Podcast appearances and mentions of freida mcfadden

How can you tell where the real innovation in publishing is happening right now, and why is it emerging from the indie side first? How do you market your own book when you've spent 35 years marketing everyone else's? John Bond talks about Going Indie and what he's learned about authors who last. In the intro, my thoughts on writing with AI, Charles Dickens and encouragement for the 3-year-old dancing to K-Pop at the wedding, UK copyright law, The end of an era — Hugh Howey; Notre Dame, Paris; Today's show is sponsored by Bookfunnel, the essential tool for your author business. Whether it's delivering your reader magnet, sending out advanced copies of your book, handing out ebooks at a conference, or fulfilling your digital sales to readers, BookFunnel does it all. Check it out at bookfunnel.com/thecreativepenn This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn John Bond is the co-founder of Whitefox, a premium publishing services agency, and has over 35 years in traditional publishing, from bookselling to marketing and management. He's also the co-author of Going Indie: Publishing Your Book Your Way, with James Silver. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. Show Notes Why 2012 was a watershed moment for publishing in the UK Whether the snobbery around self-publishing has finally gone How to co-write a book with someone, and why there's no formula The pride swallowing involved in getting endorsement quotes for your own book The shadow economy of indie sales that no industry chart measures The hallmarks of writers who build a long-term career You can find John at wearewhitefox.com. Transcript of the interview with John Bond Jo: John Bond is the co-founder of Whitefox, a premium publishing services agency, and has over 35 years in traditional publishing, from bookselling to marketing and management. He's also the co-author of Going Indie: Publishing Your Book Your Way, with James Silver. So welcome back to the show, John. John: Thank you, Jo. Thanks so much for having me. Jo: You were last on the show in 2022. You've been on a couple of times, but just set the scene. Tell people a bit more about you and your long background in publishing. John: I suppose I could say I started as a marketing manager at Penguin back in the early 1990s in London, and that role eventually evolved into running sales and marketing, as it often does. I did that at Penguin and at HarperCollins. Then I ran one of the publishing divisions at HarperCollins, including 4th Estate, and published Hilary Mantel and Jonathan Franzen and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and others. I left that in 2011 and set up Whitefox in 2012, and it's a classic startup story. It was somebody I worked with at HarperCollins. We sat around a kitchen table, came up with an idea for a business, which was Whitefox, and that's grown into the creative agency that it is today. Jo: So back then, did you think, “I can do this better”? Was that the impetus, “I can do publishing better than Penguin and HarperCollins”? John: No, I thought we would solve a problem. There's something very attractive about that whole startup mentality and beginning something from scratch. I mean, I was in my early 50s. I'd had a long career in traditional publishing. On the plus side, I knew a lot of people, and I thought I could get meetings, people would reply to my phone calls or my emails. On the downside, I didn't necessarily have the energy of a 20 to 25-year-old. I knew a lot of people and I knew quite a lot of things, and I also knew what problems something like Whitefox could solve. We set up with this idea that if we could galvanise and organise the diaspora of freelancers in the publishing space and make them available to anybody that wanted to make a book, that that would be quite a powerful thing. These incredibly creative, wonderful people who were below the radar and were not particularly valued or managed or utilised properly. I thought if we could access that and make that available not just to traditional publishing people who know about these people, but to individual authors, businesses, brands, people that wanted to make a book, and if you added a layer of our expertise from traditional publishing, that could be quite powerful, I suppose. That's what I was thinking back then. Jo: It's funny, though. You said these wonderful freelancers who were not particularly valued or managed or utilised properly. That could also apply to a lot of authors in traditional publishing. John: Totally. Totally. But if I'm honest, I don't think I was thinking about that. What's really evolved since we started, even in that 2011, 2012 period, is so much has happened to independent writers, indie authors. The whole ecosystem has become much more vibrant, and what is accessible to those writers is much greater. I'd like to think we've played a part in that. What that's done is put power back into writers' hands, and that quickly became apparent in the business as a byproduct of what we'd set up. Jo: Yes, and 2012 I do think in the UK was a pivot point, because I got into self-publishing in 2006/2007 when the Americans did with the beginning of the Kindle and the iPhone. Really the American ecosystem grew first. I happened to be in Australia, and so I think I was able to escape the negativity of the vortex in the UK, which took a number more years to embrace self-publishing as a force to be reckoned with as opposed to an embarrassing thing in the corner for vanity press. Do you see 2012 as a changing point in UK publishing? John: I think we'd just come out of the Kindle moment, hadn't we? There were all sorts of conversations going on about how that was going to change things forever. I think no one quite knew what the upshot of that was going to be, but we knew that it was incredibly disruptive. In 2012, Penguin, as it was then, before Penguin Random House, had offered to buy Author Solutions for $115 million, presumably seen as some kind of defensive measure as to what the market was going to evolve into. I think it felt like a real period of change. In the UK, James Daunt took over running Waterstones, and he was then ultimately going to run Barnes & Noble. It felt like a bit of a watershed. I think we were lucky in that sense, that maybe in the UK and in London, what we were creating coincided with an opening up of opportunity and creativity, and people wanting access to more tools to be able to do things themselves. Getting this idea that you invest in your own talent and what that could mean for your ability to do things quicker, better. Some of it was happenstance, but lucky for us. As you say, we then became aware that in a sense a lot of these things had come to fruition earlier on the US side. In London, that whole idea of setting up something that wasn't a traditional rights-owning model, but where you wanted to be working with people creatively, felt actually really exciting and timely. Jo: And when you started to work with independent authors, probably a couple of years after that, you started to work with a lot more indie authors and things really started to change in terms of the business side. Did you feel any of the snobbery from the traditional industry? Like you mentioned, you have a lot of contacts, a lot of connections. I came to your wonderful launch party and there were just people from all over the industry. I wondered if you got any kickback, or if anyone raised their eyebrows a little bit at who you were choosing to work with? John: Oh, definitely. And I would say I really think that's gone. You may think differently, Jo, but from my perspective, I think there has been such an evolution in the nearly 15 years that we've been going. So any of that residual snobbery, looking down your nose at people that were going DIY, producing multiple books, learning from every single publication. We've spoken about this before. I remember you sat on the panel of a FutureBook conference in the UK, which was run by a trade magazine, with this idea of looking at the, in quotes, “digital future of the business.” It felt like there were a lot of things being talked about, but not a lot of action on the traditional side. I suppose some sort of awe that there was some magic going on with people who were making a success of self-publishing. But then quite a lot of people looking down their noses at things that shouldn't get through the gatekeepers. I do think that's gone. Or if it's not completely gone, I can see it on the way out of the door, because there's no room for that when agents are struggling to sell books to publishers because publishers are looking at the next indie author, the next Freida McFadden, the next Sarah J. Maas, the next Rebecca Yarros. So whoever it may be, or wherever they're publishing, whatever they're doing now, wherever they may be, knowing that a lot of those people will already be publishing and be on not their first, second, third or fourth, but potentially their 10th or 11th book. It's a race to see who can help those authors, as a traditional publisher would see it, amplify what they're doing. I think the idea that there's an us and them, if it did exist then, which it certainly did in certain publishing quarters, is gone. I used to go to those conferences, like the FutureBook Conference, and certain publishers would talk about publishing, and when they meant publishing, they meant a really tiny area of quite literary, traditional imprints. That's what publishing meant. They didn't even mean publishing to mean educational publishing, or children's publishing, or academic publishing, and certainly not Kindle or POD or whatever. So I think that's had to change for very good, sound, commercial, economic reasons. Jo: Yes, you're right. I definitely have heard, as we go to similar events sometimes, and you do hear agents used to talk a lot more about finding books very occasionally in a slush pile, or doing courses so you could meet people and do pitch events and all this. Now it's often build an audience on BookTok or whatever, and sell lots of books, and traditional publishing as an amplifier, as you said. That's how I always hear them pitch it now, the question of— What can traditional publishing still do when indie authors can do so much? It does seem to be, well, we can amplify you, we can get you into traditional press, we can get you in traditional bookstores, we can help you with film and movie deals, that kind of thing. So that's really interesting, because that's actually changed quite a lot. They don't now seem to say, “Oh, well, we can make sure we pay you,” or, “We are editorial success as such.” John: I think they don't say editorial success or quality or indeed marketing, because that was what used to be said. I think there's an understanding that a lot of indie writers are better marketeers of their own books than traditional publishers, and if you go into the publishing machine, then you'll get your slot. It lasts for a certain period of time and then that moves on to another book. Whereas obviously if you're writing your own book and you're marketing your own book, you're able to do that yourself 24/7 wherever you are in the world, and you will know more about your readers and your audience and how that evolves than a traditional publisher would. What they probably mean now is, as you said, as much as anything, distribution, or even physical distribution. Because to be part of that process, I think that is still where a large conglomerate is able to wield some muscle, with this idea that if you physically want to see your book in bricks and mortar retailers in X outlets around the world, that's potentially easier to do if that is your aim, via a traditional publisher. So it is constantly evolving, because it used to be that marketing was the silver bullet, and I don't think that's the case anymore. Jo: No. We'll come back to marketing, shall we? Struggling with marketing. So let's get into your book. You recently co-wrote Going Indie with James Silver, Publishing Your Book Your Way. Obviously you already knew a lot about indie authors, so I wonder, what did you discover in the process of researching the book and the interviews you did? And I was one of your interviews. Did anything come up that surprised you, since you're already pretty embedded in the world? John: I would say some of it was reinforcing what I knew. So how everything is so intertwined, how in some ways unlinear everything is. People are doing lots of things in a different order to the way that traditionally writers would perceive this relay race of a manuscript gets passed to an editor, an editor passes on. That's just not how it is or needs to be anymore. I still think there is—not even a misconception—but I think there's a received wisdom that when you're talking about self-publishing, you're talking about fiction. The majority of books that Whitefox produces are not fiction, they're non-fiction. Some of them are quite mainstream, some of them are quite niche. That idea of connecting to your audience and your followers, and being slightly more scientific about how you find readers in your non-fiction niche, I think is still unspoken about in a way, in that genre fiction tends to be what people automatically assume the conversation is about. This probably doesn't surprise you, but I was pleasantly surprised to have it confirmed to me quite how much swapping and sharing there is of skills and knowledge in that space. I'm not saying indie writing is egoless at all, but there's quite a lot of sharing of knowledge and what works, and collaboration, which I think is great to see. Again, if you've, as I did many years ago, come out of corporate conglomerate publishing, traditional publishing, there's less of that by the very nature of the kind of organisation. And look, we just talked about marketing a little while ago. I do think this whole idea that the cutting edge of experimentation, it's not traditional publishing, it's indie writers. They are looking at not just how to find readers, but how to fulfil orders, how to make commercial sense of what they're doing from the absolute outset and get-go of what they're doing. And just how now the lines are blurring between what would be classified as traditional digital publishers and the writers who are doing their own thing, or doing their own thing on behalf of a few other writers. Those lines have completely blurred. There used to be this traditional hardback, paperback, X number of books a year, a year after hardback there's a paperback. This is the model we have been doing for centuries, and people doing things on their own. I think that's blurring massively, and the Venn diagrams of people's areas of expertise are just overlapping massively. Jo: Well, I think you're right there, and certainly the hardback special editions with sprayed edges and foil. A lot of us now are doing that first and not putting out the other, or putting out the rest of it at the same time. I dare say probably there are more indie authors with sprayed edge hardbacks than there are traditionally published authors. John: I'm sure that's right. And what's interesting is if you go to a traditional book printer, they are loving the direct communication with writers, that's not coming through traditional channels and traditional relationships. It's great business, it's interesting. I think that's something that's even developed in the last couple of years, that cutting out of some of the middle men required. Jo: Yes, and in terms of supporting freelancers and small publishing houses and printers and stuff, the other thing I've heard is that indie authors pay upfront, or they pay quickly, compared to some of these big publishers who are asking for long lead times and steep discounting. So actually a lot of these independent businesses are doing better under indie author work than they were under traditional. John: I think that's right, and that's what I mean also about the sharing of information and this collaborative idea of sharing creative knowledge. I mean, I'm making it sound like a kind of 19th century cooperative, which it isn't. I'm not suggesting that for a second. It's this idea that there's a lot of people learning a lot of things and there's a keenness to share some of that information, because if you've developed your own readership for your unique creative product, some of those learnings are very exciting. The printers I've spoken to love working on those kinds of things, because they are also being challenged to come up with new ways of developing ever more innovative physical product. Jo: Yes, I think it's a fun, creative time for sure. Things like Kickstarter, which you came on and talked about crowdfunding years ago, and I've obviously done. I think, what am I on now? Seven? I've just done my seventh. John: Wow. Jo: It's so much fun. But now what's happening is traditional publishers are arriving on Kickstarter and all that kind of thing. So we really see a blurring. Let's come back to your book, so Going Indie. You co-wrote it. Now obviously there are lots of positive sides of collaboration, but in terms of any challenges with collaboration and co-writing and the writing process of doing this? Because I've done this several times and I've found it very challenging. So tell us about the collaborative writing process. John: We thought a lot about it before we took it on. What I would say, having done it, is I am assuming there is no formula for how you do this. At Penguin I worked with a married couple who were crime writers, and they wrote books together. They merged their names so it appeared to be one name. I could not tell you, and they didn't share what that process was, whether they were writing different chapters or … I don't know. So I can only speak from my own experience. James is an established journalist. He's great with deadlines. He was very good at chivvying me along when I needed to be persuaded to hit the deadlines that I'd promised. I write blogs, I write newsletters, I write content for our website, but this is my first book. I've never written anything of this length. So in a way it started with the structure. It started with this idea that we would play to what we perceived as our respective strengths in terms of writing. We absolutely were not each writing every third word or anything like that. It was a process of trust in different parts. I thought, James had done some research and will be better at writing that. He deferred to me on areas that he took to be my areas of expertise. We did every interview for the book together. We went over the notes from those before they became part of the interviews for the book. And some of the book's elements are diagrammatic, so those are very easy to collaborate on. I think we tried to be professionally, creatively constructive with each other. So it was raising an eyebrow rather than shouting at each other if we didn't agree about something. A lot of it was down to the editing, and I don't