Podcasts about Library Journal

Carmela Dutra is a writer from the San Francisco Bay Area who loves food trucks, family, and cozy mysteries. She is the author of the Food Truck Mysteries, including A Murder Most Fowl and Hot Wings and Homicide. Her series has been praised by Kirkus Reviews, which called her debut “a serious set of crimes leavened by plenty of amusing moments,” and by Library Journal, which noted that Hot Wings and Homicide “is perfect for foodies,” and New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams described the books as “the perfect escapist read, brimming with banter and an extra helping of fun.” Carmela has also been featured in CrimeReads Magazine.A lover of humor, quirky characters, and all things geeky, Carmela spends her days sketching, sipping far too much coffee, and over-cuddling her allergy-inducing cats and dog. She lives with her husband and two dinosaur-obsessed sons, drawing inspiration from rainy afternoons, bustling farmers' markets, and the unexpected moments that make life memorable. Website: carmeladutra.comFacebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/authorcarmeladutraInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorcarmelaThreads Handle: http://www.threads.com/authorcarmelaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmeladutra *****************About SinCSisters in Crime (SinC) was founded in 1986 to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition and professional development of women crime writers. Through advocacy, programming and leadership, SinC empowers and supports all crime writers regardless of genre or place on their career trajectory.www.SistersinCrime.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sincworldwideInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sincworldwide/Threads: https://www.threads.com/@sincworldwideBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sincworldwide.bsky.socialTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sincworldwideeTikTok:: https://www.tiktok.com/@sincnationalLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sisters-in-crime/The SinC Writers' Podcast is produced by Julian Crocamo https://www.juliancrocamo.com/

Viva Las Vegas! In this episode of the Library is Open Podcast, our special guest is Kelvin Watson, Executive Director of the Las Vegas–Clark County Library District and Library Journal's 2026 Librarian of the Year! Kelvin shares his experience in the library world, the unique experiences of leading a large library system in an internationally-known city, leadership advice, and so much more!

If you ever wanted to mingle romantic suspense and "ghost ships," Elizabeth Goddard has you covered. Listen in to see how she got that idea and all the things. note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Learning all about this "Ghost Ship" stuff worked, how she wove it all together was awesome. I just LOVED this conversation Deadly Currents by Elizabeth Goddard  USA Today Bestselling Author Elizabeth Goddard Presents a Gripping Thrill Ride Investigative journalist Cressida Dane arrives in Hidden Bay after a worldwide journey to finish her late father's manuscript on shipwrecks. As she tries to discover the story behind the "ghost ship" Specter's Bounty, her only lead is a name her father left behind--Evelyn Monroe. As Cressida uncovers more about the ship, she quickly realizes that her research has placed her in the crosshairs of dangerous forces. County detective Braden Sanders is in Hidden Bay for one reason--to get his niece lifesaving medical treatment. To do that, he is assigned to protect Cressida from a revenge-driven enemy. Together, Braden and Cressida dig deeper to discern the myth from the facts surrounding the Specter's Bounty. But more is brewing under the surface than they could ever imagine. Entangled in secrets, they must unravel the past before the current sweeps away their future. Praise for the Hidden Bay Series"A thrilling ride, perfect for devouring in one sitting."--Lynette Eason, bestselling and award-winning author, on Storm Warning "Fans of Lynette Eason and Nancy Mehl will love this thrill-a-minute ride from Goddard."--Library Journal on Storm Warning Brace yourself for Elizabeth Goddard's final adrenaline-inducing installment in the Hidden Bay series. This clean romantic suspense combines maritime mystery with protective hero romance that readers of Dani Pettrey and Nancy Mehl will enjoy. Don't miss our first interview about this series HERE. Learn more about Elizabeth Goddard on her WEBSITE and follow her on BookBub and GoodReads. Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at: Apple Castbox Google Play Libsyn RSS Spotify Amazon and more!

Chip Leighton stops by to talk about his fatherhood journey. He and I talk about what he has learned from his kids about life. In addition he talks about how his kids helped him in the beginning of creating his social media platforms. After that we talk about his new book, Dad Can You Not? Chip shares how many parents reached out to him to share some of the funny and outlandish things their kids will say to them. Lastly, we finish the interview with the Fatherhood Quick Five.  About Chip Leighton  Chip Leighton is the creator and host of The Leighton Show. His debut book, What Time is Noon, was an instant New York Times bestseller. In addition, his comedy has been featured in Library Journal and the New York Post. Plus his work has been on ABC News, Fox News, and more. His comedy focuses on funny relationship and parenting moments. “Things I've Apologized to My Wife for” or “Texts from our College Freshman” are among his many relatable viral hits. His latest book "Dad Can You Not?" publishes on April 21st. He lives in Maine with his wife and two children. Make sure you follow Chip on Instagram over at @the_leighton_show. Also, make sure you purchase his book, Dad Can You Not? wherever books are sold. BetterHelp Is This Week's Sponsor  BetterHelp was founded in 2013 to remove the traditional barriers to therapy and make mental health care more accessible to everyone. Today, it is the world's largest therapy service — providing professional, affordable, and personalized therapy in a convenient online format. BetterHelp's network of more than 30,000 licensed therapists has helped over 5 million people worldwide take ownership of their mental health and work towards their personal goals. As the unmet need for mental health services continues to grow, BetterHelp is committed to expanding access to therapy globally. Plus for my readers and podcast listeners when you use the special link at betterhelp.com/artoffatherhood you can get 10% off your first month.  About The Art of Fatherhood Podcast  The Art of Fatherhood Podcast follows the journey of fatherhood. Your host, Art Eddy talks with fantastic dads from all around the world where they share their thoughts on fatherhood. You get a unique perspective on fatherhood from guests like Bob Odenkirk, Hank Azaria, Joe Montana, Kevin Smith, Danny Trejo, Jerry Rice, Jeff Foxworthy, Patrick Warburton, Jeff Kinney, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Kyle Busch, Dennis Quaid, Dwight Freeney and many more. 

On the Saturday April 18, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet USA TODAY, Globe and Mail, and Toronto Star bestselling author Rick Mofina. He’s the author of more than thirty crime fiction thrillers that have been published in nearly thirty countries. A former journalist, he has interviewed murderers on death row, flown over Los Angeles with the LAPD and patrolled with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police near the Arctic. He is a two-time winner of the Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence, and a multiple finalist for the International Thriller Writers Awards and the Shamus Award, presented by the Private Eye Writers of America. Library Journal calls him "one of the best thriller writers in the business." His latest novel, “One Second Away” is a high-octane global thriller that begins with a parent’s desperate search and rapidly escalates into an international investigation involving the FBI, uncovering a far-reaching web of secrets and lies. Set across multiple cities, the story delivers relentless suspense while exploring the emotional fallout of life-altering decisions made in an instant. Then, we’ll meet Tom Howe, the British-born (now LA-based) film and TV composer known for his versatile work across dramatic scores, animations, documentaries, and feel-good series. He's scored over 100 projects, including major highlights like Ted Lasso, Shrinking, The Great British Bake Off and many more. We talk music and Ted Lasso with Tom.

On the Saturday April 18, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we'll meet USA TODAY, Globe and Mail, and Toronto Star bestselling author Rick Mofina. He's the author of more than thirty crime fiction thrillers that have been published in nearly thirty countries. A former journalist, he has interviewed murderers on death row, flown over Los Angeles with the LAPD and patrolled with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police near the Arctic. He is a two-time winner of the Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence, and a multiple finalist for the International Thriller Writers Awards and the Shamus Award, presented by the Private Eye Writers of America. Library Journal calls him "one of the best thriller writers in the business." His latest novel, “One Second Away” is a high-octane global thriller that begins with a parent's desperate search and rapidly escalates into an international investigation involving the FBI, uncovering a far-reaching web of secrets and lies. Set across multiple cities, the story delivers relentless suspense while exploring the emotional fallout of life-altering decisions made in an instant. Then, we'll meet Tom Howe, the British-born (now LA-based) film and TV composer known for his versatile work across dramatic scores, animations, documentaries, and feel-good series. He's scored over 100 projects, including major highlights like Ted Lasso, Shrinking, The Great British Bake Off and many more. We talk music and Ted Lasso with Tom.

Hello, Protagonists!Welcome to another episode of the Creative, Inspired, ALIVE podcast—where we go behind the scenes with the storytellers shaping our culture.Our next guest, Stacey Lee, is a NYT and Indie bestselling author of historical and contemporary YA and middle grade fiction, including The Downstairs Girl, a Reese's Book Club pick, Kill Her Twice, a school Library Journal best book of the year, and her most recent novel, Heiress of Nowhere. Stacey is a fourth-generation Chinese American and a founder of We Need Diverse Books.Today, we talk about:* venturing into Gothic literature,* the fun of historical research,* the current landscape of YA fiction,* and promoting books with the heart of an introvert.xo, Joanna & Evelyn

This week we're joined by Steph to talk about fashion and librarianship: how it works, how they intersect, and how fashion is interdisciplinary. We also learn about how you get into this gig! Media mentioned Good general article: Frederiksen, Linda. “Fashion by Design.” Library Journal, vol. 131, no. 10, June 2006, pp. 79–81. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=297645b9-2580-3b4f-bdae-8ee2344a2633. Costume Institute article: Kazmi, Sahar. “A CENTURY OF FASHION: Library Collections Reflect the Evolution of 20th-Century American Style.” Library of Congress Magazine, vol. 13, no. 1, Jan. 2024, pp. 14–19. EBSCOhost, https://www.loc.gov/lcm/pdf/LCM_2024_0102.pdf  ARLIS article: King, Lindsay M., and Russell T. Clement. “Style and Substance: Fashion in Twenty-First-Century Research Libraries.” Art Documentation: Journal of the Art Libraries Society of North America, vol. 31, no. 1, Mar. 2012, pp. 93–107. EBSCOhost, doi.org/10.1086/664912   Library Journal's September By The Numbers focused on fashion libraries: “Fashion and Beauty.” American Libraries, vol. 56, no. 9/10, Sept. 2025, p. 11 https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2025/09/02/by-the-numbers-fashion-and-beauty/  All previous transcripts: https://podscripts.co/podcasts/librarypunk  Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/qWPTurTnkT

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Tim Weed, author of the book The Afterlife Project. Tim Weed is the author of four books of fiction. His recent novel, The Afterlife Project, was named a best book of 2025 by Library Journal and the Toronto Star. He's won multiple Writer's Digest Annual Fiction Awards and his work has been shortlisted for the Eric Hoffer Book Award, the Tobias Wolff Award for Fiction, the Prism Prize for Climate Literature, the Fish International Short Story Award, the William Faulkner-William Wisdom Award for a Novel-in-Progress, the New Rivers Many Voices Project, and many others. His essays and articles have appeared in Writers Digest, Literary Hub, The Revelator, The Millions, The Writer's Chronicle, Talking Points Memo, The Good Men Project, and elsewhere.   Tim serves on the core faculty of the Newport MFA in Creative Writing and is the co-founder of the Cuba Writers Program. A former featured expert for National Geographic Expeditions, he spent the first part of his career directing international educational programs throughout Latin America and in Spain, Portugal, Australia, Iceland, and other locations around the globe.   He holds a BA in Spanish from Middlebury College, a master's in international affairs from the University of California, and an MFA in Creative Writing from Warren Wilson College. He occasionally leads international travel programs and appears often at writing conferences and other events in the U.S. and abroad.   In my book review, I stated The Afterlife Project is a dystopian science fiction by Tim Weed. I can honestly say I am shocked by how much I enjoyed this book. I tend not to like science fiction or dystopian literature. However, this one had me from moment one. Why? The characters! We get into the head of Nick, a microbiologist, who is now 10,000 years into the future due to the cataclysmic climate issues caused by humans. We also follow the last remaining members of the Centauri crew in 2068 - tasked with trying to save the species through a journal kept by Alejandra. We skip back and forth between the two time periods, always wondering if the human race survives.   Tim did an amazing job describing a world 10,000 years after it's destruction by humans - as well as what it would be like to live in a climate crisis - all without being preachy. He manages this by letting us see the world through the imperfect eyes of the characters. They make mistakes. They trust the wrong people. They believe in miracles that aren't likely to happen. They do the wrong thing for the right reasons. Just like you and just like me.   I couldn't put this book down and have already recommended it to several friends. It's a must-read!   Subscribe to Online for Authors to learn about more great books! https://www.youtube.com/@onlineforauthors?sub_confirmation=1   You can follow Author Tim Weed Website: https://timweed.net/ IG: @timweedwriter FB: @timweedauthor LinkedIn: @Tim Weed   Purchase The Afterlife Project on Amazon: Paperback: https://amzn.to/3OehfPL Ebook: https://amzn.to/49POn91   Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor IG: @terimbrown_author X: @terimbrown1   Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors   #timweed #theafterlifeproject #sciencefiction #dystopian #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

In this NBN episode, host Hollay Ghadery speaks with Janice Hadlow about her fascinating novel, Rules of the Heart (Henry Holt & Company, 2026). A beautifully evocative historical novel about the perils of all-consuming love, inspired by a real-life eighteenth-century love affair, from the bestselling author of The Other Bennet Sister“When I love at all, it is with my whole soul—my heart must be torn to pieces before it can forget or resign the objects of its affections.”England, 1794. Now in her thirties, Lady Harriet Bessborough, already the veteran of several liaisons, finds herself pursued by a much younger man. This isn't unusual in her circle, where married women often take younger lovers. No one minds much, provided they follow the rules of the game: Don't embarrass your husband, maintain complete discretion at all times, and never ever make the mistake of falling in love.So when Harriet meets Lord Granville—brilliantly handsome, insistently ardent, and twelve years younger than her—she's confident she can manage their affair. Until she finds herself falling uncontrollably under his spell.As she's plunged into an all-consuming passion, Harriet's worldliness and sophistication desert her. With each besotted step, she finds herself edging ever closer to exposure and ruin. She knows she should leave Granville but can't bring herself to do it—she loves him far too deeply now to escape the scandal that threatens to engulf her. Janice Hadlow worked as a television producer and commissioner for most of her career. She graduated with a first-class degree in history from King's College London and has always been fascinated by the eighteenth century. She is the author of A Royal Experiment, a family biography of George III, Queen Charlotte, and their children. The Other Bennet Sister, her fiction debut, was named a best book of 2020 by Library Journal, NPR, and The Christian Science Monitor. It is currently in production as a drama for BBC television. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In this NBN episode, host Hollay Ghadery speaks with Janice Hadlow about her fascinating novel, Rules of the Heart (Henry Holt & Company, 2026). A beautifully evocative historical novel about the perils of all-consuming love, inspired by a real-life eighteenth-century love affair, from the bestselling author of The Other Bennet Sister“When I love at all, it is with my whole soul—my heart must be torn to pieces before it can forget or resign the objects of its affections.”England, 1794. Now in her thirties, Lady Harriet Bessborough, already the veteran of several liaisons, finds herself pursued by a much younger man. This isn't unusual in her circle, where married women often take younger lovers. No one minds much, provided they follow the rules of the game: Don't embarrass your husband, maintain complete discretion at all times, and never ever make the mistake of falling in love.So when Harriet meets Lord Granville—brilliantly handsome, insistently ardent, and twelve years younger than her—she's confident she can manage their affair. Until she finds herself falling uncontrollably under his spell.As she's plunged into an all-consuming passion, Harriet's worldliness and sophistication desert her. With each besotted step, she finds herself edging ever closer to exposure and ruin. She knows she should leave Granville but can't bring herself to do it—she loves him far too deeply now to escape the scandal that threatens to engulf her. Janice Hadlow worked as a television producer and commissioner for most of her career. She graduated with a first-class degree in history from King's College London and has always been fascinated by the eighteenth century. She is the author of A Royal Experiment, a family biography of George III, Queen Charlotte, and their children. The Other Bennet Sister, her fiction debut, was named a best book of 2020 by Library Journal, NPR, and The Christian Science Monitor. It is currently in production as a drama for BBC television. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

In this NBN episode, host Hollay Ghadery speaks with Janice Hadlow about her fascinating novel, Rules of the Heart (Henry Holt & Company, 2026). A beautifully evocative historical novel about the perils of all-consuming love, inspired by a real-life eighteenth-century love affair, from the bestselling author of The Other Bennet Sister“When I love at all, it is with my whole soul—my heart must be torn to pieces before it can forget or resign the objects of its affections.”England, 1794. Now in her thirties, Lady Harriet Bessborough, already the veteran of several liaisons, finds herself pursued by a much younger man. This isn't unusual in her circle, where married women often take younger lovers. No one minds much, provided they follow the rules of the game: Don't embarrass your husband, maintain complete discretion at all times, and never ever make the mistake of falling in love.So when Harriet meets Lord Granville—brilliantly handsome, insistently ardent, and twelve years younger than her—she's confident she can manage their affair. Until she finds herself falling uncontrollably under his spell.As she's plunged into an all-consuming passion, Harriet's worldliness and sophistication desert her. With each besotted step, she finds herself edging ever closer to exposure and ruin. She knows she should leave Granville but can't bring herself to do it—she loves him far too deeply now to escape the scandal that threatens to engulf her. Janice Hadlow worked as a television producer and commissioner for most of her career. She graduated with a first-class degree in history from King's College London and has always been fascinated by the eighteenth century. She is the author of A Royal Experiment, a family biography of George III, Queen Charlotte, and their children. The Other Bennet Sister, her fiction debut, was named a best book of 2020 by Library Journal, NPR, and The Christian Science Monitor. It is currently in production as a drama for BBC television. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/historical-fiction

New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author, Gregg Hurwitz, returns to chat with us about his unflagging curiosity and fascinating research process, how to find your true writing voice, and his 11th Orphan X novel, ANTIHERO. Gregg Hurwitz is the award-winning and internationally bestselling author of 27 novels including the lauded ORPHAN X series. His work has appeared in 33 languages, and the Los Angeles Times called him “... a thriller giant." He is also a New York Times bestselling comic book writer, has written screenplays and TV scripts for many major studios and networks, and is an award-winning documentary producer. He has published numerous academic articles on Shakespeare, taught fiction writing at USC, and currently serves as the Co-President of International Thriller Writers (ITW). His 11th Orphan X novel, Antihero, continues to follow The Nowhere Man, “Evan Smoak [as he] takes on his most complex mission yet―one where he not only has to protect but also avenge, and find a way to balance vengeance with mercy.” The series has been described as, “All Gas. No Breaks," by The Real Book Spy, and Library Journal called the book, "A relentless battle between vengeance and virtue." [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to⁠ ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [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 Gregg Hurwitz, Milena and I discussed: Going on book tour and hanging out with David Duchovny How his prescient contemporary thriller plots come to be His most eye-opening research and future as a cult leader Why writing should be a version of play How fiction can be truer than truth Why writers and  readers connect more with flawed characters   And a lot more!  Show Notes: How NY Times Bestselling Author Gregg Hurwitz Writes: Part One GreggHurwitz.net The Last Orphan By Gregg Hurwitz (Amazon) Gregg Hurwitz Amazon Author Page Gregg Hurwitz on Facebook Gregg Hurwitz on Instagram Gregg Hurwitz on Twitter Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy Meyerson is the acclaimed author of the internationally bestselling The Bookshop of Yesterdays, The Imperfects, and The Love Scribe. Her books have been translated into eleven languages and are frequently chosen for best-of lists, including lists from Good Morning America, Publishers Weekly, The Christian Science Monitor, Library Journal, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Texas Library Association's Lariat List, among others. Meyerson completed her graduate work in creative writing at the University of Southern California, where she now teaches in the writing department. Her latest novel is The Water Lies. Learn more at amymeyerson.com Special thanks to NetGalley for early preview copies. Intro reel, Writing Table Podcast 2024 Outro RecordingFollow the Writing Table: @writingtablepodcastEmail questions or tell us who you'd like us to invite to the Writing Table: writingtablepodcast@gmail.com.

Amy Meyerson is the acclaimed author of the internationally bestselling The Bookshop of Yesterdays, The Imperfects, and The Love Scribe. Her books have been translated into eleven languages and are frequently chosen for best-of lists, including lists from Good Morning America, Publishers Weekly, The Christian Science Monitor, Library Journal, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Texas Library Association's Lariat List, among others. Meyerson completed her graduate work in creative writing at the University of Southern California, where she now teaches in the writing department.Killer Women Podcast is copyrighted by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network#podcast #author #interview #authors #KillerWomen #KillerWomenPodcast #authorsontheair #podcast #podcaster #killerwomen #killerwomenpodcast #authors #authorsofig #authorsofinstagram #authorinterview #writingcommunity #authorsontheair #suspensebooks #authorssupportingauthors #thrillerbooks #suspense #wip #writers #writersinspiration #books #bookrecommendations #bookaddict #bookaddicted #bookaddiction #bibliophile #read #amreading #lovetoread #daniellegirard #daniellegirardbooks #amymeyerson #amazonpublishing #thomasandmercer

Amy Meyerson is the acclaimed author of the internationally bestselling The Bookshop of Yesterdays, The Imperfects, and The Love Scribe. Her books have been translated into eleven languages and are frequently chosen for best-of lists, including lists from Good Morning America, Publishers Weekly, The Christian Science Monitor, Library Journal, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Texas Library Association's Lariat List, among others. Meyerson completed her graduate work in creative writing at the University of Southern California, where she now teaches in the writing department. Killer Women Podcast is copyrighted by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #podcast #author #interview #authors #KillerWomen #KillerWomenPodcast #authorsontheair #podcast #podcaster #killerwomen #killerwomenpodcast #authors #authorsofig #authorsofinstagram #authorinterview #writingcommunity #authorsontheair #suspensebooks #authorssupportingauthors #thrillerbooks #suspense #wip #writers #writersinspiration #books #bookrecommendations #bookaddict #bookaddicted #bookaddiction #bibliophile #read #amreading #lovetoread #daniellegirard #daniellegirardbooks #amymeyerson #amazonpublishing #thomasandmercer

This episode of In The Telling (Season 5, Episode 37) is about family, memory, and the places where we once felt safest without fully understanding why. Through memories of roller-coaster rides shared with her father and extended family, writer Lyzette Wanzer revisits a childhood shaped by laughter, ritual, and belonging—moments that helped define what family felt like at its best.Lyzette Wanzer is a San Francisco writer, editor, and writing workshop instructor. Her work appears in over thirty literary journals, magazines, books, and newspapers. Library Journal named her book, TRAUMA, TRESSES, & TRUTH: Untangling Our Hair Through Personal Narratives … a Top 10 Best Social Sciences Book. Her articles have appeared in Essay Daily, The Naked Truth, and the San Francisco University High School Journal. Her research interests include professional development for creative writers, Black feminism, critical race theory, and the lyrical essay form. Lyzette is a contributor to LYRIC ESSAY AS RESISTANCE: Truth from the Margins and THE CHALK CIRCLE: Intercultural Prizewinning Essays. You can learn more about Lyzette and her work by visiting her website: www.lyzettewanzermfa.com

As we close out 2025, Suzanne B. O'Brien, RN shares a heartfelt Year in Review for the Doulagivers Institute, reflecting on three extraordinary milestones that are helping transform end-of-life care around the world. This episode honors what's possible when education, compassion, and community come together.

Elle Marr is the author of thrillers THE MISSING SISTER (2020), LIES WE BURY (2021), STRANGERS WE KNOW (2022), THE FAMILY BONES (2023), THE ALONE TIME (2024), and YOUR DARK SECRETS (July 30). She is (evidently) a fan of coffee. Her work has been featured in PopSugar, Woman's World Magazine, Goodreads, Audible, and TV affiliates for CBS, ABC, FOX, and NBC. THE MISSING SISTER was a #1 Amazon bestseller and an Amazon Charts bestseller, while LIES WE BURY earned a Kirkus starred review, and STRANGERS WE KNOW was an Audible Most Anticipated Thriller. Publishers Weekly gave a starred review to THE FAMILY BONES, saying “Readers will be captivated from the very first page.”  THE ALONE TIME was chosen as the Amazon First Read, while Library Journal said it has “a finale that will surprise even the most perceptive readers.” Originally from Sacramento, Elle Marr graduated from UC San Diego before moving to France, where she earned a master's degree from the Sorbonne University in Paris.  When not working on her next book, she enjoys watching French Netflix shows with the subtitles off, in Oregon, where she lives with her family. Her latest novel is Your Dark Secrets. Learn more at ellemarr.com Special thanks to NetGalley for a review copy of Elle's new book. Intro reel, Writing Table Podcast 2024 Outro RecordingFollow the Writing Table: @writingtablepodcastEmail questions or tell us who you'd like us to invite to the Writing Table: writingtablepodcast@gmail.com.

In 2022, Anne made the bold and audacious decision to leave her job as a tenured English professor, sell all her earthly possessions and embark on a European adventure. In this episode, I am going to talk to Anne about her decision to reset her life and find a new way of being in the world.  She is the author of the viral Substack newsletter Audacious Women, Creative Lives, where she writes about her transition from an academic in the US to a creative life in the UK. She has just completed a Master's in Creative Writing at the University of Manchester. She is now working towards her life-long dream of publishing a novel, while coaching writers and hosting retreats. She is also the author/editor of seven books from her 23-year career as a literature professor. She wrote two critically acclaimed books published by W. W. Norton: Constance Fenimore Woolson: Portrait of a Lady Novelist (2016)  reviewed on the cover of NY Times Book Review  and Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters (2018). This was voted best books of the year by Library Journal.  Anne received four National Endowment for the Humanities awards, two for public scholarship. She also has appeared on NPR, BBC Radio, and CBS Sunday Morning, and has bylines in many paces, including the Washington Post and Literary Hub.   Chart Your Career Instagram: @chartyourcareerpodcast Ellen Fondiler, Career & Business Strategist: ellenfondiler.com, IG: @elfondiler  

Don't have the cash or the time off to travel right now? Not to worry! Reading can take you anywhere. On this episode from our archives, we recommend books that will transport you. NPR's Nancy Pearl—quite possibly the world's most famous librarian—is known for giving the perfect book recommendation for any situation. She sits down with us to share her selections for the best armchair travel books. Don't know who Nancy Pearl is? She's an American librarian, best-selling author, and iterary critic. Her prolific reading and her knowledge of books and literature first made her locally famous in Seattle, Washington, where she regularly appears on public radio recommending books. She achieved broader fame with Book Lust, her 2003 guide to good reading. Pearl was named 2011 Librarian of the Year by Library Journal. Check out her travel-themed recommendations in Book Lust to Go. ***The Bittersweet Life podcast has been on the air for an impressive 10+ years! In order to help newer listeners discover some of our earlier episodes, every Friday we are now airing an episode from our vast archives! Enjoy!*** ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is all sold out for 2025! If you'd like to join us in 2026, and be part of an intimate group of listeners on a magical and unforgettable journey to Rome, discovering the city with us as your guides, find out more here. ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon. TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

Have you ever wondered what else was happening during the American Revolution? It turns out that the conflict was waged far beyond the shores of North America. Historian Richard Bell joins in today to talk about the unexpected participants in and ramifications of the American Revolution across the globe.About our guest:Richard Bell received his PhD from Harvard University and his BA from the University of Cambridge. His research interests focus on American history between 1750 and 1877 and he welcomes enquiries from graduate students working in this period. Visit his website. Download his CV.Bell's most recent book is The American Revolution and the Fate of the World. Published by Penguin/Riverhead in 2025, it received starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly, Library Journal, and Kirkus Reviews. It reveals the full breadth and depth of America's founding event. The American Revolution was not only the colonies' triumphant liberation from the rule of an overbearing England; it was also a cataclysm that pulled in participants from around the globe and threw the entire world order into chaos. Repositioning the Revolution at the center of an international web, this  narrative ranges as far afield as India, Africa, Central America, and Australia. As Bell's lens widens, the “War of Independence” manifests itself as a sprawling struggle that upended the lives of millions of people on every continent and fundamentally transformed the way the world works, disrupting trade, restructuring penal systems, stirring famine, and creating the first global refugee crisis. Bell conveys the impact of these developments at home and abroad by grounding the narrative in the gripping stories of individuals—including women, minorities, and other disenfranchised people. The result is an unforgettable and unexpected work of American history that shifts everything we thought we knew about our creation story.Bell is the recipient of more than a dozen teaching awards, including the University System of Maryland Board of Regents Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, the highest honor for teaching faculty in the Maryland state system. He is also one of the conveners of the Washington Area Early American Seminar, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Maryland Center for History and Culture, an elected member of the Massachusetts Historical Society and the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, and a fellow of the Royal Historical Society. On campus, Bell serves as Chair of the UMD United Kingdom Fellowships Committee and was a founding member of The 1856 Project. He lives in University Park, MD, with his wife and two daughters.

Historian Richard Bell received his PhD from Harvard University and his BA from the University of Cambridge. His research explores American history between 1750 and 1877, uncovering the people, politics, and paradoxes that shaped the early republic. Bell's newest book, The American Revolution and the Fate of the World (Penguin/Riverhead, 2025), has earned starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly, Library Journal, and Kirkus Reviews for its sweeping and deeply researched look at the global impact of America's founding event. On November 14, the Maryland Center for History and Culture will host a preview screening of Ken Burns' The American Revolution, an expansive and evenhanded exploration of the virtues and contradictions at the heart of independence. Following the screening, Richard will moderate a panel discussion delving into the film's themes and what they reveal about civic engagement today. Register for the event here: Preview Screening: The American Revolution and Civic Engagement Night

Planet Poet-Words in Space – NEW PODCAST!  LISTEN to my WIOX show (originally aired September 23rd, 2025) featuring returning guests, award-winning poet Lee Slonimsky and award-winning novelist Carol Goodman.  Lee and Carol will discuss and read from their new books - Lee's latest bilingual poetry collection Pythagoras in Exile, which is published in Greece and translated by Katerina Mardakioupi, and Carol's latest Literary Mystery - Writers and Liars, set on a Greek Island. We'll also hear about their life together as mutual literary muses, and their fascination with the ancient world.   Lee Slonimsky has published twenty books of poetry around the world, ten in the U. S. and ten others in countries ranging from Greece to Italy to Israel to India.  His work has been anthologized several times, including in Everyman Library's Buzz Words.  His latest book, a bilingual edition of Pythagoras in Exile, was published by Enipnio Press in Athens, Greece this past May. Visit: Enipnio Press and Mod.Lunar - The River Carol Goodman's rich and prolific career includes novels such as The Widow's House and The Night Visitor, winners of the 2018 and 2020 Mary Higgins Clark Awards.  Her books have been translated into sixteen languages.  She lives in the Hudson Vallley. Visit:  carolgoodman.com Praise for Lee Slonimsky “If Pythagoras and Sappho had ever met, they might have written soulful poems like these to each other.” – Anne Carson “The sonnet turns out to be the perfect—maybe even the Platonic—form for Lee Slonimsky's Pythagorean meditations…These variations on themes serve as an entrance into the philosopher's mind, as if we are thinking and discovering along with him.” -- A. E. Stallings (2011 winner of the MacArthur Foundation  “Genius Prize”: Praise for Carol Goodman “An excellent riff on And Then There Were None unfolds within a setting steeped in sinister mythology.... An absolutely perfect vacation read.” —Booklist (starred review) “Goodman's latest delivers a mash-up of Greek mythology and Agatha Christie's classic mysteries, to delightful effect.”—Library Journal (starred review) 

Horror films have always reflected their audiences' fears and anxieties. In the United States, the 2000s were a decade full of change in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the contested presidential election of 2000, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. These social and political changes, as well as the influences of Japanese horror and New French extremism, had a profound effect on American horror filmmaking during the 2000s. This filmography covers more than 300 horror films released in America from 2000 through 2009, including such popular forms as found footage, torture porn, and remakes. Each entry covers a single film and includes credits, a synopsis, and a lengthy critical commentary. The appendices include common horror conventions, a performer hall of fame, and memorable ad lines.Winner, Best Edited Reference/Primary Source Work in Popular and American Culture-Popular Culture Association. "Muir's depth of knowledge is apparent.highly recommended. Beyond the insightful main text, horror fans will find the supplementary material an incredibly useful way to find movies by convention."-Library Journal. "Highlights some truly brilliant films that have been overlooked by mainstream viewers.important"-Joseph Maddrey, Movies Made Me. "Writing about horror movies is clearly a labor of love for the author and he has here done a splendid job.I was very impressed with Muir's writing."-Forces of GeekBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

Horror films have always reflected their audiences' fears and anxieties. In the United States, the 2000s were a decade full of change in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the contested presidential election of 2000, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. These social and political changes, as well as the influences of Japanese horror and New French extremism, had a profound effect on American horror filmmaking during the 2000s. This filmography covers more than 300 horror films released in America from 2000 through 2009, including such popular forms as found footage, torture porn, and remakes. Each entry covers a single film and includes credits, a synopsis, and a lengthy critical commentary. The appendices include common horror conventions, a performer hall of fame, and memorable ad lines.Winner, Best Edited Reference/Primary Source Work in Popular and American Culture-Popular Culture Association. "Muir's depth of knowledge is apparent.highly recommended. Beyond the insightful main text, horror fans will find the supplementary material an incredibly useful way to find movies by convention."-Library Journal. "Highlights some truly brilliant films that have been overlooked by mainstream viewers.important"-Joseph Maddrey, Movies Made Me. "Writing about horror movies is clearly a labor of love for the author and he has here done a splendid job.I was very impressed with Muir's writing."-Forces of GeekBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

Acclaimed debut novelist Penny Zang spoke with us about making friendship bracelets for readers, why the world doesn't stop when you lose a loved one, hanging out with Sylvia Plath, and her psychological thriller DOLL PARTS I am joined by a co-host this week, none other than The Book Babe, Milena Gonzalez. Penny Zang is an English professor at Greenville Technical College and the debut author of DOLL PARTS, described as “... a dark, poetic, dual-timeline psychological thriller that blends sad girl lit and feminist horror with a heavy dose of 90s grunge nostalgia.” International bestselling author Samantha Downing said of the book, "Doll Parts is the most mesmerizing and original book I've read in a long time. It's eerie and addictive, a story that pulls you in and won't let go," and Library Journal wrote, “Zang's compelling debut delves insightfully into topics such as friendship, grief, and Plath's place in literature...” Penny Zang holds an MFA in Creative Writing from West Virginia University and is the 2024 Elizabeth Boatwright Coker fiction fellow via the South Carolina Academy of Authors. Her work has appeared in New Ohio Review, Louisville Review, Superstition Review, Potomac Review, and South 85, among others. [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 Penny Zang, Milena Gonzalez, and I discussed: How she formed the #5AMWritersClub Writing as a form of grief after losing a good friend Reminding her parents that her fiction didn't really happen Wending pop culture iconography into her work Why finding your writing community is so important And a lot more! Show Notes: pennyzang.com  Doll Parts: A Novel by Penny Zang (Amazon) Penny Zang on Facebook Penny Zang on Instagram Penny Zang on Twitter Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lady Anne is in the Cotswolds with her 8-month-old son, there to restore a famous walled garden. The magnificent home has been hosting a television cooking special over the summer, and Anne's husband, Lord Terrence Reid, is there to enjoy a “Summer of Chefs” week with his wife and baby son. Reid's parents have also been invited to spend the week and are looking forward to delicious food, although Reid's father is recovering from a recent heart attack. Each week, a new chef prepares magnificent meals, and the mystery chef that week turns out to be the former lover of Reid's mother. Theirs is not the only family Gareth Talbot has affected with his sly machinations. He's there to settle old scores and cash in on decades-old grudges. Although the setting is serene and the food fantastic, Lord Terrence Reid is called upon to uncover a murderer in their midst, and his family members are among the suspects. The menu is the last thing on their minds. Mary Birk is a former trial lawyer and avid gardener who lives and writes in Colorado. After graduating from law school, she moved from North Dakota with her late husband to Colorado where they raised their children and dogs and together worked to turn two and a half acres into a high-country garden retreat. Ms. Birk has been named a Library Journal SELF-E Select author. Her Terrence Reid/Anne Michaels mystery series combines her love for gardening and passion for all things Scottish. The first book in the series, Mermaids of Bodega Bay, was a finalist for the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' Colorado Gold award in the mystery/suspense category and was named by Library Journal as a SELF-e Top Book of the Year. The First Cut, the second book in the series, won the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold Award in the mystery/suspense category. A founding member of the Colorado chapter of Sisters in Crime, Ms. Birk served as treasurer from 2016-2023 and is currently Vice President. She also serves as social media director for the Rockky Mountain Chapter of Mystery Writers of America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Lady Anne is in the Cotswolds with her 8-month-old son, there to restore a famous walled garden. The magnificent home has been hosting a television cooking special over the summer, and Anne's husband, Lord Terrence Reid, is there to enjoy a “Summer of Chefs” week with his wife and baby son. Reid's parents have also been invited to spend the week and are looking forward to delicious food, although Reid's father is recovering from a recent heart attack. Each week, a new chef prepares magnificent meals, and the mystery chef that week turns out to be the former lover of Reid's mother. Theirs is not the only family Gareth Talbot has affected with his sly machinations. He's there to settle old scores and cash in on decades-old grudges. Although the setting is serene and the food fantastic, Lord Terrence Reid is called upon to uncover a murderer in their midst, and his family members are among the suspects. The menu is the last thing on their minds. Mary Birk is a former trial lawyer and avid gardener who lives and writes in Colorado. After graduating from law school, she moved from North Dakota with her late husband to Colorado where they raised their children and dogs and together worked to turn two and a half acres into a high-country garden retreat. Ms. Birk has been named a Library Journal SELF-E Select author. Her Terrence Reid/Anne Michaels mystery series combines her love for gardening and passion for all things Scottish. The first book in the series, Mermaids of Bodega Bay, was a finalist for the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' Colorado Gold award in the mystery/suspense category and was named by Library Journal as a SELF-e Top Book of the Year. The First Cut, the second book in the series, won the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold Award in the mystery/suspense category. A founding member of the Colorado chapter of Sisters in Crime, Ms. Birk served as treasurer from 2016-2023 and is currently Vice President. She also serves as social media director for the Rockky Mountain Chapter of Mystery Writers of America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

Join Justin as he chats with author Jonathan Janz about The Twilight Zone, Stephen King adaptations, writing advice, his new book VEIL, and more!Jonathan Janz bio: “Jonathan Janz is the author of more than a dozen novels and numerous short stories. His work has been championed by authors like Joe R. Lansdale, Jack Ketchum, and Brian Keene; he has also been lauded by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and School Library Journal. His ghost story The Siren and the Specter was selected as a Goodreads Choice nominee for Best Horror. Additionally, his novel Children of the Dark was chosen by Booklist as a Top Ten Horror Book of the Year. Jonathan's main interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children.”Intro and outro theme created by Wyrm. Support Wyrm by visiting the Serpents Sword Records bandcamp page (linked below):https://serpentsswordrecords.bandcamp.com/Monsters, Madness and Magic Official Website. Monsters, Madness and Magic on Linktree.Monsters, Madness and Magic on Instagram.Monsters, Madness and Magic on Facebook.Monsters, Madness and Magic on Twitter.

This week, Gare and I got to talk with Jennifer Fawcett about her serial killer thriller Keep This For Me! We dive into her inspiration for the story, how she was drawn to writing about the aftermath of a serial killer's actions, and how grief and trauma effect families for generations.Keep This For Me SynopsisOne hot August night in 1993, a young couple go to a party. When their car breaks down, they are picked up by a truck driver who attacks the man and abducts the woman. She is never seen again.That woman was Fiona Green's mother.When the trucker, Eddie Ward, is caught, a mass grave of bodies is discovered in his backyard but Fiona's mother isn't there. Thirty years later, on his prison deathbed, Ward insists that he didn't kill her, so Fiona finds herself back in the small town where her mother disappeared. Fighting demons of her own, she's shocked when history repeats itself: another woman, another roadside breakdown, and another disappearance. Only this time the primary suspect is Jason Ward, Eddie's son. Desperate, Fiona hunts down answers, unaware that she is being drawn into a dangerous trap.With Jennifer Fawcett's signature “suspenseful and immersive” (Library Journal) prose, Keep This for Me is a fresh, spellbinding exploration of what we unwillingly inherit from our parents and how one random act can send ripples years into the future. Get Bookwild MerchCheck Out My Stories Are My Religion SubstackCheck Out Author Social Media PackagesCheck out the Bookwild Community on PatreonCheck out the Imposter Hour Podcast with Liz and GregFollow @imbookwild on InstagramOther Co-hosts On Instagram:Gare Billings @gareindeedreadsSteph Lauer @books.in.badgerlandHalley Sutton @halleysutton25Brian Watson @readingwithbrian

In this engaging conversation, bestselling author Kristan Higgins shares her journey from aspiring writer to a successful novelist with over 25 published books. She discusses the challenges of writing, the emotional depth of her stories, and the evolution of the publishing industry. Kristan emphasizes the importance of trusting oneself as a writer and offers valuable advice for aspiring authors, highlighting the need to focus on the craft rather than external pressures. Chapters 00:00 The Journey of a Bestselling Author 09:04 Writing Process and Challenges 17:09 Navigating Grief and Emotional Writing 21:28 Embracing the Writer's Journey 24:34 Trusting Your Creative Process 26:50 Navigating the Publishing Landscape 29:51 The Balancing Act of Writing and Marketing 35:13 Advice for Aspiring Authors Author Website: www.kristanhiggins.com Social Media Links: Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristan.higgins www.facebook.com/KristanHigginsBooks www.Facebook.com/kristanhigginssuperreaders Author Bio: Kristan Higgins is the author of more than twenty novels, all of which were New York Times and/or USA TODAY bestsellers, much to her surprise and delight. Her books have been translated into two dozen languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. They have received dozens of awards and accolades, including starred reviews from Entertainment Weekly, People, The New York Journal of Books, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and Booklist. The mother of two delightful adult children and a smitten grandmother, Kristan enjoys gardening, mixology, the National Parks and being overly helpful to strangers. She divides lives in Connecticut but is often on Cape Cod with her heroic firefighter husband, a rambunctious dog and their indifferent cat. Love this episode? Rate it ⭐️ Thumbs Up

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/americans-spend-time-reading-fun-time-screens-study/story?id=124807367Our website - www.perksofbeingabooklover.com. Instagram - @perksofbeingabookloverpod Facebook - Perks of Being a Book Lover. To send us a message go to our website and click the Contact button.   You can find Sam Sussman at www.samevansussman.org or on IG at @sam_sussman.   Our guest is debut novelist Sam Sussman whose book Boy From the North Country comes out this week. Sam originally wrote a short memoir piece for Harper's Magazine that referred to the possibility that he might be Bob Dylan's son but really the essay focused on his relationship with his mom, who had had a love affair with the musician. Eventually, Sam decided to explode the moment, or the series of moments of his life and with his mother, to get a better handle on who he was and how much that was about who his mom was and how she had raised him, not whether his father was Dylan.  The book is receiving high marks in early reviews, and Sam has been making the rounds in newspapers and magazines, including a profile by the New York Times. Publisher's Weekly, Kirkus, The Library Journal, and the American Library Association have all given Boy From the North Country starred reviews.    And for our book rec section of the show, we're thinking about books that center on male relationships.  We realize that our guests and listeners are primarily female, but we thought we would equal the playing field a little by talking about books that deal with father-son relationships, male friendships or brotherly love.  We have a multigenerational story about the men in a Mexican-American family, a group of friends in a small town of the American Midwest, a pair of quirky Irish friends, a memoir about two very different guys at Harvard, two Greek heroes and their deep relationship, and boys from different cultures who develop a bond in unlikely circumstances.    Books Mentioned in this Episode:   1- Boy From the North Country by Sam Sussman 2- The Celebrants by Steven Rowley 3- The Guncle by Steven Rowley 4- In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust  5- Anima Rising by Christopher Moore  6- The Last Mona Lisa by Jonathan Santlofer  7- The Lost Van Gogh by Jonathan Santlofer 8-  A Five Star Read Recommended by Fellow Book Lover Megan Burnett - The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish  9- We Should Not Be Friends: The Story of a Friendship by Will Schwalbe  10- The Sons of El Rey by Alex Espinoza  11- Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Bulter  12- A Forty Year Kiss by Nickolas Butler  13- The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller  14- Circe by Madeline Miller  15- Nowhere Boy by Katherine Marsh  16- Leonard and Hungry Paul by Ronan Hession   Media Mentioned -  1- The Silent Type: On Possibly Being Bob Dylan's Son- https://harpers.org/archive/2021/05/the-silent-type-on-possibly-being-bob-dylans-son/ 2- School Cell Phone Ban Increases Library Visits - https://www.wave3.com/2025/09/02/school-cell-phone-ban-creates-surge-jcps-library-visits/ 3- Reading for Pleasure Declines - https://abcnews.go.com/Health/americans-spend-time-reading-fun-time-screens-study/story?id=124807367 4- The Four Seasons (Netflix 2025) 5- The Four Seasons (1981) 6- How the Passionate Male Friendship Died --https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2025/05/men-friendship-history/682815/    

Hey, Mama, in today's episode, we are chatting with author Sandra Byrd! We are discussing the pressure on mamas in society and Christian circles to be perfect to be accepted. But the truth is we will never be perfect in this life—and we don't have to be. Join Sandra Byrd and Natalie as they discuss what's behind Sandra's newest devotional, More Than Enough: 90 Devotions for Loving Yourself as God Loves You. Sandra's new book explores the importance of loving yourself the way God does, while dismantling toxic perfectionism through heartfelt stories and Scripture that teach you that you don't have to keep striving. Listen along as you discover the importance of loving yourself the way God does, freeing yourself from unrealistic standards, unhealthy self-talk, and unattainable perfectionism. God's grace and unconditional love already call you more than enough. Sandra, author of over fifty books, has earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly, multiple Library Journal starred reviews and Best Book selections, the Historical Novel Society's Editor's Choice award, two Christy Award nominations, a BookPage Top Pick for Romance, and a spot on Booklist's Top Ten Inspirational Books of the Year. Her devotionals, including The One Year Home and Garden Devotions, The One Year Experiencing God's Love Devotional, and the bestselling tween devotional One Year Between You and God, are highly acclaimed, with the latter two named must-reads by Called Magazine. As an editor and writing coach, Sandra mentors writers at all stages via sandrabyrdbookcoach.com. A foodie, Sandra cooks inspired by her books' themes, collects vintage glass and serve ware, and enjoys walks with her husband and Sunday Suppers with her family.Please like, subscribe, rate, review, and share so we can help other mamas who are feeling stuck in their anger and burnout find joy in their motherhood journey!Sandra's Links:Website: sandrabyrd.comSandra's Devotional: More Than EnoughFacebook: @AuthorSandraByrdSponsor:Make Wellness - Biactive Precision Peptides Questions, thoughts, feedback? Send me a text!Questions, thoughts, feedback? Send me a text!Connect with Natalie: Natalie's Website: nataliehixson.comInstagram: instagram.com/angrymamacoachPinterest: pinterest.com/nataliehixsonYouTube: @angrymamacoachAcknowledgements: Producer and editor: Skye Hixson Music: Simon Reid www.simonreidmusic.com

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Jena Brown, Kevin Tumlinson, and JP Rindfleisch as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about Anthropic, Grok chats, and C-SPAN. Then, stick around for a chat with Brian McAuley!Brian McAuley grew up in Weird NJ on a steady diet of Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark? episodes. He received his BA in Creative Writing and Horror Theory from NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Study before getting his MFA in Film from Columbia University.As a WGA screenwriter, Brian has written five films for the Lifetime Network in addition to writing and producing the award-winning thriller Dismissed for BoulderLight Pictures. He sold his TV series pitch Affliction to Syfy Network in a pilot development deal and penned an episode of Fuller House for Netflix.Brian's debut novel Curse of the Reaper was named one of the Best Horror Books of 2022 by Esquire. His 2023 Christmas horror novella Candy Cain Kills received praise from Booklist, Library Journal, and Kirkus Reviews, leading to the 2024 sequel Candy Cain Kills Again: The Second Slaying.His new novel Breathe In, Bleed Out will publish on September 2nd, 2025 from Poisoned Pen Press. His short fiction and non-fiction have appeared in various magazines and anthologies.Brian teaches as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Screenwriting at the Sidney Poitier New American Film School of Arizona State University.

Matty Dalrymple talks with Jane Friedman about MIDLIST SUCCESS, including how traditional publishers are shifting focus to support mid-list authors over a longer timeframe, what indie authors have long done to keep backlist titles selling, why building a sustainable career can be more effective than chasing a breakout bestseller, and practical steps authors can take to strengthen their marketing and reader connections.   Interview video at https://tinyurl.com/TIA303YT Show notes at https://www.theindyauthor.com/episodes-all   If you find the information in this video useful, please consider supporting The Indy Author! https://www.patreon.com/theindyauthor https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattydalrymple   Jane Friedman has spent her entire career working in the book publishing industry, with a focus on author education and trend reporting. She is the editor of The Bottom Line, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, and was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World in 2023. Her latest book is THE BUSINESS OF BEING A WRITER, SECOND EDITION (University of Chicago Press), which received a starred review from Library Journal.   Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she's learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors; her articles have appeared in "Writer's Digest" magazine. She serves as the Campaigns Manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors.

Mariah Fredericks was born, raised, and still lives in New York City. She graduated from Vassar College with a degree in history. She is the author of the Jane Prescott mystery series, which has twice been nominated for the Mary Higgins Clark Award. The Lindbergh Nanny, her first standalone novel, was nominated for the Agatha and Anthony Awards. The Wharton Plot was named one of Library Journal's Best Crime Novels of the Year. Her new novel, The Girl in the Green Dress, featuring New Yorker writer Morris Markey and Zelda Fitzgerald, was published September 2. Website: www.mariahfredericksbooks.com Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/janeprescottmysteriesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahfredericks/*****************About SinCSisters in Crime (SinC) was founded in 1986 to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition and professional development of women crime writers. Through advocacy, programming and leadership, SinC empowers and supports all crime writers regardless of genre or place on their career trajectory.www.SistersinCrime.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sincnational/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sincnational.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.net/@sincnationalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sistersincrimeTikTok:: https://www.tiktok.com/@sincnationalLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sisters-in-crime/The SinC Writers' Podcast is produced by Julian Crocamo https://www.juliancrocamo.com/

Agatha award nominee Jessica Estevao loves fountain pens, red convertibles and throwing parties. She lives in northern New England with her dark and mysterious husband, exuberant children and a precocious poodle named Sam. When away from her desk, she obsessively knits wool socks and enthusiastically speaks Portuguese with a shocking disregard for the rules of grammar. As Jessica Ellicott she indulges her passion for historical fiction and all things British by writing the Beryl and Edwina Mysteries and the WPC Billie Harkness Mysteries. Jessica's books have twice received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly as well as one from Library Journal. Her first novel won the Daphne du Maurier award for mystery. As Jessica Estevao she wrote the Change of Fortune Mysteries. When inspiration strikes she writes contemporary mysteries as Jessie Crockett. Her first stand-alone novel, written as Jessica Everett, Last Summer at Maine Chance will release in May 2026.Website: www.jessicaellicott.comFacebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/jessicaellicottInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicaellicottauthor/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessie-crockett-31554218/*****************About SinCSisters in Crime (SinC) was founded in 1986 to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition and professional development of women crime writers. Through advocacy, programming and leadership, SinC empowers and supports all crime writers regardless of genre or place on their career trajectory.www.SistersinCrime.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sincnational/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sincnational.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.net/@sincnationalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sistersincrimeTikTok:: https://www.tiktok.com/@sincnationalThe SinC Writers' Podcast is produced by Julian Crocamo https://www.juliancrocamo.com/

Juliette Fay returns to the Writing Table; this time to discuss writing historical fiction and the work she's done to create The Harvey Girls. Fay is the bestselling author of eight novels. THE TUMBLING TURNER SISTERS was a USA Today bestseller and Costco Pennie's Book Club Pick. THE SHORTEST WAY HOME was chosen as one of Library Journal's Top 5 Best Books of 2012: Women's Fiction; DEEP DOWN TRUE was short-listed for the 2011Women's Fiction award by the American Library Association; and SHELTER ME, received a 2009 Massachusetts Book Award “Must-Read Book” and chosen as an Indie Next pick. Juliette is a graduate of Boston College and Harvard University, and lives in Massachusetts with her family. Her latest novel is THE HARVEY GIRLS. Learn more at juliettefay.comSpecial thanks to NetGalley for providing advance copies. Intro reel, Writing Table Podcast 2024 Outro RecordingFollow the Writing Table:On Twitter/X: @writingtablepcEverywhere else: @writingtablepodcastEmail questions or tell us who you'd like us to invite to the Writing Table: writingtablepodcast@gmail.com.

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Jim Butcher, spoke with me about how he outlined a hit 20-novel series (years before he had an agent), why all steampunks wear goggles, and the second book in his Cinder Spires series, THE OLYMPIAN AFFAIR. Jim Butcher is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Dresden Files, the Codex Alera, and the Cinder Spires novels. The long-anticipated second novel in his Cinder Spires series is The Olympian Affair, described by the author as “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen meets Sherlock meets Hornblower,” in a series “... about noble families, magic-wielding warriors, and airship battles.” Library Journal called it “... an exciting epic fantasy, set in the sky and filled with airships, magic, and the connections of blood and found family." And New York Times bestselling author David Weber said of the book, “It's steampunk meets magic with a dose of sci-fi for seasoning.” [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, Jim Butcher and I discussed:  Why “breaking into print is an arduous and discouraging process” The Genre Fiction Novel class that changed his writing for good Keeping your writing time sacred When your fans become your boss How to write a “steam opera” His most important legacy as a writer And a lot more! Show Notes: ⁠jim-butcher.com⁠ ⁠The Olympian Affair (The Cinder Spires Book 2)⁠ by Jim Butcher (Amazon)  ⁠Jim Butcher Amazon Author Page⁠ ⁠Jim Butcher on Twitter⁠ ⁠Kelton Reid on Twitter⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christian Historical Fiction Talk is listener supported. When you buy things through this site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Become a patron and enjoy special perks and bonus content.Jennifer L. Wright, a first-time guest, joins us on the podcast this week to talk about her new book, Last Light over Galveston. We discuss what meteorology was like in 1900, how this storm took the city by complete surprise, and how Jennifer got her start in writing, plus much more. Patrons will learn what she loved about growing up in the Midwest.Last Light over Galveston by Jennifer L. WrightAmid the 1900 Galveston hurricane, one woman's perseverance is tested in this captivating story from the author whose work has been called “intelligent and arresting” (Foreword Reviews) and “historical fiction as it is meant to be told” (Library Journal).“Old Galveston shines in this beautifully written tale of a woman's quest to both lose herself and find herself.”Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of ShelterwoodGalveston, Texas. September 1900. Only months ago, Kathleen McDaniel returned from finishing school in Switzerland to her family home in New York's Hudson Valley with a future of promise and privilege set before her. But one horrific event shattered her picturesque life. Now she has fled as far as the train line and a pocketful of money would take her, finding refuge at the St. Mary's Orphan Asylum on Galveston Island, where she helps the nuns care for their young charges and prays her past will not find her. Despite her tenuous standing at the orphanage―and the grief and betrayal that drove her from home―Kathleen slowly begins to make friends. There is Emily, the novice nun she rooms with; Maggie, the tempestuous young girl who only bonds with Kathleen; and Matthew, a kind, handsome man recently employed by Isaac Cline at Galveston's office of the US Weather Bureau.Then in one fateful day, Kathleen's fragile new life begins to crack as it becomes clear that she can't run far enough to escape the reach of her former life. Meanwhile, as troubling news about a storm crossing the Gulf from Cuba swirls in the Weather Bureau offices, Matthew holds fast to Cline's belief that no hurricane can touch Galveston. But as darkness falls on the island, Kathleen must gather her courage and reach for a strength beyond her own if she―and those she loves―are to survive.A stand-alone historical novel about the 1900 Galveston hurricaneA gripping read inspired by true eventsFeatures themes of resilience, found family, and redemptionIncludes discussion questions perfect for book clubsGet Last Light over Galveston by Jennifer L. Wright.Jennifer L. Wright has been writing since middle school, eventually earning a master's degree in journalism from Indiana University. However, it took only a few short months of covering the local news to realize that writing fiction is much better for the soul–and definitely way more fun. A born and bred Hoosier, she was swept off her feet by an Air Force pilot and has spent the past decade traveling the world and, every few years, attempting to make old curtains fit in the windows of a new home.She currently resides in New Mexico with her husband, two children, one grumpy dachshund, and an overly demanding guinea pig. She is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers Association), and can be found on Facebook,

Episode 96 is mystery and thriller author Mia P. Manansala.Mia P. Manansala (she/her) is a writer from Chicago who loves books, baking, and bad-ass women. Her debut, ARSENIC AND ADOBO, garnered starred reviews from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Shelf Awareness, hit the ABA Indie Bestseller List, and has won multiple awards. A lover of all things geeky, Mia spends her days procrasti-baking, playing RPGs and otome games, reading cozy mysteries and diverse romance, and gazing lovingly at her dog Gumiho.In this episode we discussed Death in the Cards, her first young adult book and her move into writing for teens. With that, we talked about the difference in how she writes her teen versus her adult protagonist. We also touched on her use of tarot in the novel, and how one class and one teacher guided her to writing mystery.Links discussed:Their Just Desserts by Tracy Badua and Alechia DowDead & Breakfast  by Kat Hillis and Rosiee ThorPrincess and the PI by Nikki Payne***Upcoming: THE FOREVER WEDDING DATENote: some links are affiliate linksContact Tif at tif@tifmarcelo.comPlease check out her website for podcast submissions

Please enjoy the re-airing of this episode which was originally released July 9, 2024.There is no getting around this: I was THRILLED when Lisa agreed to come on the podcast. Lisa is the Executive Director of the Virginia Library Association, immediate past chair of the Virginia Beach Public Library Board, and a member of the ALA Policy Corps focusing on Unite Against Book Bans. She also was named the LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR 2024 by Library Journal, an award she won because of her advocacy in the fight against book bans. Lisa is a hero of mine, and I am also very grateful to call her my friend.Our book this week is Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day!: Daily Meditations for the Ups, Downs & In-Betweens by Kate Bowler. Lisa lives in Virginia Beach and we recorded at the beautiful OceanFront Marriott in Virginia Beach. I want to thank the staff of the Marriott for letting us record in their executive suite overlooking the ocean. Our drink this week is one Lisa recommends for a beach day, a Ruby Red Grapefruit Crush!Ruby Red Grapefruit Crush Ingredients4 oz (½ cup) grapefruit juice1 oz (2 tablespoons) vodka½ oz (1 tablespoon) triple sec (orange liqueur)2 oz (¼ cup) lemon-lime soda or club sodaIn This EpisodeUnite Against Book Bans - https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/Virginia Library Association - https://www.vla.org/Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle ZevinVirginia Society of Association ExecutivesEverything Happens - Kate Bowler's podcastGigi's Episode on Anne Lamott's Bird by BirdRob Delaney's Episode of Everything HappensCatastrophe TV ShowTerrible, Thanks for Asking PodcastThe Hot Young Widows Club by Nora McInerny

Day 14:  Jessica Jacobs reads her poem, "Saturday Services at the Provincetown Shore" from her book unalone (Four Way Books, 2024). Recorded with permission of Four Way Books. All rights reserved. Jessica Jacobs, a 2025 Guggenheim Fellow, is the author of unalone, poems in conversation with the Book of Genesis (Four Way Books, March 2024); Take Me with You, Wherever You're Going (Four Way Books, 2019), one of Library Journal's Best Poetry Books of the Year, winner of the Devil's Kitchen and Goldie Awards, and a finalist for the Brockman-Campbell, American Fiction, and Julie Suk Book Awards; Pelvis with Distance (White Pine Press, 2015), a biography-in-poems of Georgia O'Keeffe, winner of the New Mexico Book Award in Poetry and a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award; and co-author of Write It! 100 Poetry Prompts to Inspire (Spruce Books/Penguin RandomHouse). She is the founder and executive director of Yetzirah: A Hearth for Jewish Poetry. Text of today's poem and more details about our program can be found at: deerfieldlibrary.org/queerpoemaday/ Find books from participating poets in our library's catalog.  Queer Poem-a-Day is a program from the Adult Services Department at the Library and may include adult language.  Queer Poem-a-Day is founded and co-directed by poet and professor Lisa Hiton and Dylan Zavagno, Adult Services Coordinator at the Library and host of the Deerfield Public Library Podcast. Music for this fifth year of our series is “L'Ange Verrier” from Le Rossignol Éperdu by Reynaldo Hahn, performed by pianist Daniel Baer. Queer Poem-a-Day is supported by generous donations from the Friends of the Deerfield Public Library and the Deerfield Fine Arts Commission.  

Lindy Ryan discusses writing horror as a novelist and anthologist. She is an award-winning author, anthologist, and short-film director whose books and anthologies have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist and Library Journal. Several of her projects have been adapted for screen. Ryan is the current author-in-residence at Rue Morgue. Declared a “champion for women's voices in horror” by Shelf Awareness, Ryan was named a Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree in 2020, and in 2022, was named one of horror's most masterful anthology curators. Born and raised in Southeast Texas, Ryan currently resides on the East Coast. She is a professor at Rutgers University.Her latest novel is Another Fine Mess. Learn more at LindyRyanWrites.com Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy. Intro reel, Writing Table Podcast 2024 Outro RecordingFollow the Writing Table:On Twitter/X: @writingtablepcEverywhere else: @writingtablepodcastEmail questions or tell us who you'd like us to invite to the Writing Table: writingtablepodcast@gmail.com.

Today's social and political climates feel clouded by fear, distance, polarization and loneliness; why is it that groupthink and conformity seem to rule our neighborhoods, pop culture, friend circles, workplaces and social media feeds? It's time for us to learn how to sit with disagreement, debate better, appreciate our differences, and revel in the diversity of ideas and opinions that reflect our world.  Journalist Jenara Nerenberg has not shied away from taking on complex ideas and opinions, first in her bestselling book Divergent Mind about neurological diversity, and now with her second groundbreaking book, Trust Your Mind, which examines viewpoint diversity and encourages us not to shy away from the deepest forms of connection and insight that can come from uncomfortable conversations, independent thinking, and sometimes even loud, productive and healthy arguing.  While “conflict” feels like a scary word to some, Nerenberg dives deep into her own life experiences as well as the social science research on the psychology of groupthink to understand why our world is in peril in the face of people feeling too terrified to speak their minds. This challenge is not just limited to politics—the power of critical thinking and exiting groupthink has far-reaching impact on how we communicate with spouses, classmates, colleagues, family members and beyond. By understanding how group identity forms and the dangers of self-silencing, we allow our politics and our reasoning abilities to evolve, which leads to healthier societies. Trust Your Mind has received wide acclaim from Interfaith America's Eboo Patel, social psychologists Kurt Gray and Ethan Kross, former ACLU president Nadine Strossen, and many more.  Joining Nerenberg in this special conversation is leading investigative reporter Lee Fang, one of the most daring and sought-after independent journalists of our time. This conversation is not to be missed. About the Speakers Jenara Nerenberg is the bestselling author of Divergent Mind, hailed as “extraordinary, jaw-dropping” by Library Journal; she is an Aspen Ideas Brave New Idea speaker and the author of the new book Trust Your Mind, on the psychology of groupthink. A celebrated writer covering the intersection of psychology and society, Nerenberg's work has been featured in the UC Berkeley Greater Good Science Center magazine, Fast Company magazine, CNN, NPR, BBC and elsewhere. Nerenberg speaks widely on social science topics, including at universities, libraries, companies and organizations around the world. She is a graduate of UC Berkeley and the Harvard School of Public Health; Nerenberg grew up in San Francisco and, as a millennial, can now be found on Instagram. Lee Fang is an independent journalist, primarily writing on Substack at leefang.com. He was an investigative reporter for The Intercept. He writes about civil liberties, interest group lobbying, and other public interest issues. A Grownups Member-led Forum program. Forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums. Organizer: Denise Michaud  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The library is an important partner in academic success for students and professors. So why do so many people overlook this key resource? Karen McCoy takes us inside her job on two college campuses, unpacking what librarians do, and why she's so happy to help everyone find exactly what they need. Our guest is: Karen B. McCoy, who is a librarian currently living in Northern California. Most days, she can be found answering reference questions or conducting information literacy sessions in both the Sierra College Library and American River College Library. Outside of her librarian career, she maintains a blog where she interviews other authors. She has reviewed books for Library Journal and Children's Literature, and she sold a feature article to School Library Journal entitled, “What Teens are Really Reading.” She also contributed a chapter to Now Write! Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror. Her debut novel, The Etiquette of Voles, releases in June 2025 through Artemesia Publishing/Kinkajou Press. Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, who is a freelance editor for scholarly projects. She is the producer of the Academic Life podcast. Playlist for listeners: Book Banning and The National Coalition Against Censorship Once Upon A Tome That Librarian Understanding Disinformation The Grant Writing Guide Where Does Research Really Begin Archival Etiquette Becoming The Writer You Already Are Project Management for Researchers Find Your Argument The Guide To Getting Unstuck Dealing with the Fs Welcome to Academic Life, the podcast for your academic journey—and beyond! You can support the show by downloading and sharing episodes. Join us again to learn from more experts inside and outside the academy, and around the world. Missed any of the 250+ Academic Life episodes? Find them here. And thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

The Adult Chair: Get Unstuck, Claim Your Power, and Transform Your Life by Michelle Chalfant Amazon.com Theadultchair.com It's time to find your power, learn how to love yourself, and break free of the limiting patterns and beliefs that are keeping you stuck—from the therapist behind the popular podcast The Michelle Chalfant Show. “An excellent ‘how to act like an adult' manual that would assist anyone looking to shelve self-doubt, handle triggers, relinquish grudges, and learn self-compassion.”—Library Journal (starred review) Many of us were never shown what it truly means to be an adult. Instead, we learned unhealthy patterns from parents who, themselves, had never been taught. It is no surprise that we often find ourselves filled with self-doubt, stuck in feelings of overwhelm, and trapped in unfulfilling or dead-end relationships. But there is a way out. After decades of working with clients, therapist, coach, and podcast host Michelle Chalfant passionately believes in the potential for every person to awaken to their true selves and create a life filled with purpose and joy. Her Adult Chair model fuses spirituality and psychology, making complex concepts accessible and practical. The Adult Chair explores the three key stages of human development using a framework of three chairs: “The Child Chair,” “The Adolescent Chair,” and “The Adult Chair.” By understanding and working through each stage, you'll identify how your early life experiences shaped your thoughts, behaviors, and self-worth. This insight alone is powerful, but Chalfant's five pillars of healthy adult living also provide simple, practical tools to help you permanently release the negative beliefs and behaviors holding you back. This is the manual we all needed while growing up, and it's not too late to learn from it now—a way to grow into adults who feel worthy, empowered, lovable, and confident. No matter what you want help with, The Adult Chair is your path to self-discovery, healing, and personal transformation.

Award-winning writer and producer Arvind Ethan David spoke to me about making sh*t up for a living, late bloomers, and adapting RAYMOND CHANDLER'S TROUBLE IS MY BUSINESS into a graphic novel. Arvind Ethan David is the Stoker Award-nominated graphic novelist who has also written chart-topping Audiodramas (The Crimes of Dorian Gray, Earworms), television (Anansi Boys) and plays (The Boy with Wings). Arvind is also a producer of film and theater, including the Emmy & Grammy award-winning musical Jagged Little Pill with Diablo Cody. His latest adaptation TROUBLE IS MY BUSINESS is a graphic novel adaptation of Raymond Chandler's novella featuring one of the most well-known characters in hard-boiled fiction, detective Phillip Marlowe. Library Journal called it “A gripping adaptation of a classic short story [...] A compelling exploration of greed and justice in shadowy 1940s Los Angeles.” Arvind is a principal of Prodigal, the entertainment company where he has produced eight feature films including the Asian Academy Award-winning "The Garden of Evening Mists" and theatrical shows including the Tony- and Grammy-winning Alanis Morissette musical "Jagged Little Pill." [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 Arvind Ethan David and I discussed: Why he was told to be more like Chekhov or Grisham His past lives as a lawyer and venture capitalist Working with some of the greatest writers in the world How storytelling is genetic Adapting one of the great prose stylists for a graphic novel The most interesting dinner in literary history And a lot more! Show Notes: Raymond Chandler's Trouble Is My Business – May 20, 2025 – by Raymond Chandler and Arvind Ethan David; illustrated by Ilias Kyriazis (Amazon) Arvind Ethan David on IMDb Arvind Ethan David on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the long, exhausting march toward summer begins for many students, the wise and compassionate David Wagoner takes us to the intersection of love and weakness. Happy reading.David Wagoner was recognized as the leading poet of the Pacific Northwest, often compared to his early mentor Theodore Roethke, and highly praised for his skillful, insightful and serious body of work. He won numerous prestigious literary awards including the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, two Pushcart Prizes, and the Academy of Arts and Letters Award, and was nominated twice for the National Book Award. The author of ten acclaimed novels, Wagoner's fiction has been awarded the Sherwood Anderson Foundation Award. Professor emeritus at the University of Washington, Wagoner enjoyed an excellent reputation as both a writer and a teacher of writing. He was selected to serve as chancellor of the Academy of American Poets in 1978, replacing Robert Lowell, and was the editor of Poetry Northwest until 2002.Born in Ohio and raised in Indiana, Midwesterner Wagoner was initially influenced by family ties, ethnic neighborhoods, industrial production and pollution, and the urban environment. His move to the Pacific Northwest in 1954, at Roethke's urging, changed both his outlook and his poetry. Writing in the Contemporary Authors Autobiography Series, Wagoner recalls: “when I drove down out of the Cascades and saw the region that was to become my home territory for the next thirty years, my extreme uneasiness turned into awe. I had never seen or imagined such greenness, such a promise of healing growth. Everything I saw appeared to be living ancestral forms of the dead earth where I'd tried to grow up.” Wagoner's poetry often mourns the loss of a natural, fertile wilderness, though David K. Robinson, writing in Contemporary Poetry, described the themes of “survival, anger at those who violate the natural world” and “a Chaucerian delight in human oddity” at work in the poems as well. Critics have also praised Wagoner's poetry for its crisp descriptive detail and metaphorical bent. However, Paul Breslin in the New York Times Book Review pronounced David Wagoner to be “predominantly a nature poet…as Frost and Roethke were nature poets.”Wagoner's first books, including Dry Sun, Dry Wind (1953), A Place to Stand (1958), and Poems (1959), demonstrate an early mastery of his chosen subject matter and form. Often comprised of observations of nature, Wagoner links his speakers' predicaments and estrangement to the larger imperfection of the world. In Wagoner's second book, A Place to Stand,Roethke's influence is clear, and the book uses journey poems to represent the poet's own quest back to his beginnings. Wagoner's fourth book, The Nesting Ground (1963), reflects his relocation physically, aesthetically and emotionally; the Midwest is abandoned for the lush abundance of the Pacific Northwest, and Wagoner's style is less concerned with lamentation or complaint and more with cataloguing the bounty around him. James K. Robinson called the title poem from Staying Alive (1966) “one of the best American poems since World War II.” In poems like “The Words,” Wagoner discovers harmony with nature by learning to be open to all it has to offer: “I take what is: / The light beats on the stones, / the wind over water shines / Like long grass through the trees, / As I set loose, like birds / in a landscape, the old words.” Robert Cording, who called Staying Alive “the volume where Wagoner comes into his own as a poet,” believed that for Wagoner, taking what is involves “an acceptance of our fragmented selves, which through love we are always trying to patch together; an acceptance of our own darkness; and an acceptance of the world around us with which we must reacquaint ourselves.”Collected Poems 1956-1976 (1976) was nominated for the National Book Award and praised by X. J. Kennedy in Parnassus for offering poems which are “beautifully clear; not merely comprehensible, but clear in the sense that their contents are quickly visible.” Yet it was Who Shall Be the Sun? (1978),based upon Native American myth and legend, which gained critical attention. Hayden Carruth, writing in Harper's Magazine, called the book “a remarkable achievement,” not only for its presentation of “the literalness of shamanistic mysticism” but also for “its true feeling.” Hudson Review's James Finn Cotter also noted how Wagoner “has not written translations but condensed versions that avoid stereotyped language….The voice is Wagoner's own, personal, familiar, concerned. He has achieved a remarkable fusion of nature, legend and psyche in these poems.”In Broken Country (1979), also nominated for the National Book Award, shows Wagoner honing the instructional backpacking poems he had first used in Staying Alive. Leonard Neufeldt, writing in New England Review,called “the love lyrics” of the first section “among the finest since Williams' ‘Asphodel.'” Wagoner has been accused of using staid pastoral conventions in book after book, as well as writing less well about human subjects. However, his books have continued to receive critical attention, often recognized for the ways in which they use encounters with nature as metaphors for encounters with the self. First Light (1983), Wagoner's “most intense” collection, according to James K. Robinson, reflects Wagoner's third marriage to poet Robin Seyfried. And Publishers Weekly celebrated Walt Whitman Bathing (1996) for its use of “plainspoken formal virtuosity” which allows for “a pragmatic clarity of perception.” A volume of new and collected poems, Traveling Light, was released in 1999. Sampling Wagoner's work through the years, many reviewers found the strongest poems to also be the newest. Rochelle Ratner in Library Journal noted “since many of the best are in the ‘New Poems' section, it might make sense to wait for his next volume.” That next volume, The House of Song (2002) won high praise for its variety of subject matter and pitch-perfect craft. Christina Pugh in Poetry declared “The House of Song boasts a superb architecture, and each one of its rooms (or in Italian, stanzas) affords a pleasure that enhances the last.” In 2008 Wagoner published his twenty-third collection of verse, A Map of the Night. Reviewing the book for the Seattle Times, Sheila Farr found many poems shot through with nostalgia, adding “the book feels like a summing-up.” Conceding that “not all the work reaches the high plane of Wagoner's reputation,” Farr described its “finest moments” as those which “resonate with the title, venturing into darkness and helping us recognize its familiar places.”In addition to his numerous books of poetry, David Wagoner was also a successful novelist, writing both mainstream fiction and regional Western fiction. Offering a steady mix of drama seasoned with occasional comedy, Wagoner's tales often involve a naive central character's encounter with and acceptance of human failing and social corruption. In the Contemporary Authors Autobiography Series, Wagoner described his first novel, The Man in the Middle (1954), as “a thriller with some Graham Greene overtones about a railroad crossing watchmen in violent political trouble in Chicago,” his second novel, Money, Money, Money (1955), as a story about “a young tree surgeon who can't touch, look at, or even think about money, though he has a lot of it,” his third novel, Rock (1958) as a tale of “teenage Chicago delinquents,” and his fifth novel, Baby, Come On Inside (1968) as a story “about an aging popular singer who'd lost his voice.” As a popular novelist, however, Wagoner is best known for The Escape Artist (1965), the story of an amateur magician and the unscrupulous adults who attempt to exploit him, which was adapted as a film in 1981. Wagoner produced four successful novels as a Western “regional” writer. Structurally and thematically, they bear similarities to his other novels. David W. Madden noted in Twentieth-Century Western Writers: “Central to each of these [Western] works is a young protagonist's movement from innocence to experience as he journeys across the American frontier encountering an often debased and corrupted world. However, unlike those he meets, the hero retains his fundamental optimism and incorruptibility.”Although Wagoner wrote numerous novels, his reputation rests on his numerous, exquisitely crafted poetry collections, and his dedication as a teacher. Harold Bloom said of Wagoner: “His study of American nostalgias is as eloquent as that of James Wright, and like Wright's poetry carries on some of the deepest currents in American verse.” And Leonard Neufeldt called Wagoner “simply, one of the most accomplished poets currently at work in and with America…His range and mastery of subjects, voices, and modes, his ability to work with ease in any of the modes (narrative, descriptive, dramatic, lyric, anecdotal) and with any number of species (elegy, satirical portraiture, verse editorial, apostrophe, jeremiad, and childlike song, to name a few) and his frequent combinations of a number of these into astonishingly compelling orchestrations provide us with an intelligent and convincing definition of genius.”Wagoner died in late 2021 at age 95.-bio via Poetry Foundation This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe