Thoughts from a Page Podcast

Elizabeth and I chat about our Favorite Books of Fall 2021. We discuss: Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village by Maureen Johnson and illustrated by Jay Cooper  The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox  The Stolen Hours by Allen Eskens On Animals by Susan Orlean  These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant No One Will Miss Her by Kat Rosenfield 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard Trave...

We discuss their new book Finding the Right Words, deciding on what format to use, writing together, differentiating the various diseases that cause memory loss, the importance of reading to retaining language, and much more. Cindy’s recommended reads are: White Noise by Don DeLillo A Tattoo on My Brain by Daniel Gibbs Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenridge Bruce’s recommended read is: The Wind Blows Away...

Nathaniel and I discuss Travels with George, why and how Nathaniel, his wife, and his dog recreated George Washington’s travels during the first two years of his presidency, how people tend to idealize the past, wading through the myths and traditions surrounding Washington, the book’s fabulous cover, and much more. Nathaniel’s recommended reads are: Another Side of Bob Dylan: A Personal History o...

Jane and I discuss The Sweetest Remedy, writing in the third person, being selected for Book of the Month (twice), setting a book in Nigeria, crafting her second novel, and much more. Jane’s recommended reads are: The Secret Lives of the Four Wives by Lola Shoneyin Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant  Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon....

Jo and I discuss Three Rooms, how she decided to write this story, whether working as an editor helped her when crafting this book, her writing process, why she doesn’t use speech marks, and much more. Jo’s recommended reads are: Intimacies by Katie Kitamura Bear by Marian Engel A Year in the New Life by Jack Underwood Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon.  Other ways to suppor...

Eden and I discuss The Bennet Women, retelling Pride & Prejudice on a contemporary college campus, how she formed her writing group and decided to tell this story, her publishing journey, writing from multiple points of view, and much more. Eden’s recommended reads are: Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours by Helen Oyeyemi Support the podcast by becoming a Page...

Elizabeth and I discuss Good Apple, how her love affair with New York City began, raising kids in Manhattan, how the term evangelical has become political, the loss of any middle ground in the United States today, her hilarious book cover story, and much more. Elizabeth’s recommended reads are: Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason Anxious People by Fredrik Backman Support the podcast by becoming a Page T...

Julie and I discuss Eva and Eve, how she discovered her mother’s secret history, her fascination with chance encounters and the sometimes long-lasting impacts, things that did not make it into the book, following her in her parents’ footsteps as a book cover designer, and much more. Julie’s recommended reads are: Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead A Swim in the Pond in the Rain by George Saunders Su...

Kim and I chat about her bookstore, Intermission Bookshop, in Brownwood, Texas. During World War II, the shop was a theater known as the Queen Theater. Open all night, soldiers would find rest here when hotels were all full. Fully renovated, the store is now home to gently used and new books. It is a great space to find a new book to read, make new friends, and where real stories are shared.  Supp...

Stephanie and I discuss A Most Clever Girl, how she decided to write about Elizabeth Bentley, her fascination with the time period and spy craft, the format for the story, bringing forgotten women to life, our shared love of Jane Austen, and much more. Stephanie’s recommended reads are: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller The Guncle by Steven Rowley Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turne...

Gill and I discuss The Collector’s Daughter, the photograph that inspired this book, finding the right way to begin telling the story, the appeal of King Tutankhamen, the curse of King Tut’s tomb and how it began, and much more. Gill’s recommended reads are: The Hidden Child by Louise Fein People Like Us by Louise Fein Three Words for Goodbye by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb The Best of Everything...

We discuss The Parent Compass, creating a toolbox for parenting teens, guiding teens through the tough years, the process they used to write together and which chapter was difficult to create, the Varsity Blues scandal, how the pandemic altered the college admission process, and much more. Jenn’s recommended read: The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah Cindy’s recommended read: Beartown by Fredrik Backm...

Pam and I chat about her blog Who I Met Today, how and why she started it, what she has learned from the blog, our shared love of reading and books, the cookbooks she uses regularly and recommends, and much more. Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon here.   Other ways to support the podcast can be found here.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heather and I discuss celebrity and high-profile book clubs, the rise in prominence of these types of clubs, which ones we like the best, our favorite and not-so-favorite reads from these clubs, the impact they have on book sales, and much more. Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon here.  Other ways to support the podcast can be found here.     Learn more about your ad choices....

Samantha and I discuss Dovetails in Tall Grass, the U.S./Dakota War of 1862, how she decided on her format, bringing a forgotten event to life, translating history into a compelling story that will appeal to readers, the most surprising part of her publishing journey, and much more. Samantha’s recommended reads are: The Wreckage of My Presence by Casey Wilson One for the Blackbird, One for the Cro...

Elizabeth and I discuss our favorite narrative nonfiction books, our auto-buy nonfiction authors, categorizing the genre, the categories we gravitate toward, and more. Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon here.    Other ways to support the podcast can be found here.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nicola and I discuss The Show Girl, how she decided to write about the Ziegfeld Follies, the difference in drafting her first and second novels, which character was her favorite to create, the impact of the Ziegfeld Follies on subsequent Broadway shows, and much more. Nicola’s recommended reads are: Blush by Jamie Brenner The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner Support the podcast by becoming a Page T...

Megan and I discuss The Family Plot, exploring what it is about true crime that fascinates people, what that fascination does to a person and whether it can help or hurt them, plotting a thriller with all of the twists and turns, and much more. Megan’s recommended reads are: Where the Truth Lies by Anna Bailey The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner...

Julia and I discuss Better Luck Next Time, writing a novel in the second person, rewriting this story several times, how Reno became the divorce capital of the Unites States, her fascination with obituaries, and much more. Julia’s recommended reads are: Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason The Guncle by Steven Rowley Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon here. Other ways to support the...

Sarah and I discuss The Other Me, constructing a new identity when an individual undergoes huge life changes, how so much of what happens in life is outside of people’s control, her favorite character and the character with whom she identifies the most, her previous life as a rock musician, and much more. Sarah’s recommended reads are: The Tiger Mom’s Tale by Lyn Liao Butler How to Kill Your Best...

Taylor and I discuss Down Range, how Garrett became his protagonist, creating a believable main character, bringing the Texas landscape to life, crafting his exciting ending, and much more. Taylor’s recommended reads are: The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell Without Sanction by Don Bentley Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon here. Other ways to...

Charlotte and I discuss Once There Were Wolves, how she decided to write about wolves and rewilding the Scottish Highlands, her research, mirror touch synasthesia, crafting Inti’s strong character, and much more. Charlotte’s recommended reads are: One, Two, Three by Laurie Frankel Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon here. Other ways to support the po...

Suzanne and I discuss So We Meet Again, the male-dominated investment banking industry, her stint as an entrepreneur, wrapping in the craziness of 2020, her favorite character to write, and much more. Suzanne’s recommended reads are: Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes by Alexa Martin The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren The People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry The Heart Principle by Helen Hoan...

Jason and I discuss Hell of a Book, the autobiographical nature of this book, his writing process, being selected as the July "Read with Jenna" book club selection, how the book is designed to start conversations about race and identity, and much more. Jason’s recommended reads are: Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour Monsters by Barry Windsor-Smith Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patr...

Meg and I discuss her new book The Runaway Heiress, how it took her a while to realize she was a writer, her inspiration for the character Mick, reconciling her past so she could move forward with her future, writing romantic suspense, creating her "Cozy Tea Time" on YouTube, and much more. Meg’s recommended reads are: Lizzie & Dante by Mary Bly When Stars Collide by Susan Elizabeth Phillips All t...