Totally Booked with Zibby

Eilene Zimmerman is the author of the memoir,  Smacked: A Story of White-Collar Ambition, Addiction, and Tragedy . Eilene has been a journalist for three decades including a six-year stint as a columnist for  The New York Times  Sunday Business Section. This memoir is Eilene’s exploration of her ex-husband’s secret drug addiction/overdose, her own culpability, and an analysis of what's going on in...

Gene Luen Yang is the author, illustrator, and cartoonist of  American Born Chinese,  the first graphic novel ever to be nominated for the National Book Award and the American Library Association's Printz Award, which he won. Gene also won an Eisner Award for best graphic album as well as several other awards. Gene's two-volume graphic novel,  Boxers   &   Saints , was also nominated for a Nationa...

Patrice Karst is the author of The Invisible String , a beautiful story about the connection we share with our loved ones even when they’re not physically with us, and many other books that help people cope with loss and separation from loved ones, even pets. There’s no better time for this Patrice's books than now!!! Her stories have sold over half a million copies and have touched the lives of s...

Jen Gotch is the founder and chief creative officer of Ban.do, the multimillion-dollar lifestyle brand. She is also a fellow podcaster and former host of the show "Jen Gotch is Okay, Sometimes." Jen is a mental health advocate, reluctantly as you'll find out, and the author of the book  The Upside of Being Down: How Mental Health Struggles Led to My Greatest Successes in Work and Life .   This acc...

Janice Kaplan is the author of  The Genius of Women: From Overlooked to Changing the World.  This multilayered book tells stories of extraordinary women throughout history and weaves them into a larger narrative regarding the social expectations and biases women still face today. Janice is incredibly intelligent (although she won’t admit she’s a genius!!). I loved chatting with her about why most...

Abby Sher is a performer and author of many books including her latest, Miss You Love You Hate You Bye.  She even wrote a “Modern Love” essay in the New York Times that was adapted into an episode of the Modern Love television series. Abby’s young adult novel tackles the tough subjects of eating disorders, self-harm, and finding the courage to help a friend who can't stop hurting herself. During t...

Chris Bohjalian is the  New York Times  best-selling author of 21 books including  The Flight Attendant ,  The Guest Room , and  Midwives , which was a #1  New York Times  bestseller and a selection of Oprah's Book Club.  Midwives , along with  Secrets of Eden  and  Past the Bleachers , have been made into movies and  The Flight Attendant  is in development as a limited series. Chris’s most recent...

Malcolm Hansen is the winner of the BCALA (Black Caucus American Library Association) Literary Award for a first novelist and was nominated for a 2019 NAACP Image Award. His debut novel They Come In All Colors  is a mea  culpa style story of a 15-year-old boy who poisons his friend and then explains the circumstances leading up to his choices. Malcom and I spoke about his using writing as a form o...

Stephanie Wrobel is the author of debut novel Darling Rose Gold , a mother-daughter story of obsession, reconciliation, and revenge. It was fascinating to chat with Stephanie about her research into Munchausen by proxy, her advice to authors to treat the business side of publishing as part of their job, her choice to apply to grad school that changed everything, the idea that an author needs life...

Anne Bogel is the famous podcast host of "What Should I Read Next?" and "One Great Book.” She’s also the creator of the blog  Modern Mrs. Darcy  and the author of  Reading People  and  I'd Rather Be Reading.  Her latest book, Don't Overthink It , is already a bestseller!!! Her book is part memoir/part guide to stop second-guessing yourself and make decisions that bring joy to your life. Anne and I...

Hi everyone! In this super short episode, I talk briefly about my thoughts and feelings about this crazy time of life and how the coronavirus has affected the book world - and me. I discuss the  live Instagram and live Facebook  I'll be doing today (Sunday, March 15th) at 2:00 pm EST with giveaways, author chats, book suggestions and other ways you can help the literary community. Please watch!  I...

Jenny Lee is a TV writer, producer and author of the YA novel Anna K: A Love Story , a modern-day adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's  Anna Karenina . HBO Max acquired the rights for  Anna K  and Jenny Lee will be adapting and writing this story for the screen. How cool is that?! Jenny and I chatted about the year she took dating off the table and how it changed her productivity, her strict Korean upbring...

Cécile David-Weill is a French-American and the author of two novels  Crush ( under the name Cecile De La Baume) and  The Suitors.  She studied literature at La Sorbonne in Paris and was a regular contributor to the French magazine  Le Point  with a column entitled "Letters From New York."Cécile latest book,  Parents Under the Influence: Words of Wisdom from a Former Bad Mother , is part memoir an...

Jan Eliasberg is the award-winning screenwriter, director and debut author of Hannah's War . This literary spy thriller follows a female Jewish physicist and her work on the atomic bomb during WWII. Jan referred to writing this book as the best creative experience of her life and I can see why! I loved chatting with Jan about the historic New York Times article that sparked her imagination, the ex...

Kate Elizabeth Russell is the debut author of My Dark Vanessa , the story of a young woman coming to terms with the sexual relationship she had with her teacher and the consequences of it that she continues to face in her adult life. Kate started writing this haunting novel in her teens as a way of making sense of our culture's sexualization of teenage girls. Kate discussed her novel coinciding wi...

Glory Edim is the founder of Well-Read Black Girl, a Brooklyn-based book club and online community that celebrates the uniqueness of black literature and sisterhood. Glory originally started this platform on social media as a way to discuss black women writers, non-binary writers and writers of color and to create conversations about what it means to be a black woman in the world. As her platform...

Brenda Janowitz is Pop Sugar's book correspondent and the author of six novels. Her latest, The Grace Kelly Dress , tells the story of an heirloom wedding gown and three generations of women whose lives are influenced and changed by the dress. Brenda and I could have talked all day!! Brenda and I discussed — among other things —  her Pinterest board for the cover design, her wedding obsession, how...

Caitlin Mullen is the debut author of Please See Us,  a thriller involving the discovery of two murdered women and a high school drop out who starts having disturbing, violent, powerful visions. Caitlin and I had such an interesting conversation about the true crime from her childhood that inspired this thriller, her childhood as a bookish, quiet kid, her summer job at a casino spa, her “A Beautif...

Laura Zigman is the author of Separation Anxiety,  her first novel in over a decade which will surely follow the success of Animal Husbandry, Dating Big Bird, Piece of Work and Her. This book is about a couple that can’t afford to get divorced, a son who is growing up, and the emotional support the family dog gives the main character, Judy, (a 50-year-old) especially when worn in a sling. Which La...

Dr. Jewell Parker Rhodes is the award-winning and best-selling author of many books including Ninth Ward, which was the winner of the Coretta Scott King honor; Sugar, winner of the Jane Adams’ Children’s Book Award; and New York Times bestsellers Ghost Boys, an IndieBound best seller, a number-one Kids’ Indie Next pick, and ALA 2019 Children's Notable List pick, and winner of the Walter Award, EB...

Meng Jin is the debut author of Little Gods ,   a novel set in China about migrations through time, place, and class and the ways in which we are known and unknown to others and ourselves. From the beginning scene of a pregnant woman in the chaos of the Tiananmem Square riots, I was immediately drawn in by Meng’s beautifully lyrical writing style. Meng and I chatted about her personal connection t...

Joanna Guest is the author of Folded Wisdom: Notes from Dad on Life, Love, and Growing Up , a beautifully illustrated collection of morning notes written by her father. Joanna shared the the story of how the notes began, the lessons we can all learn from her Dad’s sweet wisdom, and what pushed her to leave a career in politics to write this book. This episode will certainly inspires you to grab a...

Grammy-nominated actor and singer Alexandra Silber is the author of White Hot Grief Parade.  This unique memoir details the six months surrounding the death of Alexandra’s father and her experience with grief at an early age. Alexandra and I chatted about her need to create a grief resource for young adults, writing books in between scenes in a Broadway dressing room, and what it truly means...

Suzanne Falter is the author of The Extremely Busy Woman's Guide to Self-Care,  a how-to tale that helps women slow down and tune in. During this emotional conversation, Suzanne and I chatted about the first steps to self care, the painful loss of her daughter, and the journal she discovered that inspired her to start writing this book and living her best life. Suzanne is an author,...

Dolly Alderton is the author of The Sunday Times best-selling memoir Everything I Know About Love . This coming-of age-story told in very short chapters chronicles Dolly’s 20s and the various dysfunctions and disasters that manifest through her love life. I really enjoyed chatting with Dolly about growing up in the UK but longing for American culture, her previous struggles with an eatin...