Podcast appearances and mentions of annie hartnett

Annie Hartnett discusses the inspiration behind her quirky road trip novel The Road to Tender Hearts and why she breaks all the rules in writing her stories. Annie Hartnett joins me to discuss her latest bestselling novel, The Road to Tender Hearts, and the inspiration behind this road trip story. We explore the heartfelt and humorous moments that showcase a wonderfully quirky found family, which even includes a psychic cat.She also shares the surprising real-life inspirations for her unforgettable characters and explains how literary mischief is woven into their worlds.In this quirky conversation, Annie and I discuss: Why Annie made a death-predicting cat named Pancakes the emotional engine of the novel—and how a real-life nursing home cat named Oscar inspired this unforgettable character.How playing with point of view and narrator's voice keeps her writing fresh, and why she's unconcerned with grammar "rules."How Annie's own cross-country trip in her twenties helped shape the emotional core of this incredible road trip story.BONUS BOOK LIST: This week, I'm sharing an accompanying book list of 29 books about road trips, including new releases and backlist titles, that speak to the ripple effects of substance use across families and generations.Meet Annie HartnettAnnie Hartnett is the author of Unlikely Animals, which won the Julia Ward Howe Prize for fiction and was longlisted for the Joyce Carol Oates Prize.She is also theauthor of Rabbit Cake, a finalist for the New England Book Award and a Kirkus Reviews best book of the year. Hartnett has been awarded fellowships and residencies from the MacDowell Colony, the Sewanee Writers' Conference, and the Associates of the Boston Public Library. Along with writer Tessa Fontaine, she co-runs the Accountability Workshops for writers, helping them commit to routines and embrace the long, slow, joyful, terrible process of doing the work. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and dog.Mentioned in this episode:Browse the 2025 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide (with ads) or download the 48-page reading guide  ($7) to support our show. If you are a show patron, check your inbox for your copy as part of your member benefits—thank you for supporting my small business!  Join the May Book Club Chat (Beautyland)BONUS BOOK LIST: 29 Books About Road Trips to Read NowDownload Today's TranscriptThe Road to Tender Hearts by Annie HartnettUnlikely Animals by Annie HartnettRabbit Cake by Annie HartnettRed Dog Farm by Nathaniel Ian MillerMarried with ChildrenJane the VirginFargoRaising ArizonaKaren RussellThe Frightening and Wonderful Things That Will Happen to You When You Publish Your First Novel by Rufi ThorpeBookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect with Annie on Instagram or her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals NewsletterBuy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation) 

In Ep. 195, Susie (@NovelVisits) and Sarah are back to share their favorite books that missed last year's Summer Reading Guide and our #1 picks for each category featured in my 2025 Summer Reading Guide. Plus, they begin by sharing how their summer reading habits have evolved over the years. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Once again, we are happy to offer a Printable Cheatsheet for this year's Guide: Get the Cheatsheet from Patreon Get the Cheatsheet from Substack Summer Reading [7:42] The Evolution of Our Summer Reading Journeys [8:41] Books Mentioned by Susie London by Edward Rutherfurd (1997) [15:09] The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (2005) [16:09] The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (2008) [16:12] Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (2005) [16:15] Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese (2009) [16:31] The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown (2013) [16:32] 11/22/63 by Stephen King (2011) [16:34] Books Mentioned by Sarah Jaws by Peter Benchley (1974) [17:57] The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand (1943) [21:02] Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (1957) [21:03] Fall of Giants by Ken Follett (2010) [21:06] Books That Missed Last Year's Summer Reading Guide [24:23] Sarah JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography by RoseMarie Terenzio and Liz McNeil (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [24:27]  Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [29:08] Hunted by Abir Mukherjee (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [35:51] Susie The Most by Jessica Anthony (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [27:10]  The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:52] Blue Light Hours by Bruna Dantas Lobato (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:01] Other Books Mentioned The Measure by Nikki Erlick (2022) [30:13] Our #1 Summer Picks by Category  [40:37] Something Light / Fun Sarah: The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:23]  Susie: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:36]  Other Books Mentioned Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett (2022) [41:35] Something Fast-Paced / Intense Sarah: Dead Money by Jakob Kerr (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [50:27]  Slow-Burn Suspense Susie: The Death of Us by Abigail Dean (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [52:40]  Something With a Bit More Substance Sarah: Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [55:54]  Susie: Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [58:46]  Other Books Mentioned Dream State by Eric Puchner (2025) [1:00:00] Something Different Sarah: Show Don't Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:01:33]  Susie: Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:03:47]  Other Books Mentioned Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld (2005) [1:02:59] Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2019) [1:06:24]

Annie Hartnett is the author of “Unlikely Animals: The Novel” which won the Julia Ward Howe Prize for fiction and was longlisted for the Joyce Carol Oates Prize. She is also the author of “Rabbit Cake,” a finalist for the New England Book Award. Her latest novel is “The Road to Tender Hearts” which is a darkly comic and also warm hearted story about an old man on a cross-country mission to reunite with his high school crush.

Today, I'm in conversation with Annie Hartnett, author of the recently published Road to Tender Hearts. We talk about the inspiration for her protagonist, PJ as well as how many pages she wrote before she sold this novel. Books Recommended:The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie HartnettThe Red Grove by Tessa FontaineTilt by Emma PatteeWomen! In! Peril! by Jessie Ren MarshallThree Bags Full by Leoni SwannHot Air by Marcy DermanskyGuest Recommendation from Dean Van Nguyen, author of Words For My Comrades: A Political History of Tupac ShakurFind Annie Hartnett on Instagram @Annie_hartnettSupport the showGet your Books Are My People coffee mug here!I hope you all have a wonderfully bookish week!

Host Jason Blitman talks to Annie Hartnett (The Road to Tender Hearts) about the roots of her humor, why no one can sit in the backseat of her car, and her short-lived foray into greeting card writing. Jason is then joined by Guest Gay Reader Debbie Millman, who shares what she's been reading, why she had to stop listening to the audiobook of Barbra Streisand's memoir, and the story behind her new book, Love Letter to a Garden--which includes recipes from her wife, Roxane Gay. Debbie's TED "Love Letters" can be found here:https://www.ted.com/talks/debbie_millman_love_letters_to_what_we_hold_dearAnnie Hartnett is the author of Unlikely Animals, which won the Julia Ward Howe Prize for fiction and was longlisted for the Joyce Carol Oates Prize. She is also the author of Rabbit Cake, a finalist for the New England Book Award and a Kirkus Reviews best book of the year. Hartnett has been awarded fellowships and residencies from the MacDowell Colony, the Sewanee Writers' Conference, and the Associates of the Boston Public Library. Along with writer Tessa Fontaine, she co-runs the Accountability Workshops for writers, helping them commit to routines and embrace the long, slow, joyful, terrible process of doing the work. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and dog.Debbie Millman has been named “one of the most creative people in business” by Fast Company, and “one of the most influential designers working today” by GDUSA. Millman is an illustrator, author, educator, and host of the podcast Design Matters. Broadcasting for 19 years, Design Matters is one of the first and longest running podcasts in the world. The show won a Cooper Hewitt National Design Award in 2011, and Apple has named it one of their “All Time Favorites” three times. In 2023 the show won two Webby's, three Communicator Awards, a Signal Award, three awards from The Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, and earned an Ambie nomination.SUBSTACK!https://gaysreading.substack.com/ BOOK CLUB!Use code GAYSREADING at checkout to get first book for only $4 + free shipping! Restrictions apply.http://aardvarkbookclub.com WATCH!https://youtube.com/@gaysreading FOLLOW!Instagram: @gaysreading | @jasonblitmanBluesky: @gaysreading | @jasonblitmanCONTACT!hello@gaysreading.com

Beth Golay recently spoke with Annie Hartnett about the inspiration behind "The Road to Tender Hearts" and her unique voice that blends the true to life issues of loss and pain with a hint of magical realism.

Author Annie Harnett (Rabbit Cake, Unlikely Animals) returns to the show to chat with Daniel Ford about her latest novel The Road to Tender Hearts, out now from Ballantine Books. To learn more about Annie Hartnett, visit her official website. Also listen to our past conversations with the author in Episode 527 and Episode 262. Writer's Bone is proudly sponsored by Libro.fm.

Despite some truly dark subject matter, "The Road to Tender Hearts" grabs your heart with both hands and somehow gets you laughing through tears.

Writer Annie Hartnett joins Doree and Elise to chat about why stickers work as a motivational tool whether your five or thirty-five ,why her latest book, The Road To Tender Hearts, is a road-trip novel, and the almost supernatural ability of our pets to understand our world better than us. To leave a voicemail or text for a future episode, reach Doree & Elise at 781-591-0390. You can also email the podcast at forever35podcast@gmail.com.Take our listener survey and help us make our show better!Visit forever35podcast.com for links to everything they mention on the show or visit shopmyshelf.us/forever35.Follow the podcast on Instagram (@Forever35Podcast) and sign up for the newsletter at forever35podcast.com/newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Spring 2025 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books!   Today, Catherine and Sarah share 12 of their most anticipated books releasing in April and May.   This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Announcement Sarah's Bookshelves has joined Substack! Please note, we're not MOVING to Substack, we're simply adding Substack to the places we already put out content. On our FREE Substack feed, Sarah's Bookshelves is offering all the content you already find on the blog, my Instagram account, public podcast, On our PAID feed, we're offering all the content we also offer on Patreon. If you're interested in becoming a paying subscriber on Substack, visit sarahsbookshelveslive.substack.com for all the details and a full list of benefits. If you're already on Substack, please consider following the FREE feed and sharing with your reader friends to help support the show. One of the many benefits to joining as a paying member of either our Patreon or Substack Communities is gaining access to several bonus podcast episode series, including Book Preview Extras! In these episodes, Catherine and Sarah share at least 4 bonus books we are excited about that were not shared in the big show preview episode. Get more details about all the goodies available to all Superstar patrons here and all Substack paid subscribers here! Highlights Catherine and Sarah share some big releases coming this spring (lightning round style). With a theme this season of “change,” Catherine focuses on lighter fiction and thrillers. Sarah's choices are evenly split between debut authors, new to her authors, and repeat authors. Food novels, rom-coms, thrillers (two with a mistaken identity element), and lighter reading are the picks for spring! Sarah has already read one of her picks — and one of Catherine's! And, Catherine has already started reading one of hers. Plus, their #1 picks for the spring. Big Spring Releases [5:15]  The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong (May 13) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:43] The Dark Maestro by Brendan Slocumb (May 13) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:47] Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez (Apr 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:56] Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson (May 13) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [6:03] Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto (Apr 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [6:18] The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose (Apr 8) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [6:26] Audition by Katy Kitamura (Apr 8) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [6:29] My Documents by Kevin Ngyuen (Apr 8) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [6:44] Backlist Titles Mentioned The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb (2022) [5:51] Symphony of Secrets by Brendan Slocumb (2023) [5:53] Spring 2025 Book Preview [6:51] April Sarah's Picks The Family Recipe by Carolyn Huynh (Apr 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:40] I See You've Called in Dead by John Kenney (Apr 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[14:49] The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff (Apr 22) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:15] Gold Coast Dilemma by Nana Malone (Apr 29) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[29:28] The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett (Apr 29) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:42] Catherine's Picks Cat's People by Tanya Guerrero (Apr 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:46] Heartwood by Amity Gaige (Apr 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:23] Other Books Mentioned The Fortunes of Jaded Women by Carolyn Huynh (2022) [9:44]  Talk to Me by John Kenney (2019) [14:53]   About a Boy by Nick Hornby (1998) [16:48] The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) [18:30] The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean (2024) [18:32] Sea Wife by Amity Gaige (2020) [22:47]  The Shred Sisters by Betsy Lerner (2024) [24:45]  The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall (2019) [26:18]  Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane (2019) [26:20]  We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange (2021) [26:22]  The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo (2019) [26:25]  Yours, Eventually by Nura Maznavi  (2025) [30:58]  Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett (2022) [33:47]  The Guncle by Steven Rowley (2021) [38:04]  May Sarah's Picks Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle (May 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:16] Catherine's Pick Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin (May 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:48] The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North (May 13) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:29]  Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan (May 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:56] Storybook Ending by Moira Macdonald (May 27) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[45:36] Other Books Mentioned The People We Keep by Allison Larkin (2021) [28:23]  The Angel Maker by Alex North (2023) [31:39] Lost and Found in Paris by Lian Dolan (2022) [41:25]   Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain (2000) [43:42]   The Husbands by Holly Gramazio (2024) [43:54]  Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler (2016) [44:36]  Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (2022) [44:40]  Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (2020) [44:42]  Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune (2021) [44:45]  The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (2020) [44:53]   Storybook Ending by Poppy Alexander (2024) [47:32] 

This week on From the Front Porch, Annie recaps the books she read and loved in February. You get 10% off your books when you order your February Reading Recap. Each month, we offer a Reading Recap bundle, which features Annie's favorite books she read that month. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search “Episode 518”), or download and shop on The Bookshelf's official app: How to Sleep at Night by Elizabeth Harris Tilt by Emma Pattee (releases 3/25/25) The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett (releases 4/29/25) Blessings and Disasters by Alexis Okeowo (releases 8/5/25) Among Friends by Hal Ebbott (releases 6/24/25) Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (releases 3/4/25) Annie's February Reading Recap Pairing - $52 How to Sleep at Night by Elizabeth Harris Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf's daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today's episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.  A full transcript of today's episode can be found here. Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.  This week, Annie is reading Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson. If you liked what you heard in today's episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch. We're so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Beth, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, Jammie Treadwell, and Amanda Whigham.

Humans are one species on a planet of millions of species. The literary collection Creature Needs is a project that grew out of a need to do something with grievous, anxious energy—an attempt to nourish the soul in a meaningful way, and an attempt to start somewhere specific in the face of big, earthly challenges and changes, to create a polyvocal call to arms about animal extinction and habitat loss and the ways our needs are interconnected. The book's editors, Christopher Kondrich, Lucy Spelman, and Susan Tacent, are joined here in conversation.More about the book: Creature Needs is published in collaboration with the nonprofit organization Creature Conserve. The following writers contributed new literary works inspired by scientific articles: Kazim Ali, Mary-Kim Arnold, Ramona Ausubel, David Baker, Charles Baxter, Aimee Bender, Kimberly Blaeser, Oni Buchanan, Tina Cane, Ching-In Chen, Mónica de la Torre, Tongo Eisen-Martin, Thalia Field, Ben Goldfarb, Annie Hartnett, Sean Hill, Hester Kaplan, Donika Kelly, Robin McLean, Miranda Mellis, Rajiv Mohabir, Kyoko Mori, David Naimon, Craig Santos Perez, Beth Piatote, Rena Priest, Alberto Ríos, Eléna Rivera, Sofia Samatar, Sharma Shields, Eleni Sikelianos, Maggie Smith, Juliana Spahr, Tim Sutton, Jodie Noel Vinson, Asiya Wadud, Claire Wahmanholm, Marco Wilkinson, Jane Wong.About the editors:Christopher Kondrich, poet in residence at Creature Conserve, is author of Valuing, winner of the National Poetry Series, and Contrapuntal. His writing has been published in The Believer, The Kenyon Review, and The Paris Review.Lucy Spelman is founder of Creature Conserve, a nonprofit dedicated to combining art with science to cultivate new pathways for wildlife conservation. A zoological medicine veterinarian, she teaches biology at the Rhode Island School of Design and is author of National Geographic Kids Animal Encyclopedia and coeditor of The Rhino with Glue-On Shoes.Susan Tacent, writer in residence at Creature Conserve, is a writer, scholar, and educator whose fiction has been published in Blackbird, DIAGRAM, and Tin House Online.Episode references:The Lord God Bird by Chelsea Steubayer-Scudder in Emergence MagazineThinking Like a Mountain by Jedediah Purdy in n+1Praise for the book:A thought-provoking and emotionally resonant read that stands out for its lyrical prowess and formal innovation, making it a significant contribution to contemporary literature as well as a key volume bridging the gap between the worlds of science and art.”—Library JournalCreature Needs: Writers Respond to the Science of Animal Conservation is available from University of Minnesota Press.

Today, we've got another special “Listeners' Roundup” episode. This is when we get to hear from some of our listeners about they've learned from the past few episodes, what ideas they consider the most important, what questions or confusions they have, and their own advice and/or experience in dealing with the same issues in their writing. So today, we've got listeners Karen Gruzen, Stephen Dawley, and Nancy Crochiere talking with us about what they heard, what they loved, and how it speaks to their own work. Watch a recording here. This audio/video version is available for one week. Missed it? Check out the podcast version above or on your favorite podcast platform.To find books by our authors, visit our Bookshop page. Looking for a writing community? Join our Facebook page. Karen Gruzen an avid 7am listener and graduate of GrubStreet's Novel Generator with Annie Hartnett, is writing a novel inspired by her time living in Japan, and joins us from Crested Butte, CO where she's busily revising her Save the Cat 5-part finale.Stephen Dawley is a lawyer living in CT who several months ago finished (and have started querying) the novel it took him ten years to write, and he's started another one.Nancy Crochiere is a former humor columnist whose comic debut novel, GRACELAND, published in May of 2023, was named a best book of summer by Parade, Woman's World, and Deep South Magazines. Photo by Mark Duffel on Unsplash This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 7amnovelist.substack.com

We are Traci and Ellie, two bookish friends who read in any spare minute that we have.  This week Ellie is sharing her top ten audiobooks! To shop the books listed in this episode, visit our shop at bookshop.org.  Care to join us on Patreon with even more content?  We would love to have you join us at From the Bookstacks of Literally Reading! Crack the Book Open: Happiness Falls by Angie Kim Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Malloy Ready or Not by Cara Bastone  Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett  

Today, we hear from Tessa Fontaine whose latest novel, THE RED GROVE, was released in May. We're talking to Tessa about how to bring a shy, attention-avoiding character to life on the page by discovering the many aspects of her situation and her past that gets her moving forward.By the way, on July 19 Tessa will be at Newtonville Books with authors Clare Beams, Rufi Thorpe, and Annie Hartnett. Watch a recording here. This audio/video version is available for one week. Missed it? Check out the podcast version above or on your favorite podcast platform.To find Fontaine's debut novel and many other books by our authors, visit our Bookshop page. Looking for a writing community? Join our Facebook page. Tessa Fontaine is the author of THE ELECTRIC WOMAN: A MEMOIR IN DEATH-DEFYING ACTS, a New York Times Editors' Choice, Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers pick, and best book of 2018 by Southern Living, Refinery29, Amazon Editors', and The New York Post. Other writing can be found in Outside, The New York Times, Glamour, AGNI, The Believer, LitHub, Creative Nonfiction, and more. Raised outside San Francisco, Tessa is a former professor and has taught in jails and prisons for five years. She co-founded and teaches the Accountability Workshops with writer and pal Annie Hartnett, and lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband, daughter, goofy dog and sassy cat. THE RED GROVE is her first novel. It is a best book of May from Amazon and People Magazine, and on most anticipated lists from The Rumpus and Alta Magazine.Photo by Artur Rutkowski on Unsplash This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 7amnovelist.substack.com

In Ep. 172, Susie Boutry (@NovelVisits), Catherine Gilmore (@GilmoreGuide), and I are together for the first time on the big show to catch up on our 2024 reading — so far!  We talk about the current publishing landscape, what books are topping bestseller lists to date, and our personal reading as it stands halfway through the year. We share our stats and talk about expectations and hopes for the remainder of the year. Plus, we each share our TOP 5 books and our biggest disappointments so far. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. The Bookish Landscape [1:51] Books Mentioned James by Percival Everett [4:00] The Women by Kristin Hannah [4:14] Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder by Dav Pilkey [4:22] A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas [5:00] House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas [5:01] A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas [5:02] Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros [5:15] Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros [5:16] Atomic Habits by James Clear [5:17] Icebreaker by Hannah Grace [5:26] Our Personal Reading for 2024 (So Far) [6:59] Books Mentioned Medea by Eilish Quin [8:12] Sociopath by Patric Gagne, PhD [8:12] The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley [8:13] River East, River West by Aube Rey Lescure [8:15] Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin [11:53] In Memoriam by Alice Winn [13:33] The Measure by Nikki Erlick [16:03] Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett [16:04] Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver [16:05] Our Top Five (So Far)  [16:49] Sarah Leaving by Roxana Robinson | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:18] Victim by Andrew Boryga | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:50] Real Americans by Rachel Khong | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:05] Margo's Got Money Trouble by Rufi Thorpe | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:16] The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (July 2, 2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[48:32] Susie How We Named the Stars by Andrés N. Ordorica | Amazon | Bookshop.org[20:44] Wolf at the Table by Adam Rapp | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:50] Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:46] Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:28] Women and Children First by Alina Grabowski | Amazon | Bookshop.org[50:52] Catherine James by Percival Everett | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:43] Mercury by Amy Jo Burns | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:39] The Women by Kristin Hannah | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:12] The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:31] I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:46] Other Books Mentioned Shiner by Amy Jo Burns  [30:13] Cinderland by Amy Jo Burns [31:23] Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong [33:14] The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo [44:16] Long Bright River by Liz Moore [48:59] The Hunter's Daughter by Nicola Solvinic [49:28] No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister [51:37] The Road to Dalton by Shannon Bowring [51:40] Virgil Wander by Leif Enger [54:59] The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton [55:15] The Iliad by Homer [55:36] Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel [55:37] The Road by Cormac McCarthy [55:39] Our Biggest Disappointments (So Far)  [56:27] Sarah Everyone On This Train Is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson | Amazon | Bookshop.org [56:35] Sandwich by Catherine Newman | Amazon | Bookshop.org [59:45] Susie After Annie by Anna Quindlen | Amazon | Bookshop.org [58:01] The Great Divide by Cristina Henríquez | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:01:17] Catherine Family Family by Laurie Frankel | Amazon | Bookshop.org [59:01] Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:02:00] Other Books Mentioned Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson  [56:46] Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson (October 22, 2024) [57:17] We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman [59:51]

Announcement One of the many benefits to joining our Patreon Community is that you get access to several bonus podcast episode series, including Book Preview Extras! In these episodes, Catherine and I share at least 4 bonus books we are excited about that we did not share in the big show preview episode. Get more details about all the goodies available to all patrons (Stars and Superstars) and sign up here! CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights Now that the 2024 Summer Reading Guide is set, Sarah welcomes heavier and more literary books. Catherine is leaning into several themes with books covering 4 decades. With a clean split of 3 new or debut authors and 3 repeat authors, Catherine is trying for more wins this season. Kick back with several summer picks that are 450+ pages. Sarah's choices feature a wide variety of topics with 2 debuts and 4 returning authors. Sarah has already read and rated two of her picks 5 stars! Plus, listen in to hear their #1 picks for the summer season. Summer 2024 Book Preview [2:49] June Sarah's Picks Fire Exit by Morgan Talty (June 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:28] Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe (June 11) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[9:05] What You Leave Behind by Wanda M. Morris (June 18) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:59] Catherine's Picks Swift River by Essie Chambers (June 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [6:44] Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo (June 18) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[14:34] All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker (June 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:17] How the Light Gets In by Joyce Maynard (June 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[29:31]  Other Books Mentioned The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters [3:33] Night of the Living Rez by Morgan Talty [3:52] Real Americans by Rachel Khong [9:31] The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe [9:41] Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett [12:10] Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett [12:11] The Hop by Diana Clarke [13:26] The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo [14:42] All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris [18:16] Anywhere You Run by Wanda M. Morris [18:21] We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker [22:38] Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra [23:10] At Home in the World by Joyce Maynard (memoir published in 1998) [32:29] July Sarah's Picks The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (July 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [25:12]  The World After Alice by Lauren Aliza Green (July 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [33:17] Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner (July 9) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [38:00] Catherine's Picks The Same Bright Stars by Ethan Joella (July 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[35:28] The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali (July 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:11]  Other Books Mentioned Long Bright River by Liz Moore [25:22] I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai [28:56] Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead [34:09] Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane [34:23] Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid [34:46] A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella [35:37] Marrying the Ketchups by Jennifer Close [36:26] Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal [36:29] The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane [36:45] Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner [38:53] The Stationary Shop by Marjan Kamali [42:31]

Sara Weiss joins Let's Talk Memoir for a conversation about the path to her career in publishing and her role as Nonfiction Director and Ballantine, what memoir writers always need to ask themselves, her interest in memoir with purpose, the blockbuster model and the editorial decision making process, building a writing community, how many books we can realistically sell, making our work ready, and the pace of publishing these days.   Also in this episode: -the importance of voice, platform, and hook -selling on proposals and fulls -how all writers need to hustle   Book mentioned in this episode: Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett Wild by Cheryl Strayed Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo The In-Between by Hadley Vlahos R.N. Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth GIlbert Educated by Tara Westover   Sara Weiss (she/her) is the Editorial Director for Nonfiction at Ballantine, where she focuses mostly on nonfiction, while also publishing select fiction titles. She's been privileged to publish bestselling and critically acclaimed authors such as Linda Holmes, R. Eric Thomas, Emily Nagoski, Stephanie Foo, Hadley Vlahos, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Cody Rigsby, Hannah Gadsby, Annie Hartnett, Lilly Singh, and Lauren Graham. Her upcoming list includes NBC News reporter Yamiche Alcindor's memoir, Don't Forget and the novel, Blue Sisters, by Coco Mellors.  Connect with Sara: X: https://x.com/SaraWeissWriter Links: https://linktr.ee/SaraWeissWriter More about Ballantine:https://www.randomhousebooks.com/imprint/ballantine-books/     — Ronit's writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Rumpus, The New York Times, The Iowa Review, Hippocampus, The Washington Post, Writer's Digest, American Literary Review, and elsewhere. Her memoir WHEN SHE COMES BACK about the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation was named Finalist in the 2021 Housatonic Awards Awards, the 2021 Indie Excellence Awards, and was a 2021 Book Riot Best True Crime Book. Her short story collection HOME IS A MADE-UP PLACE won Hidden River Arts' 2020 Eludia Award and the 2023 Page Turner Awards for Short Stories. She earned an MFA in Nonfiction Writing at Pacific University, is Creative Nonfiction Editor at The Citron Review, and lives in Seattle with her family where she teaches memoir workshops and is working on her next book. More about Ronit: https://ronitplank.com   Sign up for monthly podcast and writing updates: https://bit.ly/33nyTKd   Follow Ronit: https://www.instagram.com/ronitplank/ https://twitter.com/RonitPlank https://www.facebook.com/RonitPlank   Background photo credit: Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash Headshot photo credit: Sarah Anne Photography Theme music: Isaac Joel, Dead Moll's Fingers

On today's Artful Living, Jane and friends discuss the "Concord Reads" program with Kate Fox Ransmeier, Liza Poinier, and author of novel "Unlikely Animals", Annie Hartnett. Join our conversation!

In podcast episode 154, we're diving into the world of book cover design with Karen Horton, graphic designer and former Art Director at Henry Holt. Karen takes us behind the scenes of the process of book cover design, who makes key book cover related decisions, and the role of marketing budgets and author's reputation in this process. Plus, Karen shares her book recommendations! This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights The high-level book cover design process. When and why publishers reach out to designers before a book's launch proposal. The dynamics of deciding which books a designer works on. Freelance vs In-house: Factors that determine who gets to design the top titles. The lesser-known “silent auction” approach some publishers adopt. Whether book cover designers really read the whole book. Who holds the final decision about a book cover. The author's role in the decision-making process and the factors that impact how that can play out. How marketing budgets and an author's reputation influence design choices. The influence of ongoing design trends and when publishers decide to break away from them. Karen's Book Recommendations [35:58] Two OLD Books She Loves A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:11] The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:04] Two NEW Books She Loves Thicker Than Water by Kerry Washington | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:36] We Were Once a Family by Roxanna Asgarian | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:45] One Book She DIDN'T Love A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole | Amazon | Bookshop.org[42:46] NEW RELEASE She's Excited About The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez (April 2, 2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:12] Other Books Mentioned: Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett [46:56] Last 5-Star Book Karen Read A Living Remedy by Nicole Chung | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:25] Additional Books Mentioned Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent [15:34] Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus [26:45] Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld [31:04] Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert [31:17] When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain [32:11] Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid [32:20] The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller [32:25] The Push by Ashley Audrain [32:32] The Whispers by Ashley Audrain [33:00] The Mothers by Brit Bennett [34:49] The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett [34:50] About Karen Horton Website | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) Karen Horton is an Art Director and graphic designer with more than 15 years of experience working in the book publishing industry. She previously was the Art Director at Henry Holt and Company + Metropolitan Books. Prior to moving over to the Henry Holt imprint in 2016, she was the Senior Designer at Flatiron Books. Over the years she has worked as a freelancer and consulting Art Director for a variety of publishing clients. Additionally, Karen was a co-founder and the Editorial and Social Media Director for the startup design:related. Karen was also an Art Director on staff for a range of New York Times bestsellers at Little, Brown, and Company. Before working at Little, Brown, she managed a small team of designers as an Art Director at Oxford University Press. She first got her start in book publishing at St. Martin's Press (Macmillan Publishers). When she's not designing book covers, she spends much of her time wandering neighborhoods in Queens and researching all things design.

We are Traci and Ellie, two bookish friends who read in any spare minute that we have. This week we are looking back on our literary lineup episodes! To shop the books listed in this episode, visit our shop at bookshop.org.  Literally Reading: The Bartender's Cure by Wesley Straton Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune  Crack the Book Open: The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake  Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult  Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett  

Annie Hartnett recently started exploring her family's connections to slave ownership, which took her on a transformative path of discovery. By doing so, Annie gained a deeper understanding of her roots, and as a result, developed an increasingly authentic relationship with herself, her country, and those around her. Fascinated by the forgotten stories of those enslaved, she now dedicates her time to researching and writing about them and hopes to inspire others to do the same."I want to write about the stories of those people whose lives were stolen from them and whose stories have been buried and lost."We talk about:Developing skills for safeguarding historical knowledge and promoting awareness among others. Confronting the legacy of slave ownership and its enduring consequences in today's world. Revealing the previously untold lives of the enslaved and honoring their perseverance. Adopting a mindset of transparency and understanding to progress beyond historical injustices. Gaining insights on maintaining our shared history and educating future generations about the past. Annie Harnett began researching her family's involvement in chattel slavery in the U.S. in the spring of 2021. Until that time, she knew very little about American history and nothing about genealogy. In addition to the essays and interviews published on Medium, Annie has published essays and op-eds in Salon, the Austin American Statesman, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine, among others. Annie has an MFA in Creative Writing from Texas State University and lives in Austin, Texas.Connect with Annie:Website: https://anniehnet.medium.com/Twitter: @AnnieHHartnett1Facebook: @annie.hartnett.5Instagram: @relationskinsfolkAncestry.com Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Are we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphyReady to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.

Susie Boutry (@NovelVisits) and I share our favorite books that missed last year's Summer Reading Guides, some nonfiction books we think are great for summer reading, and our #1 picks for four categories, including what I have featured in my 2023 Summer Reading Guide. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Get Even More Summer Reading Recommendations with Summer Shelves: In addition to my annual 2023 Summer Reading Guide, I'm once again offering Superstars Patrons ($7/mo) exclusive access to Summer Shelves, featuring even more recommendations for the season. Summer Shelves features BACKLIST summer reading recommendations from 17 former podcast guests, our team members, and — for the first time — 20 Superstars patrons! The Summer Shelves design is clean, crisp, and unique and you'll receive it in a PDF file format via Patreon. If you'd like to get the Summer Shelves companion guide, you can sign up to be a Superstars patron here. You'll also get access to a monthly bonus podcast series called Double Booked (where Catherine or Susie and I share our own book recommendations in the same format as the big show) and my Rock Your Reading Tracker. Summer Reading [4:33] Books That Missed Last Year's Summer Reading Guides [5:29] Sarah Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:53] Red Widow by Alma Katsu | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:30] Like a House on Fire by Lauren McBrayer | Amazon | Bookshop.org [16:24]  Susie The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark | Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:25] Dinosaurs by Lydia Millet | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:30]  Now Is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:09]  Nonfiction Books That Are Great for Summer Reading [22:35] Sarah True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa by Michael Finkel | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:52]  Memorial Drive by Natasha Tretheway | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:31] Still Points North by Leigh Newman | Amazon | [34:44] Susie Provence, 1970: M.F.K. Fisher, Julia Child, James Beard, and the Reinvention of American Taste by Luke Barr | Amazon | [25:02]  Stash: My Life in Hiding by Laura Cathcart Robbins | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:27] Daring to Drive: A Saudi Woman's Awakening by Manal al-Sharif | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:00] Our #1 Summer Picks by Category  [40:16] Something Light / Fun Sarah: A Likely Story by Leigh McMullan Abramson | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:12]  Susie: Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:28]  Something Fast-Paced / Intense Sarah: Drowning: The Rescue of Flight 1421 by T. J. Newman (May 30, 2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:45]  Susie: I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:05]  Something With Substance Sarah: Late Bloomers by Deepa Varadarajan | Amazon | Bookshop.org [54:24]  Susie: Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah  | Amazon | Bookshop.org [56:53]  Something Different Sarah: Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man's World by Lauren Fleshman | Amazon | Bookshop.org [59:33]  Susie: Big Swiss by Jen Beagin | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:02:13]  Other Books Mentioned The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff [3:47]  Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett [4:01] Cover Story by Susan Rigetti [9:11] The Hunger by Alma Katsu [10:43] Red London by Alma Katsu [12:47] The Children's Bible by Lydia Millet [14:45] Untamed by Glennon Doyle [18:15] Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson [20:52] The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel [23:13] In Cold Blood by Truman Capote [23:57] The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls [35:57] Wild by Cheryl Strayed [36:13] Falling by T. J. Newman [47:05] Miracle on the Hudson by William Prochnau and Laura Parker [48:04] Raven Rock by Garrett M. Graff [48:38] The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai [51:14] All That Is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay [52:59] Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano [53:54] Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner [56:32] Other Links Vogue | In Finishing Her Book, Lauren McBrayer…

In today's episode, Catherine (Gilmore Guide to Books) and I circle back to the 16 books we featured in the Winter 2023 Book Preview. We'll be sharing our reading stats and thoughts on the books we've read (or attempted), to help you decide which ones to add to your reading list and which ones to skip. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Highlights How Sarah's favorite books from 2022 are impacting her expectations. Catherine and Sarah share their Winter 2023 reading stats and success rates. Sarah had stellar results with four 5-star books! Plus, their #1 picks from winter! They name their best and worst books from the Preview. Books We Read Before the Preview [5:03] Sarah's Picks: Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson (January 17) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:25] Maame by Jessica George (January 31) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:31] Winter 2023 Circle Back [10:31] January Sarah's Pick: The Sense of Wonder by Matthew Salesses (January 17) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:46] Catherine's Picks: Ghost Season by Fatin Abbas (January 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:38] Margot by Wendell Steavenson (January 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:40]  February Sarah's Picks: I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai (February 21) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:50] Time's Undoing by Cheryl A. Head (February 28) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:09]  Catherine's Picks: Victory City by Salman Rushdie (February 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:00]  Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes (February 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:39] On the Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel (February 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:53] All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley (February 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:05]  March Sarah's Picks: Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson (March 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:27] All That Is Mine I Carry with Me by William Landay (March 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:00]  Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano (March 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:04]  Catherine's Picks: Dust Child by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai (March 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:02] The Perfumist of Paris by Alka Joshi (March 28) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [53:08] Other Books Mentioned Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus [2:58] Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett [2:59] Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin [3:01] The Measure by Nikki Erlick [3:06] The One by John Marrs [3:11] The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai [26:34] The Secret History by Donna Tartt [29:36] Circe by Madeline Miller [33:16] Betty by Tiffany McDaniel [37:54] Watergate by Garrett M. Graff [44:26] The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne [51:05] Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane [51:08] Little Women by Louisa May Alcott [51:28] Dear Edward by Ann Nepolitano [53:01] The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi [53:58]

Literary agent Sarah Landis joins me for a deep dive into the Speculative Fiction / Fantasy genre.  Sarah breaks down these terms, shares popular books in these genres, and discusses the trends she's seeing in the publishing industry.  Also, Sarah shares both her book recommendations and her go-to books for those looking to dive into these genres! This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Highlights Differentiating between genres: Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, Sci-Fi, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, Climate Fiction. The genres that scare publishers and the toughest genre to define! The sub-genres of fantasy: High / Epic, Grounded, and Historical. How the term ‘Speculative' is actually a broader umbrella term. The trends and performance in publishing for Speculative Fiction and Fantasy.  Why many fantasy books are written as a series. How the “Harry Potter” generation seems to be shaping both readers and authors. Sarah's go-to recommendations for those new to these genres! Sarah's Book Recommendations [30:31] Two OLD Books She Loves The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:56] The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:18] Two NEW Books She Loves Babel by R. F. Kuang | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:16] Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:12] One Book She Didn't Love The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:58] One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About House of Cotton by Monica Brashears (April 4, 2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:33] Last 5-Star Book Sarah Read The Cloisters by Katy Hays | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:08] Other Books Mentioned The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood [5:59] Red Clocks by Leni Zumas [6:11] Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett [6:56] The Measure by Nikki Erlick [7:15] The One by John Marrs [7:33] The Passengers by John Marrs [7:38] The Road by Cormac McCarthy [9:25] Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel [9:51] Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam [10:01] After the Flood by Kassandra Montag [10:52] Wanderers by Chuck Wendig [11:45] Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn [12:19] A Game of Thrones by James R. R. Martin [12:52] The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien [12:54] The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern [13:13] The Magicians by Lev Grossman [13:15] The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman [13:22] Circe by Madeline Miller [16:00] Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead [16:31] One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez [17:00] The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab [18:58] Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo [19:04] The Midnight Library by Matt Haig [19:06] Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens [21:12] The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins [21:15] Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus [22:05] Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin [22:10] Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo [26:40] The Change by Kirsten Miller [27:24] The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman [28:52] The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley [29:18] Beauty by Robin McKinley [29:21] Spindle's End by Robin McKinley [29:22] The Peripheral by William Gibson [30:16] In Five Years by Rebecca Serle [30:23] The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang [37:41] Yellowface by R. F. Kuang [37:49] The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake [40:15] Social Creature by Tara Isabella Burton [47:09] Necessary People by Anna Pitoniak [47:19] Cover Story by Susan Rigetti [47:28] About Sarah Landis Website | Twitter | Instagram Sarah Landis represents a wide range of fiction from middle grade to adult. Sarah is particularly drawn to high-concept plots, big hooks, speculative fiction, twisty thrillers, novels with a strong emotional core, and sweeping fantasy. She is always on the lookout for new talent and narrative risk-takers. Her clients' novels have received a variety of accolades, including Barnes and Noble book club selections and Reese's Book Club, and have appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists as well as international bestseller lists around the globe. Before joining Sterling Lord Literistic in 2017, Sarah worked as an editor for fifteen years, holding roles at G.P. Putnam's Sons, Hyperion Books, HarperCollins Children's Books, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers. Sarah graduated with a B.A. in English from the University of Virginia.

Summary: Happy 2023, friends, and welcome to Season 2 of Hearts & Daggers! We're starting this year off with a bang - the bang of the starting gun in a Super G ski race, that is. If you've been with us for a while know, you know that this theme is right up Devin's alley and aligns with many of her existing hobbies. Holly, while not a fan of sports generally, loves ice skating and is a sucker for mountain climbing exhibition stories (especially when things start to go wrong). Topics Discussed: The Dagger (4:10): Holly discussed Breathless by Amy McColloch, a novel following Cecily Wong as she strives to climb Menaslu, the 7th tallest peak on earth. A journalist herself, Cecily is fighting to prove herself by scoring an interview with famous mountaineer Charles McVeigh as he seeks to break records climbing the highest summits without supplemental oxygen. His condition? That she go with his team all the way to the top. Her highlights were: McCulloch climbed Menaslu herself and it shows through in the writing, with vivid and accurate descriptions of mountaineering and the trials this group faces from nature as they work toward the top.  If that wasn't enough, one of their team meets an accidental (or not) death and things begin to deteriorate with the group. Cecily finds herself stranded on the mountain not knowing who she can trust during a journey that requires complete trust in the group to survive. The tension builds naturally and in a riveting way. The uniting driver for all characters in this thriller is desperation. Whether it's Cecily, who ended a romantic relationship and risked her entire career for this expedition, or the sherpas who are duty-bound to get the team to the summit, everyone is desperately trying to accomplish their (sometimes contradictory goals).  The Heart (18:22): Devin discussed Edge of Glory by Rachel Spangler, a winter sport turducken that follows two Olympic athletes - one in boardercross (competition snowboard racing) and the other in downhill skiing. Corey LaCroix is a snowboarding icon, with too many medals to count. But at 30, she's noticed her knees are aching and it's taking longer and longer to recover - putting her behind a highly motivated, younger cohort. Elise Brandeis, fighting to recover from a major crash and severe injury the year before after having been the most promising up and coming ski star for the 2018 Olympics, only cares about the gold medal she feels she earned, along with her nickname the Ice Queen. Devin's key takeaways were: Spangler is a queer romance author and the skill shines through. Unlike many romances, this one evolves from enemies to friends to lovers over the course of months, giving the plot and relationship a much more organic and authentic feel.  Elise and Corey both embody the stereotypes of their respective sports - Elise being uptight and unsociable, while Corey is the life of the party (routinely parties she throws). Through their growing connection, the reader peels back the layers of those stereotypes to find the person below and how Elise and Corey are actually more alike than different. Accompanied by a delightfully round cast of side characters and even a side romance, this book delivers on every front for a heartwarming and unusual love story while also maintaining high fidelity to what Devin assumes is the real process of training for and participating in the Olympics.  Hot On the Shelf (36:30):  Devin: Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett  Holly: The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey What's Making Our Hearts Race (39:43): Devin and Holly: Wednesday on Netflix Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience. 

In the Fall 2022 Book Preview, Catherine (Gilmore Guide to Books) and I shared our 16 most-anticipated books that released mid-August – December 2022.  In today's episode, we're going to circle back to update you on the books we've had a chance to read — or at least attempt.   This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Highlights We discuss how the types of books released in the fall seem to have changed. Sarah comes back with two 5-star books! Catherine and Sarah share their Fall 2022 reading stats and success rates. The reading experience was a roller coaster ride from stellar picks, to middling reads, and 3 DNFs between the two of us. The best and worst picks from the Fall 2022 Book Preview. Books We Read Before the Preview [5:14] Sarah's Picks: Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid (August 30) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:56] Now Is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson (November 8) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:14] Fall 2022 Circle Back [9:43] August Catherine's Picks: American Fever by Dur e Aziz Amna (August 16) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:49] The House of Fortune by Jessie Burton (August 30) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:42] September Sarah's Pick: The Two Lives of Sara by Catherine Adel West (September 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:27] Catherine's Picks: The Fortunes of Jaded Women by Carolyn Huynh (September 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:04] The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell (September 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [27:06] How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz (September 13) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:24] October Sarah's Picks: Keep It in the Family by John Marrs (October 18) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:05] Anywhere You Run by Wanda M. Morris (October 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:47] Catherine's Pick: The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake (October 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:26] November Sarah's Picks: Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli (November 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:04] Winterland by Rae Meadows (November 29) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:08] Catherine's Pick: The Cloisters by Katy Hays (November 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:57] December Sarah's Pick: The Ingenue by Rachel Kapelke-Dale (December 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:55] Catherine's Pick: The Book of Everlasting Things by Aanchal Malhotra (December 27) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:52] Other Books Mentioned Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid [6:14]  Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro [8:45] Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West [12:43]  The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton [16:01]  When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain [20:34] Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan [23:35]  All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris [25:10]  Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell [27:17]  Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett [33:01]  The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake [41:36]  The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale [45:02]  My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell [46:05]  The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger [49:30] Social Creature by Tara Isabella Burton [49:52] Necessary People by Anna Pitoniak [49:55] About Catherine Gilmore Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Catherine started The Gilmore Guide to Books over 10 years ago after wrapping up a career as a corporate librarian. She loves books and reading (surprise!) and currently lives in Seattle, WA.

According to Jessica Brody's Save the Cat Writes a Novel, the Fun & Games beat is pivotal for laying the groundwork of your story as you move into the second act while getting your characters moving. So how to do it? And how do the Fun & Games lead to your book's all important Midpoint? To help us out, we talk to authors Annie Hartnett and Sara Shukla.Sara Shukla is an editor and writer for Cognoscenti, WBUR Boston Public Radio's ideas and opinions page, and a graduate of Grubstreet's novel incubator. Her novel, Pink Whales, a humorous take on lies, drugs and yacht clubs in an exclusive seaside New England town – think “Mean Girls,” but moms — is forthcoming from Little A. She has writing in the Los Angeles Review of Books, short humor in McSweeney's and elsewhere, and interviews in Dead Darlings. She lives in Mass. with her husband and three kids. Annie Hartnett is the author of two novels: her first was called Rabbit Cake and her new novel, Unlikely Animals, just came out in April with Random House. Along with the writer Tessa Fontaine, Annie runs bi-weekly accountability groups – workshops designed to give you community and support on your writing projects without the pressure and confusion of feedback. Annie is also the co-host of the Here to Save You podcast, a podcast about writing while parenting young children. Annie lives in Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and their dog.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 7amnovelist.substack.com

In Annie Hartnett's new novel "Unlikely Animals" (Ballentine Books), natural-born healer Emma Starling once had big plans for her life, but she's lost her way. A medical school dropout, she's come back to small-town Everton, New Hampshire, to care for her father, who is dying from a mysterious brain disease. Clive Starling has been hallucinating small animals, as well as having visions of the ghost of a long-dead naturalist, Ernest Harold Baynes, once known for letting wild animals live in his house. This ghost has been giving Clive some ideas on how to spend his final days.

In Episode 125, Susie Boutry (@NovelVisits) and I are back for our 2nd annual Debuts Special. Today we're sharing our favorite debut novels from 2022 (so far)! Plus, we discuss our reading stats for debuts this year and we talk about some upcoming sophomore novels (and their debuts) that are on our radar. This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Highlights We discuss why debut books often feel more polished. A full breakdown of our 2022 debut-related stats. Debuts we love, divided into three categories: Favorite Debuts of 2022 (so far) Favorite Backlist Debuts Upcoming Sophomore Novels Favorite Debuts of 2022 (so far) [8:47] Sarah Never Simple by Liz Scheier | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:57] More Than You'll Ever Know by Katie Gutierrez | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:43] Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:14] The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:52] Susie Groundskeeping by Lee Cole | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:05] Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:37] Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:57] We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman (November 8) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:31] Favorite Backlist Debuts [33:18] Sarah Finding Freedom by Erin French | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:21] The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:41] Susie A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:14] Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:57] Upcoming Sophomore Novels [44:30] Sarah Debut: Don't Know Tough by Eli Cranor | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:44] Upcoming: Ozark Dogs by Eli Cranor (April 4, 2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:59] Debut: His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:46] Upcoming: Nightbloom by Peace Adzo Medie (June 13, 2023) | Amazon [49:05] Susie Debut: Tuesday Nights in 1980 by Molly Prentiss | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:32] Upcoming: Old Flame by Molly Prentiss (April 11, 2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:54] Debut: The Push by Ashley Audrain | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:40] Upcoming: The Whispers by Ashley Audrain (July 2023) [50:54] Other Books Mentioned Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus [9:24] The Measure by Nikki Erlick [9:35] Corrections in Ink by Keri Blakinger [9:39] Cover Story by Susan Rigetti [9:50] Nowhere Girl by Cheryl Diamond [10:39] The Glass Castle by Jeannette Wells [10:43] Inheritance by Dani Shapiro [10:45] Writers & Lovers by Lily King [13:12] Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett [15:11] Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff [37:32] The One by John Marrs [39:56] The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker [40:32] Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel [43:29] The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton (December 6) [43:58] Bull Mountain by Brian Panowich [45:56] When I Ran Away by Ilona Bannister [48:22] About Susie Boutry Blog | Instagram Susie has loved reading for as long as she can remember. Some of her fondest childhood memories involve long afternoons at the library and then reading late into the night. More than ten years ago, she began journaling about the books she read and turned that passion into writing about books. Her first forays were as a guest reviewer on a friend's blog, but she soon realized she wanted to be reviewing and talking about books on a blog of her own. From there, Novel Visits was born. That was in 2016 and, though the learning curve was steep, she loves being a part of the book community. Novel Visits focuses on new novel reviews (print and audio), previews of upcoming releases, and musings on all things bookish.

Double Booked is a monthly series, available to my Superstars patrons, where a co-host and I each share our own book recommendations in the same format as the big show (2 old books we love, 2 new books we love, 1 book we didn't love, and 1 upcoming release we're excited about). In these more candid episodes, I talk more about my own reading, and share tons of books that I don't share on any other public forum. Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books and Susie from Novel Visits alternate months co-hosting with me.   This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). As a Superstars patron, you'll get access to the Double Booked monthly bonus podcast series Double Booked, Summer Shelves (the annual companion to my Summer Reading Guide) my annual Rock Your Reading Tracker.  Get more details about all the goodies available to all patrons (Stars and Superstars) and sign up here! Highlights Catherine brings some books that are “so far under the radar, they're off the grid.” Sarah has some wide-ranging picks with 4 own-voices stories and genres outside her comfort zone. Plus, both new releases are publishing next week!  So, you won't have to wait long for them. Sarah's & Catherine's Book Recommendations [4:49] Two OLD Books They Love Sarah: Furia by Yamile Saied Mendez | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:50] The Idea of You by Robinne Lee | Amazon | Bookshop.org [16:43] Catherine: Nine Women, One Dress by Jane L. Rosen | Amazon | Bookshop.org [6:15] Hotel Du Lac by Anita Brookner | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:21] Two NEW Books They Love Sarah: Last Summer on State Street by Toya Wolfe | Amazon | Bookshop.org [25:23] Bad City by Paul Pringle | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:46] Catherine: Calling for a Blanket Dance by Oscar Hokeah | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:00] The Pink Hotel by Liska Jacobs | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:41] One Book They DIDN'T LOVE Sarah: The Arc by Tory Henwood Hoen | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:28] Catherine: Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:30] One NEW RELEASE They Are Excited About Sarah: People Person by Candice Carty-Williams (September 13) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:08] Catherine: Dinners with Ruth by Nina Totenberg (September 13) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:25] Other Books Mentioned Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley [11:27] The View Was Exhausting by Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta [20:20] How to Fake It in Hollywood by Ava Wilder [20:22] Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston [20:24] American Royals by Katharine McGee [20:25] Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West [27:04] Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi [27:11] This Is My America by Kim Johnson [27:13] Deacon King Kong by James McBride [28:20] Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan [31:57]  We Keep the Dead Close by Becky Cooper [37:48] Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow [38:01] Joan by Katherine J. Chen [40:35] The One by John Marrs [45:55]  Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams [50:31] Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett [53:09] About Catherine Gilmore Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Catherine started The Gilmore Guide to Books over 10 years ago after wrapping up a career as a corporate librarian. She loves books and reading (surprise!) and currently lives in Seattle, WA.

Welcome to the Fall 2022 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books!  In this episode, Catherine and I share 16 of our most anticipated books releasing mid-August through December.   This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Announcements Join our Patreon Community ($5/mo) to get our bonus podcast episode series called Book Preview Extras! In these episodes, Catherine and I share at least 4 bonus books we are excited about that we did not share in the big show preview episode. Get more details about all the goodies available to all patrons (Stars and Superstars) and sign up here! Highlights This episode marks the 3-year anniversary of the seasonal previews!   Catherine brings in some variety with her fall picks, including 3 debuts and 3 return authors. Sarah's picks include 3 sophomore novels and 2 debut novels. Two 5-star books from Sarah's selections. Catherine and Sarah share their #1 picks for fall release. Fall 2022 Book Preview [4:07] August Sarah's Pick: Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid (August 30) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:55] Catherine's Picks: American Fever by Dur e Aziz Amna (August 16) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[10:26] The House of Fortune by Jessie Burton (August 30) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[16:05]  September Sarah's Pick: The Two Lives of Sara by Catherine Adel West (September 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:41] Catherine's Picks: The Fortunes of Jaded Women by Carolyn Huynh (September 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:04]  The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell (September 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:41] How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz (September 13) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:00]  October Sarah's Picks: Keep It in the Family by John Marrs (October 18) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[18:55] Anywhere You Run by Wanda M. Morris (October 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:00]  Catherine's Pick: The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake (October 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[40:51] November Sarah's Picks: Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli (November 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[28:45]  Now Is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson (November 8) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:07] Winterland by Rae Meadows (November 29) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[43:16]  Catherine's Pick: The Cloisters by Katy Hays (November 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:18] December Sarah's Pick: The Ingenue by Rachel Kapelke-Dale (December 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[48:35]  Catherine's Pick: The Book of Everlasting Things by Aanchal Malhotra (December 27) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:10] Other Books Mentioned The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid [5:47]  Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid [6:03]  Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West [12:47]  The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton [17:07]  The One by John Marrs [19:34]  The Passengers by John Marrs [19:45]  Flowers in the Attic by V. C. Andrews [20:48]  Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman [22:16]  Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan [23:31]  All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris [24:10]  Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell [26:45]  Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett [30:52]  Dominicana by Angie Cruz [32:23]  Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson [36:05]  The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson [40:25] The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake [40:55]  We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter [45:20]  The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale [48:46]  My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell [49:45]  The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis [49:47]  About Catherine Gilmore Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Catherine started The Gilmore Guide to Books over 10 years ago after wrapping up a career as a corporate librarian. She loves books and reading (surprise!) and currently lives in Seattle, WA.

In Episode 120, Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books and I circle back to the books we shared in the Summer 2022 Book Preview — now that we've actually had a chance to read them.  Returning to our 12 summer releases, we take a look at what worked and what didn't.  Also, with both of our personal lives demanding more of our attention lately, our reading lives have definitely been impacted.  This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Highlights Sarah had a 5 star book! Catherine and Sarah share their Summer 2022 reading stats and success rates. The best and worst picks from the Summer 2022 Book Preview. Books We Read Before the Preview [6:38] Sarah's Picks: The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger (July 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[7:20]  Dirt Creek by Hayley Scrivenor (August 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:27]  Summer 2022 Circle Back [6:38] June Sarah's Picks: These Impossible Things by Salma El-Wardany (June 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:59] The Measure by Nikki Erlick (June 28) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:19] Catherine's Picks: Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley (June 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:10] Tracy Flick Can't Win by Tom Perrotta (June 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[17:40]  Girls They Write Songs About by Carlene Bauer (June 21) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:03]  July Sarah's Picks: Crying in the Bathroom by Erika L. Sánchez (July 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:49]  The Work Wife by Alison B. Hart (July 19) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:30]  Catherine's Picks: Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark (July 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[36:45] Sirens & Muses by Antonia Angress (July 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[42:48]  August Catherine's Pick: Bookish People by Susan Coll (August 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:50] Other Books Mentioned Last Summer on State Street by Toya Wolfe [4:33]  Corrections in Ink by Keri Blakinger [4:35]  The Midcoast by Adam White [4:40]  How to Fake It in Hollywood by Ava Wilder [4:42]  The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger [8:57]  Election by Tom Perrotta [17:48]  The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta [22:02]  Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus [23:38]  Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett [23:42]  The One by John Marrs [24:08] The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin [26:45]  I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez [33:15]  Finding Me by Viola Davis [36:05] The Ensemble by Aja Gabel [45:25]  Now Is Not the Time To Panic by Kevin Wilson (November 8, 2022) [46:15] Other Links Sarah's Bookshelves 2022 Summer Reading Guide About Catherine Gilmore Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Catherine started The Gilmore Guide to Books over 10 years ago after wrapping up a career as a corporate librarian. She loves books and reading (surprise!) and currently lives in Seattle, WA.

Annie Hartnett visits with us to discuss her newest novel, Unlikely Animals. “It is a book that is about a young woman named Emma who has returned home to a small town in New Hampshire, and she's got a slight healing touch in her hands that she was born with, so there's like a touch Read More

Learn about Unlikely Animals, a tragicomedy by Annie Hartnett; Ruthanna Emrys will talk about her new science fiction novel A Half-Built Planet; and Tulane law professor Amy Gajda digs into the history of privacy in her new book Seek and Hide: The Tangled History of the Right to Privacy.

In Episode 118, Caroline Zancan, Senior Editor at Henry Holt, joins me for another episode in the Genre 101 series — this time with a twist.  Caroline answers behind-the-scenes questions about editing literary fiction, as well as a deep dive into the genre itself.   This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Announcements I'd love your feedback on the podcast!  Please take a moment to complete my 2022 Podcast Survey! Highlights How Caroline got into editing: right place, right time, and Craigslist. The varying college degrees, the wide range of colleagues' previous careers, and whether there's a typical career path to becoming an editor. The je ne sais quoi factor and determining if a book is for Henry Holt. The entire process of book acquisition at Henry Holt — from determining what books to pursue and bidding on manuscripts to the approval process. Caroline's preference for dealing with an author's agent. The execution of a compatible vision for the editor-author relationship. The “right” length for a book and editing big-name authors. What the heck is ‘literary fiction' and why there seems to be a lack of consensus about this question. Current trends in the literary fiction world. Caroline's Book Recommendations [39:19] Two OLD Books She Loves Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:33] Trust Exercise by Susan Choi | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:25] Two NEW Books She Loves Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:33] Cult Classic by Sloane Crosley | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:14] The Series of Books She DIDN'T Love Elena Ferrante Titles  [45:46] One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews (August 2, 2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:32] Last 5-Star Book Caroline Read Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:40] Other Books Mentioned We Wish You Luck by Caroline Zancan [2:00] Happiness by Heather Harpham [2:17] The Parking Lot Attendant by Nafkote Tamirat [2:21] Sleepwalk by Dan Chaon [2:29] Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Alison Espach [2:34] On Writing by Stephen King [29:08] Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett [40:48] I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley [44:58] Look Alive Out There by Sloane Crosley [45:00] About Caroline Zancan On Twitter Caroline Zancan is a Senior Editor at Holt, acquiring literary and upmarket fiction and memoir, and the author of We Wish You Luck and Local Girls. She is a graduate of Kenyon College and holds an MFA from the Bennington Writing Seminars.  Caroline lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their children. 

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQX-nWBQWKL3lnx52f3AuCwANNIE'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/annie_hartnettANNIE'S INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/annie_hartnett/BUY RABBIT CAKE: http://www.anniehartnett.com/rabbit-cakeBUY UNLIKELY ANIMALS: http://www.anniehartnett.com/unlikely-animalsFOLLOW ME ON…GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/58041478-iliketoreadpodINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/iliketoreadpod/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/rpolansky77FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/iliketoreadpodMEDIA MAVEN BLOG: https://rpolansky77.wixsite.com/website

In Episode 117, Annie Hartnett, author of Unlikely Animals, shares the intriguing backstory behind her new novel. She is wonderfully candid and shares interesting tidbits from the germ of the idea, through some of the editing process, all the way to the finished book and finding a publisher.  This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Highlights How interesting information transitions to the idea to write a book. The importance of voice in her stories. How she infuses comedy into her writing and embraces the potential for silliness. Annie shares the experience of having her second book under her belt and how that affects her confidence going forward. The difficulty in talking about and promoting a multi-faceted book. Cover design and summary decisions for Unlikely Animals. Why she chose to tell the story in the collective voice. The atmospheric place she lived when she began writing Unlikely Animals. Annie answers lightning round questions about some delightfully weird elements in the book. Annie's Book Recommendations [33:09] Two OLD Books She Loves The Electric Woman by Tessa Fontaine | Amazon | Bookshop.org : [33:18] We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry | Amazon | Bookshop.org : [34:56] Two NEW Books She Loves Walk the Vanished Earth by Erin Swan | Amazon | Bookshop.org : [36:30] More Than You'll Ever Know by Katie Gutierrez | Amazon | Bookshop.org : [40:05] One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About Now Is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson (November 8, 2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org : [42:24] Last 5-Star Book Annie Read Sigh, Gone by Phuc Tran | Amazon | Bookshop.org : [46:26] Other Books Mentioned Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett : [1:20] The Last Chairlift by John Irving (October 18, 2022) : [20:54] The Mothers by Brit Bennett : [24:42] Our Town by Thornton Wilder : [28:04] Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders : [28:15] Wild by Cheryl Strayed : [34:13] Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters : [35:27] When I'm Gone, Look for Me in the East by Quan Barry : [35:48] How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu : [37:16] Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel : [37:38] Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel : [38:19] Are You Sleeping by Kathleen Barber : [40:45] Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson : [42:45] The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson : [45:30] Perfect Little World by Kevin Wilson : [45:35] About Annie Hartnett Website | Twitter | Instagram In addition to her new book, Unlikely Animals, Annie Hartnett is the author of Rabbit Cake, which was listed as one of Kirkus Reviews's Best Books of 2017 and a finalist for the New England Book Award. She has received fellowships from the MacDowell Colony, Sewanee Writers' Conference, and the Associates of the Boston Public Library. She studied philosophy at Hamilton College, has an MA from Middlebury College, and an MFA from the University of Alabama. When she began writing Unlikely Animals, she was living in the groundskeeper's house in a cemetery. She now lives in a small town in Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and darling border collie, Mr. Willie Nelson.

In Annie Hartnett's new novel "Unlikely Animals" (Ballentine Books), natural-born healer Emma Starling once had big plans for her life, but she's lost her way. A medical school dropout, she's come back to small-town Everton, New Hampshire, to care for her father, who is dying from a mysterious brain disease. Clive Starling has been hallucinating small animals, as well as having visions of the ghost of a long-dead naturalist, Ernest Harold Baynes, once known for letting wild animals live in his house. This ghost has been giving Clive some ideas on how to spend his final days.

Award-winning author Annie Hartnett and UNLIKELY ANIMALS. Annie's first novel,  RABBIT CAKE was listed as one of Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2017. RABBIT CAKE is currently under option with Amazon Studios. Annie's second novel, UNLIKELY ANIMALS published this April, was Good Housekeeping magazine and Amerie's Book club April selection. And an April Indie Next pick. Annie is a writer with a passion. Sometimes you stumble across the unexpected. For Annie that stumble resulted in UNLIKELY ANIMALS. Annie has been awarded fellowships and residencies from the MacDowell Colony, Sewanee Writers' Conference, and the Associates of the Boston Public Library. She holds degrees from the MFA program at the University of Alabama, Middlebury College's Bread Loaf School of English, and Hamilton College. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and dog.

While visiting friends in New Hampshire, Hartnett became fascinated with nineteenth-century robber baron Austin Corbin's historical estate, and a real life Doctor Doolittle that worked there! This surreal property, Corbin''s Park, became a secret, exclusive hunting park that still exists today. The true story is fascinating and it's no surprise it inspired Unlikely Animals—already receiving rave reviews! “Hartnett masterfully balances a story of deep loss with the perfect amount of hilarity and tenderness.”—Booklist (starred review) “Hartnett's whimsical storytelling casts a spell.”—Publishers Weekly “This is a big novel doing big things. It bears some similarity to Hartnett's much- loved first novel, Rabbit Cake. . . . But Unlikely Animals is a broader, brassier, and even more fiercely tender story. In this, her second novel, Hartnett lands an astonishing leap as a storyteller.”—The Rumpus “Wistfully charming . . . This unapologetically genre-bending tribute to life and death, and the beautiful weirdness found in both, has potential to spark exceptional book club discussions.”—Shelf Awareness Author Annie Hartnett released her first novel, Rabbit Cake, in 2017 to critical acclaim. Numerous media outlets included it on their “Best of ” lists, and it was named a finalist for the New England Book Award, long-listed for The Center for Fiction's First Novel Prize, and shortlisted for The Crook's Corner Book Prize for Best Debut set in the South. Reviewers called it “[a] treasure” (People Magazine) and “truly terrific and original” (Booklist). Now, I'm excited to share that Hartnett has knocked it out of the park once more with her second novel, UNLIKELY ANIMALS (Ballantine Hardcover; On Sale 4/12/2022). When I first started reading this tender, funny, quirky story, I realized quickly that I had never encountered anything like it before.

This week's shared read is Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett.

This week we're helping you build your summer reading list with recommendations from some of our favorite bookstagrammers! They each share two books they recommend we read this summer and answer a pressing question: If you could have a meal with any book character at any chain restaurant, which character and restaurant would you choose?   Sarah's Picks:  Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett (esp for fans of Nothing To See Here)  The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger (Out July 5) Find Sarah at @sarahsbookshelves   Amber's Picks Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola (Out July 5) Hope and Glory by Jendella Benson Find Amber at @byamberburns and www.byamberburns.com   Pheobe's Picks Every Summer After by Carley Fortune  A Hundred Other Girls by Iman Hariri-Kia (Out July 26) Find Phoebe at @readandwright    Morgan's Picks You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li Find Morgan at @nycbookgirl (and check out our last ep with morgan here!)   Ashley's Picks Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (Out July 5) Vacationland by Meg Mitchell Moore (Out June 14) Find Ashley at @ashleyspivey, @spiveysbookclub   Becca's Picks Book Lovers by Emily Henry Marrying the Ketchups by Jennifer Close   Olivia's Picks Flying Solo by Linda Holmes (out June 14) The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead (Out August 16) (check content warnings for this one!)   Obsessions  Olivia: New Boden dresses Becca: Ten Percent via Amazon Prime   What we read this week! Becca: I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston Marrying the Ketchups by Jennifer Close   Olivia: The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins The It Girl by Ruth Ware (Out July 12) Cover Story by Susan Rigetti   This Month's Book Club Pick: Cover Story by Susan Rigetti   Sponsors: Olive and June: Visit OliveandJune.com/Paper for 20% off your first Mani System. Bad On Paper: get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/badonpaper. ZocDoc: go to Zocdoc.com/BOP to download the Zocdoc app for free and start your search for a top-rated doctor today.   Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!  Like and subscribe to RomComPods. Available wherever you listen to podcasts.    Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

Welcome to the Summer 2022 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books! In this episode, Catherine and I share our most anticipated books coming out June through mid-August.   This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Introducing Summer Shelves (a companion to my Summer Reading Guide)… In addition to my annual 2022 Summer Reading Guide, I introduced Summer Shelves, a companion exclusively for Superstars Patrons ($7/mo). Summer Shelves features BACKLIST summer reading recommendations from over 25 former podcast guests and our team members. The Summer Shelves design is clean, crisp, and unique and is available in a PDF file format via Patreon. If you'd like to get the Summer Shelves companion guide, you can sign up to be a Superstars patron here. You'll also get access to a monthly bonus podcast series called Double Booked (where Catherine or Susie and I share our own book recommendations in the same format as the big show) and my Rock Your Reading Tracker. Plus, as a patron you can listen to the quarterly bonus podcast episode series called Book Preview Extras! In these episodes, Catherine and I share at least 4 bonus books that we're excited about that we did not share in the regular Preview episode.  Get Summer Shelves! Highlights The summer theme lands on the spectrum of female relationships — some healthy and some toxic.   Catherine is more optimistic for these summer releases. Debut novels make up 4 of Sarah's 6 picks! Catherine and Sarah fall into an impromptu new game of Guess What Book This Sounds Like? Catherine shares a funny author meeting gaffe from her past. Catherine and Sarah share their #1 summer release picks. Summer 2022 Book Preview [2:33] June Sarah's Picks: These Impossible Things by Salma El-Wardany (June 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:11] The Measure by Nikki Erlick (June 28) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:08] Catherine's Picks: Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley (June 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:16] Tracy Flick Can't Win by Tom Perrotta (June 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:46]  Girls They Write Songs About by Carlene Bauer (June 21) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:41]  July Sarah's Picks: The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger (July 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:12]  Crying in the Bathroom by Erika L. Sánchez (July 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [25:12]  The Work Wife by Alison B. Hart (July 19) | Amazon [30:24]  Catherine's Picks: Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark (July 5) | Amazon [27:20] Sirens & Muses by Antonia Angress (July 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:15]  August Sarah's Pick: Dirt Creek by Hayley Scrivenor (August 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:03]  Catherine's Pick: Bookish People by Susan Coll (August 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:57] Other Books Mentioned Upgrade by Blake Crouch (July 12) [3:51]  Normal People by Sally Rooney [6:52]  Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney [6:55]  There There by Tommy Orange [9:44] Brown Girls by Daphne Palasi Andreades [10:00] American Predator by Maureen Callahan [11:00] The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin [11:57]  Election by Tom Perrotta [14:51]  The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta [15:11]  The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger [18:50]  Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel [19:53]  Fantasticland by Mike Bockoven [20:10]  Frances and Bernard by Carlene Bauer [22:54]  The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer [24:42] Love and Saffron by Kim Fay [24:50]  I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez [25:23]  A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost [26:29]  Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid [32:05]  The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer [35:22]  The Ensemble by Aja Gabel [35:29]  The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale [35:33]  The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb [36:11]  Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett [39:06]  The Mothers by Brit Bennett [39:09]  The Dry by Jane Harper [39:37]  We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker [40:23]  Descent by Tim Johnston [41:08]  The Stager by Susan Coll [44:19]  About Catherine Gilmore Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Catherine started The Gilmore Guide to Books over 6 years ago after wrapping up a career as a corporate librarian. She loves books and reading (surprise!) and currently lives in Ann Arbor, MI.

In the Spring 2022 Book Preview, Catherine (Gilmore Guide to Books) and I shared our most anticipated books that released April – May 2022.  In today's episode, we're circling back to update you on the books we've had a chance to read — or at least attempted.  Given my ongoing success rate with spring releases, I'm starting to wonder if that is just the best season for my type of books!  This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Introducing Summer Shelves (a companion to my Summer Reading Guide)… In addition to my annual 2022 Summer Reading Guide, I'm introducing Summer Shelves, a companion exclusively for Superstars Patrons ($7/mo). Summer Shelves features BACKLIST summer reading recommendations from over 25 former podcast guests and our team members. The Summer Shelves design is clean, crisp, and unique and is available in a PDF file format via Patreon. If you'd like to get the Summer Shelves companion guide, you can sign up to be a Superstars patron here. You'll also get access to a monthly bonus podcast series called Double Booked (where Catherine or Susie and I share our own book recommendations in the same format as the big show) and my Rock Your Reading Tracker. Get Summer Shelves! Highlights Catherine and Sarah continue with fairly high success rates for 2022 so far. Sarah had three 5-star spring releases! Catherine and Sarah share their best and worst picks from the Spring 2022 Book Preview. Spring Books Read Before the Preview [5:08] Sarah's Picks: Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:12] Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:13]  Catherine's Pick: The Candy House by Jennifer Egan (April 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:55] Spring Circle Back [3:34] April Sarah's Picks: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (April 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:52] Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:32] When We Fell Apart by Soon Wiley (April 26) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:22] Catherine's Picks: Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang (April 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:55] An Unlasting Home by Mai Al-Nakib (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:39]  May Sarah's Pick: The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz (May 31) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:06]  Catherine's Picks: Dark Circles by Caite Dolan-Leach (May 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:39] Elektra by Jennifer Saint (May 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:01]  Siren Queen by Nghi Vo (May 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:24] Other Books Mentioned The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne [12:27] What Comes After by JoAnne Tompkins [13:58]  Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel [18:46] Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson [21:28] Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett [22:13] Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders [22:42] The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini [28:13] Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner [30:42] Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson [31:02] Dead Letters by Caite Dolan-Leach [34:14]  The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz [36:11]  You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz [36:26]  Circe by Madeline Miller [41:14] Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid [45:36] Other Links Smithsonian Magazine | The Transcontinental Railroad Wouldn't Have Been Built Without the Hard Work of Chinese Laborers Smithsonian Magazine | What Archaeologists Are Learning About the Lives of the Chinese Immigrants Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad About Catherine Gilmore Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Catherine started The Gilmore Guide to Books over 6 years ago after wrapping up a career as a corporate librarian. She loves books and reading (surprise!) and currently lives in Ann Arbor, MI.

Annie Hartnett is the author of Rabbit Cake, which was listed as one of Kirkus Reviews‘s Best Books of 2017 and a finalist for the New England Book Award. She has received fellowships from the MacDowell Colony, Sewanee Writers' Conference, and the Associates of the Boston Public Library. She studied philosophy at Hamilton College, has an MA from Middlebury College, and an MFA from the University of Alabama. When she began writing Unlikely Animals, she was living in the groundskeeper's house in a cemetery. She now lives in a small town in Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and darling border collie, Mr. Willie Nelson. Recommended Reading: Good Grief: On Loving Pets, Here and Hereafter by E. B. Bartels · How High We Go In the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu · Notes On an Execution by Danya Kukafka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Susie Boutry (@NovelVisits) and I share our favorite books that missed last year's Summer Reading Guides, some deep backlist books we think are great for summer reading, and our #1 picks for four categories featured in Sarah's 2022 Summer Reading Guide. This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Introducing Summer Shelves (a companion to my Summer Reading Guide)… In addition to my annual 2022 Summer Reading Guide, I'm introducing Summer Shelves, a companion exclusively for Superstars Patrons ($7/mo). Summer Shelves features BACKLIST summer reading recommendations from over 25 former podcast guests and our team members. The Summer Shelves design is clean, crisp, and unique and you'll receive it in a PDF file format via Patreon. If you'd like to get the Summer Shelves companion guide, you can sign up to be a Superstars patron here. You'll also get access to a monthly bonus podcast series called Double Booked (where Catherine or Susie and I share our own book recommendations in the same format as the big show) and my Rock Your Reading Tracker. Our Summer Reading Guides Sarah's 2022 Summer Reading Guide Susie's 2022 Summer Reading Guide Summer Reading [4:23] Books That Missed Last Year's Summer Reading Guides [4:58] Sarah The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:29] The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:12] Bourdain: The Definitive Oral Biography by Laurie Woolever | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:24]  Susie For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing | Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:29] Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:06]  Embassy Wife by Katie Crouch | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:32]  Backlist Books That Are Great for Summer Reading [25:30] Sarah Quicksand by Malin Persson Giolito | Amazon | Bookshop.org [25:53]  Red Notice by Bill Browder | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:39] The Fever by Megan Abbott | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:52] Susie Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands by Chris Bohjalian | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:12]  The Diver's Clothes Lie Empty by Vendela Vida | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:09] The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:15] Our #1 Summer Picks by Category  [42:08] Something Light / Fun Sarah: Dilettante by Dana Brown | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:46]  Susie: Cover Story by Susan Rigetti | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:03]  Something Fast Paced / Intense Sarah: Upgrade by Blake Crouch (July 12, 2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:48]  Susie: Two Nights in Lisbon by Chris Pavone (May 24, 2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:52]  Something with a Bit More Substance Sarah: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus | Amazon | Bookshop.org [56:27]  Susie: Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow | Amazon | Bookshop.org [58:05]  Something Different Sarah: Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:01:45]  Susie: This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:03:23]  Other Books Mentioned The Family by Naomi Krupitsky [6:53]  The Turnout by Megan Abbott [7:01]  Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll [7:21]  My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing [9:35] The Secret History by Donna Tartt [9:48] Black Chalk by Christopher J. Yates [9:48] One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London [12:37]  Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston [12:44]  Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid [15:14]  The Ensemble by Aja Gabel [15:14]  Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau [15:14]  The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton [15:14]  The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff [20:08]  The Office by Andy Greene [20:57] Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel [30:15]  Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez [30:41] Moneyball by Michael Lewis [33:21]  We Run the Tides by Vendela Vida [34:17]  Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight [38:18]  My Friend Anna by Rachel DeLoache Williams [45:51]  The Accident by Chris Pavone [55:54]  The Expats by Chris Pavone [56:02]  One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle [1:04:10]  Other Links The New York Times Magazine | What Happened to the Girls in Le Roy About Susie Boutry Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Susie has loved reading for as long as she can remember. Some of her fondest childhood memories involve long afternoons at the library and then reading late into the night. More than ten years ago, she began journaling about the books she read and turned that passion into writing about books. Her first forays were as a guest reviewer on a friend's blog, but she soon realized she wanted to be reviewing and talking about books on a blog of her own. From there, Novel Visits was born. That was in 2016 and, though the learning curve was steep, she loves being a part of the book community. Novel Visits focuses on new novel reviews (print and audio), previews of upcoming releases, and musings on all things bookish.

Annie Hartnett is the author of novels RABBIT CAKE (Tin House Books, 2017) and UNLIKELY ANIMALS (Ballantine/Random House, 2022). Unlikely Animals was the April 2022 book club selection for Good Housekeeping magazine and Amerie's Book club. It received starred reviews from Booklist and Bookpage, and was an April Indie Next pick. Rabbit Cake was listed as one of Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2017, was a finalist for the New England Book Award, an Indies Introduce and an Indie Next Pick, and was long-listed for the Center for Fiction's First Novel Prize.  It received starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly, Kirkus, and Library Journal, and was People magazine's Book of the Week. It is currently under option with Amazon Studios (more on that here!).Annie has been awarded fellowships and residencies from the MacDowell Colony, Sewanee Writers' Conference, and the Associates of the Boston Public Library. She holds degrees from the MFA program at the University of Alabama, Middlebury College's Bread Loaf School of English, and Hamilton College. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and dog.Visit anniehartnett.com Here to Save You podcast: @HTSYpodIntro roll for WTPC

An introduction to your Here to Save You hosts Tessa Fontaine and Annie Hartnett. We share the details of the "writing accountability contract" we signed in 2018-- which is how we were able to write second books and also how we became friends. This contract we signed came from this Aimee Bender essay: Why the Best Way to Get Creative Is to Make Some Rules Books mentioned: Deep Work by Cal Newport I'll Show Myself Out by Jessi Klein Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett Bewilderment by Richard Powers Spoiler: You will meet our third co-host Ellen O'Connell Whittet in episode 4! Support the show

This week, I discuss the International Booker Prize shortlist and recommend books including Defenestrate, Unlikely Animals and other great books! Books recommended:Defenestrate Renee BranumUnlikely Animals by Annie HartnettHello Molly! By Molly ShannonMemphis by Tara M. StringfellowLessons in Chemistry by Bonnie GarmusInternational Booker Shortlist Books:A New Name: Septology VI-VII by Jon Fosse, translated from Norwegian by Damion SearlsHeaven by Mieko Kawakami, translated from Japanese by Samuel Bett and David BoydElena Knows by Claudia Pineiro, translated from Spanish by Frances RiddleTomb of Sand by Geetanjali Shree, translated from Hindi by Daisy RockwellThe Books of Jacob by Olga Tokarczuk, translated from Polish by Jennifer CroftOther Things Discussed:Come take a writing class with me! Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Novel Writing.  Click here for more info. Click here to learn more about Gelli plates. Email me at booksaremypeople@gmail.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=22705533)

Annie Hartnett, author of the 2017 novel Rabbit Cake, returns with what The Millions calls "One of the most anticipated books of 2022." Part mystical, part mystery, Unlikely Animals is filled with quirky characters, problematic animals, and chatty ghosts. Hartnett joins Marrie Stone to talk about the importance of following your obsessions and establishing a strong writing routine, as well as good tips on how to do it. (Hint: check out this article by Aimee Bender.) Hartnett also talks about mistakes she made in finding an agent and how to avoid them. Perhaps best of all, she shares some insightful tips for how to approach the revision process. Download audio.  (Recorded on April 7, 2022) (Broadcast on April 24, 2022)Writers on Writing is now available on Patreon. Check out our fun perks and special offers for members. For the first ten patrons who join, we're offering the benefits of the next highest tier for one month. Music and sound design by Travis Barrett Barbara DeMarco-Barrett: www.penonfire.com Marrie Stone: www.marriestone.com Travis Barrett: https://travisbarrett.mykajabi.com

“Unlikely Animals is a wondrous and wonderful story filled with unforgettable characters…an instant classic.”  – Jeff Vandermeer, author of The Southern Reach Trilogy An instant classic indeed! Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett is a novel about familial expectations, imperfect friendships, and the possibility of resurrecting that which had been thought irrevocably lost. To say more … Continue reading Episode 90: Interview with Annie Hartnett author of Unlikely Animals →

Host Cyrus Webb welcomes author Annie Hartnett to #ConversationsLIVE to discuss her literary success and new book UNLIKELY ANIMALS. 

Author Annie Hartnett returns to the show and chats with Daniel Ford and Kelly J. Ford about her latest novel Unlikely Animals. To learn more about Annie Hartnett, visit her official website and follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Also listen to our first interview with the author. To learn more about Kelly J. Ford, visit her official website and follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Listen to our first chat with the author in Episode 402. Writer's Bone is proudly sponsored by Libro.fm, A Mighty Blaze podcast, and Daniel Paisner's upcoming novel Balloon Dog.

Frankie's Guests are Richard Friesen, Annie Hartnett, and Jocelyn Delk Adams. Richard Friesen author of A Private Conversation with Money has spent 30 years in the financial world, trading on the floors of major exchanges, building a trading firm, as a therapist reviewing over 1000 financial assessments, and coaching hundreds of clients in groups and private sessions. Richard's training as a therapist opens the door to the deeper drivers of financial and money behaviors that no longer serve us, yet we repeat them over and over again. https://conversations.money/Annie Hartnett released her first novel, Rabbit Cake, in 2017 to critical acclaim. Numerous media outlets included it on their “Best of ” lists, and it was named a finalist for the New England Book Award, long-listed for The Center for Fiction's First Novel Prize and shortlisted for The Crook's Corner Book Prize for Best Debut set in the South. Her second novel, Unlikely Animals, is a tragicomic novel about familial expectations, imperfect friendships, and the possibility of resurrecting that which had been thought irrevocably lost. http://www.anniehartnett.com/Jocelyn Delk Adams is the founder, author, national television personality and brand ambassador behind the award-winning cookbook Grandbaby Cakes and the food website Grandbaby-Cakes.com Super Chef Jocelyn will discuss how to freshen up your menu and will share 3 Spring-inspired dinner and dessert dishes made with affordably priced organic ingredients. https://grandbaby-cakes.com/............Frankie Boyer is an award winning talk show host that empowers listeners to live healthy vibrant lives http://www.frankieboyer.com

Charlie talks with Annie Hartnett about her new novel Unlikely Animals. They discuss depicting small towns, using magical realism, narrative voice and point of view, and the background of this fascinating novel—a 26,000 acre private wildlife preserve called Corbin Park. And of course, they discuss animals!

Welcome to the Spring 2022 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books! In this episode, Catherine and I share our most anticipated books coming out in April – May 2022. This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Announcements In conjunction with my upcoming 9th annual Summer Reading Guide, I will be releasing a companion for Superstars Patrons ($7/mo)! The companion is called Summer Shelves and will feature backlist reading recommendations from former podcast guests.  Plus, both Catherine and Susie will be contributing book recommendations! Both the 2022 Summer Reading Guide and Summer Shelves will launch on Tuesday, May 17.  Sign up here, and select the Superstars tier to get this guide and more bonus content. Join our Patreon Community ($5/mo) to get our bonus podcast episode series called Book Preview Extras! In these episodes, Catherine and I share at least 4 bonus books we are excited about that we did not share in the big show preview episode. Get more details about all the goodies available to all patrons (Stars and Superstars) and sign up here! Highlights Catherine and Sarah share the key to their recent high success rate and try to go in cold to new books. Sarah's second 5 star book of 2022! Catherine and Sarah share their #1 spring release picks. Spring 2022 Book Preview [3:34] April Sarah's Picks: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (April 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:06] Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:03] Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:54]  Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:48] When We Fell Apart by Soon Wiley (April 26) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:24] Catherine's Picks: The Candy House by Jennifer Egan (April 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:54] Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang (April 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:24]  An Unlasting Home by Mai Al-Nakib (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:09]  Dark Circles by Caite Dolan-Leach (May 10*) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:15] May Sarah's Pick: The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz (May 31) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:37]  Catherine's Picks: Elektra by Jennifer Saint (May 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:34]  Siren Queen by Nghi Vo (May 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:47] Other Books Mentioned A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan [10:23]  I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott [15:34]  The Bohemians by Jasmin Darznik [19:35]  A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum [28:09] Honor by Thrity Umrigar [28:18] Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett [29:37] Dead Letters by Caite Dolan-Leach [33:02]  The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin [33:35]  We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter [34:05]  If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha [38:14]  Ariadne by Jennifer Saint [38:55]  The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz [40:57]  You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz [41:03]  Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner [43:19] The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo [44:00]  *Book's release date changed since the time of recording. About Catherine Gilmore Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Catherine started The Gilmore Guide to Books over 6 years ago after wrapping up a career as a corporate librarian. She loves books and reading (surprise!) and currently lives in Ann Arbor, MI.

In today's episode of From the Front Porch, Annie and Olivia are discussing their favorite newly released titles of the month and highlighting books you'll want to add to your TBR list! The books mentioned in today's episode can be purchased from The Bookshelf. Mutual: Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘em Dead by Elle Cosimano Annie's List: Other People's Clothes by Calla Henkel Black Girls Must Be Magic by Jayne Allen What the Fireflies Knew by Kai Harris Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson Cost of Living by Emily Maloney Cherish Farrah by Bethany C. Morrow Good Enough by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie This Here Flesh by Cole Arthur Riley The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka Olivia's List The Appeal by Janice Hallett The Boy Who Met a Whale by Nizrana Farook The Family Chao by Lan Samantha Chang Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocomb Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee Out of a Jar by Deborah Marceno The Verifiers by Jane Pek The Paradox Hotel by Rob Hart Other Books Mentioned: Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett (back-ordered) Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamison (back-ordered) So Many Beginnings by Bethany C. Morrow The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris No Cure for Being Human by Kate Bowler Everything Happens for a Reason by Kate Bowler (printing on-demand only) Brood by Jackie Polzin From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf's daily happenings on Instagram at @bookshelftville, and all the books from today's episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.  A full transcript of today's episode can be found here. Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.  This week, Annie is reading The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford. Olivia is reading The Verifiers by Jane Pek. If you liked what you heard in today's episode, tell us by leaving a review on iTunes. Or, if you're so inclined, support us on Patreon, where you can hear our staff's weekly New Release Tuesday conversations, read full book reviews in our monthly Shelf Life newsletter, follow along as Hunter and I conquer a classic, and receive free media mail shipping on all your online book orders. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch. We're so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Libro.FM: Libro.fm lets you purchase audiobooks directly from your favorite local bookstore (Like The Bookshelf). You can pick from more than 215,000 audiobooks, and you'll get the same audiobooks at the same price as the largest audiobook company out there (you know the name). But you'll be part of a different story -- one that supports community. All you need is a smart phone and the free Libro.fm app. Right now, if you sign up for a new membership, you will get 2 audiobooks for the price of one. All you have to do is enter FRONTPORCH at checkout or follow this link: libro.fm/redeem/FRONTPORCH Flodesk: Do you receive a weekly or monthly newsletter from one of your favorite brands? Like maybe From the Front Porch (Or The Bookshelf)... Did you ever wonder, ‘how do they make such gorgeous emails?'  Flodesk is an email marketing service provider that's built for creators, by creators, and it's easy to use. We've been using it for a couple of years now, and I personally love it. And right now you can get 50% off your Flodesk subscription by going to: flodesk.com/c/THEFRONTPORCH

“For Colored Nerds” hosts Eric Eddings and Brittany Luse discuss some weird and wonderful things from the week. Book Riot's Liberty Hardy shares some of the best books coming out in the early months of 2022. Her list includes… “Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband?” by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn (1/18) “Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow” (4/5) “Sea of Tranquility” by Emily St. John Mandel (4/5) “Unlikely Animals” by Annie Hartnett (4/12) “Nettle & Bone” by T. Kingfisher (4/26) And WHAT IS TIME?! We ask Chad Orzel, physicist and author of the new book “A Brief History of Timekeeping.”

In Episode 96, Susie Boutry (@NovelVisits) and I share some of our favorite debut novels and discuss why we gravitate toward debuts.  We also discuss our reading stats for debut novels, as well as exploring some sophomore novels...the good, the not so good, and those we're still awaiting. This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). I also included Bookshop.org affiliate links. Highlights Why I like having debut authors on the podcast. A full breakdown of debut-related stats and our best year for debuts Debuts we love, divided into four categories: All-Time Favorite Debuts Sophomore Slumps — alongside the debuts that came before them Anxiously Awaiting — debut novelists who've not yet released a second novel Upcoming Sophomore Novels All-Time Favorite Debuts [9:35] Sarah The Mothers by Brit Bennett | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org[11:00] Black Chalk by Christopher J. Yates | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [16:35] & [41:05] Honorable Mentions Shelter by Jung Yun | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [10:00] Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [10:16] Susie Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [13:22] The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [18:46] Honorable Mention Mudbound by Hillary Jordan | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [10:26] Sophomore Slumps [21:05] Sarah Debut: The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress by Ariel Lawhon | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [21:20] Sophomore: Flight of Dreams by Ariel Lawhon | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [23:40] Debut: Dead Letters by Caite Dolan-Leach | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [29:46] Sophomore: We Went to the Woods by Caite Dolan-Leach | Buy from Amazon| Buy from Bookshop.org [32:03] Susie Debut: Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [25:04] Sophomore: Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [28:13] Debut: Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [33:14] Sophomore: The End of the Day by Bill Clegg | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [35:09] Anxiously Awaiting [36:25] Sarah The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [36:37] We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [41:13] Susie If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org[38:54] Tuesday Nights in 1980 by Molly Prentiss | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [43:57] Upcoming Sophomore Novels [45:40] Sarah Debut: Miracle Creek by Angie Kim | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [45:55] Upcoming: Happiness Quotient by Angie Kim (TBA) [46:19] Debut: Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [48:51] Upcoming: Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner (January 18, 2022) | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [50:02] Susie Debut: Girl at War by Sara Nović | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [47:04] Upcoming: True Biz by Sara Nović (March 15, 2022) | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [47:58] Debut: Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [51:03] Upcoming: Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett (April 12, 2022) | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [52:39] Other Books Mentioned The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett [11:40]  Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi [13:53]  The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins [17:21] The Secret History by Donna Tartt [17:24] & [39:31] The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer [17:26]  Rules of Civility by Amor Towles [22:18] A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara [34:06]  Scout Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee [52:28]  Other Links Podcast Episode 93: Fall 2021 Book Preview with Catherine from @GilmoreGuide Podcast Episode 83: 2021 Summer Reading Special with Susie from @NovelVisits Podcast Episode 78: Deep Backlist Books with Catherine from @GilmoreGuide Podcast Episode 64: Catherine Adel West (Author of Saving Ruby King) If you'd like to track your own reading stats, check out my downloadable spreadsheet.  Learn more about the 2021 Rock Your Reading Tracking Spreadsheet here, or by becoming a supporter on Patreon and choosing the Superstar level, you'll get the upcoming 2022 Reading Tracker included with your membership.

Episode 1 Show Notes: Welcome to Literally Reading! We are Ellie and Traci, two bookish friends who will read in every spare minute that we have! In this episode, we will give an introduction about ourselves and tell you why we are podcasting. As always, we will share what and where we are reading right now. We are so glad you are here! Join us at instagram @literally_reading. Nancy Drew Series by Carolyn Keene Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder Sweet Valley High by Francine Pascal Babysitters Club by Ann M. Martin The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett

Dave Pezza and guest host Annie Hartnett (Rabbit Cake) close out NovelClass Season 3 with a discussion about Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie. This episode was recorded live at Green Line Apothecary in Providence, R.I. NovelClass is sponsored by OneRoom.  

It started as a short story in grad school, but Gabriel Urza kept coming back to what would eventually be his novella THE WHITE DEATH: AN ILLUSION. He talks to James about feeling like a child in the face of magic, having trouble extricating past from present, portraying the ambiguity of the supernatural, working through your problems when writing, and reading that's like eating a bag of chips. Plus, Tyler Glauz-Todrank from Bear Pond Books in Montpelier, VT on fall releases.    - Gabriel Urza: http://gabrielurza.com/ Buy THE WHITE DEATH: AN ILLUSION: http://nouvellabooks.com/the-white-death-by-gabriel-urza/ Gabriel and James discuss:  Charles Dickens  ANGELS & DEMONS by Dan Brown  Kurt Vonnegut  The Ohio State University  "Fantasy for Eleven Fingers" by Ben Fountain  the Magic Castle  "Eisenheim the Illusionist" by Steven Millhauser Jeff Mcbride Mt. Hood  Sewanee Writers' Conference  Bread Loaf Writers' Conference  Annie Hartnett  Hannah Tinti  Loch Ness  Claire Vaye Watkins THE THIRD HOTEL by Laura van den Berg  PALE FIRE by Vladimir Nabokov  Deena Drewis  - Tyler Glauz-Todrank  Bear Pond Books, Montpelier, VT: https://www.bearpondbooks.com/ Tyler and James discuss:  BUNNY by Mona Awad: Buy BUNNY Bear Pond Books  Rivendell  James Baldwin  WHO KILLED MY FATHER by Edouard Louis trans. by Lorin Stein: Buy WHO KILLED MY FATHER New Directions Press  LIE WITH ME by Philippe Besson trans. by Molly Ringwald: Buy LIE WITH ME LOT: STORIES by Bryan Washington: Buy LOT  THE WORD FOR WOMAN IS WILDERNESS by Abi Andrews: Buy THE WORD FOR WOMAN IS WILDERNESS  Two Dollar Radio  HARD MOUTH by Amanda Goldblatt: Buy HARD MOUTH GRAND UNION: STORIES by Zadie Smith: Buy GRAND UNION IN THE DREAMHOUSE: A MEMOIR by Carmen Maria Machado: Buy IN THE DREAM HOUSE Graywolf Press RED AT THE BONE by Jacqueline Woodson: Buy RED AT THE BONE NOTHING TO SEE HERE by Kevin Wilson: Buy NOTHING TO SEE HERE  TUNNELING TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH by Kevin Wilson: Buy TUNNELING TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH  THE FAMILY FANG by Kevin Wilson: Buy THE FAMILY FANG  AN AMERICAN SUNRISE by Joy Harjo: Buy AN AMERICAN SUNRISE   Ben Lerner  ON SWIFT HORSES by Shannon Pufahl: Buy ON SWIFT HORSES OUT OF DARKNESS, SHINING LIGHT by Petina Gappah: Buy OUT OF DARKNESS, SHINING LIGHT  Scribner  EYES BOTTLE DARK WITH A MOUTHFUL OF FLOWERS by Jake Skeets: Buy EYES BOTTLE DARK WITH A MOUTHFUL OF FLOWERS  Richard Avedon  Milkweed Editions  HUNGER MOUNTAIN  HOMIE by Danez Smith: Buy HOMIE  HOW WE FIGHT FOR OUR LIVES by Saeed Jones: Buy HOW WE FIGHT FOR OUR LIVES  Simon & Schuster  Maggie Nelson  WE THE ANIMALS by Justin Torres: Buy WE THE ANIMALS  EROSION: ESSAYS OF UNDOING by Terry Tempest Williams: Buy EROSION: ESSAYS OF UNDOING  MAKE IT SCREAM, MAKE IT BURN: ESSAYS by Leslie Jamison: Buy MAKE IT SCREAM MAKE IT BURN YEAR OF THE MONKEY by Patti Smith: Buy YEAR OF THE MONKEY  CONFESSIONS OF THE FOX by Jordy Rosenberg: Buy CONFESSIONS OF THE FOX - http://tkpod.com / tkwithjs@gmail.com / Twitter: @JamesScottTK Instagram: tkwithjs / Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tkwithjs/

Laura van den Berg returns to discuss her brilliantly unsettling new novel, THE THIRD HOTEL. She and James discuss her three research trips to Havana, film adaptations, women in horror, crucial details, and her thought log, which is exactly what it sounds like. Then Marya Brennan talks about a Writing Blood Oath and her work as the NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program Director.  - Laura van den Berg: http://lauravandenberg.com/ Laura and James Discuss:  Jenny Halpert  Kate Sharp  THE BURNING SEASON  Naomi Watts  The Tribeca Film Festival  Claire McCarthy  ARRIVAL dir by Denis Villeneuve  "Story of Your Life" by Ted Chiang SCREAM dir by Wes Craven  THE BABADOOK dir by Jennifer Kent  A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT dir by Ana Lily Aminpour  VERTIGO dir by Alfred Hitchcock  THE SHINING dir by Stanley Kubrick  Shelley Duvall  PIANO by Jean Echenoz  James Longenbach  - Marya Brennan, NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program Director: https://ywp.nanowrimo.org/ Marya and James Discuss:  Annie Hartnett  Robbie!  Aimee Bender  DEEP WORK by Cal Newport  NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program  THE THINGS THEY CARRIED by Tim O'Brien Chris Baty  - http://tkpod.com / tkwithjs@gmail.com / Twitter: @JamesScottTK Instagram: tkwithjs / Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tkwithjs/

In the most clarifying conversation James has had about the process of learning to be a writer, Sarah Ann Strickley discusses her story collection, FALL TOGETHER, as well as the dangers of the Muse, the joys of plot and structure, finding your voice, giving up your heroes, and being Superman's neighbor. Plus, they nerd out over Marilynne Robinson's HOUSEKEEPING. Then, past guests provide summer reading recommendations.  - Sarah Anne Strickley: https://www.sarahannestrickley.com/ Sarah and James discuss:  Ian Stansel  Raymond Carver  The Cure  Joy Division  The University of Iowa  Emerson College  Joseph Campbell  Darrell Spencer  COUNTRY DARK by Chris Offutt HOUSEKEEPING by Marilynne Robinson "Hover" by Nell Freudenberger Karen Russell  Carmen Maria Machado Laura van den Berg  Fortress of Solitude  Superman  Superman's Neighbor - Summer Reading Recommendations:  Julia Fine, author of WHAT SHOULD BE WILD (ep. 58)  THE LUMINARIES by Eleanor Catton THE WAKE by Paul Kingsnorth  INVITATION TO A BONFIRE by Adrienne Celt  Xhenet Aliu, author of BRASS (ep. 50)  WATCHMEN written by Alan Moore, art by David Gibbons, colorist John Higgins  A RIVER OF STARS by Vanessa Hua  THE INCENDIARIES by R.O. Kwon  Patrick Crerand, author of THE PAPER LIFE THEY LEAD (ep. 56)  PANORAMA by Steve Kistulentz  BRAZEN CREATURE by Anne Barngrover BAD STORIES by Steve Almond PRIEST DADDY by Patricia Lockwood  THE INFORMATION by James Gleick Mark Powell, author of SMALL TREASONS (ep. 11)  FLORIDA by Lauren Groff  WARLIGHT by Michael Ondaatje  OUTLINE by Rachel Cusk  MY LIFE AS A RUSSIAN NOVEL by Emmanuel Carrere  KINGDOM by Emmanuel Carrere  BLUETS by Maggie Nelson THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA by Philip Roth  Kirstin Chen, author of BURY WHAT WE CANNOT TAKE (ep. 55)  MOTHER OF INVENTION by Caeli Wolfson Widger  SUICIDE CLUB by Rachel Heng  AN OCEAN OF MINUTES by Thea Lim  WHITE DANCING ELEPHANTS by Chaya Bhuvaneswar  Aja Gabel, author of THE ENSEMBLE (ep. 59)   CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS by Sally Rooney  A SEPARATION by Katie Kitamura  Michael Nye, author of ALL THE CASTLES BURNED (ep. 52)  ASYMMETRY by Lisa Halliday  SWEET & LOW by Nick White  INDIAN HORSE by Richard Wagamese  REMEMBERING POETS by Donald Hall   Annie Hartnett, author of RABBIT CAKE (ep. 30)  THERE, THERE by Tommy Orange  WHO IS VERA KELLY? by Rosalie Knecht  THE LITTLE STRANGER by Sarah Waters  THE WORLD OF TOMORROW by Brendan Matthews  LESS by Andrew Sean Greer  THE MARS ROOM by Rachel Kushner  - http://tkpod.com / tkwithjs@gmail.com / Twitter: @JamesScottTK Instagram: tkwithjs / Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tkwithjs/

Despite their easy descriptions-- a book about small town baseball, a memoir of grief and addiction, a discussion of reality television-- Lucas Mann's books are unlike anything else, with each page revealing a fresh perspective or a surprising insight. He tells James about writing weird books in a way that feels normal, throwing subjects off-kilter in interviews, learning to write unhinged to create emotion, and playing Jenga with narrative. Plus, Nathan McNamara on the art of book reviewing.  - Lucas Mann: http://www.lucasmann.com/ James and Lucas discuss:  The University of Iowa  HOMAGE TO CATALONIA by George Orwell  Arundhati Roy  Amitava Kumar  James Baldwin  THE VILLAGER  Film Forum  THRONE by Kerry Howley  THE NEW YORKER  Roger Angell "Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu" by John Updike  David Halberstam  BLUETS by Maggie Nelson  THE LOVER by Marguerite Duras  THE SUICIDE INDEX by Joan Wickersham  SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE  Malcolm Gladwell  Virginia Center for the Creative Arts  The Kardashians  - Nathan McNamara: http://nathanscottmcnamara.com/ Nathan and James discuss:  PLOUGHSHARES  Johns Hopkins University  Vassar College  COFFEE HOUSE PRESS  SAMUEL JOHNSON'S ETERNAL RETURN by Michael Riker  DOROTHY, A PUBLISHING PROJECT   Megan McDowell Christina MacSweeney  Emma Ramadan  Riff Raff Bookstore  Michael Silverblatt  BOOKWORM  Annie Hartnett  THE LOS ANGELES REVIEW OF BOOKS  Ellie Duke  Danielle Dutton   THE SHUTTERS by Ahmed Bouanani THE HOSPITAL by Ahmed Bouanani  NEW DIRECTIONS PRESS  COMEMADRE by Roque Larraquy Alejandra Pizarnik  THE POETRY FOUNDATION  Jeremy Lybarger  THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE: STORIES by Mariana Enriquez  FEVER DREAM by Samantha Schweblin  MY HEART HEMMED IN by Marie NDiaye  TWO LINES PRESS  THE BABYSITTER AT REST by Jen George  -  http://tkpod.com / tkwithjs@gmail.com / Twitter: @JamesScottTK Instagram: tkwithjs / Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tkwithjs/

Of all the terrible just-out-of-college jobs that have been described on TK, Julia Fine probably had the worst. Later, she ended up leaving a good position to pursue an MFA, and the result is WHAT SHOULD BE WILD, a (wild) combination of fairy tale, folklore, mystery, road trip, and countless other inspirations. She and James talk about how she managed to juggle so many influences while avoiding genre expectations. Plus, Julia's editor from Harper, Erin Wicks.  -  Julia Fine: https://www.julia-fine.com/ Julia and James discuss: Annie Hartnett  Columbia College Chicago Harper  Mercedes Lackey  Tamora Pierce  HIS DARK MATERIALS by Philip Pullman Angela Carter  WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE by Shirley Jackson  Robert Graves  FROM THE BEAST TO THE BLONDE by Marina Warner  Erin Wicks  Carmen Maria Machado   Kelly Link  SWAMPLANDIA! by Karen Russell THE TIGER'S WIFE by Tea Obreht  MR. FOX by Helen Oyeyemi  Benjamin Percy  Stephen King  MARLENA by Julie Buntin - Erin Wicks: @Erin_Wicks Erin and James discuss:  WHAT SHOULD BE WILD by Julia Fine (obviously) SUNSHINE STATE by Sarah Gerard  BINARY STAR by Sarah Gerard  WAVE by Sonali Deraniyagala -  http://tkpod.com / tkwithjs@gmail.com / Twitter: @JamesScottTK Instagram: tkwithjs / Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tkwithjs/

Over the course of eleven books, including his latest novel, THE UNMADE WORLD, Steve Yarbrough has established himself as a master of language and place. But James knows him as the leader of the greatest workshop ever. They discuss that class at Sewanee, as well as being a Southern writer with a British aesthetic, structuring novels based on the football calendar, and getting poked in the stomach. Plus, Annie Hartnett on being more productive.    Steve Yarbrough: https://www.steveyarbrough.net/ Steve and James discuss: Sewanee Writers' Conference  Jill McCorkle  Johnny Carson  IN THE SHADOW OF 10,000 HILLS by Jennifer Haupt  THE GIRL FROM BLIND RIVER by Gale Massey  Bill Parcells  Jimmy Johnson  University of Arkansas  William Harrison  John Clellon Holmes  James Whitehead  Bill Belichick  Graham Greene  Emerson College Pamela Painter  Margot Livesey  THE LAST PICTURE SHOW by Larry McMurtry BOOKMARKED: LARRY McMURTRY'S THE LAST PICTURE SHOW by Steve Yarbrough (SY)  PRISONERS OF WAR by SY  THE END OF CALIFORNIA by SY  "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway  Ron Hansen  A CLOCKWORK ORANGE  Bill Evans  Raymond Carver  THE DIXIE ASSOCIATION by Donald "Skip" Hayes  Richard Yates  William Trevor  "Wildwood Flower" "Blowing up on the Spot" by Kevin Wilson (from PLOUGHSHARES, Winter 2003-4)  Joyce Carol Oates "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?"  THE PIGEON TUNNEL by John LeCarre   Alice Munro  THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER by Tom Clancy  Gary Fisketjon  Greg Michalson Fred Ramey  Knopf  THE OXYGEN MAN by SY  The Harvard Book Store  Michael Nye  OBJECTS OF AFFECTION by Ewa Hryniewicz-Yarbrough Unbridled Books  - Annie Hartnett: http://www.anniehartnett.com/ Annie and James discuss: "If You Want to Write a Book, Write Every Day or Quit Now" by Stephen Hunter   "Why the Best Way to Get Creative Is to Make Some Rules" by Aimee Bender http://www.oprah.com/spirit/writing-every-day-writers-rules-aimee-bender/all#ixzz58vlFL9eU THE ELECTRIC WOMAN by Tessa Fontaine  Sarah Shute  THE DEFINING DECADE by Meg Jay  ON WRITING: A MEMOIR OF THE CRAFT by Stephen King  DEEP WORK by Cal Newport  Anne Vogel  Benjamin Percy  THE SOUND OF MUSIC -  http://tkpod.com / tkwithjs@gmail.com / Twitter: @JamesScottTK Instagram: tkwithjs / Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tkwithjs/            

Author Annie Hartnett talks to Daniel Ford about her debut novel Rabbit Cake, her Dolly Parton-infused writing process, and how she ended up at Tin House Books. To learn more about Annie Hartnett, visit her official website or follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Today's episode is sponsored by OneRoom, Eight Cousins Books, and NovelClass. 

Claire Fuller started writing to compete in a local short story slam. Then she started to win. Soon after, she earned an MA and has since written two novels, OUR ENDLESS NUMBERED DAYS and SWIMMING LESSONS. She and James talk about the torture of writing new material, the joy of editing, the reader response theory, and the practice of listening to music while writing. Plus, year-end reading recommendations from some of 2017's guests!    Claire Fuller: https://clairefuller.co.uk/ Claire and James discuss: Penguin Books  Tin House Books  Masie Cochran  Fuzzy Felt Green  WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE by Shirley Jackson  THE THINGS THEY CARRIED by Tim O'Brien  THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER by Carson McCullers  HOUSEKEEPING by Marilynne Robinson  LEGEND OF A SUICIDE by David Vann  Iron & Wine  Sam Beam  Townes van Zandt  TURN OUT THE LIGHTS (album) by Julien Baker  Margot Livesey  SOY SAUCE FOR BEGINNERS by Kirstin Chen NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (dir by Coens) THERE WILL BE BLOOD (dir by PT Anderson)  MICHAEL CLAYTON (dir by Tony Gilroy)  ZODIAC (dir by David Fincher)  IDAHO by Emily Ruskovich   A SEPARATION by Katie Kitamura  - Year-End Recommendations from: Annie Hartnett, author of RABBIT CAKE:  THE HISTORY OF WOLVES by Emily Fridlund THE TWELVE LIVES OF SAMUEL HAWLEY by Hannah Tinti  BORNE by Jeff VanderMeer  MOTHERIST by Kristen Iskandrian  THE MOTHERS by Brit Bennett  PERFECT LITTLE WORLD by Kevin Wilson  GOD, THE MOON, AND OTHER MEGAFAUNA by Kellie Wells  ANNA KARENINA by Leo Tolstoy    Anne Valente, author of OUR HEARTS WILL BURN US DOWN: THE ANIMATORS by Kayla Rae Whitaker SING, UNBURIED, SING by Jesmyn Ward  THE HOUR OF LAND by Terry Tempest Williams    Tim Weed, author of A FIELD GUIDE TO MURDER AND FLY FISHING: ANNA KARENINA by Leo Tolstoy  HAVANA GOLD by Leonardo Pedura    Robert Repino, author of D'ARC: THE ART OF COMIC BOOK WRITING by Mark Kneece  THE NEST by Kenneth Oppel    Amy P. Knight, author of LOST, ALMOST:  STEPHEN, FLORIDA by Gabe Habash THE GOLDFINCH by Donna Tartt  OUTLINE by Rachel Kusk    Rachel Cantor, author of GOOD ON PAPER: WE THE DROWNED by Carsten Jensen  THE LONG DRY by Cynan Jones  HOMESICK FOR ANOTHER WORLD by Ottessa Moshfegh  THE OLD FILTH TRILOGY by Jane Gardham TUESDAY NIGHTS IN 1980 by Molly Prentiss  STORIES OF YOUR LIFE by Ted Chiang  THE TWELVE LIVES OF SAMUEL HAWLEY by Hannah Tinti  MEMOIR OF A POLAR BEAR by Yoko Tawada    Michael Farris Smith, author of DESPERATION ROAD:  STONER by John Williams  THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD dir by Andrew Dominik   Kelly J. Ford, author of COTTONMOUTHS:  THE FACT OF A BODY by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich  HERE COMES THE SUN by Nicole Dennis-Benn  A SEAT AT THE TABLE (album) by Solange    Daniel Wallace, author of EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES: HEATING & COOLING: 52 MICRO-MEMOIRS by Beth Ann Fennelly THE BOOK OF RESTING PLACES: A PERSONAL HISTORY OF WHERE WE LAY THE DEAD by Thomas Mira y Lopez  - http://tkpod.com / tkwithjs@gmail.com / Twitter: @JamesScottTK Instagram: tkwithjs / Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tkwithjs/

Sometimes we talk about old books like they're sacred and have nothing to do with what we're reading day to day, but new books and old books both speak to us, don't they? And sometimes they speak to each other. This week, Chris and Annie discuss some of their favorite classics and their favorite new books as if they are cousins. Of the kissing variety? For instance, if you like To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, check out Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett. If you like One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, you may enjoy Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo. If you like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, you may enjoy The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. If you like Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, you may enjoy My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. If you like The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger, you may enjoy The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. If you like The Giver by Lois Lowry, you may enjoy Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn.  If you like In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, you may enjoy American Fire by Monica Hesse. If you like The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, you may enjoy Blankets by Craig Thompson. If you like The Joy of Cooking by Irma S. Rombauer, you may enjoy Delancey by Molly Wizenberg. If you like A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, you may enjoy The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant. November 25 is Small Business Saturday! Come visit us at the Bookshelf and see all of our small business friends. If you can't come to Thomasville that weekend, support your local businesses! Thanks, as always, to Forlorn Strangers for our theme music. Listen to more here.  If you'd like to gain access to our exclusive content, consider supporting us on Patreon here.  Full episodes of our show are available here.

Hemmed in by what she 'should' be writing, Clare Beams turned a corner by freeing herself to write what would become the title story in her phenomenal collection WE SHOW WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED. James was fortunate enough to edit one of Clare's stories for ONE STORY, and they discuss that experience as well as putting her collection together, how she ignored advice to maintain a consistent level of weird, and exploring the limitlessness of short fiction. Plus Emily Smith, publisher at Lookout Books, describes the unique program at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.  -  Clare Beams: http://www.clarebeams.com/ Clare and James discuss:  Columbia University  "The School" by Donald Barthelme  Kelly Link  Aimee Bender  Alice Munro  Hannah Tinti  Annie Hartnett  HAYDEN'S FERRY REVIEW ECOTONE  LOOKOUT BOOKS THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY THE NEW YORKER ONE STORY Beth Staples  Emily Smith  Erin Kottke  BINOCULAR VISION by Edith Pearlman  PEN: Robert Bingham Prize for Debut Fiction  Young Lions Fiction Award  - Lookout Books: http://www.lookout.org/index.html Emily and James discuss: The Sewanee Writers' Conference  Michelle Brower  ECOTONE  National Endowment for the Arts Association of Writing Programs  David Gessner  Jeff Sharlet  The Publishing Laboratory  Stanley Colbert  THE BOTTLE CHAPEL AT AIRLIE GARDENS: A TRIBUTE TO MINNIE EVANS  BACKYARD CAROLINA by Andy Wood  THE HATTARASMAN by Ben Dixon MacNeill BINOCULAR VISION by Edith Pearlman GOD BLESS AMERICA by Steve Almond Beth Staples  Anna Lena Phillips Bell  Melissa Crowe BELOIT POETRY JOURNAL   HONEY FROM THE LION by Matthew Neill Null  South Arts  "Granna" by Clare Beams  "We Show What We Have Learned" by Clare Beams  Ben George  WHEN ALL THE WORLD IS OLD: POEMS by John Rybicki  RIVER BEND CHRONICLE by Ben Miller  MADRAS PRESS  Sumanth Prabhaker  Corinne Manning  THE JAMES FRANCO REVIEW PLOUGHSHARES  REDIVIDER  ONE STORY  INSURRECTIONS by Rion Amilcar Scott  - http://tkpod.com / tkwithjs@gmail.com / Twitter: @JamesScottTK Instagram: tkwithjs / Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tkwithjs/