Okie Bookcast

Text the Bookcast and say "hi"!Welcome to Chapter 72!I've got an incredibly fun conversation for you this month with the folks from Goblin Booth Productions which is a media production company from Norman that moved into the world of publishing in May by releasing their first book - First Degree Magic by J.M. Linkhart. In this conversation, I'm joined by the author of First Degree Magic, Jessica Linkhart, (who also happens to be the creative director of Goblin Booth Productions) and two other members of the GBP crew - Jamie Sykes (who handles the business side of Goblin Booth) and Mitchell Lewis (Goblin Booth's art director and designer). We talk about First Degree Magic, how Goblin Booth got started, their work in the podcasting and audio space, the challenges and opportunities of independent content creation, and we get to the bottom of why they are called Goblin Booth. Connect with Jessica: InstagramConnect with Goblin Booth Productions: website | InstagramCheck out their podcasts: The Harrowing of Minerva Damson | Route 6.6 | Find the rest of their showsMentioned on the Show:The Goblin Emperor - Katherine AddisonThe Witchstone - Henry H. NeffTress of the Emerald Sea - Brandon SandersonDead Wake - Erik LarsonHow to Marry a Millioinaire Vampire - Kerrelyn SparksDaisy Jones & the Six - Taylor Jenkins ReidTomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow - Gabrielle ZevinThe Midnight Library - Matt HaigTerry PratchettThe Hollow Places - T. KingfisherThe Old Kingdom Trilogy - Garth NIxSpinning Silver - Naomi NovikThe Curse of Chalion - Lois McMaster BujoldC.L. PolkRebecca RoanhorseStorm Front - Jim ButcherConnect with J: website | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Text the Bookcast and say "hi"!Welcome to Your Next Great Read! We're talking about books we can't wait to check out this summer, as well as books we're excited to see adapted for the screen. Horror, thrillers, scifi, even some romance in this edition of YNGR!Connect with Hannah: website | Twitter | Instagram | TikTokDiscussed on the ShowHannahWhen the Wolf Comes Home - Nat CassidyThe Business Trip - Jessie GarciaThe Exorcist's House - Nick RobertsThe Long Walk - Richard Bachman (Stephen King)Summer ReadsKeep It In the Family - John MarrsFunny Story - Emily HenryThirteen Storeys - Jonathan SimsJMiddle of the Night - Riley SagerBurn - Peter HellerIn Praise of Slowness - Carl HonoreThe Murderbot Diaries - Martha WellsSummer ReadsThe Well of Ascension - Brandon SandersonAssassin's Apprentice - Robin HobbDeath of the Author - Nnedi OkoraforConnect with J: website | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Text the Bookcast and say "hi"!Welcome to Chapter 71!My guest today is Dr. Constance Squires. She holds a Ph.D. in English from Oklahoma State University and teaches Creative Writing at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. In her new book, Low April Sun, Constance creates a novel around the events and the aftermath of the Murrah Bombing in Oklahoma City in 1995. She is also the author of the novels Along the Watchtower, which won the 2012 Oklahoma Book Award for Fiction and Live from Medicine Park, a 2018 Oklahoma Book Award finalist. In addition to these novels, Constance has a short story collection called Hit Your Brights and her short fiction has also appeared in Guernica, The Atlantic Monthly, Shenandoah, Identity Theory, Bayou, the Dublin Quarterly, This Land, and a number of other magazines.  ​Constance's nonfiction has appeared in Salon, the New York Times, the Village Voice, World Literature Today, the Philological Review, Largehearted Boy, and has been featured on the NPR program Snap Judgment.  She contributed to the RollingStone500: Telling Stories in Stereo (thers500.com). and wrote the screenplay for Sundance fellow Jeffrey Palmer's 2015 short film, Grave Misgivings. In our conversation, we talk a lot about Low April Sun and the challenges of creating fiction around significant real-world events. We also talk about the publishing journey and she gives some great advice for emerging writers. Connect with Constance: website | Instagram | FacebookMentioned on the Show:Falling Man - Don DelilloExtremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Jonathan Safran FoerLibra - Don DelilloThe Secret Garden - Frances Eliza Hodgson BurnettLittle House on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls WilderLittle Women - Louisa May AlcottUniversity of Oklahoma PressT.S. EliotEzra PoundDrive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead - Olga Tokarczuk James - Percival EverettRoots - Alex HaleyBlue Sky Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy - John le CarreConnect with J: website | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Text the Bookcast and say "hi"!Welcome to Your Next Great Read! We are joined by historical romance author, Natalie Griffin (and her beautiful daughter Rylee!) to talk about what we're reading and why you might love it. We also talk a bit about the new Oklahoma Independent Booksellers Association and Hannah's (successful!) attempt at her first marathon. Something for everyone!Connect with Natalie: website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTokConnect with Hannah: website | Twitter | InstagramFind Oklahoma Independent Bookstores: okiebookcast.com/bookstoresDiscussed on the Show:Natalie A Court of Silver Flames -  Sarah J. MaasMalibu Rising - Taylor Jenkins ReidThe Lost Apothecary - Sarah PennerInto the Wilderness series - Sarah DonatiHannahThe Husbands - Holly GramazioInvisible Life of Addie LaRue - V.E. SchwabCross My Heart - Megan CollinsThe Lost Apothecary - Sarah PennerJOvergrowth - Mira GrantRazorblade Tears - S.A. CosbyCold Eternity - S.A. BarnesThe Poisonwood Bible - Barbara KingsolverConnect with J: website | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Text the Bookcast and say "hi"!Welcome to Volume 12! This time we have poems from 15 Oklahoma poets cued up and ready for you to enjoy. Be sure to connect with the poets across their social media (linked below) to let them know how much you appreciate their work.You can check out previous volumes at okiebookcast.com/behindtherainHere's the Lineup:Spring Morning - Ruth KeyInstagram @ruthkeypoetrySing to Me Ocean - Ken HadaFacebook: @ken.hada.3Website: kenhada.orgGoodbye to Talequah - Uriah Maravilla GreerInstagram: @uriahwritesBarbed Wire Manual - Kristen GraceInstagram: @_kristen_graceMy Oklahoma Boy - Nichole YatesInstagram: @nicholeyatesThe Slow Torment of Sunset - David JenningsFacebook: @DJennPhotosWebsite: davidjenningsartinphotographyandpoetry.comBackyard Magic - Sydney AerinInstagram: @sydneysometimesMr. Nonchalant Introduces Himself to the Party - Durell CarterInstagram: @durell.carterCaregiver - Aubrey GreenInstagram: @blueclovereditingHowl at Night - Jake SpannFacebook: @jake.spann.9Hope Like a Wildflower - Holly JahangiriBluesky: @jahangiriWebsite: https://jahangiri.us/2020In the Garden on Lowell Street - Lydia