The Catholic Bookworm

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Kevin Wells on his book Coached by the Curé: Lessons in Shepherding with St. John Vianney (July 16, 2025)

Kevin Wells, nephew of a holy Catholic priest murdered for standing up against clergy corruption, has written an unforgettable book—a humble yet urgent plea through the voice of the greatest priest-saint in history, St. Jean-Marie-Baptise Vianney. In Coached by the Curé: Lessons in Shepherding with St. John Vianney, Wells pulls the revered French saint from his tomb and hands him his pen, where the country curé begins to speak to the he...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Jeffrey Trissell on his book Unlocking the Churches: The Legal Victory Against California's Pandemic-Era Religious Discrimination. (July 15, 2025)

“[I]t could be well said that a country, preserved at the sacrifice of all the cardinal principles of liberty, is not worth the cost of preservation.”  — The Supreme Court in Ex Parte Milligan, 1866 

This firsthand account by Jeffrey M. Trissell, Esq., one of the attorneys who fought on “the front lines” in the heroic legal battles during the 2020–21 COVID-19 pandemic, unravels the controversies surrounding the unprecedented lockdown of churches. He ser...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Hannah Rothwell on Transformative Learning and Personalism (July 10, 2025)

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Angela Fortunato on her book Wholeheartedly: God's Mystery of Love in the Call to Celibacy (July 9, 2025)
The vocation of apostolic celibacy is a call from God to dedicate one's life entirely to the needs of the Church. In a world increasingly burdened by distraction from what matters most, this calling is all the more necessary—and all the more attractive. Angela Fortunato enlightens the hearts and minds of her readers in this timely book about apostolic celibacy: its origins and its characteristics, certainly, but also the way this vocation ha...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Dr. Stacy Trasancos on her book IVF is Not the Way: The False Promises of Artificial Procreation (July 8, 2025)

In a May 2024 Pew poll, more than two-thirds of Americans indicated they thought that IVF (in vitro fertilization) is good and should be accessible to anyone who wants it. Even among social conservatives — including the current U.S. administration — there is a push for wider accessibility for artificial procreation options. But is IVF truly the gift for infertile couples that it’s perceived to be? In this thoughtful, eminently readable guide...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Br. James Francis Twyman, CFC, on his book I Don't Know, Maybe, I Love You: How to De-Polarize Your Family, Business, Country, and the World.

In a nation torn apart by political strife, what if the solution was as simple as three little phrases? "I don't know. Maybe. I love you." When author James Twyman spoke these words during a heated argument with his brother, something extraordinary happened – the conflict melted away, replaced by genuine connection. This discovery launched him on a cross-country journey to test a radical id...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Michael Egnor & Denyse O'Leary on their book The Immortal Mind.

A neuroscientist and surgeon makes an argument for the existence of a spiritual human soul in this eye-opening book.

Many scientists and doctors believe that there is no such thing as the soul. That there is no part of us that persists beyond death. We are not spiritual in any respect. We are made up of cells and tissue, and completely controlled by a material organ in our heads: the brain. In this groundbreaking book, Dr...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Stephanie Marley on Wake up, Jamaica! (June 27, 2025)

Wake Up Jamaica was founded with the mission to empower Jamaican citizens to become active participants in the development, safety and governance of their country. We believe that a strong and prosperous Jamaica can only be achieved through the collective efforts of its citizens. Our programs and initiatives focus on education, community development, and citizen participation.


Constitutional Reform | Wake Up Jamaica

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Sydney March, RN, PHN, on her book Freedom and Truth in Suffering.

For those who experience suffering and those in the medical profession, this book explores why a proper understanding of the human person and freedom is essential for guidance in moral actions and persevering. The author demonstrates that with this framework, the power of grace, the examples of Jesus Christ and his Blessed Mother, including other essential elements, allow us the potential to find purpose, experience true freedom, persevere, and be an encouraging and salvific witness.
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In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Mitch Pacwa on his book St. Paul on the Power of the Cross.

On the road to Damascus, St. Paul was transformed from one of the most zealous persecutors of Christians into one of the greatest apostles in history. Like all of us, he experienced suffering, weakness, and hardships, but amid these trials during his heroic mission trips, visions, and near-death escapes, he felt the strength of God’s grace sustaining him and urging him forward.

Popular EWTN host and author Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J., un...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Jesse Romero on his book Prayer as a Weapon: How to Go on the Spiritual Offensive (June 23, 2025)

In the eternal battle for souls, prayer is our greatest weapon. In this book on spiritual warfare, acclaimed author and radio host Jesse Romero emphasizes the importance of prayer in facing our modern crises, especially for men who are the heads of their households.He reminds us that the faculty of prayer is both a gift and a protective weapon from God. Far from a passive routine, it is an intrepid a...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Maria McFadden Maffucci on her Human Life Review article "RFK Jr, Autism, Eugenics–and Pro-Life Silence?" (June 19, 2025)

The Human Life Review RFK Jr, Autism, Eugenics-and Pro-Life Silence? - The Human Life Review

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Mia Merran on her novel A Burning Call. 

A BURNING CALL is a dynamic portrait of a contemporary upper middle class Catholic family. This story is filled with faith, humor, romance and drama. It presents an evocative picture of a declining culture and a man s quest for change with his cherished wife by his side, along with her unwavering confidence in the Mother of God. Their lives are altered far beyond their imaginations through mystery and miracles while revealing the essential motivation for truth was in reality a...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Maria Riley on her children's book Joan of Arc.

The Martin siblings are back for another adventure! Joshua and Luke are playing at the park with their friend Nathan when bullies steal Nathan’s hat. The boys walk away because they know fighting is wrong. Now, the park doesn’t feel fun anymore, and they all feel sad about Nathan’s hat. Later that day, Luke, Becca, and Joshua go on a special journey and meet Saint Joan of Arc - a teenager who was a soldier for God! W...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Stephanie Landsem on her book Code Name Edelweiss.

“What I am looking for―what I desperately need, Mrs. Weiss―is a spy.” Adolf Hitler is still a distant rumble on the horizon, but a Jewish spymaster and his courageous spies uncover a storm of Nazi terror in their own backyard. In the summer of 1933, a man named Adolf Hitler is the new and powerful anti-Semitic chancellor of Germany. But in Los Angeles, no-nonsense secretary Liesl Weiss has concerns much closer to home. The Great Depression is tightening its grip and...

In the episode, Kiki Latimer interviews Kevin A. Codd on his books To the Field of Stars: A Pilgrim's Journey to Santiago de Compostela and Beyond Even the Stars: A Compostela Pilgrim in France.

“Pilgrimage” is a strange notion to our modern, practical minds. How many of us have walked to a distant holy place in order to draw nearer to God? Yet the pilgrimage experience is growing these days in various parts of the world. Seeking to take stock of his life, Kevin Codd set out in July 2003 on a pilgrimage that would profoundly change his life. To t...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Deacons Mike Plese, Jeff Kosidowski, Scott Sparks, and Greg Weigold on the Holy Land/Greece Tour in October 2026 (May 27, 2025)

For the trip flyer, click here: https://tinyurl.com/holylandandgreecetour2026

In this episode of WCAT Radio's The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Karen Ullo on her novel To Crown with Liberty. (May 25, 2025)

New Orleans, 1795. In the wake of the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror, Alix de Morainville Carpentier—a former lady-in-waiting to Marie Antoinette, now married to her gardener—seeks peace and security in the Spanish colony of Louisiana. But her journey into the man-eating swamp called Attakapas reopens the wounds of her old life in France. Alix is forced to reckon with the choices that saved her life at the cost of her honor—and perhaps her soul...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Dr. Marianne Siegmund on her book The Face of Jesus, the Martyr and the Reciprocity of Abiding Love: Anthropological Considerations in Spiritual Theology Based Upon the Pontifical Writings of Pope Saint John Paul the Great.

This book explores the theological and spiritual dimensions of martyrdom, as interpreted through the writings of Pope Saint John Paul II. It aims to provide a spiritual anthropology, focusing on how martyrdom serves as a profound act of self-giving love, symbolizing the ultimate commitment to Christ. The author reflects on John Paul II’s...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Mark and Patricia Roser on their book My African Dream: Transformed by the Rain (May 22, 2025)

Inspiring and challenging memoir from Mark and Patrica Roser documenting their adventures over the past 40 years in war torn Zimbabwe. From colonialism to poverty, war, dictators and AIDS, this beautifully documented story will change your view of the world and your place in it.

