Podcasts about Best Fiction

With Special Guests Laura Drake & Sharon DukettMarketing books is hard, but what if your book includes themes readers might consider sensitive or controversial?From political commentary and social issues, to serious medical topics like cancer, dementia or the right to die, how should you approach marketing books like that?Join us for a frank conversation about the challenges and opportunities presented when marketing controversial books.Laura Drake is a hybrid author of Women's Fiction and Romance. Her debut, THE SWEET SPOT, won the Romance Writers of America® RITA® award for Best First Book. She's since published 10 more romances and 4 Women's Fiction. Sharon Dukett is an award-winning author who writes thrillers and memoirs. Her memoir, No Rules, won a gold medal in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards in Memoirs (Historical/Legacy). Her novel, The Shutdown List, won the 2025 Pencraft Winter Prize for Best Fiction – category Thriller.Lainey's novel! ⁠⁠The Exit Strategy is fun feminist fiction and a 15-time award-winner! A powerful, entertaining, and uplifting story of how even the smartest and strongest women fall victim to manipulation, and how, supporting one another, they can fight back, and find friendship.Winner of 15 book awards including Readers' Favorite, American Fiction Awards, National Indie Excellence.⁠⁠Join our newsletter⁠⁠⁠ and you'll always hear about new episodes and resources!Visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠episode page⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠for all resources and links featured in this episode.

Authors Edel Coffey and Kevin Power joined Matt on Wednesday for The Last Word's annual Fiction Books of the Year slot.Edel's choices included Ferdia Lennon's “Glorious Exploits” and “Intermezzo” by Sally Rooney, while Kevin picked “The Proof of My Innocence” by Jonathan Coe and Colin Barrett's “Wild Houses”, among many others.To hear their full list of choices hit the ‘Play' button on this page.

Golden Voice narrator Julia Whelan joins AudioFile's Michele Cobb to tell listeners about narrating Kristin Hannah's memorable historical fiction audiobook, THE WOMEN, one of our picks for Best Fiction of 2024. It's an emotional story about Vietnam War combat nurses, and Julia details how she prepared for performing this intense listen. Julia has narrated several of Hannah's audiobooks, and she explains what she likes about getting to narrate multiple works by the same author, and what's stayed with her about this audiobook. Read AudioFile's review of THE WOMEN. Published by Macmillan Audio. AudioFile's 2024 Best Fiction Audiobooks are: THE CEMETERY OF UNTOLD STORIES by Julia Alvarez, read by Alma Cuervo COME AND GET IT by Kiley Reid, read by Nicole Lewis HERE ONE MOMENT by Liane Moriarty, read by Caroline Lee, Geraldine Hakewill JAMES by Percival Everett, read by Dominic Hoffman THE LIMITS by Nell Freudenberger, read by Rebecca Lowman THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah, read by Julia Whelan, Kristin Hannah Find the full list of 2024 Best Audiobooks on our website. Today's episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're kicking off our Best Books of 2024 coverage with a special episode dedicated to FICTION. First, Elise Bryant joins us to discuss on of Kirkus' Best Fiction Books of 2024: the tantalizing mystery novel It's Elementary (Berkley, July 9). Then fiction editor Laurie Muchnick dishes on the year's best novels and story collections.

CELEBRATING JOHN CLARKEJohn Clarke was a pioneering comedian, actor and writer, whose television appearances as farmer Fred Dagg in the 1970s marked the emergence of a distinctive home-grown style of New Zealand comedy. In 1977 Clarke moved permanently to Australia, where he was best known for the popular television series The Games and a series of satirical mock interviews with Australian Bryan Dawe. His wide-ranging talents included scriptwriting, music, documentary presenting, and literary pastiche, and his comic performances encompassed pratfalls, parody and political satire.John died of a heart attack in 2017 aged 68 whilst hiking in the Grampians with his wife and friends.Celebrating John is his daughter Lorin Clarke - herself no stranger to life in the creative arts. Lorin wrote, directed and narrated the award-winning ABC RN audio fiction serial, The Fitzroy Diaries (originally aired on ABC RN's Life Matters), which you can find here. It won the Best Fiction award at the Australian Podcast Awards in May 2019. Lorin also writes for television and is a regular columnist for The Big Issue.Her recent memoir, Would That Be Funny? Growing Up With John Clarke is out now.Lorin is currently directing a documentary film about her Dad.Lorin Clarke (IG Lorin Clarke Official)Lorin Clarke's website (LorinClarke.com)Marieke Hardy Is Going To Die is a podcast made by Marieke Hardy (IG @marieke_hardy).You can follow at IG @GoingToDiePodMusic by Lord Fascinator (IG @lordfascinator)Produced by Darren Scarce (IG @Dazz26)Video edits by Andy Nedelkovski (IG @AndyNeds)Artwork by Lauren Egan (IG @heylaurenegan)Photography by Eamon Leggett (IG @anxietyoptions)With thanks to Amelia Chappelow (IG @ameliachappelow)Camilla McKewen (IG @CamillaLucyLucy)and Rhys Graham (IG @RhysJGraham)Drop an email to mariekehardyisgoingtodie@gmail.comWhilst acknowledging the privilege that comes with having the space to discuss death and mortality, we want to also recognise that discussing these topics can raise some  wounds. Should you wish to seek extra support, please consider the following resources:https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/online-grief-support-groupshttps://www.grief.org.au/ga/ga/Support/Support_Groups.aspxhttps://www.headspace.com/meditation/griefhttps://www.mindful.org/a-10-minute-guided-meditation-for-working-with-grief/https://griefline.org.au/get-help/ ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

A short movie called "Interlude" had shortlisted for Best Fiction at ReelOzInd! 2024. - Film pendek berjudul "Interlude" menjadi salah satu shortlist untuk Best Fiction ReelOzInd! 2024.

This week, bestselling author R. O. Kwon discusses her new novel Exhibit, an exhilarating, blazing-hot novel about a woman caught between her desires and her life. Kwon is joined by fellow author Nami Mun. This conversation originally took place May 5, 2024 and was recorded live at the American Writers Museum. AWM PODCAST NETWORK HOME More about Exhibit: At a lavish party in the hills outside of San Francisco, Jin Han meets Lidija Jung and nothing will ever be the same for either woman. A brilliant young photographer, Jin is at a crossroads in her work, in her marriage to her college love Philip, and in who she is and who she wants to be. Lidija is an alluring, injured world-class ballerina on hiatus from her ballet company under mysterious circumstances. Drawn to each other by their intense artistic drives, the two women talk all night. Cracked open, Jin finds herself telling Lidija about an old familial curse, breaking a lifelong promise. She's been told that if she doesn't keep the curse a secret, she risks losing everything; death and ruin could lie ahead. As Jin and Lidija become more entangled, they realize they share more than the ferocity of their ambition, and begin to explore hidden desires. Something is ignited in Jin: her art, her body, and her sense of self irrevocably changed. But can she avoid the specter of the curse? Vital, bold, powerful, and deeply moving, Exhibit asks: how brightly can you burn before you light your life on fire? R. O. KWON is the author of the nationally bestselling novel The Incendiaries, which was named a best book of the year by more than forty publications and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle John Leonard Award. With Garth Greenwell, Kwon coedited the bestselling Kink, a New York Times Notable Book. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and elsewhere. She has received fellowships and awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, Yaddo, and MacDowell. Born in Seoul, Kwon has lived most of her life in the United States. NAMI MUN grew up in Seoul, South Korea and Bronx, New York. For her first book, Miles from Nowhere, she received a Whiting Award, a Pushcart Prize, the Chicago Public Library's 21st Century Award, and was shortlisted for the Orange Prize for New Writers and the Asian American Literary Award. Miles From Nowhere was selected as Editors' Choice and Top Ten First Novels by Booklist; Best Fiction of 2009 So Far by Amazon; and as an Indie Next Pick. Chicago Magazine named her Best New Novelist of 2009.

In 2024 Eveline Pierre had the opportunity to speak with Myriam J.A. Chancy about her literary career and how she got started take a listen and learn more about Myriam in Episode 1 "Liveres Haitiens" for the Re-Boot of H.A.PS. Myriam J. A. Chancy is the author most recently of the novel Village Weavers (Tin House). Her previous novel, What Storm, What Thunder, was named a "Best Book of 2021," by NPR, Kirkus, Library Journal, the Boston Globe, Globe & Mail, shortlisted for the Caliba Golden Poppy Award & Aspen Words Literary Prize, longlisted for Brooklyn Public Library Book Prize & the OCM Bocas Prize, and awarded an ABA from the Before Columbus Foundation. Her past novels include: The Loneliness of Angels, winner of the 2011 Guyana Prize in Literature Caribbean Award, Best Fiction 2010; The Scorpion's Claw and Spirit of Haiti, shortlisted in the Best First Book Category, Canada/Caribbean region of the Commonwealth Prize, 2004.

Gerald Maa has been The Georgia Review's director and editor since 2019. During his tenure there, the magazine has won the National Magazine Award for Best Fiction as well as Best New Poets, and the Robert Dau/PEN Prize. Prior to this role, Maa was the editor-in-chief of The Asian American Literary Review with Lawrence-Minh Bui Davis. Maggie Su is the associate prose editor for The Georgia Review and the author of the forthcoming novel Blob (Harper 2025). She holds a PhD in fiction from the University of Cincinnati and her short fiction has appeared or is forthcoming in The New England Review, TriQuarterly Review, and elsewhere. The Georgia Review has a long, distinguished tradition of publishing writings vetted by a fully salaried staff. In this case, first up in the discussion is the essay “Campus Maximum” by Christopher Kempf. It explores the social justice versus academic freedom tussle that Cornell University found itself dealing with after an African-American student group took over one of the campus's main buildings in 1969. To say the essay explores town/gown tensions would be to slight the exploration of multiple, conflicted views taken by everybody involved in the unfolding drama. In “Chopping Up the Gun” by Mary Margaret Alvarado witnesses a weapons turn-in program held in Aurora, Colorado where “cars wait, as though for French fries, or absolution.” Having former weapons transformed into sculpture pieces or other objects invites a variety of responses. In L. J. Sysko's “Inside Lane,” an ominous foreboding exists among a girl's swim team where the coach kisses a team member without consent, and may be on the hook for worse before losing his job. Finally, in Brian Truong's “Fake Handbags,” an Asian-American family's shopping trips to New York City for knock-off luxury goods doesn't provide a brand halo that can protect the family members from the dad's angry outbursts. Dan Hill, PhD, is the author of ten books and leads Sensory Logic, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Gerald Maa has been The Georgia Review's director and editor since 2019. During his tenure there, the magazine has won the National Magazine Award for Best Fiction as well as Best New Poets, and the Robert Dau/PEN Prize. Prior to this role, Maa was the editor-in-chief of The Asian American Literary Review with Lawrence-Minh Bui Davis. Maggie Su is the associate prose editor for The Georgia Review and the author of the forthcoming novel Blob (Harper 2025). She holds a PhD in fiction from the University of Cincinnati and her short fiction has appeared or is forthcoming in The New England Review, TriQuarterly Review, and elsewhere. The Georgia Review has a long, distinguished tradition of publishing writings vetted by a fully salaried staff. In this case, first up in the discussion is the essay “Campus Maximum” by Christopher Kempf. It explores the social justice versus academic freedom tussle that Cornell University found itself dealing with after an African-American student group took over one of the campus's main buildings in 1969. To say the essay explores town/gown tensions would be to slight the exploration of multiple, conflicted views taken by everybody involved in the unfolding drama. In “Chopping Up the Gun” by Mary Margaret Alvarado witnesses a weapons turn-in program held in Aurora, Colorado where “cars wait, as though for French fries, or absolution.” Having former weapons transformed into sculpture pieces or other objects invites a variety of responses. In L. J. Sysko's “Inside Lane,” an ominous foreboding exists among a girl's swim team where the coach kisses a team member without consent, and may be on the hook for worse before losing his job. Finally, in Brian Truong's “Fake Handbags,” an Asian-American family's shopping trips to New York City for knock-off luxury goods doesn't provide a brand halo that can protect the family members from the dad's angry outbursts. Dan Hill, PhD, is the author of ten books and leads Sensory Logic, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

Today we're having a book chat with one of my best book buddies and close gal pal, Meagan :) Connect with Meg on Instagram: @iammegdoll Work with Meg: https://megdoll.com/coaching/ Get access to Meg's free resources: https://megdoll.com/freebies/

Novelists Edel Coffey and Kevin Power joined The Last Word with a list of the best fiction books of 2023 that you can read over the holidays or give as gifts!Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

This week we sit down with published author, Jennifer Banash. She is a former professor of English and creative writing. She is the author of Silent Alarm, a finalist for the American Library Association's Best Fiction for Young Adults, White Lines, Simply Irresistible, In Too Deep, and The Elite. Jennifer is also the former co-founder and editor of Impetus Press, a small independent publishing house that championed works of literary fiction with a pop edge. Her latest novel, The Rise and Fall of Ava Arcana was on amazon first read, garnering over 2K reviews.  We talk about the importance of female friendships, writing stories that do not revolve around a male love interest, Jennifer's journey as an author, and her experience in the publishing industry. Follow Jennifer on Instagram @jbanash Jennifer's Website https://www.jennifer-banash.com/ Buy The Rise and Fall of Ava Arcana on Amazon here! **** Real Talk About Feminism is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit⁠ ⁠BetterHelp.com/rtafpod ⁠⁠today to get 10% off your first month.  Need advice, wanna share a story, have a comment for us? Submit to this form and we'll share in our next episode! Submit ⁠here.⁠ All of our links! ⁠https://linktr.ee/realtalkaboutfeminismpod⁠  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/real-talk-about-feminism-a-podcast-for-female-empowerment/support

