Thoughts from a Page Podcast

40 Episodes
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By: Evergreen Podcasts

Thoughts from a Page is hosted by me, Cindy Burnett, a voracious reader and book columnist who provides you with casual author conversations and insider information on all of the newest releases that I have read and personally recommend. With so many books coming out weekly, it can be hard to decide what to read so I find the best ones and share them with you.  Listen to find your next great book.

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Ethan Joella - THE TOP OF THE WORLD
Ethan Joella - THE TOP OF THE WORLD episode artwork
#588
Yesterday at 7:00 PM

In this interview, I chat with Ethan Joella about The Top of the World, how this story came about, setting a book in the 1970s, handing Chip's death, his research, the stellar cover, Bookstagram, writing this book and how much it changed over the years, our love for nostalgia, and much more.

Ethan's recommended reads are:

The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout Heart the Lover by Lily King When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via credit card...


Kelly Hooker - June's Real Time Reading
Kelly Hooker - June's Real Time Reading episode artwork
#587
Yesterday at 11:58 AM

 Kelly joins me for June's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads.

Kelly's Selections:

Last: 

Whistler by Ann Patchett

Station 11 by Emily St. John Mandel

Now:

All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby 

The Under Story by Chloe Benjamin 

Next:

No Exit by Taylor Adams

Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult 

DNFs:

Land by Maggie O’Farrell

Book Mail highlights:

Sunlight Finds You by Liane Moriarty 

...


Jessica M. Goldstein - RETRO
Jessica M. Goldstein - RETRO episode artwork
#586
Last Sunday at 3:29 PM

In this interview, I chat with Jessica Goldstein about Retro, why readers are fascinated by time travel stories, what inspired her to write this novel, the sense of foreboding she creates on the page, choosing the time periods her characters would travel to, our love for nostalgia, and much more.

Jessica's recommended reads are:

The Children by Melissa Alpert Books by Robert Caro The Fountain by Casey Scieszka

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - a number of books you will not see on other guides. So many fabulous books are comin...


Portia Elan - HOMEBOUND
Portia Elan - HOMEBOUND episode artwork
#585
06/17/2026

In this interview, I chat with Portia Elan about Homebound, her publishing journey, having Homebound selected as Scribner's Lead Read for spring, marketing in the publishing world, her research, what the editing process was like and how it changed the story, and much more.

Portia's recommended read is Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett.

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - a number of books you will not see on other guides. So many fabulous books are coming out in 2026, and you can learn about a bunch of them in my guide.

Thanks s...


Lauren Oliver - THE GIRL IN THE LAKE
Lauren Oliver - THE GIRL IN THE LAKE episode artwork
#584
06/16/2026

In this interview, I chat with Lauren Oliver about The Girl in the Lake, UVA's Division of Perceptual Studies, her research, incorporating reincarnation into the story, creating a strong sense of place, what the rest of the series will look like, what surprised her the most when writing this one, and much more.

Lauren's recommended reads are:

God of the Woods by Liz Moore The Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French The Anniversary by Alex Finlay

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via credit card...


Kelly Hooker - May's Real Time Reading
Kelly Hooker - May's Real Time Reading episode artwork
#583
06/06/2026

 Kelly joins me for May's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads.

Kelly's Selections:

Last: 

Both Can Be True by Jessica Guerrieri

The One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh

Now:

Abby Offsides by Anna McCallie

The Forgotten Midwife by Laura Anthony

Next:

The Gulf of Lions by Caitlin Shetterly

Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray

DNFs:

The Au Pair by Teddy Wayne

Book Mail high...


Christina Baker Kline - THE FOURSOME
Christina Baker Kline - THE FOURSOME episode artwork
#582
06/05/2026

In this interview, I chat with Christina Baker Kline about The Foursome, her personal connection to this story, her research and trying to learn more about the sisters who marry Cheng and Eng, having Sarah narrate the story, telling the tale without sensationalizing it, drawing on today's divisions to inform the past, The Foursome's publishing journey, and much more.