Spanning three decades, My African Dream is an epic adventure of firm faith and loyal love. It chronicles how a family, a nation, and a continent are c...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews John Ossi on his book Can We Care for Aging Parents at Home?: Stories of the struggle to care for the author's own parents and other relatives at home. (May 13, 2025)

Over 100 questions adult children should ask to evaluate the process of caring for aging parents at home.

What options other than home care exist?How can I start a conversation with my parents regarding future care?The best way to approach sensitive questions with parents.Is the parents' home suitable for care during an expected decline...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Sarah Crowne on her novel All These Threads of Time. 

Sylvie Mitchell’s world falls apart when her sister is murdered the same night her father vanishes without a trace. Crushed with grief, Sylvie consoles her mother and younger brother alone.

But then Sylvie discovers an incredible gift: the ability to time travel. Determined to rewrite the past, she embarks on a desperate quest to save her sister, find her father, and stop the killer terrorizing her once peaceful New England town.

Can Sylvie stop...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Vijaya Bodach on her novel Bound.

Set in Pullman, WA, home of Washington State University (Go Cougs!) BOUND is a stunning debut novel that's perfect for fans of Sara Zarr and Francisco Stork. Seventeen-year-old Rebecca Joshi, an adopted girl from India, burn survivor, and primary caretaker of her intellectually disabled sister, Joy, has one dream—to be a physician. Her traditional Indian father relies upon Rebecca to care for Joy while he buries himself in work to drown his grief over his wife’s death. Leaving home is the...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Andrea Bear on her book Grieving Daughters' Club.

A STORY ABOUT A BOOK CLUB, GRIEF, AND HOPE Two years after the death of her mother, forty-year-old Frankie Waters reluctantly joins a parish book club to prove to her family she is coming out of her grief-like state. While engaging with the eclectic women who drink wine and never finish their readings, she encounters Olivia, a young, single mother who has a secret that could be life altering. As the weekly book meetings progress, Frankie's desire to help Olivia...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Katie Breckenridge on her book Silent Sorrows: Let's Talk about Abortion, Reproductive Technologies, and Adoption.

Today's self-indulgent society is one in which satisfying one's desires at the expense of others prevails. This mindset is particularly common in areas of procreation such as abortion and various assisted reproductive technologies. Through a lens that combines Christianity, natural law, and scientific reason, this book discusses how the breakdown of man-woman marriage, biological connection, the destruction and disregard for human life, and the objectification and commodification of women and children manufactures trauma...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Cecilia Shick on her upcoming mission trip to Ghana with FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) with Oklahoma State University.

To support Cecilia's missionary work, please visit https://tinyurl.com/3nxct4ze

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Cathy Rodriguez on her book Catholic Me from A to Z: A Catholic Bilingual Alphabet Book. (April 23, 2025)

Do you long to strengthen the faith of your little ones in a fun and simple way?

Catholic Me from A to Z provides a way for parents, grandparents, and educators to help other children understand the beauty of their faith in both English and Spanish. This book helps reinforce the letters of the alphabet while assisting children in learning more about their faith in their native language.
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In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Mary Beth Bracy on Antonia Salzano and Andrea Acutis' book God’s Influencer: Holy Advice from St. Carlo Acutis.

He played video games, excelled athletically and academically, manifested contagious joy and wit — even in suffering — and befriended all those he met. St. Carlo Acutis (1991–2006), already hailed “the greatest saint of the century,” was a Thomas Aquinas in blue jeans.

It’s almost unheard of that parents take part in the beatification of their own child. So, too, is it uncommon for parents to miraculously be brought back to the Fa...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Matthew Tsakanikas on his book A Catechesis on Deification, Transfiguration & the Luminous Mysteries (April 22, 2025)

This book is a catechetical exploration of Christian deification, deeply rooted in the theological insights of Saint Athanasius and other Church Fathers. The work connects the mysteries of the Rosary with the transformative grace offered through Christ, focusing particularly on the Luminous Mysteries as a lens for understanding humanity’s participation in the divine life.

Central to the book is the concept of deification, described as the process by which humans become “part...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Loretta Pehanich on her Book of Jesus, His Family, and His Friends (April 22, 2025)

Loyola Kids Book of Jesus, His Family, and His Friends takes readers on a faith-filled journey to uncover a deeper connection to Jesus. By emphasizing themes of family, love, and loyalty, this book will help children relate to Jesus in meaningful and genuine ways and, more importantly, understand how Jesus is relevant and present in their lives today.

