfelt storytelling shines through every page.Connect w/ Angela:InstagramFacebookWebsiteBooks and authors mentioned in the episode:Jen Turano booksThe Curious Inheritance of Blakely House by Joanna Davidson PolitanoHeather Kaufmann booksMelissa Tagg booksThe Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. LewisWormwood Abbey by Christina BaehrThe Dress Shop on King Street by Ashley ClarkThe Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara BrunsvoldOf Silver and Secrets by Michelle GriepThe Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo WrightBook FlightPositively Penelope by Pepper BashamIlluminary by Chawna SchroederThe Elusive Truth of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson PolitanoAd: Jacqui Lents, featuring The Daphne Project: A fresh start, a budding romance, & a small-town mystery. ✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Ginny Kubitz Moyer. Ginny is a California native with a lifelong passion for local history. A graduate of Pomona College and Stanford University, she taught high school English for 26 years and has written both fiction and nonfiction. Her love for California and its rich tapestry of stories inspired her debut novel The Seeing Garden, which won Silver in the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award in Historical Fiction. Her second novel, A Golden Life, continues her celebration of her home state’s unique history. Ginny is also the author of the nonfiction books Taste and See: Experiencing the Goodness of God with Our Five Senses and Mary and Me: Catholic Women Reflect on the Mother of God. An avid weekend gardener, Ginny lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two sons, and one adorably stubborn rescue dog.Episode Highlights:How 25+ years of teaching English shaped Ginny’s writing voice and storytelling process.Why all her books are rooted in California history and the moment she first dreamed up The World at Home.A glimpse into San Francisco life during WWII and the type of historical fiction she loves to craft.Her evolution from nonfiction to fiction and why the shift felt meaningful.How Ignatian Spirituality guides her reflections, using the daily questions “Where did I find life today?” and “What drained me?”Connect with Ginny:InstagramFacebookWebsitePurchase Ginny’s booksShow NotesSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:Romeo and Juliet by William ShakespeareRebecca by Daphne du MaurierAll the Beauty in the World by Patrick BingleyBook FlightThe Highland Witch (Corrag) by Susan FletcherThe Promise by Ann WeisgarberJane Eyre by Charlotte BronteDessert PairingThe Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Kay Smith-Blum. Kay is a former fashionista and Seattle School Board President, spends her days debunking the tropes of the mid-20th-century history. An odd dream and the recent upheaval over leaking radioactive waste tanks at the Hanford Nuclear site compelled her to write Tangles. Smith-Blum, a sunrise writer, has lived in Seattle for four decades. She works out her writer’s block in her sons’ gardens and the nearest lap pool.Key Highlights:The extensive 8.5-month research process behind Tangles, including oral testimonies, archival histories, and peer-reviewed scientific research.The fascinating but troubling history of the Hanford Nuclear Plant, where workers were told their jobs were top secret and essential to the war effort.How officials repeatedly raised the “safe” level of radioactive waste in the water supply to downplay risks to surrounding communities.The long-term dangers and ethical concerns surrounding nuclear waste disposal.Her book flight includes dual-timeline historical fiction.Connect with Kay Smith-Blum:FacebookInstagramWebsiteBooks and authors mentioned:Leon Uris booksTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeThe Lincoln Highway by Amor TowlesThe Witch Elm by Tana FrenchHappy-Go-Lucky by David SedarisAtmosphere by Taylor Jenkins ReidBook FlightKeeping Faith by Jodi PicoultThe Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins ReidHorse by Geraldine Brooks✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn this solo episode, Kara explores the fascinating research behind how daily reading may support a longer, healthier life. She breaks down the landmark Yale study showing that people who read books for just 30 minutes a day lived an average of 23 months longer than non-readers, examines why book-length reading provides unique cognitive benefits, and discusses what current science says about print books versus audiobooks.Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of how reading strengthens the brain, builds cognitive reserve, and may contribute to healthy aging - plus practical ideas for fitting more reading into everyday life.Episode Highlights:• Reading books for just 30 minutes a day was linked to 23 extra months of life, on average.