know what your experience was like with a co-writer, but a lot of it came down to: here is something which is quite baggy. How do we, between us, make this as tight as we possibly can? I don't mean copy editing or proofreading. I mean the actual sort of, how do we get this into a pithy, usable, practical but discursive book? We didn't ever set out for this to be a pure reference book at all. We wanted to take a snapshot of what was going on. So a lot of it was genuinely trying to do some research and get people to feed into what was going on from lots of different perspectives, which is why we wanted to get mainstream traditional publishers, we wanted to get agents, we wanted to get indie writers, we wanted to get people who have all sorts of experiences and perspectives. That's what makes it what it is, which is, here's what we think are some of the interesting discussion points of what's going on now. Jo: It is a fantastic snapshot. I think it's really interesting—and obviously you also have seen my book, Successful Self-Publishing, which is on its fourth edition—this is one of the difficult things with snapshot type books. So have you already thought about that? I know this one has just come out, but have you thought, “Oh no, in five years we have to do it again”? John: Well, I think we thought we're going to have to address AI, which we do in the book, and we really tried to caveat that with saying, look, so much may change so quickly, and here we are talking about what we know now. We obviously tried to set the context for where we are now, and we tried as much as possible to make something which would last as long as we can. I think what we did think was, we have tried to make it as international a perspective as possible. But at the same time, we are a London-based agency, and a lot of the views will be from people based in the UK. So I think what I would like to explore is something that looks at potentially somewhere like the US, where I think there'll be different people that would perhaps have different perspectives on different things. So I think we thought about potentially there being future iterations of the book, but not yet. Jo: Not yet. This is the challenge with non-fiction, of course. On that, I would say what you just said around the US and stuff, the successful UK authors all use the same systems as the US. So I wouldn't say that the US … I mean, we all have the US companies we all use. I say Kobo is obviously Canadian, but I would say that we use the same ways of doing things. Obviously you might interview a different author, but … John: That was all I meant. I meant interviewing. Because we've interviewed agents and authors and publishers and they are largely UK based. So it was the idea that maybe there are some perspectives on things rather than systemic. Jo: Differences. John: Yes. Just that. Jo: So then I guess another challenge, we've kind of nodded to it so far, is marketing. So let's talk about the challenges of getting this book out in terms of publishing and marketing. Because you've been on the inner circle side, trying to do that for other people's books, but your own book, this is a whole nother thing. So tell us about that. John: Well, how do you do it, Jo? I mean, honestly, I've loved some of it. I get how you become completely obsessed with your book and trying to make sure that you can get it into the hands of the people that you want to get it into the hands of. We've got some great endorsement quotes, which was a task that, how can I say this? I would call it pride swallowing. The idea that you really try and get people to say nice things about your book and, if they don't reply, you think, “How much do I pester them? How much do I annoy them by asking them again nicely?” And the absolute sheer unadulterated joy when they come back with something positive that you can use and utilise in some way. So that whole process of waiting for feedback, I suppose, and hoping that people are going to like what you've done and help you spread the word for it. We had a launch event, we've given books away. We've published the book as ebook and POD. I think one of the great things about that is it's enabled us to be completely adaptable and make changes right up until the last minute. That drove everybody in my team completely crazy because we were making changes up until the last minute. So, is the book definitely going to be available on publication date? What's it going to do? You know, all of that kind of stuff. Also, just getting this idea that I suppose you can never stop. Is that a very obvious thing to say to a writer? It probably is. You just can't stop, because if you go, “Right, well, I've done it,” complacency is the enemy. Just as soon as you've got that quote, or someone said that they're going to give you an opportunity to talk about it on a platform, it's just another day and you've got to keep thinking about how you can spread the word and tell people that it exists. Jo: Yes, well, I think that's right, and particularly non-fiction, which unless it's very timely and you must get it out right now. But other than that— Most books you just have to keep marketing for years. Then just as you say, when do you stop? Well, you kind of never stop unless you want to, unless you want to retire and just give up, basically. Dean Wesley Smith, who's a big writer in the US and a kind of a mentor of mine in past years, he talks about it as this massive sea of books. And when a book arrives, he pictures it coming down and landing on the water. So the day you launch, it's landed on the water, and then it begins to sink. Then there are all these other books coming down. It's like this rain of books, and your book is sinking as soon as it lands. And your job is to keep it afloat somehow. John: Keep it afloat. Jo: Yes. John: I think you're right, and it's such an interesting perspective for us, who work with a lot of people who have one book. You know, they've spent 10 years writing it. It's their life story. It's their memoir. It's their self-help book. It's their book that accompanies them on their speaking journey, or whatever. Then there are the people who are writing constantly and can't stop writing because they're exercising that creative muscle all the time and wanting to get better, and wanting to improve and learn and understand why this works and why that hasn't worked. Just getting a glimpse into what it must be like for that person for whom writing is not a hobby. I kept saying to myself, “This is not something you're doing as a hobby.” I want this book to be of value to people, and if I'm investing that time and effort into something that I want to get out there, you've got to commit to whatever it is you need to do to make sure you're not sinking. Jo: Yes. John: I will now not be able to get that image out of my head. Jo: Yes. I know there's people listening who don't have a mind's eye, which I always find fascinating, but for those of us with a mind's eye, you can now picture that and you will never forget it. The other thing, I guess, is that, having done a lot, over 40 books now, the inevitable thing is you cannot keep pushing all of those books back up to the surface. So when you do get the bug as such of writing, the most interesting thing for all of us is always the next book. It's always like, ooh, the next thing I'm doing, I'm very excited about. So you do have to pick your battles on marketing. So have you got the bug, do you think? Are you thinking of other books in general? Because as you said, you must be, I guess, in your 60s. John: I am. Jo: You could retire. John: I am. You were talking about that long career. I could. I mean, I really love doing it, and I would love to do more. I think one of the things that surprised me was just how many ideas came up while we were doing the book about tangents that one could take it. I have no desire to write a novel. I don't want to do that. I wouldn't be very good at that. I do think there are some interesting spaces around where there's a kind of intersection of creativity and learning, and how you can develop books that would help people who are trying to achieve different things in different sectors of publishing. So without getting too granular about it, this book doesn't really address brands who want to become publishers, and I think that is something that our business has developed into working with, not just individuals, but businesses and brands. I think there's definitely spin-offs of this book which are not about repeating what we've done so far. And this whole idea of what you've been doing for a long time, what we've been doing since 2011, 2012, it's evolving now at such a speed. I mean, who would have known what was going to come out of TikTok? As you talk about TikTok to Shopify, that whole kind of new ways of finding readers, of taking books to market. As you said, Kickstarter, crowdfunding. There's all sorts of things that I think will emerge, because in a funny sort of way traditional publishing at the moment feels quite conservative with a small c. I mean, the bestsellers. Dan Brown is number one in the bestseller list this week in the UK as I speak, who has been a bestseller forever. And obviously new writers come along the whole time, but the market feels a little bit as if it's waiting now for innovation. I think if that innovation's going to happen, it's probably going to happen in the indie space before it happens in mainstream publishing. So people are coming to us and thinking, does that represent a trend? Does that represent something which could be a way of looking at something a little bit deeper, doing some research around and creating something which is not a long book, not a massive thesis, but something which is indicative of something which could be useful for people. Jo: Just coming back on the Dan Brown is in the bestseller list. I think this is completely to do with the way that traditional publishing measures things. For many years, more than a decade, probably since the beginning of Kindle, certainly the beginning of Kindle Unlimited, there is a shadow economy, I call it, or a parallel economy. I would say that almost zero of my own personal sales are measured by any industry standards. Anyone who makes any money from Kindle Unlimited or Kickstarter or Shopify, or selling direct in any form, or selling books at conventions, none of this is measured by any traditional things. As you know, the New York Times list, for example, does not include Amazon sales in their bestseller list. So you've got indie authors in the UK who are incredibly successful who have to decide, say, someone like LJ Ross, for example, decides, “Okay, I'm going to set up a proper imprint with Gardners or whatever so that I can get in bookstores so that I can hit a Sunday Times list or something.” So I would say that seeing things like Dan Brown on a bestseller list has almost no meaning in the shadow indie economy. John: No, you're absolutely right. We're not even able to see audiobook sales. Jo: Yes, audio. Any kind of borrows, like Spotify. John: No, you're completely right. I suppose I was making a broader cultural point, that it doesn't feel like there's an enormous amount of innovation going on or risk taking within what I would call mainstream trade publishing. And there doesn't seem to be the need to be, because there will be more consolidation. Small companies will be bought by big companies, so there's growth through acquisition. There's still a hope that something will take off that is a surprise, and there's still an enormous reliance on established brands who, even through the traditional metrics of how you measure them, are probably selling less, but still at the top of the pile. I suppose that's what I was meaning. Jo: Yes, and I agree with what the industry looks at as signals. It's just, as we said, a lot of these signals are invisible. So coming onto innovation, at London Book Fair this year there were a lot of sessions on AI, and you mentioned AI briefly, and there is a chapter in Going Indie on generative AI. And of course there's a lot of negativity and drama and lawsuits and this, that and the other. But at the same time, at London Book Fair, a lot of traditional publishers talking about using it, and of course they always say, “Oh, we use AI only in marketing and business, not with the creative or editorial.” Everyone makes this distinction. What are your thoughts on what's happening and where's it going with AI? Is a lot of this stuff not happening in public and just going on behind closed doors? John: I think so. We do have a chapter in the book on AI. We've generated summaries of every chapter using AI, which we explicitly said in the book as well. We've got our Ten Commandments of what we think are useful guidelines. I think that there has to be an enormous amount being done, whether it's experimentation or speeding up for efficiency's sake, or things that slow you down, within mainstream publishing. There has to be more than just the guardrails around the creative process. And clearly when we're talking about metadata, book description, cover copy, presumably royalty calculations, presumably if you're trying to grow your newsletters. There has to be an enormous amount of activity going on. We're driven by the market, so we do not commission. Writers come to us and they either want to work with us and we want to work with them, or that doesn't happen. So we're in a sense seeing what the market is seeing, and that is a whole range of things. As I've said before, there's a lot of sweeping generalisations out there, which if you look back to that Kindle moment, we were talking a little while ago about what was going on in 2010/2011, about the enormous broad brush strokes that were being perceived as a result of Kindle. Kindle has affected some areas of publishing, it's affected some not at all. I think it will be absolutely fascinating when the sweeping generalisations stop and there becomes, I suppose, even more transparency. The thing that people are looking for, isn't it? A little bit less opaqueness as to what is really being done. Because everybody's being so careful about what they say they're doing and what they're not doing. I suppose ElevenLabs is the one where people are openly engaging on the audio side. I mean, everyone is being so careful and cautious. Jo: Me too. John: What do you think? We spoke a bit about AI within the book, and I'm interested to know what you think. Jo: Well, I've obviously been openly talking about it since 2016. I openly talk about using it, and I've got my Patreon community where we talk about how we're using it, and tips on how to use it. But then, because I have been writing and publishing since 2007, 2008, I'm very strong in my creative voice. I'm very strong in my understanding of what I consider to be my level of output, and what I publish under my own name is what I publish under my own name. John: Totally. Jo: So the problem is for people who are less confident, I think, in what they're doing creatively perhaps. I know some people feel like they're scared it will take over or something. When you're as strong-minded as me, it's not taking over anything. John: It's not going to take over anything. And the other side of the coin is how many people are finding Whitefox using ChatGPT. Jo: Mm. John: I'm thrilled that we are emerging, through very detailed briefing of AI, as something that is worth engaging with. Jo: Positive marketing. John: Yes, exactly. As you say, I think there's a lot of negativity, and I think it will settle down eventually. I think less hysteria. Jo: Yes, hopefully sooner rather than later. So as we come to an end, you've been in the publishing industry a long time and seen a lot of people who have disappeared, but also those who've lasted. I wondered if maybe you could comment on those who last, because I definitely feel like I'm in my 50s now, and I want to keep doing this. I'm pretty obsessed with— What are the hallmarks of people who have a long-term career? So reflections on that. John: Oh, that's such a good question. I think there's some common characteristics and themes. So I think authenticity, I think this idea of being continually curious. I think there are people who can't help but create, and this idea that once you've sort of expelled once, that's enough. I think there's people that just can't stop creating, whatever you do with it. But this idea that the more you do, the better you get, the more you evolve and keep an open mind. I think there's definitely entrepreneurial writers who love this idea of keeping their readers engaged, and how that conversation is something that evolves and that collaboration evolves, is fascinating. I think if you love that, and you listen, there's always an opportunity to keep building on what you do. I love the writers who we work with. I can think of a writer who we're working on his fourth novel at the moment, and he is a bundle of positivity. No matter the trials and tribulations, the things that have gone wrong, his expectations definitely not being met with his first book. He definitely has this idea that he wants to keep writing, he wants to get better, and he is getting better. It isn't a journey that has a beginning and an end. It's something that will continue for as long as he wants to write. Every single book that he has published, he has learned and gained confidence, gained a network of connections that he's utilised himself now to not make the first half a dozen mistakes he made on the first book. Who knows where it will end up? But certainly the satisfaction he's getting, and the sales he's getting, are growing as he becomes savvier and quicker to make the right choices and decisions. So I think that's my honest answer to that. I think there are definitely people who think, “Phew, I have really wanted to do this book. Now I can rest easy. I've done my book.” Then there are people who really, whatever their objective, whatever the definition of success is from the get-go, just can't help creating. I do love that and respect that. I don't think our book falls quite into that category, because I think it's a slightly different thing. I think there are people who are still making a success of what they do and redefining that as they go on, and who are really open to ideas and input from different people and are not closed off. I love working with those people. Jo: So where can people find Going Indie and everything you do online? John: Well, Going Indie is available online at all good bookshops. It's available at Amazon and anywhere you buy books online as ebook and POD. Our website is wearewhitefox.com, and you'll find information about not just our book there, but a lot of other things that we're doing on that site. Jo: Brilliant. Well, thanks so much for your time, John. That was great. John: Thank you so much, Jo. It's been a pleasure. The post Going Indie, Publishing Innovation, And The Challenges Of Book Marketing With John Bond first appeared on The Creative Penn.

