Podcast appearances and mentions of leesa cross smith

In this week's episode of Pages n' Pages, we deep dive into a book that has been on our TBRs for a long time, My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix. It's a book following two best friends, one is possessed by a demon and another is trying to save her. It's a story of friendship, demons, body building exorcists and everything in between. Some trigger warnings in this book, so check them out before you read. Lots of spoiler alerts ahead! What We've Read and What We Are Reading: Butcher and Blackbird (The Ruinous Love Trilogy #1) by Brynne Weaver and narrated by Joe Arden and Lucy Rivers  How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by K. C. Davis  Goodbye Earl by Leesa Cross-Smith and narrated by Mela Lee, Kamali Minter, Sarah Beth Goer, Erin Bennett, Traci Odom and Julian Thomas Goodbye Earl by Leesa Cross-Smith and narrated by Mela Lee and Kamali Minter My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix and narrated by Emily Woo Zeller  Check out Pages n' Pages on Instagram. These opinions are entirely our own. Image by Kapona via Vector Stock.

In this week's episode of Pages n' Pages, we tier ranking the books Morgan read in the second half of 2023! From new favorites to stories that go in one ear and out the other, find out where the books she read rank! What We've Read and What We Are Reading: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel Goodbye Earl by Leesa Cross-Smith and narrated by Mela Lee and Kamali Minter The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown Butcher & Blackbird (The Ruinous Love Trilogy #1) by Brynne Weaver Additional Book Mentions: In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware A Fate Inked in Blood (Safe of Unfated #1) by Danielle Jensen Exit Strategy (The Murderbot Diaries #2)  by Martha Wells and narrated by Kevin R. Free Rogue Protocol (The Murderbot Diaries #2)  by Martha Wells and narrated by Kevin R. Free Artificial Condition (The Murderbot Diaries #2)  by Martha Wells and narrated by Kevin R. Free The Only One Left by Riley Sager Iron Flame (The Empyrean #2) by Rebecca Yarros  King of Greed (Kings of Sin #3) by Ana Huang Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer Two Twisted Crowns (The Shepherd King #2) by Rachel Gillig All Systems Red (Murderbot #1) by Martha Wells and narrated by Kevin R. Free Nero (Alliance #1) by S.J. Tilly Home Before Dark by Riley Sager and narrated by Cady McClain and Jon Lindstrom The Summer Siege (Viking Omegaverse #3) by Lyx Robinson One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid and narrated by Julia Whelan  A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet  Trust by Kylie Scott  Woke Up Like This by Amy Lea My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine King of Pride (Kings of Sin #2) by Ana Huang  King of Wrath (Kings of Sin #1) by Ana Huang Stars in Your Eyes by Kacen Callender Joey (Chicago Ruthless #2) by Sadie Kincaid Dante (Chicago Ruthless #1) by Sadie Kincaid Losers Part 1 (Losers #1) by Harley LaRoux Losers Part 2 (Losers #2) by Harley LaRoux The Dare (Losers #0.5) by Harley LaRoux Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backman Crescent City Series by Sarah J. Maas Check out Pages n' Pages on Instagram. These opinions are entirely our own. Image by Kapona via Vector Stock.

In this week's episode of Pages n' Pages, we tier ranking the books Sophia read in the second half of 2023! From new favorites to stories that go in one ear and out the other, find out where the books she read rank! What We've Read and What We Are Reading: In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware and narrated by Imogen Church A Fate Inked in Blood (Saga of the Unfated #1) by Danielle L. Jensen. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.  The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown.  Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.  Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross  Mislaid in Parts Half-Known (Wayward Children #9) by Seanan McGuire and narrated by Jesse Vlinsky.  Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.  Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa and narrated by Harrison Knights.  Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.  Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez  How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by K. C. Davis  Goodbye Earl by Leesa Cross-Smith and narrated by Mela Lee, Kamali Minter, Sarah Beth Goer, Erin Bennett, Traci Odom and Julian Thomas Check out Pages n' Pages on Instagram. These opinions are entirely our own. Image by Kapona via Vector Stock.

This heartfelt audiobook about four friends who are seeking revenge is a must-listen. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Michele Cobb discuss Leesa Cross-Smith's novel set in a small town. Mela Lee narrates as Kasey, who has returned home and is haunted by the truth of her mother's death. She reunites with three friends, Ada, Rosemarie, and Caroline. Caroline has recently married the town's richest bachelor, Trey, but when his abusive behavior sends Caroline to the hospital, the other girls plan his murder, frustrated with a justice system that protects its privileged citizens while leaving women to suffer. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile's website. Published by Hachette Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel's epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three-time guest Leesa Cross-Smith introduces her new "revenge novel," Goodbye Earl.

Leesa Cross-Smith returns to Book Stew with her best seller "Half-Blown Rose"

My guest this week is the woman Roxane Gay called “a consummate storyteller.” Among her many accolades, Leesa Cross-Smith has been longlisted for the 2022 Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award and the 2021 Joyce Carol Oates Literary Prize. Her latest novel, Half-Blown Rose is the Amazon Editors' Spotlight for June 2022, the inaugural pick for Amazon's Book Club Sarah Selects, and the Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick for June 2022.Half-Blown Rose is the story of Vincent, a woman whose husband recently published a book uncovering secrets about his past and their marriage. She decides to escape to Paris in an effort to make sense of it all. There, she meets Loup, a charming French man 20 years her junior with whom she begins an intense affair. In the months that follow, Vincent must decide what really matters and who she'd most like to become.In our conversation, Leesa shares how travel and the arts help shape her writing, how years are no barrier to a coming-of-age, and where her characters live after the novel ends. Then, she treats us to a reading from “Half-Blown Rose.”http://www.leesacrosssmith.comhttps://www.facebook.com/LCrossSmith/https://www.instagram.com/leesacrosssmith/https://twitter.com/LeesaCrossSmithJoin our Book Club: patreon.com/parisundergroundradioFind Us OnlineWebsite: https://www.parisundergroundradio.com/storytimeinparisFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/parisundergroundradioInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/parisundergroundradio/CreditsHost and Producer: Jennifer Geraghty. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter: @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! 

Author Leesa Cross-Smith shares details from her new book, “Half Blown Rose.” The story centers around Vincent, a woman who remakes her life with a year of travel, art and passion in Paris.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sensual details, it's said, make scenes come alive on the page. Today's guest Leesa Cross-Smith is a master of the sensual, and you'll see why when you listen to her interview. A listmaker, a word handler, a Janeite who owns 25 copies of Pride and Prejudice, Cross-Smith helps us think about the sensual and how to bring it to your awareness and to your writing. We touch upon form, too, short and long, and why sensual detail matters so much, no matter what you're writing.

This week, Emily tells us about philosophical book Poison for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket, while Rebecca shares short story Vincent from collection So We Can Glow by Leesa Cross-Smith. We discuss the writing advice we thought we knew but maybe didn't, take a look at the first love letter ever written, and Emily reads out perhaps the longest rumination on eggs that exists!    Our infatuations: Poison for Breakfast - Lemony Snicket 'Vincent' and 'A Girl Has Her Secrets' in So We Can Glow - Leesa Cross-Smith We're Not Fucking Historians - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/were-not-f-ing-historians/id1588766832  Love Letter - Lisa Mitchell  The Infatuated Mix - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3YjGlH5FkuYe0jLdWTT4oH?si=BmCCbA96TPKD9AJXykhAaA    Follow us: infatuatedpodcast@outlook.com Instagram - https://instagram.com/infatuatedpod Twitter - https://twitter.com/infatuatedpod  Emily's Instagram - https://instagram.com/emiloue_  Emily's Twitter - https://twitter.com/emiloue_ Emily's TikTok - https://tiktok.com/@emiloue Rebecca's Instagram - https://instagram.com/grammour.puss Rebecca's Twitter - https://twitter.com/grammourpuss    Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

Lois Reitzes speaks with director Kyle Brumley, and actor Kinsey Erin, who portrays Rose in the play “Dogfight.” The musical plays at Woodstock Arts Theatre.Plus, we listen back to a conversation with author Leesa Cross- Smith on her novel, “This Close to Okay.” And, violinist Geneva Lewis plays the Blues. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Emily tells us about the gory and girly Bunny by Mona Awad, while Rebecca discusses the autumnal This Close To Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith. We take a look through the Notes app on our phones, talk about our favourite Classic Lit texts, and we take a quiz to find out just how obsessed with books we are. Emily also discovers some interesting cannibal facts!    Our infatuations: Bunny - Mona Awad This Close To Okay - Leesa Cross-Smith Armchaired and Dangerous (Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard) -https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/armchair-expert-with-dax-shepard/id1345682353  Don't You - Taylor Swift You All Over Me - Taylor Swift Great Expectations - Charles Dickens The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath The Infatuated Mix - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3YjGlH5FkuYe0jLdWTT4oH?si=BmCCbA96TPKD9AJXykhAaA    Follow us: infatuatedpodcast@outlook.com Instagram - https://instagram.com/infatuatedpod Twitter - https://twitter.com/infatuatedpod  Emily's Instagram - https://instagram.com/emiloue_  Emily's Twitter - https://twitter.com/emiloue_ Emily's TikTok - https://tiktok.com/@emiloue Rebecca's Instagram - https://instagram.com/grammour.puss Rebecca's Twitter - https://twitter.com/grammourpuss    Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

Amanda and Jenn discuss mythology retellings, shifter romance, books about Greece and Hawaii, and more in this week’s episode of Get Booked. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. This post contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, Book Riot may earn a commission. Feedback This Close to Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith (rec’d by Brooke) Mad and Bad: Real Heroines of the Regency by Bea Koch (rec’d by Sophie) The Switch by Beth O’Leary and The City We Became by NK Jemisin (rec’d by Cari) Questions 1. Travel request: books about/set in Hawaii! Going to Maui, Big Island, and Oahu.  Have already put the True to Me series on hold, and have tried Freckled (not going to Kauai and its not that good anyway…). I have also already read The Unhoneymooners (loved). Also have another memoir on hold already called West of Then.  Not looking for a dense read but nonfiction okay.  I’m a BIG middle grade novel reader because I teach fourth grade, so please, all ages welcome. YA okay also. Thank you for recommending 2AM at the Cat’s Pajamas a While Back. LOVED IT. WELL DONE YOU!!!! You are my favorite in the podcastiverse. -Laura 2. Hello! I love your podcast,  and because of you guys my TBR now stretches into the hundreds. So… thanks, I guess? Anyway, I recently read the book Red Sister by Mark Lawrence, and I LOVED IT. I normally don’t get into epic fantasy, but it occurs to me that the reason for that is because so many novels in that genre are full of dudes. All dudes, all the time, with maybe a token female character here and there. Dudes galore. So my question is: can you recommend any epic fantasy novels, like Red Sister, where the characters are primarily women?  I’d prefer adult fiction, although YA is fine as long as it doesn’t center on eye-rolling-ly cheesy/over-dramatic teen romance. Thank you!  -Sara 3. I just finished The Witch’s Heart and really liked it! I would love a read-alike. I have already read both Madeline Miller books and loved them as well. Anything you can recommend would be great!  -Jessica 4. Hi guys! I’m looking for shifter romance recommendations. Specifically, a romance where the hero pursues the heroine with humor and gusto while she is not that interested. Usually this kind of plot doesn’t last very long so a longer ‘chase’ if you will. I enjoy a male MC that’s funny and confident but also sweet to our female MC (I don’t mind if he’s ‘alphary’). Bonus points if it’s extra smutty

On the latest episode of Now, Appalachia, Eliot interviews Kentucky author Leesa Cross-Smith about her new novel THIS CLOSE TO OKAY. Leesa Cross-Smith is a homemaker and the author of Every Kiss A War, Whiskey & Ribbons, So We Can Glow, and This Close To Okay. She lives in Kentucky with her husband and their two teenagers. Find more at LeesaCrossSmith.com.

On the latest episode of Now, Appalachia, Eliot interviews Kentucky author Leesa Cross-Smith about her new novel THIS CLOSE TO OKAY. Leesa Cross-Smith is a homemaker and the author of Every Kiss A War, Whiskey & Ribbons, So We Can Glow, and This Close To Okay. She lives in Kentucky with her husband and their two teenagers. Find more at LeesaCrossSmith.com.

On the latest episode of Now, Appalachia, Eliot interviews Kentucky author Leesa Cross-Smith about her new novel THIS CLOSE TO OKAY. Leesa Cross-Smith is a homemaker and the author of Every Kiss A War, Whiskey & Ribbons, So We Can Glow, and This Close To Okay. She lives in Kentucky with her husband and their two teenagers. Find more at LeesaCrossSmith.com. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/eliot-parker/support

Unemployment line Frankfort ​​​(Photo: Lexington Herald-Leader) What's wrong with the state's Unemployment Insurance system? How much time do you have? Kentucky Auditor Mike Harmon has looked under the hood | Covid, schools, and reopening. It's not simple says EKU Psychologist Melinda Moore | Corrine Boyer on addiction, a pandemic and treatment | AppHarvest goes public, harvests its first crop (tomatoes) and reassures local farmers about competition | Tom Eblen's guest Kentucky author: Louisville's Leesa Cross-Smith on her latest novel, "This Close to Okay"  Interviews in order of appearance:  Kentucky State Auditor Mike Harmon  EKU Clinical Psychologist Melinda Moore  WEKU/Ohio Valley Resource reporter Corrine Boyer  AppHarvest Founder and CEO Jonathan Webb  Tom Eblen with author Leesa Cross-Smith

In this episode of Books, Bites, Booze, Alexis and Madison catch up with each other on moving and new jobs! A new sex on the beach cocktail recipe is also introduced and of course, we wrap up the discussion on This Close To Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith. Don't forget to leave us a rating and review wherever you listen!Get ready for the next episode! We are reading The Dating Plan by Sara Desai for February. Thank you so much for all of your support!

Lois Reitzes talks with Atlanta native and former All American College football player, opera singer Morris Robinson about his love letter to Atlanta and why he chose the Fox Theatre as its background.Also, author Leesa Cross-Smith discusses her new novel "This Close to Okay."

This Close to Okay, is so thought-provoking and emotional. Website : https://gobookmart.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/gobookmart-review/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/gobookmart-review/support

Elieen's guest, Lessa Cross-Smith, loves novels that take place over a single weekend.

This week, Emily talks about dark magic secret societies in Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, while Rebecca tells us about the three narrators of Whiskey & Ribbons by Leesa Cross-Smith. We talk about the etymology of the word 'infatuated', discuss who we would cast in a film adaptation of The Song of Achilles, and we even set you a couple writing challenges. Emily also shares some of her thesis topic!    Our infatuations: Ninth House - Leigh Bardugo Ninth House Inspired Yale Tour - https://youtu.be/YMYIH6IFauU  Whiskey & Ribbons - Leesa Cross-Smith Roses - The Band CAMINO California Friends - The Regrettes The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller Emily's Ninth House playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7nPbVPqs3WDPKRtuknGtTQ?si=jx9Y2oWDSd6nOKM8Inp4lg  The Infatuated Mix - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3YjGlH5FkuYe0jLdWTT4oH?si=BmCCbA96TPKD9AJXykhAaA    Follow us: infatuatedpodcast@outlook.com Instagram - https://instagram.com/infatuatedpod Twitter - https://twitter.com/infatuatedpod  Emily's Instagram - https://instagram.com/emiloue_  Emily's Twitter - https://twitter.com/emiloue_ Emily's TikTok - https://tiktok.com/@emiloue Rebecca's Instagram - https://instagram.com/grammour.puss Rebecca's Twitter - https://twitter.com/grammourpuss    Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

Today, we are revisiting our very first episode of Currently Reading, because 2020 has thrown us for another loop! Tune in to hear Meredith and Kaytee, for the first time. We are discussing: Bookish Moments: starting a series as a readaloud and being part of a launch team Current Reads: we’ve got some classics, some apocalypse, and some differences in opinion! Deep Dive: we didn’t even know what a deep dive was! We do spend some time talking about our next planned reads Book Presses: a book that will give you all the warm fuzzies and a sci-fi epic that takes you to space As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you’d like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don’t scroll down!  New: we are now including transcripts of the episode. These are generated by AI, so they may not be perfectly accurate, but we want to increase accessibility for our fans! *Please note that all book titles linked below are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!*   . . . . Ad - Book of the Month: 1:07 - Book of the Month - use our link and the code CURRENTLYREADING to get your first month for just $9.99 2:18 - People Like Her by Ellery Lord 2:37 - This Close to Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith 2:44 - Anxious People by Fredrick Backman Bookish Moments of the Week: 7:20 - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling 7:37 - Illustrated edition 10:06 - Stretched Too Thin: How Working Moms Can Lose the Guilt, Work Smarter, and Thrive by Jessica N. Turner Current Reads: 12:09 - Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (Meredith) 14:25 - The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery (Kaytee) 17:48 - You Think It, I’ll Say It by Curtis Sittenfeld (Meredith) 19:15 - Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld 19:17 - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 20:38 - Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton (Kaytee) 24:15 - The Book of M by Peng Shepherd (Meredith) 27:39 - The Walking Dead (TV Series) Deep Dive - What We’re Reading Next: 31:28 - War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy 31:48 - Blindness by José Saramago (it has been pointed out that I pronounce this Portuguese author’s name in a Spanish style. It’s also translated from Portuguese, not from Spanish. Sorry.) 32:12 - These is my Words by Nancy Turner 35:20 - The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller 35:43 - The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir Books We Want to Press Into Your Hands: 32:46 - Castle of Water by Dane Huckelbridge (Kaytee) (ha, so on brand) 38:56 - Me Before You by Jojo Moyes 40:14 - The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell (Meredith) 40:28 - What Should I Read Next 41:38 - Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel Connect With Us: Meredith is @meredith.reads on Instagram Kaytee is @notesonbookmarks on Instagram Mindy is @gratefulforgrace on Instagram Mary is @maryreadsandsips on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast.com @currentlyreadingpodcast on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast@gmail.com

Catherine Adel West (author of Saving Ruby King) talks about how she found her agent, the strong women of Saving Ruby King, and how she decided to make the church a narrator. This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Highlights How different her first draft was from the final book. The story of how she found an agent (via a Twitter contest for marginalized writers!) and Saving Ruby King was bought by a publisher. The exact tweet she used to pitch Saving Ruby King in the Twitter contest. Her advice to querying writers. Saving Ruby King‘s original title and Ruby’s original name. The message Catherine wanted to share about the strengths and struggles of black women through her story and her characters. What growing up on the South Side of Chicago was like for Catherine. How she decided to make the church a narrator. How her own relationship with her faith and church shaped the book. Her Dad’s (he’s a pastor and the character of Jackson Potter is based on him) reaction to the book. The prequel to Saving Ruby King that Catherine is currently working on…and the possibility of this being a 4 book series. How Catherine got Leesa Cross-Smith to blurb Saving Ruby King. A bit about the lack of diversity in the publishing industry and the #publishingpaidme hashtag. Catherine’s Book Recommendations [31:30] Two OLD Books She Loves A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [31:54] Kindred by Octavia Butler | Buy from Amazon [35:00] Two NEW Books She Loves So We Can Glow by Leesa Cross-Smith | Buy from Amazon [38:05] The Chiffon Trenches by Andre Leon Talley | Buy from Amazon [41:12] One Book She DIDN’T LOVE Life After Life by Kate Atkinson | Buy from Amazon [45:41] One NEW RELEASE She’s Excited About The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Harris (Release Date: 2021) [47:28] Last 5 Star Book Catherine Read [48:47] Choke by Chuck Palahniuk | Buy from Amazon [51:42] Other Books Mentioned Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [2:38] The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [33:27] Fledgling by Octavia Butler | Buy from Amazon [37:05] Whiskey & Ribbons by Leesa Cross-Smith | Buy from Amazon [39:10] This Close to Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith (out February 2, 2021) | Buy from Amazon [39:51] Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk | Buy from Amazon [52:14] Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk | Buy from Amazon [53:01] Other Links #publishingpaidme About Catherine Website | Instagram | Twitter Catherine graduated with both her BA and MA in journalism from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Her work has been published in Gay Magazine, Black Fox Literary Magazine, Five2One, Better Than Starbucks, and others. Catherine was born and raised in Chicago. Saving Ruby King is her debut novel. Next Episode There will not be a new episode next week since the podcast is on a bi-weekly schedule. The following week will be the Fall 2020 Book Preview episode with Catherine from Gilmore Guide to Books (airing September 2).

Lois Reitzes talks with playwright Pearl Cleage about the Palefsky Collision Project, which teaches teenagers how to write plays; singer/songwriter Rhonda Ross Kendrick about discovering her own voice; andauthor Leesa Cross-Smith about her book "Whiskey and Ribbons." Summer Evans interviews Tiffany Parks about her documentary "The Jazz Age: An African American Perspective";

Amanda and Jenn discuss travel reads, super creepy books, mysteries, and more in this week’s episode of Get Booked. This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm, Project Duchess by Sabrina Jeffries, and TBR. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. FEEDBACK Starsight by Brandon Sanderson (rec’d by Elizabeth) QUESTIONS 1. Good Morning! I recently came across your podcast and I absolutely love it! You’re recommendations in the past couple episodes are amazing and the diversity of hosts with their unique tastes and conversations really makes this one of my favorite podcasts. I am about to start my PhD in August and really would like to make reading a bigger part of my life so I can have an escape from the stress of school over the next 5 years. Up until now I have mainly been reading nonfiction books in areas I am interested in but since I read a lot of scientific papers for class already I would like to break this up by getting more into fiction. My problem however is that I have a hard time getting into fiction works and a lot of times I end up either reading it like it’s homework that I have to read or I just don’t finish it. There are a few fictions books that I do really enjoy however such as, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, The Count of Monte Cristo, 11/23/63 and Ready Player One. I would really appreciate any recommendations and I look forward to listening to all your future podcasts. Thank you so much! -Chase 2. Hello! In late August (time-sensitive!) I am heading away to Europe for a few weeks travelling with my boyfriend between cities he will be working in, and as well as the 40 hour (!!) travel time there and back from where I live in New Zealand, we will be spending a lot of time on trains, and I’ll be exploring on my own while he is working. I’m hoping to fill a lot of this time with reading, and I’m keen to get some suggestions set in the areas we will be in – various cities in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany – or stories about trains. I’d love something with good female characters and some focus on the relationships between them, or maybe a little bit of mystery. I also love narrative non-fiction! At the moment I am a little burnt out on historical fiction, thrillers, and books with dark subject matter, so I’d rather steer clear of those, and nothing over 400 pages or so please, for the sake of my baggage allowance. Thanks so much! -Alex 3. I recently had to put down one of my dogs very suddenly. I want to read something, but my usual genre of adventure/ya doesn’t sound appealing. I was currently reading Throne of Glass (and loving it) but it just is too much right now. I want something light that’ll make me laugh but with no death in it. Especially of a pet. I recently read Tiffany hadish’s book, and I loved it, but I don’t typically reread non fiction. -Taylor 4. Sort of time sensitive. Would need by September. Hi! My book club has been going for about 2.5 years now and I have unofficially (but kind of officially) taken over October as my month with the intent of making the group read some super creepy shit. My last 2 picks were White Tears and The Changeling. Both have really stuck with people–whether they loved them, liked them, or kind of hated them–and we particularly had a lot of great conversation about White Tears. I feel like a bar has now been set (albeit just in my own head) and want to pick something in a similar vein, but am struggling to have that “ah-ha” moment. Please help me seriously creep out my friends! Preferably something no more than 300/350 pages and by a woman. We do have one rule: no white men! Some other things that I have recently read and really enjoyed (but would probably be too much, for varied reasons, for the whole group) are: The Beauty (btw, thanks Amanda!) and Fever Dream. Thank you -Heidi 5. I am looking for recommendations for my Dad, Myron. He retired a couple of years ago and has rediscovered – aka found more time for – his love of reading! His favourite genres are spy novels, mysteries, and historical fiction. We often chat about the books we are reading, and thanks to discussions we’ve had about MY personal reading habits and goals, he has started looking for more books authored by women and with lady protagonists. I am so excited that he is diversifying his reading list – and so is he! I would love to find him some more books by women (and non-binary) authors in the genres he loves! -Lisa 6. Hi! I love your podcast and have been listening forever, so I’m sure you’ve answered this at some point and I just don’t know where to look for it. My husband only does audiobooks, and when he finishes something, he often asks for my opinion on what to read next. He only reads fantasy and sci-fi, for the most part, and has listened to EVERYTHING Brandon Sanderson has ever written. I’ve recommended (and he’s liked): The Wheel of Time series Everything by N.K. Jemisin Becky Chambers’s Wayfarers pretty much everything by Marissa Meyer Bone Street Rumba and Shadowshaper series by Daniel Jose Older He’s also read a bunch of John Scalzi, Jim Butcher, Neil Gaiman–mostly white dudes, so I try to recommend non-white or lady (or both) authors to him. Some things he hasn’t cared for: Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Game of Thrones, American Gods, or Shards of Honor (I recommended based on a Star Trek comparison I heard in an earlier episode of either this podcast or SFF Yeah). Can you recommend a SFF series by a non-white or lady author that I can suggest to him? The longer, the better. Thank you!! -Jaimie 7. I’m looking for short, engrossing, quiet novels that I can curl up and read in my armchair in a sitting or two. It’s more about a cozy feeling than about a lot of action. Recent books I have loved that fit this description include: Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf, Whiskey and Ribbons by Leesa Cross-Smith, and I Married you for Happiness by Lily Tuck. None of these books sounded terribly exciting in their descriptions, but I couldn’t put them down and they made me feel all of the big feelings without a lot of action. Please help me chase those feelings again. -KJ BOOKS DISCUSSED Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas (tw: eating disorders, self-harm, suicidal ideation) The Madonna of the Sleeping Cars by Maurice Dekobra Everything Is Going to be Great by Rachel Shukert Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrande The Merry Spinster by Daniel Mallory Ortberg Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke (lots of racism incl. violence and use of slurs) Queen of the Tearling series by Erika Johansen The Machineries of Empire by Yoon Ha Lee (Ninefox Gambit #1) (tws: coercion, gore, assault) The Cook by Maylis de Kerangal, transl Sam Taylor Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill

Editor-in-Chief Omaria Pratt talks with Leesa Cross-Smith about her book "Whiskey & Ribbons," life as a writer without a MFA, and her short fiction literary journal Whiskey Paper. Leesa Cross-Smith is a homemaker and writer from Kentucky. She is the author of Whiskey & Ribbons (Hub City Press, 2018) and Every Kiss a War (Mojave River Press, 2014) and the forthcoming short story collection So We Can Glow (Grand Central Publishing, 2020) and the forthcoming novel This Close To Okay (Grand Central Publishing, 2021.) Every Kiss a War was a finalist for both the Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction (2012) and the Iowa Short Fiction Award (2012). Her short story “Whiskey & Ribbons” won Editor’s Choice in the Raymond Carver Short Story Contest (2011) and was listed as a notable story for storySouth‘s Million Writers Award. The novel Whiskey & Ribbons was longlisted for the 2018 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and listed among Oprah Magazine’s “Top Books of Summer.” She was a consulting editor for Best Small Fictions 2017. Her work has appeared in Oxford American, Best Small Fictions 2015, NYLON, Alaska Quarterly Review, Poets & Writers, The Rumpus, SmokeLong Quarterly, Little Fiction, Wigleaf Top 50, Longform Fiction, Carve Magazine, Synaesthesia Magazine, Paper Darts, Hobart, Pithead Chapel, Gigantic Sequins, Folio, American Short Fiction (online), Midwestern Gothic, Juked, Word Riot and many others. She and her husband Loran run a literary magazine called WhiskeyPaper. Find more @ LeesaCrossSmith.com and WhiskeyPaper.com.

We talk with Leesa Cross-Smith, author of the Whiskey & Ribbons, which is out now from Hub City Press! You can find the full show notes to this episode over on our website. Some links are affiliate links. Find more details here. Books Mentioned Whiskey and Ribbons by Leesa Cross-Smith Author Bio Leesa Cross-Smith is a homemaker and the author of Whiskey & Ribbons (Hub City Press, 2018), Every Kiss A War (Mojave River Press, 2014), and the forthcoming So We Can Glow (Grand Central Publishing, 2020) and This Close To Okay (Grand Central Publishing, 2021). Her debut novel Whiskey & Ribbons was longlisted for the 2018 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. Every Kiss A War was a finalist for both the Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction (2012) and the Iowa Short Fiction Award (2012). Her work has appeared in Poets & Writers, Oxford American, Best Small Fictions, and many others. Find more @ LeesaCrossSmith.com. Website | Twitter | Instagram | Buy the Book Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter to be sure you don’t miss the latest news, reviews, and furchild photos. Support us on Patreon and get insider goodies! CONTACT Questions? Comments? Email us hello@readingwomenpodcast.com SOCIAL MEDIA Reading WomenTwitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website Music “Reading Women” Composed and Recorded by Isaac and Sarah Greene Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amanda and Jenn discuss books set in New Mexico, horror with cars, political machinations, and more in this week's episode of Get Booked. This episode is sponsored by Timothy Top Book 1: The Green Pig by Gud and Good Me Bad Me, now in paperback by Ali Land. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS here, or via Apple Podcasts here. The show can also be found on Stitcher here.   Feedback Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata Crossfire by Miyuki Miyabe Out by Natsuo Kirino   Questions   1. I love the podcast and have actually read some of the books that have been recommended and have loved them. I am taking a trip to Portland, Oregon and will go visit Powell’s City of Books (my first time ). I noticed as I was making my wish list of books I want to buy and looked at the list of books I’ve read this year and realized I have read too many books that are emotionally heavy. I’m not trying to say those books are unimportant they are! I just need an escape every now and then. I recently read Alan Bennett’s, “The Uncommon Reader,” and loved it so much. I need recommendations for books like that : easy to read in one sitting, grossly absorbing, and don’t leave me feeling emotionally and mentally exhausted. I have also read the Binti trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor and “The Bookshop,” by Penelope Fitzgerald. I am not a fan of romance novels. Would like some recommendations by women, people of color, or LGBTQ. Thanks and again love the podcast. --Rebekah   2. Hi - I send a request for book suggestions on your website (using the form I can no longer find...?) but forgot to mention that since I'm leaving for my trip in about a month, I'd really really appreciate some suggestions as soon as possible...I'm thinking you might have answered a similar question in past shows, too, since it's pretty simple. As I said before, I'm going to be travelling to Santa Fe, NM to live for a while, but know virtually nothing about the place! I'd love book suggestions - either modern fiction (preferred) or non-fiction / travel - that give a sense of the history & atmosphere & cultures & climate of New Mexico. I recently read Pretend I'm Dead by Jen Beagan, and thought it was great, although New Mexico is only a backdrop in that one. I'm not a big fan of cowboy / frontier type stuff, though. Thank you so much! Your podcast was recommended by my local librarian and I'm so grateful she let me know about it! All the best, --Tracey   3. Hi Ladies, My friend is looking for recommendations and I just do not feel equipped to suggest based on our differing reading interests, so I thought I would consult the experts! He gave me his 2 favorite books: "Dark Matter" by Blake Crouch and "Dragon Teeth" by Michael Crichton. I suggested "N0S4A2" by Joe Hill based on one of your previous shows, and he loved it. But he actually moved it to the top of his TBR because of the Rolls-Royce! He absolutely loves cars - it is his passion personally and professionally. Do you have any suggestions for what he calls "adventure" and "darker" books? HUGE plus if you can throw in a sweet car! I am trying to keep his reading flame alive. Thank you, --Andrea   4. Apparently I have an unpopular opinion. After watching the tv adaptations of her work, I decided to try reading one of Philippa Gregory's books but don't seem to be enjoying it very much. I'm confused by this since I know she is well regarded in this genre and that I enjoy these sorts of books (The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart is one of my favorites and of course A Song of Ice and Fire) but I'm not finding the environment or characters very immersive. Could you recommend a political machinations, inspired by history, power weddings, and rising king novel by another author? Ideally it would be realistic with a few witchy superstitions, but full fantasy is good too. Wolf Hall is on my TBR and I know I've heard you mention an "inclusive GoT" - was it Promise of Blood? Thank you! --Kelly   5. My grandfather was diagnosed with dementia several years ago, but his condition has escalated recently, and he's just moved into a nursing home. Since my family has fairly spread out, the majority of the care for him has fallen on my mother, who lives closest to the home. She loves to laugh, and hasn't let any of this get her down, but I know it's tough on her. I was wondering if you had any recommendations for books that deal with aging parents in a positive or humorous tone, either a memoir or a novel of some sort. Thanks! --Amanda   6. Hello! I was pretty convinced that I don't like romance, but you ladies are always talking about great romance books. For the Read Harder challenge of a romance novel by or about a person of color, I chose Whiskey and Ribbons, by Leesa Cross-Smith. I think Amanda may have mentioned it on this podcast or on All the Books. This book is so good! It just made me feel like love is so amazing and wonderful, and the writing is beautiful. I feel like I have been missing out by avoiding the genre, and now I need more books to feel all of the feels. I admit that I haven't given romance much of a chance, but the little bit I have read has annoyed me with either the characters having amazing sex immediately after meeting on page two, or just plain bad writing. What are some good romances for people new to the genre? I usually read literary fiction and nonfiction. --Kara   7. Hi, can you recommend any books based around tattoos and fantasy elements connected to or about them? I love fantasy, historical fiction. Favorite books are Life after Life by Kate Atkinson, Station Eleven, Discovery of Witches. --Angela   Books Discussed An Easy Death by Charlaine Harris Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie Passing Strange by Ellen Klages River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey Fire Season by Philip Connors Night at the Fiestas by Kirstin Valdez Quade Christine by Stephen King Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak War With the Mein by David Anthony Durham The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by NK Jemisin (Inheritance Trilogy) Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant by Roz Chast The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev Inked by Eric Smith Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr (tw: rape, suicidal ideation)

We told you we'd be asking this question again. It's our favorite and you all always deliver some awesome recommendations. ----more---- Before we dig into them, though, we spend some time discussing the trailer for the upcoming The Hate U Give movie, Laura Ingalls Wilder's messiness and a bunch of surveys. We also share some follow-up information from Leesa Cross-Smith, the author of our previous pick, Whiskey & Ribbons. Thanks to @shortiegirl44, @lilpocketbooks, @Everywoman98, @MonlatReader, @LocPressedBooks and @OnlySharaeRae for their recommendations. Books mentioned in this episode: The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas On the Come Up, by Angie Thomas Becoming, by Michelle Obama Housegirl, by Michael Donkor Woman Trapped in the Dark, J.D. Mason Temper, by Nicky Drayden The Black God's Drums, by P. Djélí Clark John Woman, by Walter Mosley My Sister the Serial Killer, by Oyinkan Braithwaite A Princess in Theory, by Alyssa Cole A Duke by Default, by Alyssa Cole An Unconditional Freedom, by Alyssa Cole Heads of the Colored People, by Nafissa Thompson-Spires Welcome to Night Vale, by Joseph Fink and Jeffery Cranor It Devours!, by Joseph Fink and Jeffery Cranor The Duchess Deal, by Tessa Dare Forged by Desire, by Brenda Jackson Lincoln in the Bardo, by George Saunders Song of Blood and Stone, by L. Penelope Thanks for listening in and join us when we read Bingo Love, written by Tee Franklin, illustrated by Jenn St-Onge, Joy San and Cardinal Rae.

Writer Leesa Cross-Smith is based in Louisville, and she’s just published her first novel, "Whiskey and Ribbons." Find out why she considered it a radical act to tell the story in the way she did, what’s her secret weapon when it comes to getting writing done, and the tweet so good… she put it on a coffee mug. http://www.leesacrosssmith.com/ https://www.oxfordamerican.org/magazine/item/1353-ain-t-half-bad

Leslie Jamison reads from her new book, The Recovering; Leesa Cross-Smith on writing quiet books; new poetry by Carmen Giménez Smith and Jenny Xie.

Bookrageous Episode 80; Citizen Intro Music; I'd Tell You But - Anti-Flag What We're Reading Jenn [1:00] Pym, Mat Johnson [2:05] The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket, Edgar Allan Poe (a real book!) [2:25] Shadow Tag, Louise Erdrich [3:15] Infinity Gauntlet #1, Dustin Weaver Preeti [5:58] A History of Glitter and Blood, Hannah Moskowitz [8:13] The Scorpion Rules, Erin Bow [11:15] Nightwing, Chuck Dixon and Scott McDaniel Rahawa [12:48] Every Kiss a War, Leesa Cross-Smith [13:30] Rahawa's Short Story of the Day on Twitter [14:00] The Only Ones, Carola Dibbell [15:30] Material, Ales Kot, Will Tempest --- Intermission; Dead End Alley - Bill Elm and Woody Jackson --- Citizen by Claudia Rankine [23:10] 6 ways white supremacy takes its toll on Black people's mental health, Salon, Terrell Jermaine Starr [38:05] Is Serena Williams the Most Dominant American Athlete Today?, Bleacher Report, Merlisa Lawrence Corbett [40:00] ‘Hunger Games' and Hollywood's racial casting issue, CNN, Stephanie Goldberg [41:30] Cameron Crowe Apologies for the Emma Stone Casting Fallout in Aloha, Vulture, Sean Fitz-Gerald [41:40] Hollywood Diversity: Marvel Casting Tilda Swinton to Play Asian Man?, Breitbart, Kipp Jones [47:30] Graywolf Press on Twitter [49:00] PEN America [50:00] 2015 PEN World Voices Festival: Africa in Two Acts, PEN America YouTube --- Outro; I'd Tell You But - Anti-Flag --- Find Us! Bookrageous on Tumblr, Podbean, Twitter, Facebook, Spotify, and leave us voicemail at 347-855-7323. Find Us Online: Jenn, Preeti, Rahawa Order Josh's books! Get Bookrageous schwag at CafePress Note: Our show book links direct you to WORD, an independent bookstore. If you click through and buy the book, we will get a small affiliate payment. We won't be making any money off any book sales -- any payments go into hosting fees for the Bookrageous podcast, or other Bookrageous projects. We promise.

Leesa Cross-Smith is the guest. Her debut story collection Every Kiss a War is now available from Mojave River Press.  It was a finalist for the Flannery O'Connor Short Fiction Award and the Iowa Short Fiction Award. Roxane Gay says “Leesa Cross-Smith is a consummate storyteller who uses her formidable talents to tell the oft-overlooked stories of people living in that great swath of place between the left and right coasts. She offers thrilling turns of phrase like, 'His mouth tasted like thousand-page Russian novels I’d never read,' or 'let your smeary mouth be his question mark.' Where she is most stunning is in the endings of each of the 27 stories in Every Kiss a War, creating crisp, evocative moments that will linger long after you’ve read this book’s very last word.” Monologue topics:  mail, friends, IRL communities, fostering connectivity, being social.      Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Russian Women Stuff by Leesa Cross-Smith