Totally Booked with Zibby

#1 New York Times bestselling author (and repeat MDHTTRB guest) Lisa Jewell joins Zibby to discuss her latest book The Family Remains, the spellbinding, perfectly plotted, and shocking sequel to The Family Upstairs. Lisa talks about her initial reluctance to write this book (she was bullied into it by her fans!), all of her haphazard editorial choices (that are actually just brilliant), and the bo...

Zibby talks to author (and former Hollywood actress, screenwriter, and director) Katherine St. John about her latest novel The Vicious Circle, a twisty and unnerving suspense about a woman who inherits a wellness center (or a creepy cult’s home-base?!) in a lush Mexican jungle. Katherine talks about her lifelong love of storytelling, her mandatory book elements (an extraordinary, remote setting an...

Zibby is joined by repeat MDHTTRB guest, motivational speaker, podcast host, and New York Times bestselling author Neil Pasricha to discuss Our Book of Awesome: A Celebration of the Small Joys That Bring Us Together. Neil talks about how the Awesome series came to be (from a few unfortunate life events, to a positivity blog, to TED Talks and one million copies sold), the carefree structure of his...

Zibby interviews Liz Michalski about Darling Girl: A Novel of Peter Pan , an evocative and dark retelling of the classic we all know and love that explores motherhood, sacrifice, and grief. Liz describes the inspiration behind the book (it involves a horrifyingly vivid dream and a fascination with blood rejuvenation techniques–have you heard of vampire facials!?). She also talks about her protagon...

Zibby interviews National Book Award-winning and bestselling author Julia Glass about her brilliant new novel Vigil Harbor. Julia talks about her unique cast of interconnected characters (some of which reappear from earlier books), the intimidating challenge of working with fantastical and speculative elements for the first time, and the pressing global issues spotlighted in the novel. She also gi...

In a hybrid podcast-virtual book club episode, Zibby joins New York Times bestselling author Amy Bloom to discuss In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss, which tells the beautiful and heartbreaking story of her husband’s journey with Alzheimer’s and his decision to pursue a painless and dignified assisted suicide. Amy answers audience questions about the book itself (its structure, humor, and candid h...

Zibby interviews New York Times bestselling author Gabrielle Zevin about Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, a sweeping new novel about love, fame, joy, and tragedy as experienced by brilliant videogame designers and lifelong friends Sam and Sadie. After a quick chat about the iconic game MASH and the Marie Kondo phenomenon, Gabrielle discusses her story’s most striking elements, from Sam’s stru...

Guest host Allison Pataki speaks to bestselling author and renowned marriage and family counselor Terry Real about Us: Getting Past You and Me to Build a More Loving Relationship, a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling relationship guidebook that critiques toxic individualism and teaches compassion and collaboration. Terry shares several real client stories to illustrate...

Zibby is joined by New York Times bestselling author Cecily Wong to discuss Kaleidoscope , a beautifully-crafted and expertly fragmented novel about sisterhood, ambition, travel, and grief. Cecily talks about her characters’ experiences with reinvention, the power of an unexpected twist, and her stunning book cover. She also reveals her favorite books, her unorthodox journey to becoming an author,...

Guest host Julianna Goldman speaks to award-winning author Caitlin Macy about A Blind Corner, a sharp and playful collection of short stories about pride, privilege, uncomfortable truths, and ill-fated good intentions. Caitlin talks about her writing and publishing process (her editor was expecting a novel!) and the real-life details that inspired the stories. She also discusses her fascinating Wa...

Guest host Alisha Fernandez Miranda is joined by New York Times bestselling author and repeat MDHTTRB guest Emiko Jean to discuss Mika in Real Life , a hilarious and utterly heartwarming novel about motherhood, intergenerational trauma, and second chances. Mika discusses tackling adult fiction for the first time and the evolution of her writing process (from pantser to plotter!). She also talks ab...

Zibby interviews New York Times bestselling author Jill Bialosky about The Deceptions, an urgent and thought-provoking tale of love, desire, motherhood, and art. Jill discusses her love of poetry and the gut-wrenching memoir she wrote about her sister’s suicide, which is being re-issued on its 10th anniversary and has completely changed her relationship with life. She also talks about her decades-...

Zibby interviews bestselling author Ann Hood about Fly Girl, a warm coming-of-age memoir about her time as a TWA flight attendant in the 70s and 80s. Ann describes the origins of her wanderlust, comments on the blatant sexism she witnessed on the job, and shares her most memorable in-flight stories, from playing Boggle with a passenger to seeing a man die to writing her first novels in the jump se...

Zibby speaks to Marcy Dermansky about Hurricane Girl, a wildly original and quirky new novel that combines humor and horror to tell the story of Allison Brody, whose East Coast escape from an LA boyfriend goes completely awry… Marcy talks about her love of swimming (hence the recurring pool element!), her frustration with her own writing process, the autobiographical details she sprinkles in her b...

Zibby speaks to Angie Cruz about her magnetic (and brilliantly structured) new novel How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water, which is a New York Times notable book and New York Times book review editor’s choice! Angie describes her protagonist, Cara Romero, who came to her in a moment of deep despair; the African American stories that helped her feel connected during the pandemic; and her journey fr...

Zibby is joined by bestselling author and award-winning child welfare advocate David Ambroz to discuss his gut-wrenching and unforgettable memoir (and Zibby’s 2022 Book of the Year!!), A Place Called Home. David shares his own courageous story, his thoughts on how listeners can help those in the foster care system, his updates on his siblings and his own life, and how he has managed to stay so pos...

Zibby speaks to podcast host Sutanya Dacres about Dinner for One: How Cooking in Paris Saved Me , a mouth-watering and heart-warming memoir about a shattered American-in-Paris fairytale and the cathartic power of making delicious food. Sutanya shares the details of her whirlwind romance with the Frenchman she married (and divorced), her life as a Black American in Paris, and the innovative, listen...

Zibby interviews real estate broker, marathon runner, tennis player, podcaster, and writer Carmen Micsa about her beautiful new book of poetry and short-form Morsels of Love. Carmen talks about her relationship with fitness and reveals that running inspired her to write poetry–the strides, the breaths, the rhythm! She also describes the memoir she is working on, which will cover her childhood in c...

Zibby interviews USA Today bestselling author Chris Cander about A Gracious Neighbor , a witty and suspenseful new novel about female friendships, misjudgments, and never really knowing what goes on behind closed doors. Chris describes the brilliant 1917 short story that inspired the novel and contemplates her protagonist’s actions (can we ever justify a murder!?). Then, she talks about the brutal...

Guest host Allison Pataki interviews actress, former MTV personality, and New York Times bestselling author Karen Duffy about Wise Up: Irreverent Enlightenment from a Mother Who’s Been Through It , a book of letters about living a beautiful life, inspired by the teachings of Stoic philosophers. Karen talks about how studying philosophy has helped her cope with her chronic illness and describes how...

Guest host Alisha Fernandez Miranda interviews Alexa Martin about Better than Fiction , a charming new rom-com about a grumpy book hater who inherits her grandmother’s bookstore and has to face its resident book club of meddling old ladies and the gorgeous author they set her up with. ZIBBY ORIGINALLY INTERVIEWED ALEX ABOUT HER NOVEL MOM JEANS AND OTHER MISTAKES. LISTEN HERE . Alexa describes the...

Zibby speaks to New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist Deanna Raybourn about Killers of a Certain Age , an unpredictable and witty new thriller about four 60-year-old female assassins who, after forty years of service, just want to retire! Deanna talks about her quartet of badass protagonists, the risk she took writing a contemporary story after years of publishing historical fiction, a...

Guest host Alisha Fernandez Miranda interviews BuzzFeed News editor Tomi Obaro about Dele Weds Destiny , a sensational debut novel about three beautifully complex Nigerian women who meet in college and reunite at a wedding decades later . Tomi talks about the aunties who inspired the books’ protagonists, switching between her editor and writer brains, and her fascination with weddings (she has eve...

Zibby is joined by Todd Parr, bestselling author of 60+ children’s books best known for their bright colors, silly scenes, and heart-warming, encouraging messages. Todd describes his elementary school reading troubles and finally getting diagnosed with dyslexia and ADD, his first job as a flight attendant, and how he finally turned his love of doodling into a career helping children through books!...

Zibby interviews Harvard MBA, best-selling author, and “queen of unsolicited advice” Samantha Ettus about her 2016 self-improvement guide for working women, The Pie Life: A Guilt-Free Recipe for Success and Satisfaction. Sam talks about the importance of nurturing every part of our lives (each of the “seven slices”), rejecting guilt and embracing messiness in motherhood, the myth of maternal insti...