Podcast appearances and mentions of mary laura philpott

When Sarina found Stephanie Pao on social media, she knew she had to interview her. Stephanie has the job we all want—she owns a bookstore on wheels. La Fleuria is L.A.'s first mobile romance bookstore, and we are here for it. Tune in to hear our interview with Stephanie. We're discussing how she got this idea, where she turned for advice, and how she figures out what to stock and where to park La Fleuria!Show links include: #YouAndYourBookstore episode with Mary Laura PhilpottLa Fleuria book truckStephanie on InstagramStephanie's LinktreeLa Fleuria's popup schedule Thrown for a Loop, Sarina's upcoming release (pub date 11/4/25)TropeTruck, a book truck whose owner generously contributed knowledgeIngram, the wholesale bookseller we discuss in some detail (because Jess needed to understand how this bookseller access to indie authors works!)Books Stephanie recommends and loves to sell at La Fleuria:Yes No Maybe by Jessica Sherry (La Fleuria's #2 bestseller!)Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana ZapataHey, Jess here to talk to you about a new series I have created just for supporters of the #AmWriting Podcast.I met an aspiring author and speaker who has an idea for a book that just knocked me over. I said, please, please write that book. This is someone who had an idea that has a place in the market. It's timely. She's the perfect person to write it, and I asked her, I begged her, if I could please mentor her through this process publicly on the podcast.So while we're not giving her full name and we're not giving the actual title of the book, because we don't want to hand those things away, I am coaching her through the entire process, from preparing her book proposal to querying an agent. I'm going through the whole thing with her. She knows nothing about the publishing industry, she knows very little about how one goes about writing a book—so essentially, this is as I mentioned before, from soup to nuts, From Authority to Author, and hopefully we'll get her there.But really, whether or not this book ends up selling, whether after this book she ends up having a speaking career, this is about the process of preparing to do that. I hope you'll join us.This series is for supporters only, so if you are a free subscriber right now, consider upgrading. Remember, if you upgrade, you'll also get the ability to submit for our First Pages Booklab, and lots of other fun stuff that we put out just for supporters—So come join us. It's a lot of fun.Transcript below!EPISODE 457 - TRANSCRIPTJess LaheyHey, Jess here to talk to you about a new series I have created just for supporters of the Hashtag AmWriting podcast. I met an aspiring author and speaker who has an idea for a book that just knocked me over. I said, please, please write that book. This is someone who had an idea that it has a place in the market. It's timely. She's the perfect person to write it, and I asked her—I begged her—if I could please mentor her through this process publicly on the podcast. So, while we're not giving her full name and we're not giving the actual title of the book, because we don't want to hand those things away, I am coaching her through the entire process—from preparing her book proposal to querying an agent. I'm going through the whole thing with her. She knows nothing about the publishing industry. She knows very little about how, you know, one goes about writing a book. And so she essentially—this is, as I mentioned before from soup to nuts, From Authority to Author, and hopefully we'll get her there. But really, whether or not this book ends up selling, whether this book—she ends up having a speaking career—this is about the process of preparing to do that. How do you write a book? How do you prepare to become a speaker on the back of that book? So I hope you join us. This is a series for supporters only. So if you are a free supporter, or if you're a free subscriber right now, consider upgrading. Remember, if you upgrade, you'll also get access to the ability to submit for our First Pages Book Lab and lots of other fun stuff that we put out just for supporters. So come join us. It's a lot of fun.Multiple Speakers:Is it recording? Now it's recording, yay. Go ahead. This is the part where I stare blankly at the microphone. I don't remember what I'm supposed to be doing. All right, let's start over. Awkward pause. I'm going to rustle some papers. Okay, now one, two, three.Jess LaheyWelcome to the Hashtag AmWriting podcast. This is the podcast about, oh, writing all the things—the short things, the long things, the nonfiction, the fiction, the poetry, the book proposals, the agent queries—all the things. In reality, though, this podcast is about two things. It is about getting the work done, and flattening the learning curve for other writers. I'm Jess Lahey. I am co-hosting today. I am the author of The Gift of Failure and The Addiction Inoculation, and you can find my journalism at The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic.Sarina BowenAnd I'm Sarina Bowen. I am the author of many romance novels. My next one is called Thrown for a Loop and it's coming from Forever in November, and I could not be more excited. And it is in the vein of romance, publishing, and readership that I have invited a guest to talk to us today because she has done something so outrageously cool that I needed to hear more in person. So please welcome Stephanie Pao, who has started Los Angeles' first romance book truck. She's become a bookseller, and I am here to hear all about it. Welcome, Stephanie.Stephanie PaoHi, thank you so much for having me.Sarina BowenMy pleasure. If you wouldn't mind, I would love to hear—how did this happen? Like, how did you decide that the world needed a book truck? Because that is just a cool idea and I never thought of it. And like, so how did you decide to actually make it a thing? And what did you do?Stephanie PaoYes, okay. The idea actually came to me—I lived by the beach, so I was walking by the beach and I saw a vintage Volkswagen truck for sale, and I just couldn't get it out of my mind. It isn't the truck that I have now, but I kept thinking, what could I do with it? And I've always loved books—romance in particular—and I've been looking for something that I could do that kind of took my previous experience, which is marketing, but melded it with something I really enjoyed. And I just thought maybe I could start a book truck. And I started to do research and I saw that there are many book trucks across the country. At the time, I think maybe there was just one or two romance ones and I was lucky enough to be able to speak with someone who had a romance book bus called Trope. She has a bookshop now and she really gave me a lot of confidence that I could probably do this too. I ended up taking a course on bookselling and started looking for a truck. The truck I ended up finding was actually the first truck I found on Facebook Marketplace. The man who was selling it had completely restored it. And he was so excited that I wanted to do this book shop in a truck idea, that he actually helped me and designed all the shelves, and he built it, and he didn't charge me for it.Sarina BowenOh my goodness!Stephanie PaoYeah. So it felt very serendipitous and almost meant to be. And now it's been like two months and I'm having so much fun.Sarina BowenWow. Wow. Oh my goodness. I feel like you should be teaching a class on how to live, right? You're like, "I'm good at this thing, but I'm really interested in this other thing, and I'm going to stick them together and it's going to be great."Stephanie PaoYeah, I feel like it was a little bit of like manifesting, I guess.Sarina BowenWell, wow, that's so great. So how many books does your truck hold at once? Like, what is the size of your store?Stephanie PaoYeah, so it holds about 350 books, and I've taken to also stacking books on top to display my favorite books. So I think it might hold almost 400.Sarina BowenOkay. And so of course, when we think about the bookstores that we grew up going to—you know, there are these giant cavernous Barnes & Nobles, there are smaller independent bookstores—and they're all numbering in the thousands. But by specializing in a category that you really love, like suddenly 400 is you know, it's a workable amount for what romance readers might be looking for on any given day. So, but still, there's a lot of good books in the world. How do you choose?Stephanie PaoYeah, I do a mix of like books that I've read and loved. I have been a voracious reader—I've read my whole life—but I've been a voracious reader for a couple of years. I also do a lot of books that I get recommendations from friends or that I just see are very popular online. So I think people will want to find those, but I think it is hard. I'm still figuring out the right balance of what types of romance to carry.Sarina BowenRight. Right. Because we all have our favorite you know, parts of the genre and they might not be the ones that are killing it.Jess LaheyBut the thing that I'm really excited to hear about is the thing that I love so much about independent booksellers. I get a sense for the bookseller when I go to the bookstore. Like, there are certain bookstores I rave about not necessarily because they're huge, not necessarily because they're beautiful—but because I can tell that when the bookseller recommends something to me; I know who that person is. Or I know the sense of the curation at the store. And that excites me because I feel like I'm in capable hands. So I'm really curious—especially to hear about your curation, and how you decide what you're going to carry—and then I'm also, and I know Sarina is going to ask this question, but in my head, I'm like, how do you find your readers? That's the part I'm so excited to hear about. Like, how do you know where to go? How do the people find you? Because I think that's the magic—is connecting the people with the books. And that's what I feel like a really great curation does. It says, "If you like this, try this," or, "Oh, you're new to this genre? Let me tell you where you should start with this genre." That's what's magic to me about independent booksellers, and the idea of you getting to do it in a very concentrated way with a particular genre is just—it makes me so happy. I'm just so happy you're out there doing this, Stephanie.Stephanie PaoThank you.Sarina BowenSo one time I was reading the listing of a literary agent, I think, and somebody had said, "What do you like about this job?" And the agent said, "I get to invest in my own taste." And I thought that was a really interesting way of looking at her job—but also of your job as well. And before we get to “How do you find the readers?”—because that is a really important chapter of this conversation—I just, from the listener standpoint: are you constantly deluged by authors who are like, “Pick me, pick me”? Like, what would you tell an author who is trying to navigate the bookselling world? What have you learned about your end of being a bookseller that an author might need to hear?Stephanie PaoYes. Okay. So first I want to say, like the curation part—My like number two best seller is actually an indie author's book who I love, and I can see from the book selling, like software that I use, that I'm the only bookstore of the 200 plus bookstores that carry her book, and it's the second best seller for me. Like. I've sold over 30 copies in like two months. So I think it really is like the passion of the bookseller, and I have had quite a few authors reach out to me, and they'll come to events. And I feel like it's, I don't have a good process on how I'm vetting all the authors, but I think it's like, if we make a personal connection, I will try to go out of my way to like read their book, because we've connected in some way, and I love reading, and I just feel like because we've like, either met in person or we've exchanged nice messages on social media, it does make me want to read someone's book more, because I have that personal connection, which is probably how people feel when they go shop at an indie books, or they have the personal connection with, like, a bookseller. So I think that's very similar. Um, I had people like, bring me their books, which does make it easier for me to, like, already have it ready. I don't have to look it up to read it or remember to look it up as well, but I know that, like, probably has a cost to it as well. But I had someone just bring me an F1 romance book yesterday at one of my pop ups, and I've been on an f1 kick. I don't know if she noticed that from my personal social but, like, I am very intrigued already, and now I have itSarina BowenThat's so lovely.Jess LaheyFor the listeners out there who are interested in this very specific topic, in our show notes I'm going to link to an episode we did with Mary Laura Philpott, who used to be at Parnassus, about making connections with booksellers. Because there are things you can do to go out of your way—before your book comes out, or when your book is coming out—to say, “Hey, I have this book coming out, would you be interested at all in getting a copy?” So it's something that can happen that authors can work on. And I'm going to definitely drop the link to that episode in the show notes.Sarina BowenYeah. I had this earlier this year. I was noticing—I started keeping track of how many romance bookstores are in the world. And now I have a list of 60, more than 60. And for a little while, when one just sort of popped up in my social, I was writing an email—because authors get a lot of publisher copies, you know, and sometimes after the launch of the book we end up with a box of like 15 copies still sitting here—and I was sending an email like, “Congratulations on your new store! That's amazing. Can I send you a signed author copy? Because I just have them here. It's a gift.” And the uptake of that is, you know, almost 100%. But I don't ever want to presume that a bookseller wants a copy, you know, unless I check first, because that just seems cheesy. You know, it's, it's, it's hard for authors to know, like, how to be a good partner and not irritating. And anyway, I just thought, you know what your thoughts about that are?Stephanie PaoYeah. I mean, I think for me, like, I am a new store and, like, a single-person business. So anyone that reaches out to me, I'm like, “Oh my gosh, what do you mean? How do you know about me? Why would you want to send me something?” So I'm sure, like, the like, weariness goes both ways, where we are, like, we're also—a lot of people are, like women—or maybe like, not used to promoting themselves more. So I think, like, just shoot your shot. I have an event coming up at like, a big, like, kind of mall, and they said they don't really do things like that with partners like this, but they were impressed that I shot my shot. So I have like, a summer series with them, and I think it's the same for, like, promoting your own book.Sarina BowenYeah, I guess this whole conversation is an exercise in trying.Stephanie PaoYeah, like the worst that could happen is, I think probably they would maybe say no or not respond to your request—which I do feel like I am guilty of that, because I get a lot and I don't know how to best, like, manage the flow of people saying that they want to send books. But that isn't because I don't want to reply. It's more like, I don't have a good system.Sarina BowenIt's hard. So I definitely want to hear how you figure out where to go. Like, where does the truck go? How do you know who to ask? Like, is that a lot of asking and hoping for the, for the best as well. Like, how does it come together?Stephanie PaoYeah, that has been a trial and error process. I think I started off applying to more markets, because they're looking for vendors anyways. But those usually have costs. And I found a few markets that I really enjoy going to, so I go to them monthly now. And…Sarina BowenWhat kind of markets, can I ask?Stephanie PaoYeah, they're like, one is like a night market. They do it like, a couple times a month in a city of LA called Lakewood, and there's like food, there's usually, like a theme, so like, there was an AAPI night, or they had— I don't know if you know those, like toys called Labubu — but the last event I did was a Labubu themed one. And then I do another market that is in Culver City, and it is similar—like, there's food and drinks and then there's, like, people selling different like, a lot of artisan-made things,Sarina BowenOkay.Stephanie PaoYeah, um, and then I reach out to local businesses as well. And I found, like, right away, I reached out to so many, and I didn't hear back from that many, because I was just starting out. I didn't have that many followers at the time. But the people who I found, and I did pop up set, they were so kind, and they let me dictate, like a day where I come back monthly, so I just have like places that I will go monthly, which makes it a lot easier to, like, have it like a set schedule, and then I just try to test new places and add on.Sarina BowenLike, what kind of business? What? What makes a good what's a good sort of connection?Stephanie PaoYeah, well, so the first place that said yes to me was another women-owned business. And I do feel like they are, like, more inclined to, like; take a chance on another woman-owned business. So she actually has a flower shop, and she does like high tea on the days that I go. So she has people going there for like, high tea— but it's on a very visible Street. It's on the Pacific Coast Highway, so I think it's—I'm not sure it's benefiting her in any way, because I'm not sure my customers are going to buy flowers, um, but she has a space for me to pop up, and it doesn't like detract from her business, and it adds something fun to her guests. And I also go to coffee shops and breweries, and I do want to start reaching out to restaurants as well.Jess LaheyI'm actually looking at her pop-up schedule on her site right now, and there's also—I wouldn't have even occurred to me—but these silent readings that I see every once in a while on social media that I'm like, "Oh, if I lived in a city, I would be going to those all the time," where people just get together to read together. I've also seen them—people getting together just to write together—and those? That's brilliant. Showing up for something like that is such a wonderful idea, and your pop-up schedule looks fantastic. I'll definitely be dropping that into the show notes as well.Sarina BowenWell, I just want to push back on the idea that the flower shop isn't getting anything out of you stopping there, because, like—so she runs a flower shop. I'm just certain she has a tiny core number of people who come every week and get fresh flowers because, you know, money is no object, and why not.But then there are other people who are on her list, maybe, who are only there when it's somebody's birthday three times a year. But if you're coming on a certain day, and she can tell her following, you know, that, "Oh, stop by on Tuesday because La Fleuria is going to be here, and it's, you know, the romance book truck, and you definitely want to check it out," it gives her a timely thing she can tell the people that do like flowers. And, you know, she's going to maybe have more foot traffic on that day than she otherwise might not have had.Stephanie PaoYeah, I think it's more maybe imposter syndrome, because she has like 800,000 followers.Sarina BowenWow!Stephanie PaoSo I'm like drop in your bucket.Sarina BowenWow. Well, maybe we should all be in the flower business.Stephanie PaoYeah.Jess LaheyWell, what did you have to sort of overcome with your own resistance in order to try this new thing? Because when writers have this same problem, we have an idea. It's a little glimmer, a sparkle, of an idea. It's so appealing in our minds. But, like, the commitment to actually, like, set aside six months of your life and write an entire book because you had this glimmer of an idea is a process, and that is why there aren't as many people who write complete books as you have ideas for them. So how did you convince yourself that, um, that this risky thing was—was something you ought to commit to? And how did you make that decision?Stephanie PaoYeah, I think I'm still convincing myself that...Jess LaheyOkay, fair, fair.Stephanie PaoUm, I think it's actually really—it's really hard, because I think we're really programmed, or at least I was, on, like, this typical metric of success, which is, like: go to college, get a job, keep climbing the corporate ladder. And so I just kind of thought I would be doing that my whole life. But I never once thought, like, does that make me happy? Like, I was in a marketing job, and I was like—I climbed up to, like, VP, but I didn't enjoy it at all. And I just thought that's what we were supposed to do. So I think for me, I have been freelancing for three years because I got really burnt out, and I've just slowly come to terms with, like, maybe what I build for myself, or what I want for my life, is different than what all my friends have. Because I still talk to my friends that I've had for a long time, and I don't think they understand what I'm doing. And I feel like you will get a lot of resistance from people that you know, because they just want you to do the thing that feels safe to them, which is not venturing and doing something completely unknown. So I think it's, like, being really comfortable with the idea yourself and that not everyone's going to get it—but that's okay, because the people who do will, like, really support you. And then, of course, like, I'm not going to sugarcoat it—it is like a big financial risk. I think if you're setting aside time to write and not doing, like, other work, like—it is a risk either way. So I am lucky enough to have support, and I think that's, like, really important to share; that, like, my parents supported me so that I could take this on. And I—I started taking less and less clients from my, like, freelancing work to prepare to do this. And, like, I am still not, like, super profitable, but I know that I can, like, push back into freelancing if I really need to. So I think it's—I'm comfortable knowing that there are other means of, like, income if I really need it. But I really want to give myself time to see where this goes.Sarina BowenRight, I love that. So, of course, you knew that freelancing was—that you had some connections there, which helps, so you have, like, a little bit of a cushion for yourself, which is amazing. You—you mentioned earlier that you took a course in bookselling, and I just wonder how you found that, and how—how you felt. Was it information that you already had? Did it just give you confidence? Or did you really learn a lot from that course?Stephanie PaoWell, I found it through the American Booksellers Association. It was, like, a linked course that they had on, like, how to get started with opening your own bookstore. And I did learn a lot. I think at the time, I was really debating whether I should do a bookstore or do something more mobile. And that course actually made me feel like—when we did all the calculations—the rent is so much in LA that it just seemed, like, much, much too risky to do a store first. Like, maybe building up a customer base before investing in a shop. So I think I did learn a lot. I also—there's—I get a lot of the same questions from people who want to start something similar. And I got all of that information through this course. Like, a lot of people ask me where you buy books from, and things that have to do with bookselling that aren't very well known. And I think the course provides that information.Jess LaheyNice. Do you do you use Ingram [Ingram Content Group], and so you have like a special account as a bookseller?Stephanie PaoYes. And I just started opening, like, accounts with the publishers, because I wasn't sure how much I was going to order, and you have to meet minimums to order through the publishers. I was like, I don't know how quickly my inventory is going to go, but now I think it will be more worth it, because you get a better, like, discount through the publishers.Jess LaheyAs someone who's not involved in the bookselling community or the independent publishing community—just for my knowledge—one of the things that I, you know, often lament is if I like an author that is an independent bookseller and their print books are hard to come by. How do you—is Ingram someone who helps you bridge that? Does Ingram do this, like, print on demand? Sorry, there—my husband's home. Could you explain how this works a little bit to me?Stephanie PaoSo I also—well, I'm not 100% sure—but yes, Ingram does the print-on-demand books, and they have books from a lot of independent authors on there. I have a friend who is an indie author, and she said that she first listed her book on Amazon, but then the bookstores couldn't buy it, so she had to do something to get it on Ingram. So I'm not sure how that works, but I've also bought directly from a few authors, like the author I mentioned, who is, like, my second best seller. I buy directly from her, and I'm not sure where she gets her copies, but it is a much better deal than through Ingram.Jess LaheyYeah. So, Ingram—their first and primary business was as a wholesaler for traditionally published books. So, you know, in the '90s, when I briefly worked at Random House, Ingram was—you know, when a new book is published, Ingram buys a certain amount of them, and Baker and Taylor buy a certain amount of them, and they stand as a middleman who is ready to wholesale those books to booksellers. And then, of course, they created their print-on-demand service so that, probably, when you log into Ingram, you can see indie titles and traditional titles sort of all together in their offered database. But I did learn something recently about indies and Ingram that was a real eye-opener for me, which is that an author who opens an IngramSpark account and uploads their files there—like, like an indie author that you buy from probably does—has to set a discount amount. And unfortunately, the number that the bookseller gets is not the same as what the author sets. So the author can set a discount to retail in a band between, I don't know, 40 and 60 or something like that. But, um, in order for a bookseller to get their maximum discount, I have to put 53% discount or greater—like 53 or 55—and if I put 52 instead, then the bookseller gets, often, a very bad discount that is not 52%; it's more like 30%. So there's this magic that happens at the 53% author discount that allows you and your colleagues to get the max discount in your Ingram account. And it took me only, like, eight years to learn this magic.Jess LaheySo Stephanie, this is why we keep Sarina around, because she knows how this stuff works.Stephanie PaoI figured it was there was something, because the range in discounts I see from indie offers is so wide from like 20 to 40% and at 20% it's almost not even worth it to carry.Sarina BowenRight. I bet it isn't.Stephanie PaoYeah.Sarina BowenSo you if somebody Well, but, and that's where the confusion comes in, because here's an author, and she's putting 45% in that box, and then you're seeing it at 20 and going, this isn't worth it. And of course, like both of you, could be frustrated because…Jess LaheyExactly!Sarina BowenBecause that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. So um, but I have learned that 53 is the magic number, and that if an author puts 53 and then you will get your max discount. And it took me way, way too long to understand this.Jess LaheyThis is like… this is, this is—these little random things that come up occasionally—are, you know, why I talk about flattening the learning curve for other authors or booksellers or whomever that listen to this podcast. Because how on earth would you know that? And then you're frustrated because you can't carry a book, because you can't make money on it. The author's incredibly frustrated because you can't—won't—carry the book, and then that piece of information never gets across. So thank you for diving into that dorky detail for me, because, again, I think that's such an important piece of information that no one would ever know unless someone somewhere is discussing it. So thank you.Sarina BowenUm…you're welcome. It's really just inside baseball—like picky junk that takes up my week. But here we are.Jess LaheyI know. But the people who listen to this podcast—in particular, the people who are fans of Sarina Bowen—are often people who are also writing within the indie space. And so how, you know—how are they going to find this stuff out?Sarina BowenWell okay.Jess LaheyOkay.Sarina BowenEven if it's not as you know, as joyful as the following your dreams and the flower shop stuff, but we're here to do all of it.Jess LaheyWell… But the big—this is also a big part of it, because there are also going to be people out there who are like, Oh, I don't want to open a brick-and-mortar store, but Oh, a truck? I mean, like, for me, that's the entry point. That's very, very exciting to me. So, the other reason I wanted to be on this podcast today is because I want to understand how that works, and is it a way into something that would really feed your soul and your heart—and not to mention your book… sell—your, your bookshelves.Sarina BowenOf course. So, Stephanie, before we go, I would love—since you're the expert here—I would love for you to recommend a couple romances that you're excited about right now. And if you wouldn't mind, I would be super thrilled to hear what your number two bestseller is—that you, that you are her best bookseller.Stephanie PaoYeah, okay. It's Yes No Maybe by Jessica Sherry, and it is a story of a woman who has, um, scars on her face from, like, an accident from when she was younger. And she's, like, always felt not worthy of, like, all the good things in life, and she's settling. And she moves next door to a romance writer who has writer's block, and she becomes basically his muse. And it's, like, very sweet but very emotional. Some other books I love—I recently finished Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and I've never cried so hard in a book. And it's, like, also such a beautiful love story. I, like, have chills thinking about it.Sarina BowenWow.Stephanie PaoYeah. And then, just like a favorite that I always recommend is All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata. I'm in my late 30s, so I feel like I love when characters are in their 30s and still figuring things out, and I love a slow burn romance.Sarina BowenAll right. Thank you so much. I, um—I love those choices. Um, we've all walked into bookstores and seen, like, the same five books on the front table that we've seen in every other bookstore we've walked into that month. And it's really lovely to hear some different recommendations from you, and we really appreciate it. Thank you so much for spending some time with us today to talk about this super fun project that—that Jess and I are like, Ooh, we could just quit everything and get a...Jess LaheyYeah. Well, no. The other thing is, I'm like, Okay, when's my next speaking engagement in Los Angeles, and can I make it coincide with one of your pop-up dates so that I could come by?Stephanie PaoI will drive the truck to you.Jess LaheyThat… actually, we'll figure it out. Because I just, I'm dying to see your truck, dying to see how it works. I just, I'm loving the selections. And I'm just really happy for more than anything else, I'm really happy for someone who has found a way to turn something they love into a business that can work. So I'm just so happy for you.Stephanie PaoThank you. Thank you so much for having me. This was really fun.Sarina BowenIt was entirely our pleasure. And thank you listeners for tuning in once again to the am writing podcast, and until next week, keep your heads in the game and your butt's in the chair.Jess LaheyThe Hashtag AmWriting podcast is produced by Andrew Perrella. Our intro music, aptly titled Unemployed Monday, was written and played by Max Cohen. Andrew and Max were paid for their time and their creative output, because everyone deserves to be paid for their work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe

Lisa discusses the book Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. It was an immediate best-seller. The book was published in 2023 and highlights three daughters who are in northern Michigan with their mom and she shares the stories of you her youth when she dated a famous actor. Books Discussed: Bomb Shelter; Love, Time and Other Explosives by Mary Laura Philpott

Essayist Mary Laura Philpott talks about how to approach the creative process with curiosity, rather than a sense of hustleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most of us wrestle with the fact that there is little we can control in our lives. As a result, we may worry, hold our breath and wonder when the next crisis might occur. Our guest on this episode, author Mary Laura Philpott, has spent a lot of time pondering life and death, and everything in between. You may know Mary Laura from her bestselling book, "I Miss You When I Blink", or from her writing in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other respected outlets. Her latest book is called, "Bomb Shelter: Love, Time and other Explosives” and it's now availablein paperback.  Her website is https://marylauraphilpott.com/   Shopify is the all-in-one commerce platform that makes it simple for anyone to start, run and grow your own successful business. With Shopify, you'll create an online store, discover new customers, and grow the following that keeps them coming back. Shopify makes getting paid simple, by instantly accepting every type of payment. With Shopify's single dashboard, you can manage orders, shipping and payments from anywhere. Shopify's award-winning help is there to support your success every step of the way. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at Shopify.com/nobody.

Today we're sharing our (sometimes controversial) opinions about some of the buzziest books of LAST summer. We love it when our reading overlaps off the podcast and gives us a chance to come together for some off-the-cuff book conversation. Of the slew of buzzy books that released in Summer 2022, there were a handful both of us somehow made time to read. We're deep diving into five of those books, sharing what worked for us, what didn't, and why we can love a reading experience even when we don't love a book.  This episode originally aired on our Patreon bonus feed. To hear all about the buzzy books we read THIS summer, sign up to join Classics Club at patreon.com/novelpairings. We would love to see you in our community this semester! Books Mentioned Book Lovers by Emily Henry  Beach Read by Emily Henry People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott  Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine  Sabrina & Corina by Kali Fajardo-Anstine Lessons in Chemistry by Bonne Garmus  Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin  The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay by Michael Chabon

In this episode of The More You Know, we deliver a full yikes report straight from the latest news in pop culture. From Lizzo's legal dance-offs, to TikTok canceling true crime podcasts, to Netflix promising us a full slate of mediocrity, we've got it all covered in "The More You Nope". Plus Erin of Grievances pops in for a special moment. MENTIONSJOIN US: On Sept. 2 we'll be on stage in Austin and we'd love to have you there in person or online! Tickets here: knoxandjamie.com/live. Code BIRTHDAY gets you $25 off the live show. SOLO TRAVELERS: Join us in Austin for our solo travelers' meetup. RSVP at knoxandjamie.com/atx_solorsvp (we're still working on the ATL location; stay tuned). LIVE SHOW VIBE: The theme is birthday! Need some ideas? Here ya' go! ASK A PERSONAL QUESTION // @AshleyAllTheTime NO CHEF // Lizzo versus her dancers (Indi Aside: I'm not going to look up how someone shoots something out their pikachu because I don't need the FBI thinking that's something I'm personally considering.) | Leave us a nice review on Apple Podcasts to counterbalance what Macybee had to say about our salvation | RenWeb | Aliens are real and no one cares! | Sid Degrees of Separation | reality stars want to strike, too | Spy Kids: Armageddon (see also: Gina Rodriguez IMDb | Zachary Levi IMDb | Tom Ellis IMDb | Dylan Sprouse got married to Barbara Palvin) | Should we rethink true crime podcasts? (Not that we want you to listen to other podcasts, but we liked: Serial | Gone South | Accused | Tom Brown's Body. We also liked the docuseries The Keepers) | It's t-i-p-i? | Billy Jenson, woof | Fact check: Jimmy Carter is still alive and he once saw an alien! | this is supposedly Obama's summer playlist | Netflix is super profitable and its most watched properties include Ginny and Georgia (Taylor Swift dissents) and The Mother | upcoming Netflix releases (mentioned: A Family Affair)Red light mentions: Lane Kiffin is engaged (see also: Joey Freshwater) | Over Under Achievers | Why do some people dislike the US women's soccer team? BONUS SEGMENTOur Patreon supporters can get full access to this week's The More You Know news segment every week. Become a partner. GREEN LIGHTSJamie: book- Congratulations, The Best Is Over by R. Eric Thomas (other essayists Jamie likes: Knox McCoy, Mary Laura Philpott) | book- The Heaven & Earth Grocery Story by James McBride (Previous green lights: The Good Lord Bird, Deacon King Kong. See also: The Montgomery Riverfront Brawl) Knox: book- The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David GrannSHOW SPONSORSSubscribe to Episodes: iTunes | Android Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter: knoxandjamie.com/newsletterShop our Amazon Link: amazon.com/shop/thepopcast | this week's featured itemFollow Us: Instagram | Twitter | FacebookSupport Us: Monthly Donation | One-Time Donation | SwagSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this interview, Ava and I discuss Mott Street, the Chinese Exclusion Act, her family's close connection to Mott Street and how 49 of her family members have lived in this one building on the street, the importance of oral histories, how she is a 5th generation Chinese-American, and much more. Ava's recommended reads are: How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz Stay True by Hua Hsu Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon.  Other ways to support the podcast can be found here.     If you enjoyed this episode and want to listen to more episodes, try Julie Metz, Adam Stern, Ly Tran, Cate Doty, or Mary Laura Philpott.  Want to submit a Read-Alike Request for the podcast? Submit it here. Mott Street can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront.        Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most of us wrestle with the fact that there is little we can control in our lives. As a result, we may worry, hold our breath and wonder when the next crisis might occur. Our guest on this episode, author Mary Laura Philpott, has spent a lot of time pondering life and death, and everything in between. You may know Mary Laura from her bestselling book, "I Miss You When I Blink", or from her writing in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other respected outlets. Her latest book is called, "Bomb Shelter: Love, Time and other Explosives".   It's just been released in paperback.  Her website is https://marylauraphilpott.com/   We're excited to tell you about another great product from our sponsor, Ritual.  It's called Synbiotic+ and it's a daily 3-in-1 clinically-studied prebiotic, probiotic, and postbiotic designed to help support a balanced gut microbiome.  Ritual's Synbiotic+ provides two of the world's most clinically studied probiotic strains to support the relief of mild and occasional digestive discomforts, like bloating, gas, and diarrhea.  Synbiotic+ and Ritual are here to celebrate, not hide, your insides. It's time to listen to your gut!  Ritual is offering our Nobody Told Me! listeners 10% off during your first 3 months.  Visit ritual.com/NTM to start Ritual or add Synbiotic+ to your subscription today.

In this interview, Laura and I discuss Stash, why she decided to write this book, how tricky memory is, overcoming her addiction to Ambien, providing input on her book's cover, her podcast The Only One in the Room, and much more. Laura's recommended reads are: B.F.F. by Christie Tate Push Off from Here by Laura McKowen We Are the Light by Matthew Quick Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon.  Other ways to support the podcast can be found here.     If you enjoyed this episode and want to listen to more episodes, try Julie Metz, Adam Stern, Ly Tran, Cate Doty, or Mary Laura Philpott.  Ask Me Anything question for me for April's episode? Submit it here. Want to submit a Read-Alike Request for the podcast? Submit it here. Stash can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront.        Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Candice is joined by nationally bestselling author Mary Laura Philpott. They discuss how they handle themselves during a crisis, reinventing yourself at any age, and Mary Laura's most recent book, "Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives".Mary Laura's Social Media:https://www.instagram.com/marylauraphilpott/https://twitter.com/MaryLauraPhCandice's Social Media:www.instagram.com/candiceking/www.instagram.com/asuperbloompod/www.tiktok.com/@itscandicekingUpcoming guests:Danny PellegrinoTanya Rad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello #AmWriters! Someone in the #AmWriting Facebook group asked about the best ways to connect and build relationships with bookstores, so we decided to revisit this older episode with bestselling author and Emmy-winning television host Mary Laura Philpott. Drawing on her many years working at Parnassus Books and launching her own books into the world, we talk about the benefits of working with your local bookseller in time for publication day. Got a writer-dilemma we could help with? Wanna come on the pod and talk it through? Hey, there's a goal! Whatever you're trying to do, maybe we can help you find the action items to get you there. Email us—amwriting@substack.com—and let's talk.HEY NOVELISTS—Did you finish NaNoWriMo? Would you like to know what to do next with that pile of words you worked so hard to create? Here's a group of Author Accelerator certified book coaches dedicated to walking you through the process of finishing your draft or tackling revision—and they have put together a host of free resources to get you started.Check out  www.nanonowwhat.com to learn more about these fantastic book coaches and how they can get you from NaNo success to a draft that's ready to pitch or publish.Writers, I've got exciting news from Author Accelerator. Applications for Author Accelerator's new 2-year scholarship program for Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other people of color opens this month! The Author Accelerator team developed this scholarship as a way to amplify diverse voices and perspectives that are under-recognized in the publishing world.The newly launched Author Accelerator Book Coach Certification Scholarship provides one year of professional mentorship and feedback for up to three students of color as they complete the Book Coach Certification program and one subsequent year of career coaching and mentorship as they launch their business.  If you're Interested in Applying,  the scholarship window opens November 15th and will close January 15, 2023. The program will kick off in March 2023.  To learn more, visit bookcoaches.com/equity. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe

We are Traci and Ellie, two bookish friends who read in any spare minute that we have.  This week we are discussing our top ten books of 2022!  To shop the books listed in this episode, visit our shop at bookshop.org.   Traci's Top Ten: The Lioness by Chris Bohjalian  Who is Maud Dixon by Alexandra Andrews The Cloisters by Katy Hays  This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub  Book Lovers by Emily Henry The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas Love and Saffron by Kim Fay  Taste by Stanley Tucci  Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt  Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus   Ellie's Top Ten:  The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney No Cure for Being Human by Kate Bowler Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting by Sophie Irwin   The Love of My Life by Rosie Walsh My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout  The View was Exhausting by Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta  Wonder by R.J. Palacio Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott

Our 2022 year-end reading roundup continues today with our Best Books of 2022 Genre Awards with Susie Boutry (@NovelVisits). We reveal our Overall Best Books (Fiction and Nonfiction) and we have a full breakdown by genre, including: Best Literary Fiction, Best Backlist Read in 2022, Best Romance, Best Brain Candy, Best Genre Mash-Up, and more! Plus, this year I'm sharing the winners for these same genres as chosen by the Sarah's Bookshelves Live Patreon community! This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Announcements Check out my 2022 Holiday Gift Guide! My 2023 Reading Tracker is out! This year, the Tracker will ONLY be available to $7/month Superstars patrons (i.e., I will no longer be selling it for $14.99 here on my website). Learn more about the Tracker here and become a Superstars Patron to purchase here! Highlights My thoughts on 2022 for the podcast — including top episodes based on download stats. Overview of Susie's and Sarah's 2022 year in reading — including trends and stats. Favorite books of the year: overall and by genre, including the SBL Patreon Community's picks. 2022 Genre Awards [18:13] Sarah The Measure by Nikki Erlick | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:42] Finding Me by Viola Davis | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:18] The Golden Season by Madeline Kay Sneed | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:39] Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:19] Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:36] Dilettante by Dana Brown | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:35] Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:27] Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:53] Bad City by Paul Pringle | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:27] Never Simple by Liz Sheier | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:20] The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:01] Upgrade by Blake Crouch | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:52] More Than You'll Ever Know by Katie Gutierrez | Amazon | Bookshop.org [56:22] The One by John Marrs | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:02:51] Susie Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:04] Solito by Javier Zamora | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:53] Vladimir by Julia May Jonas | Amazon | Bookshop.org [27:15] Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:53] Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:10] Cover Story by Susan Rigetti | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:21] Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:16] Trust by Hernan Diaz | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:16] Dilettante by Dana Brown | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:45] Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:57] The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:24] The Measure by Nikki Erlick | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:59] The Change by Kirsten Miller | Amazon | Bookshop.org [53:07] Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett | Amazon | Bookshop.org [54:57] Now Is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson | Amazon | Bookshop.org [56:48] All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir | Amazon | Bookshop.org [58:44] We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:00:49] The Storyteller by Dave Grohl | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:03:08] Patrons Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:06] Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:14] Finding Me by Viola Davis | Amazon | Bookshop.org [25:41] Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:11] Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:21] Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:17] Bad City by Paul Pringle | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:53] Finding Me by Viola Davis | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:33] Book Lovers by Emily Henry | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:06] Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:36] The Measure by Nikki Erlick | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:31] Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree | Amazon | Bookshop.org [53:46] Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak | Amazon | Bookshop.org [54:23] Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sedaris | Amazon | Bookshop.org [55:43] Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett | Amazon | Bookshop.org [58:00] All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:00:04] Beartown by Fredrik Backman | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:03:54] Other Books Mentioned Love & Saffron by Kim Fay [9:41] People Person by Candice Carty-Williams [9:51] Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley [11:09] Flight by Lynn Steger Strong [11:12] Trespasses by Louise Kennedy [11:13] The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab [20:45] The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller [20:53] Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid [23:36] The Winners by Fredrik Backman [23:47] Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott [25:50] I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy [25:57] Honor by Thrity Umrigar [29:40] Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson [29:50] The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka [29:53] Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid [30:44] Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt [35:47] The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb [39:17] The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell [42:04] These Precious Days by Ann Patchett [43:38] How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis, LPC [44:42] Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid [47:13] Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez [49:19] The Bodyguard by Katherine Center [49:22] Dark Matter by Blake Crouch [50:02] Recursion by Blake Crouch [50:03] The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger [51:50] How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu [52:22] Babel by R. F. Huang [52:42] A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross [53:55] The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna [54:03] Hide by Kiersten White [54:25] Hello, Molly! by Molly Shannon [55:38] Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez [57:54] The Cartographers by Peng Shepard [58:14] The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes [1:00:27] The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes [1:00:31] Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow [1:02:24] These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant [1:04:20] Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh [1:04:36] Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer [1:04:44]

If you've been worried about bad things happening to the people you love, is it possible that an actual bad thing might bring temporary relief? Obviously, the answer is “no not really,” but in this conversation with author Mary Laura Philpott, we explore the weird complexity of the anxious (and loving) mind, and the hoops we jump through to ensure our own survival. Mary Laura's latest book, Bomb Shelter, traces her son's epilepsy - from being woken up early one morning to the sounds of what would turn out to be her son's first seizure - out into the anxiety many of us hold for those we love, from the people in our care to the wider world, to pretty much everything ever. As always, we close with our guest's current working version of hope. Don't miss it.    Announcement: want to become a grief-informed therapist? Registration is open now for Megan Devine's 6 month grief care professional program. Details at this link.    In this episode we cover:  Tools for writing about difficult things, including distance, numbness, and turning yourself into a somewhat fictional character Why airports should have crying lounges The anxiety & relative effectiveness of protecting everyone you love from harm Mary Laura's version of hope, applicable even while the world melts and her kids leave home About our guest: Mary Laura Philpott, nationally bestselling author of I Miss You When I Blink and Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives, writes about the overlap of the absurd and the profound in everyday life. Her writing has been featured by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic, among many other publications. Find her books (print and audio) wherever you find books.    Find her at  https://marylauraphilpott.com, on TW @MaryLauraPh, and on IG @MaryLauraPhilpott   Additional resources:  Announcement: want to become a grief-informed therapist? Registration is open now for Megan Devine's 6 month grief care professional program. Details at this link.    After a life-altering loss, feeling anxious about the possibility of more loss is #PerfectlyNormalGrief.   Want to start writing the story of your life (and your grief)? Join the next open session of the Writing Your Grief community.    Megan's first book, It's OK that You're Not OK, has an entire section devoted to discussing anxiety, including tools to manage your feelings when the worst has already happened.  Get in touch: Thanks for listening to this week's episode of Here After with Megan Devine. Tune in, subscribe, leave a review, send in your questions, and share the show with everyone you know. Together, we can make things better, even when they can't be made right.    Have a question, comment, or a topic you'd like us to cover? call us at (323) 643-3768 or visit megandevine.co   For more information, including clinical training and consulting, visit us at www.Megandevine.co   For grief support & education, follow us at @refugeingrief on IG, FB, TW, and @hereafterpod on TT   Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's Okay That You're Not Okay and How to Carry What Can't Be FixedSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this interview, Joe and I discuss Blood and Ink, timing the publication of his book with the 100th year anniversary of the crime, the birth of tabloid journalism, his long-term interest in historical true crime, his research and the documents that he helped uncover about the case, how the title and cover came about, our fascination with true crime, and much more. Joe's recommended reads are: American Demon by Daniel Stashower The House of the Vampire by George Sylvester Viereck Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon.  Other ways to support the podcast can be found here.     If you enjoyed this episode and want to listen to more episodes, try Julie Metz, Adam Stern, Ly Tran, Cate Doty, or Mary Laura Philpott.  Bookclubs is the premier organizational tool for new and existing book clubs and also provides great resources for individual readers to discover new reads or find a book club to join. Check them out! Blood and Ink can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront.       Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mary Laura Philpott, award-winning writer and Anxiety Sister extraordinaire, is our guest on today's episode. Listen to our discussion about Mary Laura's latest memoir as well as how she manages her anxiety and perfectionism. We do a lot of laughing, but there are some really poignant moments, such as when Mary Laura shares her struggles as a parent of a child with a chronic illness and our conversation about being caregivers for both aging parents and young children. We dare you not to fall in love with Mary Laura's warmth and sense of humor!

In this interview, Arianna and I discuss Declassified, her feelings about medieval music, the origin of the book's chapter titles, Mozart's obsession with poop, her stellar cover, why she decided to create this guide to classical music and weave her own story into it, how absurdly expensive some violins are, and much more. Arianna's recommended reads are: How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi Dreyer's English by Benjamin Dreyer Cork Dork by Bianca Bosker Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon.  Other ways to support the podcast can be found here.     If you enjoyed this episode and want to listen to more episodes, try Julie Metz, Adam Stern, Ly Tran, Cate Doty, or Mary Laura Philpott.  Declassified can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront.       Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writer Mary Laura Philpott had all the regular kind of parental worries until her teenage son had his first seizure. She had to learn to balance her fear alongside her love all the while recognizing that everyone has something they are dealing with.   In this episode, Kate and Mary Laura discuss:  Why love sometimes makes us afraid for all we have to lose Why remembering that “everyone has something” can make us feel less alone (and more likely to bring snacks) Why worry isn't the mental work we think it is CW: epilepsy *** Looking for the transcript or show notes? Click here. Find Kate on Instagram or Facebook or Twitter. Subscribe to our weekly email for blessings. No Cure for Being Human (And Other Truths I Need to Hear) is available wherever books are sold and now available in PAPERBACK. Order your copy, today. Looking for some short spiritual reflections and blessings? Check out GOOD ENOUGH: 40ish Devotionals for a Life of Imperfection. Available wherever books are sold. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Writer Mary Laura Philpott had all the regular kind of parental worries until her teenage son had his first seizure. She had to learn to balance her fear alongside her love all the while recognizing that everyone has something they are dealing with.  In this episode, Kate and Mary Laura discuss:  Why love sometimes makes us afraid for all we have to lose Why remembering that “everyone has something” can make us feel less alone (and more likely to bring snacks) Why worry isn't the mental work we think it is CW: epilepsy***Looking for the transcript or show notes? Click here.Find Kate on Instagram or Facebook or Twitter.Subscribe to our weekly email for blessings.No Cure for Being Human (And Other Truths I Need to Hear) is available wherever books are sold and now available in PAPERBACK. Order your copy, today.Looking for some short spiritual reflections and blessings? Check out GOOD ENOUGH: 40ish Devotionals for a Life of Imperfection. Available wherever books are sold. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 30 of Dear Nina is about loneliness and worry despite having close friends. And I'm so excited to introduce this week's guest— author, Mary Laura Philpott.  I'm a huge fan of Mary Laura's work! Mary Laura Philpott, is the nationally bestselling author of I Miss You When I Blink and of Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives. She writes about the overlap of the absurd and the profound in everyday life. Her writing has been featured by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic, among many other publications. A former bookseller, she also hosted an interview program on Nashville Public Television for several years. Mary Laura lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her family.  Find Mary Laura on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook."You can have great friendships and still be lonely because loneliness is a facet of the human experience, especially in times of life when you're going through something that the people around you are not going through. But I think that's why we have to be so intentional about putting ourselves with other people and talking and asking how are things going. And then listening. We have to make ourselves do that, even when it's hard. We can't just default to, well, we just won't talk about it. It's too much." ~ Mary Laura Philpott on episode 30You can find the show notes HERE.GET MY MONTHLY FRIENDSHIP-THEMED NEWSLETTER!Twitter @NinaBadzinInstagram @dear.nina.bAsk an anonymous question any time at ninabadzin.com/dearnina.JOIN THE Dear Nina Facebook group.Leave a voicemail at speakpipe.com/dearnina.Show notes for ALL episodes at ninabadzin.com

In this interview, Zibby and I discuss Bookends, how her podcast influences her writing, writing to process the events in her life, how important it is to find your passion, how she decided which book would open each chapter, and much more. Zibby's recommended reads are: The Perfect Other: A Memoir of My Sister by Kyleigh Leddy Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon.  Other ways to support the podcast can be found here.     If you enjoyed this episode and want to listen to more episodes, try Julie Metz, Adam Stern, Ly Tran, Cate Doty, or Mary Laura Philpott.  Bookends can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront.       Bookclubs is the premier organizational tool for new and existing book clubs and also provides great resources for individual readers to discover new reads or find a book club to join. Check them out! Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People tell Mary Laura Philpott that her writing is like having a conversation with her. We can say that is 100% true. She's an utterly captivating writer AND conversationalist.You may have first heard about Mary Laura Philpott through her first book, “I Miss You When I Blink.” Her new memoir in essays is “Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives.” It was named an Editor's Choice by the New York Times Book Review and one of the Best Books of 2022 by NPR. “Bomb Shelter” had Laura laughing and crying and nodding her head as another woman (and mother) who is solidly in mid-life.There are almost no places left where contemporary authors can sit down and discuss their work. It's really important to me, and everyone, at TMST that we hold this space. If you care about these kinds of conversations, we hope you'll become a TMST Plus member.  Episode link: https://www.tmstpod.com/episodes/58-mary-laura-philpott-on-the-joy-and-dread-of-being-humanSpotify playlist for this episode: Here's the transcript: https://tell-me-something-true.simplecast.com/episodes/mary-laura-philpott-on-the-joy-dread-of-being-human/transcriptTell Me Something True is a 100% independent podcast. There are no corporations or advertisers backing this community. We are 100% funded by the TMST community. Become a TMST member today so you can hear the uncut interviews, attend private events with Laura and help keep TMST ad-free.====TMST is hosted by Laura McKowen, the bestselling author of We Are The Luckiest and founder of The Luckiest Club. Follow the show and Laura on Instagram.

Sarah and Laura open with an update on their summer reading lives. Then, Laura interviews listener-requested memoirist Mary Laura Philpott, author of Bomb Shelter and I Miss You When I Blink. In the Q&A, a listener with a 4 month old and 4 year old writes in wondering when she will be able to effectively plan her days again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah and Laura open with an update on their summer reading lives. Then, Laura interviews listener-requested memoirist Mary Laura Philpott, author of Bomb Shelter and I Miss You When I Blink.In the Q&A, a listener with a 4 month old and 4 year old writes in wondering when she will be able to effectively plan her days again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Dan interviews mother, daughter, bestselling author, and lifelong worrier Mary Laura Philpott and the two explore answers to such provocative questions as how do we keep living when the unexpected can happen at any moment? And what does it mean to be human, to love, to lose, and to live?Today's episode is a powerful and poignant look at motherhood, daughterhood, personhood, and caregiving, along with life, death, and ultimately: joy and hope. Dr. Dan and Mary Laura talk about Mary Laura's harrowing story, her book BOMB SHELTER: Love, Time, and Other Explosives, and what it means to move through life with a soul made of equal parts anxiety and optimism. Mary Laura Philpott is also the author of the national bestseller I Miss You When I Blink. A former bookseller, Mary Laura lives in Nashville with her family. FOr more information visit her website: www.marylauraphilpott.com. Email your parenting questions to Dr. Dan podcast@drdanpeters.com (we might answer on a future episode).Follow us @parentfootprintpodcast (Instagram, Facebook) and @drdanpeters (Twitter).Listen, follow, and leave us a review on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Wondery, or wherever you like to listen!Don't forget, you can hear every episode one week early and ad-free by subscribing to Wondery+ in the @WonderyMedia App.For more information:www.exactlyrightmedia.com www.drdanpeters.comFor podcast merch:www.exactlyrightmedia.com/parent-footprint-shopSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this interview, Ellen and I discuss Rebel with a Clause, her grammar table and how it all began, how grammar appeals to people from all walks of life, creating a documentary about the grammar table, organizing the topics in her book, what surprised her the most about her adventure, and much more. Ellen's recommended reads are: How to Survive a Plague by David France Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks The Empress and the English Doctor by Lucy Ward Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon.  Other ways to support the podcast can be found here.     If you enjoyed this episode and want to listen to more episodes, try Julie Metz, Adam Stern, Ly Tran, Cate Doty, or Mary Laura Philpott.  Rebel with a Clause can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront.       Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#80: We're sharing our favorite insights and actionable takeaways from James Clear's Atomic Habits. Thanks for listening!   Featured Links:   Sponsor - MO$ Book Club - https://nick.ck.page/bookclub   James Clear's Atomic Habits - https://amzn.to/3zeWEAV   Mary Laura Philpott's I Miss You When I Blink - https://amzn.to/3PBlK2y   Morgan Housel's Psychology of Money - https://amzn.to/3RUBhfQ   Simon Sinek The Infinite Game - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFxIm7fcB7c   Tim Urban "Why You Should Stop Caring What Other People Think" - https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/06/taming-mammoth-let-peoples-opinions-run-life.html   Some featured links may be affiliate links. If you use them, Mapped Out Money may get a small commission — but there is no extra cost to you. To learn more about the show, please visit https://mappedoutmoney.com

We are Traci and Ellie, two bookish friends who talk in any spare minute that we have.  This week we are chatting about some random bookish questions.  To shop the books listed in this episode, visit our shop at bookshop.org.   Literally Reading: One Night on the Island by Josie Silver (Traci) Year on Fire by Julie Buxbaum (Ellie)   Open the Book:  The Love of My Life by Rosie Walsh Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott  Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus  Everything After by Jill Santopolo  The Dating Plan by Sara Desai The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern  Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel   The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver  The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah  The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas These Precious Days by Ann Patchett  The Change by Kristen Miller  The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup No Cure for Being Human by Kate bowler I Hope This Finds You Well by Kate Baer Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson  Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon  The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gotleib Dark Matter by Blake Crouch  A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Here's a sneak peek of what you'll get when you join us on TTFA Premium. For $8 a month, you can support our show AND get ad-free episodes and bonus content — including mailbag episodes like this one. Sign up today at TTFA.org/Premium. Join the TTFA reading club: TTFA.org/readingclub Our twice-monthly newsletter features behind-the-scenes content, previews of upcoming episodes and more. Sign up. When you shop our Bookshop.org store, you support the author, independent bookstores AND our show! Shop here. Shop for your favorite TTFA gear at TTFAmerch.com Read the transcript for this episode here. You can catch up with TTFA on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook using @ttfapodcast. Nora's Instagram is @noraborealis. TTFA is public media. Which means we are supported by you. You can join us with a contribution at ttfa.org/donate

Nora gravitates toward people who are pretty happyish in general but also carry around a significant sense of impending doom – people whose personalities resemble a big ol' brick tied to a brightly colored balloon. Author Mary Laura Philpott is one of those people. Her latest book, Bomb Shelter: Love, Time and Other Explosives, is available here or wherever you like to shop books.

Here's a sneak peek of what you'll get when you join us on TTFA Premium. For $8 a month, you can support our show AND get ad-free episodes and bonus content — including mailbag episodes like this one. Sign up today at TTFA.org/Premium. Join the TTFA reading club: TTFA.org/readingclub Our twice-monthly newsletter features behind-the-scenes content, previews of upcoming episodes and more. Sign up. When you shop our Bookshop.org store, you support the author, independent bookstores AND our show! Shop here. Shop for your favorite TTFA gear at TTFAmerch.com Read the transcript for this episode here. You can catch up with TTFA on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook using @ttfapodcast. Nora's Instagram is @noraborealis. TTFA is public media. Which means we are supported by you. You can join us with a contribution at ttfa.org/donate

Here's a sneak peek of what you'll get when you join us on TTFA Premium. For $8 a month, you can support our show AND get ad-free episodes and bonus content — including mailbag episodes like this one. Sign up today at TTFA.org/Premium. Join the TTFA reading club: TTFA.org/readingclub Our twice-monthly newsletter features behind-the-scenes content, previews of upcoming episodes and more. Sign up. When you shop our Bookshop.org store, you support the author, independent bookstores AND our show! Shop here. Shop for your favorite TTFA gear at TTFAmerch.com Read the transcript for this episode here. You can catch up with TTFA on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook using @ttfapodcast. Nora's Instagram is @noraborealis. TTFA is public media. Which means we are supported by you. You can join us with a contribution at ttfa.org/donate

Here's a sneak peek of what you'll get when you join us on TTFA Premium. For $8 a month, you can support our show AND get ad-free episodes and bonus content — including mailbag episodes like this one. Sign up today at TTFA.org/Premium. Join the TTFA reading club: TTFA.org/readingclub Our twice-monthly newsletter features behind-the-scenes content, previews of upcoming episodes and more. Sign up. When you shop our Bookshop.org store, you support the author, independent bookstores AND our show! Shop here. Shop for your favorite TTFA gear at TTFAmerch.com Read the transcript for this episode here. You can catch up with TTFA on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook using @ttfapodcast. Nora's Instagram is @noraborealis. TTFA is public media. Which means we are supported by you. You can join us with a contribution at ttfa.org/donate

Mary Laura Philpott returns to discuss her latest memoir, Bomb Shelter, which was selected as an Editor's Choice by the New York Times Book Review. Mary Laura tells Zibby about her mental spatial awareness and how it informs her sentence structure, the main themes that thread the chapters of this book together, and why she loves discovering art she didn't initially think she would enjoy. Mary Laura also shares what it's like to write a memoir and have strangers connect with it while not necessarily realizing that they don't fully know you.Purchase on Amazon or Bookshop.Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Mg6KoyBookshop: https://bit.ly/3PRRLo1Subscribe to Zibby's weekly newsletter here.Purchase Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books merch here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

#PodcastersForJustice New York Times bestselling author, Clare Pooley, spoke to me about rising from the ashes, writing as therapy, her nostalgia for the bygone commute, and her latest "Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting." Clare's blog-to-memoir deal, The Sober Diaries, was published in 2017 to critical acclaim. Her debut novel - The Authenticity Project – was a New York Times bestseller. Inspired by her own experiences, it's been translated into thirty-two languages, was a Radio 2 Bookclub pick, and winner of the RNA Debut Novel Award. Her latest, Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting, is described as "... a heartwarming story about the joy of friendships, and the unexpected places they can be forged." Kirkus Reviews called the book “A soothing story where bad things happen yet are overcome, and friendship leads the way to personal acceptance and rebirth.” Bestselling author Mary Laura Philpott called the book, "... a feel-good ensemble story [for] fans of quirky London-set fare such as Ted Lasso." Clare graduated from Cambridge University, and spent twenty years in the world of advertising, before becoming a full-time writer.  Stay calm and write on ... In this file Clare Pooley and I discussed: Why making up stories is not a proper job (wink, wink) Her unique creative process (spoiler: it starts in the dark) Big Magic and harnessing the creative muse The necessity of coffee to the writing life How she embraced the life of a #writerwarrior   And a lot more! Show Notes: clarepooley.com Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting: A Novel by Clare Pooley [Amazon Affiliate] Clare Pooley's Amazon Author Page [Amazon Affiliate] Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert [Amazon Affiliate] Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel by Bonnie Garmus [Amazon Affiliate] Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine: A Novel by Gail Honeyman  [Amazon Affiliate] Clare Pooley on Facebook Clare Pooley on Instagram Clare Pooley on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the Spring 2022 Book Preview, Catherine (Gilmore Guide to Books) and I shared our most anticipated books that released April – May 2022.  In today's episode, we're circling back to update you on the books we've had a chance to read — or at least attempted.  Given my ongoing success rate with spring releases, I'm starting to wonder if that is just the best season for my type of books!  This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Introducing Summer Shelves (a companion to my Summer Reading Guide)… In addition to my annual 2022 Summer Reading Guide, I'm introducing Summer Shelves, a companion exclusively for Superstars Patrons ($7/mo). Summer Shelves features BACKLIST summer reading recommendations from over 25 former podcast guests and our team members. The Summer Shelves design is clean, crisp, and unique and is available in a PDF file format via Patreon. If you'd like to get the Summer Shelves companion guide, you can sign up to be a Superstars patron here. You'll also get access to a monthly bonus podcast series called Double Booked (where Catherine or Susie and I share our own book recommendations in the same format as the big show) and my Rock Your Reading Tracker. Get Summer Shelves! Highlights Catherine and Sarah continue with fairly high success rates for 2022 so far. Sarah had three 5-star spring releases! Catherine and Sarah share their best and worst picks from the Spring 2022 Book Preview. Spring Books Read Before the Preview [5:08] Sarah's Picks: Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:12] Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:13]  Catherine's Pick: The Candy House by Jennifer Egan (April 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:55] Spring Circle Back [3:34] April Sarah's Picks: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (April 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:52] Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:32] When We Fell Apart by Soon Wiley (April 26) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:22] Catherine's Picks: Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang (April 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:55] An Unlasting Home by Mai Al-Nakib (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:39]  May Sarah's Pick: The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz (May 31) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:06]  Catherine's Picks: Dark Circles by Caite Dolan-Leach (May 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:39] Elektra by Jennifer Saint (May 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:01]  Siren Queen by Nghi Vo (May 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:24] Other Books Mentioned The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne [12:27] What Comes After by JoAnne Tompkins [13:58]  Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel [18:46] Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson [21:28] Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett [22:13] Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders [22:42] The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini [28:13] Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner [30:42] Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson [31:02] Dead Letters by Caite Dolan-Leach [34:14]  The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz [36:11]  You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz [36:26]  Circe by Madeline Miller [41:14] Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid [45:36] Other Links Smithsonian Magazine | The Transcontinental Railroad Wouldn't Have Been Built Without the Hard Work of Chinese Laborers Smithsonian Magazine | What Archaeologists Are Learning About the Lives of the Chinese Immigrants Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad About Catherine Gilmore Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Catherine started The Gilmore Guide to Books over 6 years ago after wrapping up a career as a corporate librarian. She loves books and reading (surprise!) and currently lives in Ann Arbor, MI.

Mary Laura Philpott is the author of the memoir-in-essays Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives (Atria Books). It was the official April pick of the TNB Book Club. Philpott, nationally bestselling author of I Miss You When I Blink, writes about the overlap of the absurd and the profound in everyday life. Her writing has been featured by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic, among many other publications. A former bookseller, she also hosted an interview program on Nashville Public Television for several years. Mary Laura lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her family. *** Otherppl with Brad Listi is a weekly literary podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers. Launched in 2011. Books. Literature. Writing. Publishing. Authors. Screenwriters. Etc. Available where podcasts are available: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, etc. Subscribe to Brad Listi's email newsletter. Support the show on Patreon Merch @otherppl Instagram  YouTube Email the show: letters [at] otherppl [dot] com The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of Currently Reading, Meredith and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments: finishing up school and reading when the wheels fall off Current Reads: all kinds of books for you today, readers Deep Dive: our five (personal) rules for reading Book Presses: falling in love with the octopus and a creepy twins As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down!  New: we are now including transcripts of the episode (this link only works on the main site). These are generated by AI, so they may not be perfectly accurate, but we want to increase accessibility for our fans! *Please note that all book titles linked below are Bookshop affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. If you'd prefer to shop on Amazon, you can still do so here through our main storefront. Anything you buy there (even your laundry detergent, if you recently got obsessed with switching up your laundry game) kicks a small amount back to us. Thanks for your support!*   . . . . 1:31 - Bookish Moment of the Week 2:25 - Brave Writer  5:28 - Current Reads 5:44 - Smile: The Story of a Face by Sarah Ruhl (Kaytee) 9:19 - My Mess is a Bit of a Life by Georgia Pritchett (Meredith) 10:09 - I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott 10:11 - Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott  10:35 - NPR Interview with Georgia Pritchett 14:19 - The Three Mothers by Anna Malaika Tubbs (Kaytee) 14:33 - Laura Tremaine's Secret Stuff  17:45 - Shady Hollow by Juneau Black (Meredith) 19:41 - Boswell Books  19:54 - Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame 19:56 - The Secret Book and Scone Society by Ellery Adams  19:58 - The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman 20:47 - Cold Clay (Shady Hollow #2) by Juneau Black 22:25 - A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones (Kaytee) 22:32 - First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones (Charlie Davidson #1) 25:20 - Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano 25:45 - Still Life by Louise Penny 26:35 - Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie (Meredith) 27:04 - Sarah's Bookshelves Live 31:12 - The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah  31:20 - The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah 31:24 - Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah 31:32 - Piranesi by Susanna Clarke 31:55 - Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix Harrow 32:19 - Deep Dive: Our 5 Rules for Reading 32:31 - The Painted Porch Bookshop 32:40 - The Daily Stoic 32:54 - Ryan Holiday's 8 Rules for Reading Video  33:26 - Season 1: Episode 19 33:54 - Season 2: Episode 37 of Bookend Homeschoolers 34:55 - Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie 47:29  - Books We'd Like to Press Into Your Hands 47:49 - The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery (Kaytee) 50:39 - Currently Reading Patreon 51:23 - @Bookishbetsie on Instagram @bookishbetsie on TikTok 51:34 - Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger (Meredith) 53:44 - The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger  55:07 - The Shining by Stephen King Connect With Us: Meredith is @meredith.reads on Instagram Kaytee is @notesonbookmarks on Instagram Mindy is @gratefulforgrace on Instagram Mary is @maryreadsandsips on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast.com @currentlyreadingpodcast on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast@gmail.com Support us at patreon.com/currentlyreadingpodcast

Calling all parents - you need to listen to Mary Laura Philpott and read her insightful essays that speak to everyone who ever raised a child. In the vein of Erma Bombeck and Nora Ephron, her new book is “Bomb Shelter” - something she wishes she could build around her two children as they prepare to leave home and begin adulthood. Like all of us, she struggles with the realization she can't keep them safe. It's hard to imagine a writer could say something totally original about parenting and yet she does. She is witty and wise and the angst she feels about wanting to keep her kids safe applies to all of us.

My guest today is Mary Laura Philpott. We chat about parenting, indie bookshops, meditation, and her latest memoir, Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives.Mary Laura Philpott is the author of the brand-new memoir, Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives (April 2022), which has been called a “masterwork” and named an Editor's Choice by the New York Times Book Review, an Indie Next pick by booksellers nationwide, an Amazon Editor's Choice selection, and a best book of the spring or most anticipated book of the year by publications ranging from the Washington Post to the Read with Jenna community on TODAY.com, among others. She is also the author of the national bestseller I Miss You When I Blink — which was named one of NPR's Favorite Books of 2019 and a finalist for the Southern Book Prize. Her writing has been featured by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and other publications. Additionally, Mary Laura is a former bookseller and was an Emmy-winning co-host of A Word on Words, the literary interview program on Nashville Public Television. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her family.Mary Laura PhilpottBomb Shelter: Love Time, and Other Explosives, Mary Laura PhilpottParnassus Books - Shop Dog DiariesPenguins With People Problems, Mary Laura PhilpottI Miss You When I Blink, Mary Laura PhilpottBooks by Jennifer CloseBooks by Emma StraubBooks by Katie CrouchLessons in Chemistry, Bonnie GarmusThe Chicken Sisters, KJ Dell'AntoniaSupport the show

One of the things most of us come to terms with in life is that there is so little we can control. As a result, we may worry, hold our breath and wonder when the next crisis may occur. Our guest on this episode, author Mary Laura Philpott has spent a lot of time pondering life and death, and everything in between. You may know Mary Laura from her bestselling book, "I Miss You When I Blink", or from her writing in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other respected outlets. Her latest book is called, "Bomb Shelter: Love, Time and other Explosives". Thanks to our sponsors of this episode! --> AirMedCare Network: AirMedCare Network provides air ambulance services in the event of an emergency. Iif you're a member, you'll pay no out of pocket costs for the flight when transported by an AMCN provider. Were you aware that health insurance doesn't always cover the full cost of emergency air transport? AMCN Membership is financial protection for your entire household at an affordable price. Right now, AMCN is offering our listeners the chance to win 10,000 dollars and backyard prizes like a Blackstone griddle, a Solo Yukon firepit, an outdoor theater kit, and 100 dollar Costco gift card with their Summer Sizzle Sweepstakes. No purchase necessary to enter– but if you do decide to purchase a membership during this special promotion, all AMCN members will receive up to 200 bonus entries for their chances to win great prizes. Head to airmedcarenetwork.com before May 13 and enter your information. --> Athletic Greens: Athletic Green's AG One is a special blend of ingredients that supports your gut health, nervous system, immune system, energy recovery, focus and aging. In just one delicious scoop of Athletic Greens mixed with a glass of water, you're absorbing 75 high-quality vitamins, minerals, whole-food sourced superfoods, probiotics, and adaptogens. Athletic Greens uses the best products based on the latest science with constant product iterations. Right now, it's time to reclaim your health and arm your immune system with convenient daily nutrition, especially in the flu and cold season. Athletic greens is going to give you a free one year supply of immune supporting vitamin D and five free travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/ntm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview, Delia and I discuss Left on Tenth, how she decided to write this book, her work with The Empathy Project which works to teach doctors empathy, combing through thousands of pages of her own medical records, the relevance of the book's title, and much more. Delia's recommended reads are: Today a Woman Went Mad at the Supermarket by Hilma Wolitzer How Do I Un-Remember This? by Danny Pellegrino Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon.  Other ways to support the podcast can be found here.     If you enjoyed this episode and want to listen to more episodes, try Julie Metz, Adam Stern, Ly Tran, Cate Doty, or Mary Laura Philpott.  Left on Tenth can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront.       Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mary Laura Philpott is the author of the national bestseller I MISS YOU WHEN I BLINK, and the brand-new memoir BOMB SHELTER: LOVE, TIME, AND OTHER EXPLOSIVES, which is out now. You can also find her writing in publications including the Atlantic, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Real Simple. Mary Laura's moving memoir touches on why parenting is a paradox, her own experiences as a parent navigating the unknown, and what it means to be an "anxious optimist." In this episode, Amy, Margaret, and Mary discuss: Just who the turtle on the cover of Mary's book is Where the title "Bomb Shelter" originated from Why we feel the need to "follow the rules" of the universe in exchange for leniency Here's where you can find Mary on the web: www.marylauraphilpott.com Instagram: @marylauraphilpott Twitter: @MaryLauraPh Order Mary's new book Bomb Shelter here Special thanks to this month's sponsors: Beam's Dream Powder is their sleep-promoting healthy hot cocoa. 99% of people experience better sleep quality when taking Beam Dream! Get $20 off at beamorganics.com/fresh with the code FRESH. Betterhelp online therapy is affordable, confidential, and effective! Give it a try and see if online therapy can help lower your stress. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/fresh. Daily Harvest delivers delicious harvest bowls, flatbreads, smoothies, and more, all built on organic fruits and vegetables. Go to dailyharvest.com/laughing to get up to $40 off your first box! Firstleaf is a wine club that curates and ships wines that are personalized to your tastes! Get 6 bottles of wine for $29.95, plus free shipping, at tryfirstleaf.com/laughing. Home.Made.Podcast is a terrific new podcast offering stories about the meaning of home in America. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! KiwiCo projects make science, technology, engineering, art, and math super fun. Get 30% off your first month plus FREE shipping on ANY crate line at kiwico.com with code MOTHERHOOD. Ladder helps you find life insurance without the hassle! Answer a few questions online to apply for up to $3 million in term life insurance coverage. Go to ladderlife.com/laughing today to see if you're instantly approved. Mathnasium is the place for online and in-person math education– whether your kids are a little behind, or need to be further challenged. Get your free consultation at mathnasium.com. Native products keep you feeling and smelling fresh. Get 20% off your first order by going to nativedeo.com/fresh or by using the promo code FRESH. Parade underwear and loungewear are sustainable, size-inclusive, comfortable and fantastic! Go to yourparade.com/laughing and use the code LAUGHING for 20% off your first order. Peloton has a workout for every goal, day, and mood: everything from boxing and dance cardio to yoga and meditation. Visit onepeloton.com to learn more. Prose now makes supplements personally tailored to address your specific cause of hair shedding. Get your free in-depth consultation and 15% off your custom hair supplements at prose.com/laughing. Renzo's Vitamins “melty vitamins” taste great and give your kids the vitamins they need- without all the sugar of gummies! Go to renzosmagic.com and use the code FRESH to get $5 off. StoryWorth is an online service that helps you and your loved ones connect through sharing stories and memories and preserves them for years to come. Save $10 off your first purchase at storyworth.com/whatfreshhell. Thrive Causemetics beauty and skin care products have clean, skin-loving ingredients– and are truly high-performance. Get 15% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/WHATFRESHHELL. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fave return guest alert! We talked to Mary Laura Philpott in episode 71–#YouandYourBookstore, back when she was a Parnassus Books guru. And then in Episode 150: #NeverReady, when MLP (as we like to call her) launched her first book of essays, I Miss You When I Blink, into the world—and then again, for episode 163 #BookTourReality.And now she’s back with a new book of essays: Bomb Shelter: Love, Time and other Explosives. (Read an excerpt here. And here. And then go order the book here.) The difference? Blink was, as MLP says, a book of essays that, together, became a memoir. Bomb Shelter is a memoir that took on the form of a book of essays—essays that went deeper than those shared in Bomb Shelter, that cut so much closer to the heart and were so much harder to write, and to share. Links from the Pod:marylauraphilpott.comMary Laura’s newsletterBomb Shelter#AmReadingMLP: The Arc, Tory Henwood HoenThe Mutual Friend, Carter BaysIona Iverson's Rules for Commuting, Clare PooleyKJ: Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie GarmusOlga Dies Dreaming, Xochitl GonzalezJess: Girl in Ice, Erica FerencikAlso mentioned: The Sober Diaries, Clare PooleyMitchell’s Book CornerStories of Your Life and Others, Ted ChiangKJ here—and I am now a certified Author Accelerator book coach! If you’ve been listening for a while, you know I spent five years as an editor with The New York Times—but I still had a lot to learn about helping writers through the process of taking a book from idea to manuscript, and I loved learning it with the Author Accelerator team. What they taught me has changed my approach to editing completely. I didn’t just learn how to help a writer move from one stage of the process to the next—I learned how to help them appreciate how far they’ve come and feel excited about what’s coming next, see their strengths and how they can build on them and trust me to guide them into the hard work that lies ahead. If you’d like to learn more about coaching fiction or non-fiction, you need to visit www.bookcoaches.com to learn more. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at amwriting.substack.com/subscribe

In Episode 110, Mary Laura Philpott (author of Bomb Shelter) joins me for a deep dive into the memoir & essays genre, including the differences between a memoir and an essay collection, the level of involvement from editors and publishers, and how she personally approaches writing a memoir or essays.  This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Highlights Mary Laura talks about her latest book, Bomb Shelter. Where memoirs and essay collections fall on a spectrum. The fluidity of genre-labeling books. A bit about cover design and subtitles. How Mary Laura feels about the “Literary” label. The planning of an essay collection and their overarching themes. Balancing living life for its own sake and living life for good book content. How Mary Laura handles telling personal stories and the real people they feature. How Mary Laura handles memory and recall in her work. The fact-checking process for memoirs and essays. Mary Laura's Book Recommendations [32:31] Two OLD Books She Loves Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:47] Notes on a Silencing by Lacy Crawford | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:57] Two NEW Books She Loves Let's Not Do That Again by Grant Ginder | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:49] Marrying the Ketchups by Jennifer Close (April 26) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:30] The CURRENT READING TREND She DOESN'T Love [45:35] One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub (May 17) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:15] Last 5-Star Book Mary Laura Read Left on Tenth by Delia Ephron | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:03] Other Books Mentioned I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott [1:02] Raven Rock by Garrett Graff [30:14] The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett Graff [30:20] A Million Little Pieces by James Frey [32:23] The Hopefuls by Jennifer Close [42:03] Little Women by Louisa May Alcott [47:42] Siracusa by Delia Ephron [51:24] About Mary Laura Philpott Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Mary Laura Philpott is the author of the brand-new memoir, Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives, which has been named an Indie Next pick by booksellers nationwide, an Amazon Editor's Choice selection, and a best book of the spring or most anticipated book of the year by publications ranging from the Washington Post to TODAY.com, among others. She is also the author of the national bestseller I Miss You When I Blink — which was named one of NPR's Favorite Books of 2019 and a finalist for the Southern Book Prize. Her writing has been featured by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and other publications. Additionally, Mary Laura (yes, she goes by both names) is a former bookseller and was an Emmy-winning co-host of A Word on Words, the literary interview program on Nashville Public Television. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her family.

Mary Laura and I discuss Bomb Shelter, her life changing moment, focusing on why loving someone is not enough to keep them safe, grappling with growing older and letting go, embracing the little feel-good things to keep anxiety at bay, incorporating musical theatre into this memoir, the importance of practicing kindness, and much more. Mary Laura's recommended reads are: The Mutual Friend by Carter Bays Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon.  Other ways to support the podcast can be found here.     If you enjoyed this episode and want to listen to more episodes, try Julie Metz, Adam Stern, Ly Tran, Cate Doty, or Ty Seidule.  Bomb Shelter can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront.       Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this new episode, Mary Laura Philpott discusses her new memoir BOMB SHELTER: LOVE, TIME AND OTHER EXPLOSIVES.  Mary Laura is widely known for her popular book I MISS YOU WHEN I BLINK.  This follow up book hits a little closer to home in the form of short essays of her life.  As a relatable midlife mom, she shares in clear detail her rollercoaster of emotions through her son's medical crisis, her process in learning to let go in an anxious world and how to cope with this sandwich generation. Glennon Doyle describes it as "[a]n unforgettable memoir about holding it together when it's time to let go, BOMB SHELTER met me exactly where I am and gently walked me towards humor and hope..."  Find the book online or at your local book stores. Show Notes and links can be found on our website: www.hotflashescooltopics.com  

WRITERS' BLOCK Ron Block and Patti Callahan Henry talk with Mary Laura Philpott about Bomb Shelter: Love, Time and other Explosives, her collection of essays that are full of heart and humor.

Welcome to the Spring 2022 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books! In this episode, Catherine and I share our most anticipated books coming out in April – May 2022. This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Announcements In conjunction with my upcoming 9th annual Summer Reading Guide, I will be releasing a companion for Superstars Patrons ($7/mo)! The companion is called Summer Shelves and will feature backlist reading recommendations from former podcast guests.  Plus, both Catherine and Susie will be contributing book recommendations! Both the 2022 Summer Reading Guide and Summer Shelves will launch on Tuesday, May 17.  Sign up here, and select the Superstars tier to get this guide and more bonus content. Join our Patreon Community ($5/mo) to get our bonus podcast episode series called Book Preview Extras! In these episodes, Catherine and I share at least 4 bonus books we are excited about that we did not share in the big show preview episode. Get more details about all the goodies available to all patrons (Stars and Superstars) and sign up here! Highlights Catherine and Sarah share the key to their recent high success rate and try to go in cold to new books. Sarah's second 5 star book of 2022! Catherine and Sarah share their #1 spring release picks. Spring 2022 Book Preview [3:34] April Sarah's Picks: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (April 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:06] Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:03] Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:54]  Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:48] When We Fell Apart by Soon Wiley (April 26) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:24] Catherine's Picks: The Candy House by Jennifer Egan (April 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:54] Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang (April 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:24]  An Unlasting Home by Mai Al-Nakib (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:09]  Dark Circles by Caite Dolan-Leach (May 10*) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:15] May Sarah's Pick: The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz (May 31) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:37]  Catherine's Picks: Elektra by Jennifer Saint (May 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:34]  Siren Queen by Nghi Vo (May 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:47] Other Books Mentioned A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan [10:23]  I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott [15:34]  The Bohemians by Jasmin Darznik [19:35]  A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum [28:09] Honor by Thrity Umrigar [28:18] Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett [29:37] Dead Letters by Caite Dolan-Leach [33:02]  The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin [33:35]  We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter [34:05]  If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha [38:14]  Ariadne by Jennifer Saint [38:55]  The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz [40:57]  You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz [41:03]  Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner [43:19] The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo [44:00]  *Book's release date changed since the time of recording. About Catherine Gilmore Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Catherine started The Gilmore Guide to Books over 6 years ago after wrapping up a career as a corporate librarian. She loves books and reading (surprise!) and currently lives in Ann Arbor, MI.

What do you do when life serves up a moment that upends your perspective on parenting and leads to uncertainty and anxiety? In Episode 262, Christine talks with Mary Laura Philpott, bestselling author, former bookseller, former public television host, and turtle enthusiast. Christine and Mary Laura talk about storytelling, wrestling with uncertainty, small delights, writerly habits, and more. Mary Laura's new book “Bomb Shelter” arrives everywhere April 12. + + + + + Edit Your Life shares practical ideas for decluttering your home, schedule, and mental space without getting bogged down by perfection. Winner of the 2017 Iris Award for Podcast Of The Year. Hosted by Christine Koh (+ Asha Dornfest from 2015 to 2021). Share: #edityourlifeshow Show notes: http://www.edityourlifeshow.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edityourlifeshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edityourlifeshow/ Email: edityourlifeshow@gmail.com