Drinks in the Library

This is such a special episode because, for the first time ever, I’m interviewing an author about their book, because it’s one of my favorite books! Gingko Season by Naomi Xu Elegant is a story about a young woman, Penelope Lin, who is moving through the world after her first big heartbreak and discovering herself while on the cusp between young adulthood and adulthood. The depiction of this time...

Note: This episode was originally published April 2, 2024, I’ll be back with new content next week, enjoy! Did you read the Anne of Green Gables series as a young girl and then walk through the woods pretending to be Anne and Diana? Yes? So did I and so did my friend Deanna!  Talking with Deanna about this book was so much fun, celebrating Anne and the cultural impact this story has had. A famous...

Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz is a memoir about her decade-long entrapment in a manipulative Christian cult during her time on One Tree Hill . The book details how the group controlled her life, career, and finances—until motherhood and the support of friends gave her the strength to break free. My guest this week is the lovely Magan Vernon , an author who has been living off reader tear...

The song “Welcome to New York” has been in my head all week preparing for this episode on the book Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise , a witty and revealing memoir by renowned food critic Ruth Reichl. During her time as The New York Times restaurant critic, Reichl went undercover in elaborate disguises to avoid preferential treatment and uncover the truth about New York...

In The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari , Robin Sharma tells the story of a high-powered lawyer who trades his fast-paced life for spiritual enlightenment in the Himalayas. This modern fable blends personal development with timeless wisdom, offering a roadmap to finding purpose, balance, and joy. Today’s guest, Dr. Meghan Waldron, is a lifelong dreamer, writer, and educator who believes every student has...

This week, we're diving into Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel—a hauntingly beautiful novel that blends post-apocalyptic survival with the enduring power of art, memory, and human connection. Set in the aftermath of a devastating pandemic, the story weaves together multiple timelines and characters, from a Shakespearean theater troupe traveling the ruins of North America to the lives the...

Happy Pride Month Libration Nation! This week’s episode is so special and fun, with returning guest Rachel Yorkshire! Rachel is bringing us a wealth of books with LGBTQ stories by queer authors that she loves. We also enjoyed Iced Coffees, which as Rachel says, is the gayest of all drinks! Rachel lives in Richmond with her wife Marissa and their very spoiled dog. She and her wife both post their b...

This week’s episode is about one of my personal favorite books, Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe, and I’m j oined by returning guest and longtime friend (and librarian) Jess Harshbarger! This book is everything to me — OnlyFans, motherhood, wrestling, robots, and cosplay are brought together to create this absolutely amazing work of art.  Jess is a library branch manager and has worked in...

Welcome back to another episode of Drinks at the Library, the podcast where we pair the perfect drink with the perfect book. Today, we're diving into a love story that bends time and breaks hearts— The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. It’s a tale of fate, longing, and the delicate threads that tie us to the people we love...even if time itself tries to pull us apart. My guest th...

In A Psalm for the Wild-Built ,Becky Chambers invites readers into a serene, post-collapse world where a wandering tea monk named Dex crosses paths with a curious robot, sparking a journey of introspection and philosophical wonder. Together, they explore what it means to be content, connected, and truly alive in a world that has learned to live gently. My guest this week is Emily James, a marketin...

This week, we’re off to the deceptively cozy village of St. Mary Mead, where gossip flows freely and murder is just around the hedgerow. Join us as Miss Marple makes her unforgettable debut in The Murder at the Vicarage —knitting needles in hand and sharper than ever. My guest this week is author Kemper Donovan . Kemper began his writing career while still working as a manager, eventually publishi...

Welcome to this week’s episode of Drinks in the Library! Today we’re exploring Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher , a darkly whimsical tale of a shy princess who undertakes an impossible quest — armed with a dustwitch, a reluctant fairy godmother, and a dog made of bones — to rescue her sister from a cruel prince and a cursed kingdom. My guest this week is my husband, Bill Howard. I asked if he wa...

Hello Libration Nation, this week we are discussing The Women by Kristin Hannah. The Women is a powerful, heart-wrenching novel that follows a young nurse, Frankie McGrath, as she volunteers to serve in the Vietnam War — a world of violence, loss, and unspoken heroism. Through her journey, Hannah shines a light on the often overlooked stories of the women who fought, served, and survived, both ove...

Hello Libration Nation! This week we are discussing Still Life with Woodpecker by Tom Robbins. This is a love story… kind of. It’s about a princess, an outlaw, a lot of philosophical rambling, and a surprising number of Camel cigarettes. Tom Robbins basically asks: how do you make love stay? The answers are weird, hilarious, and occasionally involve explosives. I'm so excited for my guest this...

Hi Libration Nation! I am coming to you this National Library week with a delightful book Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire, which offers a whimsical, yet dark exploration of fantasy realms where each child's story revolves around finding and losing mystical doors to other worlds. My guest this week is Britt Keup. Britt is a corporate girly by day, and an avid reader at night. During the...

Hello Libration Nation!, I am so excited for you to hear this week’s episode. Our book is Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe, and my guest is the absolutely amazing Forest Issac Jones. If you didn’t guess it immediately, we paired this book with the most Irish of drinks, a smooth, cold Guinness beer . Forest Issac Jones is an award-winning au...

Hello Libration Nation! I’m thrilled to welcome Sarah Glenn Marsh to this week's episode as we uncover the wonders of "The Last Ranger" by Peter Heller. A thrilling exploration of nature's beauty and human empathy, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat. And we've paired it with the citrusy and daring Lone Ranger cocktail—tequila, lemon, and a hint of rose—capturing t...

Hello, Libration Nation! 📚✨ This week, we’re diving into Parable of the Sower   by the legendary Octavia Butler. If you haven’t read it yet, get ready—it’s a powerful, thought-provoking novel that feels more relevant than ever. My guest this week is the lovely Gretchen Gales, a writer, teacher, editor, and occasional artist. Her first poetry chapbook  Agora Alien Buddha Press, 2023) is available...

Hello, Libration Nation! 📚✨ This week, we're diving into Be Ready When the Luck Happens by none other than Ina Garten. And joining me is the fabulous Mair Downing! Our drink this week is a classic Cosmopolitan because Ina Garten has a hilarious video she made at the beginning of the pandemic where she makes a giant, I mean GIANT cosmopolitan, Mair even brought over a giant martini glass for...

Our book this week is the classic love, revenge, and ghost story, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, and my guest this week is Carrie Pruett. Carrie is a power user of the Henrico County, Virginia library. She loves books, movies, and also loves podcasts about books and movies. She frequently appears on the podcast ' Worst Bestsellers' to talk about teenage vampires and horse girls.  When...

Raise your wands Libration Nation! This week’s book is Carry On by Rainbow Rowell a magical mages story about Simon Snow, the worst chosen one ever according to his roommate and nemesis, Baz. Carry On is the first book in a trilogy and is a ghost story, a love story and a mystery. It has just as much kissing and talking as you'd expect from a Rainbow Rowell story - but far, far more monsters....

Happy One Year Anniversary, Libration Nation! 🥳 One year ago, February 20, 2024 the very first episode of Drinks of the Library came into this world. I have so many thoughts on what this year has been like, but today I just want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way. To celebrate I’ve put together a “clip” episode 🎬, on sitcoms they would call it a “flashback” episode w...

This week’s episode covers the Detective Josie Quinn series by Lisa Regan, a police procedural in a small town in Pennsylvania, and my guest this week is Kristin Miller. Kristin is an 80s baby who is an explorer at heart. She is a lifelong reader who recently returned to the US after living abroad in five different countries over nine years. She is now an elementary ESL teacher here in Virginia. J...

When I was a baby librarian there was not a book requested more than The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, and all the books that came after it in the series. I was so excited when this week’s guest wanted to talk about it! Madison is a lover of history that hosts the history podcast It's a History Podcast  that covers all things history. When she is not working on researching, recording, or ed...

This week we are discussing The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and take life to the next level level  by Gay Hendricks. This book encourages readers to go beyond their internal limits, release outdated fears and learn a whole new set of powerful skills and habits to liberate authentic greatness. I am joined this week with author Nancy Houser-Bluhm . Nancy Houser-Bluhm lived in the foothills we...