Sarah's Bookshelves Live

We're gearing up to close out our year of reading with today's podcast episode, featuring the Best Books of 2023 Superlatives with Susie ( @NovelVisits ). Our wrap-up is split into two episodes: today's Superlatives and next week's Genre Awards. Today, we're diving into more than 25 Superlative categories, including Most Deserving of the Hype, Biggest Surprise, the Darkest Book of the Year, and ma...

For our first annual 2023 State of the Industry episode, we're welcoming back literary agent Sarah Landis for an overview and exploration of some hot topics in the book world this year.  Taking stock of how this year panned out for the publishing industry, Sarah discusses top news stories, dives deep into how specific titles performed this year, and shares current trends she's seeing in publishing...

In the Fall 2023 Book Preview , Catherine ( @GilmoreGuide ) and I shared our 12 most-anticipated books that released mid-August – December. Today we're going to circle back to share updates on which of these books we've read, our thoughts on them, and a few we attempted but couldn't quite get through. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purcha...

In podcast episode 154, we're diving into the world of book cover design with Karen Horton, graphic designer and former Art Director at Henry Holt. Karen takes us behind the scenes of the process of book cover design, who makes key book cover related decisions, and the role of marketing budgets and author's reputation in this process. Plus, Karen shares her book recommendations! This post contains...

In Episode 153, Susie Boutry ( @NovelVisits ) and I are back for our 3rd annual Debuts Special! Today, we're sharing our favorite debuts from 2023 (so far), new and backlist! Plus, we discuss our reading stats for debuts this year, and we talk about some standout sophomore novels that made the cut. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase...

In Episode 152, author Liz Nugent talks about her latest novel,  Strange Sally Diamond . Liz is known for her dark and psychological storytelling.  Strange Sally Diamond  is character-driven, delving deep into psychology and trauma, and despite Sally's damaged nature, Liz portrays her with empathy and nuance.  Strange Sally Diamond  challenges us to consider the "why" behind someone's behavior. Pl...

Episode 151 brings author Angie Kim back to the podcast with her sophomore novel,  Happiness Falls . Angie is carving out her niche with literary mysteries featuring children with disabilities or illnesses, drawing inspiration from her own family's encounters. I broke my own rules for podcast guests because  Happiness Falls  is now in the running for my #1 book of 2023 and it's the smartest book I...

Welcome to the Fall 2023 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books !   In this episode, Catherine and I share 12 of our most anticipated books releasing in mid-August through December.   This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for full episode Show Notes on the blog. Announcement One of the man...

In Ep. 149, Catherine ( @GilmoreGuide ) and I revisit the 12 books released from June to mid-August that we featured in the Summer 2023 Book Preview .  We update you on our reading stats for summer, chat about the books we've tackled or tried, and let you know which ones are worth adding to your list and which ones you can pass on. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small co...

For Episode 148, as the podcast takes a brief break, we revisit a backlist episode…the Best Books of 2020 with Susie Boutry ( @NovelVisits ). Re-listening to this one is a unique opportunity to get a look back on a strange year. Whether you're new to the podcast or have been with us for a while, everyone loves a TBR filled with backlist gems! Library holds should be easy and paperbacks editions ha...

In Episode 147, Lara Love Hardin joins me to discuss her memoir,  The Many Lives of Mama Love . Lara shares her journey from opioid addict (funded through credit card theft) to successful ghostwriter. Her warm and candid storytelling touches on themes of forgiveness, redemption, and unwavering resilience, demonstrating people's ability to triumph over life's darkest moments.  This was a five-star...

In today's podcast episode, Katie Williams and I delve into the complex questions surrounding motherhood, marriage, and society's fixation on a certain type of murder victim that she explores in  My Murder .  We discuss the romanticization of white female victims, serial killers and guilt, and the integration of video games and virtual reality into this story. As a bonus, Katie also gives us a sne...

In Episode 145, Susie Boutry ( @NovelVisits ) and I dive into micro genres — the niches within niches that we've come to adore. Over the past year, we've discovered even more unique themes and types of books that consistently captivate us. Today, we're thrilled to present a special episode where we share an abundant list of our favorite micro genres, the books that define them, and the reasons why...

John Marrs, best-selling author of  The One ,  The Passengers , and  The Marriage Act , talks about his journey from self-published to bestselling author, his writing process, how he manages writing in multiple genres for two different publishers, and more.  John's journalism background led him to ask me some thought-provoking questions as well. Our conversation was an absolute delight, and I can'...

In today's episode of Sarah's Bookshelves Live, we dive into the fascinating world of book coaching with Abigail K. Perry ( @abigailkperry )! We chat about the role of book coaches, the perks of working with them, and uncover some valuable insights for aspiring authors and book lovers. Plus, Abigail shares her book recommendations! This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small co...

Announcement In addition to my annual 2023 Summer Reading Guide , I'm once again offering Superstars Patrons ($7/mo) exclusive access to Summer Shelves , featuring even more recommendations for the season. Summer Shelves features BACKLIST summer reading recommendations from 17 former podcast guests, our team members, and — for the first time — 20+ Superstars patrons! The Summer Shelves design is c...

Catherine (Gilmore Guide to Books) and I revisit the 12 books released in April and May featured in the  Spring 2023 Book Preview .  We give updates on our reading stats, share our thoughts on the books we've read or attempted, and offer recommendations on which ones deserve a spot on your reading list and which ones you might want to skip. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a...

Susie Boutry ( @NovelVisits ) and I share our favorite books that missed last year's Summer Reading Guides, some nonfiction books we think are great for summer reading, and our #1 picks for four categories, including what I have featured in my 2023 Summer Reading Guide . This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Get Ev...

In Episode 139, Brendan Slocumb talks about his sophomore novel,  Symphony of Secrets,  and the inspiration behind it. He shares a fascinating look into musical history of the 1920's, his unique approach to writing musical thrillers, and how he balances musical detail with readability. He also delves into the exploitation of musicians in the industry and how many are simply lost to history. Plus,...

In Episode 138, author Rebecca Makkai discusses  I Have Some Questions for You , her latest novel that explores societal issues such as racism and wrongful incarceration through the lens of a crime story. This was a five-star book for me and looks to be *the book* of 2023 so far! Rebecca shared how she engaged with readers using click-bait style headlines and created a sense of intimacy through th...

Welcome to the Spring 2023 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books !   In this episode, Catherine and I share 12 of our most anticipated books releasing in April and May.   This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Announcement I've got BIG NEWS!   If you've been interested in joining our  Patreon Communi...

In today's episode, Catherine ( Gilmore Guide to Books ) and I circle back to the 16 books we featured in the  Winter 2023 Book Preview . We'll be sharing our reading stats and thoughts on the books we've read (or attempted), to help you decide which ones to add to your reading list and which ones to skip. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a p...

In episode 135, author William Landay discusses his latest novel,  All That Is Mine I Carry With Me , while also sharing his background as a prosecutor and how he incorporates family drama into his crime novels. William shares a couple elements of his book that changed throughout the writing process (including how it was almost meta fiction!). We also chat about how the court of public opinion sha...

In today's episode, Deborah Goodrich Royce joins me to talk about her latest book,  Reef Road . We discuss the personal story behind her book and the role of generational trauma in her writing niche, which she calls "Identity Thrillers."  We also covered the explosion of true crime content and got a sneak peek at some details of her upcoming book. Also, Deborah shares her book recommendations — br...

Literary agent Sarah Landis joins me for a deep dive into the Speculative Fiction / Fantasy genre.  Sarah breaks down these terms, shares popular books in these genres, and discusses the trends she's seeing in the publishing industry.  Also, Sarah shares both her book recommendations and her go-to books for those looking to dive into these genres! This post contains affiliate links through which I...