The Literary Lounge

This week in The Literary Lounge, Jennifer welcomes Katie Clapham, author of Receipts from a Bookshop and co-owner of Storytellers, Inc., an independent bookshop in a seaside town in England. Katie shares how her weekly Substack documenting the everyday happenings of her bookshop became a published book, the joys and challenges of life as an independent bookseller, and how she finds humor, inspira...

Life doesn't always unfold the way we imagine, but sometimes the most unexpected chapters lead us toward a new sense of purpose. This week, Jennifer welcomes author, speaker, and breast cancer survivor Dara Kurtz to The Literary Lounge. From losing her mother at a young age to navigating a breast cancer diagnosis and leaving a successful career in finance to pursue writing, Dara shares how li...

This week in The Literary Lounge, Jennifer welcomes author Emily Stone to chat about her newest festive romance, Counting Down to You , and why she’s drawn to exploring love, loss, and hope against the backdrop of the holiday season. Emily also takes us behind the scenes of her writing life, from writing speculative romance under her real name, Becky Hunter, and fantasy as one half of Ellis Hunter...

What if some of the biggest chapters of your life are still ahead of you? This week in The Literary Lounge, Jennifer sits down with bestselling author, podcast host, publisher, bookstore owner, and literary community builder Zibby Owens to talk about her new memoir, Between Chapters: How I Started Over, Took Some Chances, and Found the Plot . Zibby reflects on a decade of reinvention, building a l...

This week in The Literary Lounge, Jennifer sits down with author, career expert, and bookstore owner Fran Hauser to discuss her new book, Twenty Minutes Is the New Hour: The Ambitious Woman’s Guide to Doing Less and Achieving More . Fran shares how women can rethink their relationship with time by recognizing the “Four P’s”—perfectionism, people-pleasing, procrastination, and padding—and challengi...

This week in The Literary Lounge, Jennifer sits down with Sarah Moriarty, Executive Director of the Charleston Literary Festival. Sarah and Jennifer talk about the festival’s evolution from its roots at Charleston Farmhouse in England, the gathering place of the Bloomsbury Group, to the thriving literary celebration it has become in Charleston, South Carolina. Sarah takes us behind the scenes of c...

This week in The Literary Lounge, Jennifer is joined by Beth Seufer Buss, Program Director of Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. More than a bookstore, Bookmarks is a literary arts nonprofit with a mission to build an inclusive, curious, and connected community through books.  Beth shares the unique story of Bookmarks—from its beginnings as a volunteer-run book festival to becoming North...

This week in The Literary Lounge, Jennifer is joined by author Anna Johnston to discuss her new novel, When Lemons Give You Life , a charming and heartwarming story that will lift your spirits, remind you to appreciate the time you have, and leave you believing in the power of forgiveness and second chances.  Anna and Jennifer talk about writing older characters whose lives are still filled with p...

This week in The Literary Lounge, Jennifer is joined by bestselling author Nina Simon to talk about her new novel, My Sister Is Going to Kill Me , a warmhearted whodunnit about two sisters whose annual trip takes them rafting through the Grand Canyon—with a murderer in their midst.  Nina and Jennifer discuss writing complicated family relationships, finding inspiration in the natural world, and ba...

What happens to our family stories if no one carries them forward?  This week in The Literary Lounge, Jennifer welcomes author Sharon Kurtzman to discuss her debut novel, The Lost Baker of Vienna , a work of historical fiction inspired by the experiences of her mother, aunt, and grandmother after surviving the Holocaust.  Jennifer and Sharon talk about preserving family stories before they’re lost...

One month into The Literary Lounge, host Jennifer Cash opens up to share the story behind the podcast. From a childhood shaped by reading to the winding road that led her to becoming a writer, she reflects on the books, people, and experiences that shaped her life. It’s an honest and vulnerable conversation about finding purpose, rediscovering old dreams, and how a life surrounded by books ultimat...

What does it mean to find where you belong?  This week in The Literary Lounge, Jennifer welcomes author Joanna Monahan to discuss her second novel, Welcome to Blooms , a warm, feel-good story about siblings Daisy and Bud, who must learn to work together to save their family's flower shop. Think of it as a Hallmark movie in book form!  Jennifer and Joanna discuss the inspiration behind the nov...

This week in The Literary Lounge, Jennifer is joined by Corinne Levine, founder of Novel Travels, a luxury travel company that designs small group literary journeys and personalized itineraries for readers who want to step inside the books they love. Corinne and Jennifer explore the rise in literary travel, the connections forged through a shared love of books, and the magic of experiencing belove...

This week in The Literary Lounge, author Grace Helena Walz discusses her latest novel, Pretty as a Peach , a Southern-set story about a group of lifelong friends whose relationships are put to the test when a suspicious multi-level marketing cosmetics company sweeps through their small Georgia town.  Grace and Jennifer explore the complexities of family and friendship, what it means to be a Southe...

In the first episode of The Literary Lounge , author Jen Shoop discusses her debut book, Small Wonders: A Field Guide to Life’s Quiet Joys , a beautifully curated collection of essays, musings, and poetry that celebrates the art of paying attention to the everyday moments that make life meaningful.   Jen and Jennifer explore Jen’s journey from childhood writer to published author, how her beloved...

Welcome to The Literary Lounge, a literary podcast designed to feel like a modern literary salon where readers and writers gather over a shared love of story.  Host Jennifer Cash invites you into a cozy corner of the literary world where meaningful conversations take center stage.  Each week, hear thoughtful conversations with authors, booksellers, publishing professionals, and other special guest...