Thoughts from a Page Podcast

In this episode, Kelly and I chat about our favorite books that published in July through early October 2024. Our shared top reads: The Wedding People by ⁠Alison Espach⁠  We Solve Murders by Richard Osman  The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by ⁠Lynda Cohen Loigman⁠ Kelly’s remaining top reads: The Same Bright Stars by Ethan Joella  Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne The...

In this episode, Kelly and I chat about our favorite books that published in July through September 2025. Our shared top reads: Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild  Culpability by ⁠Bruce Holsinger ⁠ Slanting Towards the Sea by ⁠Lidija Hilje ⁠ The Book of Guilt by ⁠Catherine Chidgey⁠  The Killer Question by ⁠Janice Hallett⁠  Kelly’s remaining top reads: Guess Again by Charl...

In this episode, Kelly and I chat about our favorite books that published in July through September 2026. Our shared top reads: Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves Time to Burn by Ellery Lloyd Kelly’s remaining top reads: Make Nice by Ryan Effgen The Parisian Heist by Jo Piazza City of Widows by Nadia Hashimi The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian Under Story by Chloe Benjamin Hollow B...

Mary Webber O'Malley and Pamela Klinger-Horn join me to recommend their favorites reads of the fourth quarter of 2026.  Mary’s Titles: October The Four Wives and Five Deaths of Richard Milford by Nafissa Thompson Spires What Nature Teaches Us by Clay and Amber Vilhauer When The Night Comes Knocking by Katherine Daniel This Is What Happens When Women Read by Julianna Glasse November Revenge Pl...

Kelly joins me for September's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads. Kelly's Selections: Last:  Breathing Under Water by Jacqueline Friedland Fallow by Sarah Anderson Now: Hopeless Romantics by Mhairi McFarlane Cleared for Takeoff by Captain Nia Gilliam  Next: Up to the Light by Julia Armfield  Buried Embers b...

In this interview, I chat with Zibby Owens about Between Chapters, finding humor in darker moments, how she approached including others in her memoir, her favorite genres, writing a out loneliness and anxiety, owning a bookstore, recording the audiobook, crowdsourcing the book's titles and cover, and much more. Zibby's recommended reads are: Luna, Phoenix, Queen by Julie Orringer The Things You'll...

In this interview, I chat with Janice Hallett about The Silent Appeal, returning to the Fairway Players, why she selected The Hollow by Agatha Christie for the play in the book, amateur theatre communities, not revealing who died until close to the end, weaving humor into the story, her writing process, the title and cover, and much more. Janice's recommended reads are: London Falling by Patrick R...

In this interview, I chat with Amanda Peters about The Birthing Tree, how a family story inspired this book, the importance of tradition, her various covers for this one, tackling the themes of grief and secrets, creating a strong sense of place, her writing process, and much more. Amanda's recommended reads are: John of John by Douglas Stuart Intermezzo by Sally Rooney A Glacier's Guide to Dying...

Kelly joins me for August's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads. Kelly's Selections: Last:  Hollow Bones by Jodi Piccoult The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian Now: Minbak by Ela Lee Breathing Under Water by Jaqueline Friedland  Next: Fallow by Sarah Anderson  The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman by Deesha Phi...

In this interview, I chat with Elizabeth Letts about Fallen for France, her inspiration for and connection to the story and setting, her love of horses and how they help create an entry into a story, the research she conducted, the title and cover, imagining the past, writing both fiction and nonfiction, and much more. Elizabeth's recommended reads are: The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin There...

In this interview, I chat with writing duo Ellery Lloyd about Time to Burn, selecting their pseudonym, the 3 starred reviews for this book, crafting the time travel aspects of the story, their writing process and research, the stunning cover, and much more. Collette's recommended read is Witch Trial by Harriet Tyce. Paul's recommended read is The Whisper Man by Alex North. Looking for some great s...

In this interview, I chat with Thao Thai about The Seekers of Deer Creek, her inspiration for the story, incorporating Vietnamese art and culture, creating a strong sense of place, the stunning cover, and much more. Thao's recommended reads are: Son of Nobody by Yann Martel Between You a River by Kimberly Garza Understory by Chloe Benjamin Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printabl...