Christina's recommended read is The Original by Priya Parmar.

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 17-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - a number of books you will not see on other guides. So many fabulous...


Annabel Monaghan - DOLLY ALL THE TIME
Annabel Monaghan - DOLLY ALL THE TIME episode artwork
#581
06/03/2026

In this interview, I chat with Annabel Monaghan about Dolly All the Time, choosing Rhode Island as the setting for the book, why she invented a fictional town, her favorite male love interest that she has created, serving as a caregiver and honoring that role, designing a suitable breakup, and much more.

Annabel's recommended reads are:

The Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh Down With the Shipmans by Meg Mitchell Moore Leave and Come Back by Lavanya Lakshmi Fossil Feud by Maggie North

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 17...


Sarah Damoff - THE BURNING SIDE
Sarah Damoff - THE BURNING SIDE episode artwork
#580
05/22/2026

In this interview, I chat with Sarah Damoff about The Burning Side, exploring family dynamics, memory, and the early years of motherhood, how she decided who would tell the story, her writing process, the beautiful cover, and much more.

Sarah's recommended reads are:

Everything is Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves Start at the End by Emma Grey Land by Maggie O'Farrell (and all of her backlist)

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page Winter Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 40 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter and spring - a number of books you will not see on oth...


Kelly Hooker - April's Real Time Reading
Kelly Hooker - April's Real Time Reading episode artwork
#579
04/30/2026

Kelly joins me for April's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads.

Kelly's Selections:

Last: 

Make Nice by Ryan Effgen

Ms. Mebel Goes to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q Sutanto

Now:

The Good Parts by Evann Normandin 

Not a Word by Linwood Barclay

Next:

Mother Tongue by Sara Novic

Both Can Be True by Jessica Guerrieri

DNFs:

Helpless by Jessica Knoll 

Book Mail highlights:

The Truth...


Kelly Hooker - Our Favorite Reads of January through March 2026
Kelly Hooker - Our Favorite Reads of January through March 2026 episode artwork
#578
04/17/2026

In this episode, Kelly and I chat about our favorite books that published in January through March 2026.


Our shared top reads:

Good People by Patmeena Sabit

Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams

Wait for Me by Amy Jo Burns

Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser 

Upward Bound by Woody Brown


Kelly’s remaining top reads:

Murder Your Darlings by Jenna Blum 

My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney 

How to Get Away With Murder by Rebecca Phil...


Mary Webber O'Malley and Pamela Klinger-Horn - Second Quarter 2026 Recommended Reads
Mary Webber O'Malley and Pamela Klinger-Horn - Second Quarter 2026 Recommended Reads episode artwork
#577
04/09/2026

Mary Webber O'Malley and Pamela Klinger-Horn join me to recommend their favorites reads of the second quarter of 2026. 

Mary’s Titles:

April

Everything has Happened by T. Greenwood

Love & Other Monsters by Emily Franklin

Moonshine Women by Michelle Collins Anderson

The Drop by SR Masters

Go Gentle by Maria Semple

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth

May

Homebound by Portia Elan

American Rambler by Isaac Fitzgerald

The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline

Take Me Wit...


Craig Thomas - THAT'S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED
Craig Thomas - THAT'S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED episode artwork
#576
04/07/2026

In this interview, I chat with Craig Thomas about That's Not How It Happened, having his book selected for Book of the Month, how he decided to write a book, weaving the craziness of Hollywood into his story, Darcy's character and how she is resonating with readers, casting the amazing audiobook, and much more.

Craig's recommended reads are:

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride Wonder by R.J. Palacio Election by Tom Perrotta A Heart That Works by Rob Dulaney The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

...


Kelly Hooker - March's Real Time Reading
Kelly Hooker - March's Real Time Reading episode artwork
#575
03/31/2026

Kelly joins me for March's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads.

