Books Are My People

This week, I'm joined by author Kristen Arnett. We chat about clown and how they relate to her latest novel, Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One.   Guest Book Author Recommendation: Eliza Kennedy Lucky Night recommends The Empusium by Olga Tokarczuk  Book Recommendations: State of Paradise by Laura Van Den Berg Hot Air by Marcy Dermasnky Lot by Bryan Washington Kate & Frida by Kim Fey Dry Se...

On this week’s episode of BOOKS ARE MY PEOPLE I’m joined by fellow book podcaster Traci Thomas of THE STACKS. We chat about some of her favorite author interviews, how she manages her reading time and, she even spills the tea regarding what kind of tea Regina Porter sent her after their interview!  Guest Book Recommendation: Will Bardenwerper author of Homestand Small Town Baseball and the Fight f...

This week, on episode #141 Jane Tara visits all the way from Australia to discuss her first book written for adults, Tilda is Visible. We talk about self love during the aging process, what it's like to write over 100 children's books and of course, we both recommend books.  Christine Murphy, author of Notes on Surviving the Fire also recommends a favorite read.  Books Recommended: Pictu...

This week, I speak with Jennifer Caspar, founder and owner of Village Well Books & Coffee and one of their events coordinators, Brett Morrow. We focus on The Culver City Book Festival, Saturday, February 22nd from 10 - 5 pm. I will be there representing Books Are My People. Come say hi! We also talk about the many activities and events held at this wonderful independent bookstore.  Today’s epi...

This week, Genaro Trejo, founder of Megacity Review visits and we talk about his new literary and art journal which amplifies underrepresented voices. Author Jane Corey recommends a favorite read and I  breakdown my experience during the recent L.A. fires.  Jane Corry author of I Died on A Tuesday recommends Tell Me Everything by Elisabeth Strout Recommended Books: Prophet Song by Paul Lynch Homes...

Be back in two weeks. Stay safe out there. Be kind to one another.  Support the show Get your Books Are My People merch here! I hope you all have a wonderfully bookish week! 

On Episode #138 I share my favorite reads and audiobook listens from 2024 as well as some favorite backlist titles I read this past year. Watch me recommend books on The Mark Thompson Show. Win a copy of Guilt and Ginataan. Click here to enter. Closes Thursday, January 2nd, 2024. Read Faces in the Crowd by Valeria Luisella with me on Substack starting January 6th. Books Recommended: Clean by Alia...

This week, my favorite guest is back, my dad, writer Ron Clark! Plus, there’s even a special bonus guest. We all giggle. A lot. Then, I go back in time and recommend some of my favorite reads from 2013.  This episode is sponsored by Out Like A Lion by Tracey L. Thompson Books Recommended: Life After Life by Atkinson Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt The Flame Throwe...

A.D. Rhine - the pseudonym for co-authors Ashlee Cowles and Danielle Stinson are here to discuss their latest novel, Daughters of Bronze, a retelling of Homer's Iliad from the women who were there.  This episode is sponsored by Out Like A Lion by Tracey L. Thompson Books Recommended: Horses of Fire by A.D. Rhine Daughters of Bronze by A.D. Rhine A Woman in Berlin: Eight Weeks in the Conquered...

This week, I speak with Nayantara Roy about her debut novel The Magnificent Ruins . We speak about how she managed the logistics of her page-turning family saga, how her lived experience influenced this novel, as well as how long it took her to write this expansive novel.   This episode of Books Are My People is sponsored by Out Like A Lion by Tracy L. Thompson.   Guest author recommendation Mia P...

This week, on episode 134, I'm joined by podcaster and writer Jonathan Small, author of the recently published Write About Now: Successful Authors on Overcoming Obstacles, Finding Inspiration and the Birth of Their Careers. He also has an incredible podcast called Write About Now! We talk about origin stories, our shared love of book to film adaptations and Jonathan’s unique hybrid version of...

In episode 133, I'm visited by Leigh Ann Henion author of Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark . We discuss artificial light, glowworms, mothapalooza and the biodiversity of night. Plus, we get a guest recommendation from Dianne C Braley author of The Summer Before. Book Recommendations: Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and...

On episode 132 Louis Bayard discusses his latest historical novel, The Wildes: a novel in five acts. We talk about our shared affinity for Oscar Wilde, Bayyard's favorite work of Wilde's and we share some recent reads we loved. In addition, Shannon Bowring, author of Where the Forest Meets the River recommends a favorite read. Books Recommended: The Wildes: A Novel In Five Acts by Louis...

This week, on episode 131, I speak with the incredibly creative and talented Janice Hallett about her latest novel, The Examiner .  We discuss how she goes about  crafting her novels and she shares some of her favorite reads. Guest Author Recommendation: Caroline Woods, author of The Mesmerist recommends The Divorcees by Rowan Beaird. Get your Books Are My People coffee mug here! Books Recommended...

I read 40 books this summer! On episode 130, I share some of my favorites. This episode of Books Are My People is sponsored by Darrin Doyle’s Let Gravity Seize the Dead . Books Recommended: This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud Bear by Julia Phillips Cutting for Stone also by Abraham Verghese Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller The Winner by Teddy Wayne Enter my A...

Episode 129 of Books Are My People is sponsored by Let Gravity Seize the Dead   by Darrin Doyle.  This week, I speak with Catherine Chidgey, the award-winning author of The Axeman's Carnival and Pet. We talk about magpies and finding the perfect point of view for your novel.  Books Recommended:  The Axeman’s Carnival by Catherine Chidgey Jackie by Dawn Tripp HORSE by Geraldine Brooks The Grim...

On episode 128 I speak with author Catherine Newman about summer hair, humor as survival strategy and Catherine’s previous job working in a sandwich shop. This episode of Books Are My People is sponsored by Let Gravity Seize the Dead   by Darrin Doyle.  Sandwich by Catherine Newman We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman Books Recommended: Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby Weekends with O...

These week, on episode 127  I take it back to the OG days of the podcast five years ago when I struggled to get a guest on the show. Now, I am so lucky to get to pick amazing guests! This episode of Books Are My People is sponsored by The Year We Danced: A Memoir  by Stephen E. Smith  Books Recommended: I am Not Sydney Poitier by Percival Everett The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peter s Johanna Porter...

This week, on episode 126, I speak with picture book author Nell Cross Beckerman. We discuss how authors find illustrators, some of our favorite picture books and Nell’s recently published book, From Park to Playa: The Trails That Connect Us. From Park to Playa: The Trails That Connect Us by Nell Cross Beckerman, illustrated by Sophie Diao This episode of Books Are My People is sponsored by The Ye...

This week on episode #125, author and Drag Queen Story Hour founder Michelle Tea visits and talks to us about her new Press, Dopamine, its forthcoming anthology, Sluts and how she generates so much writing.  This episode of Books Are My People is sponsored by The Year We Danced, A Memoir  by Stephen E. Smith  Books Discussed: Sluts Anthology  edited by Michelle Tea My Child The Algorithm  by Hanna...

On episode #124, collage artist and printmaker Sarah Z. Short talks about her creative process,  how language figures into her art, the books she used to love to teach and, she recommends some of her favorite reads on episode 124 of Books Are My People. Books Discussed: The Hunter by Tana French Real Americans by Rachel Khong Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarrow One Hundred Days by Alice Pung The Story o...

#123 with Jo Piazza The Sicilian Inheritance This week, I talk food and books with The Sicilian Inheritance   author and podcaster extraordinaire, Jo Piazza. Book Recommended The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza The Secret Book of Flora Lee by Patti Callahan Henry The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune Finlay Donovan is Killing it by Elle Cosimano Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Co...

On episode #122, author Garrard Conley ( Boy Erased) speaks with me about his latest novel, All The World Beside . We talk about the research involved in writing historical fiction, how he helped change legislature, and some scandalous letters he discovered while conducting research. , Books Recommended: All the World Beside by Garrard Conley Exhibit by R.O. Kwon James by Percival Everett The Son...

In episode #121, graphic memoirist, Kelcey Ervick joins the show to talk about her graphic memoir and what it’s like to write about and draw her lived experience.    Books Recommended: I Was Their American Dream by Malaka Gharib The Extinction of Irena Rey by Jennifer Croft  Good Talk by Mira Jacob The Painter’s Daughter by Emily Howes Give Me Space But Don't Go Far by Haley Weaver  Kelcey&ap...

On episode #120, Roxana Robinson ( Leaving ) and I discuss novels that move us, Parisian sewers and best approaches to teaching writing.   Books Recommended: Leaving by Roxana Robinson Underland: A Deep Time Journey by Robert MacFarlane Piglet by Lottie Hazell Trespasses Louise Kennedy Alice Sadie Celine by Sarah Blakley-Cartright Late in the Day by Tessa Hadley   Guest Author Recommendation: Mrs....