Beyond the Next Chapter with Whitney Clark

Buckle up for this book! It's hard to talk about "Finding Grace" without giving too much away, but if you read the first chapter you'll be hooked. That at least is the goal of British author Loretta Rothschild in her debut novel. She joins the podcast to talk about her new book, which features an improbable story that almost reads like a tense thriller. Rothschild talks about love and grief and ho...

S ummer is still here and it's the perfect time to pick up a new book! If you're heading out of town for a vacation, or maybe you just need a bit of an escape by the pool, we're talking about the books you should read this summer! We're joined by two librarians from the Mesa Public Library, Megan Guderian and Caroline Lewicki. A few of their choices include "My Friends" by Fredrik Bachman, "Summer...

Jewel thieves, World War II, Paris, a decades-old murder, and a long-lost love story: that's what you'll find in Kristin Harmel's newest book "The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau." Harmel is a New York Times best-selling author known for her historical fiction novels. She talks about what inspired her latest book, and how her recent battle with breast cancer changed her outlook on life and aging.&n...

Thriller lovers, rejoice! Riley Sager is joining the podcast this week to talk about his latest book "With a Vengeance." He's a New York Times bestselling author known for his page-turning novels that always include unexpected twists. Sager's latest novel is set on a train. The main character, Anna Matheson, is seeking revenge after her family was killed years prior. She invites six people on the...

it's the best time of the year: summer means beach reads! Annabel Monaghan is out with her third romance book called "It's A Love Story." Monaghan is a USA Today bestselling author, and she joins the podcast this week. Her new book features Jane Jackson, a former teen star who was the punchline of every joke. As an adult she's a producer trying to get a project greenlight and tells a lie she has t...

Calling all reality television fans! Arizona-based author Neely Tubati Alexander is out with a new book called "Courtroom Drama." This is Alexander's third rom-com and it features childhood best friends who were on the cusp of something more. Sadly an incident abruptly ended Sydney and Damon's relationship. They reunite years later when they were placed on the same jury and the woman on trial for...

She's one of the most popular romance authors right now and Kennedy Ryan is out with the final installment of her Skyland series. Ryan is joining "Beyond the Next Chapter" this week to talk about "Can't Get Enough." Hendrix is the heroine of the story: a business owner, the life of the party, and an entrepreneur who also helps run a venture capital fund for Black women. Hendrix is taking care of a...

It's time to take a trip to Italy! On this episode, we're joined by Sarah Penner who is out with her new book "The Amalfi Curse." It's set in present-day Positano and in the 1800s. The novel features witches, sunken treasure, and forbidden love in a picturesque Italian village. This is Penner's third book following her debut "The Lost Apothecary" in 2021. One of the main characters is a nautical a...

She's a reader favorite, and now Jeneva Rose is out with her latest book "The Perfect Divorce." This is the sequel to "The Perfect Marriage," which was Rose's debut in 2020. It has sold more than 2 million copies! In the new book, we are once again in Sarah Morgan's world as she has started a new family 11 years after she defended her husband in a high-profile murder case. Rose talks to our host W...

You've likely been reading Jennifer Weiner's books for years, and now she's out with a new novel called "The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits." The No. 1 New York Times bestseller is known for her hit novels including "In Her Shoes and "Good In Bed." Her newest book is set in two timelines. In the present day, no one knows why the Griffin sisters' band implodes after they rose to fame in the early 2...

We are taking you to the Land of Oz! You may have seen the movie "Wicked," but before it was a movie, it was a hit Broadway musical. And before that, it was a book originally published in 1995. While the book and the movie are much different, the author of the book "Wicked," Gregory Maguire, is out with a new book called "Elphie." It's a prequel that dives into Ephaba's childhood. What happened to...

Ahead of St. Patrick's Day, we're going beyond the next chapter and taking you to Ireland! We're joined this week by Valley teacher and author Jennifer Deibel. She's out with a new book called "Heart of the Glen." Jennifer teaches in the Valley and is passionate about reading and literacy. She also spent 10 years living in Ireland and Austria. She talks about how she became an author, what surpris...

Calling all historical fiction fans! On this episode, our host Whitney Clark is joined by New York Times best-selling author Fiona Davis. She's out with a new book called "The Stolen Queen." This novel takes us from The Met to Egypt! It's a mix of glamour and mummies, mystery, and Davis describes it as a cross between  "Indiana Jones," "Thelma & Louise" and "The Devil Wears Prada." Davis...

Do you need a hug? We all do sometimes! In honor of Valentine's Day, this week we are joined by two librarians from the Maricopa County Library District with their book recommendations: specifically books that feel like a hug! They offer a few titles that may give you some comfort, a sense of community, feel-good reads, cozy fantasy books and more. Here is the list:  "Britt-Marie Was Here" by...

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, New York Times best-selling author Tessa Bailey is out with her latest spicy sports romance “Dream Girl Drama.” When a professional hockey player and a harp player have a chance encounter, there is an instant love connection. Unfortunately though Sig and Chloe find out their parents are engaged and they have to make some tough choices about their...

It's a new year, which means we have another year of new books and reading to look forward to! On this episode, we're joined by Rylie Occhipinto and Melati Parker from Wijaya House in Tempe. It's a locally owned bookstore and flower shop with regular classes for the community! They talk to Whitney about which books they are looking forward to this year. That includes the following:   Whitney'...

Do you set high standards for yourself or others? Do you consider yourself a "perfectionist"? In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Ellen Hendriksen who's out with a new book called "How to Be Enough: Self-Acceptance for Self-Critics and Perfectionists." The author is a clinical psychologist who's been featured in major publications like the New York Times, the Washington Post, Psychology Today and...

The year is coming to an end! Did you hit your reading goal? Do you want to read more in 2025? This episode is dedicated to helping you find more time to read. Whitney is joined by three other members of Arizona's Family who are avid readers. From audiobooks, to finding books you love, they talk about their favorite ways to squeeze reading time into their busy lives. The crew also talks about thei...

It's the end of the year, so our host Whitney Clark is taking a look back at her favorite books of the year! She picks her top ten, and a few of the authors appeared on the podcast earlier this year. That includes Kristin Hannah who wrote "The Women," Kate Quinn of "The Briar Club," and Stephen Rowley the author of "The Guncle Abroad."

If you don't love Arizona quite yet, get ready to fall in love! In this episode we're joined by Roger Naylor. He's an Arizona-based travel writer and author in Arizona who's out with a new book called "Arizona National Parks and Monuments." It's a comprehensive guide to the 34 national park units in the state, including everything from the Grand Canyon to the smaller sites like the Fort Bowie Nati...

This episode features an Arizona author and her debut novel! "All Our Wars" by Stephanie Vasquez is out now. It's a fictionalized organized crime thriller featuring the daughter of a high-ranking Mexican cartel leader. After Sofia De Luna's mother was murdered, Sofia has to make some tough choices about her family business. It's a love story with dual timelines for fans of shows like Netflix's "Na...

C alling all authors and book lovers! On this episode of Beyond the Next Chapter, we're joined by a Valley woman who's planning a convention for book lovers and authors in 2025. It's called Readers of the Valley and will be in Glendale, Arizona on January 18 and 19th. The convention is being organized by Rebecca Lopez. She's a local author who also owns Sunrise Bookworm Co., a business she runs wi...

This episode of Beyond the Next Chapter is truly living up to its name! We're joined by Dr. Dawn Wright, who's the first Black person to reach the bottom of the ocean. Wright is out with a new book called "Mapping the Deep: Innovation, Exploration, and the Dive of a Lifetime." Back in 2022, she visited the Challenger Deep in the Pacific Ocean. At more than 35,000 feet, it's the deepest and most un...

While many 8-year-old's love reading, not many start non-profits to comfort others! This week's episode of Beyond the Next Chapter features Anaik Sachdev, the Valley boy who started the organization "The Loving Library." He's also joined by his mom and younger brother who serves as an ambassador. The group donates books to kids who are in the hospital and they now have chapters across the country,...

After the death of their father, estranged siblings discover their dad may have been keeping a secret for more than 50 years. While his death was ruled accidental, the siblings are afraid something more sinister is at play. It's a slow-burn mystery and family drama and Laura Dave joins the podcast to talk about "The Night We Lost Him." Dave is a #1 New York Times best-selling author who most recen...