With discussion ideas and Scripture passages integrated throughout, this book is ideal for individual reading...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Nicole Berlucchi on her book Magnify Love: Unlocking the Heart of Jesus in Your Marriage & Your Life (April 16, 2025)

Uncover the power of the Rosary and Mary’s intercession: how the scripture-based mysteries of the Rosary can be a compass in directing your steps and navigating the highs and lows, in order for you to listen for God’s voice and live like Jesus. So many people talk about discernment and listening to the Lord, but how do we do it and how does it play out? Through personal acco...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Elizabeth Smith on her book The Coin Flip. 

A shattered dream, heartbreak and inner turmoil, what next? Joe Quigley, a seventeen year old, left Ireland to come to America in 1857 to fulfill his dream. Along the way, he met a friend, Jim McDermott, who shared the same decision. How does life continue when it’s turned upside down? Perhaps God intervenes with some unexpected surprises. This 130 novel is based on a true story of my great-granddad. My hope is that it will be an inspiring, “WOW” story for all rea...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Caitie Crowley on her book Stepping Up!: How Christ Turned My Pain & Suffering into Hope & Joy (April 15, 2025)

WHERE IS GOD IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING?Caitie Crowley was in a traumatic car accident on her way home from work and almost lost her life. She couldn’t walk for 10 months. She took that time to write about her experiences and how her faith in God carried her through her pain. This book takes the reader through Caitie’s physical struggle of learning to walk again and her interior stru...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Kelly Mahfood on the June 21, 2025, Mount Prospect Health Fair in Jamaica.

Please make your donations via GoFundMe at

https://www.gofundme.com/f/health-fair-aid-for-mount-prospect/

or by contributing to the Amazon registry at

https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/1J0LU97WCB38G

From Kelly Mahfood:

I’m organizing a health fair in the Mount Prospect and Mount Airy districts of St. Andrews, Jamaica, nestled high in the Blue Mountains. This rural area is home to a resilient bu...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Allison Ramirez on her book The Divided Kingdom (April 8, 2025)

Adeline Rye adores books, history, and art but feels unseen in a society that values advance in medicine and technology above all else. With her father as the leader of their island civilization called Mirror, she has little room for error. To ensure peace and eliminate violence, the islanders are divided across three separate communities and commanded to abide by the 613 laws given to their leadership by The Originator. Forty years prior, The Originator guided the people to the...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Dr. Shalina Stilley on her book Paradoxes of Faith and Reason (April 7, 2025)

Paradox it is at the very heart of the Gospel message. The Trinity, the Incarnation, the Cross and Resurrection, and the problem of evil are but a few examples of paradoxes of faith and reason. How can God be three in one? How can God be man? How can Jesus who is “the life” die on a Cross? How can we hold that God exists and is good when there is so much suffering in the worl...

This interview was recorded in 2021 by De ProLife Apologeet. Kiki Latimer is a philosopher who co-authered the book "Understanding Abortion" with her former teacher, Professor emeritus Stephen D. Schwartz. Originally posted at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AByEPMeLnzs&t=64s

Books on abortion (other than collections of readings) typically express and defend a particular position. This book gives both sides, as evenly and objectively as possible; it gets to the heart of each position, the core idea which animates it. It then leaves the reader to make up his or her own mind. It is an introduction...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Catherine DiNuzzo on her book The Catholic Guide Through Anxiety: Sacred Heart Mental Wellness. (April 1, 2025)

This is a guide to work through and finally understand anxiety, presented from a Catholic perspective. Please be assured that you don't need to be a Catholic to read this, there’s fantastic information for everyone, however, please be aware there are thoughts, prayers, imagery, strategies, and sentiments that are innately and traditionally Catholic. Catherine may be reached at info@sacredheartmentalwellness.com for resources or to book her to speak at an event.

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Dave DiNuzzo on his book The Steep Upward Climb: Practical Knowledge about Virtue and Becoming a Saint. (April 1, 2025)

The Steep Upward Climb is the arduous journey of our life. The only way to the top is with the help of God and with your pursuit of Virtue. Virtue is the key to the Christian life, and Dave DiNuzzo, Sr. unpacks what the virtues are and how to implement them in your life in a practical and tangible way. With inspiration from Sacred Scripture and the saints, Dave urges...

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Suzanna Linton on her substack publications.

For access to her materials, visit https://substack.com/@sllinton