Kelly joins me for July's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads. Kelly's Selections: Last:  The Great Wherever by Shannon Sanders  Under Story by Chloe Benjamin Now: The Five Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand  It’s Not Her by Mary Kubica  Next: The Things You’ll Never Know by Ashley Audrain  The Natural Ord...

Today's episode is a collaboration between Deanna Allbrittin, host of the podcast All About Books, and me about my literary salon here in Richmond, Virginia. We talk about how it originated, what it looks like now, and the future of the salon. Deanna Allbrittin is the main evening anchor and Development and Engagement Manager at WRIC - 8News. That means she leads station community engagement initi...

In this episode, Kelly and I chat about our favorite books that published in April through June 2026. Our shared top reads: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke  Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth  The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff  Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan  The Top of the World by Ethan Joella Kelly’s remaining top reads: Start at the End by Emma Grey  Cleo Dang Would Ra...

Mary Webber O'Malley and Pamela Klinger-Horn join me to recommend their favorites reads of the third quarter of 2026.  Mary’s Titles: July Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves Dad, Love, Me by Matthew Quick People Watching in the Desert by Cali Adeline Man Overboard by Kathleen Rooney August The Cruelest Game by Matthew Futterman The Wild Beneath by Kelly Anderson Fallen fo...

In this interview, I chat with Ethan Joella about The Top of the World, how this story came about, setting a book in the 1970s, handing Chip's death, his research, the stellar cover, Bookstagram, writing this book and how much it changed over the years, our love for nostalgia, and much more. Ethan's recommended reads are: The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout Heart the Lover by Lily King Whe...

 Kelly joins me for June's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads. Kelly's Selections: Last:  Whistler by Ann Patchett Station 11 by Emily St. John Mandel Now: All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby  The Under Story by Chloe Benjamin  Next: No Exit by Taylor Adams Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult  DNFs: Land by Maggie O’Farrell Book Mail highlights: Sunlight Find...

In this interview, I chat with Jessica Goldstein about Retro, why readers are fascinated by time travel stories, what inspired her to write this novel, the sense of foreboding she creates on the page, choosing the time periods her characters would travel to, our love for nostalgia, and much more. Jessica's recommended reads are: The Children by Melissa Alpert Books by Robert Caro The Fountain by C...

In this interview, I chat with Portia Elan about Homebound, her publishing journey, having Homebound selected as Scribner's Lead Read for spring, marketing in the publishing world, her research, what the editing process was like and how it changed the story, and much more. Portia's recommended read is Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett. Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 1...

In this interview, I chat with Lauren Oliver about The Girl in the Lake, UVA's Division of Perceptual Studies, her research, incorporating reincarnation into the story, creating a strong sense of place, what the rest of the series will look like, what surprised her the most when writing this one, and much more. Lauren's recommended reads are: God of the Woods by Liz Moore The Dublin Murder Squad s...

 Kelly joins me for May's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads. Kelly's Selections: Last:  Both Can Be True by Jessica Guerrieri The One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh Now: Abby Offsides by Anna McCallie The Forgotten Midwife by Laura Anthony Next: The Gulf of Lions by Caitlin Shetterly Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray DNFs: The Au Pair by Ted...

In this interview, I chat with Christina Baker Kline about The Foursome, her personal connection to this story, her research and trying to learn more about the sisters who marry Cheng and Eng, having Sarah narrate the story, telling the tale without sensationalizing it, drawing on today's divisions to inform the past, The Foursome's publishing journey, and much more. Christina's recommended read i...

In this interview, I chat with Annabel Monaghan about Dolly All the Time, choosing Rhode Island as the setting for the book, why she invented a fictional town, her favorite male love interest that she has created, serving as a caregiver and honoring that role, designing a suitable breakup, and much more. Annabel's recommended reads are: The Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh Down With the Ship...

In this interview, I chat with Sarah Damoff about The Burning Side, exploring family dynamics, memory, and the early years of motherhood, how she decided who would tell the story, her writing process, the beautiful cover, and much more. Sarah's recommended reads are: Everything is Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves Start at the End by Emma Grey Land by Maggie O'Farrell (and all of her backli...