Thoughts from a Page Podcast

In this interview, Irene and I discuss Lucky Girl, religion in the novel, mother-daughter relationships, what is resonating with readers the most, how much of her own experience she incorporated into Soila's story, the hardest part about writing this one, and much more. Irene's recommended reads are: Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Win...

In this Patreon Preview Episode, listeners can sample what my Patreon content is like including this episode with Kelly Hooker where we chat about our Auto-Buy Authors. Like this episode? You can join my Patreon group or try the current 7-day trial for free.  Other ways to support the podcast can be found here.   Check out my Summer Reading Guide for 2023 and my Houston Life segment.   Connect wit...

In this interview, Alice and I discuss The Invisible Hour, why she incorporated Nathanial Hawthorne and The Scarlet Letter into this book, the impact books have had on her life, book banning, mother/daughter relationships, the one author she would want to go back in time to meet, her title and cover, and much more. Alice's recommended reads are: Separation Anxiety by Laura Zigman The Foundling by...

In this interview, we discuss The First Ladies, writing about the relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune, their cover and title, how readers are so curious about Marie's and Victoria's friendship, their writing process and research, and much more. Check out my Summer Reading Guide for 2023 and my Houston Life segment. Join my Patreon group to support the podcast.  Other way...

In this interview, Madeline and I discuss The Keeper of Hidden Books, how she decided to write this story, her research trip to Poland, writing books about books, and much more. Madeline's recommended reads are: Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See The Spectacular by Fiona Davis Check out my Summer Reading Guide for 2023 and my Houston Life segment. Join my P...

In this Behind the Scenes episode, Sarah and I discuss Bookshop.org and its impact on the book world, her role there and what it entails, how Bookshop.org partners with independent bookstores and supports them, what surprises her the most about her job, what is coming next for Bookshop.org, and much more. Sarah's recommended reads are: Outline by Rachel Cusk The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by De...

In this interview, Sara and I discuss Broadway Butterfly, how it took her nine years to research this book, deciding what to include and what not to include, building the tension as the story progresses, her stunning cover, Mystery & Thriller Mavens, and much more. Sara's recommended reads are: The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok After That Night by Karin Slaught...

In this interview, Pip and I discuss The Bookbinder, creating the book trailer for this book, actually learning to bind books herself, creating a strong sense of place, her stunning book cover, how she first learned about the subject matter of this book, and much more. Pip's recommended reads are: Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka Hors...

In this interview, Elizabeth and I discuss It Was an Ugly Couch Anyway, narrating her audiobook, getting the Prologue right and why she had to rewrite it many times, her favorite essay in the collection, New York City during the pandemic, and much more. Elizabeth's recommended reads are: Why We Read by Shannon Reed How to Stay Married by Harrison Scott Key Check out my Summer Reading Guide for 202...

In this interview, Nicole and I discuss The Long Way Back, social media and how it is impacting our lives today, using a multimedia format to write the story, how the title and cover came about, crafting a mother-daughter relationship, and much more. Nicole's recommended reads are: Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni Check out my Summer Reading Guide for...

In this interview, Bruce and I discuss The Bitter Past, his research, what surprised him the most when writing this book, creating a strong sense of place, the title and cover, how this is the start to a series, and much more. Bruce's recommended reads are: The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer The Warsaw Orphan by Kelly Rimmer All the Broken Places by John Boyne Beyond That, the Sea by Laura S...

In this interview, Kim and I discuss Lexington, his impact on the sport of horse racing today, what happened to Lexington after he retired from racing, elk antlers and their significance in racing, horse racing in the 1800s, and much more. Kim’s recommended reads are: Moondust by Andrew Smith The Wager by David Grann In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick Check out my Summer Reading Guide...

In this interview, Kristy and I discuss The Summer of Songbirds, how she came up with the idea for this book, Friends and Fiction, deciding which characters would tell the story, including an independent bookseller, and much more. Kristy's recommended reads are: The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand The Paris Daughter by Kristen Harmel My Magnolia Summer by Victoria Benton Frank The Happy Life...

Mary and Pamela join me to discuss their recommended reads for July and August 2023. Mary’s Selections: How Can I Help You by Laura Sims A Likeable Woman by May Cobb A Twisted Love Story by Samantha Downing The Sunset Crowd by Karin Tanabe Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin  Whalefall by Daniel Kraus Tell Me What I Am by Una Mannion Under the Tamari...

In this Behind the Scenes interview, Jenny and I chat about her role as Senior Editor at Shelf Awareness and what that entails, supporting independent bookstores, how Shelf Awareness began, submitting content to Shelf Awareness, and much more. Jenny's recommended reads are: Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjoin-Brenyah Let Us Descend by Jessmyn Ward The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green Thes...

In this episode, Kelly and I chat about our favorite books that published in April through June 2023. Our shared top reads: It Was an Ugly Couch Anyway by Elizabeth Passarella Lucky Girl by Irene Muschemi-Ndiritu Drowning by T.J. Newman Charm City Rocks by Matthew Norman The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni Night Will Find You by Julia Heaberlin Banyan Moon by Thao Thai The Seven Year Slip by As...

In this interview, Ashley and I discuss The Seven Year Slip, her love of time travel stories, creating a strong sense of place, switching from YA to adult romance, inserting Easter Eggs into this book, being selected by the GMA Book Club, and much more. Ashley's recommended reads are: That Summer Feeling by Bridget Morrissey Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon The Neighbor Favor by Kristin...

In this interview, Riley and I discuss The Only One Left, writing a gothic novel, his writing process, what surprised him the most while writing this one, creating all of the twists and turns, the emotional depth in this story, and much more. Riley's recommended read is The Last Word by Taylor Adams. Check out my Summer Reading Guide for 2023 and my Houston Life segment. Support the podcast by joi...

In this interview, Ruth and I discuss A Right Worthy Woman, writing about Maggie Lena Walker and including her in all of her books, the cover process, her research, how the title came about, and much more. Ruth's recommended reads are: The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry By Her Own Design by Piper Huguley The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristen Harmel Sisters in Arms by Kaia Alde...

In this interview, Wendy and I discuss What Remains, cold cases, her Patreon episode with Megan Miranda, how she writes and edits her books, selecting character names and running Google searches on those names, and much more. Wendy's recommended reads: Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka Girl A by Abigail Dean Check out my Summer Reading Guide for 2023 and my Houston Life segment. Support the p...

In this interview, Matthew and I discuss Inside Threat, Raven Rock Mountain Complex, what surprised him the most while writing this one, The Night Agent's limited series on Netflix, the challenges of writing a locked room mystery, how he started writing political thrillers, and much more. Matthew's recommended reads: Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel Raven Rock by Garrett M. Graff The Free World by Louis...

In this interview, Danielle and I discuss The Puzzle Master, how she came up with the ideas for this one, working with a puzzle constructor for this book, her research, Sudden Acquired Savant Syndrome, how she writes her first drafts by hand on legal pads, the complicated cover process, and much more. Danielle's recommended reads are: The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok Happiness Falls by Angie Kim Ch...

Cathy Berner of Blue Willow Bookshop joins me to chat about her favorite romance novels. Cathy's Book Recommendations: This is Not a Book about Benedict Cumberbatch by Tabitha Carvan My Go-Tos: Jasmine Guillory  Party of Two  While We Were Dating  Abbi Waxman  Bookish life of Nina Hill  Garden of Small Beginnings  Beth O’Leary  Flatshare The Switch  Alexis Hall  Boyfriend Material Rosaline Palmer...

In this interview, Fiona and I discuss The Spectacular, how she decided to write about Radio City Music Hall and the Rockettes, the Book Club kit created for this book, taking the cover in a different direction than her previous covers, pre-orders and why they are important, her next book, and much more. Fiona's recommended reads are: Hedge by Jane Delury Hotel Laguna by Nicola Harrison What Remai...

In this interview, Simon and I discuss The Dark That Doesn't Sleep, when the setting is a character, Project Iceworm, setting a story in the late 1960s, crafting twists and turns, and much more. Check out my Summer Reading Guide for 2023. Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon.  Other ways to support the podcast can be found here.     The Dark That Doesn't Sleep can be purchased...