On this episode of the daily i'm discussing the books by international and best selling author, Freida McFadden and her series of the housemaid. I did find out. She did. A short story about the house maid wedding. I did not discuss that on the show. I just did the trilogy of her books for the housemaid. If you would like to check out all about her books you can find them on her website: Freida McFadden.comAll music today provided by Motionarray.com royalty, free Music

Aujourd'hui, dans le "Décryptage", David Barroux fait le point sur les perspectives de la rentrée littéraire 2026.Malgré un recul du marché de l'édition en France sur le premier semestre, les éditeurs et les libraires se préparent à une période cruciale. Avec 461 nouveaux romans français et étrangers attendus, la clé sera de trouver les bons titres, les bonnes critiques et les récompenses pour attirer les lecteurs. Les best-sellers comme Michel Bussy ou Freida McFadden continueront à tirer leur épingle du jeu, tandis que la littérature générale devra compter sur le bouche-à-oreille et les prix littéraires pour émerger. Une rentrée qui s'annonce délicate dans un contexte où l'envie de lire semble reculer.Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Een beklemmende, originele en intense psychologische thriller voor lezers van Freida McFadden en The Lovely Bones. Lisa jewell en Karin Slaughter zijn fan! Uitgegeven door Heartbeat Spreker: Barbara Sloesen

Análisis de la película basada en el primer libro de la asistenta de Freida McFadden ahora llamado La empleada o por su nombre original en inglés The Housemaide.Si quieres opinar de este capítulo hazlo en el instagram @pozooasispod https://instagram.com/pozooasispod?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= o al correo pozooasispod@gmail.comTambién puedes donarme o intercambiar donación por recompensa en https://esponsor.gg/pozooasispod que irá en ayuda del refugio de perritos Refugio Noé.

Daffnee and Torri are back after an unplanned hiatus, and this episode is different from anything they've done before. Torri opens up about the five weeks that upended her life: her husband Charlie's sudden collapse, a terrifying hospital stay, an ulcerative colitis diagnosis, and a healthcare system that repeatedly failed to listen until things got dangerous. She talks about what it means to be the person someone relies on, the support that actually helped versus the comments that made things so much worse, and how she kept herself standing through it. It's raw, it's real, and it might be exactly what someone going through something similar needs to hear. They close things out with a couple of book recommendations, because even in the hardest weeks, the reading never really stops. Recommended LINKS: Better with Daffnee podcast homepage: https://www.daffneecohen.com/podcast/ Connect on Instagram: @Daffnee Learn more at and get tons of freebies at daffneecohen.com   What We're Reading: Torri's pick:  Yesteryear — a book club read about an Instagram-famous, wealthy tradwife who gets sent back in time and has to actually live the aesthetic she's been selling.  Culpability — a family road trip gone wrong involving an AI-assisted car, and a very timely gut-punch of a question: when the car is driving, who's actually to blame?  Daffnee's pick:  The Divorce by Freida McFadden — maybe not McFadden's best, but exactly what you want from her: unputdownable, twisty, and you will not see the ending coming. The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo — a Reese's Book Club pick following one family, four kids, and all of their beautifully messy secrets. Daffnee's verdict: confusing for the first twenty pages, then a total gut-and-heart read. Think This Is Us, but a book.  

Análisis de la tercera y última parte de la trilogía de Freida McFadden sobre Millie, la popular asistenta.Si quieres opinar de este capítulo hazlo en el instagram @pozooasispod https://instagram.com/pozooasispod?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= o al correo pozooasispod@gmail.comTambién puedes donarme o intercambiar donación por recompensa en https://esponsor.gg/pozooasispod que irá en ayuda del refugio de perritos Refugio Noé.

Análisis del segundo libro dedicado a la trilogía de la asistenta de Freida McFadden, esta vez vamos a saber que sigue pasando con la vida de Millie terminado los hechos de la primera parte de la novela "La asistenta".Si quieres opinar de este capítulo hazlo en el instagram @pozooasispod https://instagram.com/pozooasispod?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= o al correo pozooasispod@gmail.comTambién puedes donarme o intercambiar donación por recompensa en https://esponsor.gg/pozooasispod que irá en ayuda del refugio de perritos Refugio Noé.

We're baaaaaack! Carla thought literally no-one has been listening to our podcast, so we hit an editing SLUMP. If you are enjoying Lose the Plot leave us a comment or give us a 5 start rating! In this episode, Carla and Emily are metaphorically digging up the floorboards and exploring the mysterious chaos of Never Lie by Freida McFadden—the psychological thriller that took a romantic winter getaway and turned it into a claustrophobic nightmare. We're talking unreliable narrators, barely-there plot twists, and the exact moment Adrienne Hale became the official topic of our group chat. There's blizzard tension, sassy but absent real estate agents, and enough hidden audio tapes to make us collectively lose our minds. Whether you're a psychological thriller addict, a domestic suspense lover, or just here for the chaotic BookTok banter, lock your doors and settle in!

It's officially summer reading season — and Kelly and Jess are giving you their full list. From spicy hockey romance to psychological thrillers, cozy small-town reads to historical fiction, there is genuinely something here for every kind of reader. Plus: why reading might be one of the most underrated wellness habits of all, and how to romanticize your reading life this summer even if you're only sneaking in 10 minutes at a time. In This Episode: The science behind reading as a wellness tool — including a study showing it reduces psychological stress by 68% in as little as six minutes Kelly's reminder that June is the month of joy — and that reading is one of the easiest ways to romanticize your everyday life Jess's confession: she always reads the book before the show drops, and she will always be disappointed by the adaptation. Every time. No regrets. The Off Campus series by Elle Kennedy — Jess's top spicy vacation rec (first book: The Deal; now streaming on Prime Video) Kelly's best beach bag pick: Typewriter Beach — a 1957 historical fiction set in Hollywood and Carmel by the Sea Jess on Freida McFadden's The Boyfriend — twisty, bingeable, and won't emotionally wreck you Kelly's pick for the book you'll lose an entire weekend to: Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett (The Help) Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke — a contemporary fiction born out of the "tradwife" trend, perfect for readers who want something with a little more edge Jess's cozy comfort rec: The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Lori Gilmore (book four in the Dream Harbor series) Kelly goes a little darker: Bright Young Women — a page-turner rooted in Ted Bundy's crimes, set in 1978 Tallahassee Jess's pick for those who want some cozy cowboys: The Lucky Shamrock by Carolyn Brown Kelly's final rec: Alan Opts Out — a funny, relatable story about a successful man who steps off the treadmill and what happens next Books Mentioned: The Deal (Off Campus series) — Elle Kennedy Typewriter Beach — Meg Waite Clayton The Boyfriend — Freida McFadden Calamity Club — Kathryn Stockett Yesteryear — Caro Claire Burke The Strawberry Patch Pancake House (Dream Harbor series) — Lori Gilmore Bright Young Women — Jessica Knoll The Lucky Shamrock — Carolyn Brown Alan Opts Out — Courtney Maum Brighter Move — Jess: Give yourself permission to read what sounds fun — not what sounds impressive. Light and fluffy is a completely valid summer choice. Brighter Move — Kelly: Even 10 minutes counts. Find the nooks and crannies in your summer and bring the joy back to reading. This is the month of joy — and your book list is part of that. Free Download: Grab our Joy Dressing Trend Cheat Sheet — perfect to screenshot and save for those "what do I even wear?" summer mornings. Sign up for our newsletter at chasingbrighter.com/newsletter and it's yours. Check out the full book list on our blog at chasingbrighter.com

On this special sponsored episode of Behind the Mic, Kirkus' Michele Cobb is joined by acclaimed narrator January LaVoy. Together, they go behind the scenes of recording Freida McFadden's latest bestseller, The Divorce—without spoilers. The novel explores the unraveling of a marriage, and the audiobook is performed by a trio of narrators portraying the three characters at its center: January LaVoy, Edoardo Ballerini, and Marin Ireland. Michele and January discuss the importance of honoring the author's words, collaborating with her fellow narrators, and how January created the voice for and built the character of Veronica, the other, younger woman.   Audiobook Discussed: The Divorce by Freida McFadden, read by January LaVoy, Edoardo Ballerini & Marin Ireland (Dreamscape Media)   This episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Dreamscape Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes a book-to-film adaptation tiptoes onto the big screen and politely asks for your attention — and then there's THE HOUSEMAID, which in late 2025 kicked down the door, winked at the audience, and became a runaway hit. What began as a novel marketed squarely to women suddenly transformed into a blockbuster for, well, anyone over 18 with a taste for psychological chaos and Sydney Sweeney giving the camera that “I know something you don't” stare. Amanda Seyfried joined the party, too, because why not make things even more deliciously unhinged.IMDB sums it up with admirable restraint: Millie, a struggling young woman, becomes a live‑in maid for a wealthy couple, Nina and Andrew, and promptly finds herself in a mansion stuffed with secrets, manipulation, and psychological games. In other words, it's less “dust the shelves” and more “try not to get emotionally vaporized by your employers.” The house itself practically deserves its own billing — every hallway feels like it's whispering, “Turn back now,” but of course Millie does not.Directed by Paul Feig — yes, the same Paul Feig who gave us Bridesmaids and apparently woke up one day and chose psychological warfare — and written for the screen by Rebecca Sonnenshine, the film also stars Brandon Sklenar as the male lead who may or may not be part of the problem (spoiler: he is). With a modest $35M budget and a swaggering $400M box‑office haul, the movie charmed critics, thrilled audiences, and probably made Freida McFadden, the author of the novel, do a very happy victory lap. Now your cohosts dive into the madness and share their thoughts, hopefully without getting pulled into any dangerous relationship dynamics themselves.

Ik zie, ik zie van Martta Kaukonen is een ijzingwekkende psychologische thriller over een therapeute en een seriemoordenaar die een geheim delen. Voor fans van Freida McFadden en Helen Fields. Uitgegeven door Xander Uitgevers B.V. Spreker: Christel Schimmel

In this episode, Heather and Dr. Carol Lynn catch up after a brief hiatus to discuss what they've been watching during their downtime. From the high-society drama of The Madison to the cigarette-smoke-filled rooms of 1960s Mad Men, the BFFs dive deep into the nostalgia of the past and the "glitz and glam" they're craving today. They also swap "boy mom" stories about the unique challenges of middle school hygiene and share a few book-to-movie recommendations. In This Episode, We Discuss: Current TV Obsessions: * The Madison: Heather and Carol Lynn discuss the beautiful setting and the "ageless" Michelle Pfeiffer. Mad Men: Deep dive into the 1960s—the furniture, the fashion, and the shocking (by today's standards) cultural norms like littering and drinking at the office. The Love Story: The uncanny resemblance of the actor playing JFK Jr. and the fascination with Martha's Vineyard real estate prices from 1979. A Man on the Inside: Dr. Carol Lynn's recommendation featuring Ted Danson as a spy in a retirement community. The Nostalgia Factor: Why watching shows set in the 60s and 70s feels like a trip back to childhood, and Heather's attempt to introduce her kids to classics like Gilligan's Island and I Dream of Jeannie (with hilarious results). Life with Teenage Boys: The "Do Not Care Club" of middle school hygiene. From the struggle to get them to bathe to the overpowering scent of AXE body spray, the struggle is real! Book Talk: Heather shares her love for The Housemaid series by Freida McFadden and compares the reading experience to the film adaptation. Moxie Style: Why the older we get, the more we need sparkles, fringe, and feathers. Dr. Lynn reveals her latest "Megan from Mad Men" inspired purchase. Mentioned in This Episode: TV Shows: The Madison (Apple TV+), Mad Men, The Love Story (JFK Jr. & Carolyn Bessette), A Man on the Inside (Netflix), Gilligan's Island, Family Affair. Books: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden. Fashion: Trina Turk (for those fabulous fringe pants!). Connect with Us: Follow the Show: Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Join the Community: Check out the Moxie Journal Club for more inspiration. Socials: Tag us with your latest TV binge or your favorite "glam" find! Connect with Us: Subscribe: Tap the plus sign (+) in the top right corner of your screen on Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. Connect with Your Life Coach BFFs: Join the Midlife Moxie Newsletter: Don't miss out on fun items, exclusive updates, and the best life ever! The link is right in the show notes. Sign Up and Get the latest MOXIE news! Follow on Social Media: All our community connection is on our Our Midlife Moxie Facebook Page! (Yes, the podcast is Life Coach BFF Show, but our social is under Our Midlife Moxie – we hope to see you there!). @ourmidlifemoxie The Journal: Grab your My Midlife Moxie Journal on Amazon and register it on page two. Digital Version My Midlife Moxie Journal Connect with us: Keep up with the Moxie community and don't forget to put your lip gloss on and smile! We are cheering for you every step of the way. Sign Up and Get the latest MOXIE news!   Join The Facebook Group: @ourmidlifemoxie   Connect with Host Heather Pettey: Email: hpetteyoffice@gmail.com Private Coaching with Heather:https://www.ourmidlifemoxie.com/heatherpetteycoaching Speaker Request Here Instagram @HeatherPettey_ Facebook: @HeatherPettey1 Linkedin: @HeatherPettey Book: "Keep It Simple, Sarah" (Amazon bestseller) Connect with Host Dr. Carol Lynn: Linkedin Website: https://www.drcarollynn.com Facebook Group: @ourmidlifemoxie Website: www.ourmidlifemoxie.com Don't forget to subscribe to the Life Coach BFF Show for more inspiring content and practical life advice! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. Heather Pettey is a certified coach, Dr. Carol Lynn is a licensed physician, and our guests share their own expertise. Nothing you hear here should be taken as medical advice. Always talk with your own doctor about your personal health or medical needs.

L'info du matin - Focus sur un concept surprenant : l'existence d'une librairie totalement dépourvue de livres. Le winner du jour - Aux États-Unis, un festival insolite met au défi ses participants de faire sortir des vers de terre du sol. - Vingt ans plus tard, un homme parvient à retrouver le propriétaire d'une bague oubliée dans la poche d'un jean acheté en friperie. Le flashback du jour - Août 1986 : Immense succès pour le tube "Les démons de minuit" du groupe Images. Ce mois marque également la sortie de l'album culte "Slippery When Wet" du groupe Bon Jovi. Les savoirs inutiles - Combien de nœuds de cravate différents peut-on réaliser ? En combinant une dizaine de mouvements de base, il est mathématiquement possible de créer jusqu'à 177 147 nœuds différents. La chanson du jour - L'Affaire Louis' Trio "Mobilis in Mobile" 3 choses à savoir sur Blanche Neige et les 7 nains Qu'est-ce qu'on lit ? - Sortie du livre de cuisine "Le guide Top Chef", disponible au prix de 18,95€. - La romancière Freida McFadden publie son nouveau roman, "L'Intruse", aux éditions City au prix de 22€. Le jeu surprise (Ni oui ni non) - Lara de Vichy gagne un bon d'achat de 1 000€ valable sur spartoo.com. La Banque RTL2 - Sabrina de Saint-Vallier en Saône-et-Loire gagne un séjour de 5 jours et 5 nuits avec 20 soins thalasso dans un des instituts Valdys Resort. - Laure de Pau repart avec une brosse à dents My Variations. Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Returning hatepisode guest Jayce (@TheEditBookshelf) joins the full squad to talk about Freida McFadden's The Boyfriend! We discuss McFadden's recent "coming out," wonder how she has time to be a Traumatic Brain Injury Specialist and mother of two while moonlighting as a thriller author, and try to remember if the main character of this book has a job. Plus: Jayce's stirring defense of Freida, an incorrect pronunciation of "carotid," and some Toilet Talk. Read along for our next episode on Wreck by Catherine Newman (May 12th), and stay tuned for a very fun conversation about the Netflix series Wayward with Sarah Edmonson and Nippy Ames, the authors of A Little Bit Culty and stars of HBO's The Vow, on May 26th! Send us your feedback at thesquad@booksquadgoals.com and follow us @BookSquadGoals wherever.TOC:30 – Welcome Jayce! And icebreaker14:00 – Book intro19:00 – Who is Freida McFadden?29:26 – What else have we read by Freida?36:19 – Let's all say a nice thing1:06:46 – The twist1:29:00 – Ratings1:32:24 – Listener Feedback!1:34:50 – What's up next?

