Thoughts from a Page Podcast

Kim and I discuss The Memory Collectors, the way inanimate objects hold power over us because of the memories tied to them, her favorite character to create in this book, her fascination with witches and magic, connecting with readers, and more. Kim’s 2 recommended reads are: The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson Support the podcast here. For more information abou...

Jill and I discuss Everything After, how a Counting Crows song helped spark the title of this book, encouraging open conversations about miscarriage, maintaining individuality and identity after getting married, the one thing that Jill wanted for her recent birthday, and more. Jill’s 4 recommended reads are: Paris Never Leaves You by Ellen Feldman The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano by Donna Freitas...

Hala and I discuss The Arsonists’ City, the character she enjoyed writing the most, wanting to provide a deeper understanding of Lebanon to her readers, how and why intergenerational conflict and secrets provide great fodder for writers, wanting to incorporate the recent political events in Lebanon into her story, and more. The Arsonists’ City can be purchased at Murder by the Book or the CFAP Boo...

Patti and I discuss her latest book Surviving Savannah, how she found a door into this story, the way the Pulaski and its passengers spoke to her, how Friends and Fiction came about and what the group is doing now, the fascinating research she conducted, and much more. Surviving Savannah can be purchased at Murder by the Book or the CFAP Bookshop storefront. Patti’s 5 recommended reads are: Under...

J.T. and I discuss her latest mystery Her Dark Lies, closed circle versus locked room mysteries, the trip that lead to her creating Her Dark Lies, the character that she really struggled to write, writing books in a series compared to standalone books, and much more. Her Dark Lies can be purchased at Murder by the Book or the CFAP Bookshop storefront. J.T.’s recommended read is The Push by Ashley...

Jennifer and I discuss her debut The Little French Bridal Shop, the inspiration for both her story and the bridal shop in the book, how small falsehoods can easily turn into a web of lies, how she balances her day job and writing, reading recommendations, and more. The Little French Bridal Shop can be purchased at Murder by the Book or the CFAP Bookshop storefront. Jennifer’s 3 recommended reads a...

Kate and I discuss her latest book The Rose Code, writing about the unsung women code breakers at Bletchley Park who helped shorten the war by at least two years, the amount of secrecy required of those who worked at Bletchley Park and the mental and emotional toll on them, her favorite character to write in The Rose Code, and much more. The Rose Code can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Kate’s...

Mark and I discuss his new Gray Man novel Relentless, the inspiration for Court Gentry, the character he enjoys writing the most, what it was like working with Tom Clancy and continuing his series, writing two books a year, the fantastic mystery/thriller community and much more. Relentless can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Mark’s 4 recommended reads are: American Traitor by Brad Taylor Rober...

Lauren and I discuss her latest book Band of Sisters, how she learned about this courageous group of women, how often women’s stories have been erased from the historical narrative, the one issue that almost broke the Smith College group, her 2021 Pink Carnation series Read-a-Long, and much more. Band of Sisters can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Lauren’s 2 recommended reads are: Tooth and Cl...

Julia and I discuss her new book Come Fly the World, how she discovered and decided to tell these women’s stories, approaching the issue of memory and recall with her interviews, the importance of stewardesses’ contributions to both the feminist movement and to present-day women and their ability to travel freely, and much more. Come Fly the World can be purchased at Murder by the Book.  Julia’s  ...

Jennifer and I discuss her book The Yellow Bird Sings, her impetus for telling this story, the significance of the violin and the color yellow in the book, what she learned on her research trip to Poland and how that impacted her writing, why she selected Poland as the setting, and much more. The Yellow Bird Sings can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Jennifer’s 4 recommended reads are: Hamnet b...

Bella and I discuss The Diabolical Bones, the Brontë novels that inspire the books in this series, the Brontë sister who influenced her pen name, the joy she feels writing these books, how she came up with the word detectors, and much more. The Diabolical Bones can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Bella’s 4 recommended reads are: Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë The Las...

Sarah and I discuss her debut The Sanatorium, having her novel chosen as a Reese’s Book Club selection, how she created such a strong sense of place, making the sanatorium a character in the novel, writing a closed circle mystery, her stunning book cover, whether there will be a sequel, and much more. The Sanatorium can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Sarah’s 2 recommended reads are: The Heatw...

Zibby and I discuss her anthology Moms Don’t Have Time To, the genesis of the essays, how she pulled this project together so quickly, which genre is Zibby’s personal favorite, how she reads so many books, what surprised her the most about compiling these essays into an anthology, and much more. Moms Don’t Have Time To: A Quarantine Anthology can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Zibby’s 4 recom...

Madeleine and I discuss her latest novel The Love Proof, what inspired her to write this book, her love of yoga, her writing process, what she likes to do in her free time, and more. The Love Proof can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Madeleine’s 2 recommended reads are: Beach Read by Emily Henry This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice...

Susan and I discuss her latest novel The Nature of Fragile Things, the unexpected book that inspired her to write this story, her interest in the mail-order bride phenomenon, the fragility of San Francisco’s infrastructure prior to the 1906 earthquake, her book about the 1918 Spanish Flu and its relevance to the current pandemic, and much more. The Nature of Fragile Things can be purchased at Murd...

Erika and I discuss her latest novel The Invisible Woman, bringing Virginia Hall to life, highlighting the everyday people who contributed to the French Resistance, touring the CIA Museum, how readers are looking for stories of redemption during the pandemic, and much more. The Invisible Woman can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Erika’s 3 recommended reads are: The Darkest Night by Jennifer Ro...

Eliza and I discuss her adult debut If I Disappear, how she created her unique format, finding a place in today’s world, how grief can impact and infect everything else, the importance of focusing on mental health, the fabulous true crime community and much more. If I Disappear can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Eliza’s 3 recommended reads are: The Herd by Andrea Bartz The Girls Are All So Ni...

Anna and I discuss her new book The Three Mothers, the importance of black women and their stories and contributions, how she chose these three mothers, the direct connection between these women and the work their sons pursued, how we tell history and who is telling this history, and much more. The Three Mothers can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Anna’s 2 recommended reads are: The Purpose of...

Te-Ping and I discuss her short story collection Land of Big Numbers, how the people she met as a journalist in Beijing inspired some of these stories, what it is like for people who live in a society where many circumstances are outside their control, the universality of intergenerational family stories, and much more. Land of Big Numbers can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Te-Ping’s 2 recomm...

Jane and I discuss her latest book The Survivors, how setting and plot drive her stories, creating a strong sense of place, her thoughts on the motion picture adaptation of The Dry and Eric Bana as Aaron Falk, how her journalism training helps her write thrillers, and much more. The Survivors can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Jane’s 2 recommended reads are: The Mother Fault by Kate Mildenhal...

Nancy and I discuss her debut novel The Kindest Lie, the issue of identity in the United States today, her title’s dual meaning, how important it is for aspiring authors to write the story they want to write versus following publishing trends, her own publishing journey, and much more. The Kindest Lie can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Nancy’s 3 recommended reads are: The Other Black Girl by...

Ty and I discuss his new book Robert E. Lee and Me, the myth of the Lost Cause of the Confederacy and its creation and perpetuation, how telling his own personal story is more impactful than just sharing his views, why questioning history distresses and unsettles people, and much more. Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner’s Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause can be purchased at Murder by the...

Lisa and I discuss her new mystery Before She Disappeared, the complexity of plotting a person’s disappearance in 2021, walking the streets of Mattapan for research and the delicious food item that she discovered there, the real-life inspiration for Frankie Elkin, and much more. Before She Disappeared can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Lisa’s recommended reads are: Home Before Dark by Riley S...

Liese discusses her new book What Could Be Saved, writing about Bangkok in both the 1970s and present day, pulling from her experiences as an expat, how her writing process has evolved over time, pandemic reading recommendations, and much more. What Could Be Saved can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Liese’s 4 recommended reads are: Long Bright River by Liz Moore Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano C...