• Frequent reading is associated with reduced cognitive decline across multiple long-term studies.• Print or visual reading tends to support stronger comprehension and memory - key components of brain reserve.• Audiobooks activate many of the same language and emotional brain networks, though the depth of processing may differ.• Regardless of format, regular engagement with stories supports cognitive health.Resources Mentioned:Episode 116: Do Audiobooks Count as Reading?Bavishi, Slade & Levy (2016). A Chapter a Day: Association of Book Reading With Longevity. Published in Social Science & Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.07.014Pan, Liu, Zhang, Chen & Chen (2021). Reading Activity Prevents Long-Term Decline in Cognitive Function in Older People. Published in BMC Geriatrics. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02357-yBaranowska-Łyda, Białek & Gortych-Michalak (2019). The Impact of Presentation Mode on Reading Comprehension: Text vs. Audio. Published in Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00636Michael, Keller, Carpenter & Just (2001). fMRI Investigation of Sentence Comprehension by Eye and by Ear. Published in NeuroImage. https://doi.org/10.1006/nimg.2000.0662✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I am chatting with Arlon Jay Staggs. Arlon is a native of Florence, Alabama, and a Southern storyteller with deep roots, a sharp sense of humor, and a heart for connection. His novel Leta Pearl’s Love Biscuits is his debut work of fiction. He holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of California, Riverside, a JD from the Mississippi College School of Law, and is an adjunct English professor at Northwest Florida State College. Arlon divides his time between Santa Rosa Beach, Florida and San Diego, California.Episode Highlights:The challenges and joys of weaving magical realism into contemporary Southern fiction.Arlon’s favorite character to write and why that character surprised him.What he discovered about himself while writing Leta Pearl’s Love Biscuits.The theme of “coming home” and how this novel became a love letter to the South.How sports can function as a powerful (and underused!) literary device.His transition into teaching English at the college level and how it differs from his MFA program.Why, as an author, reading for pure pleasure now feels like a double-edged sword.Connect with Arlon:InstagramWebsiteBooks and authors mentioned in the episode:Jesmyn Ward booksDouble Fault by Lionel ShriverThe Compound Effect by Darren HardyThe Power of Now by Eckhart TolleHow to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale CarnegieUntamed by Will HarlanSouthern by Design by Grace Helena WalzBook FlightThe Art of Fielding by Chad HarbachThe Motion of the Body through Space - Lionel ShriverThe Resisters by Gish Jen✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Sarah Monzon. Sarah is the winner of the Holt Medallion and Selah Award. Sarah is a stay-at-home mom who makes up imaginary friends to have adult conversations with (otherwise known as writing novels). As a Navy chaplain’s wife, she resides wherever the military happens to station her family and enjoys exploring the beauty of the world around her. We are here today to discuss her latest novel, Hearts in Circulation. In this episode, Sarah shares all about her latest novel in the Checking Out Love librarian series. She writes about representation in fiction, including her book flight of books that include this theme. We talked about being a military spouse and the beauty of collecting multiple library cards as we move around. There is also a DOD library, so make sure if you are not sleeping on that. Lastly, she shares about how to request books from your local library if they do not have them.Episode Highlights:We discuss Sarah’s latest novel, Hearts in Circulation, part of her Checking Out Love librarian series.Sarah shares why representation in fiction is such an important theme throughout her writing.We chat about life as a military spouse and the unexpected joy of collecting multiple library cards across duty stations.Sarah offers a great reminder about the DOD library system—don’t sleep on it if you have access!She walks us through how to request books from your local library to support authors and expand your community’s collection.Connect with Sarah:InstagramFacebookWebsiteBuy Sarah’s booksShow NotesSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:The Mandie series by Lois Gladys LeppardBook FlightAll for Anna by Nicole DeeseThe Curious Inheritance of Blakely House by Joanna Davidson PolitanoHow to Find Love When You’re Weird by Camilla Evergreen✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Marina Rubin, author of Knockout Beauty and Other Afflictions. Born in Vinnitsa, Ukraine, Marina immigrated to the United States in 1989 and has since published work in more than eighty magazines and anthologies. She serves as an associate editor of Mudfish, and her acclaimed short story collection earned an Honorable Mention for the 2020 Miami Book Fair Emerging Writer Fellowship. One of its centerpiece stories, Man in a Fedora, was even adapted for the Nightshift Radio Storyteller Series - bringing Marina’s words to life through the voices of eleven actors. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.Key Highlights:The themes behind Knockout Beauty and Other Afflictions - lust, longing, family, and unexpected friendships.How Marina balances inspiration with discipline in her creative process.Growing up in the former Soviet Union and the cultural importance of being well-read.Finding time to read and write amidst daily life, including sneaking in reading during her commute.What she’s learned about writing, publishing, and persistence along the way.Her book flight features short story collections.Marina reminds us that if you want to write great literature, you must first read great literature, a lesson that resonates with readers and writers alike.Connect with Marina Rubin:FacebookInstagramBuy Marina’s books: Stealing CherriesKnockout Beauty and Other AfflictionsBooks and authors mentioned:Alina Adams episodeHonoré de Balzac booksAtlas Shrugged by Ayn RandBook FlightThis is How You Lose Her by Junot DiazNo One Belongs Here More than You by Miranda JulySelected Stories by Guy de Maupassant✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Tessa Afshar. Tessa’s award-winning novels have been on Publishers Weekly and CBA bestseller lists and have been translated into 13 languages. Winner of the ECPA Bronze Milestone award, the Christy, the INSPY, and the ECPA Christian Book Award for her Bible study, The Way Home. Tessa holds a Master of Divinity from Yale, where she served as co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship for one year. Born in the Middle East to a nominally Muslim family, Tessa converted to Christianity in her twenties. She is a devoted wife, a mediocre gardener, and an enthusiastic cook of biblical recipes. We talked about the power of deep connections and how books can be a bridge to those relationships. Tessa shared how recreating biblical recipes has helped her bring her stories to life in new and meaningful ways. We also discussed how biblical fiction can make scripture feel more relatable and give readers something to strive for in their own lives. I especially loved her reflection:“I am more than what I do—and that is enough. I can rest in that.”Tessa also shared about her series on Queen Esther, her experiences growing up in the Middle East, and the way literature was taught there. We’re here today to dive into her latest novel, The Royal Artisan. Episode Highlights:Using books as a tool for connection and spiritual growth.Cooking biblical recipes and bringing ancient stories to life.Finding rest and identity beyond productivity.Writing about Queen Esther and exploring courage in faith.Growing up in the Middle East and the role of literature in shaping worldview.Connect with Tessa:InstagramFacebookWebsiteBuy Tessa’s booksShow NotesSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:Leo Tolstoy booksGone with the Wind by Margaret MitchellMy Friends by Fredrik BackmanBook FlightJane Eyre by Charlotte BronteEmbergold by Rachelle NelsonDear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Kelly Jo Wilson, Kelly lives in the woods of Pennsylvania with her husband, two boys, and sweet Rottweiler. As a Christian romance author, she creates love stories that delve into many forms of brokenness, showcasing God’s incredible grace and love. God’s never-ending grace through Jesus Christ has given her a heart to serve those seeking the transformational love only He can give. Her debut novel, Finding Forevermore was published on October 25th.Key Highlights:Kelly’s path from medical writing to publishing her debut Christian romance.The importance of surrender and listening to God’s direction in creative work.The spectrum of faith representation in Christian romance novels.How disability representation in children’s books is changing for the better.Kelly’s book flight of contemporary Christian recommendations you won’t want to missConnect with Kelly Jo Wilson:WebsitePodcastInstagramBooks and authors mentioned:The Berenstain Bears by Mike BerenstainSideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis SacharRamona by Beverly ClearlyThe Babysitter’s Club by Ann M. MartinRachel Hauck booksHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K.RowlingAlways on My Mind by Susan May WarrenBook FlightTake a Chance on Me by Susan May WarrenSomeone Like You by Karen KingsburyJust Between You and Me by Jenny B. JonesEpisode SponsorThis episode was sponsored by Baker Book House, head over to their website and get a generous 30% off, as well as free shipping. The Rules of Falling for You by Mollie RushmeyerA Song in the Dark by Kimberley WoodhouseA Moment to Love by Tracie Peterson✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailThis episode brings you the latest gathering of our BFF Book Club—a monthly celebration of reading, meaningful author conversations, and book-loving community. This month, we’re joined once again by Amanda Cox, author of The Bitter End Birding Society. You might remember Amanda from Episode 95, and in this return conversation, she shares how visiting the real Bitter End, TN shaped her dual-timeline story, why her creative process doesn’t fit neatly into outlines, and how she wove themes of connection and second chances throughout her work. Amanda, a therapist-turned-novelist from Tennessee, also gives us a peek into her upcoming 2026 release, Things We Cannot Keep, and the bird-inspired titles that make up her book flight.Episode Highlights:Inspiration behind The Bitter End Birding Society and its dual-timeline structureHow visiting the real Bitter End, TN changed the storyWriting without outlines and embracing creative flowWhy Amanda chose to feature a bird-watching groupThe themes of hope, healing, and belonging in her novelsSneak peek at her upcoming release, Things We Cannot Keep (Summer 2026)Amanda’s bird-themed book flight selectionsConnect with Amanda Cox:InstagramFacebookWebsiteBooks and authors mentioned in the episode:Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson RawlsThe Atlas of Untold Stories by Sara BrunsvoldBook FlightThe Hudson Collection by Jocelyn GreenThe Nature of Small Birds by Susan FinkbeinerWhen Stone Wings Fly by Karen Barnett✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I am chatting with Denise Smith Cline. Denise grew up in a textile town in Upstate South Carolina before the world got so complicated. The youngest of 5 spirited siblings, Denise realized early on to survive, she’d need to master the dual arts of watchfulness and eavesdropping. A shy kid, she buried her face in books and found a few fine friends for company. Denise started her writing career as a newspaper reporter fresh out of Davidson College. Denise still practices employment law in the firm she founded in Raleigh, North Carolina. She reads constantly and has an abiding interest in people from big families and small places. When she’s not working, reading or writing, she loves good conversations with her beloved family and friends. We are here today to discuss her latest novel, The Resettlement of Vesta Blonik. Episode Highlights:Denise shares how her day job as a lawyer and her night job as a novelist complement each other.Why her legal background helps her craft compelling, character-driven stories.The surprising history behind New Deal resettlement programs and mental health institutions that inspired parts of her novel.The humorous (and humbling!) amount of research she did to accurately portray farm life and livestock.Her book flight features novels with strong female protagonists set in harsh climates.Connect with Denise:InstagramWebsiteBooks and authors mentioned in the episode:Elizabeth Strout booksJane Austen booksWellness by Nathan HillClaire Keegan booksTana French booksAngle of Repose by Wallace StegnerPeace Like a River by Scott GouldBook FlightThe House of Doors by Tan Twan IngThe Last Whaler by Cynthia ReevesThe Resettlement of Vesta Blonik by Denise Smith ClineDessert PairingSalt Houses by Hala Alyan✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Kaci Curtis. Kaci is a military spouse and mom of two. She just spent two years living on the island of Guam, where she loved to explore the jungles and beaches with her husband and kids. She loves all things National Parks, hiking, camping, reading while sipping coffee, and cackling with her bookclub. She also contributes a monthly blog to the nonprofit, Mission:Milspouse. Her debut novel, Along the Trail, released today, congratulations Kaci!Episode HighlightsHow Kaci balances motherhood with her writing life and fits creativity into a busy season.The inspiration behind Along the Trail and how growing up in Independence, Missouri—the starting point of the Oregon Trail—shaped her fascination with this story.The realities of military life, frequent moves, and finding creative grounding in new places.The importance of validation, persistence, and courage when tackling big, intimidating projects.Her book flight, featuring historical fiction with fantastical and speculative elements.Connect with Kaci:InstagramFacebookWebsiteBooks and authors mentioned in the episode:The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. TolkienNight by Elie WieselThe Sword of Truth series by Terry GoodkindThe Spellshop by Sarah Beth DurstIron Flame/Onyx Storm by Rebecca YarrosSunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne CollinsBook FlightOutlander by Diane GabaldonWalk on Earth a Stranger by Rae CarlsonRevolution by Jennifer Donnelly✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, we have not just one incredible guest—but two! I’m joined by Hilary Jacobs Hendel and Juli Fraga, co-authors of Parents Have Feelings, Too: A Guide to Navigating Your Emotions So You and Your Family Can Thrive.This practical, compassionate guide helps parents understand and process their own emotions—and teaches them how to pass this essential life skill of emotional intelligence on to their children. Hilary is a certified psychoanalyst and AEDP psychotherapist and supervisor, while Juli is a psychologist specializing in maternal mental health with nearly 20 years of experience.Highlights:The education of emotions and why most of us never learned how to understand them in school.The Change Triangle, a core concept from the book, and how it helps you identify, validate, and work through emotions.The myth that dealing with emotions takes more work - when, in fact, recognizing & validating them actually makes life easier.How reworking neural networks leads to lifelong healing and emotional freedom.The difference between healthy and poor use of emotions—and how to tell them apart.Even if you’re not a parent, this episode is for anyone living in community. Understanding your emotions transforms how you connect with others, at home and beyond. Tune in to hear how emotional awareness can change your relationships, and your life.Connect with Hilary & Juli:InstagramHilaryParents Have Feelings, TooHilary’s websitePurchase Parents Have Feelings, TooBooks and authors mentioned in the episode:It’s Not Always Depression by Hilary Jacobs HendelMothering without a Map by Kathryn BlackAttachment-Focused EMDR by Laurel ParnellDream School by Jeffrey SalingoThe Power of Parting by Eamon DolanBook FlightFawning: Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves--and How to Find Our Way Back by Dr. Ingrid ClaytonWho Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions by Jeffrey SalingoThe Psychology of Shame by Gershen KaufmanShame an✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m joined by Scott Gould, award-winning author of the new novel Peace Like a River. Scott has published five additional books, including The Hammerhead Chronicles (winner of the Eric Hoffer Award for Fiction) and Things That Crash, Things That Fly (winner of the 2022 Memoir Prize for Books). His work has also earned a Next Generation Indie Book Award, an IPPY Award for Fiction, the Larry Brown Short Story Award, and the S.C. Arts Commission Artist Fellowship in Prose. He lives in San Souci, South Carolina, and teaches at the S.C. Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities.Episode Highlights:How Peace Like a River lets readers experience South Carolina like locals.Why the Lowcountry remains Scott’s writing comfort zone.The generational themes of fathers and sons woven throughout the novel.The importance of setting as a character in storytelling.A sneak peek at Scott’s forthcoming book set in Northern Alabama.Scott’s book flight featuring short novels he loves.Connect with Scott:InstagramWebsiteBuy Scott’s booksShow NotesSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:Music of the Swamp by Lewis NordanRobinson Crusoe by Daniel DefoeJack Reacher series by Lee ChildSapiens by Yuval Noah HarariThe Water Method Man by John IrvingUlysses by James JoyceSophie’s Choice by William StyronEven Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom RobbinsThe Milagro Beanfield War by John NicholsBook FlightHere to Get My Baby Out of Jail by Louise Shivers (1983)Edisto by Pagett Powell (1983)Norwood by Charles Portoise (1966)✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailThis episode brings you the latest gathering of our BFF Book Club—a monthly celebration of reading, meaningful author conversations, and book-loving community. If you enjoy diving deep into unforgettable stories and connecting with the minds behind them, you’re in the right place!This month, we’re discussing What the Silent Say with its author, Emerson Ford. Emerson is a multi-award-winning writer dedicated to resurrecting the stories of unsung heroes. She teaches creative writing and literature at both the high school and university level, happily putting her English degrees to work. At home, she treasures conversations with her husband and four teenagers and hiking mountain trails with her labradoodle, Miso.Episode Highlights:How Emerson researched her book alongside her father to uncover the stories of her great-uncle and grandfather.What it was like to craft What the Silent Say with family history at its heart.Her book flight includes some of her favorite reads.The joy of immersive reading, listening to the audiobook while reading the text.📚 Next Meet the Author Event 🗓️ October 26th | 🕓 2 pm PST / 4 pm CST / 5 pm ESTWe’re thrilled to welcome Amanda Cox, author of The Bitter End Birding Society, to our next BFF Book Club gathering!This immersive, faith-based novel explores belonging, reconciliation, and new beginnings. With its themes of friendship and community, it makes the perfect book club pick.Come for the conversation, stay for the community—and don’t forget to bring your questions for Amanda! 👉 Register Here.Connect with Emerson Ford:InstagramWebsitePurchase her latest novel - Every Bend in the RiverBooks and authors mentioned in the episode:The Silent Canary by Angela BrickerBook FlightThese is my Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine by Nancy TurnerFrankenstein by Mary ShelleyThe Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with SK Horton, a physician by day and book lover by night. She lives in sunny Arizona with her husband and two daughters, where she can often be found planning the next great family vacation, experimenting with a new recipe, or indulging in her love of fancy coffee and tea.Key Highlights:Her younger YA series Heir of Earth and Sky, beginning with Book 1: The Concealed.Balancing a full-time career as a radiologist with writing.Genres of audiobooks we both enjoy.How YA continues to expand as more adults are reading it.Why authors feel like celebrities to us.Her book flight featuring younger YA reads (ages 12+).Connect with SK Horton:WebsiteInstagramBuy SK’s booksBooks and authors mentioned:Finley Donovan is Killing It by Elle CosimanoFinley Donovan ‘Em Dead by Elle CosimanoBook FlightThe Selection series by Kiera CassThe Nevermoor series by Jessica Townsend (Middle Grade)Once Upon a Broken Heart series by Stephanie GarberEpisode SponsorThis episode was sponsored by Baker Book House, head over to their website and get a generous 30% off, as well as free shipping. Girl Lost by Kate AngeloOn the Edge of Trust by Patricia Bradley (pre-order now for 40% off, publish date 11/04/25)Dark Design by Nancy Mehl (pre-order now for 40% off, publish date 10/21/25)✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Kate Angelo, an autodidactic polymath with a remarkable story. As a child, Kate was a bookworm, dog groomer, exotic pet wrangler, horse trainer, and even a teenage pool shark. At one point, her family even owned a lion, though they quickly learned that lions don’t make great house pets! After aging out of foster care, Kate broke into tech during the height of the dot-com boom before stepping into her next chapter as a Publishers Weekly bestselling author. Alongside her husband, she champions stronger marriages through their nonprofit, Marriage Minute, and her romantic suspense novels reflect her belief that hope and healing can be found even in life’s fiercest trials. We are here today to discuss her latest novel, Girl Lost. In our conversation, Kate and I talk about the importance of learning how to have real, face-to-face conversations—especially in close relationships. We also explore:Episode Highlights:Writing romantic suspense with emotionally rich, flawed characters.Mentorship for young people navigating tough beginnings.Why hard conversations are key to building healthy relationships.Tips for approaching those conversations with empathy and clarity.Why she loves the freedom of reading on her Kindle.Kate’s perspective is full of wisdom, honesty, and encouragement. As she reminds us: “You are not broken beyond repair. A hard start doesn’t mean you can’t have a healthy future—it just takes intentional work.”Connect with Kate:InstagramFacebookWebsiteBooks and authors mentioned in the episode:Misery by Stephen KingThe Other Sister by Jessica R. PatchBook FlightThe Hobbit by J.R.R. TolkienThe Brands of Justice series by Lisa PhillipsThe Joy of Falling by Lindsay Harrel✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan Mail Julie Berry is the New York Times bestselling author and award-winning storyteller. Julie’s works span across genres and age groups, from the NCTE Walden Award–winning Lovely War to the Printz Honor novel The Passion of Dolssa, to middle grade adventures like The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place and the Wishes and Wellingtons trilogy, to heartwarming picture books. Her brand-new YA novel, If Looks Could Kill, just released yesterday—congratulations, Julie! Julie also owns Author’s Note, a charming independent bookstore in Medina, New York, where she fosters community, conversation, and a love of reading.In this rich conversation, we explore:How Julie chose the monster and villain at the heart of her latest novelWhy mythology, symbols, and metaphors are essential for making sense of the worldThe surprising and powerful benefits of book clubs—especially for middle grade readersWhy cultivating lifelong readers matters so deeplyThe joys and positive ripple effects Julie has noticed since opening her bookstoreJulie’s insights remind us of the transformative power of stories, the importance of keeping curiosity alive, and the role books play in shaping thoughtful, imaginative communities.Connect with Julie:InstagramFacebookWebsiteBooks and authors mentioned in the episode:P.G. Wodehouse booksTerry Pratchett booksDave Barry booksErma Bombeck booksThe Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. TolkienThe Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. LewisAgatha Christie booksJane Austen booksThe Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph CampbellService Model by Adrian TchaikovskyBook FlightThe Raging Erie: Life and Labor Along the Erie Canal by Marc S. FerraraHeaven's Ditch: God, Gold, and Murder on the Erie Canal by Jack KellyNew York’s Burned-over District by Spenc✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Karmen Somers, owner of the indie bookstore Court Street Books in Florence, Alabama.  If you’ve ever dreamed about opening your own bookstore or just want a peek into the indie bookselling world, this conversation will inspire you.Episode Highlights:How Karmen balances running an online bookstore and a physical storefront.The role of community events in bringing readers together.The most popular genres readers are buying right now.The challenges (and joys) of indie bookselling.Karmen’s specially curated book flight featuring her favorite handsell picks.Connect with Karmen:InstagramCourt Street BooksShow NotesSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:Taylor Jenkins Reid booksEmily Henry booksMere Christianity by C.S. LewisGreen Tea: And Other Weird Stories by J. Sheridan Le FanuMistborn by Brandon SandersonThe Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows84, Charing Cross by Helen HanffThe Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth BrowerThe Poisonwood Bible by Barbara KingsolverThe Summer We Ran by Audrey IngramBook FlightDivine Rivals by Rebecca RossJust Business by Jenny CrossThe Road to Tender Hearts by Annie HartnettDessert PairingThe Correspondent by Virginia Evans✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Carmela Dutra, a Bay Area author who cherishes her family, rainy days, and making others laugh. After years of creating award-winning indie children’s picture books, Carmela transitioned into cozy mysteries filled with emotion, humor, and heart. When she’s not penning her latest tale, Carmela enjoys sketching, sipping copious amounts of coffee, and over-cuddling her allergy-inducing cats and dog. She shares her life with her best friend and husband, raising two dinosaur-obsessed sons. We dive into her debut cozy mystery, A Murder Most Fowl, which Carmela describes as a mix between Only Murders in the Building and The Great Food Truck Race. Key Highlights:Carmela’s transition from award-winning children’s picture books to cozy mysteries.How she infuses humor and heart into her writing.Behind-the-scenes insights into writing A Murder Most Fowl.Her unique marketing strategies for her books.Her book flight features historical mysteries.Connect with Carmela:WebsiteInstagramFacebookBuy A Murder Most FowlBooks and authors mentioned:Little Katie Goes to the Moon by Carmela DutraA Literary Feast: Sweet Foodie Rom-Coms & Flash Fiction with Jordan Millsaps (E132)Famous Last Word by Gillian McAllisterWe Solve Murders by Richard OsmanBook FlightA Flaw in the Blood by Stephanie BarronA Curious Beginning by Deanna RaybornStalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Mollie Rushmeyer, author of whimsical romance full of heart, humor, and a love for all things British, bookish, and steeped in history and mystery. A modern girl at heart—she wouldn’t want to go a day without central air or modern plumbing!—Mollie has always felt a special connection to the past and to stories with a happily ever after. Her debut novel, The Bookshop of Secrets, was a finalist for a 2023 Carol Award.A born-and-bred Midwesterner, Mollie lives in central Minnesota with her husband and two spirited daughters. In this episode, we dive into her latest novel, The Rules of Falling for You, and explore the themes and inspirations behind her writing.Episode Highlights:Mollie’s unique hobby of singing.The rules and expectations we set in life—and what it looks like to surrender those to God.Regency-themed balls that make us both wish we could attend.If you love romance with heart, humor, and a touch of historical magic, this conversation is for you!Connect with Mollie:InstagramFacebookWebsiteBooks and authors mentioned in the episode:Gabrielle Meyer booksC.S. Lewis booksJ.R.R. Tolkien booksThe Last Unicorn by Peter S. BeagleSome Like it Scot by Pepper BashamBook FlightPride and Prejudice by Jane AustenA Wrinkle of Time by Madeleine L’EngleThe Giver by Lois Lowry✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite