Bubbles and Books

When a familiar name of a longtime customer popped up in the Dog-Eared email asking about an event for a new book, we couldn't believe a celebrity had been walking amongst us!  Christina Iverson is an editor with the New York Times Games department, and of course we couldn't wait to collaborate on all things games and puzzles. The Dog-Eared staff is a big consumer of the NYT Games, and we're not a...

Today, we're getting into the witchy and the woo-woo. We're joined by Megan Lane, who owns her own small business, Violet Lane Florals, and also happens to be a Dog-Eared Books bookseller. Megan often reads Tarot at Dog-Eared events or helps people craft bouquets. Megan also helps to curate our Mind, Body, Spirit section.   For Megan, Tarot has been a powerful tool for self-reflection, and she has...

Today, Amanda and Ellyn are highlighting Indigenous authors and stories in celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day. The history of replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous People’s Day goes back to the 1970's! In 1977, the International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas, sponsored by the United Nations, first began discussing this change. It is a challenge to...

Welcome to the "Bramily!" Today’s Bubbles & Books Podcast episode is a celebration of the one and only Brandi Carlile. Inspired by Ellyn's request to  pop a bottle of Brandi’s own XOBC Cellars Sparkling Wine. Brandi isn’t just a once-in-a-generation talent, she’s also one of the truly good ones, and always has been. Right now we could all use a little more light and inspiration, so we’re divin...

Okay, hear us out... this episode of the Bubbles & Books podcast might sound slightly ridiculous (or completely unhinged), but it dives into some truly wild and weird bookish territory. We’re talking attractive cryptids, romances with sentient objects, and just how far the romance genre is willing to go in the name of pure, chaotic entertainment. So now we’re asking you, If you had to pick a s...

Today, we’re singing our hoa hoa's and driving up the 101 of the Pacific Northwest to the iconic town of Forks, Washington. Why, you ask? Because it’s almost the 20th anniversary of Twilight, and we’re celebrating like it’s 2005!  Dog-Eared Books is throwing a Twilight-themed Prom, and we’re embracing all the sparkly vampire vibes. In this episode, we’re joined by bookseller (and resident Twilight...

We're bringing back one of our favorite games, reading hilariously bad reviews of some truly great books! This time, Amanda has picked out books that Ellyn read and loved this year. She’ll be reading one-star reviews to Ellyn, who has to guess which book they’re roasting. Listen along and see if you can figure it out before she does! Books coming out this week | American Werewolves by Emily Jane,...

Today we welcome Annie B. Jones, bookstore owner, author, and podcast host to today's Bubbles & Books episode! Annie is the owner of the indie bookstore The Bookshelf in Thomasville, Georgia, and the voice behind the popular podcast From the Front Porch . We’re convinced she belongs on the (imaginary but totally necessary) Bookstore Owners Walk of Fame. In this episode, we dive into the joys a...

As you know, this podcast is called Bubbles and Books, so naturally, every episode comes with a good read and a glass of bubbly in hand. But with so many books on our shelves, we can't talk about them all. So in this episode, we're hitting pause and spotlighting the ones we just can’t let slip by. These are the books we would be remiss to miss sharing with you.  Books mentioned in this episode: El...

Everyone could use a little birding in their life! That’s why we’re so excited to welcome Brenda, host of Dog-Eared’s Better Birding book club, along with bookseller Eloise, who’s just getting started with birding and already loving the journey. Birding is taking off among both adults and younger generations, so today we’re diving into the joys of birdwatching, the best apps for identifying birds,...

Get ready, book lovers, on today's episode of Bubbles & Books Ellyn and Amanda are joined by none other than Kaytee Cobb and Meredith Monday Schwartz, the dynamic duo behind the wildly popular Currently Reading podcast. These two are bookish podcast legends, and we were thrilled to sit down with them to chat about what they’re currently reading (of course!), how Currently Reading got its start...

Ellyn is joined by Bailey and Rachel for a chaotic deep-dive into some of fiction’s most iconic characters from Peeta and Gale in The Hunger Games, to the Roomba in Margo's Got Money Troubles. We’re dishing out red, beige, and green flags to everyone from the Dung Beetle in I Eat Poop, to Edward Cullen, Odo from O Sinners!, characters from Fourth Wing, and plenty more. Listen to hear which charact...

Today on Bubbles & Books, Amanda and Ellyn are joined by author Shoba Rao! Her upcoming novel Indian Country first caught their eye with its stunning cover, and completely captivated them with its brilliant opening. A conversation not to be missed, and be sure to grab your copy of Indian Country when it hits shelves on Tuesday, August 5! ____________________________________________________ Mak...

What would you do if you lost nearly everything you own? That’s exactly what happened to Dog-Eared’s co-owner Amanda Lepper and author Helen Chandler-Wilde after devastating fires changed their lives forever. Instead of rushing to replace it all, they started asking bigger questions. What really matters? What’s worth keeping? Can we live with less? In this episode, they open up about loss, letting...

Are you ready to trek out into the woods and look for Big Foot? Amanda and Ellyn have author Giano Cromley whose book "American Mythology" is a slightly creepy adventure about two friends Virgil and Jute who just so happen to be the only two members of the Basic Bigfoot Society. Giano's story centers friendship and the question of what is and isn't real. We are so excited to welcome Giano and hope...

G’day, mates! This week on the Bubbles & Books podcast, we’re heading down under! Amanda and Ellyn are joined by Amanda’s daughter Charlotte to recap their unforgettable bookstore adventures across Australia. From the scenic mountain ranges to the sunny Gold Coast, Amanda and Charlotte explored nine incredible bookstores, each with its own charm and story. Get ready for stories about cute anim...

We are officially halfway through 2025. Amanda and Ellyn are looking back on the last six months of reading and are sharing the best books they've read this year... so far. They also have sourced recommendations from the Dog-Eared booksellers. Listen along and let us know if you agree or share what you think your best book of 2025 is! Ellyn's Currently Reading | The Devil Reached Toward the Sky by...

Ellyn’s daughter Jay is in the hot seat this week—and it’s all about her serious lack of reading. To fix the situation, Ellyn went straight to Dog-Eared Books booksellers and came back with a mission (and a bag full of recommendations). Now, Jay’s been officially challenged to a summer of reading. Will she rise to the occasion or fake her way through the pages? Tune in to find out what’s on her re...

Today's episode is all about these two bitches talking about their bitchmance. Inspired by Dolls on the Brain, Amanda and Ellyn go through all the types of bitchmancery in the bitchdom and real and fictional bitchmances they admire.    Ellyn's Currently Reading | The Perry Pickers by Amanda Peters & Indian Country by Shobha Rao Amanda's Currently Reading | Perfect Little World by Kevin Wilson...

Today, Ellyn is joined by Dog-Eared's Roxy Strike and Nick Narigon—writer, indie press founder, and former Iowa County resident. They chat about everything from favorite ‘90s angst anthems to what it’s really like starting a small press. It’s a fun, honest conversation full of hometown memories and creative inspiration. Be sure to check out Nick’s Hayseed Press to see what he’s been working on! Ni...

On this week’s Bubbles & Books, Ellyn and Amanda are joined by bestselling author Jess Walter to talk about his upcoming novel So Far Gone. Expect laughs, insights, and thoughtful discussion as Jess shares how this novel took shape, what it says about the world today, and why he chose to leave social media. And we're so excited to share that Jess will be coming to Dog-Eared Books for a Cocktai...

We are heading into summer and all the reading lists are coming out. Some are thoughtfully curated, and others… sloppily slapped together by AI. But today, we present you with an “AE” (Amanda & Ellyn) generated summer reading list—and trust us, it's way better than whatever the bots cooked up. Whether you're into breezy rom-coms, twisty thrillers, or something a little more unexpected, they've...

We are excited to welcome Dog-Eared Books' best-selling author to the Bubbles & Books podcast! Amanda & Ellyn have popped the bubbles and are chatting all about Kristen's adult cozy mystery How to Solve Your Own Murder and its sequel How to Seal Your Own Fate. Her books are full of twisty plots and eclectic characters, and she's sharing how she crafts a mystery that's both page-turning and...

In today's episode Amanda & Ellyn are breaking down the data from Indie Bookstore Day and giving you the best-sellers, how many passports we gave out, and special anecdotes we noticed throughout the day. Thank you to our listeners who came out to Dog-Eared Books and those who also participated in the Central Iowa Indie Bookstore Day passport. And especially to those who said "Chambong me b*tch...

We put it out there and asked everyone who follows us on social media to ask us anything. From bookish to random, Ellyn and Amanda are sharing everything. This Saturday, April 26, 2025 spend your day visiting Indie Bookstores for Indie Bookstore Day! The Central Iowa Indie Bookstores have brought back the passport challenge. Visit all the indies in two days to win a grand prize! What we're drinkin...