Kelly's Selections:

Last: 

Start at the End by Emma Grey

The Fine Art of Lying by Alexandra Andrews

Now:

Keep Them Close by David Ellis 

Leave and Come Back by Lavanya Lakshminarayan 

Next:

City of Widows by Nadia Hashimi

Time to Burn by Ellery Lloyd

DNFs:

None

Book Mail highlights:

The Brunswick by Callie Mur...


Ross Montgomery - MURDER AT WORLD'S END
Ross Montgomery - MURDER AT WORLD'S END episode artwork
#574
03/24/2026

In this interview, I chat with Ross Montgomery about Murder at World's End, weaving Halley's Comet into his story, the late Edwardian period, conspiracy theories and how they have always existed, how hard it was to write a locked room mystery, creating a strong sense of place and time, and much more.

Ross's recommended read is Strange Houses by Uketsu.

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page Winter Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 40 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter and spring - a number of books you will not see on other guides. I also include myste...


Amy Jo Burns - WAIT FOR ME
Amy Jo Burns - WAIT FOR ME episode artwork
#573
03/10/2026

In this interview, I chat with Amy Jo Burns about Wait for Me, her inspiration for this book and for Elle Harlow, the world of 1960s and 1970s country music and its strong women, drafting lyrics for the novel, her writing process and writing group, selecting the mandolin as Elle's instrument of choice, her beautiful cover, and much more.

Amy Jo's recommended reads are:

Sunlight Finds You by Laura Moriarty The Seekers of Deer Creek by Thao Thai

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page Winter Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...


Rachel Hochhauser - LADY TREMAINE
Rachel Hochhauser - LADY TREMAINE episode artwork
#572
03/04/2026

In this interview, I chat with Rachel Hochhauser about Lady Tremaine, writing an untelling versus a retelling of a classic fairy tale, tackling such a well-known character, wanting her book to read like historical fiction, how she decided to write this book, her beautiful cover, and much more.

Rachel's recommended reads are:

Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard Scavengers by Kathleen Boland One Bad Mother by Ej Dickson

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page Winter Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via c...


Devon Mihesuah - BLOOD RELAY
Devon Mihesuah - BLOOD RELAY episode artwork
#571
02/28/2026

In this interview, I chat with Devon Mihesuah about Blood Relay, her desire to depict strong native women, avoiding a trauma story, dispelling myths about native women, her stellar cover, Indian horse relay racing, and much more.

Devon's recommended reads are:

Mountain Man by Keith C. Blackmore Hell Divers by Nicholas Sansbury Smith Books by Nelson DeMille Cry Havoc by Jack Carr Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley Cash Blackbear series by Marcie R. Rendon

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page Winter Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via credit card...


Kelly Hooker - February's Real Time Reading
Kelly Hooker - February's Real Time Reading episode artwork
#570
02/26/2026

 Kelly joins me for February's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads.

Kelly's Selections:

Last: 

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth

So, I Met This Guy by Alexandra Potter

Now:

Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Bramer 

The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff

Next:

Liberty Street by Heather Marshall

Sublimation by Isabel J. Kim

Didn't Work/DNFs:

Love by the Book by Jessica George

Book Mail highlights:

Everyth...


Saara El-Arifi - CLEOPATRA
Saara El-Arifi - CLEOPATRA episode artwork
#569
02/25/2026

In this interview, I chat with Saara El-Arifi about Cleopatra, researching Cleopatra and the time period, how daunting it was to write about Cleopatra and wanting to give her her dignity and her voice back, the stunning cover and her requests for it, deciding what to include and what to leave out, and much more.

Saara's recommended read is The Immortal Heart by Jennifer Saint.

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page Winter Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 40 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter and spring - a number...


