Book Lover's Companion - The English Version

Host Edith welcomes children’s book author Kate Hull (joining from Florida) to discuss her Share Joy brand and her self-published Amazon children’s books: Where Does Joy Live?, Where Does Peace Live, and Where Does Love Live. Hull explains how Share Joy began with fresh flower bars at corporate and charity events and grew into a mission focused on helping people find joy, peace, and love. She desc...

Host Edith welcomes returning guest Ekta Garg—author, editor, and book reviewer—to discuss the writing and publishing journey. Ekta explains editing stages (developmental editing, line/copy editing, proofreading) and shares that she now offers manuscript assessments focused on character, dialogue, plot, tension, and conflict. She advises writers to finish a draft, step away for at least a month, r...

Host Edith welcomes neurosurgeon and memoirist Craig Yorke to discuss his April 2025 memoir Steep, which began as a letter to his adult sons and evolved after encountering a James Baldwin quote about history living within us. Yorke reflects on how awareness of the past can bring perspective and a measure of freedom, especially for those shaped by misuse and assigned identities, and argues individu...

Host Edith welcomes returning guest Lisa Towles, thriller author, fellow podcaster, and book coach, to discuss Lisa’s nonfiction book, “The Me Factor: Your Secret Weapon for Author Visibility,” which aims to reduce authors’ fear of marketing and help them use their unique identity in branding. Lisa explains a sequence for effective marketing: clarify author identity, conduct a genre analysis based...

Host Edith welcomes returning guest Caroline Ailanthus to discuss her new epic fantasy novel The Elf, the Dwarf and the Telegraph: Book One, the first in a trilogy. Caroline explains the story’s large scope and ensemble cast, centered on three protagonists including Gwen, a transgender half-elf with a sword, in a quasi-Roman world on the brink of civil war driven by environmental justice, conserva...

Host Edith welcomes regular guest and co-host Teri M. Brown to discuss her upcoming novel “Peg Unhinged,” releasing April 21, 2026. Brown introduces Peg, a near-50 woman navigating menopause symptoms, brain fog, hot flashes, and anger while her husband abruptly leaves to date younger women. The conversation explores how women’s health concerns are often dismissed, cultural pressures on women to st...

Host Edith interviews author and college professor Jess Bowers about her debut short story collection, Horse Show, named one of Electric Literature’s most exciting debut collections of 2024. Bowers, a lifelong equestrian and haflinger owner, explains that each story features a horse (or horse-adjacent animal/object) and a “show,” using entertainment and spectacle to examine human mistreatment and...

Host Edith welcomes author Tudor Alexander to Book Lover’s Companion to discuss his historical fiction family saga The Last Patient, published in February 2025. Alex explains the novel is inspired by his parents’ and his own experiences across five decades of communism in Romania, ending with his parents’ immigration to the United States and the challenges of starting over in their sixties, includ...

Host Edith welcomes fiction author Lexy, a retiring or recovering lawyer joining from Paris, to discuss her cross-genre romantic supernatural thriller series. Lexy explains that the first three books can be read in any order (including a legal thriller, a coming-of-age high school story, and a WWII Deep South historical romance), with storylines converging later, and that the series will span eigh...

Host Edith welcomes returning guest Kristina Bak from Bellingham, Washington to discuss the third and final book in Bak’s near-future, non-dystopian YA trilogy about Stevie, a young healer shaped by her father’s disappearance, a childhood abduction, and traumatic amnesia. Bak explains how Stevie’s coming-of-age from 16 to 18 culminates in new strength as she navigates an uneasy friendship with Cor...

In this episode of Book Lover‘s Companion, host Edith welcomes author, editor, and book podcast host Ekta Garg Ekta from Illinois to dive into the world of modern fairy tales. They discuss Ter's book, 'The Witch's Apprentice and Their Stories,' a micro collection of short stories filling the gaps in beloved fairy tales and nursery rhymes. They explore the relevance of fairy tales today, the proces...

In this episode of Book Lover‘s Companion, Edith interviews Carmen Amato, a CIA veteran, crime fiction writer, and dog mom, about her exciting novels. They delve into Carmen's popular Emelia Cruz Mystery series and the Gallo Club historical fiction thrillers. Carmen shares insights about her characters, her experiences in the CIA influencing her writing, the research process behind her books, and...

In this episode of Book Lover's Companion, Edith welcomes author Laura McHale Holland to discuss her latest novel 'Shinbone Lane,' set in 1974 San Francisco. Laura shares insights into the characters, the plot, and the magical realism that infuses her storytelling. The conversation also touches on themes of nostalgia, societal changes, and the impact of the past on the present. Tune in for a deep...

Join host Edith in this engaging episode of Book Lover's Companion as she welcomes back returning guest Laury A. Egan. Dive into a captivating discussion about Egan's thriller, 'Jenny Kidd,' set in the atmospheric Venice, and uncover the main character's journey and the dark, thrilling narrative. They also explore the psychological elements inspired by Patricia Highsmith and discuss the multifacet...

In this episode of Book Lover's Companion, host Edith welcomes crime fiction and historical fiction author Libby Fisher Hellman from Chicago. They discuss Libby's latest book 'Max's War,' part of her saga series focusing on World War II. Libby shares her extensive research process, including the role of the Richie Boys, a group of Jewish refugees trained in counterintelligence. They also delve int...

Join host Edith on the Book Lover‘s Companion podcast as she welcomes writer and journalist David Finkle. In this riveting episode, Edith and David delve into his books 'Humpty Trump and the Second First Hundred Days' and 'Humpty Trumpy Hit a Brick Wall,' which present the tumultuous presidencies of Donald Trump through verse. David shares inspirations, challenges, and candid thoughts on the polit...

Join host Edith in this episode of Book Lover’s Companion with special guest Dakota Jackson. They discuss Dakota's new fantasy book, 'The Construction of Shadows,' which is the first in a planned five-book series. Discover the fascinating world Dakota has created, where the 16 Divinities of the Sun and Moon have reshaped the earth, and dive deep into the lives of two best friends from divergent ba...

In this episode of Book Lover‘s Companion, host Edith interviews healthcare expert and fiction author David Shactman about his book 'Mortal Choice: A Medical Mystery.' The conversation delves into the harrowing realities of the illegal kidney trade, the ethical dilemmas faced by parents with critically ill children, and the real-life inspiration drawn from David's experience researching medical to...

Join host Edith on the latest episode of Book Love Companion as she interviews Izzy Arnfeld, an aspiring author from Upper Austria. Izzy discusses her lifelong passion for writing, from early storytelling with a childhood friend to her current projects. She delves into her fascination with true crime, discusses her writing process, and debates between prose and scriptwriting. They also cover the c...

Welcome to 'Book Lovers Companion' with your host Edith! Join us in this captivating episode as we delve into the fascinating world of historical fiction and nonfiction. Edith is joined by special guests Emma Woodhouse and Caroline Ailanthus, discussing their unique approaches to writing, the joys of historical research, and the challenges of blending fact with fiction. From the detailed historica...

Join Edith, host of Book Lovers Companion, as she engages in a captivating conversation with fantasy author James R. Bateman from the United Kingdom. They delve into his book 'Savior of Lost Souls,' the first in the Retribution series, released in 2024. Bateman shares the intriguing plot involving a God named Levek who travels to various timelines to prevent untimely deaths and deliver justice. Th...

Join host Edith on Book Lovers Companion as she sits down with Mark McCraw, a former elementary teacher turned children's book author. They delve into Mark's journey from military service and various jobs to becoming an author in his forties. Learn about his creative process, inspirations, and the themes he focuses on, including the fascinating story behind 'Niccoli Piccoli.' Mark also discusses c...

Join Edith, the host of Book Lover's Companion podcast, as she interviews Debra Hammett, a former educator turned sailor and author. Sailing presently between Rhode Island and Massachusetts, Deborah shares her transformative journey from a school principal to a single-handed sailor navigating the East coast. The discussion covers Debra's book 'Young Salt at 60,' her unexpected transition into sail...

In this episode of Book Lover‘s Companion, host Edith sits down with journalist, TV producer, podcaster, and author Claire St. Amant. Straight from Dallas, Texas, Claire delves into her experiences as a TV producer for true crime shows, particularly focusing on her memoir, 'Killer Story.' The conversation covers a variety of topics, including the behind-the-scenes workings of true crime television...

In this special 200th episode of Book Lover’s Companion, host Edith welcomes back the accomplished author and regular guest, Teri M. Brown. Teri shares details about her recent projects, including an inspirational memoir titled '10 Little Rules for a Double But Adventure', and her children's book 'Little Lola and her Big Dream'. She also opens up about her personal struggles and how they have impa...