Narrator Helen Laser joins AudioFile's Michele Cobb to discuss her narration of YELLOWFACE, R.F. Kuang's novel with a sharp look at the publishing world and one of AudioFile's 2023 Best Fiction Audiobooks. Laser gives a mesmerizing performance as June Hayward, a struggling author who steals her dead friend's manuscript, passing it off as her own, and publishing it while pretending she is Asian. It's a riveting production of a thrilling and thought-provoking story. Laser shares the challenges of narrating YELLOWFACE, and what has stayed with her about this audiobook. Read AudioFile's review of the audiobook. Published by Harper Audio. AudioFile's 2023 Best Fiction Audiobooks are: CHAIN-GANG ALL-STARS by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, read by Shayna Small, Aaron Goodson, Michael Crouch, Lee Osorio THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE by James McBride, read by Dominic Hoffman I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU by Rebecca Makkai, read by Julia Whelan, JD Jackson THE LATE AMERICANS by Brandon Taylor, read by Kevin R. Free TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett, read by Meryl Streep YELLOWFACE by R.F. Kuang, read by Helen Laser For the full list of 2023 Best Audiobooks visit our website. Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from HarperAudio. Get up-close to artists you admire with Willie Nelson's Energy Follows Thought, Melissa Etheridge's Talking to My Angels, and Jada Pinkett Smith's Worthy. Listen to samples at www.hc.com. Photo of Helen Laser by John DeAmara. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Carolyn Hays is an award-winning, critically acclaimed, bestselling author who has chosen to publish Letter to My Transgender Daughter under a pen name to protect the privacy of her family. Her novels have been published by Hachette, Simon and Schuster, and HarperCollins; her books are also widely translated. Letter to My Transgender Daughter has four overseas editions, including those by Picador UK and Flammarion in France. Her past books have been listed as New York Times Notable Books of the Year and Kirkus's Best Fiction of the Year, and she's written for National Public Radio and The Washington Post.

Here's another recommendation for a great show to binge that is also in the Fable & Folly network: Mockery Manor. Mockery Manor is a feast for the ears in every sense of the word. It's a murder mystery set in a British theme park in the 1980s that has a deliriously dark comedic edge. Everything about Mockery Manor is superb, from its realistic sound design to its fantastic musical score to its wonderfully cheesy carnival antics and sound effects. But especially, its brilliant acting. The performances are all top notch, but Hayley Evenett is particularly fantastic. She plays not one but TWO main characters who are twins, and who happen to have very different personalities. Mockery Manor was nominated for Best Fiction at the British Podcast Awards in 2020. There are two full seasons to binge, and the third season is underway. You'll love every episode. You can find Mockery Manor wherever you get your podcasts, of course. But you can hear the very first episode right here, right now. Presenting Season 1 Episode 1: “Where Childhood Never Dies.” To learn more about Mockery Manor, visit https://www.longcatmedia.com/mockery-manor. Dirt - An Audio Drama and Mockery Manor are part of the Fable & Folly Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bill welcomes novelist Jennifer Banash to the show. Jennifer Banash is a former professor of English and creative writing, and author of the novels Silent Alarm, a finalist for the American Library Association's Best Fiction for Young Adults; White Lines; Simply Irresistible; In Too Deep and The Elite. Jennifer is also the former cofounder and editor of Impetus Press, a small, independent publishing house that championed works of literary fiction with a pop edge. A native New Yorker, her first apartment was an illegal sublet located next door to the Hells Angels' former headquarters on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Jennifer's latest novel, The Rise and Fall of Ava Arcana, was an Amazon First Read garnering over 2K reviews.

Mark Brandi is the author of four novels, including his latest, Southern Aurora. He joins us to discuss how a short story he began in 2015 became his newest novel, his choice to set the story in rural Australia in the 1980s, and how he writes so convincingly from a child's point of view. We also talk about sustaining yourself creatively over multiple books.  Plus, who's going to die first – Ashley or James? Is one of us dead already? Listen to find out!  Mark Brandi's bestselling novel, Wimmera, won the coveted British Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger, and was named Best Debut at the 2018 Australian Indie Book Awards. Mark's second novel, The Rip, was published to critical acclaim in 2019, and his third novel, The Others, was shortlisted for the Best Fiction prize in the 2022 Ned Kelly Awards. His fourth novel is Southern Aurora. He graduated with a criminal justice degree and worked in the justice system before changing direction and deciding to write. Get your copy of Southern Aurora online or from your local bookshop. Upcoming events  Ashley is conversation with Hayley Scrivenor about Dark Mode at Penrith Library, Monday 7 August, 6.30 pm Ashley and James in conversation about Dark Mode at Mona Vale Library, Tuesday 8 August, 7pm Ashley is in conversation with Petronella McGovern about Dark Mode at Concord Library, Thursday 10 August, 6.00pm South Coast Writers Festival, 18-20 August, Wollongong Town Hall – see Ashley and James in person!  Building Suspense in Writing – Ashley is teaching this online workshop through Writers Victoria, Sunday 27 August, 10am-4pm Crafting Narrative Drive – an in-person workshop with Ashley at Avid Reader in Brisbane, Sunday 26 November, 10am-1pm Books and authors discussed in this episode: Sofie Laguna; Tony Birch; Brilliant Lies by David Williamson;  Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller;  Summer of the Seventeenth Doll by Ray Lawler;  A Swim in the Pond in the Road by George Saunders;  Lee Kofman (from ep 76); Kate Mildenhall (from ep 13);  Sarah Sentilles (from ep 50);  From Bhutan to Blacktown by Om Dhungel Ashley's psychological thriller 'Dark Mode' is out now! Learn more about it and get your copy. James' novel 'Denizen' is out now! Learn more about it and get your copy.  Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Twitter: @AKalagianBlunt + @JamesMcWatson Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

Honoring the Fragility of Life with Jimin HanToday Yuliana is joined by Jimin Han, the author of the novel, A Small Revolution. Born in Seoul, Korea, Jimin grew up in the United States, eventually attending Cornell University and earning an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College. Her writing can be found in a number of publications, and A Small Revolution, her first novel, has appeared on many ‘Best Fiction' and ‘Must Reads' lists. Jimin currently teaches at The Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College and Pace University, and today she takes us on the journey of how the passing of her mother left her heartbroken but still gave her strength to continue writing.Jimin begins by delving into the event that redirected the course of her life - her mother's passing, how that event strongly affected her, and the further strain it put on her relationship with her father. She discusses how she channels rage and becomes more protective of her energy and space as a writer, and describes the way that realizing how fragile life can be makes us slow down to catch our breath. The episode rounds off as Jimin talks about playing the piano, be it Beethoven or ABCs, and how it resonates with her life. Having learned just how very precious each and every day is in our lives, Jimin has gained much wisdom which she shares with listeners here today. Episode Highlights:The event that redirected the course of Jimin's life - her mother's passingStepping into our own after a parent's deathHow rage made Jimin more protectiveThe concessions Jimin madeHow a sense of mortality affects our decisionsJimin's second bookNavigating a strained relationship with a parentThe preciousness of time and how it makes us slow downGetting comfortable in a certain amount of discomfortPlaying the piano Quotes:“As writers, we want to make complex characters, we want to live in the nuances of feeling.”“As writers, we need to be more protective of our time and our sort of emotional and mental space.”“I feel that a lot of the lessons that she was able to teach me, I feel that I still carry her with me.”“What...I want my children to learn from me, and what I wanted them to be able to say is ‘Yes, my mother did write the book she wanted to write.'”“I wish I'd recorded her. I wish I had been able to stay up and listen to everything else she wanted to say. I look back and I wish I'd been able to spend those moments.”“Every day is so precious.”“How is it that we just assume life is just going to go on? And yet we have to make plans. That's the best way to live is to make those plans.”“I didn't give myself that breathing space and now, I try to schedule a few big things a week, as opposed to, in a day. Maybe a few things in a month as opposed to a week...just not forcing yourself.”“I've just learned that if I wait a little longer, then the answer comes."“I think what it taught me ...that... for many years...and I will just speak for myself that I had made a lot of concessions and I feel that after my mother died I was able to see more clearly how I should be more protective. As writers we become more protective of our time, sort of emotional and mental space. All of that has become more clear to me.“Links:Phoenix Tales HomepagePhoenix Tales on InstagramPhoenix Tales on Spotify

Harry and Meghan are nominated for an award for their Netflix documentary but will they be disappointed on missing out on an Emmy? Joe Biden meets King Charles on his UK visit and could Prince Andrew be offered a stay at Royal Lodge? 

First pages are impossible… so we're hearing from authors about how they got them right. In this episode, Jasmin Hakes discusses the first pages of her debut novel, Hula, and how she structured the novel using traditional storytelling techniques from her native island. We also talk about the power of the royal we, addressing the reader directly and therefore challenging them, how to make summary work, and how to manage the revision process with agents and editors who might not know your novel's most important contextual details in terms of place, culture, and time. Hakes' first pages can be found here.Help local bookstores and our authors by buying this book on Bookshop.Click here for the audio/video version of this interview.The above link will be available for 48 hours. Missed it? The podcast version is always available, both here and on your favorite podcast platform.Jasmin ʻIolani Hakes was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. Her essays have appeared in the Los Angeles Times and the Sacramento Bee. She is the recipient of the Best Fiction award from the Southern California Writers Conference, a Community of Writers LoJo Foundation Scholarship, a Writing by Writers Emerging Voices fellowship, and a Hedgebrook residency. HULA is her debut novel and is an Amazon Editor's pick. It's received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Shelf Awareness, and is an Elle magazine 39 Best New books to Read this summer. She lives in California.Thank you for reading The 7am Novelist. This post is public so feel free to share it. 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

Jasmin 'Iolani Hakes is the author of the debut novel Hula, available from HarperVia. Hakes was born and raised in Hilo, Hawai'i. Her essays have appeared in the Los Angeles Times and the Sacramento Bee. She is the recipient of the Best Fiction award from the Southern California Writers Conference, a Squaw Valley LoJo Foundation Scholarship, a Writing by Writers Emerging Voices fellowship, and a Hedgebrook residency. Dance has always been central to Jasmin's life and creativity. She took her first hula class when she was four years old and danced for the esteemed Halau o Kekuhi and the Tahitian troupe Hei Tiare. She worked throughout college as a professional luau dancer. She lives in California. *** Otherppl with Brad Listi is a weekly literary podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers. Available where podcasts are available: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, etc. Subscribe to Brad Listi's email newsletter. Support the show on Patreon Merch @otherppl Instagram  YouTube TikTok Email the show: letters [at] otherppl [dot] com The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Private Affair was Podcast of the Year and Best Fiction podcast at 2022's Australian Podcast Awards. It's now back with season 2 and promises a whole new chapter of romance, laughs, and drama. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are so thrilled to present one more show that we absolutely adore - Mockery Manor  Nominated for Best Fiction at the British Podcast Awards 2020, Mockery Manor has garnered glowing reviews from Screen Rant, Herald Scotland, Engadget, The Podcast Host, Podcast Magazine, Bello Collective and more, as well as hundreds of 5-star ratings on Apple Podcasts. It was also described as "remarkably immersive" and "marvellous" by Stephen Fry.  Written & Directed by Lindsay Sharman Music, Sound Design & Editing by Laurence Owen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we discuss Goodreads' Best Fiction pick of 2022: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. We also contemplate starting an OnlyFans. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/beautiful-fools-podcast/support

Episode 61 of the Stories to Love podcast is up! Our guest today is Sadeqa Johnson.Sadeqa Johnson is the award-winning author of And Then There Was Me, Second House From the Corner, Love in a Carry-on Bag and Yellow Wife. Yellow Wife is a 2022 Hurston/Wright Foundation Legacy finalist, a BCALA Literary Honoree, the Library of Virginia's Literary People's Choice Award winner, and a Barnes & Noble book club pick in paperback. Her other accolades include winning the National Book Club Conference Award, the Phillis Wheatley Book Award, and the USA Best Book Award for Best Fiction. She is a Kimbilio Fellow and teaches in the MFA program at Drexel University. Originally from Philadelphia, she currently lives near Richmond, Virginia, with her husband and three children.In this episode, Sadeqa and I discussed how she married family history and a loose YA idea to come up with The House of Eve. We talked about how she navigates history as an author and a second point of view in The House of Eve that begged to be unearthed. Finally we talked about the story within a story that nudged its way into the bookI loved this conversation with Sadeqa, and I took so much away from it, notably how intuitive she is. Her stories, her ideas, the way she pieces parts of The House of Eve together…she was open to these changes. She even had mentioned it with Yellow Wife…that that story chose her, and it was the catalyst that nudged her off the contemporary fiction path to historical fiction. It felt like so many aspects and features of The House of Eve chose her too. To me, this episode was a reminder to keep my ears and eyes up. Maybe heed those nudges. Perhaps not self-reject quite as quickly. And as a storyteller, listen to what our characters are trying to say. At the moment, I'm editing my first book in my Harlequin series coming out spring of 2024, and re-listening to this conversation came at a perfect time. Links discussed:Our Kind of People by Lawrence Otis GrahamDorthy Porter Gladys BentleyRiver Sing Me Home by Eleanor ShearerThe Pieces I Am ***Preorder Tif's next book WHEN JASMINE BLOOMS, a contemporary fiction inspired by Marmee of Little Women, about a woman who suffers a great tragedy, wonders 'what if' and it comes true.Note: some links are affiliate linksContact Tif at tif@tifmarcelo.comPlease check out her website for podcast submissions

Goodreads Choice Winner for Best Fiction of 2022, Book of the Month's Book of the Year, and more. Carleigh and Hannah discuss the deeply flawed characters and the tumultuous lives they lead. They also let you know whether this book is worth the hype.Content warnings: This book (and discussion of it) contains references and/or descriptions of suicide, cancer, depression, death, etc.

Pam and I chat about her blog Who I Met Today, how and why she started it, what she has learned from the blog, our shared love of reading and books, the cookbooks she uses regularly and recommends, and much more. Want to submit a Read-Alike Request? Submit it here. Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon.  Other ways to support the podcast can be found here.       Check out my Best Fiction of 2022 and my Best Historical Fiction of 2022. Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Writers Advice Podcast we have the beginning of a series of solo episodes through to the end of the year as a recap on everything that you have heard from the amazing authors I have had the privlidge of interviewing. This week we're talking all about the books that I reccomend that you place on your TBR list now if you haven't already for 2023. This is for lovers of all genres. Trust me, you're going to want to get about this! You can grab a copy of my romance book Have We Met Before? or my new adult Rom-Com release, Manifest. Think: Legally Blonde Meets Abraham Hicks JOIN THE WRITERS ADVICE FACEBOOK GROUP Also you can join my reading community and book club on patreon where for as little as $6 a month you can recieve three new chapters of my unreleased Young Adult contemporary, Paranomal and Speculative fiction books ever week! - Olivia Hillier is creating Young Adult Books | Patreon To Contact Me:Website: oliviahillier.comInstagram: @oliviahillierauthorTikTok:@oliviahillierauthor

Mary and Pamela join me to discuss their recommended reads for Winter 2023. Mary's Selections: Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoor The Night Travelers by Armando Lucas Correa The Sisters We Were by Wendy Willis Baldwin Go As A River by Shelley Read I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai Angeline by Anna Quinn A Flaw in the Design by Nathan Oates Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl by Renee Rosen Underneath the Sycamore Tree by B. Celeste B.F.F.:A Memoir of Friendship Lost and Found by Christie Tate Drinking Games by Sarah Levy If We're Being Honest by Cat Shook In The Time of Our History by Susanne Pari Pamela's Selections: The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham The Woman With the Cure by Lynn Cullen Code Name Sapphire by Pam Jenoff Maame by Jessica George Community Board by Tara Conklin The Last Beekeeper by Julie Carrick Dalton Weyward by Emilia Hart Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson Hello Beauitful by Ann Napolitano Once We Were Home by Jennifer Rosner Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon.  Other ways to support the podcast can be found here.       Check out my Best Fiction of 2022 and my Best Historical Fiction of 2022. Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Authors Kevin Power and Edel Coffey joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss their favourite fiction books of 2022. List of books: Trespasses by Louise Kennedy Homesickness: Stories by Colin Barrett The Singularities by John Banville Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman The Geometer Lobochevsky by Adrian Duncan Common Decency by Susannah Dickey The Colony by Audrey Magee Edith by Martina Devlin The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell The Anomaly by Herve Le Tellier Again, Rachel by Marian Keyes The Queen of Dirt Island by Donal Ryan It Ends With Us/Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover The Amusements by Aingeala Flannery Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

In this episode, I reminisce about some of my favorite episodes: Gillian McAllister about Wrong Place Wrong Time Elena Armas about The Spanish Love Deception Annabel Monaghan about Nora Goes Off Script Fiona Davis about The Magnolia Palace Charlotte McConaghy about Once There Were Wolves Peng Shepherd about The Cartographers Dolen Perkins-Valdez about Take My Hand Bonnie Garmus about Lessons in Chemistry Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon.  Other ways to support the podcast can be found here.       Check out my Best Fiction of 2022 and my Best Historical Fiction of 2022. Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The best of the best for lovers of survival thriller novels.

The best of the best for survival thriller lovers.

In this episode, Kelly and I chat about our favorite books of 2022. Kelly's selections: Best of the Year - No Land to Light On by Yara Zgheib Best Own Voices Story - Honor by Thrity Umrigar Best Character Study - Notes On an Execution by Danya Kukafka Best Thriller With Heart - Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister  Best Genre Mash-up - Woman on Fire by Lisa Barr Best New Release from a Beloved Author - Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid Smallest Book With the Biggest Punch - Last Summer On State Street by Toya Wolfe Best Book to Cozy Up With - A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella Most Elusive 5 Star Read - Little Prisons by Ilona Bannister Most Memorable Protagonist - How Not To Drown In A Glass of Water by Angie Cruz Best Book Written By a Minor - Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley Most Likely to Make You Contemplate Life - Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro Cindy's selections: Best of the Year/Most Perfectly Plotted  - Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister Most Underrated Gem - The White Girl by Tony Birch Most Unsettling - Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng Noteworthy Nonfiction – Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Ages by Paul Pringle Best Based On a True Story  - Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez Best Recommendation from a Friend – Love and Saffron by Kim Fay Most Likely to Re-read How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz Historical Fiction Standout – Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner Most Likely To Recommend to a Friend – The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith Book I Wish Everyone Would Read – I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys Most Compulsively Readable – Woman on Fire by Lisa Barr Best for Feeling all the Feels – Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon (including more book awards with Kelly).  Other ways to support the podcast can be found here.       Check out my Best Fiction of 2022 and my Best Historical Fiction of 2022. Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Joniece Abbott-Pratt joins AudioFile's Robin Whitten to tell listeners about narrating NIGHTCRAWLING. Leila Mottley's powerful debut novel is one of AudioFile's 2022 Best Fiction Audiobooks for its immersive listening experience crafted beautifully by Joniece. Listen to hear about the emotional intimacy of Joniece's performance, how she prepared to narrate the moving dialogue, and what's stayed with her about NIGHTCRAWLING. Read AudioFile's review of the audiobook at audiofilemagazine.com. Published by Random House Audio. AudioFile's 2022 Best Fiction Audiobooks: THE ANGEL OF ROME by Jess Walter, read by Edoardo Ballerini, Julia Whelan I WALK BETWEEN THE RAINDROPS by T.C. Boyle, read by T.C. Boyle, Cheryl Smith, Jason Culp, Derek Perkins, Jeremy Arthur, Stephen Mendel, Johnathan McClain, Ewan Chung, Pete Simonelli, David de Vries, Nan McNamara, Rex Anderson JOAN IS OKAY by Weike Wang, read by Catherine Ho THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT by Maggie O'Farrell, read by Genevieve Gaunt, Maggie O'Farrell [Afterword] NIGHTCRAWLING by Leila Mottley, read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt THIS TIME TOMORROW by Emma Straub, read by Marin Ireland For the full list of 2022 Best Audiobooks, visit: audiofilemagazine.com Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of DEATH TO DECONSTRUCTION: Reclaiming Faithfulness as an Act of Rebellion by Joshua S. Porter. Available everywhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Lori is interviewing Carolyn Hays. They'll be talking about the freedom that can be found in a pen name and her new book A Girlhood: Letter to my Transgender Daughter. Carolyn Hays is an award-winning, critically acclaimed, bestselling author who has chosen to publish A Girlhood: Letter to My Transgender Daughter under a pen name to protect the privacy of her family.  Her novels have been published by Hachette, Simon and Schuster, and HarperCollins; her books are also widely translated. A Girlhood will have four overseas editions, including those by Picador UK and Flammarion in France.  Her past books have been listed as New York Times Notable Books of the Year and Kirkus's Best Fiction of the Year, and she's written for National Public Radio and the Washington Post. You can find her on her website or follow her publishers on Twitter at @PressShopPR and @BlairPublisher.   In this episode Carolyn Hays and Lori discuss: Why writing in second person is perfect when writing about gender. How to recognize a scene while you're living through it. When to write out a scene in your memoir and when to summarize it. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/437