Elizabeth Heider - CHILDREN OF THE SAVAGE CITY
Elizabeth Heider - CHILDREN OF THE SAVAGE CITY episode artwork
#568
02/23/2026

In this interview, I chat with Elizabeth Heider about ⁠Children of the Savage City, her main character's interesting job, the inspiration for Nikki, setting her books in Naples, her stunning covers, why she focused on systemic corruption, her view on friendships, and much more.

Elizabeth's recommended reads are:

A Woman of No Importance by ⁠⁠Sonia Purcell The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page Winter Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 40 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter and spring - a number of...


Taylor Adams - HER LAST BREATH
Taylor Adams - HER LAST BREATH episode artwork
#567
02/17/2026

In this interview, I chat with Taylor Adams about ⁠⁠Her Last Breath, choosing a cave for the setting, creating a claustrophobic setting, his research for the novel including the police procedural aspects of the story, drafting twists and turns, his title and cover, and much more.

Taylor's recommended reads are:

King Sorrow by ⁠⁠Joe Hill A Simple Plan by Scott Smith

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page Winter Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 40 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter and spring - a number of books you wil...


Tory Henwood Hoen - BEFORE I FORGET
Tory Henwood Hoen - BEFORE I FORGET episode artwork
#566
02/05/2026

In this interview, I chat with Tory Henwood Hoen about ⁠Before I Forget, tackling Alzheimer's in fiction, making Arthur an oracle, deciding who would tell the story, writing in first person, how the audiobook narrator was selected, having her book selected as a December Book of the Month pick, her title and cover, and much more.

Tory's recommended reads are:

The Correspondent by ⁠Virginia Evans⁠ Heart the Lover by Lily King My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell Good Material by Dolly Alderton

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page Winter Readin...


Libby Page - THIS BOOK MADE ME THINK OF YOU
Libby Page - THIS BOOK MADE ME THINK OF YOU episode artwork
#565
02/03/2026

In this interview, I chat with Libby Page about This Book Made Me Think of You, her inspiration for the book, selecting the books she wanted to include, creating the letters from Joe, the title and cover, stories about finding community, and much more.

Libby's recommended reads are:

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans The Lovelight Farms series by B.K. Borison The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page Winter Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 40 new titles vetted by me that will provide great ente...


Kelly Hooker - January's Real Time Reading
Kelly Hooker - January's Real Time Reading episode artwork
#564
01/28/2026

Kelly joins me for January's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads.

Kelly's Selections:

Last: 

Upward Bound by Woody Brown 

That’s Not How it Happened by Craig Thomas 

Now:

Love by the Book by Jessica George 

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke 

Next:

Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer 

The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke 

DNFs:

The Survivor by Andrew Reid

Book Mail highlights:

The One Day You...


ReShonda Tate - WITH LOVE FROM HARLEM
ReShonda Tate - WITH LOVE FROM HARLEM episode artwork
#563
01/27/2026

In this interview, I chat with ReShonda Tate about With Love From Harlem⁠⁠⁠, why she decided to write about Hazel Scott, her research and why she stays away from the internet for it, Billie Holiday, her writing process, the title and cover, writing biographical fiction, the setting, and much more.

ReShonda's recommended reads are:

Casualties of Truth by Lauren Francis-Sharma The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chanel Cleeton King of Ashes by SA Cosby A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printa...


Gary J. Walters - WHITE HOUSE MEMORIES 1970-2007
Gary J. Walters - WHITE HOUSE MEMORIES 1970-2007 episode artwork
#562
01/20/2026

In this interview, I chat with Gary J. Walters about White House Memories: 1970-2007⁠, his role as chief usher and what that role entails, planning for inauguration day and evening, his background, his impressions of the various administrations, behind-the-scenes glimpses into life at the White House, reliving his memories at the White House, and much more.

Gary's recommended reads are:

Books by Michel Connally Books by John Sandford A White House of Stone by William Seale

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page Winter Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price he...