The JAM Pots return to Freida McFadden's much-loved thriller, this time to compare the book to the movie adaptation.

Jeff and Rebecca look at the Pulitzer-prize winning books of the century so far and rank them. Some surprises at the top. Discussed in this episode: Klara and the Sun release date Latest Pew research on Americans' reading habits Spotify launches option to purchase physical books Tayari Jones, Freida McFadden, and Yiyun Li named to TIME 100 Character.ai Use code THEBOOKS for 20% off at Cozy Earth. Go to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping and 365-day returns. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca mull over Pew's most recent data about American reading habits, Spotify launches physical book buying, authors on the TIME100 list, listener feedback, and more. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: Klara and the Sun release date Latest Pew research on Americans' reading habits Spotify launches option to purchase physical books Tayari Jones, Freida McFadden, and Yiyun Li named to TIME 100 Character.ai This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Use code THEBOOKS for 20% off at Cozy Earth. Go to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping and 365-day returns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Een meisje met bloed aan haar handen. Een storm die niets kan wegspoelen. Lees de nieuwe bloedstollende thriller van Freida McFadden. Ben jij al verslaafd? Uitgegeven door LAB uitgevers Spreker: Nienke Brinkhuis

Try not to catch the plague with us as we travel back to 1300s England to discuss George Falls Through Time by Ryan Collett! We talk about the author's YouTube career, George as a character, medieval times vs modernity, the mechanics of time travel, and of course, the romance. Hate-read along with us for our next Othersode on April 28th about The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden. Then join us for our next Bookpisode about Wreck by Catherine Newman on May 12th. Don't forget to leave us a rating on Apple Podcasts and check out our Patreon to support us for just $3 a month!TOC:30 –Welcome! 7:15 – Book intro10:15 – Ryan Collett17:00 – George33:10 – Medieval times kind of sucks59:07 – Dragons1:02:56 – Time travel1:21:15 – Ratings1:29:47 – What's up next?

Ze komt achter je aan en niets kan haar tegenhouden... ‘Een van de beste thrillers van het jaar.' Voor fans van Freida McFadden en B.A. Paris. Uitgegeven door Loft Books Spreker: Christel Schimmel

Jane and Fi are reunited after their week off and are full of the joys of spring! They discuss what goes on on the other side of the moon, Freida McFadden's identity, disappointing Mary Berry, and good comfort reads.Some of their recommendations from today's episode include Maeve Binchy's books, A Far-Flung Life by M.L. Stedman, A Family Matter by Claire Lynch, London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe, and a podcast series called Foundling.Today's episode was not visualised. We'll be back on YouTube next week.You can check out our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OffAirWithJaneAndFiOur new playlist 'Coiled Spring' is up and running: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4tmoCpbp42ae7R1UY8ofzaOur most asked about book is called 'The Later Years' by Peter Thornton.If you want to contact the show to ask a question and get involved in the conversation then please email us: janeandfi@times.radioFollow us on Instagram! @janeandfiPodcast Producer: Eve SalusburyExecutive Producer: Rosie Cutler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anna Wintour's in her personal brand era, leave Aubrey Plaza alone, and the irony of the tradwife movement. You can watch our episode on YouTube!We start off the ep with a chat about the Melbourne Comedy Festival and Repeller's tragic Instagram AI slop buyout. Anna Wintour has fronted the cover of Vogue, alongside Meryl Streep, for the first time ever. Is this a new moment for the famous editor as she departs the ship? Or simply clever marketing for The Devil Wears Prada 2? The Hannah Montana of the publishing industry has been unwigged. Freida McFadden, author of The Housemaid, has publicly come out with her true identity. Actress Aubrey Plaza is pregnant and expecting her first child with actor Christopher Abbott, and the internet has thoughts.In Culture Shock, we go to the international influencer community as legacy YouTuber and content creator, Elena Taber has been caught out posting about herself in the infamous r/NYCinfluencersnark Reddit thread. Is this proof that even the most "successful" online creators are affected by being perceived?Next, is the online trad wife trend dying down, or has it reached a new level of normalcy? Nara Smith's 2025 interview with Jay Shetty has resurfaced on X as she rejects the trad wife label, despite profiting from it. The trad wife is also being analysed in the hotly anticipated novel, Yesteryear, by Caro Claire Burke. We read from the ELLE US interview with her.In Bookmarked, Maggie recommends the movie I Swear and Jasmine recommends Lost Lambs by Madeleine Cash.Thank you for listening! Jas & Mags xoxoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watch as a full video episode on YouTubeThis week, we're diving into the unmasking of one of the world's most successful authors. Freida McFadden, the bestselling author behind The Housemaid, has officially revealed her true identity as Dr. Sara Cohen. We wonder 'why now', talk about imposter syndrome, and discuss why authors use pseudonyms.Plus, we of course chat about some AI-related stories: we go over some of your comments about our last episode on the Shy Girl scandal, talk about the allegation that editors are using LLMs to help them decide which books to pick up, and talk about scam emails again - this people pretending to be editors.00:00 Intro00:46 Shy Girl Fallout - Audience Comments14:17 Chat G-P-Cheat? - Are Editors Using LLMs?25:05 Something Phishy - Fake Editor Emails Spike33:58 Not Just The Housemaid - McFadden's Secret Revealed45:10 Stranger Than Fiction - Nadine's Idea Factory50:57 Final Chapter - Stellar AdaptationsLinks:Some editors 'uploading confidential manuscripts to Chat GPT'Scam emails impersonating editors on the riseThe Housemaid author Freida McFadden reveals real identityAdventures in Publishing-land is brought to you by STET Podcasts - the one stop shop for all your writing podcast needs, featuring Page One - The Writer's Podcast, The Conversation with Nadine Matheson and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Watch as a full video episode on YouTubeThis week, we're diving into the unmasking of one of the world's most successful authors. Freida McFadden, the bestselling author behind The Housemaid, has officially revealed her true identity as Dr. Sara Cohen. We wonder 'why now', talk about imposter syndrome, and discuss why authors use pseudonyms.Plus, we of course chat about some AI-related stories: we go over some of your comments about our last episode on the Shy Girl scandal, talk about the allegation that editors are using LLMs to help them decide which books to pick up, and talk about scam emails again - this people pretending to be editors.00:00 Intro00:46 Shy Girl Fallout - Audience Comments14:17 Chat G-P-Cheat? - Are Editors Using LLMs?25:05 Something Phishy - Fake Editor Emails Spike33:58 Not Just The Housemaid - McFadden's Secret Revealed45:10 Stranger Than Fiction - Nadine's Idea Factory50:57 Final Chapter - Stellar AdaptationsLinks:Some editors 'uploading confidential manuscripts to Chat GPT'Scam emails impersonating editors on the riseThe Housemaid author Freida McFadden reveals real identityAdventures in Publishing-land is brought to you by STET Podcasts - the one stop shop for all your writing podcast needs, featuring Page One - The Writer's Podcast, The Conversation with Nadine Matheson and more!Follow us on BlueskyFollow us on Instagram—--------------Link for YouTube collaboration: Support the podcast - Buy me a cup of coffee ☕️.Buy books by my guests Bookshop.orgFollow MeBluesky | Substack | Instagram | Facebook | Threads Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The biggest stories on the internet from April 10th, 2026.Join our Patreon here!!! https://www.patreon.com/c/CentennialWorld/ Please consider buying us a coffee or subscribing to a membership to help keep Centennial World's weekly podcasts going! Every single dollar goes back into this business

Brittany and Kendall are back with Producer Lauren and chat about Nikki Glazer on the podcast: Call Her Daddy. They are joined by Grant Winkels who is live at Sisyphus Brewing on April 10th and 11th. Later they talk about the real person behind Freida McFadden and justice for romantasy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kelsey is sharing the books she's loved lately and realizing that her favorite type of read is definitely a destination-based book with a strong setting. From longtime favorite author Elin Hilderbrand and her Nantucket-filled drama, to a few other recent reads that completely pulled her in, this episode is all about the books that have felt immersive and entertaining.Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygravesFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesFollow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in this episode:- Goodreads.com- Elin Hilderbrand books: Barefoot, Winter Series (Winter Street, Winter Stroll, Winter Storms, Winter Solstice), The Rumor, The Perfect Couple, Paradise Series (Winter in Paradise, What Happens in Paradise, Trouble in Paradise), Golden Girl, The Hotel Nantucket, The Five-Star Weekend, Swan Song- The Wedding People by Alison Espach- Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall- Awake by Jen Hatmaker- The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

You guys want to see a dead body? Well we're not going to show you one, but we ARE going to talk about Stand by Me (1986) with one of our favorite authors, Catriona Ward! We talk about our personal experiences with the film, which characters we'd be (à la Sex and the City), nostalgia, grief, and the adults in the movie. Then we get into a totally spoiler-free interview with Catriona about her newest novel, Nowhere Burning. After that we shamelessly make her promise to come back for future episodes because we love her, duh. Read along with us for our next Bookpisode on George Falls Through Time by Ryan Collett on April 14! Then get ready to be a hater with us when we cover Freida McFadden's The Boyfriend on April 28. TOC:30 – WELCOME CATRIONA! AAAH!14:00 – Movie intro15:19 – What was your previous experience with the film? Did anything change watching it again28:13 – Who do you relate to most?46:45 – Nostalgia51:28 – Adults in the movie1:08:35 – Nowhere Burning Interview with Catriona Ward!1:50:00 – What's up next??

  Thank you for tuning in to Episode 316 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. Full show notes with photos can be found on my website. This week's segments included:   On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins From the Armchair Knitting in Passing In my Travels Events On a Happy Note Quote of the Week   Thank you to this episode's sponsor The Yarn Sellar & check out details for their Fiber Marketplace (April 11, 2026) here.   On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins   Neckerchief Pattern: none (inspired by Sophie Scarf by Petite Knit (paid pattern available on Ravelry) Yarn: Kingdom Fleece & Fiberworks,  Dream base (80% Merino, 10% Cashmere goat, 10% Nylon). No colorway name listed. Variegated yarn with a tan base, pinks, greens, purples and mustards. Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm) Because I'm using fingering weight yarn, I decided to use the cast on from my Millie Margaret Shawl and figure it out as I go. Millie Margaret Shawl (fingering weight)-Ravelry I did the increases up to 5 inches the pattern calls for and now I'm knitting straight. I'll reverse my increases w/ decreases on the other side and see how I like it.   Inclinations Cowl Inclinations Cowl by Andrea Mowry ($7.00 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry & her website. Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm) Yarn: 2 skeins of handspun Color A: Fiber Addict Designs 100% Merino in the Wild Plum Colorway- Ravelry link. Color B: Candombe, I think the fiber is from Malabrigo- Ravelry link. My Ravelry Project Page I love working with my handspun, but I don't necessarily love 1x1 ribbing every other row. Still I'm making progress and I know I'll love wearing it.   Treysta Pattern: Treysta by Jennifer Steingass $8.50 knitting pattern available on Ravelry & the Laine publishing website Yarn: MC- Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool in Oatmeal. CC1: Handspun (Ravelry Project Page) dark blue. CC2: Harrisville Designs New England Highland in #34 High Aster (pink). CC3: Brown Sheep Company Prairie Spun DK in Rain Cloud (gray) Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm) & US 6 (4.0 mm) Ravelry Project Page Progress: I finished the colorwork section and have split for the sleeves.   Spectrum Socks Yarn: Woolens & Nosh Targhee Sock in the Spectrum Colorway Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry) Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) Ravelry Project Page Progress: finished first sock during Hattie's birthday sleepover. Worked on sock #2 while Megg, Rose and I saw Cabaret.   Northern Lights Socks Yarn: Patons Kroy in the Northern Lights Colorway Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry) Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) Ravelry Project Page About the yarn- thin stripes of cream broken up 3 shades of teal/light blue, 2 grays and 1 deep purple. Finished sock 1 recently. Cast on sock 2.    October 2025 Sock Club Socks Yarn: agirlandherwool Sock Yarn in the October 2025 Colorway Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry) Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) Ravelry Project Page Progress: beyond the heel on the first sock   From the Armchair   Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon. Amazon Affiliate Link. The Housemaid by Freida McFadden. Amazon Affiliate Link. The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston. Amazon Affiliate Link. I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself by Glynnis MacNicol. Amazon Affiliate Link.   Note: Some links are listed as Amazon Affiliate Links. If you click those, please know that I am an Amazon Associate and I earn money from qualifying purchases.   Knitting in Passing I traded socks for handmade bowls with my new friend Rose! What a great trade!   In My Travels   Ryan, Millie and I went to Farm Fiber Days at Russell's Gardens Center in Wayland, MA. Some highlights include: It was our 3rd year of wearing overall's- Millie's choice for our somewhat matching outfits. 3rd year without Mom. She didn't come in 2024, the last one she was here for, because she was in St. Maarten. Good for her! But we obviously missed her last year and this year too. I purchased 3 plants. Millie picked out a plant for her mom. I bought 20 ounces of Gray Shetland from Forever in Fiber (Etsy). Millie got to show Ann Weaver of Plied Yarns the hat she knit for her Dad for Christmas. We needlefelted with the folks from Blue Heron Farm We enjoyed lunch at The Local across the street after.     Events Fiberfest at the Boston Public Market- March 21 & 22nd from 10a-5p in Boston, MA Fiber Witch Festival- April 24-26th in Salem, MA NH Sheep and Wool - May 9 & 10 in Deerfield NH Massachusetts Sheep & Wool- May 23 & 24 in Cummington, MA     On a Happy Note Chris Stapleton concert with Jeff, Riley & Dad Seussical with Megg and Hattie Hattie's birthday sleepover- trampoline park, pizza, cookies, Cat & the Hat pancake, pompoms and rehearsing for her Seussical audition A quieter week! Starting a March Madness Challenge at the gym + taking an adult ballet class from my friend Kris Chatting with my friend Marta about her trip back to America this summer Seeing Cabaret Karaoke night in a private room for my friend Megg's birthday. I got to see my nephew Garret on his 16th birthday. I got a text of him driving with his learner's permit a few days later.   Quote of the Week "Community is much more than belonging to something; it' about doing something together that makes belonging matter." — Brian Solis     Thank you for tuning in!   Contact Information: Check out the Down Cellar Studio Patreon! Ravelry: BostonJen & Down Cellar Studio Podcast Ravelry Group Instagram: BostonJen1 YouTube: Down Cellar Studio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/downcellarstudio Sign up for my email newsletter to get the latest on everything happening in the Down Cellar Studio Check out my Down Cellar Studio YouTube Channel Knit Picks Affiliate Link Bookshop Affiliate Link Yarnable Subscription Box Affiliate Link FearLESS Living Fund to benefit the Blind Center of Nevada Music -"Soft Orange Glow" by Josh Woodward. Free download: http://joshwoodward.com/ Note: Some links are listed as Amazon Affiliate Links. If you click those, please know that I am an Amazon Associate and I earn money from qualifying purchases.  

Psychological thrillers are having a massive moment, but finding a truly successful book to film adaptation remains a rare feat. Today we discuss how director Paul Feig, known for his range in films like Bridesmaids and A Simple Favor, took the beloved source material by author Freida McFadden and elevated it for the big screen. While the book set a high bar, this cinematic version manages to heighten the tension through creative risks and licenses that ultimately make for a thoroughly entertaining experience.For today's episode, Roya Tavakolian (@RoyalTeaReads on IG) returns to the podcast to compare the movie to its literary roots. We dive into the all star cast including Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria, The White Lotus) and Brendan Sklenar (1923), though the clear MVP of the film is Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia!, Mean Girls). Her performance is absolutely unreal and sets the bar high for the movie. We also break down the specific changes Paul Feig made to the narrative and why those choices helped the movie take the story up a notch.This stands as one of the best book to movie adaptations of 2025. The Housemaid is playing in theaters and is available to rent and buy on all platforms now too.If you are enjoying the show, please leave a review because it really helps the podcast.We hope you check out the movie. Let us know what you think and as always thanks for tuning in.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This episode contains spoilers for Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden.Author's website: https://www.freidamcfadden.com/Brandon's IG: https://www.instagram.com/bran_the_reader/Jules' YT: https://www.youtube.com/@JulesbooksandthingsJoin Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/talkbookishpodcastBuy merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/talkbookishpodcast/

  Thank you for tuning in to Episode 314 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. Full show notes with photos can be found on my website. This week's segments included:   Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins Brainstorming From the Armchair Knitting in Passing KAL News Contest, News & Notes Life in Focus On a Happy Note Quote of the Week   Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins   Hattie's Rainbow Mittens Pattern: Little Waiting for Winter Mittens by Susan B. Anderson- $4 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry Yarn: Knit Picks Felici Worsted in the Vegas Baby colorway Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) Ravelry Project Page About the colorway- stripes of gray, blue, green, mustard, red and pink.   Hattie's Sparkly Mittens Pattern: Little Waiting for Winter Mittens by Susan B. Anderson-  $4 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry Yarn: Fingering yarn held double- 1 sparkle & 1 non-sparkle base (sparkles are 20g minis from Legacy Fiber Artz Advent calendars of years past) Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) Ravelry Project Page   Traveler Sweater Pattern: The Traveler by Andrea Mowry ($9 pattern available on Ravelry & the designer's website) Yarn: Hazel Knits Small Batch Sport (90/10 SW/Nylon) in a sage green Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm) & US 4 (3.5 mm) Ravelry Project Page Size: 3 Drawstring- fingering weight yarn- US 6 DPNs. I washed it several times, because it was bleeding yellow. I had to wash it several times before all of the rest of the dye let go. Finished. Washed it. Sleeves were too big. I had 28 purl ridges on the sleeves, I ripped back 7 and then worked the ribbing. Wore to Hattie's birthday dinner. Very comfy cozy. I am finding the weight of the hood wants to pull it back on my neck which I'm not sure I love. Have you found this?   Woolens & Nosh 2025 Advent Socks Yarn: Woolens & Nosh, 75/25 Superwash Wool/Nylon 2025 Advent Colorway Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry) Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) Ravelry Project Page Finished right after I finished the last episode. Love these so much!   Dory Pattern: Mega Ray & Sea Friends by Theresa's Crochet Shop- $15.50 pattern on website or Etsy Yarn: Knit Picks Brava minis in Celestial, Custard, Black & White Hook: C (2.75 mm) Ravelry Project Page   Gus the Dino Pattern: Gus the Dino by KP Crochet Patterns. $8.50 US Pattern on Etsy (on sale right now) Yarn: Bernat Blanket in Misty Green & Parfait Chunky in White Hook: J (6.0 mm) Ravelry Project Page 35 mm eyes were too big! I bought smaller ones, beheaded Gus and gave him a new head with new eyes!   On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins   Back to the Future Socks Yarn: Legacy Fiber Artz Steel Toes. Micro-Sock Kit in the Back to the Future Colorway Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry) Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) Back to the Future Sock set- gifted to me by Sue & Chelsea- part of their 4 Sundays of Advent yarn in 2025. About the Colorway- speckles of pink, orange, yellow purple and blue with a blue/purple mini. Progress- just about to toe of sock 1   Arielle's Socks Yarn: Edelweiss Fibres Standard Sock (75% SW Merino/25% Nylon), 425m for 100g in the Hillside Heather Colorway Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry) Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) Ravelry Project Page About the colorway- maroons, browns and greens. Cast on both on separate needles. Progress- a few inches into leg on one sock, ready to work the toe on the other US 6 shoe. 7.25 inches before toe. About 8.5 inches total foot length.   Kirby Wirby 2025 Advent Socks Yarn: Kirby Wirby 75/25 Superwash Merino/Nylon in the 2025 Advent Christmas Toys from the 80s 24 Stripe Colorway Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry) Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) Ravelry Project Page Yarn theme: Christmas Toys from the 80s Progress- turned heel on sock 2   Pucker Brush Farm BFL Sweater Spin Fiber: 16 oz of multi colored BFL roving from Pucker Brush Farm (purchased at Rhinebeck 2025), 4 oz Merino in a mustard color Ravelry Project Page I am planning to knit a Traveler sweater inspired by Emily Curtis' handmade version- click here for her Ravelry Project Page. I was thrilled to see a recent post on Emily's Instagram that she made a YouTube video about this spin/knit. I plied up about 8.5grams of the BFL with the Finnsheep. 23 wraps (690 inches/19 yards) .3 ounces / around 8.5 grams I've been keeping my wheel next to my spot on the couch and spinning if not every day, then more days than not.   Handspun documentation I went through nearly all of my handspun skeins of yarn. I made updates in each page on Ravelry to add skein information. You can enter length and weight and it add that to your stash.  I also ended up changing the names of the finished projects to include the weight and length! I wrote yarn weight (dk sport etc) on physical tags i have on the yarn. So much easier for me to work with.   Brainstorming I have 3 skeins of Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool that I used to start a Waverly Cardigan (but the gauge is just too tight)- click here for my Ravelry Project Page. I think it might be good for the Lakes Pullover by Ozetta (Ravelry Pattern- $8 knitting pattern). I found this by searching the yarn on ravelry then doing the advance pattern search to look for sweaters people knit with this yarn. Related- Eileen recently asked if someone in our group had knit a certain pattern she had questions about before purchasing/committing to. If you look at the pattern on Rav and click the Projects Tab. You can use the filters there to select "Made by Group Members" and then click on the Rav group you want to look in. You can use that to see who you want to chat w/ about it. ElizabethisKnitting (on Instagram- shared her Winter Soul Sweater in this post. Its so beautiful! Why are you not all knitting this? Great question. You can find this pattern on Ravelry.   From the Armchair   Greenwich by Kate Broad. Amazon Affiliate Link. Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino. Amazon Affiliate Link. The Maid by Nita Prose. Amazon Affiliate Link. Little One by Olivia Muenter. Amazon Affiliate Link Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid. Amazon Affiliate Link. The Widow's Husband's Secret Lie (A Satirical Novella) by Freida McFadden. Amazon Affiliate Link.   Note: Some links are listed as Amazon Affiliate Links. If you click those, please know that I am an Amazon Associate and I earn money from qualifying purchases.   Knitting in Passing At Hattie's birthday dinner, Emelyn asked for help crocheting a circle. They were making a stuffed animal to look like a stage like and had everything done but the center bulk part. Aila also ended up working on it with us.   OMG Sock Classes are finished! All of my students turned their heels, some did both socks. Many did their toes and kitchenered. They all had fun and were far more successful than they anticipated so that was very exciting.   KAL News   Pigskin Party '25 is over! Event Dates: KAL Dates- Thursday September 4, 2025- Monday February 9, 2026   Updates In This Episode Official Sponsor for Quarter 4 (January)- Yarnaceous Fibers- winner announced Commentary from Mary January Participation Prize Winners Announced Grand Prize winners will be announced in the next episode. Commentator Update Thanks to everyone for another fantastic season! The February huddle has been full of chatter about all the projects people rushed to finish before the deadline. However, one of my favorite conversations has been in response to beachsideknits2's question: What is weirdest/most random thing you've ever made?  Here are some fantastic answers (prepare to be wowed!)   Beachsideknit2's succulent pillow- Ravelry Project Page   Tanksoup's Tiktaalik (in case you are like me and had no idea what a tiktaalik is, it "is a 375 million year old fossil fish that was discovered in the Canadian Arctic in 2004" according to this site. Check out Tanksoup's Ravelry Project Page    Leahbothe's nose sweaters- Ravelry Project Page   And socalknitgirl's top hat—Ravelry Project Page   I hope everyone has as much fun as I did this season!  See you all this summer for splash pad party!   Mary     Contest, News & Notes   Ross Farm fire   Check out this news article with details about the fire. Click here if you're interested in donating or consider purchasing yarn, fiber etc and letting these sheep live on even after they're gone.   On a Happy Note I bought a new car! I went to see Sleepwalker at a local theater.  Here's a link to a review that sums up some of my thoughts. I went to see Some Like it Hot in Boston. Megg & I got a fabulous dinner beforehand at Yvonne's. Our waitress even brought over a delicious dumpling dish for us to try (sans lobster). Friday date nights with Dan Running into Riley & her bestie Ellie at Lucky Finn, my current local favorite coffee shop- after the gym on a Saturday morning. It was so hilarious! Very much enjoyed Pluribus on Apple TV+.  Seeing Millie in Finding Nemo Jr. and an early dinner after with family. Mani/pedis with Megg, Eme & Hattie for Hattie's birthday. Super Bowl- while we lost it's always fun to watch. I enjoyed the commercials, and had fun cheering on the Seahawks kicker Jason Myers who played football at Marist where I went to college (now Marist University) Hattie's 8th birthday dinner. Dad and I did a Zoom beforehand in celebration of what would have been Mom's 70th with a few of her cousins.   Quote of the Week Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive. -Dalai Lama     ------   Thank you for tuning in!   Contact Information: Check out the Down Cellar Studio Patreon! Ravelry: BostonJen & Down Cellar Studio Podcast Ravelry Group Instagram: BostonJen1 YouTube: Down Cellar Studio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/downcellarstudio Sign up for my email newsletter to get the latest on everything happening in the Down Cellar Studio Check out my Down Cellar Studio YouTube Channel Knit Picks Affiliate Link Bookshop Affiliate Link Yarnable Subscription Box Affiliate Link FearLESS Living Fund to benefit the Blind Center of Nevada Music -"Soft Orange Glow" by Josh Woodward. Free download: http://joshwoodward.com/ Note: Some links are listed as Amazon Affiliate Links. If you click those, please know that I am an Amazon Associate and I earn money from qualifying purchases.  

Wuthering Heights is out this weekend so we're diving into some of the press tour's juiciest moments, from Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie's ‘affair baiting' to Elordi's Esquire interview with Emerald Fennell. Also on the show: Bella Hadid's break-up, Charli XCX on her fave red carpet moments, and the powerful rise of motherhood horror, from Rose Byrne's ‘monumental' new film to an addictive, hun-recommended book about a baby shower gone terribly wrong. Plus, the viral Billy Bob Thornton and Demi Moore TV series, an excellent Romantasy rec and Freida McFadden's new revenge novel.Follow us on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok @straightuppodFind us on YouTube @straightupmediapodEmail at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠Recs/ reviews: Landman, Paramount+Yellowstone, Netflix What ‘Landman' Understands About Oil, New York Times Charli xcx is the Moment, Gloves Off with Nicky Campbell on YouTube Jacob Elordi Opens up on the Magnetic Power of Margot Robbie and the Yorkshire Moors in Wuthering Heights, EsquireRose Byrne: ‘You lose part of yourself when you become a mother', The Times If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, in cinemas from 20 FebExpectation, Anna HopeSo Thrilled for You, Holly BourneDire Bound, Sable SorensenDear Debbie, Freida McFadden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What makes a bestseller? Is it the quality of the writing, or just the right book at the right time? This week Kate is joined by co-host Laura Potter and returning guest Phil Chaffee to find out.Between us we've tackled six of the biggest bestsellers out there – Dan Brown's The Secret of Secrets, Freida McFadden's The Housemaid, Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary, Matt Dinnerman's Dungeon Crawler Carl, SenLinYu's Alchemised, and Sarah Adams' In Your Dreams – and we have some opinions.We're sharing our honest experiences of each one: what worked, what didn't, and whether these books truly earned their place on the bestseller lists. But this isn't just a round of verdicts. We're also pooling our recommendations for the bestsellers we genuinely think are worth your time, like The Correspondant by Virginia Evans – because there are some real gems out there among the hype.And as always, we round off with our current and upcoming reads.Press play to find out which bestsellers passed the test – and which ones didn't.Support the pod on PatreonExplore all the benefits of membership. Kate's weekly reading diary is available to free members. Paid tiers include ad-free episodes, extra shows, chat group access and our monthly book club at Patreon.com/thebookclubreview. BooklistYou can also find all the books mentioned in The Book Club Review bookshop on Bookshop.org, the online bookstore that supports independent bookshops.The Secret of Secrets by Dan BrownThe Da Vinci Code by Dan BrownThe Housemaid by Frieda McFaddenGone Girl by Gillian FlynnIn Your Dreams by Sarah AdamsAlchemized by SenLinYuGideon the Ninth by Tamsyn MuirDungeon Crawler Carl by Matt DinnimanThe Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas AdamsProject Hail Mary by Andy WeirThe Martian by Andy WeirNobody's Fool by Harlen CobdenThe Correspondant by Virginia EvansThe Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (Robin Buss)Rivals by Jilly CooperThe novels of Stephen KingThe Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey NiffeneggerThe Smiley books by John Le CarreThe Underground Railroad by Colson WhiteheadThe Night Always Comes by Willy VlautinIce by Jacek Dukaj (Author) , Ursula Phillips (Translator)The Virgin in the Garden by A.S. ByattI'll Take The Fire by Leïla Slimani(also The Country of Others and Watch US Dance)Lullaby / The Perfect Nanny by Leïla SlimaniNearly Departed by Lucas OakeleyCaptain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de BernieresThe Covenant of Water by Abraham VergheseDemon Copperhead by Barbara KingsolverSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After months of procrastination, Jeff finally books their Seattle trip, saving Sam from having to tell everyone it was canceled (again). But the relief is short-lived when they dive into the chaos that is TSA PreCheck. Sam recounts a maddening Orlando airport experience where security staff couldn't agree on whether he actually had PreCheck status, forcing him through both lines. Why do airlines make us manually enter those TSA numbers every single time?The conversation takes an unexpected medical turn when one speaker reveals they underwent kidney stone removal surgery on Monday. Despite being sedated for the first time and waking up disoriented, they declined the wheelchair and headed home to Miles, chicken finger pizza with blue cheese, and quality television. Recovery goals, honestly.Between speed dating events with deviled-egg-devouring attendees, guilty gym cancellations with accountability partner Nettie, and weekend brunches at Roost (political reservations aside), these two pack a lot into their weeks. They discuss Southwest Airlines' anxiety-inducing lack of assigned seating, debate whether modern TV is unnecessarily long, and share book recommendations including Faith Gardner's "The Mirror House Girls" and Freida McFadden's "Dear Debbie."What makes a speed dating event truly successful when half the attendees already know each other from previous dates?Tune in for honest conversations about life's absurdities, medical adventures, and why watching podcasts on YouTube during workouts is actually genius.

Yup, I finally read part of a romance novel and watched two romance shows. Who am I in 2026?In episode #158 I announce some new forthcoming screen adaptations, we get a guest author book recommendation from Nalini Singh, author of Such A Perfect Family and I recommend five books to add to your TBR. Join me on Substack. Books Recommended:Such a Perfect Family Nalini SinghThe Midnight Taxi - Yosha GunasakeraThe Irish Goodbye - Heather Aimee O'NeillThe Infamous Gilberts - Anjela TomaskiOnly Son – Kevin MoffettIs This A Cry For Help? – Emily AustinThe Housemaid - Freida McFaddenSupport the showGet your Books Are My People merch here!I hope you all have a wonderfully bookish week!

From the bestselling book by Freida McFadden comes the big screen adaptation of The Housemaid. This erotic psychological thriller is directed by Paul Feig (Bridesmaids). Sydney Sweeney shows up to become a live-in housekeeper for a wealthy couple played by Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar. As Seyfried's character begins acting crazy, we quickly learn that all is not what it seems. Critics and audiences were generally favorable, but we'll let you know what we thought in this episode, stacked with a minivan full of guests!

Turn off the Family Feud, grab a bologna sandwich and settle in for our discussion on Paul Feig's latest thriller, The Housemaid! Seth is joined by Melissa to discuss Freida McFadden, the return of the sexy 90s thriller, why the mid-movie switch reveals something interesting about the two lead performances and of course, the gardener. Also: Heavyweights! Changes from the book! Seth's housemaid past! Amanda Seyfried being the god of acting! Check it out! Ad-free versions of all of our episodes are available on our Patreon Check out Maria's Recipe for Bruce Bogtrotter's Revenge Cake When you sign up you also get access to our bonus shows, Discord server, shout out on the show AND you get to vote on monthly episodes and themes and a 25% discount in our merch store. That's a lot for only $5 a month! For more info and to sign up visit us on Patreon You can also give a Movie Friends subscription here: Gift a Movie Friends Subscription! Visit our website Check out our merch store Send us an email! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram Fill out our listener survey

durée : 00:04:51 - Le Masque et la Plume - par : Jérôme Garcin - L'adaptation du best-seller de Freida McFadden par le réalisateur américain Paul Feig divise... ou plutôt rassemble dans un consensus négatif. Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.

Host Jo Reed is joined by narrator Karen Murray to talk about HOW SWEET THE SOUND by Kwame Alexander, one of our picks for the Best Children and Family Audiobooks of 2025. Karen shares how she dove into this musical exploration of Black music in America, which “felt like home to her.” The experience begins with a poem as the listener is guided through the talking drums of Africa, to the blues, jazz, funk, and soul, and eventually hip-hop. Jo and Karen share why this listen is perfect for families, even down to the final, fascinating glossary.  Read AudioFile's review of the audiobook Published by Hachette Audio.  AudioFile's 2025 Best Children & Family Listening are: AND SHE WAS LOVED by Andrea Davis Pinkney, read by Andrea Davis Pinkney BAD BADGER by Maryrose Wood, read by Chris Devon MILLIE FLEUR SAVES THE NIGHT by Christy Mandin, read by Elizabeth Knowelden THE POISONED KING by Katherine Rundell, read by Sam West HOW SWEET THE SOUND by Kwame Alexander, read by Karen Murray WHALE EYES by James Robinson, read by James Robinson Explore the full list of 2025 Best Audiobooks on our website Support for our podcast comes from Dreamscape, an award-winning audiobook publisher with a catalog that includes authors L.J. Shen, Freida McFadden, and Katee Robert. Discover your next great listen at dreamscapepublishing.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Barely Famous, Kail talks to Freida McFadden, the author behind thrillers like The Housemaid and The Boyfriend. She reveals the secrets behind crafting her signature plot twists and shares the struggle of balancing dual careers as a physician and writer. Freida also gives listeners an inside scoop on her books being adapted for film and TV. Plus, she reads some hilariously mean reviews of her satirical novella.For full video episodes head to patreon.com/kaillowryTo shop all merch head to kaillowry.comThanks for supporting the show by checking out the sponsors!Everyday dose: Get 61% off your first Coffee+ Starter Kit, a free A2 Probiotic Creamer, with over $100 in free gifts by going to everydaydose.com/FAMOUS or entering FAMOUS at checkout.HERS: start your initial free visit at forhers.com/barelyfamous.OPositiv: Take proactive care of your health at opositiv.com/famous for 25% off your first purchaseShopify: Start your one dollar a month free trial period at shopify.com/famousThrive Market: Thrive: Go to ThriveMarket.com/BARELYFAMOUS to get 30% off your first order, and a free $60 gift.Wayfair: Get last-minute hosting essentials, gifts for all your loved ones, and decor to celebrate the holidays for WAY less. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I've been covering Amanda Seyfried's work consistently since starting my career — particularly starting the best part of my career, focusing on interviews. In fact, one of my very first press days was for Atom Egoyan's Chloe, which Seyfried headlines alongside Julianne Moore. With every press day that followed, I was constantly struck by Seyfried's general warmth and her passion for her work, but especially by her openness while talking about it. About 25 years into her career, I'm still wowed by those same qualities, but a new one surfaced during our latest conversation, our very first Collider Ladies Night interview. It's the importance Seyfried puts on being there for actors on the rise, like her The Housemaid co-star, Sydney Sweeney.The two star in the highly anticipated adaptation of Freida McFadden's incredibly popular novel. Sweeney plays Millie, a young woman who accepts a job working as a housemaid for Seyfried's character, Nina Winchester, and her family. Initially, it seems like a dream gig. The Winchester home is beautiful and Nina appears to be a lovely employer. However, on day one of the job, things take a turn. Or rather, Nina takes a turn.In celebration of The Housemaid's release this weekend, and The Testament of Ann Lee's upcoming rollout, Seyfried joined me for a Collider Ladies Night conversation to discuss the experiences that led her to this moment — a truly exceptional moment during which she has two wildly different films hitting theaters at about the same time, both featuring breathtaking work from her. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Narrator Greta Jung joins host Jo Reed to discuss narrating ALL THE TOMORROWS AFTER by Joanne Yi, one of AudioFile's picks for Best Young Adult Audiobooks of 2025. Greta discusses her connection to the Korean language and her own childhood, both of which helped her deliver an impactful, emotional performance. Jo and Greta also talk about the importance of stories that are especially resonant for children and teen listeners.  Read AudioFile's review of the audiobook Published by Simon & Schuster Audio AudioFile's 2025 Best Young Adult Audiobooks are: AMONG GHOSTS by Rachel Hartman, read by Will Watt ONE STEP FORWARD by Marcie Flinchum Atkins, read by Chanté McCormick SISTERS IN THE WIND by Angeline Boulley, read by Isabella Star LaBlanc (S)KIN by Ibi Zoboi, read by Bahni Turpin, Robin Miles UNDER THE SAME STARS by Libba Bray, read by January LaVoy, Jeremy Carlisle Parker, Major Curda ALL THE TOMORROWS AFTER by Joanne Yi, read by Greta Jung Explore the full list of 2025 Best Audiobooks on our website Support for our podcast comes from Dreamscape, an award-winning audiobook publisher with a catalog that includes authors L.J. Shen, Freida McFadden, and Katee Robert. Discover your next great listen at dreamscapepublishing.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator and actor Christine Lakin joins AudioFile's Michele Cobb to discuss one of this year's Best Romance Audiobooks, SAY YOU'LL REMEMBER ME by Abby Jimenez, read by Christine Lakin and Matt Lanter. Christine goes behind the scenes with Michele to reveal how she established the tone of certain characters and the unique challenges of being a romance narrator when they're often recording alone in a booth. Together they dive into new trends in current romance audiobooks and discuss how natural it felt for Christine to perform Abby Jimenez's words. Read AudioFile's review of the audiobook Published by Hachette Audio. AudioFile's 2025 Best Romance Audiobooks are: GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL LIFE by Emily Henry, read by Julia Whelan MISDIRECTED by Lucy Parker, read by Nicola Coughlan, Gwilym Lee PIONEER SUMMER by  Elena Malisova and Kateryna Sylvanova, [Translated from Russian by Anne O. Fisher] Read by Edoardo Ballerini  PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen, [Adapt.] Lulu Raczka, read by Marisa Abela, Harris Dickinson, Glenn Close, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Bill Nighy, Sophie Wilde, Will Poulter, Jessie Buckley, Toheeb Jimoh, Patricia Allison, Bertie Carvel, Leah Harvey, David Gyasi, Rosalind Eleazar SAY YOU'LL REMEMBER ME by Abby Jimenez, read by Christine Lakin, Matt Lanter THE WOLF KING by Lauren Palphreyman, read by Zara Hampton-Brown and Shane East Explore the full list of 2025 Best Audiobooks on our website Support for our podcast comes from Dreamscape, an award-winning audiobook publisher with a catalog that includes authors L.J. Shen, Freida McFadden, and Katee Robert. Discover your next great listen at dreamscapepublishing.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode of the podcast, Zibby interviews acclaimed producer/director Paul Feig at a press junket for THE HOUSEMAID, the highly acclaimed film adaptation of Frieda McFadden's bestselling novel. The two dive deep into what makes a great book-to-screen adaptation, the art of misdirecting an audience, and the power of music, production design, and point of view. Paul also shares behind-the-scenes insights into shaping THE HOUSEMAID as a “Nancy Meyers movie that goes horribly wrong,” his love of twists, his admiration for McFadden's writing, and his thoughts on creativity, movie theaters, and finding your own voice as an artist.NOW PLAYING ONLY IN THEATERS! Get tickets.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/45647BYShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for listening guides and more. **(Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Jo Reed is joined by narrator Maggi-Meg Reed to chat about her performance in one of AudioFile's selections for Best Multi-Voice audiobooks of 2025: THE CORRESPONDENT by Virginia Evans, read by Maggi-Meg Reed with an ensemble. Maggi-Meg talks about how she narrated this nuanced story about a 73-year old woman who is slowly going blind, while also dealing with a surprising DNA test. Together they discuss how a performer rides the line between a written conversation and a spoken one and the unique challenges that come with multi-voice narrations. Read AudioFile's review of the audiobook Published by Random House Audio.  AudioFile's 2025 Best Multi-Voice Audiobooks are: THE BIG FIX by John Mankiewicz, Jamie Napoli, Daniel Pyne, Katie Pyne, and Aaron Lipstadt, performed by Jon Hamm, Ana de la Reguera, Erin Moriarity, Omar Epps, Alia Shawkat, et al. THE CORRESPONDENT by Virginia Evans, read by Maggi-Meg Reed, Jane Oppenheimer, Carly Robins, David Pittu, Chris Andrew Ciulla, Mark Bramhall, Petrea Burchard, Robert Petkoff, Kimberly Farr, Peter Ganim, Jade Wheeler, Jim Seybert, Cerris Morgan-Moyer, et al. THE DEVIL REACHED TOWARD THE SKY by Garrett M. Graff, performed by Edoardo Ballerini, Adam Grupper, Brian Nishii, Kevin R. Free, Matthew Lloyd Davies, Mirai, Rob Shapiro, Saskia Maarleveld, Vikas Adam, et al. LES NORMAUX by Janine Janssen and S. Al Sabado, performed by Janine Janssen, S. Al Sabado, Fajer Al-Kaisi, Jean Brassard, Xavier Casals, Alexander Cendese, Kyla Garcia, Ramón de Ocampo, Abby Manning, Christopher Salazar, André Santana, Devon Sorvari, Jeanne Syquia OF MONSTERS AND MAINFRAMES by Barbara Truelove read by, Chris Devon, Emana Rachelle, Charlie Albers, Eve Passeltiner, Zura Johnson, Cary Hite, Gail Shalan SOUNDTRACK by Jason Reynolds, performed by Nile Bullock, Mekhi Hewling, Jade Williams, Brandon Miles, Ryan Vincent Anderson, Amir Royale, et al. Explore the full list of 2025 Best Audiobooks on our website Support for our podcast comes from Dreamscape, an award-winning audiobook publisher with a catalog that includes authors L.J. Shen, Freida McFadden, and Katee Robert. Discover your next great listen at dreamscapepublishing.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AudioFile's Michele Cobb sits down with award-winning narrator Eunice Wong to discuss one of our picks for the Best Science Fiction & Fantasy audiobooks of 2025: DOWN IN THE SEA OF ANGELS by Khan Wong. This cinematic collision of past and future comes together in a dystopian fantasy which is also part historical fiction and sci-fi. We'll hear about how Wong approached narrating three different timelines, and how a very special jade teacup connects them all. Read AudioFile's review of the audiobook Published by Dreamscape.  AudioFile's 2025 Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Audiobooks are: DEATH OF THE AUTHOR by Nnedi Okorafor, read by Liz Femi, Anthony Oseyemi, Jason Culp, Chris Djuma DOWN IN THE SEA OF ANGELS by Khan Wong, read by Eunice Wong THE HYMN TO DIONYSUS by Natasha Pulley, read by Sid Sagar KATABASIS by R.F. Kuang, read by Morag Sims, Will Watt  THE RAVEN SCHOLAR by Antonia Hodgson, read by Daphne Kouma THE WINTER GODDESS by Megan Barnard, read by Aoife McMahon, Aidan Kelly Explore the full list of 2025 Best Audiobooks on our website Support for our podcast comes from Dreamscape, an award-winning audiobook publisher with a catalog that includes authors L.J. Shen, Freida McFadden, and Katee Robert. Discover your next great listen at dreamscapepublishing.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden sits with Jenna Bush Hager to share how she balances life as a physician and a thriller writer. Freida reflects on her early love of writing, how she crafts her trademark twists, and the rise of The Housemaid, now becoming a film starring Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney. She also opens up about maintaining her privacy, writing under a pseudonym, and the craziest rumors she's heard about herself. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.