A Bookish Home

This week my guest is poet and bestselling author Maggie Smith whose memoir, You Could Make This Place Beautiful just released and explores the disintegration of her marriage and her renewed commitment to herself. Maggie Smith is also  the award-winning author of Good Bones, The Well Speaks of Its Own Poison, Lamp of the Body, and … Continue reading Ep. 143: Poet Maggie Smith on Yo...

Eleanor Shearer is here to discuss her debut novel, River Sing Me Home, a beautiful, page-turning and redemptive story of a mother’s gripping journey across the Caribbean to find her stolen children in the aftermath of slavery. We discuss the power of historical novels to teach and bring lesser known periods of history to life … Continue reading Ep. 142: Eleanor Shearer on Bringing the 19th...

Tori Whitaker is back on the podcast this week to discuss A Matter of Happiness, a bittersweet novel about family, hard truths, and self-discovery in which a cherished heirloom opens up a century of secrets. We discussed how she went about researching this time period, ways her writing process has changed after two books, drawing … Continue reading Ep. 141 Tori Whitaker Takes Us Into a World...

Today my guest is Diane Marie Brown, author of Black Candle Women, a warm and wry family drama with a magical twist about four generations of Black women living under one roof and the family curse that stems back to a Voodoo shop in 1950s New Orleans.   We discuss the winding road to debut … Continue reading Ep. 140: Get the Scoop on “Read With Jenna” Pick – Black Candle Wo...

Today archivist and author Amy Tector is back on the podcast to discuss her new series, the Dominion Archives Mysteries, which is perfect for fans of Louise Penny.   “Amy Tector has created a fascinating, hugely likeable main character in Jessica Novak. The Foulest Things follows archivist Jess from discovering letters hidden in antique books, … Continue reading Ep. 139: Amy Tector Discusses...

Bestselling author Sarah Penner is back on to discuss her new novel, The London Seance Society, a spellbinding gothic whodunit introducing two enigmatic women who set out to solve a most unusual mystery.     “Penner has conjured up another winner. Bristling with tension and featuring strong women who aren’t afraid to defy conventions, this … Continue reading Ep. 138 Sarah Penner...

Amy Poeppel is back on the podcast to discuss The Sweet Spot, a big-hearted, delightful novel about three women who form an accidental sorority in Greenwich village when a baby lands on their collective doorstep.     “The Sweet Spot sparkles with Amy Poeppel’s signature wit and warmth. This genuinely uproarious novel celebrates families – … Continue reading Ep. 137: Amy Poeppel o...

Today bestselling author Pam Jenoff is on the podcast to discuss Code Name Sapphire, a powerful new novel about a secret resistance network during World War II and the unshakable resilience of women in even the hardest of times.     “Engrossing and emotionally stirring…A heart-wrenching exploration of the decisions women must make when their … Continue reading Ep. 136 Pam Jenoff...

Today Alena Dillon is back on the podcast to discuss Eyes Turned Skyward, an unforgettable dual timeline novel about a daughter discovering her mother’s past as a female pilot during World War II, while also starting a new chapter in her own life. “Eyes Turned Skyward is a powerful examination of the cost—emotional, familial, generational—when women … Continue reading Ep. 135: Ale...

This week, Lynne Reeves is on the podcast to discuss Dark Rivers to Cross, an emotionally charged thriller that explores long-buried family secrets and the deadly reckoning that follows their explosive reveal.   “A heart-in-your-throat page-turner that shines a compassionate light on the injustices surrounding domestic violence and the failures of our mental healthcare system.”—Julie …...

Today my guest is Arianna Warsaw-Fan Rauch, author of Declassified: A Low-Key Guide to the High-Strung World of Classical Music. In a starred review, Booklist says of Declassified, “Cue vigorous applause and a standing ovation because Declassified is an enchanting and exhilarating tour de force.”    https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nqxz4e/DeclassifiedFinal.mp3   Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcas...

This week, Marie Benedict is on the podcast to discuss The Mitford Affair, an explosive novel of history’s most notorious sisters.   “In her latest book The Mitford Affair, Benedict plunges readers into a world of glamorous, charismatic young British debutantes and then turns that shiny world on its head. I was blown away–learning this true story … Continue reading Ep. 132: Marie...

Lisa Unger is on the podcast this week to discuss Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six, a chilling locked-room thriller in which three couples rent a luxury cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway.   “In Unger’s 20th terrifying thriller, DNA ancestry kits lead to revenge when siblings, spouses and friends vacation in an isolated luxury … Continue reading Ep. 131: Lisa Unger on Crafting Bes...

Tori Dunlap is on the podcast this week to discuss Financial Feminist, an inclusive guide to all things money—from managing debt to investing and voting with your dollars.     “A much-needed book about the intersections between feminism and financial literacy.”—Library Journal, Starred Review   https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/7hiivg/ToriDunlapFinal.mp3   Listen and subscribe on Apple P...

Just in time to tackle those New Year’s resolutions, time management expert Laura Vandkerkam is back on the podcast this week to discuss Tranquility by Tuesday: Nine Ways to Calm the Chaos and Make time for What Matters. For anyone who’s sick of letting to-do lists dictate their time, Laura shares strategies for reclaiming your … Continue reading Ep. 129: Laura Vanderkam Helps Us Make...

Lynda Cohen Loigman joins me today to discuss her new novel, The Matchmaker’s Gift, a heartwarming story of two extraordinary women from two different eras who defy expectations to utilize their unique gift of seeing soulmates in the most unexpected places.   “Loigman’s latest is a gem. A scrappy Jewish teenager newly arrived in 1920s … Continue reading Ep. 128: Lynda Cohen Loigm...

This week my guest is Henriette Lazaridis, author of the new novel, Terra Nova, a haunting story of love, art, and betrayal, set against the heart-pounding backdrop of Antarctic exploration.   “From Viola, willing to risk all for women’s suffrage, to her husband—traveling with her secret lover—who risks all to be the first to reach … Continue reading Ep. 127: Henriette Lazaridis on Secrets,...

This week my guest is Latoya Watkins, author of the powerful debut novel, Perish, about a Black Texan family, exploring the effects of inherited trauma and intergenerational violence as the family comes together to say goodbye to their matriarch on her deathbed.*   “With Perish, Watkins joins a tradition of Southern writers who delve into … Continue reading Ep 126: LaToya Watkins on Method W...

This week my guest is Kamila Shamsie, author of Best of Friends, a moving and surprising story of a lifelong friendship and the forces that bring it to the breaking point. We discussed how to tap into your teenage years, the magic of 2am writing, creating unforgettable characters, and much more.   “A profound novel … Continue reading Ep. 125: Kamila Shamsie on Capturing the Complexities of L...

Author Connie Berry is on the podcast this week to discuss a new book in her Kate Hamilton mystery series, The Shadow of Memory, about an American antiques dealer who uncovers a dark secret buried in Victorian England.     “A seamlessly plotted mystery for fans of English puzzles.” — Library Journal starred review   https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/6xxurk/ConnieBerry_final.mp3 … Continue read...

Bestselling author Julie Clark is back on the podcast this week to discuss The Lies I Tell, a new domestic thriller that will have you up all night reading.     “A gripping, immersive, downright triumphant revenge thriller…this book is so incredibly engaging and immersive, and I loved following the dangerous dance that develops between … Continue reading Ep. 123: Julie Clark on F...

Sue Mell is on the podcast this week to discuss her new novel, Provenance. Winner of the Madville Publishing 2021 Blue Moon Novel Award, Provenance is a story of hope in ruin.  “A carefully crafted, impressively intriguing, and fully engaging contemporary novel that will have a special appeal to readers interested in family life fiction, … Continue reading Ep. 122: Sue Mell on Provenance, Bo...

This week, I’m excited to share an interview with author, actor, and activist Maulik Pancholy. Pancholy’s debut middle grade novel, The Best At It, was a Stonewall Honor Award winner and is in development for television at HBO Max. His second novel, Nikhil Out Loud is available now and is a Junior Library Guild gold … Continue reading Ep. 121: Author, Actor, and Activist Maulik Panchol...

This week David Yoon is on the podcast to discuss City of Orange, about a man who wakes up in an unknown landscape, injured and alone. Harrowing and haunting but also humorous in the face of the unfathomable, this is a novel about reassembling the things that make us who we are and finding our way home again. … Continue reading Ep. 120: David Yoon on Crafting a Post-Apocalyptic Page Turner i...

Today my guest is Elly Swartz, author of the new middle grade novel, Dear Student, about a girl with social anxiety who becomes the secret voice of her middle school’s advice column.     “Tweens won’t be able to put down this heartfelt story with a fresh plot, vibrant characters, and even a recipe for whoopie … Continue reading Ep. 119: Elly Swartz on Writing Heartfelt Stories for Tweens wit...