Kelly Hooker - December's Real Time Reading
Kelly Hooker - December's Real Time Reading episode artwork
#561
12/23/2025

Kelly joins me for December's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads.

Kelly's Selections:

Last: 

My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney

Good People by Patmeena Sabit

Now:

How to Get Away With Murder by Rebecca Philipson

Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven

Next:

Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser

American Han by Lisa Lee

DNFs:

None

Book Mail highlights:

This Book Makes Me Think of You by Li...


Mary Webber O'Malley and Pamela Klinger-Horn - First Quarter 2026 Recommended Reads
Mary Webber O'Malley and Pamela Klinger-Horn - First Quarter 2026 Recommended Reads episode artwork
#560
12/18/2025

Mary Webber O'Malley and Pamela Klinger-Horn join me to recommend their favorites reads of the first quarter of 2026. 

Mary’s titles

January:
All The Little Houses by May Cobb 
Skylark by Paula McLain 
The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave 


February: 
Imposter by LJ Ross 
Saoirse by Charleen Hurtubise 
More than Enough by Anna Quindlen 
So Old So Young by Grant Ginder 
It's Not Her by Mary Kubica 


March :
Wait For Me by Amy Jo Burns 
Lady Tremaine by Ra...


Kelly Hooker - Our Top Reads of 2025
Kelly Hooker - Our Top Reads of 2025 episode artwork
#559
12/16/2025

In this episode, Kelly Hooker and I discuss our top reads of 2025.

Our Top Shared Reads:

Dead Money by Jacob Kerr

This American Woman by Zarna Garg

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey

A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar 

Kelly’s Remaining Selections:  

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall

Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje

Fi...


Matthew Norman - GRACE & HENRY'S HOLIDAY MOVIE MARATHON
Matthew Norman - GRACE & HENRY'S HOLIDAY MOVIE MARATHON episode artwork
#558
12/15/2025

In this interview, I chat with Matthew Norman about Grace & Henry's Holiday Movie Marathon, writing a holiday romance, choosing which movies to incorporate into the story and the movie that didn't end up in the book, exploring the many faces of grief, holidays as universal experiences, naming the dog Harry Styles, and much more.

Matthew's recommended reads are:

The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu The Holiday Season by Michael Knight

Thanks so much to those of you who have donated to the show. Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Venmo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Check out⁠ this list of all the great books⁠ I loved in 2025.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in January - May of 2026? Check out ou...


Beck Dorey-Stein - SPECTACULAR THINGS
Beck Dorey-Stein - SPECTACULAR THINGS episode artwork
#557
12/09/2025

In this interview, I chat with Beck Dorey-Stein about Spectacular Things, having her book selected as a Reese's Book Club pick, writing about sacrifice and grief, tackling the sister relationship in fiction, writing about soccer, the hardest character for her to write, her title and cover, and much more.

Beck's recommended reads are:

Heart the Lover by Lily King Wreck by Catherine Newman

Thanks so much to those of you who have donated to the show. Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Venmo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Check out this list of all the great books I loved in 2025.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in January - May of 2026? Check out our fifth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...


Jayda Justus - Gift Giving for the Holidays 2025
Jayda Justus - Gift Giving for the Holidays 2025 episode artwork
#556
12/04/2025

Jayda Justus of The History Mom recommends books for gift giving this holiday.

Favorite Fiction:

●      Nostalgic reading - The Star of Camp Greene by Joy Callaway

●      Old favorites made new - The Gatsby Gambit by Claire Anderson Wheeler, The Worlds of Jane Austen: The Influences and Inspiration Behind the Novels by Helena Kelly, and Jane Austen’s Fashion Bible by Ros Ballaster

●      Old favorite/new favorite pairing - Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell and The Jackal’s Mistress by Chris Bohjalian.

●      Vacation reading - The Lost Baker of Vienna by Sharon Kurtzman 

...