As we do each year, we've curated a list of the Accidental Gods' favourite podcast and books of 2022.  Enjoy!Podcasts Nate Hagens The Great Simplification - fourth of four (so far) with Daniel Schmachtenbergerhttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-great-simplification-with-nate-hagens/id1604218333?i=1000583952697The Sustainable Food Trust episode with Dr Michael Antoniouhttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-sustainable-food-trust-podcast/id1511133906?i=1000559083233/Global Governance Futures with Jacqueline McGladehttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/global-governance-futures-imperfect-utopias-or-bust/id1548522280?i=1000544342241ITS BLOODY COMPLICATED by Compass - Episode with Byron Fay of Climate 200https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/its-bloody-complicated-a-compass-podcast/id1502390267?i=1000582130469Catherine Weetman Circular Economy Podcast Catherine musing on sustainabilty https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/circular-economy-podcast/id1465879853?i=1000583550758Catherine with Simon Hombersely of Xampla https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/circular-economy-podcast/id1465879853?i=1000582020564The rest is politics w Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart - episode w Mark Drakefordhttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-rest-is-politics/id1611374685?i=1000579634739Non-Fiction Books The Club on the Edge of Town - Alan Lane https://salamanderstreet.com/product/the-club-on-the-edge-of-town-paperback/Flourish - Sarah Ichioka and Michael Pawlynhttps://www.triarchypress.net/flourish.htmlhttps://www.flourish-book.comA People's Green New Deal - Max Ajlhttps://www.plutobooks.com/9780745341750/a-peoples-green-new-deal/Our Farming Life - Lynn Cassells and Sandra Baerhttps://chelseagreen.co.uk/book/our-wild-farming-life/(also A Dairy Story - David and Wilma Finlay of The Ethical Dairy)https://www.theethicaldairy.co.uk/cheese-shop/dairy-storyLouis Weinstock: How the World is Making our Children Mad and What to Do about ithttps://louisweinstock.com/how-the-world-is-making-our-children-mad-and-what-to-do-about-it/https://www.naominovik.com/2022/09/published-today-the-golden-enclaves/The Barn at the End of the World by Mary Rose O'Reilley The Apprenticeship of a Quaker Buddhist Shepherdhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Barn-End-World-Apprenticeship-Buddhist/dp/1571312544Novels The Kingdoms - Natasha Pulley https://natashapulley.co.uk/books/ and https://uk.bookshop.org/books/the-kingdoms/9781526623119Tuyo - Rachel Neumeier https://www.rachelneumeier.com/writing/tuyo/Kingdom of Silence Jonathan Grimwood (also Jack Grimwood and Jon Courtenay Grimwood) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kingdom-Silence-Jonathan-Grimwood-ebook/dp/B086R544MD/Naomi Novik - The Golden Enclaves - Lesson 3 in the Scholomance Trilogyhttps://www.naominovik.com/2022/09/published-today-the-golden-enclaves/The Stranger Times by CK McDonnell (also The Dublin Trilogy by Caimh McDonnell) BUNNY McGARRYhttps://uk.bookshop.org/books/the-stranger-times-the-stranger-times-1/9780552177344https://whitehairedirishman.comalso Kevin Hearn Ink and Sigil series https://kevinhearne.com/books/ink-sigil/

Sam Sacks writes the Fiction Chronicle for the Wall Street Journal Book Review, one of the best sections in the world of book criticism. He is eloquent in his defense of good books, tactful in his criticism of bad ones, and always interesting in his taste. In this episode, he joins David to chat about several stand-out novels that have been published so far in 2022. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

Nikesha Elise Williams is a two-time Emmy award winning producer, an award-winning author, and producer and host of the Black & Published podcast. Her latest novel, Beyond Bourbon Street, was awarded Best Fiction by the Black Caucus of African-American Librarians in the 2021 Self-Published eBook Literary Awards. It also received the 2020 Outstanding Book Award from the National Association of Black Journalists. Nikesha's forthcoming book, Mardi Gras Indians, will be published by LSU Press on October 5. A Chicago native, Nikesha is an Editor at Narrative Initiative and a columnist with JAX Today. Her work has also appeared in The Washington Post, ESSENCE, and VOX. She lives in Florida with her family and is working on her next novel. Interviewer Yvette Angelique Hyater-Adams is a poet, teaching artist, and proven culture change strategist. She publishes, curates, and facilitates storytelling for healing, creating art, for consciousness-raising, and advocacy.  Her most recent work is a digital poetry chapbook: Something Old, New, Borrowed, and The Blues. As a recovering bank executive and management consulting firm CEO, Yvette runs a social arts practice, Narratives for Change, LLC. Writing poetry and essay, teaching, and activism is central to her social arts practice. She teaches creative writing for women and girls, and Scholarly Personal Narrative (SPN) for social justice thought leaders. Yvette is on the editorial board for Practicing Social Change for Applied Behavioral Science. She is a volunteer for TEDx Jacksonville as a curator and speaker coach. She is the Chair of the Board of Directors for Alternate ROOTS, a social justice organization for artists and cultural organizers.  Yvette lives with her banker-jazz musician husband in Atlantic Beach, FL. Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/library-u-enrollment Nikesha Elise Williams Borrow Nikesha's books from our collection: https://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results?qu=nikesha+elise+williams&te= Website: http://www.newwrites.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nikesha_Elise Yvette Angelique Website: https://www.yvetteangelique.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/yhyater Jacksonville Public Library Website: jaxpubliclibrary.org Twitter: twitter.com/jaxlibrary Facebook: facebook.com/JaxLibrary Instagram: instagram.com/jaxlibrary YouTube: youtube.com/user/jaxpubliclibraryfl Contact Us: jplpromotions (at) coj.net

Today we chat with the absolute legend that is Eric Smith @ericsmithrocks A powerhouse literary agent and author extraordinaire, Eric Smith is a rockstar in the publishing world and an all round amazing human. A bit more about Eric: (https://www.ericsmithrocks.com) Eric Smith is a Young Adult author and literary agent with P.S. Literary living in Philadelphia. His latest book, Jagged Little Pill: The Novel, a collaboration with Alanis Morissette, Academy award-winner Diablo Cody, and Glen Ballard, is an adaptation of the Grammy and Tony award winning musical. His recent books include You Can Go Your Own Way (Inkyard Press) and the acclaimed anthology Battle of the Bands (Candlewick), co-edited with award-winning author Lauren Gibaldi. It's currently being adapted for film by Playground Entertainment. His novel Don't Read the Comments was a YALSA 2021 Best Fiction for Young Adults selection. The paperback is out now. He has short stories and essays in the anthologies Color Outside the Lines by Sangu Mandanna (Soho Teen), Body Talk by Kelly Jensen (Algonquin), Allies by Dana Alison Levy and Shakirah Bourne (DK), All Signs Point to Yes by Candice Montgomery, cara davis-araux, and Adrianne Russell (Inkyard), and Adoptee to Adoptee by Nicole Chung and Shannon Gibney (Harper). His other books include the IndieBound bestseller The Geek's Guide to Dating (Quirk), Inked (Bloomsbury), the anthology Welcome Home (Flux), and contemporary fantasy novel The Girl and the Grove (Flux). His writing is represented by Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary.

Laura Grimshaw and Jon Holmes present highlights and winners from this year's British Podcast Awards. The British Podcast Awards ceremony takes place on Saturday 23rd July at Kennington Park in London. There are 30 awards being presented including Best New, Best Comedy, Best Current Affairs, Best Fiction, the Climate Award, and the Rising Star Award. Plus one of the winners will be crowned Podcast of the Year 2022. For Podcast Radio Hour, we will chat to the winners, hosts and judges at the ceremony to bring the awards to you.

Brit Bennett is the author of the dazzling coming of age novel The Mothers and the National Book Award nominated novel, The Vanishing Half, which was also longlisted for an Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction. Bennett was named a 5 Under 35 honoree by the National Book Foundation and the book was longlisted for the NBCC John Leonard First Novel Prize and the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Fiction. Her work has also been featured in the New York Times, The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, and The Paris Review. While an undergraduate at Stanford, she won the Bocock/ Guerard and Robert M. Golden Thesis prizes for her fiction. Earning her MFA at University of Michigan, she won a Hopwood Award in Graduate Short Fiction as well as the 2014 Hurston/ Wright Award in College Writing. Her conversations are as memorable as her writing and give audiences a window into her craft while exploring broader themes of race and systemic injustice. Interviewer Nikesha Elise Williams is a two-time Emmy award winning producer, an award-winning author, and producer and host of the Black & Published podcast. Her latest novel, Beyond Bourbon Street, was awarded Best Fiction by the Black Caucus of African-American Librarians in the 2021 Self-Published eBook Literary Awards. It also received the 2020 Outstanding Book Award from the National Association of Black Journalists. Nikesha is a Chicago native and she attended The Florida State University. Nikesha writes full time with bylines in The Washington Post, ESSENCE, and VOX. Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/library-u-enrollment Brit Bennett Borrow Brit Bennett's books from our catalog: https://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results?qu=AUTHOR%3D%22brit+bennett%22&te= Website: https://britbennett.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/britrbennett Nikesha Elise Williams Borrow Nikesha Elise Williams' books from our catalog: https://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results?qu=AUTHOR%3D%22nikesha+williams%22&te Website: newwrites.com Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Jacksonville Public Library Website: jaxpubliclibrary.org Twitter: twitter.com/jaxlibrary Facebook: facebook.com/JaxLibrary Instagram: instagram.com/jaxlibrary YouTube: youtube.com/user/jaxpubliclibraryfl Contact Us: jplpromotions (at) coj.net

Today I talked to Cassandra Rose Clarke about her book The Beholden (Erewhon Books, 2022). Two impoverished sisters, one with magical gifts and one with ladylike manners and pretty dresses, brave the wilds of the jungle to find the River Goddess and compel her to grant them a boon. They're accompanied by a former pirate, Ico, who is hired to protect them. But wishes are never granted for free. Years later, Celestia's wish has come true. She's happily married to a renowned former adventurer, Lindon, who had the money to save her family's planation, and the know-how to make it thrive. Celestia is content with the resumption of her privileged life, and her long-desired pregnancy. Her sister Izara is studying magic at the secret Academy, now that her duty to her sister and the plantation is done. As for Ico, he's cavorting with a beautiful and lusty Goddess in her ice palace. Life just can't stay so good. The River Goddess has not forgotten, and now she has a perilous quest she demands of the three. A dark Mage, long presumed gone from this world, is making his presence known. There are disturbing rumors from the far north of corpses that cannot rest but continue to walk as if alive. The alarming news causes the Emperor to command Celestia's husband, the former adventurer, to join a party to hunt down the Mage and destroy him. The River Goddess has other plans. She wants the Mage brought to her safely. Celestia and her husband Lindon now find themselves on opposite sides, each a pawn of a greater force. Can their marriage survive the struggle? Can Celestia and Izara, two very different people, work together as a team with the unwilling former pirate, Ico? Only the end of the journey will reveal those answers. Cassandra Rose Clarke's novels have been finalists for the Philip K. Dick Award, the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award, and YALSA's Best Fiction for Young Adults. Her poetry has placed second in the Rhysling Awards, been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, and appeared in Strange Horizons, Star*Line, and elsewhere. Fun fact: Cassandra Rose does ballet to unwind. You can follow Gabrielle on Twitter to get updates about new podcasts and more @GabrielleAuthor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Toni Jordan has worked as a molecular biologist, quality control chemist, TAB operator and door-to-door aluminium siding salesperson, and is the author of five novels. Her debut, the international best-seller Addition was longlisted for the Miles Franklin award and won the Indie Award for best first book. Nine Days was awarded Best Fiction at the 2012 Indie Awards and was named in Kirkus Review's top 10 Historical Novels of 2013. Our Tiny, Useless Hearts (2016) was longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award. Toni has been published widely in newspapers and magazines. She holds a bachelor of science in physiology and a PhD in creative arts. Her most recent novel is Dinner with the Schnabels (2022). Toni lives in Melbourne.Get Dinner with the Schnabels Here: Amazon AUS Pre-order my new book 'The Path of an Eagle: How To Overcome & Lead After Being Knocked Down'. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thestorybox. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today I talked to Cassandra Rose Clarke about her book The Beholden (Erewhon Books, 2022). Two impoverished sisters, one with magical gifts and one with ladylike manners and pretty dresses, brave the wilds of the jungle to find the River Goddess and compel her to grant them a boon. They're accompanied by a former pirate, Ico, who is hired to protect them. But wishes are never granted for free. Years later, Celestia's wish has come true. She's happily married to a renowned former adventurer, Lindon, who had the money to save her family's planation, and the know-how to make it thrive. Celestia is content with the resumption of her privileged life, and her long-desired pregnancy. Her sister Izara is studying magic at the secret Academy, now that her duty to her sister and the plantation is done. As for Ico, he's cavorting with a beautiful and lusty Goddess in her ice palace. Life just can't stay so good. The River Goddess has not forgotten, and now she has a perilous quest she demands of the three. A dark Mage, long presumed gone from this world, is making his presence known. There are disturbing rumors from the far north of corpses that cannot rest but continue to walk as if alive. The alarming news causes the Emperor to command Celestia's husband, the former adventurer, to join a party to hunt down the Mage and destroy him. The River Goddess has other plans. She wants the Mage brought to her safely. Celestia and her husband Lindon now find themselves on opposite sides, each a pawn of a greater force. Can their marriage survive the struggle? Can Celestia and Izara, two very different people, work together as a team with the unwilling former pirate, Ico? Only the end of the journey will reveal those answers. Cassandra Rose Clarke's novels have been finalists for the Philip K. Dick Award, the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award, and YALSA's Best Fiction for Young Adults. Her poetry has placed second in the Rhysling Awards, been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, and appeared in Strange Horizons, Star*Line, and elsewhere. Fun fact: Cassandra Rose does ballet to unwind. You can follow Gabrielle on Twitter to get updates about new podcasts and more @GabrielleAuthor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

Tonight  we are heading to back to the sooner state of Oklahoma to meet another amazing author. Lara Bernhardt is a Pushcart-nominated writer, editor, and audiobook narrator. She is Editor-in-Chief of Balkan Press and also publishes a literary magazine, Conclave. Twice a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award for Best Fiction, she writes supernatural suspense and women's fiction. She is best known for her series, The Wantland Files and has recently released the 4th book in the series Halloween in Hannibal.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larabern10Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larabern10/Website: https://www.larabernhardt.com/Buy The Wantland Files HERE:https://www.amazon.com/Lara-Bernhardt/e/B01MRRVUEX?ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vu00_taft_p1_i0Check out our website: https://paraunitypodcast.wixsite.com/paraunityYou can find us on Instagram and FacebookInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/paraunitypodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/paraunitypodcastThanks again to all of you for tuning in. If you listen to us on apple podcasts please remember to leave us 5 stars or a review. It helps us to get the word out about the show and we want to hear your feedback to help make the show better. If you are an android listener you can follow us on Spotify, Pandora, I heart radio, Google podcasts, so you never miss an episode. Remember if you like the show, tell a friend.Music: "Check Your Math" by DJ Spooky

Dawnie Walton left Jacksonville after high school to pursue a successful career in magazines. Now she returns to town to chat with us about her first novel, which features a music magazine editor on a mission to discover the truth about an enigmatic music duo – a mission which includes a quick trip to Northeast Florida! Dawnie Walton is the author of the novel The Final Revival of Opal & Nev, a “spectacular debut” (Publisher's Weekly, starred review) that has been named one of 2021's most anticipated books by Essence, Vogue, The Oprah Magazine, Elle, The Independent, Lit Hub, PopSugar, The Millions, and Hypebae. Her work as a fiction writer and journalist explores identity, place, and the influence of pop culture. A MacDowell Colony fellow (2015), a Tin House Scholar (2017), and a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop (MFA, 2018), she has worked as an executive-level editor for magazine and multimedia brands including Essence, Entertainment Weekly, Getty Images, and LIFE. A native of Jacksonville, Florida, she lives in Brooklyn. Interviewer Nikesha Elise Williams is a two-time Emmy award winning producer, an award-winning author, and producer and host of the Black & Published podcast. Her latest novel, Beyond Bourbon Street, was awarded Best Fiction by the Black Caucus of African-American Librarians in the 2021 Self-Published eBook Literary Awards. It also received the 2020 Outstanding Book Award from the National Association of Black Journalists. Nikesha is a Chicago native and she attended The Florida State University. Nikesha writes full time with bylines in The Washington Post, ESSENCE, and VOX. Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/library-u-enrollment  Dawnie WaltonBorrow Dawnie Walton's books from our catalog Website: dawniewalton.com Twitter: @dawniewalton Nikesha Elise WilliamsBorrow Nikesha Elise Williams' books from our catalog Website: newwrites.com Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: jaxpubliclibrary.org  Twitter: twitter.com/jaxlibrary  Facebook: facebook.com/JaxLibrary  Instagram: instagram.com/jaxlibrary  YouTube: youtube.com/user/jaxpubliclibraryfl  Contact Us: jplpromotions (at) coj.net

Episode 105 Notes and Links to Nikesha Elise Williams' Work         On Episode 105 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Nikesha Elise Williams, and the two discuss, among other things, her early aptitude for, and interest in, the written word, her varied and prolific reading habits, formative books and writers for her, her days as a television producer, her fantastic podcast and its seeds, and her prolific publishing history, with special emphasis on her award-winning Beyond Bourbon Street.           Nikesha Elise Williams is a two-time Emmy award winning producer, an award-winning author, and producer and host of the Black & Published podcast. Her latest novel, Beyond Bourbon Street, was awarded Best Fiction by the Black Caucus of African-American Librarians in the 2021 Self-Published eBook Literary Awards. It also received the 2020 Outstanding Book Award from the National Association of Black Journalists. Nikesha's debut novel Four Women received the 2018 NABJ Outstanding Literary Work Award and the Florida Authors and Publisher's Association President's Award for Adult Contemporary/Literary Fiction. Nikesha is a Chicago native. She attended The Florida State University where she graduated with a B.S. in Communication: Mass Media Studies and Honors English Creative Writing. Nikesha writes full time with bylines in The Washington Post, ESSENCE, and VOX. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her family.    Nikesha Elise Williams' Website   Black and Published Podcast Home   Buy Nikesha's Books   "How Local Author Nikesha Elise Williams Uses the Library to Write Books That People Check Out" From the Jacksonville Public Library At about 2:40, Elise talks about her early relationship with words, her home being full of books, and an inversion of preschool “nap time”   At about 3:55, Elise talks about a fateful and inspirational autograph signing with Connie Porter of the American Girls' series    At about 5:20, Pete references the notes often found in used books   At about 7:05, Nikesha references Robert Jones, Jr.'s quest to buy first-editions of his favorite texts-here's Nikesha's episode with him!   At about 8:45, Nikesha talks about the vast swath of books she read as a kid, and the singular exuberance of the Scholastic Book Fair-she mentions reading above her grade level with John Grisham, Roots, and Eric Jerome Dickey, E. Lynn Harris, and Zane    At about 11:00, Pete and Nikesha talk about the powerful impact of reading Roots at young ages, and the need to re-read to take in the full experience and context   At about 13:05, Pete poses a tough question: Which is Nikesha's favorite Toni Morrison book?   At about 14:50, Pete asks Nikesha about memorable reading from college and early adulthood, and then asks her the question she uses on her wonderful podcast: “When did you know you were a writer?” This brings up Nikesha's kind words about the wonderful Eric Jerome Dickey and his encouragement    At about 17:00, Nikesha refers to important books for her, like TP Carter's Lovestoned, Erica Simone Turnipseed's A Love Noire, An American Marriage, and Deesha Philyaw's short-story collection The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, and Heavy by Kiese Laymon   At about 18:35, Nikesha gives a highly-complimentary explanation of the greatness of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies   At about 21:35, Pete wonders about any career-starting moments and/or “ ‘Eureka' moments”-Nikesha talks about doing early writing after entering the workforce   At about 24:10-26:35, Pete asks Nikesha about what she did as a television producer    At about 26:35, Nikesha responds to Pete's questions about objectivity in news in the Age of Trump, and Nikesha recounts her memories of Election Night 2016   At about 31:00, Nikesha describes her writing for Essence and VOX   At about 32:45, Pete asks about seeds for the Black and Published Podcast and its serendipitous early days   At about 38:30, Pete wonders about Nikesha feeling represented in what she read-she points out Flyy Girl by Omar Tyree as a first   At about 42:00, Pete asks about positive feedback that Nikesha has recived, from both listeners and writers   At about 43:00, Nikesha describes the “journey” of Four Women and the excitement that came with its publication   At about 43:45, Pete inquires about the epigraph for Beyond Bourbon Street, and Nikesha talks about “living abundantly”    At about 48:10, Pete and Nikesha talk about the book's beginnings and New Orleans as a “character” in the story   At about 53:00, Nikesha talks about how an early iteration of the book, and Pete and her reflect on the power of perspective that strengthens the book    At about 54:25, Pete asks about the main character Graigh and Bombei and their marriage issues    At about 57:40, Pete and Nikesha talk about sympathy and empathy as it is portrayed in the book   At about 58:45, Nikesha compliments her editor for helping her best involve thoughts in the book   At about 1:00:00, Pete outlines the ways in which “wanting to be seen and heard” intersects with history and personal stories   At about 1:01:31, Pete asks Nikesha about the writing of the sex scenes, and she connects her days in television with this writing   At about 1:04:00, Pete highlights some standout themes and writing and a key quote involving the burdens that women can carry   At about 1:07:20, Nikesha talks about her beloved grandparents and their connections to the book   At about 1:10:19, Nikesha reads from Chapter Four of Beyond Bourbon Street   At about 1:15:00, Pete stans over Nikesha's usage of “Sisqo Blond"   At about 1:15:30, Nikesha gives out contact info and talks about future projects, inclusing an exciting one for LSU Press        You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I'm @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I'm @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you're checking out this episode.  This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I'd love for your help in promoting what I'm convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form. The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.    Please tune in for Episode 106 with Daniel Olivas, Daniel Olivas, a second-generation Angeleno, is a playwright and the author of nine books including, most recently, The King of Lighting Fixtures: Stories and How to Date a Flying Mexican, a story collection published on February 22.       His first full-length play, Waiting for Godínez, was selected for the 2020 Playwrights' Arena Summer Reading Series. Widely anthologized, he has also written for the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, El Paso Times, Jewish Journal, La Bloga, and many other print and online publications. By day, Olivas is an attorney in the Public Rights Division of the California Department of Justice.      This episode will air on March 1.

An update from Christine:Private Affairs won Podcast of the Year and Best Fiction at the 2021 Australian Podcast Awards;Grant funding;Support Season 2 and shop merch at privateaffairspod.com.Thank you and Happy Holidays! #ROAD2SEASON2Facebook/IG: @privateaffairspodTwitter: @privateaffairsp Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/private-affairs. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.