Bookish Flights: Books, Author Interviews & Must-Read Recommendations

Send us Fan Mail What was childhood like before screens, constant supervision, and endless distractions? In this episode of Bookish Flights, I'm joined by Meghan Cox Gurdon, longtime Wall Street Journal book critic and author of Free Range Girl , a memoir about her unconventional childhood in rural Maine during the 1970s. We talk about the process of writing a memoir, the freedom of growing u...

Send us Fan Mail Want to be a guest on more podcasts? After more than 250 interviews on Bookish Flights, I've seen what makes a podcast guest stand out and what can make a pitch fall flat. In this solo episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes of podcast hosting to share a few things I wish more potential guests knew. From getting a host's attention to making the most of your interv...

Send us Fan Mail Today on Bookish Flights, I'm joined by contemporary romance author Deborah Clack to talk about her journey from high school history teacher to published novelist. Deborah shares how she always viewed the world through the lens of storytelling, the steep learning curve of becoming an author, and the rejection she faced along the way. We also talk about making time for ourselv...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you step outside your comfort zone and make room for something new? Courtney Walsh joins the BFF Book Club to talk about her novel Brighter Than Before and the courage it takes to get out of your own way, build meaningful connections, and remember just how strong you really are. Episode Highlights: Getting outside your comfort zone (even when you’d really rather...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Bookish Flights, I’m joined by national bestselling and award-winning author Katherine Reay to talk about her latest novel, The Undercover Bookshop . We chat about life on a Montana ranch, writing spy novels, the fascinating true history behind her fiction, and why sometimes the facts are far more unbelievable than anything she could make up. Katherine also brin...

Send us Fan Mail Today, I’m joined by bestselling author Annie Barrows to talk about her journey from editor to author, why she loves writing for children, and her Stella & Marigold series, including the newest book, Past and Presents . We also talk about the joy of getting lost in a story, writing with the reader in mind, and, of course, I couldn’t let Annie go without asking about one of my...

Send us Fan Mail Today’s episode features Alex Alexander, author of Are We Friends Yet: How to Deepen Your Relationships and Create the Community You Need and host of the Friendship IRL  podcast . Alex and I talk about writing her first book, what surprised her about the process, and her experience navigating self-publishing versus traditional publishing. We also explore the ideas at the heart of...

Send us Fan Mail This week, I’m joined by Zibby Owens—bestselling author, host of Totally Booked with Zibby , and founder of Zibby Media—to talk about her new memoir, Between Chapters . We talk about motherhood, reinvention, the emotions that come with telling your own story, and what she discovered looking back over a decade of her life. After interviewing more than 2,300 authors herself, Zibby a...

Send us Fan Mail Today’s episode features Gordon Jack, author of Poppy Montgomery Gets Even . After 30 years as a high school librarian and writing two young adult novels, Gordon is turning his attention to adult fiction with a cozy mystery featuring an unforgettable octogenarian crime fighter. He talks about how his years surrounded by books shaped him as a writer, finding humor in complicated ch...

Send us Fan Mail New York Times bestselling author Penn Cole joins me to celebrate Burn of the Everflame , the fourth book in her Kindred’s Curse Saga . We talk about her journey from self-publishing to hybrid publishing, building her community one reader at a time, and the growing influence readers have on the publishing landscape. Penn also shares what it takes to write both sides of romantasy w...

Send us Fan Mail Today’s guest is Hank Phillipi Ryan, the USA Today bestselling author of seventeen thrillers, including the Mary Higgins Clark Award-winning All This Could Be Yours . A true powerhouse in the mystery and suspense world, she won every major award in the genre and has captivated readers around the globe with her twist-filled novels. Before becoming one of today’s most celebrated thr...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Andre Hardy, a former NFL player turned writer and author of the debut crime novel Tear the City Down . Set in San Diego against the high-stakes world of professional football, the novel draws on Andre’s own experiences in the NFL while exploring the darker sides of the sport and the city. We also talk about his path to writing, the role of ja...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s BFF Book Club episode, I’m chatting with romantic suspense author Natalie Walters about our August pick, Spies, Lies, and Alibis . Natalie takes us behind the scenes of this Mr. & Mrs. Smith -inspired story and shares how she found her way to romantic suspense, what makes an idea worthy of becoming a novel, and why authenticity matters even in a story filled with sp...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, I am chatting with Jessica Guerrieri, an award-winning novelist and essayist whose literary fiction explores the complexities of motherhood, identity, family, and the ways our past continues to shape us. She is the author of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea , winner of the 2023 Maurice Prize for Fiction, and her newest novel, Both Can Be True . Beyond he...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, I am chatting with Alli Dyer. Alli was born in Tennessee and raised in the mountains of Virginia. Alli is the author of Strange Folk and her latest novel, Night Songs . For the last decade, she worked in the entertainment and book publishing, bringing a unique perspective to the stories she tells.  We dive into Night Songs and the inspiration behind its story o...

Send us Fan Mail Today's episode features Thao Thai, bestselling author of Banyan Moon . She joins us to discuss her latest novel, The Seekers of Deer Creek , a captivating story of two estranged sisters whose search for a lost painting uncovers long-buried family secrets stretching across generations and continents. In our conversation, we explore the many ways art preserves history and memo...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Bookish Flights, I'm joined by New York Times bestselling author Rhys Bowen to discuss her latest novel, The Castle in the Glen . We explore the inspiration behind the story, why the Isle of Skye was the perfect setting, and how Rhys layers mysteries "like peeling away the layers of an onion." Rhys also shares why she always travels to every location sh...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Bookish Flights, internationally bestselling author Anna Johnston of The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife and she  returns to discuss her heartfelt new novel, When Lemons Give You Life . Inspired by her years working in aged care, Anna shares why she loves writing older characters who remind us that every stage of life still has purpose, dignity, and the capacity for j...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Bookish Flights, I'm joined by Ginny Kochis, author of Quirky Catholic Kids . Ginny shares what inspired her to write a practical guide for parents raising neurodivergent children through the lens of faith, while reminding us that many of these lessons apply to parenting children of all ages. We discuss what neurodivergence really means, why emotional regulation...

Send us Fan Mail As a physical therapist, I spent years helping people build habits that would improve their lives long after they left the clinic. Those experiences taught me that lasting change doesn't happen in one big moment—it happens through small, consistent choices. Lately, I've found myself asking that same question about reading. What makes someone a reader? As a lifelong reade...

Send us Fan Mail This week, I’m joined by Erin Kirschenmann—lifelong reader, wine educator, and founder of Novel Pairings , an online book and wine membership that brings together thoughtfully curated books, wine pairings, playlists, community, and in-person events. Whether you're a wine enthusiast or someone who has no idea what to order, Erin makes wine feel approachable and fun. We talk ab...

Send us Fan Mail This week, I'm joined by Julie Carrick Dalton, journalist, former organic farmer and beekeeper, and author of The Forest Becomes Her . Julie's novels are deeply rooted in the natural world, exploring the relationship between people, place, and the communities we build together. Inspired by her own experience watching a beloved forest disappear to development, The Forest...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Bookish Flights, I'm joined by beloved children's author Kate DiCamillo for a conversation about something much bigger than writing. We explore what it means to be a reader, why stories shape us long after childhood, and how a love of books can become one of the greatest gifts we pass from one generation to the next. Kate's stories, including Because of...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Bookish Flights, I’m joined by middle grade author and podcaster Becca Wierwille. She is the author of the Road Trip Rescue series and the Scout and Barnaby Mysteries . Becca writes stories that help kids embrace what makes them unique and discover the adventures waiting for them. Together, we discuss the power of children's books, how stories help build em...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Bookish Flights, I’m joined by award-winning author Martha Engber for a thoughtful conversation about storytelling, curiosity, and the power of fiction to help us better understand ourselves and others. We chat about her Mary Donahue Chronicles, including Winter Light and Scattered Light , and explore themes of trauma, healing, self-worth, and the experiences that sha...