Kelly Hooker - November's Real Time Reading
Kelly Hooker - November's Real Time Reading episode artwork
#555
12/01/2025

 Kelly joins me for November's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads.

Kelly's Selections:

Last: 

One & Only by Maureen Goo

Orbital by Samantha Harvey

Now:

The Whisper Man by Alex North

You & Me and You & Me and You & Me by Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees

Next:

Kin by Tayari Jones

Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston

DNFs:

None

Book Mail highlights:

Enormous Wings by Laurie Fr...


Kelly Hooker - Our Top Reads of 2024 (originally aired 12/9/24)
Kelly Hooker - Our Top Reads of 2024 (originally aired 12/9/24) episode artwork
#554
11/11/2025

In this episode, Kelly Hooker and I discuss our top reads of 2024.

Our Top Shared Reads:

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston 

We Used to Life Here by Marcus Kliewer


Kelly’s Remaining Selections:  

Mercury by Amy Jo Burns

Everyone but Myself by Julie Chavez

Drinker of Ink by Shannon Castleton

Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford

Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra

Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Trafficking by Jaso...


Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding - ANNE OF AVENUE A
Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding - ANNE OF AVENUE A episode artwork
#553
11/04/2025

In this interview, I chat with Emily Harding and Audrey Bellezza about ⁠Anne of Avenue A, modernizing Persuasion, the publishing process, co-writing books, setting the book in New York City, and much more.

Audrey's recommended reads are:

The Good Part by Sophie Cousens The Wedding People by Alison Espach

Emily's recommended reads are:

Backslide by Nora Dahlia This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

Thanks so much to those of you who have donated to the show. Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Venmo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...


Kelly Hooker - October's Real Time Reading
Kelly Hooker - October's Real Time Reading episode artwork
#552
10/30/2025

Kelly joins me for October's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads.

Kelly's Selections:

Last: 

The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow

Dominion by Addie E. Citchens 

Now:

Wait for Me by Amy Jo Burns 

Bone Valley by Gilbert King 

Next:

Good People by Patmeena Sabit

Scavengers by Katherine Boland 

DNFs:

Warning Signs by Tracy Sierra

Book Mail highlights:

The Astral Library by Kate Quinn 

Ruins by Lil...


Kelly Hooker - Our Favorite Reads of July through September 2025
Kelly Hooker - Our Favorite Reads of July through September 2025 episode artwork
#551
10/28/2025

In this episode, Kelly and I chat about our favorite books that published in July through September 2025.

Our shared top reads:

Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild  Culpability by Bruce Holsinger  Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje  The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey  The Killer Question by Janice Hallett 

Kelly’s remaining top reads:

Guess Again by Charlie Donlea The Grand Paloma Resort by Cleyvis Natura Life & Death & Giants by Ron Rindo Everyone Is Lying to You by Jo Piazza Dominion by Addie E. Citchens The Mad Wife by Meagan Church

Cindy’s remaini...


Noelle Ihli - ASK FOR ANDREA
Noelle Ihli - ASK FOR ANDREA episode artwork
#550
10/22/2025

In this interview, I chat with Noelle Ihli about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ask For Andrea⁠ , her inspiration for writing this one, BookTok, her prequel to Ask for Andrea, her ghostwriting career, the publishing process, the various covers for this one, and much more.

Noelle's recommended reads are:

Too Close to Home by Serafina Nova Glass We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens

Thanks so much to those of you who have donated to the show. Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Venmo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...


Pamela Lamp - DO THE NEXT NEW THING
Pamela Lamp - DO THE NEXT NEW THING episode artwork
#549
10/16/2025

In this interview, I chat with Pamela Lamp about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Do the Next New Thing, how she came up with the ideas for her book, writing a book, how hard it can be to make friends as an adult, her blog Who I Met Today, and much more.

Pam's recommended reads are:

Let's Call Her Barbie by Renee Rosen One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

Thanks so much to those of you who have donated to the show. Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Venmo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...