RenfroInstagram: @lyd.froWebsite: https://lydiarenfro.com/Cruel Calculations - Brand RackleyInstagram: @brandrackley Walking - Alice VileInstagram: @alice.a.vileTextilation - Andrew Morris GilmanInstagram: @andrewmorrisgilmanObservations on Fear - Ruth KeyInstagram @ruthkeypoetryConnect with J: website | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Text the Bookcast and say "hi"!Welcome to Chapter 70!My guest is romance author Allison Ashley. Allison is an oncology pharmacist who has released five romance novels, including her brand new book, If Tomorrow Never Comes. In our conversation, we talk about the new book and about tropes she loves. We also talk about her interest in incorporating science and medical themes in her work and the challenge of keeping romance stories fresh. Connect with Allison: website | InstagramGet J's New Book, College UnpackedMentioned on the ShowRomance Round Table - Bookcast Chapter 68Would You Rather - Allison AshleyThe Roommate Pact - Allison AshleySherry ThomasAdriana HerreraLisa KleypasBridgerton - Julia QuinnThroroughbred Series - Joanna CampbellBlack Stallion Series - Walter FarleyLessons in Chemistry - Bonnie GarmusConnect with J: website | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Text the Bookcast and say "hi"!Welcome to Your Next Great Read! Our guest this month is Bookstagrammer (and Dad baker!) Kenny Kemper. We cover over a century's worth of books - from classic scifi to thrillers to horror to romance. You're going to find a book to love in this conversation!Connect with Kenny: InstagramConnect with Hannah: website | Twitter | InstagramDiscussed on the Show:Kenny Whiplash River - Lou BerneyFourth Wing - Rebecca YarrosThe Four Winds - Kristin HannahBlood Evidence - Robin JamesHannahThe Silent Patient - Alex MichaelidesMistakes We Never Made - Hannah BrownThis Thing Between Us - Gus MorenoRebecca - Daphne Du MaurieJFirst-Degree Magic - J.M. LinkhartThe Invisible Man - H.G. WellsBuffalo Hunter Hunter - Stephen Graham JonesThe Children of Men - P.D. JamesConnect with J: website | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Text the Bookcast and say "hi"!Welcome to Chapter 69!My guests are Kelleigh Knight-Whitten and Tyler Whitten, owners of KNight's Nook bookstore in Yukon, Oklahoma. We recorded at the store, so the audio may be a bit different than you're used to. Kelleigh and Tyler launched Knight's Nook in October of 2024 and are doing some really great things in their community. You are going to love getting to know Kelleigh and Tyler as we talk about how the store came about, their commitment to indie authors and to their community, and the incredible care they take as they curate their shelves. Connect with Knight's Nook: website | Instagram | FacebookMy new book, College Unpacked: A Practical Guide to Choosing, Preparing For, and Excelling in College, is out! Find out more and get your copy at jhallwriter.comMentioned on the Show:Rose NealNatalie GriffinBerserk - Kentaro Miura & Jason Deangelis Naruto - Masashi KishimotoDragonball - Akira Toriyama & Toyotarou JuJitsu Kaisen - Gege AkutamiDemonslayer - Koyoharu GotougeThe Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre DumasCemetery of Forgotten Books Series - Carlos Ruiz ZafonDiviners Series - Libba BrayThese Shallow Graves - Jennifer DonnellyStalking Jack the Ripper series - Kerri ManiscalcoCassandra Clare - City of Bones | Mortal InstrumentsColumbine - Dave CullenStiff - Mary Roach Nancy Drew - Carolyn KeeneMary Higgins ClarkThe Great Gatsby - F. Scott FitzgeraldCaptain Underpants - Dav PilkeyAnimorphs - K.A. ApplegateHatchet - Gary PaulsenConnect with J: website | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Text the Bookcast and say "hi"!Welcome to Your Next Great Read! Bookstagrammer Melissa Coast is back with us to talk book reviews and recommendations. We cover a wide variety on the show - everything from "fluffy" romances to horror to fantasy to books that defy classification. There's a book for you on this show! Connect with Melissa: Instagram | LinktreeConnect with Hannah: website | Twitter | InstagramDiscussed on the Show:MelissaThe Light Brigade - Kameron HurleyJames - Percival EverettBeartown - Frederik BackmanEven Though I Knew the End - C.L. PolkHannahBetter than the Movies - Lynn PainterOnyx Storm - Rebecca YarrosJane Darrowfield and the Madwoman Next Door - Barbara RossBeloved - Toni MorrisonJExposure - Ramona EmersonJade City - Fonda Lee All the Water in the World - Eiren CaffallParable of the Sower - Octavia E. ButlerConnect with J: website | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Text the Bookcast and say "hi"!Welcome to Chapter 68 of the Bookcast! It's February and that can only mean one thing - it's Romance Round Table time! I'm joined by 3 fantastic romance authors to talk about their work, expectations of the romance genre, writing spice, and representation. This thoughtful conversation is full of information about the genre, insights into writing romance, and laughs. So, Many. Laughs. You've going to love getting to know  Nichole Yates, Heather DuBree, and Holly Skinner. Connect with Nichole: website | Instagram | FacebookConnect with Heather: website | TikTok | InstagramConnect with Holly (H.B.): Linktree | TikTok | InstagramJoin the Launch Team for J's new book - College Unpacked!Mentioned on the Show:Whispers of the Deep - Emma HammThrone of Glass - Sarah J. MaasDone and Dusted - Lyla SagePride and Prejudice - Jane AustenThe Things They Carried - Tim O'BrienTender is the Flesh - Agustina Bazterrica Tornado Ally - Lainey RossShark Heart - Emily HabeckAnne of Green Gables - L.M. MontgomeryLittle Women - Louisa May AlcottA Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J. MaasIt Ends with Us - Colleen HooverOnyx Storm - Rebecca YarrosThe Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - V.E. SchwabSara CateKatee RobertErin StirlingThe Serpent and the Wings of Night - Carissa BroadbentThe Raven Boys - Maggie Stiefvater Song of Achilles - Madeline MillerConnect with J: website | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Text the Bookcast and say "hi"!Happy 2025! We're looking forward on this edition of Your Next Great Read by sharing some books we're excited to check out in the coming year. We also talk about some things we've been reading and Hannah gets mad at me about a book she can't believe I've never read. Get ready to fill your TBR !Connect with Hannah: website | Twitter | InstagramBooks Discussed:HannahThe One - John MarrsBefore the Coffee Gets Cold - Toshikazu Kawaguchi Three to look forward toOnyx Storm - Rebecca YarrosSunrise on the Reaping - Suzanne CollinsThe Unseen - Ania AhlbornBacklistThe Winter People - Jennifer McMahonJGutshot Straight - Lou BerneyChildren of the Neon Bamboo - B. Glynn KimmeyThree to look forward toKing of Ashes - S.A. CosbyThe Buffalo Hunter Hunter - Stephen Graham JonesJade City - Fonda LeeBacklist11/22/63 - Stephen KingConnect with J: website | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Text the Bookcast and say "hi"!It's Volume 11 of Behind the Rain! I've got poems from 14 Oklahoma poets cued up and ready for you to enjoy. Be sure to connect with the poets across their social media (linked below) to let them know how much you appreciate their work. You can check out previous volumes at okiebookcast.com/behindtherainHere's the lineup:Supernatural - Andrew Morris GilmanInstagram: @andrewmorrisgilmanTwelfth-Hour Lightning Strike Piano Tunes Itself to Midnight - Michelle LarkInstagram: @fairylarksThe Land We Belong To - Brand RackleyInstagram: @brandrackley The Songbird - Shy NortonInstagram: @shylascribblesartHaboob - Scott LaMascusInstagram: @scott_lamascusAn Aroma - Jake SpannFacebook: @jake.spann.9The Waving Wheat Can Sure Smell Bittersweet - Sydney AerinInstagram: @sydneysometimesTo Someone I Can't Fall With Again - Seth CopelandInstagram: @sethtcopeWebsite: https://neutralspaces.co/seth_t_copeland/The Halls of Snow and Sleep - Kristen GraceInstagram: @_kristen_graceYou Were But a Batch of Bones and Fur - David JenningsFacebook: @DJennPhotosWebsite: davidjenningsartinphotographyandpoetry.comNocturne - Aubrey GreenInstagram: @blueclovereditingWhat I've Learned from Watching Yes Men Win - Durell CarterInstagram: @durell.carterGather - Alice VileInstagram: @alice.a.vileSo Little Time - Linda Neal ReisingInstagram: @nealreisingConnect with J: website | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Text the Bookcast and say "hi"!Welcome to Chapter 67! My guest is indie author Luke Swanson. Luke has been a part of a couple of different shows, but this was my first chance to interview him and we had a blast!Luke is an author with five published novels under his belt, each in a vastly different genre. He says that Much like Oklahoma's weather, what he's reading and what he's writing could change within the hour. If you want someone who can recite "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" from start to finish but also gets really nerdy about Civil War history, he's your guy.Connect with Luke: website | Instagram | TikTokAfter the interview - I give some updates about where the show is heading in 2025, so be sure to stick around for that. Mentioned on the Show:Alex Rider series - Anthony HorowitzThe Book Thief - Markus ZusakHardy Boys - Franklin W. DixonNancy Drew - Carolyn KeeneThe Pawn - Steven JamesHavah - Tosca LeeMystic River - Dennis LeHaneAnimal Farm - George OrwellThe Great Gatsby - F. Scott FitzgeraldTeam of Rivals - Doris Kearns GoodwinMy Thoughts Be Bloody - Nora TitoneLittle Women - Louisa May AlcottConnect with J: website | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Text the Bookcast and say "hi"!We're wrapping up 2024 with a conversation about our favorite reads of the year! Hannah and J talk about what they're reading and then get into their 3 favorite reads of 2024. Check out our list and then let us know your favorite books of the year.  Fave Five From Fans episodes: J | HannahConnect with Hannah: website | Twitter | InstagramBooks Discussed:HannahThe Night Circus - Erin MorgensternThe Family Game - Catherine SteadmanFave 3Episode 13 - Craig DilouieLessons in Chemistry - Bonnie GarmusHorror Movie - Paul TremblayBacklistHell House - Richard MathesonJDark Age - Pierce BrownService Model - Adrian TchaikovskyFave 3Starter Villain - John ScalziEveryone in my Family Has Killed Someone - Benjamin StevensonChain Gang All-Stars - Nana Kwame Adjei BrenyahBacklistThe Running Man - Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman)Connect with J: website | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Text the Bookcast and say "hi"!Welcome to Chapter 66! I got to sit down with Russ Fellows to talk about his new book - Children of the Ancient Heroes: Dreams and Nightmares - the first in a new middle grade fantasy series. We also talk about writing for middle grade readers and his podcast project, Enchanted Stories, that focuses on sharing great stories with kids. List of Oklahoma Independent Bookstores: okiebookcast.com/bookstoresList of Oklahoma Children's Authors: okiebookcast.com/kidlit Connect with Russ: website | LinktreeEnchanted Stories Podcast on YouTubeMentioned on the Show:Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. LewisLord of the Rings - J.R.R. TolkienJules Verne Neil GaimanThe Princess and the Goblin - George MacDonaldThe Patron Thief of Bread - Lindsey EagarNevermore series - Jessica TownsendThe Thirteenth Child - Erin A. CraigStory Thieves - James RileyStephen KingDean KoontzConnect with J: website | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Text the Bookcast and say "hi"!This month, we're joined by Emma Jackson to talk about what we're reading and why you might love it! We've got thrillers, romance, books on creativity, scifi, lots of YA, horror, and even a western. You're going to find a book or two to love in this fun conversation. Connect with Emma: Instagram | Threads | Twitter | TikTok Connect with Hannah: website | Twitter | InstagramDiscussed on the Show:EmmaInheritance of Scars - Crystal SeitzRoyal Blood - Aimee CarterJade City - Fonda LeeAn Ember in the Ashes - Sabaa TahirHannahThe Paradise Problem - Christina LaurenWhat I Talk About When I Talk About Running - Haruki MurakamiHere One Moment - Liane MoriartyThe Girl on the Train - Paula HawkinsJThe Butcher's Masquerade - Matt DinnimannThe Cannibal Owl - Aaron GwynI Was a Teenage Slasher - Stephen Graham JonesWay Station - Clifford D. SimakConnect with J: website | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Welcome to Chapter 65! My guest today is James Cooper. James is the Oklahoma City Councilman for Ward 2 and an Artist in Residence for the English department at OCU, where he teaches courses on writing and horror. His work has been published in the Oklahoma Gazette and the Huffington Post and he was named a Champion of Pride by Advocate Magazine and received the Rising Star Award from the OSU College of Arts and Sciences.We're talking about James' debut novel - Moonlit Massacre - a horror novel about a mass murder following in the vein of the infamous Sirloin Stockade murders in Oklahoma City in the 70s. Over the course of the conversation we also talk about Care Bears, Nightmare on Elm Street, Lil Wayne, jazz, a little OKC politics, and a particular influence that you'll have to hear to believe. As you can imagine, the conversation turns to violence a bit, so be advised as you decide to listen. Connect with James: website | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMentioned on the Show:Lou BerneyStephen Graham JonesMen, Women, and Chainsaws - Carol CloverA Single Man - Christopher IsherwoodNo Country for Old Men - Cormac McCarthyBlood Meridian - Cormac McCarthyOKC: Second Time Around - Steve LackmeyerFunny Money - Mark SingerReconstructing the Dreamland - Alfred L. BrophyInvisible Man - Ralph EllisonMoffie - Andre Carl Van Der MerweConnect with J: website | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

We are so excited to welcome back author Stacey Kade (S.A. Barnes) for this edition of Your Next Great Read! We talk about plenty of Spooky Season reads, but also some science fiction, romance, and thrillers. Get ready to fill your TBR list with more great books!Connect with Stacey: website | Instagram | ThreadsConnect with Hannah: website | Twitter | InstagramDiscussed on the show:StaceySo Thirsty - Rachel HarrisonWhite Line Fever - KC JonesFour Weekends and a Funeral - Ellie PalmerThe Return Man - V.M. ZitoHannahThriller: Stories to Keep You Up All Night - James Patterson (ed.)Mary - Nat CassidyLike It Never Was - Faith GardnerIt - Stephen KingJThe Mountain in the Sea - Ray NaylerRed Rising - Pierce BrownWorst Case Scenario - TJ NewmanInto the Drowning Deep - Mira GrantConnect with J: website | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

It's Volume 10 of Behind the Rain! I've got 14 poems from 13 Oklahoma poets cued up and ready for you to enjoy. Be sure to connect with the poets across their social media (linked below) to let them know how much you appreciate their work. Here's the lineup:At Home In the Hills (for Paul Askew) - Paul AustinWebsite: paustin.netFuture of Sound - Sydney AerinInstagram: @sydneysometimesNoise and Haste - Andrew Morris GilmanInstagram: @andrewmorrisgilmanEarly - Ruth KeyInstagram @ruthkeypoetryAmerican Night - James Thomas FletcherFacebook: James.Thomas.FletcherWebsite: jamesthomasfletcherIn a Children's Museum - Paul JuhaszFacebook: Paul Juhasz AuthorSilent Jubilee - Alicia DaggsInstagram: @solatidontCimarron - Brand RackleyInstagram: @brandrackley To the Spur-Throated Grasshopper, My Dog is a Villain and An Occasion When Summer Rain was too Severe for Outside Play - Lydia RenfroInstagram: @lyd.froWebsite: https://lydiarenfro.com/Whalefall- Hallie McGrathInstagram: @jackrabbit_soulNorth for You - Seth CopelandInstagram: @sethtcopeWebsite: https://neutralspaces.co/seth_t_copeland/Work - Rilla AskewInstagram: @rilla_askewWebsite: rillaaskew.comBarren Ground - David JenningsFacebook: @DJennPhotosWebsite: davidjenningsartinphotographyandpoetry.comConnect with J: website | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Welcome to Chapter 64 of the Okie Bookcast! It's a huge week for us as we celebrate our third anniversary! All I can say is thank you - I appreciate you more than you know, now onward to year four!Speaking of anniversaries, my guests for this episode are from Best of Books, an independent bookstore in Edmond that is celebrating its 40th anniversary this week! I'm joined by Nan Hight and Dani Terrell to talk about the store, their huge anniversary celebration on October 10, and the incredible relationship the store has developed with authors through the years. Nan is a former educator who, along with her husband Bob and daughter Elena, has owned Best of Books since 2014. Dani is also a former educator who joined Best of Books two years ago and works on events and social media for the store. Enjoy our conversation as we celebrate 40 years of this fantastic Oklahoma bookstore!Connect with Best of Books: website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | TwitterMentioned on the Show:Unnecessary Sorrow - Joe HightCamino Ghosts - John GrishamScarlett St. ClairJennifer Lynn BarnesRuta SepetysSteve SheinkinOrdinary Grace - William Kent KrugerTouch of Darkness series - Scarlett St. ClairThe Dead Guy Next Door - Lucy ScoreThe Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson BurnettKwame AlexanderBeing Henry: The Fonz...and Beyond - Henry WinklerStick Dog - Tom WatsonConnect with J: website | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Welcome to Your Next Great Read for September 2024! J and Hannah are joined by author, Tyler Lenz, to talk books. We cover a ton of ground - everything from rocky aliens to bridezillas to saber-toothed tigers. And a lot of love for Matt Haig. Something for every reader!Get ready to fill your TBR list with more great books.Connect with Tyler: FacebookGet Tyler's Books: The Seam | Beyond the SeamConnect with Hannah: website | Twitter | InstagramDiscussed on the Show:TylerScythe - Neal ShustermannDungeon Crawler Carl - Matt DinnimannProject Hail Mary - Andy Weir11/22/63 - Stephen KingHannahHell House - Richard MathesonIncidents Around the House - Josh MalermanThe Wedding People - Allison EspachThe Midnight Library - Matt HaigJThe Life Impossible - Matt HaigThe Ministry of Time - Kaliane BradleyThe Seam - Tyler LenzThe Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O - Neal Stephenson and Nicole GallandConnect with J: website | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Welcome to Chapter 63! My guest should be a familiar voice to long-time listeners - Rilla Askew joined me for Chapter 30 to talk about her novel, Prize for the Fire. She's back to talk about her new collection of short stories: The Hungry and the Haunted, available from Belle Point Press on September 17. Rilla is the author of multiple novels, story collections, and creative non-fiction. She's the recipient of the Oklahoma Book Award and the American Book Award, among other honors. In our conversation we talk about her short fiction and her novels, her use of place in her fiction, and we spend some time celebrating the incredible literary culture of Oklahoma. Connect with Rilla: website | InstagramConversation with Casie Dodd from Belle Point Press (C. 55)Conversation with Rob Roensch (C. 53)Mentioned on the Show:Prize for the Fire - Rilla AskewBelle Point Press (order The Hungry and the Haunted)In the Morning, the City is the Prairie - Rob RoenschBen MyersBest American Short Stories (2023)I Can Hear Everything from Here - Mark WallingBruce SpringsteenWilliam FaulknerJames BaldwinWolf Hall Trilogy - Hillary Mantelokiebookcast.com/bookstores - The list of Oklahoma independent bookstoresConnect with J: website | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

We celebrated the second anniversary of Your Next Great Read by recording this show in front of a live audience at Second Story Books in OKC! In addition to the second anniversary of this show, this is also the 100th episode of the Okie Bookcast!We talk about a ton of books with our guest, Magen Runyan, and also get quick reviews from a couple of special guests and recommendations from the crowd for our backlist category. Connect with Magen Runyan: Instagram | YouTube | TikTokConnect with Luke Swanson: website | Instagram | TikTokConnect with Garrett Queener: Instagram | TikTokConnect with Hannah: website | Twitter | InstagramSecond Story Books in OKC: website | InstagramMentioned on the Show:MagenUnlikeable Female Characters: The Women Pop Culture Wants You To Hate - Anna BogutskayaThe Orchard - Jeffrey StepakofI am Number Four - Pittacus LoreLuke The Reappearance of Rachel Price - Holly JacksonGarrettThe Mist - Stephen KingHannahWe Used to Live Here - Marcus KliewerThe Handler - Garrett QueenerSix of Crows - Leigh BardugoJThe Hungry and the Haunted - Rilla AskewThe Last Murder at the End of the World - Stuart TurtonFarenheit 451 - Ray BradburyVisit okiebookcast.com for links to all of the crowd backlist recommendations!Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Welcome to Chapter 62 of the Okie Bookcast!My guest is children's author, Toby Rowland. Toby has been the Voice of the Sooners for the last 13 years. He is also the host of the “T-Row in the Morning Show” on KREF in Norman and is an on-air Sports Contributor for KWTV (OKC) and KOTV (Tulsa). Toby released his first children's book, featuring University of Oklahoma mascots Boomer and Sooner, in 2020 and has just released a second book - "Put the Ponies in the Barn: Boomer and Sooner Take Their Wagon to the SEC". In our conversation we talk about his books and his writing, working with his illustrator - Rob Peters, and the challenges presented by working with protected intellectual properties like college mascots. Whether you're a sports fan or not, you're going to enjoy hearing from Toby. Connect with Toby: Twitter | InstagramMentioned on the Show:Go Cubs Go - Marv Levy and Rob PetersA Good Walk Spoiled: Days and Nights on the PGA Tour - John FeinsteinOpen: Inside the Ropes at Bethpage Black - John FeinsteinPlay by Play - Verne LundquistQuiet Strength - Tony DungyThe Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan DoyleConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Welcome to the July edition of Your Next Great Read! J and Hannah are joined by YA author, Candace Kade, to talk books. We cover a ton of ground - everything from murder mysteries to teen angst to Japanese dragons. Something for every reader!Get ready to fill your TBR list with more great books.Connect with Candace: website | InstagramGet Candace's Books: Enhanced | HybridConnect with Hannah: website | Twitter | Instagram CandaceCalculated - Nova McBeeSuspended in the Stars - E.A. HendryxSaints and Monsters - Ellen McGintyThe Water Child - Ellen McGintyUglies - Scott WesterfeldHannahLiar's Beach - Katie CotugnoSundown - Hudson HaskinsBrother - Ania AhlbornSeed - Ania AhlbornA Flicker in the Dark - Stacy WillinghamThe Fault in Our Stars - John GreenJEveryone In My Family Has Killed Someone - Benjamin StevensonI Must Say: My Humble Life as a Comedy Legend - Martin ShortMachine Learning - Hugh HoweyEnder's Game - Orson Scott CardConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Welcome to Volume 9 of Behind the Rain - our second anniversary edition!We've been celebrating Oklahoma poetry for two years now and have, in total, presented 105 poems from 46 fantastic poets. For this volume we have 14 poems from 12 poets. Here's the lineup:Spring High Noons - Abigail PappasInstagram: @actually_belleOn the Banks of the Canadian - Lydia RenfroInstagram: @lyd.froWebsite: https://lydiarenfro.com/Mother Raccoon - David JenningsFacebook: @DJennPhotosWebsite: davidjenningsartinphotographyandpoetry.comDouble Rainbow, Just East of Wanette - Ken HadaFacebook: @ken.hada.3Website: kenhada.orgBugs - Cassie GrimmInstagram: @cassandrie_The Almanac Knows Nothing - Brand RackleyInstagram: @brandrackley Rattlin' Bones - Alicia DaggsInstagram: @solatidontThe Reason We Gather for the Solar Eclipse - Linda Neal ReisingInstagram: @nealreisingWebsite: lindanealreising.weebly.comIf You Missed the House Concert - Rob SturmaInstagram: @ratpack_slimWebsite: www.freezeraypoetry.comLike a Leaf and Sleep Comforts - Ruth KeyInstagram @ruthkeypoetryRadical Acceptance - Durell CarterInstagram: @durell.carterLast Look at Indiahoma before Old 62 Takes You Somewhere Else - Seth CopelandInstagram: @sethtcopeWebsite: https://neutralspaces.co/seth_t_copeland/The End of Summers - Abigail PappasInstagram: @actually_belleConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

It's Chapter 61 of the Bookcast!This month, I sat down with three amazing Bookstagrammers - Grace Filer, Clay Mattox, and Jessica Berg - to talk about the Bookstagram community and each of their unique approaches to being a part of the ecosystem. We talk about a ton of books, but also about talking about books and building community around a shared passion for reading. Grace Filer is the Cofounder of If Books Could Thrill, a thriller book club in the metro OKC area and she's been on Bookstagram for 2.5 years.Grace's Bookstagram: @gracevelynreads Clay Mattox is a reader who rediscovered a love of books in adulthood. He's one of the four Book Bros OK on Bookstagram who host book clubs at Bluebird Books in Edmond and Second Story Books in OKC. Clay's Bookstagram: @madoc_grams_literature and @book_bros_ok Jessica Berg is a Librarian who works in cancer research & runs multiple monthly book clubs.Jessica's Bookstagram: @bibliobergBooks and Resources Mentioned on the Show:Monstrulio - Gerardo Sámano Córdova House on the Cerulian Sea - TJ KluneThe Women - Kristin HannahThe Ex Talk - Rachel Lynn SolomonEmily HenryIt - Stephen KingWe Are All the Same in the Dark - Julia HeaberlinDreamland Burning - Jennifer LathamThe Outsiders - S.E. HintonFourth Wing - Rebecca YarrosWanderers - Chuck WendigThe Stand - Stephen KingCell - Stephen KingUnder the Dome - Stephen KingBooks in the Freezer PodcastInstagram: Michael LaborneTo Kill a Mockingbird - Harper LeeWayfarers Series - Becky ChambersMonk and Robot Series - Becky ChambersNothing to See Here - Kevin WilsonNow is not the Time to Panic - Kevin WilsonTunneling to the Center of the Earth - Kevin WilsonThe Dark Tower Series - Stephen KingWayward - Chuck WendigOutlander series - Diana GabaldonConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Welcome back to Your Next Great Read! Hannah and J are back with tons of recommendations and reviews for curious readers like you. Remember - you can purchase any of the titles we discuss via the links below or on our Bookshop.org online store. Every book you buy helps out the Bookcast AND a local bookstore of your choosing. Win. Win. Win. Connect with Hannah: website | Twitter | InstagramHannahHorror Movie - Paul TremblayLessons in Chemistry - Bonnie GarmusLandline - Rainbow RowellThe Last House on Needless Street - Catriona Ward?Tress of the Emerald Sea - Brandon SandersonThe Mist - Stephen KingJYou Like It Darker - Stephen KingSwan Song - Robert McCammonBird By Bird - Anne LamottDungeon Crawler Carl - Matt DinnimannThe Peace War and Marooned in Realtime - Vernor VingeWhy Call Them Back From Heaven? - Clifford SimakConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Welcome to Chapter 60! And welcome back! I'm so excited to be back from hiatus and bringing you bookish conversations with great authors like Jeff Schmidt.Jeff is the author of the brand new book Here Today: Oklahoma's Ghost Towns, Vanishing Towns, and Towns Persisting against the Odds. Jeff is an Associate Professor of Marketing in the Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma where he has taught since 2005. Jeff specializes in innovation and he also serves as Associate Division Director of Marketing and Supply Chain Management. Jeff has been exploring ghost towns for more than 25 years and spent 4 years and traveled 8,000 miles working on the Here Today book.  In our conversation we get to hear a ton of stories about these towns across Oklahoma as well as the thought and care and passion Jeff brought to this project. It is a fascinating look at our wild state that I know you're going to love. Connect with Jeff: Website | Twitter |Instagram | Facebook | LinkedInCheck out the brand new FREE course: Marketing through Podcast AppearancesMentioned on the Show:Ghost Towns of Kansas - Daniel C. FitzgeraldGhost Towns of Oklahoma - John MorrisFrom Strength to Strength - Arthur BrooksBuild the Life You Want - Arthur Brooks and Oprah WinfreyThe Time Keeper - Mitch AlbomThe Five People You Meet in Heaven - Mitch AlbomHardy Boys - Franklin W. DixonAll the Light We Cannot See - Anthony DoerrConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

It's Volume 8 of Behind the Rain! I've got 11 poems from 10 Oklahoma poets cued up and ready for you to enjoy. Be sure to connect with the poets across their social media (linked below) to let them know how much you appreciate their work. Here's the lineup for this edition of the anthology:April and Winter - Aubrey GreenFacebook: @BlueCloverEditingWebsite: www.bluecloverediting.comLocal News From Where We Met - Seth CopelandBlueSky: @brushwithseth.bsky.socialWebsite: https://neutralspaces.co/seth_t_copeland/Unhatched and Broken - David JenningsFacebook: @DJennPhotosWebsite: davidjenningsartinphotographyandpoetry.comAnd I See It Clearly - Abagail PappasInstagram: @actually_belleGut Shot - Brand RackleyInstagram: @brandrackley Approaching Seventy - Ron WallaceWebsite: www.ronwallacepoetry.comMurrah - Paul JuhaszFacebook: Paul Juhasz AuthorNext Time - Holly JahangiriFacebook: @author.hollyjahangiriWebsite: https://jahangiri.us/2020Trying - Clay MattoxInstagram: @madoc_grams_literatureUntitled #5 - Jes McCutchenInstagram: @jesmwritesWebsite: jesmccutchenwrites.com If you'd like to submit a poem for consideration for Volume Nine of Behind the Rain (releasing July 15, 2024), visit okiebookcast.com/behindtherain for details. Submission deadline is June 15!Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Hannah and I are joined by Andie Schulz to talk about what we've been reading and why you might love it. We cover everything from mind-bending horror to sweeping space operas to warm fuzzy rom-coms. There may also be some conversation about elements that would go into a YNGR Drinking Game. Enjoy the conversation and let us know your thoughts on the books we discuss. Connect with Hannah: website | Twitter | InstagramDiscussed on the Show:AndieApples Never Fall - Liane MoriarityThe Girl in Cabin 13 - A.J. RiversThe Long Game - Elena ArmasAll the Missing Girls - Megan MirandaHannahA Psalm for the Wild-Built - Becky ChambersAsk For Andrea - Noelle IhliEpisode Thirteen - Craig DilouieMonster - Walter Dean MyersJThis New Dark - Chase DearingerAfter World - Debbie UrbanskiEyes of the Void - Adrian TchaikovskyHouse of Leaves - Mark Z. DanielewskiConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Welcome to Chapter 59!My guest is author and poet, Paul Juhasz. A graduate of the Red Earth M.F.A., Paul's work has appeared in several literary journals, most recently Concho River Review, Poetry Quarterly, Oklahoma Review and Main Street Rag. He has served as curator and coordinator of the Woody Guthrie Poets since 2020. He has four books, including his most recent - As If Place Matters - a collection of short fiction. In our conversation we talk about all of Paul's work across genres and forms and his approach to connecting his lived experiences to his writing. We also get into how he unravels problems in his writing. This is a great conversation for readers and writers alike with some important things to say about how our history informs what we create. Quick content note: We talk about coping with childhood trauma and self-harm so please be aware of that content going into the conversation. Connect with Paul: Instagram | FacebookPaul's Books:Fulfillment: Diary of a Warehouse PickerRoninThe Inner Life of ComicsAs If Place Matters Mentioned on the show:Running with Scissors - Augusten BurroughsJoseph ConradLou Berney Jeannetta Calhoun MishLetters to Wendy's - Joe WenderothFine Dog Press TC BoyleCormac McCarthyDave EggersHamlet - William ShakespeareNo Country for Old Men - Corman McCarthyConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

I'm joined by the host of Fave Five From Fans, Jamie Ray, to talk about the film adaptation of the Richard Bachman / Stephen King classic - The Running Man. We talk about the book and the film and all of the many (so many) ways in which the two are different. It's a celebration of spandex and catchphrases - all of the 80s Arnold magic you can stand. If you love the book and / or the film, you'll love this conversation. If you haven't read or seen it, you're going to want to by the time we're through.Check it out and let us know what we got right (or wrong).Connect with Jamie: website | Instagram | Twitter | FacebookPurchase The Running ManConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Welcome to Chapter 58! We've got a Round Table talking about all things romance writing. It's a fun and thoughtful conversation with something for everyone - even those of you (like me) who don't typically read romance. Magen Runyan - Podcaster (3 Book Girls) and BookstagrammerConnect with Magen: Instagram | 3 Book GirlsClay Mattox - BookstagrammerConnect with Clay: Instagram | Book Bros OKCollette Carmon - Author and VP of ORWGConnect with Collette: website | Facebook | Instagram  Sabrina A. Fish - Author and President of ORWGConnect with Sabrina: website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Mentioned on the Show:Icebreaker - Hannah GraceBook Lovers - Emily HenryVampires of El Norte - Isabel CanasA Game of Gods - Scarlett St. ClairUnder the Dome - Stephen KingThe Greatest Love Story Ever Told - Nick Offerman and Megan MullallyCold Blood - Marnie VingeVampire Queen's Search - Sabrina A. FishHow the Penguins Saved Veronica - Hazel PriorMexican Gothic - Silvia Moreno-GarciaRed, White, and Royal Blue - Casey McQuistonMistborn - Brandon SandersonNalini SinghLove in the Time of Serial Killers - Alicia ThompsonButcher and Blackbird - Brynne WeaverFirekeeper's Daughter - Angeline BoulleyA Psalm for the Wild-Built - Becky ChambersRebecca - Daphne Du MaurierThe King of Spring - Collette CarmonOklahoma RoConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Looking for great books? We've got you covered! Our guest is Bookstagrammer Grace Filer who runs the "If Books Could Thrill" book club in OKC. Connect with Grace: Instagram | If Books Could Thrill IGConnect with Hannah: website | Twitter | InstagramRecommendations in this episode:GraceI Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death - Maggie O'Farrell The Swimmers - Julie OtsukaMonstrilio - Gerardo Sámano Córdova  The Midnight Club - Christopher PikeHannahA Court of Wings and Ruin - Sarah J. MaasNestlings - Nat CassidyThe September House - Carissa OrlandoHoles - Louis SacharJDay of the Triffids - John WyndhamStarter Villain - John ScalziChain Gang All-Stars - Nana Kwame Adjei-BrenyahRingworld - Larry NivenConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Welcome to Chapter 57! My guest today is Missy Hancock. Missy describes herself as a wife of one, mom of six, and grammy of one. She's lived in Oklahoma since she was ten and is happily settled in Guthrie, America. She says her motto in life is to live by love, not by fear. In the fall of 2023 Missy released three books in her Ele Charmichael series, under her pen name - M. Sparks Clark.We have a fun conversation about her work, self-publishing, staying true to your characters, and, of course, Bigfoot. Connect with Missy: website | Instagram | TikTokMentioned on the ShowEle Carmichael series - Missy HancockHolly Samson HallThe Floating BookshopThe Scent Keeper - Erica BauermeisterLiane MoriartyKelly HarmsAmy E. RiechertKathrine CenterLouise MillerBeth O'LearyOther Birds | The Sugar Queen - Sarah Addison AllenHeather WebberA Man Called Ove - Fredrick BackmanPhaedra PatrickMadeleine L' Engle Time QuartetCodex Alera series - Jim ButcherHarry Potter - J. K. RowlingConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

It's Volume 7 of Behind the Rain! I've got 11 poems from 9 Oklahoma poets cued up and ready for you to enjoy. Be sure to connect with the poets across their social media (linked below) to let them know how much you appreciate their work. Here's the lineup for this edition of the anthology:Pretty Wordy - Rachel WatersInstagram: @rachelwaters.coWebsite: https://rachelwaters.co/poet/Let It Burn - Brand RackleyInstagram: @brandrackley Tornado Alley - Holly JahangiriFacebook: @author.hollyjahangiriWebsite: https://jahangiri.us/2020Yoked - MAC WoodsInstagram: @mac_since1985To Nowhere and Blue Balloon - Ruth KeyCherry Creek - Andrew GilmanInstagram: @andrewmorrisgilmanReturn to the Sea - Abagail PappasInstagram: @actually_belleMy Power - Sydney AerinInstagram: @sydneysometimesWhat He'd Done - David JenningsFacebook: @DJennPhotosWebsite: davidjenningsartinphotographyandpoetry.comNew Year's Musings - Rachel WatersInstagram: @rachelwaters.coWebsite: https://rachelwaters.co/poet/If you'd like to submit a poem for consideration for Volume Eight of Behind the Rain (releasing April 15, 2024), visit okiebookcast.com/behindtherain for details. Submission deadline is March 15!Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

I'm joined by author and podcaster, Betsey Kulakowski, to talk about the 1974 film adaptation of an Oklahoma classic - Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. We talk about the book and the film and ways in which the movie got it "right" and a place or two where it might have missed the mark. Spoiler alert, I've got some strong thoughts on that front. If you love the book and / or the film, you'll love this conversation. If you haven't read or seen it, you're going to want to by the time we're through. Check it out and let us know what we got right (or wrong).Connect with Betsey: website | Twitter | Facebook | InstagramUnfreakingbelieveable Podcast: InstagramPurchase Where the Red Fern GrowsConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Welcome to Chapter 56!Today I get to introduce you to the owner of one of the great comic shops in Oklahoma - Buck Berlin from New World Comics in OKC. New World has been a fixture in Oklahoma City for decades and Buck has been its owner and chaos coordinator for the last couple of those. In our conversation we cover:The origins of the store and what it has to offerThe comic creation scene in OklahomaThe role Buck and a group of superhero cosplayers perform in the communityAdvice for those just getting interested in comicsWhat to expect when you walk into a comic shop for the first timeThe value of comics for reluctant readersthe significance of comics as a medium for storytellingConnect with Buck at New World Comics: FacebookNew World Comic Con: websiteTitles and Creators Mentioned on the Show:Watchmen - Alan MooreMaus - Art SpiegelmanCharles Martin / Literati PressGlamorella's Daughter - Charles Martin and Jerry BennettHeathen - Natasha AltericiThe Black-Jack Demon - Nick HermesWe Promised Utopia Scud the Disposable Assassin - Harmon, Carter, Schrab, GreyArsenic LullabyDaniel Warren JohnsonKyle StarksStan LeeCharacters Mentioned on the Show:SupermanBatmanThe CrowBladeXMenSpidermanCaptain AmericaMr. Fantastic / Fantastic FourGuardians of the GalaxyRed TornadoTeenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

It's the December 2023 edition of Your Next Great Read! This is a special one as Hannah and I are actually recording in the same room for the first time. We don't have a guest for this episode, but we do talk about our favorite three books of 2023 in addition to our usual conversation. Connect with Hannah: website | Twitter | InstagramRecommendations:HannahA Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J. MaasIron Flame - Rebecca YarrosOne Day in December - Josie SilverLove and Other Words - Christina LaurenHannah's 2023 Top 3:Black Sheep - Rachel HarrisonLocal Woman Missing - Mary KubicaFourth Wing - Rebecca YarrosJWorth Dying For - Lee ChildHorrorstor - Grady HendrixThe Lost Cause - Cory DoctorowDogs of War - Adrian TchaikovskyJ's 2023 Top 3:Piranesi - Susanna ClarkeShutter - Ramona EmersonThe Long and Faraway Gone - Lou BerneyConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

My guest for Chapter 55 is Casie Dodd. Casie is originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma but now lives in Fort Smith, Arkansas with her husband and two children. Her work has appeared in This Land, Oxford American, Image, Arkansas Review, and other journals. Casie is the founder and publisher of Belle Point Press, a fantastic independent press that has published several books from Oklahoma authors and poets, including Ben Myers, Damon McKinney, and Rob Roensch. In our conversation, we talk about the origins of Belle Point Press and its mission and heartbeat. We also talk about the advantages and challenges of small presses and about Casie's work, as well as that of many others. It's a great look behind the curtain of publishing from the perspective of a small press. Connect with Casie: writing website | Belle Point Press website | Substack | InstagramMentioned on the show:Mid-South Anthology: Ben MyersTyler Justin SmothersKristen GraceBeer Breath Kisses - Damon McKinneyIn the Morning, The City Is the Prairie - Rob RoenschDeep Vellum BooksHeadless John the Baptist Hitchhiking: Poems - C.T. SalazarNight Angler - Geffrey DavisHub City PressCleave - tiana nobile Texas Review PressBull City PressThe End of the Affair - Graham GreeneConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

I'm joined by author Luke Swanson to talk about our favorite adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1843 classic, A Christmas Carol. Not to give it away, but Kermit may be involved. We talk about the book and the film and look at faithfulness and changes - including all of the music. If you're a fan of the story or the film, you're going to love the conversation. If you've never seen the movie, you'll be looking for it as soon as you finish listening. Check it out and let us know what we got right (or wrong).Connect with Luke: website | Instagram | TikTokGrab Luke's new book - Curtains on a Christmas CarolPurchase A Christmas CarolConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Welcome to Chapter 54!My guest is debut novelist, Emily Habeck, author of Shark Heart: A Love Story. Emily has a BFA in Theater from Southern Methodist University's Meadows School of the Arts as well as master's degrees from Vanderbilt Divinity School and Vanderbilt's Peabody College. Since it's release in August, Shark Heart has been named a USA Today Bestseller, a Book of the Month selection, a New York Times book review editor's choice, and was the #1 Indie Next pick for August 2023. She is from Ardmore, Oklahoma and currently lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Connect with Emily: website | Instagram | TwitterPurchase Shark Heart: A Love Story from Bookshop.orgBooks mentioned on the show:You Could Make This Place Beautiful - Maggie SmithSmile - Sarah RuhlBluets - Maggie NelsonFellowship Point - Alice Elliot DarkConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Welcome to Your Next Great Read! We're taking an international spin this month with our special guest, Lydia Filiou, who oversees the Translated Fiction Book Club in Oklahoma City. Translated Fiction meets once a month at a local bookshop in town to discuss a work translated into English. You can find out more about the club, including upcoming books for discussion on their Instagram: @translatedokc.Lydia FiliouBattle Royale - Koushun TakamiOranges Are Not the Only Fruit - Jeanette WintersonThe Hunger Games - Suzanne CollinsNotes of a Crocodile - Qiu Miaojin HannahThe Only One Left - Riley SagerEveryone Here is Lying - Shari LapenaFriends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir - Matthew PerryThe Vegetarian - Han KangJThe Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder - David GrannThe Balloon Hunter - Hugh Howey and Elinor TaylorRed Sneaker Writers series - William BernhardtThe Remembrance of Earth's Past Trilogy - Liu CixinOther books mentionedElena Knows - Claudia PinieroDeath and the Penguin - Andrey KurkovDrive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead - Olga TokarczukSilo series - Hugh HoweySand series - Hugh HoweyA Stranger in the House - Shari LapenaThe Couple Next Door - Shari LapenaHurricane Season - Fernanda MelchorSeasons of Migration to the North - Tayeb SalihConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Welcome to Chapter 53 of the Okie Bookcast! My guest is Rob Roensch, Rob is an award-winning author of short fiction and author of three books, including his latest, In the Morning, the City is the Prairie. In addition to his writing, Rob teaches at Oklahoma City University.  In our conversation, we talk about Rob's new book, setting books in Oklahoma City, and using description and dialog to generate and maintain momentum through a book. We also talk about the author Rob would most like to take to Sonic.Connect with Rob: website | TwitterOur reviewer, Sydney Aerin, should be a familiar voice. Sydney  contributed a review back in Chapter 48 and her poetry has been featured in Volumes 5 and 6 of Behind the Rain, our audio anthology of Oklahoma Poetry. Sydney is a licensed therapist who is passionate about mental health education, disability awareness, and equality for all. You can find Sydney's performance and publication information on her Instagram @sydneysometimes.Sydney is reviewing a book by another Oklahoma poet - Mr. Monday Morning's Broken Songs and Testimonies by Durell Carter. Mentioned on the Show:Belle Point Press The Long and Faraway Gone - Lou BerneyBoom Town - Sam AndersonThe Moviegoer - Walker PercyEdisto - Padgett PowellAnnie John - Jamaica KinkaidThe Chocolate War - Robert Cormier Walden - Henry David ThoreauConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

