Thoughts from a Page Podcast

In this interview, I chat with Celeste Connally about Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord, her new pseudonym and how she selected it, writing historical books instead of contemporary, what it was like for women to live in the Regency Era, setting the stage for a new series, and much more. Celeste's recommended reads are A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore To...

In this interview, I chat with Jen Golbeck and Stacey Colino about The Purest Bond, how they came to write this book together, the physical, cognitive, emotional and social benefits of owning a dog, the gorilla basketball video on YouTube, creating the Golden Ratio, the science behind the human/dog relationship, and much more. Jen's recommended read is Nobody's Fool by Daniel Simons. Stacey's reco...

In this interview, I chat with Elizabeth Crook about The Madstone, Texas during Reconstruction, how she wanted to write another book with Benjamin Shreve as a central character, the definition of a madstone and how she chose that as her title, her personal connection to the cover, and much more. Elizabeth's recommended reads are: Big Wonderful Thing: A History of Texas by Stephen Harrigan Remember...

In this episode, Kelly and I chat about our favorite books that published in July through September 2023. Our shared top reads: The River We Remember by William Kent Kreuger  The Six by Loren Grush  Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter Kelly’s remaining top reads: One Summer In Savannah by Terah Shelton Harris  Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent  An Honest Man by Michael Koryta  The Many Lives of...

In this Behind the Scenes interview, Victoria Wood and I chat about BiblioLifestyle, how and why she launched her website and her newsletter, creating her podcast and reading guides, how her Epigraph Festival works, why she DNFs, and much more. Victoria's recommended reads are: Julia by Sandra Newman Wifedom by Anna Funder A Dish Best Served Hot by Natalie Cana Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Da...

In this interview, I chat with Tess Gerritsen about The Spy Coast, how she came up with the idea for this one, making it into a series, writing as a pantser, her title and cover, including the foreign locales that she loves best, and much more. Tess's recommended reads are: Knife Skills for Beginners by Orlando Murrin Trailed by Kathryn Miles The Deadly Rise of Anti-science by Peter J. Hotez Want...

In this interview, I chat with Matt Singer about Opposable Thumbs, writing about Siskel & Ebert, how the two were trailblazers and the legacy they left, where the show can be watched today, whether it is best to read a book before or after watching the screen adaptation, and much more. Matt's recommended read is Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann. Want to know which new titles are publishin...

In this interview, I chat with Laurence Leamer about Hitchcock's Blondes, why he decided to write this book, his research, interviewing Eva Marie Saint and Kim Novak, the upcoming screen adaptation of Capote's Women, what surprised him the most when writing this one, and much more. Larry's recommended reads are: Lou Reed: The King of New York by Will Hermes Bomber by Len Deighton Want to know whic...

In this interview, I chat with Meg Kissinger about While You Were Out, why she decided to write this book, how the health care system often fails those with mental illness, what surprised her the most when writing this memoir, living with parents who have mental illnesses, her title and its significance, and much more. Meg's recommended reads are: Lost and Found by Kathryn Schulz Never Simple by L...

In this interview, I chat with Greg Glasgow and Kathryn Mayer about Disneyland on the Mountain, how they learned about Mineral King and decided to write about it, Walt Disney's vision for a ski resort, putting the Mineral King project in context within the larger Disney arena and the environmental movement, their research, and much more. Greg's recommended reads are: A Chateau Under Siege by Marti...

In this interview, Ritu Mukerji and I discuss Murder by Degrees, how this is a start to a new mystery series, the title and cover, incorporating the medical practices of the late 1800s, creating a strong sense of place and time as well as an unconventional investigator, why she set the story in Philadelphia, and much more. Ritu's recommended reads are: The Mistress of Bhatia House by Sujata Massey...

In this interview, Julia Kelly and I discuss A Traitor in Whitehall, writing an historical mystery, choosing the books her character loves to read, setting a story in the Churchill War Rooms, the inspiration for Evelyne's early years, and much more. Julia's recommended read is In Memoriam by Alice Winn. Join my Patreon group to support the podcast.  Other ways to support the podcast can be found h...

In this interview, Hugh Howey and I discuss Wool, the series' origin story, his unique publishing journey including self-publishing and then publishing deals with Simon and Schuster and subsequently Mariner, his involvement with Silo - the Apple+ TV adaptation of the Wool trilogy, the incredible success of Silo on Apple+, and much more. Hugh's recommended reads are: Circe by Madeline Miller Tomorr...

In this Behind the Scenes interview, Laura Rossi and I chat about her roles in the literary world, how she got started in the book world, launching her own PR firm, her work as a podcast producer, her favorite and least favorite thing about her job, including the audiobook in a book's publishing day promotional events, celebrity book clubs, and much more. Laura's recommended reads are: Practical M...

In this interview, Daniel Sweren-Becker and I discuss Kill Show, examining the true crime industry and what goes into making that type of show, how real life tragedies are turned into entertainment, using a transcript format to tell this story, examining the unintended consequences of people's actions, and much more. Daniel's recommended reads are: I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai T...

In this interview, Denene Millner and I discuss One Blood, her own adoption story and why she wanted to write about adoption, her children's book imprint and why she created it, the character she identifies with the most, her stunning cover, and much more. Denene's recommended reads are: On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong Fruit Punch by Kendra Allen Seven Days in June by Tia Williams O...

In this interview, S.J. Bennett and I discuss Murder Most Royal, setting a book in Norfolk, her fabulous website, writing about the queen even though Sophia is not a royalist, how varied her book covers are in different countries, what surprised her the most when writing this one, rewilding, the royal family's holiday traditions, and much more. Sophia's recommended reads are: Art in the Blood by B...

In this interview, John Scalzi and I discuss Starter Villain, infusing humor into his stories, including talking animals in this book, building on the tropes already existing in certain genres, the importance of book titles, his research, how his role as a film critic influenced Starter Villain, and much more. John's recommended reads are: The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal Legends and Lattes b...

In this interview, Cara and I discuss Murder in the Family, writing in a multi-media format, the various issues true crime raises and how her book explores those issues, her writing process, how her book went viral on BookTok, and much more. Cara's recommended reads are: A Thread of Violence by Mark O'Connell Everyone Here is Lying by Shari Lapena Join my Patreon group to support the podcast.  Oth...

In this interview, Tracey and I discuss The Connellys of County Down, her interest in reading and writing about family dynamics, the hardest character to write in this book, reader reactions, the title and cover, the fairy tale woven into the story, Geraldine's character, and much more. Tracey's reading recommendations are: Trespasses by Louise Kennedy Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro Unlikely Animals...

In this interview, Elena and I discuss The Long Game, the joy of book events, the parallels of this book to Ted Lasso, publishing myths, how she started out self publishing, how she wrote what she wanted to read, and much more. Elena's recommended reads are: The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson The Nanny by Lana Ferguson Join my Patreon group to support the podcast.  Other ways to support the podcast ca...

In this interview, Gill and I discuss A Beautiful Rival, her research for this book, what surprised her the most when writing this book, the connections between her books, the impact these two women had on the cosmetics industry, and much more. Gill's reading recommendations are: Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl by Renee Rosen Disobedient by Elizabeth Freemantle Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Joi...

In this interview, Kent and I discuss The River We Remember, creating a strong sense of place in his stories, how his father was changed by fighting in World War 2, the time period following this war in the U.S., the genre of domestica exotica, his title and cover, and much more. Kent's recommended reads are books by Fredrik Backman. Join my Patreon group to support the podcast.  Other ways to sup...

In this interview, Peter and I discuss The Last Ranger, setting the story in Yellowstone National Park, how he became interested in the wolves in the park, his writing process and how his background influences that, the questions he gets from readers, his dearest hope for this book, and much more. Peter's recommended read is The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. Check out my Summer Re...

Mary and Pamela join me to discuss their recommended reads for Fall 2023. Mary’s Selections: Amazing Grace Adams by Fran Littlewood The Golden Gate by Amy Chua The Heart Of It All by Christian Kiefer My Darling Girl by Jennifer McMahon The Comfort Of Crows by Margaret Renkl The Museum Of Failures by Thrity Umrigar Distant Sons by Tim Johnston The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff  Pamela’s Selections:...