Podcasts about indie next pick

Shelley Read's debut novel, Go as a River, is an international bestseller that has been translated into thirty-four languages and is in development for film with the Mazur Kaplan Company. Winner of the High Plains Book Award for Fiction, the Reading the West Book Award for Debut Fiction, and le Prix de l'Union Interalliée, Go as a River is also a Sunday Times bestseller, Goodreads Choice Award finalist, Amazon Editors' Pick for Best Debut Fiction, Indie Next Pick, and a Colorado Public Radio Books We Love selection, among other national and international accolades. Go As A River has been highlighted in the New York Times Book Review, Sunday Times, Scientific American, Real Simple, Kirkus Reviews (starred review), Denver Post, London Independent, Alta Magazine, 5280, Zibby Mag, and many more publications around the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melissa Febos is the author of five books, including the national bestselling essay collection, GIRLHOOD, which has been translated into eight languages and was a LAMBDA Literary Award finalist, and winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award in Criticism. Her craft book, BODY WORK, was also a national bestseller, an LA Times Bestseller, and an Indie Next Pick. Her latest, The Dry Season: A Memoir of Pleasure in a Year Without Sex, is out now. She's the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, and the Jeanne Córdova Nonfiction Award from LAMBDA Literary. On today's show, Melissa and Annmarie discuss celibacy, erasure, and how abstaining from romantic entanglements might allow us to see ourselves in radical new ways. Episode Sponsors: Prairie Lights Books – Iowa City's premier indie bookstore since 1978.   Perhaps the strength of Prairie Lights reputation lies in the reading series of local, national and international writers who have read their works which were broadcast live on Iowa Public Radio and Television stations and which was the only regular literary series of its kind. All of this could not have been possible without a loyal customer base and a dedicated staff. Learn more or shop online at prairielights.com. Books Are Magic – A family-owned independent bookstore in Brooklyn, NY committed to being a welcoming, friendly, and inclusive space for all people. We believe that books are indeed magic and that literature is one of the best ways to create empathy, transportation, and transformation. Stop by or shop online at booksaremagic.net. Books by Melissa Febos The Dry Season: A Memoir of Pleasure in a Year Without Sex Body Work Abandon Me Whip Smart: The True Story of a Secret Life Girlhood Here's our favorite Alan Rickman in Sense and Sensibility. Follow Melissa Febos: Instagram: @melissafebos Facebook: @melissafebos Substack: @melissafebos melissafebos.com Photo Credit: Beowulf Sheehan **Writing Workshops and Wish Fulfillment:  If you liked this conversation and are interested in writing abroad, consider joining Annmarie and co-leader Athena Dixon for a writing retreat in Italy in September, 2025. You can travel to a beautiful place, meet other wise women, and write your own stories. We'd love to help you make your wishes come true.  This will sell out. Act now and join us! Or for women interested in an online Saturday morning writing circle, you can sign up here or message Annmarie to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this heartwarming episode of Reading with Your Kids, host Jed Doherty sits down with two incredible authors who are changing the landscape of children's literature. First up is Rajani LaRocca, a physician & author who's making waves with her powerful new picture book, "Some of Us: A Story of Citizenship in the United States." LaRocca's book is more than just a children's story—it's a celebration of immigration, diversity, and the true meaning of being an American. Drawing from her own experience as a naturalized citizen, she explores how people from different backgrounds contribute to the rich tapestry of American society. The book has already garnered critical acclaim, including three starred trade reviews and an Indie Next Pick. What makes LaRocca's work truly special is her ability to balance her medical career with her passion for writing. She sees both professions as opportunities to connect with people and tell meaningful stories. From addressing book banning controversies to creating narratives that spark important conversations, LaRocca is committed to writing books that matter. The episode also features a fascinating conversation with Etienne Labuschagne, a High Court judge from South Africa who has written "Bedtime for Clever Kids." His collection of stories, inspired by his own grandchildren, showcases the power of storytelling to bridge generations and explore complex topics through a child's perspective. Both authors demonstrate how children's literature can be a powerful tool for understanding the world, promoting empathy, and sparking meaningful conversations between parents and children. Whether you're a parent looking for meaningful books to read with your kids, an educator interested in diverse storytelling, or simply someone who loves a good book, this episode offers something for everyone. It's a reminder that stories have the power to connect us, teach us, and help us understand each other a little better. Don't miss this inspiring conversation that celebrates creativity, citizenship, and the magic of reading together! Click here to visit our website – www.ReadingWithYourKids.com Follow Us On Social Media Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/readingwithyourkids Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/readingwithyourkids/ X - https://x.com/jedliemagic LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/reading-with-your-kids-podcast/ Please consider leaving a review of this episode and the podcast on whatever app you are listening on, it really helps!  

What are some of the common ways that supporters of Israel justify the genocide in Gaza? Why is it important to counteract those narratives?In this series on healthcare and social disparities, Dr. Jill Wener, a board-certified Internal Medicine specialist, anti-racism educator, meditation expert, and tapping practitioner, interviews experts and gives her own insights into multiple fields relating to social justice and anti-racism. In this episode, Jill interviews Sim Kern, a journalist, book influencer, and anti-Zionist Jewish activist. This conversation is about the upcoming book, Genocide Bad: Notes on Palestine, Jewish History, and collective Liberation, which discusses the genocide in Gaza, and addresses several of the common arguments that are made in support of the Israeli genocide and apartheid in Gaza.Sim Kern is the USA Today bestselling author of The Free People's Village, an Indie Next Pick. As a journalist, book influencer, and anti-Zionist Jewish activist, Kern has used their social media platform to share educational content about Palestine and raise more than half a million dollars in direct mutual aid for families in Gaza since October 7th, 2023.LINKSGet the book: www.simkern.com/publicationsInstagram: @sim_bookstagrams_badlyTiktok: @sim booktoks badly**Our website www.consciousantiracism.comYou can learn more about Dr. Wener and her online meditation and tapping courses at www.jillwener.com, and you can learn more about her online social justice course, Conscious Anti Racism: Tools for Self-Discovery, Accountability, and Meaningful Change at https://theresttechnique.com/courses/conscious-anti-racism.If you're a healthcare worker looking for a CME-accredited course, check out Conscious Anti-Racism: Tools for Self-Discovery, Accountability, and Meaningful Change in Healthcare at www.theresttechnique.com/courses/conscious-anti-racism-healthcareJoin her Conscious Anti-Racism facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/307196473283408Follow her on:Instagram at jillwenerMDLinkedIn at jillwenermd

This week we are joined by Alison Espach! Alison Espach is the New York Times best-selling author of The Wedding People, a New York Times Editor's Choice, a Goodreads Choice Award Winner, a TODAY Show #ReadwithJenna Book Club pick, a Barnes and Noble Book Club Pick, and the #1 Indie Next Pick for August 2024. The Wedding People will be published in over twenty countries. She is also the author of Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance, a Chicago Tribune and NPR “Best Book of 2022,” as well as The Adults, a New York Times Editor's Choice and Barnes and Noble Discover pick. Her fictional audio series In-Depth Market Research Interviews with Dead People is an Audible Original. She has written for McSweeney's, Vogue, Outside, LitHub, Joyland and other places.In this conversation, Alison Espach shares her journey as a writer and teacher, discussing the balance between her creative pursuits and her teaching responsibilities. She reflects on her childhood in Trumbull, Connecticut, her experiences in high school sports and theater, and the impact of her height on her identity. The discussion highlights the importance of embracing one's uniqueness and the challenges of navigating societal expectations. We also explore the complexities of navigating grief and loss during youth, as well as the journey of writing authentically. Give this episode a listen! Recommendations From This Episode:Laid The God of The WoodsFollow Alison Espach: @alison.espachFollow Carly: @carlyjmontagFollow Emily: @thefunnywalshFollow the podcast: @aloneatlunchpodPlease rate and review the podcast! Spread the word! Tell your friends! Email us: aloneatlunch@gmail.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

 The world needs weirdos. You know who's weird? Astronauts, scientists, innovators, geniuses, creatives. Throughout history, the best and brightest among us have been willing to stand out, push boundaries, and be perceived as weird. Nikola Tesla, Margaret Wise Brown, Jim Henson, Katherine Johnson. Original ideas are weird. And then they are replicated. And that's exactly what happens in this story. Millie Fleur's Poison Garden is a wonderful, timeless book about being true to yourself by bestselling author Christy Mandin. Already an instant New York Times Bestseller, an Indie Bestseller and an Indie Next Pick, it is getting these reviews: "This dare-to-be-different picture book blends beautifully with the kids-to-the-rescue story...leaves readers with much to think about."--Shelf Awareness, starred review Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

New York Times bestselling author Christina Lynch spoke with me about working with Harvard pal Conan O'Brien, gang writing for TV, her nom de plume, and her new novel, PONY CONFIDENTIAL, featuring a grumpy pony. Christina Lynch is the author of Sally Brady's Italian Adventure, The Italian Party, and – under the pen name Magnus Flyte – co-author of New York Times bestseller City of Dark Magic and City of Lost Dreams. Her latest mystery, Pony Confidential (Berkley/PRH), is “... an epic saga, narrated by a pony, about the bond between animals and their humans.” It was named an NPR “Book of the Day,” Amazon Top 100 Books of 2024, an Indie Next Pick for November, and many other “most anticipated” lists. Christina Lynch was an editor on the Harvard Lampoon, the Milan correspondent for W magazine, and wrote for TV on the writing staffs of Unhappily Ever After and Stephen King's The Dead Zone among others. She teaches at College of the Sequoias. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Christina Lynch and I discussed:  End-of-semester panic and counseling her students Why she burned out on fashion and disappeared in Tuscany How a game with a fellow writer turned into a bestseller What her most recent success has meant to her The crazy story behind her latest novel And a lot more! Show Notes:  clynchwriter.com Pony Confidential By Christina Lynch (Amazon) In the new novel 'Pony Confidential,' a crime-solving pony seeks revenge - NPR Christina Lynch Amazon Author Page Christina Lynch on Facebook Anne Lamott on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The world needs weirdos. You know who's weird? Astronauts, scientists, innovators, geniuses, creatives. Throughout history, the best and brightest among us have been willing to stand out, push boundaries, and be perceived as weird. Nikola Tesla, Margaret Wise Brown, Jim Henson, Katherine Johnson. Original ideas are weird. And then they are replicated. And that's exactly what happens in this story. Millie Fleur's Poison Garden is a wonderful, timeless book about being true to yourself by bestselling author Christy Mandin. Already an instant New York Times Bestseller, an Indie Bestseller and an Indie Next Pick, it is getting these reviews: "This dare-to-be-different picture book blends beautifully with the kids-to-the-rescue story...leaves readers with much to think about."--Shelf Awareness, starred review Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

Jessica Shattuck is The New York Times Bestselling author of the novels Last House, The Women in the Castle, a New York Times Bestseller, #1 Indie Next Pick, and winner of The New England Book Award; Perfect Life, and The Hazards of Good Breeding, which was a New York Times Notable Book, a Boston Globe Editor's Choice Best Book of the Year, and a finalist for the 2003 PEN/Winship Award. Her fiction has appeared in The New Yorker, Guernica, Glamour, Open City, and The Tampa Review among other publications. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and three children. We talked about research, setting her novel in two time periods, oil in Iran, the CIA, Vermont, how idealism and activism may change as we age, and patience in the long journey of writing a novel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Online for Authors will be hosted by an amazing guest host, Carole O'Neill. Her guest is Maryann McFadden, author of the book The Book Lover. In 2007 Maryann McFadden “won the literary lottery” according to writing blogs when her previously self-published novel, The Richest Season, sold at auction to Hyperion Books. It became a Target Breakout Novel and an Indie Next Pick by the American Booksellers Association. Her next 2 novels, Cape Cod Light and The Book Lover are also Indie Next Picks. Her 4th novel, The Cemetery Keeper's Wife, is a historical novel set in her NJ hometown and has become a book club sensation. It is a novel she believes she was destined to write. Maryann's books have been translated into multiple languages and her unusual publishing journey has inspired many aspiring authors. You can reach her at maryannmcfadden.com. The Christmas Star is her fifth novel. In Carole's book review, she stated that if you love to read, and especially if you love to discover independent bookstores, you'll enjoy The Book Lover by Maryann McFadden. Her bookstore owner, Ruth, is not only believable, but you'll find yourself encouraging her to find her way to the second chance she doesn't think is possible. In fact, the book if full of second chances. Just as you're sure you know where the story is going, you'll be surprised by a new twist you never saw coming. Any writer who is struggling with a decision of whether to self-publish or wait for an answer from an agent, will recognize Lucy's dilemma and be amazed at how she solves her problems. This is an easy and enjoyable read that I recommend you add to your list of TBR's. Subscribe to Online for Authors to learn about more great books! https://www.youtube.com/@onlineforauthors?sub_confirmation=1 Join the Novels N Latte Book Club community to discuss this and other books with like-minded readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3576519880426290 You can follow Author Maryann McFadden Website: www.maryannmcfadden.com   FB: https://www.facebook.com/maryannmcfaddenauthor IG: https://www.instagram.com/maryannmcfaddenauthor/   Purchase The Book Lover on Amazon: Paperback: https://amzn.to/3WuyC0w Ebook: https://amzn.to/4fdOwnx   Carole O'Neill, Author and Podcast Guest Host: https://caroleoneillauthor.com/   Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor IG: @terimbrown_author X: @terimbrown1   #maryannmcfadden #thebooklover #contemporaryfiction #womensfiction #romance #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview #caroleoneill *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Joanna Pearson discusses her debut novel, Bright and Tender Dark, as well as branding, homesteading online, Tressie McMillan Cottom, the weirdness of Threads and Goodreads, eerie vibes, using murdered-girl tropes while subverting them, unresolved creepiness in the novel, Rachel Monroe fandom, and more! Joanna Pearson's debut novel, BRIGHT AND TENDER DARK (Bloomsbury, 2024), is an Indie Next Pick and an Amazon Editors' Pick. Her second story collection, NOW YOU KNOW IT ALL (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2021), was chosen by Edward P. Jones for the 2021 Drue Heinz Literature Prize and named a finalist for the Virginia Literary Awards. Her first story collection, EVERY HUMAN LOVE (Acre Books, 2019) was a finalist for the Shirley Jackson Awards, the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize for Fiction, and the Foreword INDIES Awards. Her stories have appeared in The Best American Short Stories, The Best American Mystery and Suspense, The Best Small Fictions, Best of the Net, and many other places. Joanna has received fellowships supporting her fiction from MacDowell, VCCA, South Arts, the Sewanee Writers' Conference, and the North Carolina Arts Council/Durham Arts Council. She holds an MFA in poetry from the Johns Hopkins University Writing Seminars and an MD from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Originally from western North Carolina, she now lives with her husband and two daughters near Chapel Hill, where she works as a psychiatrist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From TJ Alexander, a 3-time Indie Next Pick recipient and author of the Lamda Literary Award-nominated “urgent and intimate” (New York Times) Chef's Choice, comes TRIPLE SEC , starring a jaded bartender who is wooed by a charmingly quirky couple in this fresh and sizzling polyamorous rom-com, set in the glamorous world of high-end cocktail bars. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: TJ Alexander, the critically acclaimed author of Triple Sec, Second Chances in New Port Stephen, Chef's Kiss, and Chef's Choice, writes about queer love. Originally from Florida, they received their MA in writing and publishing from Emerson College in Boston. They live in New York City with their wife and various houseplants.

On this episode of Debut Discussions we're chatting with Sarah Crouch about her debut novel, Middletide, a gripping and intensely atmospheric literary thriller about the suspicious death of a beautiful young doctor in a small town and the prime suspect, a reclusive young man who abandoned the community in chase of big city dreams but returned for the first love he left behind. Sarah shares the challenges of her path to publication and how she and Carinn have personally bonded over it; writing flawed and complex characters; the importance of accurate representation of indigenous culture in fiction; the meta book within a book concept of her novel; how she trusted herself to fight for this title; and how she's juggling the launch of her debut novel while on submission for her second.  Listen now to Sarah's story wherever you get your podcasts. Middletide is out now and it's a Book of the Month and Indie Next Pick -- buy it, read it, and share it (in other words, make a debut author's dreams come true!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Debut Discussions we're chatting with Sarah Crouch about her debut novel, Middletide, a gripping and intensely atmospheric literary thriller about the suspicious death of a beautiful young doctor in a small town and the prime suspect, a reclusive young man who abandoned the community in chase of big city dreams but returned for the first love he left behind. Sarah shares the challenges of her path to publication and how she and Carinn have personally bonded over it; writing flawed and complex characters; the importance of accurate representation of indigenous culture in fiction; the meta book within a book concept of her novel; how she trusted herself to fight for this title; and how she's juggling the launch of her debut novel while on submission for her second.  Listen now to Sarah's story wherever you get your podcasts. Middletide is out now and it's a Book of the Month and Indie Next Pick -- buy it, read it, and share it (in other words, make a debut author's dreams come true!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

As the leaves turn and the air grows crisp, we're reminded that change is the only constant, a truth Chloe Benjamin knows all too well. This week on The Bookshop Podcast, join me for a profound journey with the author of The Anatomy of Dreams and The Immortalists as we navigate the intertwining paths of creativity and self-care. Chloe opens up about the alchemy of storytelling sparked in her youth and the vigilant balancing act between the fervor of art and the necessity of wellness, a dance many of us know too well. Her insights provide a map for writers and dreamers to chart a course through the tumultuous waters of a freelance career, steering clear of the siren call of commercialized self-care and wellness.Venture further into the heart of Chloe's work as we discuss the rich tapestry of The Immortalists. Chloe's dedication to authenticity breathes life into historical narratives, and her exploration of mind-body techniques presents a beacon of hope for those seeking solace from their internal storms. This episode is a testament to the transformative power of literature, allowing us to reflect on the threads of our own lives which mirror the characters we come to cherish.Completing our literary odyssey, we lift the veil on the often enigmatic world of publishing, offering solace and guidance to emerging writers navigating this labyrinth. Chloe's experience demystifies the journey from penning the first word to holding a published book in hand. Our conversation expands to celebrate the written word's power to heal, inspire, and transport us to realms unknown, with recommendations that will ignite readers' imaginations and perhaps even inspire a few to embrace the meditative quietude that has touched Chloe's life. So, settle in with your favorite feline companion and prepare to be whisked away by one of my favorite contemporary authors as we converse about life, health, and writing on this episode of The Bookshop Podcast.Chloe BenjaminThe Anatomy of Dreams, Chloe BenjaminThe Immortalists, Chloe Benjamin#22 – Chloe Benjamin The Sewanee ReviewVita Nostra, Marina & Sergey DyachenkoAssassin of Realty, Marina & Sergey DyachenkoBraiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall KimmererLIN HealthThe Sparrow, Mary Doria-RussellFeedSpot 20 Best Bibliophile PodcastsSupport the showThe Bookshop PodcastMandy Jackson-BeverlySocial Media Links

Sharon Cameron made her first appearance on the show for a lively and informative chat about her new book Artifice.Christine Platt & Catherine Wigginton Greene called in for a discussion about their co-authored entertaining and insightful social satire novel, Rebecca Not Becky. Sharon Cameron is the author of the international bestseller and Reese's Book Club pick The Light in Hidden Places and the critically acclaimed thriller Bluebird. Her debut novel The Dark Unwinding was awarded the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators' Sue Alexander Award for Most Promising New Work and the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award and was named a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection. Sharon is also the author of its sequel, A Spark Unseen; Rook, which was an Indiebound Indie Next List Top Ten selection, a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection, and a Parents' Choice gold medalist; and The Forgetting, a #1 New York Times bestseller and an Indie Next Pick of the List selection, as well as its companion novel, The Knowing. She lives with her family in Nashville, Tennessee, and you can visit her online at sharoncameronbooks.com or follow her on Instagram at @sharoncameronbooks or on Twitter at @CameronSharonE.CHRISTINE PLATT writes literature for children and adults that centers African diasporic experiences—past, present, and future. She holds Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in African and African American studies as well as a juris doctorate in general law. She currently serves as Executive Director for Baldwin For The Arts.CATHERINE WIGGINTON GREENE is a writer and filmmaker whose storytelling focuses on strengthening human connection and understanding. Her feature documentary I'm Not Racist . . . Am I? continues to be used throughout the US as a teaching tool for starting racial dialogue. A graduate of Coe College and Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, Catherine is currently pursuing her doctorate from The George Washington University's Graduate School of Education and Human Development.  

This week my guest is Nina Simon, author of the debut novel, Mother Daughter Murder Night,  a Reese's Book Club Pick, New York Times Bestseller, Indie Next Pick, and more. 

Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey are both powerhouse bestselling authors in their own rights. Now, they've merged their considerable talents in cosmic horror and urban fantasy to create the new novel, THE DEAD TAKE THE A TRAIN. In a New York City absolutely filthy with magic—monsters and the mundane intermingle. When that cohabitation breeds horrific problems—and it always does—you need people like Julie Crews to clean up the mess. But being a coked-out, broke ass, pig-pen disaster of a magician like Julie creates as many issues as it solves. Struggling to make rent and constantly getting screwed by her clients, Julie is desperate to score some real paying work. Complicating matters is the arrival of her childhood friend Sarah, the prim and pretty opposite to Julie's deadbeat, mage-punk lifestyle. Sarah's brightness is just what she needs, and the vibes are way more than platonic. But Sarah brought her own baggage to the big city. When Julie's pompous Wall Street ex-boyfriend Tyler calls, offering big money for a highly suspicious job, she can't refuse. Getting tangled up in his lies, and the innumerable arms of a dream-eating demon, will be least of their issues, though. Because Tyler's corporate job serves some seriously eldritch monstrosities, big ugly elder god-things on a schedule to consume their workforce. And maybe the world. This, of course, is all about to become Julie's giant mess to solve—and make infinitely worse along the way. THE DEAD TAKE THE A TRAIN is a visceral, violent, wickedly fun urban fantasy available now from Tor Nightfire: Amazon »  Bookshop »  About Cassandra Khaw Cassandra Khaw is an award-winning game writer and former scriptwriter at Ubisoft Montreal. Khaw's work can be found in places like The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Lightspeed, and Tor.com. Khaw's first original novella, HAMMERS ON BONE, was a British Fantasy Award and Locus Award finalist, and their latest novella, NOTHING BUT BLACKENED TEETH, was a USA Today bestseller; Bram Stoker, Shirley Jackson, World Fantasy, and British Fantasy Award nominee; and an Indie Next Pick. In 2023, they won the Bram Stoker Awards Superior Achievement in a Fiction Collection for BREAKABLE THINGS, a collection of short stories. Instagram  Twitter  Amazon Profile »  Goodreads Profile  About Richard Kadrey Richard Kadrey is the New York Times bestselling author of the SANDMAN SLIM supernatural noir series. Sandman Slim was included in Amazon's “100 Science Fiction & Fantasy Books to Read in a Lifetime,” and is in production as a feature film. Some of Kadrey's other books include THE GRAND DARK, THE EVERYTHING BOX, and BUTCHERBIRD. In comics, he's written for Heavy Metal, Lucifer, and Hellblazer. He's currently partnered with Winterlight Productions for his original horror screenplay, Dark West. Website  BlueSky  Instagram  Twitter  Amazon Profile »  Goodreads Profile   

On our interconnectedness, releasing paradigms, and receiving the work that needs to pass through us. 0:42 – Introducing Matthew Quick; Bestselling author of The Silver Linings Playbook and We Are The Light; https://matthewquickwriter.com/ 3:00 – We Are The Light – A series of letters written by a mass shooting survivor from protagonist to analyst over the course of a couple years. These letters are about interacting with the little brother of the shooter. 5:30 – Inspiration for the story – Movie theater shooting in Aurora, Co – writing a novel about a tragedy in a movie house and the people in the community come together to resanctify this space. 8:04 – Getting sober in 2018; experiencing writers block for 3 years; entering Jungian analysis; having paranoid thoughts and taking that into the creative writing wrestling ring. After 7 years of trying to sit down to write this novel, it was written in 6 weeks. 11:00 – This Jungian Life Podcast; The protagonist, Lucas, talking about Eli, the brother of the shooter. Tiny injections of reality from your analyst. 14:00 – Lucas is tapping into these sacred places of radical love. He accesses a divine wisdom, possessed by the archetype of love in finding this reconciliation and healing of the community. 17:05 – Conversations about power – as we elevate these conversations of power, are we relegating conversations of love? Lucas take the stance of radical love. Owning the potential of darkness within all of us through shadow work and learning to love the totality of our humanity. 19:05 – How can we treat the shadow in others with more respect and bring dignity. Having the conversations as a community for acknowledging the personal responsibility for those unseen. Slowing down and taking the time to have human interactions. 21:42 – The work is to see the people that make us the most angry are the people most like us. These things that make us uncomfortable are manifestations of things that are going on inside of us. Bringing it back to within and doing the work. 24:11 – Seeing the humanity within all. Every single human is a part of this interconnected whole. Dropping opinions and assumptions and allowing vulnerability. 26:45 – Teach the kids to think, not what to think. Give them the tools to make up their own minds about things. We don't have much dialogue and nuanced conversation in public spaces based on our affiliations. 29:15 – Our extroverted society demands quick answers and voicing of opinion, but complicated problems require a lot of pondering and meditation, especially in the wake of a tragedy. 31:50 – Ego is always going to want to take responsibility for everything. How little control we actually have can be terrifying at first, but also creates a pathway to access better ways. The analyst says to get out of the way, let what comes through you come through you. 34:15 – Having the humility to serve and let go afterwards is the trick. Life circumstances shift, but it comes back to service, humility and getting out of the way. 36:45 – A message to those struggling to get sober; finding people who can support you and you can talk to. 39:00 – Getting the benefit of talking about your sobriety. Admitting the need for allies. Matthew Quick is the New York Times bestselling author of  The Silver Linings Playbook—which was made into an Oscar-winning film—and eight other novels, including We Are the Light, a #1 Indie Next Pick and a Book of the Month selection. His work has been translated into more than thirty languages, received a PEN/Hemingway Award Honorable Mention, was an LA Times Book Prize finalist, a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice, a #1 bestseller in Brazil, a Deutscher Jugendliteratur Preis 2016 (German Youth Literature Prize) nominee, and selected by Nancy Pearl as one of Summer's Best Books for NPR. The Hollywood Reporter has named him one of Hollywood's 25 Most Powerful Authors. Matthew lives with his wife, the novelist Alicia Bessette, on North Carolina's Outer Banks. https://matthewquickwriter.com/  

Deb Rogers' novel Florida Woman was published in July 2022 by Hanover Square Press, an imprint of HarperCollins. Called "a bewitching debut" by Publisher's Weekly, Florida Woman was featured as an Indie Next Pick by the American Booksellers Association. Deb has lived and traveled throughout Florida working as an educator, policymaker and victim advocate, and she now lives on the Atlantic side of the state in the very haunted and very beautiful town of St. Augustine. While she'd love to stumble upon hidden pirate treasure along the coast someday, her daily obsessions tend to be thriller and heist movies, word puzzles, licorice, Florida manatees, and, of course, monkeys. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @debontherocks, or learn more on her website debrogersauthor.com. Interviewer Kay Huggins is a creative, the owner of Aphelion Editing and Consulting, and the host of the Raindrop Corner Podcast. As a longtime resident of Jacksonville, Florida, they have sought to support local artistry, foster thought-provoking content, and aid in human rights advocacy. Kay is an English major with a concentration in psychology. For over a decade, their life has been dazzled with project management, technology industries, logistics, editing, writing, and production. Through the intersectionality of Kay's craft, they aim to champion the community by providing a platform to marginalized groups. Currently, Kay is writing their debut novel and enjoying leisure moments with their fur babies. READ Jamie is a Florida Woman. She grew up on the beach, thrives in humidity, has weathered more hurricanes than she can count, and now, after going viral for an outrageous crime she never meant to commit in the first place, she has the requisite headline to her name. But when the chance comes for her to escape viral infamy and imminent jail time by taking a community service placement at Atlas, a shelter for rescued monkeys, it seems like just the fresh start Jamie needs to finally get her life back on track — until it's not. Something sinister stirs in the palmetto woods surrounding her cabin, and secrets lurk among the three beguiling women who run the shelter and affectionately take Jamie under their wing for the summer. Check out Deb's work from the library! -- https://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results?qu=deb+rogers&te=  "Florida Woman ushers in a new talent who knows the quirkiness of the Sunshine State." – Sun Sentinel DEB RECOMMENDS Learn about the origins of Central Florida's monkey problem by reading The Bitter Southerner's well-researched article: “Who Knew Monkeys Could Swim” by Jordan Blumetti. Visit the Florida Museum of Natural History and take a walk through our state's past, beginning in the Eocene epoch (when Florida was underwater).  Read some of Deb's favorite books that are set in Florida including The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean, Lightwood by Steph Post and Swamplandia!( by Karen Russell. --- Never miss an event! Sign up for email newsletters at https://bit.ly/JaxLibraryUpdates  Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jaxlibrary Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaxLibrary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaxlibrary/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jaxpubliclibraryfl Contact Us: jplpromotions@coj.net 

Virginia Pye discusses the first pages of her wonderfully smart and imaginative novel, The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann. AND, a special gift to our listeners: The ever-brave and generous Ginny also shares with us several paragraphs from her very first “shitty” draft for us to compare (which isn't so “shitty” after all, but sure makes her published pages look even better). We talk about the importance of narrative distance in historical fiction, how not to overly antiquate the prose and dialog, and how quickly we need to feel that trouble is brewing for the main character.Pye's first pages can be found here.Help local bookstores and our authors by buying this book on Bookshop.Click here for the audio/video version of this interview.The above link will be available for 48 hours. Missed it? The podcast version is always available, both here and on your favorite podcast platform.Virginia Pye is an award-winning author of three novels and the short story collection, Shelf Life of Happiness, which won the 2019 Independent Publisher Gold Medal for Short Fiction. Her debut novel, River of Dust, (Unbridled Books), was an Indie Next Pick and a 2013 Finalist for the Virginia Literary Award. Her second novel, Dreams of the Red Phoenix, (Unbridled Books), was named a Best Book of 2015 by the Richmond Times Dispatch. She is Fiction Editor for Pangyrus, a literary journal based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a board member of the Women's National Book Association, Boston Chapter. Virginia grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and moved back after thirty-five years living up and down the East Coast.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 7amnovelist.substack.com

In today's flashback, an outtake from Episode 460, my conversation with Melissa Febos, author of Body Work, Girlhood, and other books. Girlhood was a national bestseller, a Lambda Literary Award finalist, and the winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award in Criticism. Body Work was also a national bestseller, an LA Times Bestseller, and an Indie Next Pick. Her fifth book, The Dry Season, is forthcoming from Alfred. A. Knopf. *** Otherppl with Brad Listi is a weekly literary podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers. Available where podcasts are available: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, etc. Subscribe to Brad Listi's email newsletter. Support the show on Patreon Merch @otherppl Instagram  YouTube TikTok Email the show: letters [at] otherppl [dot] com The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 194 Notes and Links to Ruth Madievsky's Work       On Episode 194 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Ruth Madievsky and the two discuss, among other things, her early relationship with Moldova and the former Soviet Union, her bilingual journey, formative and transformative writers and works, her sensibility as a poet and novelist, and prominent themes and issues about and surrounding her book, such as generational trauma and its effect on families and individuals, sexual violence, homophobia, codependent relationships, and dark humor that comes with pain and trauma.         Ruth Madievsky is the author of a novel, All-Night Pharmacy (Catapult, July 2023), an instant national bestseller. An Indie Next Pick, All-Night Pharmacy has been named a Best/Most Anticipated 2023 Book by over 40 venues, including NPR, The Los Angeles Times, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Vulture, and Buzzfeed.   Her fiction, nonfiction, and poetry appear in The Atlantic, The Los Angeles Times, Harper's Bazaar, GQ, Tin House, Guernica, them, Ploughshares, The American Poetry Review, and elsewhere. Her debut poetry collection, Emergency Brake (Tavern Books, 2016), was the winner of the Wrolstad Contemporary Poetry Series and spent five months on Small Press Distribution's Poetry Bestsellers list. She was the winner of The American Poetry Review's Stanley Kunitz Memorial Prize, The Iowa Review's Tim McGinnis Award for fiction, and a Tin House scholarship in poetry. She is a founding member of the Cheburashka Collective, a community of women and nonbinary writers whose identity has been shaped by immigration from the Soviet Union to the United States.   She has recently completed a second poetry collection. Originally from Moldova, she lives in Los Angeles, where she works as an HIV and primary care clinical pharmacist. She tweets her existential longings at @ruthmadievsky.       Buy All-Night Pharmacy   Ruth's Website   Review of All-Night Pharmacy from Kirkus Reviews   Article about All-Night Pharmacy in The Los Angeles Times   Conversation and Article with Adrian Florido on NPR's “All Things Considered” At about 2:50, Ruth discusses her mindset in this time immediately after two milestones-the birth of her daughter and great success for All-Night Pharmacy   At about 4:25, Ruth shouts out Skylight Books as a great place, among many, to buy her book-also, Book Soup   At about 5:00, Ruth talks about her family's history with the Russian language and their Jewish identity in the former Soviet Union and reasons for emigration    At about 8:10, Ruth talks about communities of those who spoke Russian and those who shared her love for reading and writing and storytelling    At about 12:15, Pete asks which books and writers were formative and transformative for Ruth   At about 14:20, Ruth talks about the “contradictory, complicated” Los Angeles of her youth and beyond   At about 16:00, Ruth shouts out Richard Siken, Marie Howe, Terrance Hayes, Bryan Washington, Raven Leilani, as inspirational and challenging writers   At about 17:35, Pete compliments the book's “arresting” last image   At about 18:30, Ruth describes why she's “a poet writing novels,” in relation to recent fun viral posts   At about 20:15, Ruth highlights a fun “deleted scene” article from Guernica   At about 22:55, Pete highlights the book's epigraph and an early strong characterization of Debbie   At about 24:10, Ruth gives a characterization of Debbie   At about 26:00, The two juxtapose the narrator and Debbie and shout the “earnest” Ronnie   At about 28:50, Ruth gives background on the “cursed bar game”-“Wealthy Patron” and the bar Salvation    At about 30:30, The two discuss Ronnie as “stable” in light of Debbie and the narrator's troubled parents    At about 31:30, Ruth talks about traumas and how they inform the actions of Debbie and the narrator's mother   At about 33:20, Generational gaps are highlighted, particularly among Debbie and the narrator's grandmother and them; the larger idea of Jewish and other immigrants and ideas of hardship are discussed   At about 35:05, Ruth responds to Pete's question about what one does to “live up to” their forebears' sacrifices; she points to the narrator's guilt/conflicted feelings and trying to “honor”   At about 37:15, A heavy and darkly humorous party from the book is highlighted   At about 37:45, Ruth speaks to the ways in which the sisters acted out in connection to their father as “mostly a nonentity”   At about 39:15, Ruth discusses the knife and statue and ideas of agency in the narrator's life   At about 42:10, The two discuss touch and “cutting” and the transference of pain   At about 43:00, Ruth discusses ideas of “being a victim,” particularly in the ways in which Debbie and her sister deal with their sexual abuse   At about 47:00, The two discuss the codependent relationship between sisters, as well as Sasha's    At about 50:00, Ruth talks about the contrast between the narrator's relationship with Sasha in the US and Moldova and how their relationship evolved    At about 52:50, Pete quotes some meaningful lines from the book that deal with generational traumas    At about 54:00, Pete wonders if Ruth has plans to further explore issues and characters from All-Night Pharmacy in future projects   At about 56:30, An article in Full Stop that cites a reason for the book's title is mentioned  You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I'm @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I'm @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch this and other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you're checking out this episode.    Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl     Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting my one-man show, my DIY podcast and my extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!    NEW MERCH! You can browse and buy here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChillsatWillPodcast    This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I'd love for your help in promoting what I'm convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.    The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.    Please tune in for Episode 195 with Jessica Cuello, whose book Liar was selected by Dorianne Laux for The 2020 Barrow Street Book Prize; her latest book is Yours, Creature, a creative and stirring look at the life of Mary Shelley.  The episode will air on July 28.

In this episode we sit down with the spectacular Rachel Yoder, writer and mother. Rachel is the author of the novel Nightbitch. Selected as an Indie Next Pick in August 2021, Nightbitch has gone on to be named a best book of the year by Esquire and Vulture and has been translated into 13 different languages. Nightbitch personally inspired both of us, as Rachel delves into the truly feral and raw parts of motherhood. In this conversation we dig into Rachel's experience of motherhood and how Nightbitch showed up on her doorstep one day demanding to be written. SHOW NOTES:Rachel mentions the book Fair Play by Eve RodskyContact Rachel Yoder - via her website: https://www.racheljyoder.com/ - on twitter  https://twitter.com/RachelYoder- on instagram https://www.instagram.com/raijoy/Contact Saint Majella Slide into our DMs via insta @saintmajella Email us for collab opportunities hello@saintmajella.com See upcoming events and more on our website www.saintmajella.com Thanks for listening and pls share us with your motherhood community!Love, Mel and Cel

Matthew Quick is the New York Times bestselling author of The Silver Linings Playbook—which was made into an Oscar-winning film—and eight other novels, including We Are the Light, a #1 Indie Next Pick and a Book of the Month selection. His work has been translated into more than thirty languages, received a PEN/Hemingway Award Honorable Mention, was an LA Times Book Prize finalist, a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice, a #1 bestseller in Brazil, a Deutscher Jugendliteratur Preis 2016 (German Youth Literature Prize) nominee, and selected by Nancy Pearl as one of Summer's Best Books for NPR. The Hollywood Reporter has named him one of Hollywood's 25 Most Powerful Authors. Matthew lives with his wife, the novelist Alicia Bessette, on North Carolina's Outer Banks. https://matthewquickwriter.com/ https://matthewquick.substack.com/ https://www.amazon.com/We-Are-Light-Matthew-Quick-ebook/dp/B09RX3X5KN/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1W14PEWVHYKKW&keywords=matthew+quick&qid=1687266416&s=digital-text&sprefix=matthew+quick%2Cdigital-text%2C126&sr=1-2

We Are the Light: A Novel Matthew Quick is the New York Times bestselling author of The Silver Linings Playbook—which was made into an Oscar-winning film—and eight other novels, including We Are the Light, a #1 Indie Next Pick and a Book of the Month selection. His work has been translated into more than thirty languages, received a PEN/Hemingway Award Honorable Mention, was an LA Times Book Prize finalist, a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice, a #1 bestseller in Brazil, a Deutscher Jugendliteratur Preis 2016 (German Youth Literature Prize) nominee, and selected by Nancy Pearl as one of Summer's Best Books for NPR. The Hollywood Reporter has named him one of Hollywood's 25 Most Powerful Authors. Matthew lives with his wife, the novelist Alicia Bessette, on North Carolina's Outer Banks. https://matthewquickwriter.com/ https://matthewquick.substack.com/ When you click a link on our site, it might just be a magical portal (aka an affiliate link). We're passionate about only sharing the treasures we truly believe in. Every purchase made from our links not only supports Dabble but also the marvelous authors and creators we showcase, at no additional cost to you.

First pages are impossible… so we're hearing from authors about how they got them right. In this episode, Nathaniel Ian Miller discusses the first pages of his debut novel, The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven, and how his discoveries about the character's inner life allowed him to go back to his book's beginning again and offer readers a fuller, more nuanced sense of Sven. We also discuss the power of distance in a reminiscent narrator, what writers might borrow from memoir in terms of voice and complexity, and how world building can be a very physical experience more than anything else.Miller's first pages can be found here (click the link beneath the book description).Help local bookstores and our authors by buying this book on Bookshop.Click here for the audio/video version of this interview.The above link will be available for 48 hours. Missed it? The podcast version is always available, both here and on your favorite podcast platform.Nathaniel Ian Miller's debut novel, The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven, a #1 Indie Next Pick published in 2021 by Little, Brown & Co., was longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and has been translated into multiple languages. He has written for newspapers in Wisconsin, New Mexico, Montana, and Colorado, for which he received multiple Associated Press Awards. He is also a former resident in the Arctic Circle Expeditionary Program. He lives with his family on a farm in Vermont.Thank you for reading The 7am Novelist. This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 7amnovelist.substack.com

Dana Gynther was born in St Louis and, at the age of ten, moved to Auburn, Alabama. She attended the University of Alabama, majoring in Political Science, and moved to France after receiving her BA. When she returned to the States a year and a half later, she went back to UA and received an MA in French Literature. In 1994, she and her French-speaking Spanish husband moved to his hometown, Valencia (Spain), where they work as teachers and translators and enjoy spending time with their two daughters. "Crossing on the Paris," her debut novel, explored the lives of three women as they made the voyage across the Atlantic on an ocean liner. It was an Indie Next Pick and B&N Hot Pick for November 2012 and Dana was chosen as a Target Emerging Author. Her most recent novel, "The Woman in the Photograph," to be released in August 2015, is a novelized account of the relationship between the two photographers, Lee Miller and Man Ray in Paris in the early 1930s.

Bill welcomes fantasy and science fiction author Cassandra Khaw to the show. Cassandra is an award-winning game writer and former scriptwriter at Ubisoft Montreal. Khaw's work can be found in places like The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Lightspeed, and Tor.com. Khaw's first original novella, Hammers on Bone, was a British Fantasy Award and Locus Award finalist, and their novella, Nothing But Blackened Teeth, was a USA Today bestseller, Bram Stoker Award nominee, and Indie Next Pick. The Salt Grows Heavy is their latest novel.

About Colin Winnette: COLIN WINNETTE's books include Coyote, Haints Stay, and The Job of the Wasp, which was an American Booksellers Association's Indie Next Pick. Winnette's writing has appeared in numerous publications, including Playboy, McSweeney's, The Believer, and The Paris Review Daily. A former bookseller in Texas, Vermont, New York, and California, he is now a writer living in San Francisco. About Users: Marrying the philosophical absurdities of life, technology, start-up culture, and family, Users is for readers of Ling Ma, Dave Eggers's The Circle, and viewers of the hit Apple TV+ original series Severance Miles, a lead creative at a midsize virtual reality company known for its “original experiences,” has engineered a new product called The Ghost Lover. Wildly popular from the outset, the “game” is simple: a user's simulated life is almost identical to their reality, except they're haunted by the ghost of an ex-lover. However, when a shift in the company's strategic vision puts The Ghost Lover at the center of a platform-wide controversy, Miles becomes the target of user outrage, and starts receiving a series of anonymous death threats. Typed notes sealed in envelopes with no postage or return address, these persistent threats push Miles into a paranoid panic, blurring his own sense of reality, catalyzing the collapse of his career, his marriage, and his relationship with his children. The once-promising road to success becomes a narrow set of choices for Miles, who, in a last ditch effort to save his job, pitches his masterpiece, a revolutionary device code-named the Egg, which will transform the company. The consequences for Miles seal him inside the walls of his life as what was once anxiety explodes into devastating absoluteness. In a world rife with the unchecked power and ambition of tech, Users investigates—with both humor and creeping dread—how interpersonal experiences and private decisions influence the hasty developments that have the power to permanently alter the landscape of human experience.

We had a wonderful time chatting with debut author, Edward Underhill (@edwardunderhill ). Edward was such a joy to speak with and had so many amazing things to say!!! We can't wait for y'all to tune in! A bit more Edward: Edward Underhill is an author and a composer who grew up in Wisconsin. He began playing the cello at age five, started writing stories not long after that, and began seriously composing in his teens. He studied music composition in college at the Oberlin Conservatory (while writing ghost stories for a campus magazine) and received a masters in film music composition from NYU. He now lives in California with his partner and a talkative black cat, where he writes music (frequently for cartoons) and novels (frequently for teens). Most recently he wrote music for KID COSMIC (Netflix) with Andy Bean. His debut young adult novel, ALWAYS THE ALMOST, has earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly and was named a Kids' Indie Next Pick. It releases from Wednesday Books/Macmillan on February 14, 2023. As a queer trans man, he is passionate about representation both on the screen and on the page. https://www.edward-underhill.com/ ALWAYS THE ALMOST is out now!!! Order your copy of ALWAYS THE ALMOST Add ALWAYS THE ALMOST to Goodreads #debutauthor #writerssupportingwriters #authorssupportingauthors #writersofinstagram #debutauthors #alwaysthealmost #wednesdaybooks #transbooks #yabookstagram #bookbirthday #bookstagram #diversifyyourbookshelf #queerbooks #lgbtbooks

In this episode, I chatted to the wonderful Abi Daré about her incredible novel, The Girl with the Louding Voice. We talk about character development, female empowerment, the role of education and what it really means to have a louding voice. Abi Daré is the author of The Girl with the Louding Voice, which was a New York Times bestseller, a #ReadWithJenna Today Show book club pick, and an Indie Next Pick.  She grew up in Lagos, Nigeria and went on to study law at the University of Wolverhampton and has an MSc in International Project Management from Glasgow Caledonian University as well as an MA in Creative Writing at Birkbeck, University of London. Abi lives in Essex, UK with her husband and two daughters, who inspired her to write her debut novel.If you enjoyed the podcast, please follow the Diverse Bookshelf on your podcast platform of choice and connect with me on social media. I would really appreciate it if you could rate and leave a review, as it helps more people find the podcast. www.instagram.com/readwithsamiawww.instagram.com/thediversebookshelfpod Support the show

Melissa Febos' latest publication is her craft book, “Body Work: The Radical Power of Perosnal Narrative.” “Body Work" is a national bestseller and an Indie Next Pick. Drawing on her own path from aspiring writer to acclaimed author and writing professor - via addiction and recovery, sex work and academia - Febos has created a captivating guide to the writing about life.

Seeking some extra cash to pay for her new off-campus apartment, college sophomore Samantha answers an ad for a babysitting job. Her friend Megan suspects something weird is going on and insists on joining Samantha for the evening. On the night of a total lunar eclipse, the two drive to a grand Victorian on the outskirts of town and meet the Ulmans, an older couple going out for the evening – but there's a catch. There's no child. Instead, Mrs. Ulman's mother is upstairs, and Samantha is asked to hang out in the house, in case anything should happen to Mother. Initially reluctant to take the job, Samantha is able to wring 400 bucks out of the couple, and settles in for an evening alone in a dark, dark house, on a dark, dark night. Intro, Math Club, and Debate Society (spoiler-free) 0:00-27:42 Honor Roll and Detention (spoiler-heavy) 27:43-54:41 Superlatives (so. many. spoilers.) 54:42-1:10:23 Director Ti West Screenplay Ti West Featuring AJ Bowen, Jocelin Donahue, Greta Gerwig, Tom Noonan, Dee Wallace, Mary Woronov Adrienne Celt is the author of the novels “End of the World House” (Simon & Schuster 2022); “Invitation to a Bonfire” (Bloomsbury 2018), which was an Indie Next Pick, an Amazon Best Book of the Month, and is currently being adapted into a TV show for AMC; and “The Daughters” (Norton/Liveright) which won the 2015 PEN Southwest Book Award for Fiction and was named a Best Book of the Year by NPR, as well as a collection of comics: “Apocalypse How? An Existential Bestiary” (DIAGRAM/New Michigan Press 2016). Her writing has been recognized by an O. Henry Prize, the Glenna Luschei Award, and residencies at Jentel, Ragdale, and the Willapa Bay AiR. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Esquire, Zyzzyva, Strange Horizons, Ecotone, The Kenyon Review, Prairie Schooner, and Electric Lit, among other places, and her comics and essays can be found in Catapult, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, The Rumpus, the Tin House Open Bar, The Millions, and elsewhere. She publishes a webcomic (most) every Wednesday at loveamongthelampreys.com. Our theme music is by Sir Cubworth, with embellishments by Edward Elgar. Music from “The House of the Devil” by Jeff Grace. To read Adrienne's New York Times article that brought her love of horror to Eric & Bradford's attention, click here. For more information on this film, the pod, essays from your hosts, and other assorted bric-a-brac, visit our website, scareupod.com. Please subscribe to this podcast via Apple or Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you like what you hear, please leave us a 5-star rating. Join our Facebook group. Follow us on Instagram. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Julie Clark is the New York Times bestselling author of THE LAST FLIGHT, which earned starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Library Journal. The New York Times called it “thoroughly absorbing” and it was named an Indie Next Pick, a Library Reads Pick, and a Best Book of 2020 by Amazon Editors and Apple Books. Her debut, THE ONES WE CHOOSE, was published in 2018 and has been optioned for television by Lionsgate. Her latest book, THE LIES I TELL, releases in 2023. Julie lives in Los Angeles with her two sons and a golden doodle with poor impulse control.

Julie Clark, author of the new novel, The Lies I Tell, talks with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett about how she found her way to the domestic thriller genre, why she finds female con artists fascinating, her revision process, how she finds time to teach full-time and get her writing done, and so much more. Julie Clark is the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Flight. It has earned starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Library Journal, and the New York Times has called it “thoroughly absorbing.” It's been named an Indie Next Pick, a Library Reads Pick, and a Best Book of 2020 by Amazon Editors and Apple Books. Her debut, The Ones We Choose, was published in 2018 and has been optioned for television by Lionsgate. She lives in Los Angeles with her two sons and a golden doodle with poor impulse control.Download audio.   (Recorded in June, 2022) Support the show on Patreon.com/WritersonWriting! Music and sound design by Travis Barrett  Barbara DeMarco-Barrett: www.penonfire.com Marrie Stone: www.marriestone.com Travis Barrett: https://travisbarrett.mykajabi.com

It's edge-of-your-seat time! We're in for a thrilling episode as we talk to three female thriller writers—Julie Clark, Erica Ferencik, and Karen Cleveland.Julie Clark is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of The Last Flight, which has been translated into more than 20 languages, and the 2018 debut novel, The Ones We Choose, which has been optioned for television by Lionsgate. She joins us to discuss THE LIES I TELL, a twisted con-woman thriller about two women out for revenge―or is it justice? Called "riveting" by Laura Dave and "a knockout" by Mary Kubica, the book is hot off the presses and we can't wait to hear all about it. There is nowhere on earth award-winning author Erica Ferencik won't go to take you out of your head and into the great wild world. Her adventure novels feature women who brave not only internal struggles but face extreme challenges in their environment: remote forests, steaming jungles, and desolated icescapes. She joins us to talk about this spring's Arctic-set GIRL IN ICE, which was a New York Times Editors' Choice, an Indie Next Pick, and an Amazon Editors' Pick that got starred reviews in Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and Book Page.On the after show, we will give a warm F&F welcome to returning guest, former CIA counterterrorism analyst, New York Times bestselling author, and sister of our own Kristin Harmel, Karen Cleveland. Karen joins us to preview her forthcoming domestic thriller, THE NEW NEIGHBOR, which Ballantine will publish on July 26th.

Calling all book nerds! Are you looking for a place where your book-loving heart can flourish? Join us at jenhatmakerbookclub.com, and become one of our sisters in nerdiness. For May 2022, Jen and the club read Abi Dare's The Girl With The Louding Voice. Abi is originally from Lagos, Nigeria and went on to study law in the UK at the University of Wolverhampton and eventually earned her MA in Creative Writing at Birkbeck, University of London. Not only is she an incredible writer, she is also a major advocate for women's education. Her husband inspired her to write this book and it came about after discussing how they saw housemaids treated during their childhood. The Girl With The Louding Voice was a New York Times Bestseller, a #ReadWithJenna Today Show book club pick, and it was an Indie Next Pick. This story whipped up a ton of talk and for a good reason, it helps folks see the impact lack of education, opportunity, and freedom can have on young girls across the world. So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with author extraordinaire, Abi Dare.  * * * Thank you to our sponsors!   Betterhelp | Head to betterhelp.com/forthelove for 10% off your first month.    MeCourse | Save $20 on the parenting MeCourse using the code Parenting20 at mecourse.org. You can also get half off all 4 courses using the code 4CourseBundle.   ABLE | Head to ableclothing.com and get 15% off sitewide using code JEN.  Thought-Provoking Quotes   “I knew I wanted to tell a story of a young girl who was semi illiterate and had only three years of education. And that was very different from who I am. And so I decided to try to create a character that I could give her the story that she deserves.” – Abi Dare    “In your own little tiny way, and with tiny little gestures of kindness of reaching out, you can change a life. And you can make a difference.” – Abi Dare    Abi's LinksInstagram  Twitter   Books & Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeBig Little Lies - Liane Moriarty  My Sister, The Serial Killer - Oyinkan Braithwaite  Open Water - Caleb Azuma Nelson  Connect with Jen!Jen's website Jen's InstagramJen's Twitter Jen's FacebookJen's YouTube  

'Girlhood' and the unending assaults that young women face. What is the story that we tell about ourselves? Is it our own or is it what someone else has told us? Award winning author Melissa Febos, gives us first hand insight into what happens when we learn to adopt stories about ourselves. A physical metamorphosis at the early age of eleven changed how the world around her perceived her. Melissa Febos is the author of four books, including the nationally bestselling essay collection, GIRLHOOD, which is a LAMBDA Literary Award finalist and won the National Book Critics Circle Award in criticism. GIRLHOOD was named a notable book of 2021 by NPR, Time, The Washington Post, and others. Her craft book, BODY WORK (2022), was also a national bestseller and an Indie Next Pick. Her essays have won prizes from Prairie Schooner, Story Quarterly, The Sewanee Review, and The Center for Women Writers at Salem College. She is a four-time MacDowell fellow.

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

Dane Liu believes in the power of stories to affirm, transport, and transform. Her debut for young readers FRIENDS ARE FRIENDS, FOREVER is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, an Indie Next Pick, and a Best Book of the Year from The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. Dane was born in China and moved to the US and Canada when she was a tween. On this podcast, we chat with Dane about living in multiple places, growing up in an immigrant family, being "good enough, biking and her most recent book, Friends are Friends, Forever! Website: https://www.daneliu.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daneliuwrites/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/daneliuwrites

The Fab Four talk to the ever fabulous Jane Green. The New York Times bestselling author of 21 novels, Jane Green has more than 10-million books in print in over 25 languages and has landed on the NYT bestseller list an incredible 18 times. Jane joins us to discuss her new book, SISTER STARDUST which has been named Parade Most Anticipated Book Of The Year, an Indie Next Pick, and a Library Reads Pick. SISTER STARDUST is Jane's first foray into biographical fiction which tells the story of Talitha Getty in Marrakech in the late sixties. Listen in as Jane tells us what inspired the novel, about her research process, and how immersing herself in this time period and fascinating story has impacted her creative life in unexpected ways.

In this episode, Kimberly and Melissa discuss Melissa's several books, including "Girlhood" and "Body Work". They discuss writing personal experiences and its impact on close relationships, as well as mother/daughter dynamics, writing as a medium for processing shame and trauma, and cultural responses to women's stories of coming of age, consent, trauma, sex work, and more.    Bio Melissa Febos is an author and an assistant professor at the University of Iowa, Nonfiction writing program. She is author of four books, including the nationally bestselling essay collection, “GIRLHOOD,” which is a LAMBDA Literary Award finalist and won the National Book Critics Circle Award in criticism. “GIRLHOOD” was named a notable book of 2021 by NPR, Time, The Washington Post, and others. Her craft book, “BODY WORK” (2022), was also a national bestseller and an Indie Next Pick. What She Shares: –Experiences writing books about self, sex, and traumas –Family responses to writing –Cultural responses to stories of sex, shame, etc. –Writing as part of reparative process –Newest book Body Work   What You'll Hear: –Power of story-telling –Openness of media and culture for book like Girlhood –Bringing topics of sex and affirmative consent on national television –Experiences of stalker and associated traumas –Doing the difficult work for self and relationships –Experience of cuddle parties and consent –Awareness and consent as a life's work –Process of writing and remembering –Love and tenderness for past selves –Mother's experience of reading book about harm and adolescence –Complexities of trauma for girls, women, and mothers –Difficulties of traumatic experiences for mothers and daughters –Mothers' experiences knowing details of daughters' trauma –Process of writing narrative fueling healing with privacy before publishing –Taking time necessary for writing –Victim-blaming regarding sexual assault –Quick to suppress personal desires in relation to others' –Conflicts in female friendships building resiliency and love –Social conditioning for girls to please others over selves –Bodies, aspirations, talents as an “affront to femininity” –Experience becoming a sex worker –Internal conflicts due to second-wave feminism –Feeling safe exploring parts of sexual self through dominatrix work –Backlash from community after publishing experience in sex work –New book Body Work   Resources Website: https://www.melissafebos.com/ IG: @melissafebos 

Melissa Febos is the author of four books, including the nationally bestselling essay collection, “Girlhood,” which is a LAMBDA Literary Award finalist and won the National Book Critics Circle Award in criticism. GIRLHOOD was named a notable book of 2021 by NPR, Time, The Washington Post, and others. Her latest publication is her craft book, “Body Work: The Radical Power of Perosnal Narrative.” “Body Work is a national bestseller and an Indie Next Pick. Drawing on her own path from aspiring writer to acclaimed author and writing professor - via addiction and recovery, sex work and academia - Febos has created a captivating guide to the writing about life.

To round out 2021, we are revisiting a few of our favorite episodes of 2021. Melissa Febos is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir, Whip Smart (St. Martin's Press 2010), and the essay collection, Abandon Me (Bloomsbury 2017), which was a LAMBDA Literary Award finalist, a Publishing Triangle Award finalist, an Indie Next Pick, and was named a Best Book of 2017 by Esquire, Book Riot, The Cut, Electric Literature, Bustle, Medium, Refinery29, The Brooklyn Rail, Salon, The Rumpus, and others. Her second essay collection, Girlhood, was published by Bloomsbury on March 30, 2021. A craft book will be published by Catapult in 2022. The recipient of an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College, she is an associate professor at the University of Iowa, where she teaches in the Nonfiction Writing Program. This episode is brought to you by the House of Chanel, celebrating 100 years of Chanel No. 5. Visit Thresholds online at www.thisisthresholds.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest this week is author Janet Skeslien Charles. Janet's latest novel, “The Paris Library” was an instant New York Times, Washington Post and USA Today bestseller. It's a #1 Indie Next Pick, a Library Reads and Lonestar selection, a Book Reporter Best Bet, and is currently a Finalist for Best Historical Fiction for 2021 on Goodreads. “The Paris Library” is based on the true story of the heroic librarians of the American Library in Paris during World War II. It's a beautiful novel, told through two timelines, that weaves together romance, mystery, betrayal, the love of books, libraries and librarians, and the power of unexpected friendship. In our interview, Janet shares her passion for Paris, her inspiration for “The Paris Library” and the characters within, and her reverence for the women of the Resistance.https://www.jskesliencharles.comhttps://www.instagram.com/jskesliencharles/https://twitter.com/skesliencharleshttps://www.facebook.com/jskesliencharlesFind Us OnlineWebsite: https://www.parisundergroundradio.com/storytimeinparisFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/parisundergroundradioInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/parisundergroundradio/CreditsHost and Producer: Jennifer Geraghty. @jennyphoria; Website: http://jennyphoria.comMusic CreditsHip Hop Rap Instrumental (Crying Over You) by christophermorrow https://soundcloud.com/chris-morrow-3​ Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/2AHA5G9​ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/hiYs5z4xdBU​About UsSince well before Victor Hugo looked up at Notre Dame and thought, "Huh... what if a hunchback lived in there?" authors have been inspired by Paris. The Storytime in Paris podcast will help keep this tradition alive with short interviews and readings from your favorite contemporary authors with a French connection. Every episode will feature five questions, asked by you, our authors' biggest fans, and answered live on air. Then, our authors will treat us to a reading of an excerpt from their book. Who knows? Maybe you'll even be inspired to write your own Great French Novel. Happy listening! 

Chet'la Sebree in conversation with Dantiel W. Moniz, celebrating the release of Chet'la Sebree's new book, "Field Study," published by FSG Originals. This event was originally broadcast via Zoom and hosted by Josiah Luis Alderete. Chet'la Sebree is the director of the Stadler Center for Poetry and Literary Arts at Bucknell University and the author of "Mistress," winner of the 2018 New Issues Poetry Prize and nominated for a 2020 NAACP Image Award. She earned an MFA in creative writing, with a focus in poetry, from American University, and has received fellowships from the Delaware Division of the Arts, the MacDowell Colony, Hedgebrook, Yaddo, Vermont Studio Center, and Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies. Her poetry has appeared in the Kenyon Review, Guernica, Pleiades, and elsewhere. Dantiel W. Moniz is the recipient of the Alice Hoffman Prize for Fiction, the Cecelia Joyce Johnson Emerging Writer Award by the Key West Literary Seminar, a Tin House Scholarship, and has been named a "Writer to Watch" by Publishers Weekly and Apple Books. Her debut collection, "Milk Blood Heat," is an Indie Next Pick, an Amazon "Best Book of the Month" selection, a Roxane Gay Audacious Book Club pick, and has been hailed as "must-read" by TIME, Entertainment Weekly, Buzzefeed, Elle, and O, The Oprah Magazine, among others. Her work has appeared in the Paris Review, Harper's Bazaar, Tin House, One Story, American Short Fiction, Ploughshares, The Yale Review, McSweeney's Quarterly Concern and elsewhere. She lives in Northeast Florida and currently teaches fiction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Sponsored by the City Lights Foundation.

Episode 109. Wayétu Moore discusses her journey as a writer, influences as a mother, and new discoveries in her writing process. Wayétu Moore is the author of She Would Be King, released by Graywolf Press in September, 2018. Her memoir, The Dragons, The Giant, The Women was also released with Graywolf on June 2, 2020. She is the recipient of the 2019 Lannan Literary Fellowship for Fiction.   She Would Be King was named a best book of 2018 by Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Entertainment Weekly & BuzzFeed. The novel was a Sarah Jessica Parker Book Club selection, a BEA Buzz Panel Book, a #1 Indie Next Pick and a finalist for the Hurston/Wright Award. The Dragons, The Giant, The Women was a 2020 New York Times Notable Book, Time Magazine 10 Best Nonfiction Books of 2020, Publishers Weekly Top 5 Nonfiction Books of 2020, was longlisted for the ALA Andrew Carnegie medal for excellence in nonfiction, and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.   She's a graduate of Howard University, University of Southern California and Columbia University. She lives in New York. https://www.wayetu.com/

“You Exist Too Much” authored by Zaina Arafat who is a LGBTQ+ Palestinian-American writer. The book is an Indie Next Pick for June 2021. Here stories and essays have appeared in publications including Granta, The New York Times, The Believer, Virginia Quarterly Review, VICE, BuzzFeed, The Atlantic and NPR. She holds a MFA from Iowa and was awarded the 2018 Women/Migrants from Middle East fellowship from Jack Jones Literary Arts. She currently resides in Brooklyn.

This is a segment of episode 301 of Last Born In The Wilderness “Girlhood: Empty Consent & Defining Granular Harm w/ Melissa Febos.” Listen to the full episode: https://bit.ly/LBWfebos Purchase ‘Girlhood' through Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/24168/9781635572520 Critically acclaimed author Melissa Febos joins me to discuss her most recent collection of essays, ‘Girlhood' — "a gripping set of stories about the forces that shape girls and the adults they become." I first became aware of Melissa and her book ‘Girlhood' from an essay she published in The New York Times Magazine titled ‘I Spent My Life Consenting to Touch I Didn't Want,' adapted from an essay published in the then-to-be-released ‘Girlhood'. Her personal reflections on the concept of "empty consent" from her experiences attending a cuddle party (pre-pandemic), compelled me to contact her to discuss the complex issues she deftly navigates through that essay. After reading Girlhood, I recognized the significance of her masterful writing and exploration of her own childhood and development into womanhood. Melissa Febos is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir, ‘Whip Smart' (St. Martin's Press 2010), and the essay collection, ‘Abandon Me' (Bloomsbury 2017), which was a LAMBDA Literary Award finalist, a Publishing Triangle Award finalist, an Indie Next Pick, and was widely named a Best Book of 2017. Her second essay collection, ‘Girlhood,' a National Bestseller, was published by Bloomsbury on March 30. A craft book, ‘Body Work,' will be published by Catapult in March 2022. WEBSITE: https://www.lastborninthewilderness.com PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/lastborninthewilderness DONATE: https://www.paypal.me/lastbornpodcast / https://venmo.com/LastBornPodcast BOOK LIST: https://bookshop.org/shop/lastbornpodcast EPISODE 300: https://lastborninthewilderness.bandcamp.com BOOK: http://bit.ly/ORBITgr ATTACK & DETHRONE: https://anchor.fm/adgodcast DROP ME A LINE: Call (208) 918-2837 or http://bit.ly/LBWfiledrop EVERYTHING ELSE: https://linktr.ee/patterns.of.behavior

[Intro: 6:52] Critically acclaimed author Melissa Febos joins me to discuss her most recent collection of essays, ‘Girlhood' — "a gripping set of stories about the forces that shape girls and the adults they become." I first became aware of Melissa and her book Girlhood from an essay she published in The New York Times Magazine titled ‘I Spent My Life Consenting to Touch I Didn't Want,' adapted from an essay published in the then-to-be-released ‘Girlhood'. Her personal reflections on the concept of "empty consent" from her experiences attending a cuddle party (pre-pandemic), compelled me to contact her to discuss the complex issues she deftly navigates through that essay. After reading Girlhood, I recognized the significance of her masterful writing and exploration of her own childhood and development into womanhood. We discuss, within the 47-minute interview, a few of the significant insights I drew out of my reading, including the gradients of consent and trauma, and the role men can, and must, play in upending patriarchy in our time. Melissa Febos is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir, ‘Whip Smart' (St. Martin's Press 2010), and the essay collection, ‘Abandon Me' (Bloomsbury 2017), which was a LAMBDA Literary Award finalist, a Publishing Triangle Award finalist, an Indie Next Pick, and was widely named a Best Book of 2017. Her second essay collection, ‘Girlhood,' a National Bestseller, was published by Bloomsbury on March 30. A craft book, ‘Body Work,' will be published by Catapult in March 2022. Episode Notes: - Learn more about Melissa and her work: https://www.melissafebos.com - Purchase ‘Girlhood' through Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/24168/9781635572520 - Read ‘I Spent My Life Consenting to Touch I Didn't Want': https://nyti.ms/38gozlV - Music was produced by Epik The Dawn. WEBSITE: https://www.lastborninthewilderness.com PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/lastborninthewilderness DONATE: https://www.paypal.me/lastbornpodcast / https://venmo.com/LastBornPodcast BOOK LIST: https://bookshop.org/shop/lastbornpodcast EPISODE 300: https://lastborninthewilderness.bandcamp.com BOOK: http://bit.ly/ORBITgr ATTACK & DETHRONE: https://anchor.fm/adgodcast DROP ME A LINE: Call (208) 918-2837 or http://bit.ly/LBWfiledrop EVERYTHING ELSE: https://linktr.ee/patterns.of.behavior

I'm convinced we don't simply choose our dreams —our dreams choose us. They come during the quiet moments of life through nudges and whispers and desires...until they're what we can't stop thinking about. But then what? For Mateo Askaripour —he had all the markers of success: making over 6 figures at a start-up, leading a big team, and rising up the ladder. Until. Until he faced reality: his dream was to become a writer, a novelist, and he'd do whatever it take to bring it to life. But it wasn't working as he faced rejection after rejection and had to face himself: Does he still chase his dream —or go back to safety? Enter the latest Academy guest, Mateo Askaripour, the New York Times Bestselling Author of Black Black and a 2018 Rhode Island Writers Colony writer-in-residence. Mateo's writing has appeared in Entrepreneur, Lit Hub, Catapult, The Rumpus, Medium, and elsewhere. His book is has been named: A Read with Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick, An Indie Next Pick, Apple's Best of January, Amazon's Spotlight Best Pick of the Month, One of Barnes & Noble Reads "Most Anticipated for January", One of Entertainment Weekly's "Best Books to Keep You Warm this January", One of Washington Post's "10 Books to Read in January" and tons more. In today's podcast, Mateo and I deep dive into what it takes to chase your dreams, how to handle rejection, doubt, and pressure  —and wh you should have fun during your process. Ep. 206 | Your Dream Will Humble You with Mateo Askaripour "I had to get honest with myself." —Mateo Askaripour Make sure to follow Mateo's on Instagram here and let him know what you thought of the episode.

This week I'm chatting with Brittney Morris, whose new young adult novel The Cost of Knowing has received wide acclaim including multiple starred reviews, inclusion on the Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide, and an Indie Next Pick selection. Tune in to hear more about the book, Brittney's writing process, what she's been reading lately, and … Continue reading Ep. 84: Brittney Morris, Author of The Cost of Knowing →

Helene Wecker will discuss The Hidden Palace, her long-anticipated sequel to her fascinating, debut novel, The Golem and the Jinni , a magical yet historical tale about immigrant New York. The combination of Arabic and Jewish mythology made the novel particularly intriguing to many readers. The Golem and the Jinni was an Amazon Editor Top 20 Pick and received numerous awards, including the Amazon Spotlight Debut, Indie Next Pick, Entertainment Weekly, Audible books, Kirkus Reviews, and others. A Midwest native, Wecker holds a B.A. in English from Carleton College and an M.F.A. in fiction writing from Columbia University. She lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her husband and children. NOTES MLF: Middle East Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Helene Wecker will discuss The Hidden Palace, her long-anticipated sequel to her fascinating, debut novel, The Golem and the Jinni , a magical yet historical tale about immigrant New York. The combination of Arabic and Jewish mythology made the novel particularly intriguing to many readers. The Golem and the Jinni was an Amazon Editor Top 20 Pick and received numerous awards, including the Amazon Spotlight Debut, Indie Next Pick, Entertainment Weekly, Audible books, Kirkus Reviews, and others. A Midwest native, Wecker holds a B.A. in English from Carleton College and an M.F.A. in fiction writing from Columbia University. She lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her husband and children. NOTES MLF: Middle East Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I'm interviewing Nina Moreno, the author of the Young Adult Contemporary novel, Don't Date Rosa Santos, which debuted in 2019 and the forthcoming companion novel, Our Way Back to Always, out on October 12th of 2021. Nina Moreno was born and raised in Miami until a hurricane sent her family toward the pines of Georgia where she picked up an accent. She's a proud University of Florida Gator who once had her dream job of shelving books at the library. Inspired by the folklore and stories passed down to her from her Cuban and Colombian family, she now writes about disaster Latinx teens & tweens chasing their dreams, falling in love, and navigating life in the hyphen. Her first novel, Don't Date Rosa Santos was a Junior Library Guild Selection, Indie Next Pick for teen readers, and SIBA Okra Pick. Today, we're talking about the book two slog, when writing is no longer a refuge, and the importance of grace in the creative process. There were so many parallels between our creative journeys over the course of the pandemic and being able to speak candidly about the book two experience, writing from personal grief and trauma, and the aches and pains (both physical and emotional) of being a writer with someone I so admire left me feeling less alone and more confident in my abilities to handle whatever writing and publishing throws my way. And I know our conversation will leave you feeling inspired too. So curl up with a nice hot cup of cafecito, maybe a pastelito or two, and then enjoy my conversation with Nina Moreno. Connect with Nina online: Nina's Website Twitter Instagram Buy her books!

Melissa Febos is the author of the essay collection Girlhood (Bloomsbury). It is a national bestseller.   Her other books include the critically acclaimed memoir, Whip Smart (St. Martin’s Press 2010), and the essay collection, Abandon Me (Bloomsbury 2017), which was a LAMBDA Literary Award finalist, a Publishing Triangle Award finalist, an Indie Next Pick, and was widely named a Best Book of 2017. A craft book, Body Work, will be published by Catapult in March 2022. The inaugural winner of the Jeanne Córdova Nonfiction Award from LAMBDA Literary, her work has appeared in publications including The Paris Review, The Sun, The Kenyon Review, Tin House, Granta, The Believer, McSweeney’s, The New York Times Magazine, The Guardian, Elle, and Vogue. Her essays have won prizes from Prairie Schooner, Story Quarterly, The Sewanee Review, and The Center for Women Writers at Salem College. She is a four-time MacDowell fellow and has also received fellowships from the Bread Loaf Writer’s Conference, Virginia Center for Creative Arts, Vermont Studio Center, The Barbara Deming Memorial Foundation, The BAU Institute at The Camargo Foundation, The Ragdale Foundation, and The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, which named her the 2018 recipient of the Sarah Verdone Writing Award. She co-curated the Mixer Reading and Music Series in Manhattan for ten years and served on the Board of Directors for VIDA: Women in Literary Arts for five. The recipient of an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College, she is an associate professor at the University of Iowa, where she teaches in the Nonfiction Writing Program. *** Otherppl with Brad Listi is a weekly literary podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers. Launched in 2011. Books. Literature. Writing. Publishing. Authors. Screenwriters. Life. Death. Etc. Support the show on Patreon Merch www.otherppl.com @otherppl Instagram  YouTube Email the show: letters [at] otherppl [dot] com The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melissa Febos is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir, Whip Smart (St. Martin’s Press 2010), and the essay collection, Abandon Me (Bloomsbury 2017), which was a LAMBDA Literary Award finalist, a Publishing Triangle Award finalist, an Indie Next Pick, and was named a Best Book of 2017 by Esquire, Book Riot, The Cut, Electric Literature, Bustle, Medium, Refinery29, The Brooklyn Rail, Salon, The Rumpus, and others. Her second essay collection, Girlhood, was published by Bloomsbury on March 30, 2021. A craft book will be published by Catapult in 2022. The recipient of an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College, she is an associate professor at the University of Iowa, where she teaches in the Nonfiction Writing Program. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melissa Febos is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir, Whip Smart (St. Martin's Press 2010), and the essay collection, Abandon Me (Bloomsbury 2017), which was a LAMBDA Literary Award finalist, a Publishing Triangle Award finalist, an Indie Next Pick, and was named a Best Book of 2017 by Esquire, Book Riot, The Cut, Electric Literature, Bustle, Medium, Refinery29, The Brooklyn Rail, Salon, The Rumpus, and others. Her second essay collection, Girlhood, was published by Bloomsbury on March 30, 2021. A craft book, Body Work, will be published by Catapult in 2022.Follow Melissa:https://www.facebook.com/melissafeboshttps://twitter.com/melissafeboshttps://www.instagram.com/melissafebos/Follow TSatS:https://www.facebook.com/thesituationandthestorypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/situationandstory/https://twitter.com/SituationStory--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/situationandstory/support Get full access to situation / story at situationstory.substack.com/subscribe

Dantiel Moniz is the author of the short story collection Milk Blood Heat, which was an Indie Next Pick, an Amazon “Best Book of the Month” selection, and a Roxanne Gay Audacious Book Club pick. Her work has appeared in the Paris Review, Harper's Bazaar, Tin House, One Story, American Short Fiction, Ploughshares and The Yale Review among others. She lives in Northeast Florida and teaches fiction at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shea Ernshaw is a New York Times best-selling author and winner of the 2019 Oregon Book Award. Her books have been published in over eleven countries/languages and her debut novel, THE WICKED DEEP was an Indie Next Pick and has been acquired by Netflix for film adaptation. A beloved author, Shea’s debut adult fiction book comes out in 2021 and is called A History of Wild Places (Simon & Schuster). In this episode of Storybook, Shea tells us her story of becoming published, including her childhood dreams of becoming an author, her first book query, her inspiration to write every day, and so much more. Shea invites us into her world for a glimpse of what it’s like to be an author in relationship with creativity, the world of publishing, and the experience of being human.Find out more about Shea at www.SheaErnshaw.com and on Instagram @SheaErnshaw.Storybook is hosted by Heidi Spear www.HeidiSpear.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Wayétu Moore is the author of The Dragons, The Giant, The Women, which was released in June 2020. Her debut novel, She Would Be King, was released in 2018 and named a best book of 2018 by Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Entertainment Weekly & BuzzFeed. The novel was a Sarah Jessica Parker Book Club selection, a BEA Buzz Panel Book, a #1 Indie Next Pick and a finalist for the Hurston/Wright Award. She is the recipient of the 2019 Lannan Literary Fellowship for Fiction. Moore is also the founder of One Moore Book, a non-profit organization that creates and distributes culturally relevant books for underrepresented readers. Her first bookstore opened in Monrovia, Liberia in 2015. Her writing can be found in The New York Times, The Paris Review, Frieze Magazine, Guernica, The Atlantic Magazine and other publications. She has been featured in The Economist Magazine, NPR and Vogue Magazine, among others, for her work in advocacy for diverse children’s literature. She’s a graduate of Howard University, University of Southern California and Columbia University.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Authors on the Air host Pam Stack welcomes award-winning author Jenny Milchman to the studio. Jenny is a suspense writer from New York State, who lived for fifteen months on the road with her family on what Shelf Awareness called “the world’s longest book tour.” Jenny’s debut novel, COVER OF SNOW, was acquired by Random House. It won the Mary Higgins Clark award, was praised by the New York Times, and chosen as an Indie Next and Target Pick. RUIN FALLS was chosen as an Indie Next Pick. Jenny’s third novel, AS NIGHT FALLS was chosen as an Indie Next Pick and a Pure WOW Summer Read and is currently in development as a film. Jenny's fourth novel, WICKED RIVER, was chosen as an Indie Next Pick and one of Strand Magazine's Best of the Year. Her fifth novel, THE SECOND MOTHER, releases summer 2020. About The Second Mother: Julie Weathers isn't sure if she's running away or starting over, but moving to a remote island off the coast of Maine feels right for someone with reasons to flee her old life. The sun-washed, sea-stormed speck of land seems welcoming, the lobster plentiful, and the community close and tightly knit. She finds friends in her nearest neighbor and Callum, a man who appears to be using the island for the same thing as she: escape. But as Julie takes on the challenge of teaching the island's children, she comes to suspect that she may have traded one place shrouded in trouble for another, and she begins to wonder if the greatest danger on Mercy Island is its lost location far out to sea, or the people who live there. @Copyrighted. Listen on your favorite podcast app.

Authors on the Air host Pam Stack welcomes award-winning author Jenny Milchman to the studio. Jenny is a suspense writer from New York State, who lived for fifteen months on the road with her family on what Shelf Awareness called “the world’s longest book tour.” Jenny’s debut novel, COVER OF SNOW, was acquired by Random House. It won the Mary Higgins Clark award, was praised by the New York Times, and chosen as an Indie Next and Target Pick. RUIN FALLS was chosen as an Indie Next Pick. Jenny’s third novel, AS NIGHT FALLS was chosen as an Indie Next Pick and a Pure WOW Summer Read and is currently in development as a film. Jenny's fourth novel, WICKED RIVER, was chosen as an Indie Next Pick and one of Strand Magazine's Best of the Year. Her fifth novel, THE SECOND MOTHER, releases summer 2020. About The Second Mother: Julie Weathers isn't sure if she's running away or starting over, but moving to a remote island off the coast of Maine feels right for someone with reasons to flee her old life. The sun-washed, sea-stormed speck of land seems welcoming, the lobster plentiful, and the community close and tightly knit. She finds friends in her nearest neighbor and Callum, a man who appears to be using the island for the same thing as she: escape. But as Julie takes on the challenge of teaching the island's children, she comes to suspect that she may have traded one place shrouded in trouble for another, and she begins to wonder if the greatest danger on Mercy Island is its lost location far out to sea, or the people who live there. @Copyrighted. Listen on your favorite podcast app.

Authors on the Air host Pam Stack welcomes award-winning author Jenny Milchman to the studio. Jenny is a suspense writer from New York State, who lived for fifteen months on the road with her family on what Shelf Awareness called “the world’s longest book tour.”  Jenny’s debut novel, COVER OF SNOW, was acquired by Random House. It won the Mary Higgins Clark award, was praised by the New York Times, and chosen as an Indie Next and Target Pick. RUIN FALLS was chosen as an Indie Next Pick.  Jenny’s third novel, AS NIGHT FALLS was chosen as an Indie Next Pick and a Pure WOW Summer Read and is currently in development as a film. Jenny's fourth novel, WICKED RIVER, was chosen as an Indie Next Pick and one of Strand Magazine's Best of the Year. Her fifth novel, THE SECOND MOTHER, releases summer 2020. About The Second Mother:   Julie Weathers isn't sure if she's running away or starting over, but moving to a remote island off the coast of Maine feels right for someone with reasons to flee her old life. The sun-washed, sea-stormed speck of land seems welcoming, the lobster plentiful, and the community close and tightly knit. She finds friends in her nearest neighbor and Callum, a man who appears to be using the island for the same thing as she: escape.  But as Julie takes on the challenge of teaching the island's children, she comes to suspect that she may have traded one place shrouded in trouble for another, and she begins to wonder if the greatest danger on Mercy Island is its lost location far out to sea, or the people who live there. @Copyrighted.  Listen on your favorite podcast app.      

Caroline Leavitt's newest book is With Or Without You. Leavitt is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Cruel Beautiful World, Is This Tomorrow, Pictures of You, Girls In Trouble, Coming Back To Me, Living Other Lives, Into Thin Air, Family, Jealousies, Lifelines, Meeting Rozzy Halfway.Various titles were optioned for film, translated into different languages, and condensed in magazines. Cruel Beautiful World was an Indie Next Pick and a Best Book ofi the Year from Blog Critics and The Pulpwood Queens.Her ninth novel, Pictures of You, went into three printings months before publication and is now in its fourth printing.  Tru Athletix was created to provide a simple and effective way for student-athletes to find the right University or College. Their team of professional advisors is made of up retired and current professional athletes with many years of experience in College and Pro Sports help match student-athletes with an institution based upon their abilities. TruAthletix.com created this system so that it’s easier for the coach to recognize you and be able to truly identify the student athlete and view their talents. 

"In so many ways, I was a misfit. I was a kid who felt like an alien in her own family." - Jaquira Díaz Jaquira Díaz is the author of Ordinary Girls, a Summer/Fall 2019 Indies Introduce Selection, a Fall 2019 Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Selection, and a November 2019 Indie Next Pick. Her work has been published in Rolling Stone, The Guardian, The Fader, and T: The New York Times Style Magazine, and included in The Best American Essays 2016. She splits her time between Montréal and Miami Beach with her partner, the writer Lars Horn. Connect with Stephanie on Twitter @jaquiradiaz and Instagram @jaquirad or her website https://www.jaquiradiaz.com/. Jaquira's book recommendation: In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado   This episode is brought to you in collaboration with Cultivate Counseling and Wellness.   Get $5 off your Feminist Book Club Box with the code PODCAST at feministbookclub.com/shop. -- Website: http://www.feministbookclub.com Instagram: @feministbookclubbox Twitter: @fmnstbookclub Facebook: /feministbookclubbox Email newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dINNkn   -- Logo and web design by Shatterboxx  Editing support from Phalin Oliver Original music by @iam.onyxrose Transcript for this episode: bit.ly/FBCtranscript49   Get $5 off your Feminist Book Club Box with the code PODCAST at feministbookclub.com/shop.  

New York Times–bestselling author Erin Entrada Kelly was awarded the Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe.  Her debut novel, Blackbird Fly, was a Kirkus Best Book, a School Library Journal Best Book, an ALSC Notable Book, and an Asian/Pacific American Literature Honor Book. She is also the author of The Land of Forgotten Girls, winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, and You Go First, a New York Times bestseller, Spring 2018 Indie Next Pick, Kirkus Reviews Best Book, and School Library Journal Best Book.  Her book, Lalani and the Distant Sea, was released in September 2019.  She grew up in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and now lives in Delaware. www.erinentradakelly.com

Kent Krueger stops by Second Sunday Books 10 days before the release of his sure to be best-selling historical novel THIS TENDER LAND. #1 Indie Next Pick for September! Library Reads Selection for September “Lively . . . Krueger’s enjoyable riff on The Odyssey will satisfy fans of American heartland epics.”—Publishers Weekly “Richly imagined and exceptionally well plotted and written, the novel is, most of all, a compelling, often haunting story that will captivate both adult and young adult readers”—Booklist “A book you won’t own. It will own you. Long, sprawling, and utterly captivating, readers will eat up every delicious word of it.”—New York Journal of Books

Diane Les Becquets is the author of THE LAST WOMAN IN THE FOREST (March, 2019) and BREAKING WILD, both published by Berkley, Penguin Random House. BREAKING WILD, an Indie Next Pick and a national bestseller, received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and Booklist. It was also the recipient of the Colorado Book Award in Fiction, the New Hampshire Outstanding Work of Fiction, and was shortlisted for the Reading the West Book Award in Fiction. Les Becquets is also the author of three young adult novels: THE STONES OF MOURNING CREEK (Kirkus starred review); LOVE, CAJUN STYLE (Booklist starred review) and SEASON OF ICE, the latter being the recipient of a Pen American Fellowship. Other awards she has received include a BCCB Blue Ribbon Award, the Maine Lupine Award, ALA Best Book of the Year, Foreward Reviews Gold Winner Book of the Year, Volunteer State Book Award Selection, and Garden State Book Award Finalist. A former professor of English, Les Becquets has served as a judge for the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts and the Maine Arts Commission, and has taught writing workshops at venues across the country, including the University of Mississippi, Auburn University, the New Hampshire Writers' Project, the Department of Forestry, Writers Conference at Ocean Park, Writers in Paradise, the Arkansas Literary Festival, the Telluride Arts District, and at shelters for Katrina victims. She is a volunteer at Back in the Saddle Equine Therapy Center and an avid outdoors woman, enjoying archery, bicycling, snowshoeing, swimming, and backpacking with her dog, Izzy. Before moving to New Hampshire, where she now resides with her husband, she lived in a small ranching town in Northwestern Colorado for almost fourteen years, raising her three sons. Diane Les Becquets is a member of the New Hampshire Writers' Project, the Association of Writers and Writing Programs, and the Pen American Center.

Lori Rader-Day is an Anthony Award winner and William Morrow/Harper Collins novelist whose frontlist title this summer hinges on a plot drive by the "dark sky" community. Essentially there are internationally protected areas where lights are off so that the stars can be seen and there is no "light pollution." Lori Rader-Day’s debut mystery, The Black Hour, won the 2015 Anthony Award for Best First Novel and was a finalist for the 2015 Mary Higgins Clark Award. Her second novel, Little Pretty Things, won the 2016 Mary Higgins Clark Award and was a nominee for the Anthony Award for Best Paperback Original. Little Pretty Things was named a 2015 “most arresting crime novel” by Kirkus Reviews and one of the top ten crime novels of the year by Booklist. Her third novel, The Day I Died, was an Indie Next Pick and is a nominee for the Mary Higgins Clark Award and the Barry Award. She lives in Chicago.

If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance. https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea --- Are you struggling with the timeline of the publishing process? Are you curious about staying organized as a writer? How do you keep track of each character’s storyline and remain consistent? Get ready for this motivating conversation featuring today’s special guest Aisha Saeed. Aisha is a New York Times bestselling author. She wrote WRITTEN IN THE STARS which was listed as a best book of 2015 by Bank Street Books and a 2016 YALSA Quick Pick For Reluctant Readers. She is also the author of the middle-grade novel AMAL UNBOUND a Summer 2018 Indie Next Pick, An Amazon Best Book of the Month, has received starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and Kirkus and is a Global Read Aloud for 2018. Aisha’s experiences are hands-down motivating, from finding which literary agents to contact through a local bookshop, to switching her mindset to approach literary agents confidently, to finally hearing a “yes” after the 30th submission for publication, and so much more. Say 'Hi' to Aisha on Twitter! ------ Make sure you don't miss out on our brand new feature article "Letting the Ghosts In" by J.C. Cervantes, click here to read it! Click here to read our 3-year anniversary event summary by Olivia Liu weaved in with photos by Melora Chang! To access Aisha Saeed's shownotes page, click here!

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Gail Honeyman on the show! Gail is the author of the novel Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, which hit shelves in May of last year and made a huge splash with readers. Gail’s debut novel was the star book at the Frankfurt Book Fair and was selected as an Indie Next Pick by booksellers across the country. It soon became one of the most beloved novels of 2017, catching the attention of readers worldwide, including Reese Witherspoon, who made it one of her book club picks and bought the film rights. The love for this book has not let up since its release, and it has been heralded as a must-read for summer by The New York Times, People, and TheSkimm. Independent booksellers were so excited about the book that many of them even participated in an “Eleanor Oliphant Day,” touting this quirky, funny, and heartbreaking novel to their customers both in their stores and across social media. So listen in as Gail and I unpack this quirky, sometimes difficult, but always lovable character of Eleanor Oliphant, and how to craft a story that really puts readers directly into the heart and soul of a character. In this episode Gail and I discuss: Crafting a voice driven novel that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The learning curve of your first book. Creating empathy for an unlikable character through close first person narration. How to “feel” your way through writing and editing your novel. Building a compelling character with multiple layers. Plus Gail's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/208

Chloe Benjamin is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Immortalists, a #1 Indie Next Pick, #1 Library Reads pick, Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Selection, Amazon Best Book of the Month, and an iBooks Favorite. Her first novel, The Anatomy of Dreams, received the Edna Ferber Fiction Book Award and was long listed for the 2014 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. Her work has been translated into twenty-eight languages. Originally from San Francisco, CA, Chloe is a graduate of Vassar College and the M.F.A. in fiction at the University of Wisconsin. She lives with her husband in Madison, WI.

His bestselling, award-winning book In Every Moment We Are Still Alive is just beautiful, already an Indie Next Pick for February. Based, on tragic events and loss in the writer's life, In Every Moment We Are Still Alive, is a powerful and engrossing novel. https://www.theguardian.com/bo oks/2017/jun/08/in-every-momen t-we-are-still-alive-by-tom- malmquist-review WE ARE STILL ALIVE By Tom Malmquist Translated by Henning Koch (A Man Called Ove) Indie Next List for February 2018 An “Indies Introduce” Selection Winner of Sweden’s Dagens Nyheter Culture Prize Shortlisted for the Nordic Council Literary Award The European bestseller published in the United States for the first time “It is bound to invite comparison to Karl Ove Knausgaard’s My Struggle… Perhaps more so than Knausgaard, Malmquist demonstrates that he can relay life in an intense, heightened state. The result is exhilarating.” –Financial Times “Beautiful… arresting… A deeply personal account… As more books are published, we increasingly seek out those writers who promise to give us something more than fiction. We want books made out of lives… The value of Malmquist’s book is precisely that it retains a trace of true human presence – carefully preserved by the author.”—The Guardian “By turns raw, unsettled, and touching, Malmquist’s book is an extended meditation on what it means to love and to mourn. A deeply emotional and affecting novel.” –Kirkus Reviews “A unique form… infused with deep urgency. A great stylist, Malmquist’s immersive prose perfectly limns the demands of living within the chiaroscuro of deep grief.” –Foreword Reviews, starred review “[A] heady debut novel… moving… (a) beautiful, raw meditation on earth-shattering personal loss.” –Publishers Weekly “Kafkaesque… remarkably credible.” –Booklist A prize-winning debut novel chosen as an Indie Next List selection as well as an Indies Introduce pick, Tom Malmquist’s IN EVERY MOMENT WE ARE STILL ALIVE (Melville House; January 30, 2018; Hardcover; $25.99) is a story of loss, love, and family based on true events from the author’s life. This autobiographical novel tells the true and gripping story of a man whose world come crashing down overnight: When Tom’s heavily pregnant partner is rushed to the hospital, doctors are able to save the baby, but are helpless to save her. And in one cruel, fleeting moment Tom gains a daughter but loses his soul mate. Written in starkly beautiful prose that conveys the momentum of a man desperate to pull through, Malmquist writes how he, drowning in the grief of loss, finds hope and resilience in the greatest gift of all: his prematurely born newborn daughter. Both tragic and redemptive, IN EVERY MOMENT WE ARE STILL ALIVE is an utterly human story: that of surviving a loved one. A study in the process of grief, Malmquist’s writing portrays the human suffering felt in day-to-day life, in remembering past memories, and in fantasizing about the future. Translated from Swedish by Henning Koch (A Man Called Ove), IN EVERY MOMENT WE ARE STILL ALIVE has been called “one of the most powerful books about grief every written,” by the judges of the Nordic Council Literary Award. A bestseller in Europe for many months, Melville House is proud to bring this powerful novel to the United States for the first time. The first novelist to every win Sweden’s prestigious Dagens Nyheter Culture Prize, Malmquist shares the story of the year that changed his life. Heartbreaking and inspiring, raw yet tender, this towering tour de force is a magnificent debut. About the author: Tom Malmquist is a poet and sportswriter. He has written two highly acclaimed poetry collections. IN EVERY MOMENT WE ARE STILL ALIVE is his first novel. He lives in Sweden.

Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich is the author of THE FACT OF A BODY: A Murder and a Memoir, named an Indie Next Pick; one of the most anticipated books of 2017 by Buzzfeed, BookRiot, and the Huffington Post; a must-read for May by Goodreads, Audible.com, Entertainment Weekly, Real Simple and People; and one of the 10 best books of the year so far by Entertainment Weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special Guest: CYNTHIA BOND is a New York Times Best-Selling Author. Her novel RUBY was chosen to be an Oprah Book Club 2.0 selection. RUBY was also a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection, and an Indie Next Pick. A PEN Rosenthal Fellow, Bond attended Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, then moved to New York and attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She founded the Blackbird Writing Collective in 2011. Cynthia has taught writing to at-risk and homeless youth for over fifteen years, and is on staff at Paradigm Malibu Adolescent Treatment Center. http://cynthiabond.com