Totally Booked with Zibby

Guest host Alisha Fernandez Miranda welcomes TikTok phenomenon Whitney Hanson to discuss HARMONY, an exquisite poetry collection that chronicles the loss of a loved one and the progression of grief and healing through the lens of music. Whitney describes her transition from writing music to poetry and then shares how losing her best friend at sixteen inspired this collection. She also talks about...

Zibby speaks to Jonathan Conyers about I WASN’T SUPPOSED TO BE HERE, a courageous and heartwarming memoir about the unique cast of characters who made up his village and helped him rise from poverty, dysfunction, and the tyranny of low expectations. Jonathan opens up about his life trajectory, emphasizes the importance of building a supportive community, and expresses gratitude to those who played...

In this special episode of the podcast (a live event at Zibby’s Bookshop!), Gabi Conti interviews award-winning author Tamika Christy about ROUX, a stunning and challenging novel about three generations of an African American family, and the traumas, secrets, and battles they endure. Tamika discusses her book’s themes, from family dynamics to healing, and then describes her writing process, mainly...

Zibby welcomes Emma Noyes to discuss her adult debut, GUY’S GIRL ,  a raw and beautifully written story about twenty-somethings Ginny and Adrian as they navigate adulthood and an intoxicating, unexpected love, set against the backdrop of Ginny’s recovery from anorexia and bulimia while navigating life in New York City. Emma opens up about her personal experience with OCD and eating disorders,...

Maria Hummel joins Zibby to discuss GOLDENSEAL, an utterly inventive novel that burns with atmosphere, mystery, and resentment, as two estranged friends reunite to confront each other. Maria provides insights into her inspiration for the novel (it involves LA's art and hotel culture) and then discusses the themes she enjoyed exploring: aging, loneliness, friendship, and the impact of historical ev...

Zibby Books author alert!! Zibby interviews debut author Julie Chavez about EVERYONE BUT MYSELF, a fresh, tender-hearted, and bitingly funny memoir about a mother who is spread thin by the demands of modern family… and then, little by little, learns to put herself first. Julie describes her exciting journey to becoming a Zibby Books author and then shares her experiences navigating severe anxiety...

Literary giant James Patterson joins Zibby (again!) to discuss three of his recent publications: two nonfiction books, THE SECRET LIVES OF BOOKSELLERS AND LIBRARIANS and WHAT REALLY HAPPENS IN VEGAS, and an unputdownable thriller, HOLMES, MARPLE, AND POE. James shares his admiration for booksellers and librarians, highlighting their sense of humor and their bravery in a time of book banning and vi...

Zibby welcomes Portuguese-American author Katherine Vaz to discuss ABOVE THE SALT, an irresistible and sweeping love story that follows two Portuguese refugees who flee religious violence and reignite their budding romance in Civil War America. Katherine shares the fascinating backstory of her novel, which is based on the true story of religious persecution in Portugal’s Madeira island, and then d...

Zibby speaks to Colombian immigrant and travel journalist Nikki Vargas about her soul-stirring travel memoir, CALL YOU WHEN I LAND, which whisks readers through the countries that brought her self-discovery, new love, and the inspiration to launch the first international feminist travel magazine,  Unearth Women.  Nikki reveals the beginning of her journey (as a runaway bride, screaming i...

Zibby interviews Rachel Renée Russell, the #1  New York Times  bestselling author of DORK DIARIES, and Nikki Russell, her daughter and illustrator. Rachel and Nikki reveal the inspiration behind their latest book, DORK DIARIES 15: Tales from a Not-So-Posh Paris Adventure (it involves a pandemic-impacted trip…), and then discuss their creative process, the enduring popularity of their cha...

Debut novelist Jamie Varon joins Zibby to discuss her dazzling, heart-warming, and smartly crafted rom-com, MAIN CHARACTER ENERGY. Jamie talks about her protagonist, Poppy, who is an aspiring novelist. When her beloved aunt dies, she leaves Poppy a trip to a stunning villa (and secretive writers’ residency) in the French Riviera and a challenge to finish her novel in six months. Poppy has to confr...

Zibby welcomes professional ballerina and faculty member at the Pacific Northwest Ballet, Miriam Landis, to discuss LAUREN IN THE LIMELIGHT, a heart-warming middle-grade novel that revolves around three young dancers in a small-town ballet school in Mercer Island as they navigate the challenges of ballet, including the significant milestone of going on pointe. Miriam shares insights into her writi...

Zibby interviews forty-year publishing veteran John Sargent about his addictively entertaining and profoundly moving new memoir, TURNING PAGES: The Adventures and Misadventures of a Publisher. John talks about the inspiration behind this memoir (it involves a great-grandfather who wrote a very similar book) and his initial hesitation to infuse personal details into the narrative. He and Zibby also...

Zibby’s Book Club alert! Debut author Angela Brown joins Zibby to discuss OLIVIA STRAUSS IS RUNNING OUT OF TIME, a bighearted and dazzling comedy of errors about an everyday suburban mom on the verge of turning 40… and what happens when her best friend takes her to a trendy wellness clinic with a state-of-the-art genetic test that can predict the exact date of one’s death! Angela talks about the i...

Zibby interviews author and entrepreneur Natalie Franke about her refreshing, encouraging, and practical guidebook, GUTSY: Learning to Live with Bold, Brave, and Boundless Courage. Natalie addresses the ingrained habit of downplaying achievements (using words like “just,” for example) and then discusses the fears that hold individuals back from pursuing their dreams. She delves into the neuroscien...

Zibby speaks to endurance athlete and journalist Alyssa Ages about SECRETS OF GIANTS, an enthusiastically researched and authentically lived exploration of the weight-lifting world, and why pushing our physical limits is so impactful. Alyssa describes how she went from considering herself non-athletic to eventually participating in marathons and triathlons and ultimately discovering the world of s...

Bestselling author Beth O’Leary joins Zibby to discuss THE WAKE-UP CALL, an utterly delicious rom-com about Izzy and Lucas, two receptionists at a beautiful but rundown hotel in England, who find a collection of old wedding rings and compete to return them to their owners, hoping that the rewards might help them save the hotel. (This is challenging because they hate each other!) Beth describes the...

Zibby speaks to repeat MDHTTRB guest Anna Pitoniak about THE HELSINKI AFFAIR, an intricate and unputdownable female-centric spy thriller about an ambitious, young CIA officer who is given a Russian conspiracy to untangle, only to discover that her father, an ex-CIA officer, is mysteriously linked to it, forcing her to choose between him and her country. Anna describes the challenges and joys of wr...

Zibby interviews lifestyle journalist and award-winning author Alix Strauss about the 20th Anniversary Edition of THE JOY OF FUNERALS, a powerful collection that is written with raw wit, mordant humor, and a uniquely penetrating voice as it spotlights loss, grief, and loneliness. Alix talks about her unique book party at a funeral home, her decision to reissue her book after two decades, and the c...

Zibby speaks to bestselling author, nutritional psychiatrist, and repeat MDHTTRB guest Uma Naidoo, MD, about CALM YOUR MIND WITH FOOD, a groundbreaking guide that draws on the latest science on the connection between diet and anxiety and shows us how to effectively use nutrition as essential tools for calming the mind. Dr. Naidoo shares her personal experience using food to manage anxiety (particu...

Author Christine Coulson joins Zibby to discuss ONE WOMAN SHOW, a sly, stylish, and incredibly innovative novel–remarkably told through museum wall labels–about a 20th-century woman who transforms herself from a precious object into an unforgettable protagonist. Christine, drawing inspiration from her 25-year tenure at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, discusses the unique structure of her book, whi...

Zibby interviews debut author Elaine Roth about THE MIDNIGHT GARDEN, a hopeful and heartfelt story of a young widow’s journey as she tries to move forward after an incredible loss, with elements of magical realism and second-chance love. Elaine, a young widow herself, reveals how her experiences influenced the narrative, and she and Zibby delve into the central question of whether one can find lov...

Zibby speaks to #1  New York Times  bestselling author Nita Prose about THE MYSTERY GUEST, a delightful whodunit and pointed social commentary that follows Molly, an unfailingly honest and oddly lovable professional maid, as she tries to solve a murder… Nita reveals it was never her intention to turn her immensely popular debut novel, THE MAID, into a series… but then something odd spark...

Zibby welcomes Charles Scribner III to discuss his book and family history in publishing. Charles shares anecdotes about living in Zibby's childhood apartment, the origins of Scribner as a religious publishing house, and the fascinating evolution of the family business over 170 years. The conversation delves into memorable authors like Hemingway and Fitzgerald, the loyalty between Scribner an...

Zibby speaks to blogger and comedian Taylor Wolfe about her charming and touching new memoir, BIRDIE & HARLOW: Life, Loss, and Loving My Dog So Much I Didn’t Want Kids (...Until I Did). Taylor talks about the evolution of her popular blog (it all started when her English professor advised her to write every day), the challenges of managing multiple business ventures (like her lifestyle brand a...