Beyond the Next Chapter with Whitney Clark

We're in the middle of the summer. It's hot. So why not cool down with a good book? On this episode we're joined by Barbara Hagen of ThriftBooks to talk about the most popular summer reads so far. Our host Whitney Clark also asks about how the online bookseller gets used books (some for just a few dollars!), how it helps local libraries, and which titles made its list of the top 250 books of all t...

If you want a good cry, Sarah Damoff knows how to make readers tear up! Damoff joins us to chat about her sophomore novel "The Burning Side." In the new book, she explores topics you'll relate to including marriage struggles, raising kids, and how families face challenges with Alzheimer's. The book is set in Texas. Sarah chats with our host Whitney Clark about why she sets books in her home state,...

They are two of the most popular genres in the book world right now: fantasy and romantasy. Whether you love or want to fall in love with the genres, we're talking about the best fantasy books to read this summer! We're joined by the owners of The Enchanted Quill. It's the first and only fantasy-specific mobile bookstore in the Phoenix area. Included on the list of books are the following:  ...

Artificial intelligence is nothing new, but it's growing and changing every day. That includes in the world of book publishing. From lawsuits with social media companies, to books being pulled from shelves because of suspected AI use, we're covering it all with our guest Jane Freidman. She's spent more than 20 years in publishing and now reports on the industry, appearing in many national publicat...

From TikTok to Instagram and YouTube, influencers are everywhere. And so are their families and children. In her new book "Like, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Online," journalist Fortesa Latifi is exploring what it means to live your childhood online. Fortesa found some content creators make millions of dollars a year, with some of their best-performing content fea...

It's a love story...about female friendships! New York Times Bestselling author Jessica George is out with her sophomore novel "Love By the Book." She joins the podcast this week from London to talk about how we can show up for friends as we age, why she's starting sometimes taboo conversations about having kids and making friends as adults, and she shares her favorite restaurants and spots across...

Is the book better than the movie? In this week's episode, we're joined by USA Today's books reporter Clare Mulroy to answer that age-old question. From "Wuthering Heights," to "Heated Rivalry," "Hamnet" and more, Clare and our host Whitney Clark chat about their favorite, and least favorite, page-to-screen adaptions. Clare also talks about how she got her dream job, how she finds time to read and...

It's the Super Bowl for book lovers: the Tucson Festival of Books! It's the biggest book festival in Arizona, and it's happening at the University of Arizona on March 14 and 15 this year. There are hundreds of authors who will be there, including the headliners Salman Rushdie, Susan Lucci, and R.L. Stine. On this episode, we're joined by public librarian and Tucson-based author Sarah T. Dubb. She...

If you're a fan of 90's rom-coms and cozy love stories, you're in luck! Romance favorite B.K. Borison is out with "And Now, Back to You." It's the second book in her "Heartstrings" series. B.K. joins the podcast to talk about her love of her hometown Baltimore, where the book is set, local news, and classics like "Sleepless in Seattle." 

Every year February is recognized as Black History Month, but there's an Arizona-based bookseller who has made it her mission to highlight Black authors all year long. On this episode we're joined by Petra Sherbin-Fox. She owns The Lit Twis't: the first Black-owned mobile bookstore in the Valley. Petra opened the shop after not being able to find books by authors she was looking for, particularly...

Valentine's Day is just around the corner! If you're looking for a great romance book, we've got you covered. This week our host Whitney Clark is joined by two Arizona romance authors: Neely Tubati Alexander and Liana De la Rosa, who share their favorite picks. That includes "Honey Bee Mine" by Sarah T. Dubb and "The Magic of Untamed Hearts" by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland. They also talk about their...

It's officially 2026 and we're in for another great year of reading! In this episode we're joined by Ali Jaksich, a book buyer for the Changing Hands Bookstore with locations in Phoenix and Tempe. She chats about how she picks books for the store, how she became a book buyer and how you can read more in 2026.   From cookbooks, to horror and other fiction reads, here are Ali's most anticipated...

The year has come to an end and it's time to talk about our favorite books of the year! In the final podcast episode of the year, our host Whitney Clark is sharing her favs. Here's a look at her top ten: 

If reading more is one of your New Year's resolutions, it's the perfect time to start or join a book club! This week, we're hearing from the founders of Not Your Average Book Club and The Lonely Girls Book Club. From audio book walks to bookish markets in Arizona and more, their clubs are creating a sense of community that so many are craving right now. They share their tips on how to start a book...

The holidays are here and no one embodies the holiday spirit more than Valley-based author Karen Schaler. She's out with a new book for the holidays called "A Ruff Royal Christmas." Karen joins the podcast to talk about her books and her work as a screenwriter and former journalist. She helped write the Netflix hit movie series "A Christmas Prince." Karen also chats about the journey of self-publi...

They are one of the original founders of BookTok, and now Cait Jacobs is out with their debut novel, "The Princess Knight." It features a princess who is desperate to win back the prince who broke her heart, so she follows him to his kingdom's military academy. On this week's episode, Cait talks with our host Whitney Clark about how their success on social media led to a publishing deal, the rise...

Temperatures are going down and it's time for Fall reads and books for the holidays! We're joined this week by our friends Melati Parker and Rylie Occhipinto from Wijaya House in Tempe: a bookstore, flower and craft shop! From horror, dark academia and the classics, our host Whitney Clark also has some recommendations as well. A few of the favorites for this season include "Little Women" by Louisa...

You've probably seen her viral TikTok videos and now Eli Rallo is out with her new memoir: "Does Anybody Else Feel This Way?" The author, content creator and self-proclaimed theater kid joins the podcast this week to talk about the book, which features a series of essays. Rallo touches on everything from friendship breakups, navigating social media, and the ups and downs that come with life in you...

It's Banned Books Week! Banning books is nothing new. In fact, the first book ban in the U.S. took place in 1637, according to Harvard researchers. The American Library Association is just one of the organizations hosting events. On this week's episode, we're diving into the history of book bans and which popular books have faced challenges. We're joined by Arizona State University professor Dr. J...

Ten years after her debut, Angela Flournoy is back with one of the most anticipated books of the year! In "The Wilderness," Flournoy explores 20 years of friendship among a group of millennial Black women. The book has already been named as a finalist for the 2025 Kirkus Prize in fiction, among other accolades. Flournoy chats with our host Whitney Clark about getting older and the uncharted territ...

For the first time, we're joined by a YA author on the podcast: and she's an Arizona local! Hailey Alcaraz is out with her latest book "Rosa by Any Other Name." Alcaraz describes it as "West Side Story" meets "The Hate U Give" and it's a loose retelling of "Romeo & Juliet." The book takes place in Phoenix, and Alcaraz shares how she did her research, what she learned about the history of South...

What do librarians do? How do libraries pay for books? We're so glad you asked! This week on Beyond the Next Chapter, we're diving into the world of public libraries! We're joined by three employees of the Phoenix Public Library system, including the library services director. They chat about what they love about their jobs and all of the free services available to you and your family. You can als...

Her name is synonymous with crime fiction and Karin Slaughter is out with her new book "We Are All Guilty Here." Slaughter is a New York Times bestselling author who's sold more than 40 million copies of her books across the world. Some of her books have also been developed into popular TV series, including WILL TRENT. In her latest novel we're transported to the small, fictional town of North Fal...

As kids get ready to head back to school, we're tackling the question: What books should you read to your kids? Whether they are turning 2 or 12 this school year, we brought in some experts with a great recommendation list! This episode we're joined by Terri Clark, the Arizona literacy director with Read On Arizona. Also joining the conversation is our host Whitney Clark's friend and co-anchor Kyl...

Suspense, folklore, and witchcraft: that's how Silvia Moreno-Garcia describes her newest book "The Bewitching." It's about three different women in three eras who all encounter dangerous witchcraft. Moreno-Garcia is the New York Times bestselling author of "Mexican Gothic." She's joining our host Whitney Clark to chat about how she was inspired by Mexican and New England folklore. Moreno-Garcia wa...