We're talking about the 1974 adaptation of Agatha Christi's Murder on the Orient Express. I'm joined by Jamie Ray, host of Fave Five From Fans, to talk about the book and the film adaptation. What did they get right? What got changed? Which actors nailed the characters and which might have missed (our interpretation of) the mark?If you've never read or seen Murder on the Orient Express, we'll give you plenty to whet your appetite and talk about whether you should read the book or watch the film first. If you're a fan, listen along and let us know where we got it right (or wrong). We also try to avoid spoilers and we do not give away the ending. Connect with Jamie: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookPurchase Murder on the Orient Express Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Welcome to Chapter 52!My guest is Vanessa LIllie. Vanessa is the best-selling author of the thrillers Little Voices and For the Best. She also co-authored the instant bestselling Audible Original Young Rich Widows. Her latest novel, titled Blood Sisters, released October 31st, and is the first in a new series with missing and murdered indigenous women at the heart of the stories. Vanessa is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma living on Narragansett land in Rhode Island.In addition to her writing, she also hosts an Instagram Live show where she talks with crime fiction authors. In our conversation, we talk about Vanessa's new novel and why it was important to her to set it in Northeast Oklahoma. We also talk about writing for audio versus writing for the page and why she finds it important to support the work of other authors. Connect with Vanessa: Website | Instagram | Facebook | TwitterMentioned on the show:Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction AnthologyAnd Then She Fell - Alicia ElliotBad Cree - Jessica JohnsSisters of the Lost Nation - Nick MedinaMan Made Monsters - Andrea L. RogersTommy OrangeStephen Graham JonesFirekeeper's Daughter - Angeline BoulleyAnne of Green Gables - L. M. MontgomeryConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

It's a deluxe edition of Your Next Great Read!Our guest is S.A.Barnes (Stacey Kade), author of Dead Silence - one of J and Hannah's favorite reads of the last couple of years. In addition to our dozen recommendations, we talk about including the COVID-19 pandemic in fiction and the progression of fan fiction authors in publishing. We also talk about another dozen or so books in the process of our recommendations. Best of luck to your TBR pile!Connect with SA (Stacey): website | Instagram | Twitter | FacebookConnect with Hannah: website | Twitter | InstagramRecommendations:StaceyThe Death of Us - Lori Rader-DayWhalefall - Daniel KrausBlack Sheep - Rachel HarrisonTangled Planet - Kate BlairFamous Last Words - Katie AlenderHannahThe Minds of Billy Milligan - Daniel KeyesHolly - Steven KingThe Love Hypothesis - Ali HazelwoodPercy Jackson and the Lightning Thief - Rick RiordanJFractal Noise - Christopher PaoliniDark Ride - Lou BerneyThe Android's Dream - John ScalziThe Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe - C.S. LewisAll of the extra booksDead Silence - S.A. BarnesGhost Station - S.A. BarnesThe Black Hour - Lori RaderDayTo Sleep in a Sea of Stars - Christopher PaoliniParadise-1 - David WellingtonFlowers for Algernon - David KeyesThe Long and Faraway Gone - Lou BerneyRedshirts - John ScalziMr. Mercedes - Steven KingThe Return - Rachel HarrisonChildren of Time - Adrian TchaikovskyThe Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins ReidConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Something a little different for this episode. I'm joined by Garret Castleberry and Scott McMurry from the Special Topics in Media podcast to talk about the film version of Killers of the Flower Moon and how it works as an adaptation of David Grann's book. We talk a lot about different elements and how they compare between the two versions and ultimately answer the question of whether someone should read the book or watch the film first. This is Part One of our conversation. Part Two focuses on an analysis of the film itself and will be posted to the Special Topics in Media feed soon. Special Topics in Media: Facebook | Listen to the showFor further reading:Killers of the Flower Moon - David GrannRich Indians: Native People and the Problem of Wealth in American History - Alexandra HarmonOklahoma's Poor Rich Indians - Bonnin, Fabens, and Sniffen (1924)Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

Welcome to Chapter 51!My guest for this episode is crime novelist, Lou Berney. Lou is the author of several novels, including November Road and The Long and Faraway Gone, which is on the Okie Bookcast list of 50 Essential Oklahoma Reads.  His latest novel - Dark Ride - was released earlier this fall. Lou has lived most of his life in Oklahoma City where, in addition to his writing, he teaches in the MFA program at Oklahoma City University. Lou's work has won Edgar, Hammett, Steel Dagger, Barry, Macavity, Lefty, and Anthony awards, and he has been a finalist twice for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. In our conversation Lou and I talk about his books, why he prefers to write ordinary people as his heroes, and setting books in Oklahoma City. We also talk about a shared memory that he describes as the secret handshake of Oklahoma City residents from a particular time period.Connect with Lou: Website | Instagram | Twitter | FacebookOur review comes from Vanessa Lillie - Vanessa is the bestselling author of the thrillers Little Voices, For the Best and coauthor of the Young Rich Widows series. Her forthcoming novel, Blood Sisters, launches a new suspense series and releases on October 31. Vanessa will be touring around Oklahoma in early November in support of her book release. You can find details about her appearances on her instagram - @vanessalillieVannessa reviews Man Made Monsters by another great Oklahoma author - Andrea L. Rogers. Connect with Vanessa: Website | Instagram | FacebookMentioned on the show:Elmore LeonardHappy Hollisters books - Jerry WestHappiness Falls - Angie KimWalking Through Needles - Heather LevyMysteries and Manners - Flannery O' ConnerMan Made Monsters - Andrea L. RogersConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

It's Volume 6 of Behind the Rain! I've got 13 poems from 11 Oklahoma poets cued up and ready for you to enjoy. Be sure to connect with the poets across their social media (linked below) to let them know how much you appreciate their work. Here's the lineup for this edition of the anthology:Citizen Eagle - Seth CopelandBlueSky: @brushwithseth.bsky.socialWebsite: https://neutralspaces.co/seth_t_copeland/Dragonfly - Stevie Guymon-ClemensInstagram: @royal_scumbag_I Grew Some More Today - Sydney AerinInstagram: @sydneysometimesThe Weather and Pruning - Britta Newton-TarronInstagram: @brittanewtontarronChoreography - Brand RackleyInstagram: @brandrackley Crisis of Faith - Rebecca LemkeInstagram: @newcrunchymomWebsite: rebeccalemke.comGrandmother Trueshot - Jackie KraftFacebook: @jackie.kraft.58Don't Love Me for Who I Was in the 90s - Durell CarterInstagram: @durellrcTwitter: @DurellCarter90Stepping Out of Your Own Shadow - Xander ThomasFacebook: @xanderbooksWebsite: xanderthomasbooks.comMy Fall - David JenningsFacebook: @DJennPhotosWebsite: davidjenningsartinphotographyandpoetry.comThe Sky For Me and Magical - Ruth KeyIf you'd like to submit a poem for consideration for Volume Seven of Behind the Rain (releasing January 15, 2024), visit okiebookcast.com/behindtherain for details. Submission deadline is December 15!Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH