Podcasts about shelf awareness

Post-Pesach Shopping SecretsWhere can I buy chometz? Where is it problematic? Rabbi Yakov Teichman - Rabbinic Coordinator at the OK, gives us the full scoop.View it in its entirety at: https://www.kashrusawareness.com/post/shelf-awarenessDownload the AKO post-pesach list below, or at https://www.akokosher.org/pesachTo Sponsor An Episode: https://pay.banquest.com/kashrusawarenessJoin the Let's Talk Kashrus WhatsApp Community for educational content and kashrus updates https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hk3SHVsBfELEgJet4ZNYDR

Kim (Freilich) Dower (City Poet Laureate of West Hollywood from October 2016 – October 2018) has published six highly acclaimed collections of poetry all from Red Hen Press. Her most recent book, What She Wants: Poems on Obsession, Desire, Despair, Euphoria, was called “witty, sultry and thoughtful” by the Washington Post, and her bestselling, I Wore This Dress Today for You, Mom, an Eric Hoffer Book Award Finalist, was called a “fantastic collection” by The Washington Post, “impressively insightful, thought-provoking, and truly memorable” by The Midwest Book Review and Shelf-Awareness said, “These gorgeous gems are energized by the sheer power of her wit and irreverent style.” Air Kissing on Mars, Kim's first collection, was described by the Los Angeles Times as, “sensual and evocative . . . seamlessly combining humor and heartache,” Slice of Moon was called “unexpected and sublime,” by “O” magazine, and Sunbathing on Tyrone Power's Grave, won the 2020 Independent Publishers Book Award Gold Medal for Poetry. Kim's work has been featured in numerous literary journals including Garrison Keillor's "The Writer's Almanac," and her poems are included in several anthologies. She teaches poetry workshops for UCLA Extension Writer's Program, and the West Hollywood Library. Born and raised on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and a graduate of Emerson College in Boston, Kim lives with her family in West Hollywood, CA. To learn more about Kim visit her website: www.kimdowerpoetry.com

Kim (Freilich) Dower (City Poet Laureate of West Hollywood from October 2016 – October 2018) has published six highly acclaimed collections of poetry all from Red Hen Press. Her newest What She Wants is called, “witty, sultry and thoughtful,” by the Washington Post. The bestselling, I Wore This Dress Today for You, Mom, an Eric Hoffer Book Award Finalist, was called a “fantastic collection” by The Washington Post, “impressively insightful, thought-provoking, and truly memorable” by The Midwest Book Review and Shelf-Awareness said, “These gorgeous gems are energized by the sheer power of her wit and irreverent style.” Air Kissing on Mars, Kim's first collection, was described by the Los Angeles Times as, “sensual and evocative . . . seamlessly combining humor and heartache.” Slice of Moon was called “unexpected and sublime,” by “O” magazine, Last Train to the Missing Planet, “poems that speak about the grey space between tragedy and tenderness, memory and loss, fragility and perseverance,” said Richard Blanco, and Sunbathing on Tyrone Power's Grave, won the 2020 Independent Publishers Book Award Gold Medal for Poetry. Kim's work has been featured in numerous literary journals including Plume, Ploughshares, Rattle, The James Dickey Review, and Garrison Keillor's "The Writer's Almanac," and her poems are included in several anthologies, notably, Wide Awake: Poets of Los Angeles and Beyond. She teaches poetry workshops for Antioch University, UCLA Extension Writer's Program, and the West Hollywood Library. Born and raised on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and a graduate of Emerson College in Boston, Kim lives with her family in West Hollywood, CA. To learn more about Kim visit her website: www.kimdowerpoetry.com  Kim joins Barbara DeMarco-Barrett to talk about the attributes of a poet, whether studying the classic poets and traditional forms is necessary if you want to write poetry, what is poetry?, and limerence. Kim reads three poems from the collection and talks about the process of writing them. For more information on Writers on Writing and to become a supporter, visit our Patreon page. For a one-time donation, visit Ko-fi. You can find hundreds upon hundreds of past interviews on our website. If you'd like to support the show and indie bookstores, consider buying books at our bookstore on bookshop.org. We've stocked it with titles from our guests, as well as some of our personal favorites. And on Spotify, you'll find to an album's worth of typewriter music like what you hear on the show. Look for the artist, Just My Type. Email the show at writersonwritingpodcast@gmail.com. We love to hear from our listeners! (Recorded on January 17, 2025) Host: Barbara DeMarco-BarrettHost: Marrie StoneMusic: Travis Barrett (Stream his music on Spotify, Apple Music, Etc.)

Weekly shoutout: Visit Coalitionist, a new literary project at the coalition! -- Hi there, We're back! Today I am delighted to be arts calling acclaimed poet Kim Dower! kimdowerpoetry.com About our guest: Kim (Freilich) Dower (City Poet Laureate of West Hollywood from October 2016 – October 2018) has published five highly acclaimed collections of poetry all from Red Hen Press. Her most recent book, the bestselling, I WORE THIS DRESS TODAY FOR YOU, MOM, an Eric Hoffer Book Award Finalist, was called a “fantastic collection” by The Washington Post, “impressively insightful, thought-provoking, and truly memorable” by The Midwest Book Review and Shelf-Awareness said, “These gorgeous gems are energized by the sheer power of her wit and irreverent style.” AIR KISSING ON MARS, Kim's first collection, was described by the Los Angeles Times as, “sensual and evocative . . . seamlessly combining humor and heartache.” SLICE OF MOON was called “unexpected and sublime,” by “O” magazine, LAST TRAIN TO THE MISSING PLANET “poems that speak about the grey space between tragedy and tenderness, memory and loss, fragility and perseverance,” said Richard Blanco, and SUNBATHING ON TYRONE POWER'S GRAVE won the 2020 Independent Publishers Book Award Gold Medal for Poetry. Kim's work has been featured in numerous literary journals including Plume, Ploughshares, Rattle, The James Dickey Review, and Garrison Keillor's “The Writer's Almanac,” and her poems are included in several anthologies, notably, Wide Awake: Poets of Los Angeles and Beyond. She teaches poetry workshops for Antioch University, UCLA Extension Writer's Program, and the West Hollywood Library. Born and raised on the Upper West Side of New York City, and a graduate of Emerson College in Boston, Kim is also the proud owner of Kim-from-L.A., long-standing literary publicity company that helps authors around the country get the word out about their wonderful books. WHAT SHE WANTS, now available from Red Hen Press. Purchase your copy today! AVAILABLE ON AMAZON! ALSO AVAILABLE AT BARNES & NOBLE! BOOKSELLER PRAISE FOR ‘WHAT SHE WANTS “Psychologically astute and playfully resolute at evoking the irrevocable desire for love, attraction, seduction and yes, companionship, What She Wants belongs on every bookshelf: not just for poetry lovers. But the poetry is there, singing its echoing delight through the lines, like desire itself, and enticing, resolving, and picturing the myriad ways we are compelled by desire and all its fruits.” —John Evans, Co-Owner Diesel, a Bookstore “Desires, both feral and mundane, are slung across these pages in a crescendo of sexual longing and urgent vitality.” —Amanda Youngman, Manager, Barnes & Noble at The Grove “A fantastic book!” —Suzy Takacs, owner of The Book Cellar Bookstore in Chicago, Illinois “From whispered secrets to consuming obsessions, these poems unveil the complexities of love, longing, and the urgency that prods us to pursue the objects of one's desire.” —Luisa Smith, Buying Director, Book Passage Bookstore “I love this collection!” —Dan Graham, Book Soup Bookstore “Captures the timeless art of storytelling through verse with raw and unfiltered emotions, lyrical language and vivid imagery. With every turn of the page, readers will find themselves drawn deeper into a world where words hold the power to inspire, delight and transform.”—Julie Slavinsky, Director of Events, Warwick's Thanks for this amazing conversation, Kim! All the best! -- Arts Calling is produced by Jaime Alejandro. HOW TO SUPPORT ARTS CALLING: PLEASE CONSIDER LEAVING A REVIEW, OR SHARING THIS EPISODE WITH A FRIEND! YOUR SUPPORT TRULY MAKES A DIFFERENCE, AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN.

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

Tessa Wegert is the author of the popular Shana Merchant mysteries, which include Death in the Family, The Dead Season, Dead Wind, The Kind to Kill, Devils at the Door, and The Coldest Case, along with the upcoming North Country thriller series. Her books have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Shelf Awareness and have been featured on PBS and NPR Radio. A former journalist and copywriter, Tessa grew up in Quebec and now lives with her husband and children in Connecticut, where she co-founded Sisters in Crime CT and serves on the board of International Thriller Writers (ITW). Killer Women is copyrighted by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #podcast #author #interview #authors #KillerWomen #KillerWomenPodcast #authorsontheair #podcast #podcaster #killerwomen #killerwomenpodcast #authors #authorsofig #authorsofinstagram #authorinterview #writingcommunity #authorsontheair #suspensebooks #authorssupportingauthors #thrillerbooks #suspense #wip #writers #writersinspiration #books #bookrecommendations #bookaddict #bookaddicted #bookaddiction #bibliophile #read #amreading #lovetoread #daniellegirard #daniellegirardbooks #tessawegert #shanamerchant #severnhouse

Tessa Wegert is the author of the popular Shana Merchant mysteries, which include Death in the Family, The Dead Season, Dead Wind, The Kind to Kill, Devils at the Door, and The Coldest Case, along with the upcoming North Country thriller series. Her books have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Shelf Awareness and have been featured on PBS and NPR Radio. A former journalist and copywriter, Tessa grew up in Quebec and now lives with her husband and children in Connecticut, where she co-founded Sisters in Crime CT and serves on the board of International Thriller Writers (ITW). Killer Women is copyrighted by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #podcast #author #interview #authors #KillerWomen #KillerWomenPodcast #authorsontheair #podcast #podcaster #killerwomen #killerwomenpodcast #authors #authorsofig #authorsofinstagram #authorinterview #writingcommunity #authorsontheair #suspensebooks #authorssupportingauthors #thrillerbooks #suspense #wip #writers #writersinspiration #books #bookrecommendations #bookaddict #bookaddicted #bookaddiction #bibliophile #read #amreading #lovetoread #daniellegirard #daniellegirardbooks #tessawegert #shanamerchant #severnhouse

Tessa Wegert is the author of the popular Shana Merchant mysteries, which include Death in the Family, The Dead Season, Dead Wind, The Kind to Kill, Devils at the Door, and The Coldest Case, along with the upcoming North Country thriller series. Her books have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Shelf Awareness and have been featured on PBS and NPR Radio. A former journalist and copywriter, Tessa grew up in Quebec and now lives with her husband and children in Connecticut, where she co-founded Sisters in Crime CT and serves on the board of International Thriller Writers (ITW). Killer Women is copyrighted by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #podcast #author #interview #authors #KillerWomen #KillerWomenPodcast #authorsontheair #podcast #podcaster #killerwomen #killerwomenpodcast #authors #authorsofig #authorsofinstagram #authorinterview #writingcommunity #authorsontheair #suspensebooks #authorssupportingauthors #thrillerbooks #suspense #wip #writers #writersinspiration #books #bookrecommendations #bookaddict #bookaddicted #bookaddiction #bibliophile #read #amreading #lovetoread #daniellegirard #daniellegirardbooks #tessawegert #shanamerchant #severnhouse

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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit smokeempodcast.substack.comLet's say you want to promote a book and you have a little ad money to burn. If you are author and communications consultant Melanie Notkin, you might contact Shelf Awareness, which sends free newsletters to, per its Instagram bio, “booksellers, librarians, publishers, book collectors, literary antiquarians, and everyone else who loves to read.” Shelf Awareness publisher Matt Balducci was happy to run the promo, for the U.S. release of Bernard-Henri Lévy's latest book… until two days later, when he emailed Melanie to say they were cancelling the ad.“I've never been denied the ability to pay for an ad in any outlet,” says Notkin, who knew, before she spoke with Balducci — a conversation Notkin recorded — that he was backing out because of one of the words in the book's two-word title, and it wasn't “Alone.”Francesca Block at The Free Press reported on the story earlier today. Here, Notkin picks up the conversation, including:* Is the anti-Israeli movement contracting or going underground?* Pro tip: When you basically tell someone you're caving to the mob, maybe try not to sound patronizing* The shadow-banning of books and authors leads nowhere good* Quick: A group of masked people on the subway chant, “Raise your hand if you're a Zionist!” What do you do?* “I don't want to live in a world where my friend denounces me.”* #nevershuttingupPlus, big love for Douglas Murray, when intolerance becomes a show of valor, and did casual Fridays ruin everything?

Gene and cohost Tim Swartz present James Reich, a novelist, essayist, and journalist, and ecopsychologist. He is the author of The Moth for the Star (7.13 Books, September 2023), The Song My Enemies Sing, Soft Invasions, Mistah Kurtz! A Prelude to Heart of Darkness (Anti-Oedipus Press), I, Judas, and Bombshell (Counterpoint/Soft Skull). On the agenda is his psychoanalytic monograph, Wilhelm Reich Versus The Flying Saucers. And, no, they are not related. Also on the agenda: How James first discovered the flying saucer mystery and the controversial work of Wilhelm Reich. There is also a discussion of how the classic 1951 sci-fi film, The Day the Earth Stood Still, and its allusions to a Christ-like figure in the person of its protagonist, Klaatu, which greatly influenced Reich. James and his work have been published and commissioned by Literary Hub, SPIN Magazine, Brooklyn Rail, CrimeReads, Salon, Huffington Post, National Book Review, Vol.1 Brooklyn, The Rumpus, International Times, Sensitive Skin Magazine, Entropy, Fiction Advocate, The Weeklings, The Nervous Breakdown, Heavy Feather Review, Poet Republik, Largehearted Boy, Sleeping Fish / Calamari Press, Shelf Awareness, Full Stop, and others.  Most recently, James has co-written a screenplay for a film in pre-production, and is working on freelance writing, editing, and book design projects. His second science fiction novel, Skinship, was due to be published in 2024 by Anti-Oedipus Press. His website: www.jamesreichbooks.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-paracast-the-gold-standard-of-paranormal-radio--6203433/support.

Jenny Milchman is the Mary Higgins Clark award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of five novels. Her work has been praised by the New York Times, New York Journal of Books, San Francisco Journal of Books, and more; earned spots on Best Of lists including PureWow, POPSUGAR, the Strand, Suspense, and Big Thrill magazines; and received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, and Shelf Awareness. Four of her novels have been Indie Next Picks. Jenny's short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, and a recent piece on touring appeared in the Agatha award-winning collection Promophobia. Jenny is about to launch a new series with Thomas & Mercer featuring psychologist Arles Shepherd, who has the power to save the most troubled and vulnerable children but must battle demons of her own to do it. Jenny is a member of the Rogue Women Writers and lives in the Hudson Valley with her family. Make sure to check out this episode

You get to be a fly on the wall with this episode! It's a fun conversation between two writers, neighbors and friends. I met Carly Anne West when I moved to Seoul and we bonded over the trials, the joys, the ups and downs of the writing life which also then led to a meaningful and lovely friendship built over time taking what I call "walk and talks" together along the Han river in Seoul. One of the benefits of living the expat life is meeting people from all over the world. Carly was a generous and open hearted soul that helped me ease into Seoul my first year. Spoiler alert - it wasn't easy and her experience of living in Seoul already six years at the time helped a great deal. She's an "author of unnerving books" as her website says and isn't afraid of where fear takes us in the creative life. In fact she's kind of made her own genre out it. I loved this conversation and I know you will too! More about the fascinating and talented Carly: Carly Anne West is the author of spine-tingly books for readers of all ages. Carly's debut YA novel published by Simon Pulse—The Murmurings—was described by Shelf Awareness as “the perfect mix of horror and psychological thriller; jaw-dropping,” called “heart-thumping” (Kirkus) and “satisfyingly disturbing” (Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books). Her sophomore YA (also from Simon Pulse)—The Bargaining— “rewards patient readers with both frightening action and emotional insight” (Kirkus Reviews) and is “akin to old school Stephen King novels, not to be read before bedtime” (School Library Journal).In her free time, Carly enjoys traveling with family and friends as much as possible, living globally with her husband, two children, giant dog named Belle, and tiny cat named Addie (yes, they're best friends). Shecurrently resides in Seoul, Korea, but grew up in the U.S. in Arizona, calling Nashville, Oakland, Seattle,and Portland home before moving overseas. She holds an MFA in English & Writing from Mills College. Carly on Insta: @carlyannewest Website: https://carlyannewest.comYou can learn more about me

Broadleaf Writers Association Founder & Executive Director Zachary Steele is the author of four novels, including The Weight of Ashes, nominated for Georgia Author of the Year in 2021, and Perfectly Normal. He has been featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Publisher's Weekly, Writer's Magazine, Shelf Awareness and City Lights with Lois Reitzes on NPR. Currently, […]

Broadleaf Writers Association Founder & Executive Director Zachary Steele is the author of four novels, including The Weight of Ashes, nominated for Georgia Author of the Year in 2021, and Perfectly Normal. He has been featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Publisher's Weekly, Writer's Magazine, Shelf Awareness and City Lights with Lois Reitzes on NPR. Currently, […] The post Zachary Steele with Broadleaf Writers Association appeared first on Business RadioX ®.

https://www.lindyryanwrites.comLindy Ryan is an award-winning author, anthologist, director, and professor. Ryan served from 2020 to 2022 on the Board of Directors for the Independent Book Publishers Association and was named one of Publishers Weekly‘s 2020 Star Watch Honorees. She is the current author-in-residence at Rue Morgue, the world's leading horror culture and entertainment brand and the “Chill Quill” columnist at Booktrib. In 2022, she was named one of horror's most masterful anthology curators and has been declared a "champion for women's voices in horror" by Shelf Awareness (2023).#LindyRyan #BlessYourHeartVOX VOMITUS: Sometimes, it's not what goes right in the writing process, it's what goes horribly wrong. Host Jennifer Anne Gordon, award-winning gothic horror novelist and Co-Host Allison Martine, award-winning contemporary romance and speculative fiction novelist have taken on the top and emerging new authors of the day, including Josh Malerman (BIRDBOX, PEARL), Paul Tremblay (THE PALLBEARERS CLUB, SURVIVOR SONG), May Cobb (MY SUMMER DARLINGS, THE HUNTING WIVES), Amanda Jayatissa (MY SWEET GIRL), Carol Goodman (THE STRANGER BEHIND YOU), Meghan Collins (THE FAMILY PLOT), and dozens more in the last year alone. Pantsers, plotters, and those in between have talked everything from the “vomit draft” to the publishing process, dream-cast movies that are already getting made, and celebrated wins as the author-guests continue to shine all over the globe.www.jenniferannegordon.comwww.afictionalhubbard.comhttps://www.facebook.com/VoxVomituspodcast https://twitter.com/VoxVomitus#voxvomitus #voxvomituspodcast #authorswhopodcast #authors #authorlife #authorsoninstagram #authorsinterviewingauthors #livevideopodcast #livepodcast #bookstagram #liveauthorinterview #voxvomituslivevideopodcast #Jennifergordon --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/voxvomitus/support

Show notes are available at QueenofPeaches.com. This week I am absolutely thrilled to share my conversation with the writer Michael O'Donnell. Michael is the author of the novel Above the Fire. Published by Blackstone Publishing in December 2023, Above the Fire crystallizes the relationship between a father and son as they survive a winter of isolation. The book has received starred reviews from Booklist and Shelf Awareness, and the audiobook edition recently won the AudioFile Earphones Award. Michael's nonfiction writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and other publications. He has been a member of the National Book Critics Circle since 2005. An attorney by profession, he clerked for Judge Ann Claire Williams of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and now practices law in Chicago. He earned his bachelor's degree with distinction from Indiana University in 2001 and his law degree magna cum laude from Boston College in 2004.

Kimberly Latrice Jones is an American author and filmmaker, known for the New York Times bestselling young adult novel, I'm Not Dying With You Tonight and for the viral video How Can We Win published during the George Floyd protest. The book was a finalist for an NAACP Image Award in 2020. That same year, a seven-minute video featuring Kim using a Monopoly analogy to explain the history of racism and its impact on Black Americans went viral, being shared by Trevor Noah, LeBron James, Madonna, and more. The viral video was featured on shows like Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. She has subsequently signed an overall deal with Warner Brothers via her production company Push Films with her partner DeWayne “Duprano” Martin. Kim's literary roots run deep. She served on the Selection Committee for the Library of Congress' 2016-2017 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, the 2015 Children's Choice Illustrator Committee for The Children's Book Council, and the advisory board that created the Creative and Innovative Education Master's Degree program at Georgia State University. She has been featured in Ms. Magazine, Seventeen, Paste Magazine, Bustle, Hello Giggles, Book List, Publisher's Weekly, School Library Journal, and was Book Brahmin in an issue of Shelf Awareness. She received one of the inaugural James Patterson Holiday Bookseller Bonus grants while working at the famous children's bookstore, Little Shop of Stories. Most recently, Kim's bestselling novel, I'm Not Dying With You Tonight, co-authored with Gilly Segal, was nominated for an NAACP Image award, Georgia Author Of The Year award, and the Cybils Awards. I'm Not Dying With You Tonight was selected as the September 2019 book club pick for the Barnes & Noble YA book club and Overdrive's Big Library Read.

Jamie Brickhouse joins Let's Talk Memoir for a conversation about writing and teaching memoir, performing and telling stories, alcoholism and life as a sober artist, being a 5-time Moth StorySLAM winner, his Texas tornado of a mother, why we don't need good a memory to write a memoir, and his memoir Dangerous When Wet.   Also in this episode:  -why we share stories -the generosity of wondering -what all memoirs are ultimately about   Books mentioned in this episode: The Liar's Club by Mary Karr Cherry by Mary Karr Lit by Mary Karr Before Night Falls by Reinaldo Arenas The Night of the Gun by David Carr The Situation and the Story by VIvian Gornick The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr Braving the Fire: A Guide to Writing About Grief and Loss  by Jessica Handler   Called a natural raconteur by the Washington Post, Jamie Brickhouse is a writer, comedic storyteller, TikTok sensation, podcast host, and public speaker. He's the author of the critically acclaimed Dangerous When Wet: A Memoir of Booze Sex and My Mother (St. Martin's Press). It's “Required Reading” in Mary Karr's The Art of Memoir; an Amazon Editors' Pick (Biographies & Memoirs), an Amazon “Best Book of May 2015,” and a Book Chase “2015 Nonfiction Top 10.” His essays and articles have been published in the New York Times (multiple times), International Herald Tribune, Washington Post, The Daily Beast, Salon, Interview, Out, Huffington Post, POZ, Amtrak's Arrive, Lambda Literary Review, Publishers Weekly, and Shelf Awareness. His recent HuffPost Personal essay, adapted from his memoir in progress, I Favor My Daddy: A Tale of Two Sissies, has over 500,000 views, and Merriam-Webster featured a sentence from the piece in its “Word of the Day” as a perfect usage example of the word effulgence.  Brickhouse's daily TikTok #storiesinheels videos in which he tells a true story have over 5 million views, nearly a million likes, and over 75,000 followers. He is the host of the weekly podcast, Sober Podcast, part of Sober Network, and is an award-winning storyteller who tours two solo shows based on his memoirs, Dangerous When Wet and I Favor My Daddy. Brickhouse has taught memoir, personal essay, creativity, and book marketing at the Columbia Publishing Course (17 years), San Miguel Writers' Conference (San Miguel de Allende, Mexico), HippoCamp: A Conference for Creative Nonfiction, Creative Nonfiction Writers' Conference, the Northern California Writers' StoryTellers Conference & Expo, and Cape Cod Writers' Conference.  Connect with Jamie: Website: https://www.jamiebrickhouse.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamie_brickhouse  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamiebrickhouse Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamieBrickhouseRedBrickAgency YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jamiebrickhouse Dangerous When Wet: A Memoir of Booze, Sex, and My Mother Ebook & audiobook read by the author: https://amzn.to/2YxvMNl    — Ronit's writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Rumpus, The New York Times, The Iowa Review, Hippocampus, The Washington Post, Writer's Digest, American Literary Review, and elsewhere. Her memoir WHEN SHE COMES BACK about the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation was named Finalist in the 2021 Housatonic Awards Awards, the 2021 Indie Excellence Awards, and was a 2021 Book Riot Best True Crime Book. Her short story collection HOME IS A MADE-UP PLACE won Hidden River Arts' 2020 Eludia Award and the 2023 Page Turner Awards for Short Stories. She earned an MFA in Nonfiction Writing at Pacific University, is Creative Nonfiction Editor at The Citron Review, and lives in Seattle with her family where she teaches memoir workshops and is working on her next book. More about Ronit: https://ronitplank.com Sign up for monthly podcast and writing updates: https://bit.ly/33nyTKd   Follow Ronit: https://www.instagram.com/ronitplank/ https://twitter.com/RonitPlank https://www.facebook.com/RonitPlank   Background photo credit: Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash Headshot photo credit: Sarah Anne Photography Theme music: Isaac Joel, Dead Moll's Fingers

Episode 107: Using fiction as a way to educate, heal and connect This is an interview on using fiction as a way to educate, heal and connect. I absolutely loved recording this episode and I hope you love the stories that Jolene shares with us.  From Jolene: In my stories I've focused on the effects of fertility on women, the men who care for them, and small town culture around issues of fertility. In my stories, I've chosen to use specific and medical jargon and terms relating to, specifically, women's health issues to bring awareness. I've written stories about infertility, miscarriage, pregnancy, high-risk pregnancy, pre-term labor, endometriosis, mental health issues, PTSD, post-natal PTSD. I've written at least one story (“You Four Are the One”) using a technique in therapy treatment for people with PTSD called RECON (reconsolidation therapy) by Courtney Armstrong. I'm hoping our talk will inspire others to write their own fictional (or nonfiction) stories of fertility and women's health issues. I'm hoping they'll buy SIDLE CREEK and they'll find they're not alone. Jolene McIlwain's work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and appears in numerous online and print literary journals including West Branch, Florida Review, Cincinnati Review, CRAFT, Smokelong Quarterly, New Orleans Review, LITRO, and more.   Her work was included in 2019's Best Small Fictions Anthology and named finalist for 2018's Best of the Net, Glimmer Train's and River Styx's contests, and semifinalist in Nimrod's Katherine Anne Porter Prize and two American Short Fictions contests. She's received a Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council grant, the Georgia Court Chautauqua faculty scholarship, and Tinker Mountain's merit scholarship.    She's taught literary theory/analysis at Duquesne and Chatham Universities, and she worked as a radiologic technologist before attending college (BS English, minor in sculpture, MA Literature). She was born, raised, and currently lives in a small town in the Appalachian plateau of Western Pennsylvania.    Her debut, SIDLE CREEK, out with Melville House this spring, received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and Shelf Awareness calls it a “riveting debut collection” and “a rare gem, a compelling blend of nature and humanity perfect for fans of Barbara Kingsolver's Prodigal Summer and Daisy Johnson's Fen." Connect with Jolene and buy Sidle Creek www.jolenemcilwain.com   Twitter @jolene_mcilwain  IG @jolenemcilwain  FB @JoleneMcIlwain   Trigger warning, this book includes short stories on stillbirth, miscarriage, fetal abduction and true crime.   For mind-body fertility freebies sign up at www.embracefertility.co.uk and follow me on Instagram @embracefertility for inspiration.

In this Behind the Scenes interview, Jenny and I chat about her role as Senior Editor at Shelf Awareness and what that entails, supporting independent bookstores, how Shelf Awareness began, submitting content to Shelf Awareness, and much more. Jenny's recommended reads are: Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjoin-Brenyah Let Us Descend by Jessmyn Ward The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green These Precious Days by Ann Patchett Stolen Focus by Johann Hari Smart Brevity by Jim Vandehei Remote Work Revolution by Tsedal Neeley Check out my Summer Reading Guide for 2023. Support the podcast by joining my Patreon group.  Other ways to support the podcast can be found here.         Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First pages are impossible… so we're hearing from authors about how they got them right. In this episode, Jasmin Hakes discusses the first pages of her debut novel, Hula, and how she structured the novel using traditional storytelling techniques from her native island. We also talk about the power of the royal we, addressing the reader directly and therefore challenging them, how to make summary work, and how to manage the revision process with agents and editors who might not know your novel's most important contextual details in terms of place, culture, and time. Hakes' first pages can be found here.Help local bookstores and our authors by buying this book on Bookshop.Click here for the audio/video version of this interview.The above link will be available for 48 hours. Missed it? The podcast version is always available, both here and on your favorite podcast platform.Jasmin ʻIolani Hakes was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. Her essays have appeared in the Los Angeles Times and the Sacramento Bee. She is the recipient of the Best Fiction award from the Southern California Writers Conference, a Community of Writers LoJo Foundation Scholarship, a Writing by Writers Emerging Voices fellowship, and a Hedgebrook residency. HULA is her debut novel and is an Amazon Editor's pick. It's received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Shelf Awareness, and is an Elle magazine 39 Best New books to Read this summer. She lives in California.Thank you for reading The 7am Novelist. This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 7amnovelist.substack.com

"Queen Brunhild and Queen Fredegund are restored to center stage.... Puhak presents a vivid picture of how they skillfully preserved their lives, their power, and their families.... She also imagines what it might mean if girls [today] found them featured more prominently in their textbooks. History readers will be enthralled." -- Shelf Awareness

Welcome to this week's True Fiction Project Podcast. Today, I have the honor of speaking with Sonali Dev, Best Selling Indian American Romance Novelist and author of her new book, The Vibrant Years. The Vibrant Years is the first book released by actress Mindy Kaling's new publishing imprint, Mindy's Book Studio. Sonali's book describes the everyday world of Indian American women. Using her storytelling magic to explore deeper questions about women's self-reliance and the fight for empowerment by underrepresented, often unheard voices.     Sonali talks about the way of life from past generations to her daughter's generations, noting the differences in choices available to each generation. Sonali discusses the brave choice immigrants make to migrate, whether the choice comes from wanting to seek adventure and exploration, or through necessity or tragedy. At the end of the episode, listen to an excerpt of The Vibrant Years, where we follow Cullie, Alisha and Bindu, three generations of Indian American women, discuss the modern dating scene and walk the precarious line between traditional expectations and twenty-first century aspirations.      IN THIS EPISODE:  [3:03] What did Sonali mean by the title The Vibrant Years?  [6:33] What does Sonali mean by the fact that women can now live the way they want?  [11:13] How would the story have been different if the characters didn't come from a family of immigrants?    [14:34] How are women conditioned to believe things and being told what to do?  [17:56] Was Sonali's book inspired by real-life circumstances?   [23:32] How her grandma's life and experiences played into her book.  [29:52] Why did Mindy Kaling choose to release this book under her imprint?  [32:23] An excerpt from The Vibrant Years by Sonali Dev.  KEY TAKEAWAYS:  This generation has the choice to do a variety of things that the previous generation didn't have the ability to choose from. The opportunities available are double-edged on if they are for the better or not.   An immigrant has an inherent value to adventure, a sense of restlessness, and a belief that they can change their life if they choose. Their hearts are in their choices.   An author's real-life experiences can often be found in their fiction writing. Many aspects of The Vibrant Years tied in to things that Sonali had gone through or that her grandmother's experienced.     Fiction Credits:  Story written and read by: Sonali Dev  BIO:  USA Today bestselling author Sonali Dev writes Bollywood-style love stories that explore universal issues. Her novels have been named Best Books of the Year by Library Journal, NPR, the Washington Post, and Kirkus. She has won numerous accolades, including the American Library Association's award for best romance, the RT Reviewer Choice Award for best contemporary romance, multiple RT Seals of Excellence, has been a RITA® finalist, and has been listed for the Dublin Literary Award. Shelf Awareness calls her “Not only one of the best but one of the bravest romance novelists working today.” Sonali lives in Chicagoland with her husband, two visiting adult children, and the world's most perfect dog. Find more at sonalidev.com.  Sonali Dev's Website  Sonali's Twitter  Sonali's Facebook Our Sponsors:* Check out HelloFresh and use my code 50truefictionproject for a great deal: https://www.hellofresh.com/Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

EPISODE 1466: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to the author of THE FIRST LADY OF WORLD WAR II, Shannon McKenna Schmidt, on Eleanor Roosvelt's historic journey in 1943 to the Pacific frontline. Shannon McKenna Schmidt is the author of The First Lady of World War II: Eleanor Roosevelt's Daring Journey to the Frontlines and Back (Sourcebooks/May 2023). She is also the co-author of Novel Destinations: A Travel Guide to Literary Landmarks from Jane Austen's Bath to Ernest Hemingway's Key West, 2nd ed. (National Geographic) and Writers Between the Covers: The Scandalous Romantic Lives of Legendary Literary Casanovas, Coquettes, and Cads (Plume/Penguin Random House). In addition, Shannon has written for National Geographic Traveler, Shelf Awareness, DailyBeast.com, NPR.org, and other websites and publications, including an Arrive magazine cover story featuring President Bill Clinton. She has been a guest on the Leonard Lopate Show/WNYC and the Travel Show with Arthur & Pauline Frommer, and has spoken at the New York Public Library, the Texas Book Festival, the Dallas Museum of Art, and other venues, including bookstores, libraries, and historic sites. From 2010 through 2017, Shannon traveled full-time—first in the United States by RV and then backpacking around the globe. Now, when she's not on the road, she lives in Hoboken, New Jersey. Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month we read and review Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. Like all of our reviews, the first part is spoiler free.Here's a little about Anxious People:Viewing an apartment normally doesn't turn into a life-or-death situation, but this particular open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes everyone in the apartment hostage. As the pressure mounts, the eight strangers begin slowly opening up to one another and reveal long-hidden truths.First is Zara, a wealthy bank director who has been too busy to care about anyone else until tragedy changed her life. Now, she's obsessed with visiting open houses to see how ordinary people live—and, perhaps, to set an old wrong to right. Then there's Roger and Anna-Lena, an Ikea-addicted retired couple who are on a never-ending hunt for fixer-uppers to hide the fact that they don't know how to fix their own failing marriage. Julia and Ro are a young lesbian couple and soon-to-be parents who are nervous about their chances for a successful life together since they can't agree on anything. And there's Estelle, an eighty-year-old woman who has lived long enough to be unimpressed by a masked bank robber waving a gun in her face. And despite the story she tells them all, Estelle hasn't really come to the apartment to view it for her daughter, and her husband really isn't outside parking the car.As police surround the premises and television channels broadcast the hostage situation live, the tension mounts and even deeper secrets are slowly revealed. Before long, the robber must decide which is the more terrifying prospect: going out to face the police, or staying in the apartment with this group of impossible people.Rich with Fredrik Backman's “pitch-perfect dialogue and an unparalleled understanding of human nature” (Shelf Awareness), Anxious People's whimsical plot serves up unforgettable insights into the human condition and a gentle reminder to be compassionate to all the anxious people we encounter every day.We hope you enjoy this episode!Do you have a book you'd like us to review on this show? Send us an email at badassliteraturesociety@gmail.comIf you don't already, follow us on Instagram and FacebookAll music from hooksounds.comArt by Justin Miller DesignCheck us out here!

You know the drill: same genre, same publisher, same debut year--but very different deal sizes, and very different publisher treatment. But how does that actually translate to a book's performance, and what impact does it REALLY have? With the help of some Captain Morgan rum, Sunyi and Scott talk about the months surrounding each of their launch dates, and how their books did, or didn't, perform sales-wise.Other topics include:How Scott hired a publicist (and other things he tried to give his book a boost)How ARCs create the "word of mouth" effectThe importance of Goodreads, trade reviews, and influencersSales data for the first 6 months, from both Scott and Sunyi's respective launchesPubs supporting you when things go wrong, as well as when things go rightWhy your editor relationship might be the most important one you have in publishingScott's biggest piece of advice for authors on subAdditional Notes:Blog guest posts (scalzi blog)Bookseller letter (example on Sunyi's site)Shelf Awareness (wiki article)Whitebox mailing (link)Su Blackwell (Sunyi's cover artist)The Orbit cover photo shoot video (youtube)

For the final episode of The Fine Print, the DC's Simone Melvin talks to SMU alumna and professor, Samantha Mabry. Her most recent novel, "Tigers, Not Daughters" is a BCCB Blue Ribbon List title and was awarded Best Young Adult Book by Kirkus Reviews, SLJ, and Shelf Awareness. "Tigers, Not Daughters" weaves a complex story about grief, family, and ghosts. The narrative is told from the point-of-view of three sisters in San Antonio as they navigate the loss of their oldest sister who comes back to haunt them. Mabry talks about the novel, her writing process, and her theories on ghosts in the finale episode of The Fine Print on The Pony Pod.

Episode 4: The Joy of Magical Realism with Natalie Lloyd [10/18/22] Follow the Joyful Learning Podcast on: Twitter Instagram Facebook Episode Summary: Melissa Thom is in conversation with New York Times Bestselling middle grade author, Natalie Lloyd about her latest book Hummingbird, a special teacher who helped Natalie get through tough moments as a kid, disability representation in children's lit, and 80s/90s nostalgia! Guest Bio: Natalie Lloyd is the New York Times Bestselling Author of novels for young readers (and the young at heart). Her first novel, A Snicker of Magic (2014), was an ALA Notable Book, a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice, a top 10 Kids Indie Next Pick and an NPR, iBooks and Parents Magazine best book of the year for children. The book has been optioned for television by Sony Tristar. Natalie's other novels include The Key to Extraordinary, The Problim Children series, Over the Moon and Silverswift. Hummingbird, her seventh (and most personal) novel for kids, was published in August 2022 and has received starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, BookPage and Shelf Awareness. Natalie writes in the shadows beside a sunny window in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She loves adventuring with her husband, Justin, and their dogs. Episode Resources: Connect with podcast host, Melissa Thom: Twitter  Instagram Website  Connect with podcast co-producer, Carrie Seiden: Twitter  Connect with podcast guest, Natalie Lloyd: Twitter Web Facebook Instagram Link to Tweet about Natalie's 3rd Grade Experience Link to photo of Melissa with Heart shaped glasses Books Mentioned Hummingbird by Natalie Lloyd A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen Roll With It by Jamie Sumner The First Thing About You by Chaz Hayden Poet Mary Oliver

In this "exquisite" (Shelf Awareness) "affirming" (Kirkus), and "empowering visual essay" (Publishers Weekly) the bestselling author of I Love My Hair! joins forces with the dynamic photography duo behind Glory to create a stunning celebration of the many things you can be!What will you choose to be? A free spirit? A weaver of words? A star dancing across the night sky? A limitless galaxy? The possibilities are endless in this uplifting ode to the power of potential. With lyrical text by bestselling author Natasha Anastasia Tarpley and images by Regis and Kahran Bethencourt—the team behind CreativeSoul Photography—each page of The Me I Choose To Be is an immersive call for self-love that highlights the inherent beauty of all Black and brown children. Book: Written by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley & Illustrated by Regis and Kahran Bethencourt ISBN: 978-0316461542 Publisher: Brown Books for Young Readers Publication date: 10/19/21 Read By: Erin YeschinPURCHASE BOOK HERE -> https://amzn.to/3DEQnkR Our free storytime is welcome to ALL and made possible by listeners like you. Click SUBSCRIBE and consider supporting us on KoFi when you can choose from one-time donations to any of four membership options - all of which allow you even more access to the Clubhouse. To SUPPORT, CLICK HERE! -> https://ko-fi.com/hippocampusclubhouse or HERE!-> https://www.patreon.com/HippocampusClubhouse Whether you're a monthly member, a one-time contributor, following us on Instagram or simply love tuning in and sharing our storytime with friends - we are so thankful for your support! Click SUBSCRIBE and if you like what you hear, please rate and review!Our #OneStopBookShop offers fun and family-friendly titles for everyone in your home (including the grown-ups!) all while supporting small business and independent book stores alike! SHOP HERE! -> https://bookshop.org/shop/HippocampusClubhouse Want YOUR CHILD to be a guest on our podcast with their favorite story? Sign up today by CLICKING HERE -> https://hippocampusclubhouse.com/storytime-voices Find us on Instagram https://instagram.com/hippocampusclubhouse and to learn about new story adventures ahead, parenting tips rooted in cognitive science, sensory-based activities, printables, and more, JOIN our mailing list TODAY! https://hippocampusclubhouse.com/contact Until next time be sure to tell your story with an open heart while listening to others with an open mind™!

Davina Morgan-Witts, BookBrowse's founder and publisher, is a recognized authority on book clubs and a popular speaker and writer on the topic of book groups in general. She has talked about book clubs at many library, publisher, and bookseller conferences, as well as on the media and private groups. Davina has been interviewed by radio stations including the BBC, and has been published in magazines such as Publishers Weekly and The American Library Association. BookBrowse has been featured in many media including The Washington Post, The New York Times, CNN, Family Circle and Shelf Awareness. Find out more about Davina and BookBrowse at http://https://www.bookbrowse.com/.

On the latest episode of Now, Appalachia, Eliot interviews author Zach Steele about his new novel THE WEIGHT OF ASHES. Broadleaf Writers Association Founder & Executive Director Zachary Steeleis the author of Anointed: The Passion of Timmy Christ, CEO and Flutter: An Epic of Mass Distraction. He has been featured by NPR, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Publishers Weekly, Baby Got Books, Shelf Awareness, and was nominated for the Sidewise Award for Alternate Fiction. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/eliot-parker/support

"Wistfully charming.... This unapologetically genre-bending tribute to life and death, and the beautiful weirdness found in both, has potential to spark exceptional book club discussions." -- Shelf Awareness

Episode 20! That sort of number feels sort of monumental, so we opted for a super-sized episode to truly reward your patience and attention! Ah, but there are goodies along the way, fear not. What do we talk about this episode? Let's see -- certain PW & Shelf Awareness op-eds currently being discussed at length, the ongoing toxicity of Ingram, Liz references Captain Bligh again, Brad finds special joy in marking up the price of magazines. All this would normally be enough for a proper episode, but this is no proper episode! Stick with us for forty+ minutes, and then our calling card invitation to chat with Hannah Oliver Depp (Loyalty Books) again is accepted and things get really good & going. It's a great episode. We hope you enjoy. 

In this episode of Motherhood Unstressed I am speaking with author and filmmaker Sasha Sagan about her new book "FOR SMALL CREATURES SUCH AS WE" which was inspired by her viral essay for The Cut, “Lessons of Immortality and Mortality From My Father, Carl Sagan”. Sagan is the daughter of late astronomer/author Carl Sagan and writer/producer Ann Druyan. Some of the topics we discuss: How becoming a mother prompted Sagan to tap into her secular upbringing in the hopes of finding a non-religious worldview to pass on to her child The power of secular rituals to process and understand the passage of time What it was like growing up as the daughter of Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan Nurturing a childlike sense of wonder as an adult for greater perspective and happiness  QUOTES "Those questions, our place in the universe, reckoning with our own mortality, those deep philosophical questions about existence, there's just nothing that's more interesting to talk about, to wrestle with" "So much of the book is a love letter to my parents... they both were comfortable with asking a question to which we do not know the answer and looking for evidence"  "Everything we consider traditional is new on the scale of human history...so I think there's a way to carve out the parts that are meaningful to us without feeling so beholden that we're in a position to go through the motions about things we don't really connect to"  RESOURCES: Get the Book: "For Small Creatures Such As We" IG: @sashasagan Website: https://www.sashasagan.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/SashaSagan CONNECT: Leave a review on iTunes (why do you love the Motherhood Unstressed Podcast?) Get the book "Motherhood Unstressed - Daily Meditations on Motherhood, Self-Care, and the Art of Living a Life You Love"  Got a comment, idea or question for the podcast? Submit via this form.  Subscribe to The Motherhood Unstressed Podcast Follow on Instagram @motherhoodunstressed SPONSORED BY: Kindred Bravely - Use code UNSTRESSED20 at https://www.kindredbravely.com Motherhood Unstressed CBD - Use code Podcast to save WANT MORE? Check out some of our most popular past episodes! Alex and Carlos Pena Vega Poet Kate Baer Seth Godin "Somebody Feed Phil" Phil Rosenthal  The Way of Integrity with Martha Beck Heart Mind Coherence Meditation  About the Author: Sasha Sagan has worked as a TV producer, filmmaker (she co-wrote and produced a film with best friend Kirsten Dunst, which was screened at Tribeca and closed Cannes in 2010), editor, writer, and speaker in New York, Boston, and London. Her essays and interviews on death, history, and ritual through a secular lens have appeared in New York Magazine, O Magazine, Lit Hub, Mashable, The Violet Book, and elsewhere. She regularly speaks on ways science can inform our celebrations and how we mark the passage of time. FOR SMALL CREATURES SUCH AS WE is a moving tribute to a father, a newborn daughter, a marriage, and the natural world—a celebration of life itself, and the power of our families and beliefs to bring us together. PRAISE FOR FOR SMALL CREATURES SUCH AS WE: “Read her work; you'll have a deeper appreciation for your every step, every bite, and every breath.” —Bill Nye, The Science Guy “This lyrical exploration of how we can find beauty in the natural world comes from the daughter of Carl Sagan, so it's no wonder Sasha's reverence for the cosmos shines through on every page. It's part memoir, part history, part reflection, and all a wonderful gift for your favorite reader.” —Good Housekeeping “Wonderful. . . An elixir for people facing personal crises in a secular world.” —Wall Street Journal “A look at life, the cosmos, and finding magic in our daily lives.” —New York Post “Like her parents, Sasha has the passion, brilliance, and ability to spark curiosity, skepticism, and hope, through the written word. Open mind required. No faith necessary.” —Boing Boing “[Sagan's] view is wide in scope and she draws connections between many fields of science, history, and pop culture. She's not afraid to speculate about the future, including the future of humanity. Her poetic, engaging prose will resonate with many readers, as will her refreshingly breeze and open-minded approach. While some writers today dwell on threats to humanity as if an apocalypse is already upon us and all our children will live horrible lives, Sagan suggests that, regardless of what's to come, we should make the most of the little moments we have on our little corner of the pale blue dot.” —Undark Magazine “A gorgeous collection of essays. . . Birth, anniversaries, fasting, atonement: She approaches these subjects with wonderment and a generous window into her extraordinary family history. . . Sagan writes with stunning clarity and absolute joy. . . For Small Creatures Such As We is a marvel. It dazzles and comforts while making us consider our own place in the vast universe.” —BookPage “From birthdays to funerals to the changing of the seasons to lunar cycles, [Sagan] thoughtfully explores how to blend science and spirituality. An eye-opening book for those who might question traditional religious celebrations but feel connected to the community, rituals, and comforts they provide, this is a refreshing, intelligent examination of faith, religion, and the many wonders of science worthy of celebration.” —Booklist, starred review “In Sagan's astonishingly beautiful and wiser-beyond-one's-years debut, her lineage bursts forth on each page like a literary and scientific big bang. . . [Sagan writes] 'We can be sure that our ancestors, all of our ancestors, contemplated Earth's place in the universe with awe.' For Small Creatures Such As We very much deserves to be read in the same way. . . A wondrous journey exploring how rituals and celebration connect to life's greater meaning.” —Shelf Awareness for Readers  “Welcoming and tender. . . Charming and appealing, this thoughtful work serves as an uplifting, life-honoring celebration of human existence.” —Publishers Weekly

Soniah Kamal- Fall Issue 2021, SOREN LIT Soniah Kamal is an award winning novelist, essayist and public speaker. Her most recent novel, Unmarriageable: Pride & Prejudice in Pakistan (Penguin Random House USA), a post colonial parallel retelling of Jane Austen's classic, is a Financial Times Readers' Best Book of 2019, received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Shelf Awareness, Library Journal, is a New York Public Library and an NPR Code Switch Summer Read Pick, a Library Reads and People's Magazine pick, a 2019 ‘Books All Georgians Should Read,' a 2020 Georgia Author of the Year for Literary Fiction nominee, is shortlisted for the 2020 Townsend Award for Fiction, and hailed as a novel that writes back to Empire, and more. SOREN LIT Founding editor and podcast host: Melodie J. Rodgers www.sorenlit.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/melodie-rodgers/message

In this emotional and powerful episode, LBYR's Victoria Stapleton discusses with author Marcie Colleen her new picture book, SURVIVOR TREE. The hopeful story of a resilient tree that grew (and still grows) at the base of the twin towers is a simple introduction for young readers to gain an understanding of September 11th and the impact it had on America. "A sensitive, accessible entry point into a relatively recent tragedy."—Publishers Weekly * "A lovely 20th-anniversary tribute to the towers and all who perished—and survived."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Eloquent.... A moving history and tribute to resilience."—Booklist "Survivor Tree, which marks the 20-year anniversary of 9/11, is like its subject: a stately monument to resilience."—Shelf Awareness "A story of history and hope, of tragedy and resilience."—Midwest Book Review

In this hour Annamarie Sysling fills in for Stephen Henderson and talks with author and writer Joanne Lipman about the deeper reasons behind the uptick in people quitting their jobs. Plus, a rundown of some of the top picks to add to your summer reading list from Jenny Brown of the Shelf Awareness books newsletter.

Season 2 Book 38: "Things My Son Needs to Know About the World" by Fredrik Backman: An irresistible and insightful collection, perfect for new parents and fans of Backman's “unparalleled understanding of human nature” (Shelf Awareness). As he eloquently reminds us, “You can be whatever you want to be, but that's nowhere near as important as knowing that you can be exactly who you are.” Listen to the "Master of Life #Awareness" #Podcast here: https://podlink.to/sfwalker "Things My Son Needs to Know About the World" by Fredrik Backman - Book Review Book of the Week - BOTW - Season 2 Book 38 Buy the book on #Amazon https://amzn.to/31e4czF GET IT. READ :) FIND OUT which HUMAN NEED is driving all of your behavior http://6-human-needs.sfwalker.com/ Human Needs Psychology + Emotional Intelligence + Universal Laws of Nature = MASTER OF LIFE AWARENESS https://www.sfwalker.com/master-life-awareness --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sfwalker/message

I loved the hell out of Jarret's novel Darkansas, so I asked him to come on my podcast. In response, he sent me a list of things we could talk about. Here is that list: "In addition to talking about the book, we could hit on myths, surrealism, philosophy, Deleuze, hallucinogens, Jung's red book, cold showers, the benefits of stoicism." And damn if we don't hit on all of those. We also talk our messages from the dreamworld, active imagination, and the concept of Twin Peaks as a hypersigil. Bio: JARRET MIDDLETON is the author of DARKANSAS and the novella, AN DANTOMINE EERLY. He was the founding editor of Dark Coast Press and the classics library Pharos Editions, an imprint of Counterpoint/Soft Skull Press. His fiction, essays, and reviews have appeared in Shelf Awareness, The Quarterly Conversation, The Weeklings, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, The Collagist, SmokeLong Quarterly, and HTMLGIANT, as well as appearing in the print anthologies The Breadline Anthology; Hotel Angeline: A Novel in 36 Voices; and In Heaven, Everything is Fine: Fiction Inspired by David Lynch. He lives in Seattle, WA.

Before Helen Macdonald rose to international acclaim with her "beautiful and nearly feral" (New York Times) bestselling memoir H Is for Hawk, she wrote a collection of poetry, Shaler's Fish. In robust, lyrical verse, Shaler's Fish roams both the outer and inner landscapes of the poet's universe, seamlessly fusing reflections on language, science, and literature, with the loamy environments of the natural worlds around her. H is for Hawk - One of the New York Times Book Review's 10 Best Books of the Year ON MORE THAN 25 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR LISTS: including TIME (#1 Nonfiction Book), NPR, O, The Oprah Magazine (10 Favorite Books), Vogue (Top 10), Vanity Fair, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Seattle Times, San Francisco Chronicle (Top 10), Miami Herald, St. Louis Post Dispatch, Minneapolis Star Tribune (Top 10), Library Journal (Top 10), Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Slate, Shelf Awareness, Book Riot, Amazon (Top 20) - Amazon The Avid Reader Show is sponsored and produced by Wellington Square Bookshop in Chester County, PA. The Show airs Mondays at 5PM on WCHE AM 1520 EST. Please visit our website at www.wellingtonsquarebooks.com

We are thrilled to welcome back award-winning and USA Today bestselling author Sonali Dev. Dubbed by Shelf Awareness as “not only one of the best but one of the bravest romance novelists working today,” Sonali writes Bollywood-style love stories that explore universal issues. She joins us to discuss the hilarious and heartfelt THE VIBRANT YEARS, which was the first novel to be published by Mindy's Book Studio, the new Amazon Publishing imprint of Emmy-nominated actress, comedian, writer, and producer, Mindy Kaling. We talk to Sonali all about how she manifested her working relationship with Mindy using a vision board to realize her biggest professional dream. We also discuss her choice to focus on a mother-in-law relationship over a standard mother/daughter dynamic, how she imbues her older characters with joy and vibrancy, and her shift with this book away from writing re-tellings of classics. The full crew also discusses books of theirs and favorites by other authors that offer up the perfect escape without leaving your armchair. Tune in for lots of laughs, warmth and honest insights.