PODCAST · arts
Elena Meets the Author
by Elena Meets the Author
Welcome to Elena Meets the Author, the Podcast that brings you intimate conversations with authors about the art and craft of storytelling. Whether you’re a passionate reader, a curious creator, or simply love diving into the minds of creative thinkers, this podcast offers a behind-the-scenes look at how stories come to life.Each episode features an in-depth interview with an author as they share their unique journey, the challenges they’ve faced, and the inspiration behind their work. From uncovering the spark of an idea to navigating the ups and downs of the creative process, we explore the human side of writing. My goal is to inspire and connect listeners with the magic of storytelling while celebrating the diversity of voices shaping today’s literary landscape.This podcast is especially for people who enjoy exploring creativity, personal growth, and the stories that move us. But the insights and inspiration we uncover are universal, offering something for anyone who appreciates t
Episodes
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Rachel Beanland | The Half Life | A Navy Island, a Young Bride, and Something in the Water
Eileen O’Malley’s brother Lenny is killed in Vietnam while she’s a sophomore in college. Overnight her life changes. She drops out, moves home to Charleston, and takes a job in the men’s department of a local shop to help pay the bills. Then a handsome naval officer asks her advice about a pair…
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Priya Parmar | The Original | Reimagining Katharine Hepburn Before She Was Katharine Hepburn
Priya Parmar’s The Original covers eighteen years of Katharine Hepburn’s life, from the age of 13, the year her brother Tom died, to the age of 32. Not the icon in the polo neck, but the young woman before all that. The failures, the self-invention, the loss she never really recovered from. It’s...
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Courtney Maum | Alan Opts Out | The Comedy About Opting Out of Everything
Alan Anderson is a visionary ad man. That is, up until the morning he isn’t. He blows the biggest account of his career, comes apart, and moves out to live off the land, the land being his backyard in suburban Greenwich, Connecticut. He sets up in the children’s playhouse. He goes barefoot. He…
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Rebecca Kauffman | The Reservation | A Restaurant Whodunit That Becomes Something Much More
Twenty-two rib eye steaks go missing from Aunt Orsa’s, an upscale Italian restaurant in a fictional Midwestern college town. They vanish on the same day that celebrity author John Grisham is due to dine there. Someone on the staff took them. But who? That’s the whodunit. What Rebecca Kauffman’s...
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EP. 54 John Lanchester | Look What You Made Me Do | Revenge, Secrets, and the Private Language of Marriage
John Lanchester, Booker Prize-nominated author and regular contributor to The New Yorker, is my latest guest on Elena Meets the Author, the literary podcast that goes behind the book and into the mind of the author. His latest novel Look What You Made Me Do is full of twists and turns, so pay...
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EP. 53 Annabel Monaghan | Dolly All the Time | The Queen of Summer Romance Returns
Annabel Monaghan is a return guest on Elena Meets the Author, and for good reason. The internet has crowned her the queen of the summer romance, and as one fan put it, it’s not summer until Annabel Monaghan has come out with a book. Her latest, Dolly All the Time, is a number one New York Times...
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EP. 52 Ayelet Waldman | A Perfect Hand | Jane Austen Meets Nora Ephron in Victorian England
Ayelet Waldman’s latest novel is unlike anything else out there right now. A Perfect Hand is set in Victorian England and it’s a marriage plot with a twist. Alice Lockey, a lady’s maid, has fallen for Charlie Wells, a lord’s valet. The only way these two servants can be together is if Alice’s…
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EP. 51 Elizabeth Arnott | The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives
Three close friends. One dark secret they are each ashamed of. And a series of murders they are uniquely qualified to solve. The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives by Elizabeth Arnott is set during a sweltering summer in Los Angeles in 1966. Young women are being killed. And the three women...
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EP. 50 Ilona Bannister | Five | The Psychological Thriller That Makes You the Judge
Five is not like any other novel I’ve read. It’s a fast-paced, urgent, entertaining psychological thriller with fascinating flawed characters. Funny at times, sad at others, thoughtful and surprising throughout. Here’s the premise: Five strangers are waiting on a suburban London train platform.…
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EP. 49 Mary Lisa Gavenas on Mary Kay Ash, Direct Selling, and Building a $2 Billion Empire
Mary Kay Ash built a $2 billion cosmetics empire out of a 500 square foot Dallas storefront. She was the first woman ever to chair a company on the New York Stock Exchange and the only woman included in Forbes’ Greatest Business Stories of All Time, a pantheon otherwise reserved for Rockefeller,...
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EP. 48 Libby Page on Grief, Book Suggestions, and Writing This Book Made Me Think of You
A grieving young widow receives a phone call on her birthday. Her husband, Joe, died five months earlier. But before he did, he arranged something extraordinary: a year’s worth of books, one for every month, chosen to help her move on with her life. That’s the premise of Libby Page’s latest…
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EP. 47 Grant Ginder | So Old, So Young | The Tiny Decisions That Became Their Lives
Today I’m speaking with Grant Ginder about his latest novel, So Old, So Young. I feel like I really get millennials and their anxiety-driven yet somehow still hopeful character. The book follows six college friends across five parties and twenty years. A New Year’s Eve, a wedding, a birthday, a...
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EP. 46 Allison Pataki on It Girl: Before Taylor Swift, There Was Evelyn Nesbit
What do Taylor Swift, Marilyn Monroe, Madonna and a teenage girl from Pittsburgh in 1900 all have in common? More than you’d think. In this episode of Elena Meets the Author, I’m talking to New York Times bestselling author Allison Pataki about her eleventh book, It Girl, a gripping, fast-paced...
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EP. 45 Allegra Goodman on This Is Not About Us: Apple Cake, Sisterhood, and the Rubinstein Family
It all starts with a squabble over an apple cake. When one sister bakes a much better cake than the other, the estrangement that follows ripples across three generations of the Rubinstein family for years. In this episode of Elena Meets the Author, I’m talking with New York Times bestselling…
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EP. 44 Filling the Blank Space After Loss: Jason Rosenthal on My Wife Said You May Want to Marry Me
Today I am speaking to Jason Rosenthal, whose memoir, My Wife Said You May Want to Marry Me, is a story of true love, true loss, and how to truly live again after that loss. It all began with an extraordinary essay written by Jason’s wife, Amy Krouse Rosenthal, a prolific author, public speaker,...
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EP. 43 Robert Dugoni on The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, Faith, and Writing Stories That Stay With Readers
In this episode of Elena Meets the Author, I speak with critically acclaimed New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Amazon bestselling author Robert Dugoni, whose books have sold more than 12 million copies worldwide, primarily across his police, espionage, and legal thriller...
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EP. 42 Haley Cohen Gilliland on A Flower Traveled in My Blood
Today I’m speaking to the remarkable author and journalist Haley Cohen Gilliland, whose nonfiction book A Flower Traveled in My Blood reads like a novel, but is entirely true. Haley’s book - which The New York Times and The Washington Post among others named one of the best books of 2025 - tells...
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EP.41 Brigitte Dale and the Courageous Suffragettes: A Conversation on The Good Daughters
Today, I’m speaking to Brigitte Dale about her debut novel, The Good Daughters. It is a powerful, beautifully written story that takes us back to early 20th-century England, when women from all social classes united to fight for the right to vote. Brigitte’s suspenseful and fast-paced novel…
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EP. 40 Unveiling The Trade-Off with Samantha Greene Woodruff
In this episode of Elena Meets the Author, I’m joined by the talented Samantha Greene Woodruff to talk about her gripping historical novel The Trade-Off. Set against the backdrop of the 1929 Wall Street crash, the novel follows Bea Abramovitz, a mathematically gifted and young jewish woman who...
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EP. 39 Exploring 'All That Life Can Afford' with Emily Everett
In this new episode of Elena Meets the Author, I’m joined by debut American novelist Emily Everett to talk about her novel All That Life Can Afford. We talk about how Emily’s own experiences shaped the story, and explore themes of social class, ambition, friendship, and belonging. We also discuss...
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EP. 38 Inside an Independent Bookstore with Lisa Scully of Locust Valley Books
In this special holiday episode of Elena Meets the Author, I’m joined by Lisa Scully, the owner of the wonderful Locust Valley Bookstore on Long Island. Lisa shares her journey into independent bookstore ownership and speaks openly about the challenges and rewards of running a local bookshop…
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EP. 37 Unveiling the Feather Detective: A Journey into Forensic Ornithology with Author Chris Sweeney
New episode out now! In episode 37 of Elena Meets the Author, I speak with award-winning journalist and debut biographer Chris Sweeney about his fascinating new book, The Feather Detective: Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne. Chris’s book introduced me to a woman I had...
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EP.36 Unveiling Hidden Histories: A Conversation with Fiona Davis on The Stolen Queen
In this episode of Elena Meets the Author, I talk to the brilliant and bestselling author Fiona Davis about her new novel The Stolen Queen, a dual-timeline mystery that moves between 1936 Egypt and 1978 New York City. Fiona shares the real inspirations behind the story (thank you Kim Kardashian),...
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EP.35 Exploring Comic Tragedies with Debut Author Katie Yee
In this episode of Elena Meets the Author, I had such a fun and fascinating chat with Katie Yee, the debut author of Maggie; or, A Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar. Her novel has been compared to Nora Ephron’s Heartburn, it’s witty, warm, and full of heart, finding humour even in the hardest...
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EP.34 Exploring Humor in Tragedy with Annie Hartnett
In this episode, I sit down with Annie Hartnett, the bestselling author of The Road to Tender Hearts, to talk about finding humour in heartbreak and the power of storytelling to carry us through difficult times. Annie shares how moments of adversity have shaped her voice as a writer and how she...
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EP.33 Letters, Life, and Literary Magic with Virginia Evans
This week I’m joined by the wonderful Virginia Evans, whose debut novel The Correspondent captured my heart. And I don’t say that lightly. Her main character 73-year-old Sybil Van Antwerp is the best! We dive into the joy of epistolary storytelling, explore the wide world of the smart, snappy and...
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EP.32 Elena Meets the Publisher: A Conversation with Gretchen Young
I am so excited to share this episode of Elena Meets the Author with you! I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Gretchen Young, a powerhouse in publishing and the inspiring founder of Regalo Press. Gretchen’s journey is incredible, from her early days in television production, to…
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EP.31 Exploring Vanessa Beaumont's The Other Side of Paradise
In this episode of Elena Meets the Author, I sit down with debut novelist Vanessa Beaumont to talk about her evocative and richly layered novel, The Other Side of Paradise. Set in post–World War I Britain, the story follows Jean Buckman, a young American newspaper heiress navigating societal...
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EP.30 Elena Meets the Bookshop Owner: A Conversation with Diane Garrett
In this special episode of Elena Meets the Author, I step away from my usual author interviews to chat with Diane Garrett, the warm and wonderful owner of Diane’s Books in Greenwich, Connecticut. Diane tells me how she went from growing up in Northern Ontario, Canada, to opening her beloved...
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EP.29 Unveiling The Lion Women of Tehran with Marjan Kamali
In this episode of Elena Meets the Author, I sit down with the incredible Marjan Kamali to discuss her bestselling novel The Lion Women of Tehran. 🌍✨ The novel follows the intertwined lives of two childhood friends, Homa and Ellie, as they grow from girls in 1950s Tehran into women navigating…
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EP.28 - Exploring Dora Maar: Beyond Picasso's Weeping Woman with Louisa Treger
In this week’s episode of Elena Meets the Author, I’m joined by the brilliant Louisa Treger to talk about her captivating new novel The Paris Muse, which delves into the life of Dora Maar, Picasso’s muse behind the iconic Weeping Woman. We dive into Dora’s incredible journey beyond her…
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EP.27 - Unveiling Historical Fiction: An Interview with Allegra Goodman
In this episode of Elena Meets the Author, I speak with the brilliant author Allegra Goodman about her historical novel Isola. This captivating conversation delves into the story's inspiration, centered on Marguerite de la Rocque de Roberval, a French noblewoman marooned on an island in the Gulf…
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EP.26 House Swaps and Hilarity: An Interview with Amy Poeppel
In this episode of Elena Meets the Author, I interview the wonderful novelist Amy Poeppel about her latest book, Far and Away, a comedic tale of two families from Dallas and Berlin embarking on a chaotic house swap. Amy shares the inspiration behind her book, drawn from her own experiences living...
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EP.25 - Demystifying the Magic with Yael Van Der Wouden
In this episode of Elena Meets the Author, I interview Dutch author Yael Van Der Wouden about her debut novel, 'The Safekeep', which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. We delve into the novel's complex themes, including post-war Dutch society, familial relationships, and the nuances of…
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EP.24 - Unveiling the Magic: Annabel Monaghan on 'It's a Love Story'
In this episode of Elena Meets the Author, I sit down with the brilliant and beloved romance novelist Annabel Monaghan to talk about her upcoming book, It’s a Love Story, which hits shelves on May 27th. We dive into her creative process and the inspiration behind her central characters—Jane...
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EP.23 - Exploring America's First Murder Trial with Lauren Willig
In this episode of 'Elena Meets The Author,' Elena Bowes sits down with Lauren Willig, the New York Times bestselling author of over 25 works of historical fiction. They dive into Willig's latest book, 'The Girl from Greenwich Street,' an enthralling courtroom drama set during America's first...
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EP.22 - Lynda Cohen Loigman - The Magic of Historical Love Stories
In this episode, Elena interviews Lynda Cohen Loigman about her latest book, 'The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern,' which has made it to Elena's rolling top 10 books. They discuss the novel's dual timeline, set in a 1920s Brooklyn pharmacy and a 1980s Florida retirement home, its themes of second...
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EP.21 - Exploring Genetic Mysteries and Writing Journeys with Joselin Linder
In this episode, I chat with the wonderful Joselin Linder, author of 'The Family Gene', about her family's unique genetic history and its profound impact. Joselin shares harrowing and hopeful personal stories, discussing the challenges of genetic diseases and the breakthroughs made by a Harvard...
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EP.20 - Exploring the Secrets of Southern France with Neroli Lacey
In today's episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Neroli, the author of the thrilling debut novel 'The Perfumer's Secret'. Set in the scenic region of Grasse, where the Mediterranean meets the Alps, this book is a love letter to French culture, tradition, and the art of perfume-making. We...
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EP19. - Elinor Lipman on Every Tom, Dick, and Harry and Writing Inspiration
In this episode, I chat with the beloved and prolific novelist Elinor Lipman about her latest book, Every Tom, Dick, and Harry. This humorous story follows Emma Lewis as she navigates taking over her parents' struggling estate sale business. Elinor shares insights into her writing process,...
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EP18. - Exploring the Depths of Women's Fiction with Rochelle Weinstein
In this episode of 'Elena Meets the Author,' Elena interviews Rochelle Weinstein, a bestselling author known for her emotionally charged women's fiction novels. Rochelle discusses her new book, 'We Are Made of Stars,' set in an idyllic inn in North Carolina and featuring a host of complex...
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EP.17 - Trailblazer of Journalism: Anastasia Rubis Talks About Her Novel Oriana
In today’s episode, I sat down with Anastasia Rubis—who goes by Stacy—to dive into her debut novel, Oriana. In the book, Stacy chronicles the life of pioneering Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci, whose fearless interviews with world leaders like Henry Kissinger, Gaddafi, and Golda Meir made her a...
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EP.16 - Michael Cecchi's tales from the Front: A New York City Maître D's Journey
In this episode, Elena interviews Michael Cecchi Azzolina, a seasoned New York City restaurant veteran with a career spanning 40 years at top Manhattan establishments. Michael discusses his experiences from the book 'Your Table is Ready,' which offers a gritty, behind-the-scenes look at the...
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EP.15 - Navigating Life from Behind the Door: Stephen Bruno on Building Material
In this episode, Elena interviews Stephen Bruno, the author of 'Building Material: The Memoir of a Park Avenue Doorman’. In this coming of age story, Stephen talks about how getting the doorman job helped break his downward spiral from gifted academic kid in the Bronx to selling chicken wings at…
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EP.14 - Exploring Margo's Got Money Troubles with Rufi Thorpe: Wrestling, Only Fans and Questioning the Madonna-Whore Story
In this episode, Rufi discusses her novel 'Margo's Got Money Troubles' and shares insights into her writing process, inspiration, and research. The novel delves into the world of a single mother who turns to OnlyFans to support her child, exploring themes like unemployment, sex work, and the...
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EP.13 - Humor, Grief, and Life-Affirming Moments: Alison Espach on 'The Wedding People
In this episode, Elena interviews author Alison Espach about her novel 'The Wedding People.' Alison talks about why she wrote the book, her own struggles with grief and how both in real life and fiction, humor can shift things, make the apocalyptic seem a little less, well, apocalyptic. The main...
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EP.12 - Writer’s Block, Family Drama, and Creative Breakthroughs: Kate Feiffer on 'Morning Pages
In this episode, Elena interviews writer Kate Feiffer about her latest novel, 'Morning Pages'. The conversation covers Kate's diverse career, her talented family background, and the central themes of her book, including its focus on a playwright dealing with writer's block, family…
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EP.11 - Unravelling the intricate, fascinating life of Jackie Kennedy Onassis, a Deep Dive with Author Dawn Tripp
In this episode of Elena Meets the Author, Elena interviews bestselling author Dawn Tripp about her historical fiction novel 'Jackie,' which offers a nuanced portrait of Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. Through insights from Dawn's extensive research and reflections, the discussion reveals…
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EP10. - Why Meditate? Learn all about the power of Vedic Meditation with the woman who trained me 15 Years ago - Jillian Lavender
In this episode, Elena is joined by Jillian Lavender, co-founder of the London and New York Meditation Centers, to discuss her book 'Why Meditate? Because it works' and the enduring relevance of meditation. Jillian shares her journey into meditation and becoming a Vedic meditation teacher. She...
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EP.9 - Writing Humor and Life Lessons - Anne Leary
In this episode Elena meets Ann Leary, the New York Times bestselling author of four novels and a memoir. One of her novels The Good House was made into a film with Sigourney Weaver and Kevin Kline. An article Ann wrote for the NY Times Modern Love column called Rallying to Keep the Game Alive…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to Elena Meets the Author, the Podcast that brings you intimate conversations with authors about the art and craft of storytelling. Whether you’re a passionate reader, a curious creator, or simply love diving into the minds of creative thinkers, this podcast offers a behind-the-scenes look at how stories come to life.Each episode features an in-depth interview with an author as they share their unique journey, the challenges they’ve faced, and the inspiration behind their work. From uncovering the spark of an idea to navigating the ups and downs of the creative process, we explore the human side of writing. My goal is to inspire and connect listeners with the magic of storytelling while celebrating the diversity of voices shaping today’s literary landscape.This podcast is especially for people who enjoy exploring creativity, personal growth, and the stories that move us. But the insights and inspiration we uncover are universal, offering something for anyone who appreciates t
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Elena Meets the Author
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Elena Meets the Author have?
Elena Meets the Author currently has 58 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Elena Meets the Author about?
Welcome to Elena Meets the Author, the Podcast that brings you intimate conversations with authors about the art and craft of storytelling. Whether you’re a passionate reader, a curious creator, or simply love diving into the minds of creative thinkers, this podcast offers a behind-the-scenes look...
How often does Elena Meets the Author release new episodes?
Elena Meets the Author has 58 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Elena Meets the Author?
You can listen to Elena Meets the Author on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Elena Meets the Author?
Elena Meets the Author is created and hosted by Elena Meets the Author.
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