For the first time on Beyond the Next Chapter, our host Whitney Clark is chatting with a children's book author—and she's local! Lindsay Gonzales lives in the Valley and is the author of a series of books about a young girl named E.D. Camps. The main character is based off of Lindsay's daughter, Elena. Lindsay loves camping and when she and her husband started taking their young daughters, she couldn't find any books about camping. So she wrote one! Lindsay talks to Whitney about how she became a published author, her favorite books, why she loves camping with her family, and her favorite camping spots in Arizona! 

Spring is here and summer is just around the corner! If you're looking for a good beach read, Allison Winn Scotch's new book "Take Two, Birdie Maxwell" may be the one! Our host Whitney Clark got to talk to Allison about how Julia Roberts inspired the main character, Birdie. Allison is a fan of 90's romcoms and wanted to create the same types of love stories in her books. She's also a big fan of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce and weighs in on why she thinks so many are rooting for (and sometimes against) the couple. Allison regularly gives shout outs to other female authors and shares why that is so important in the publishing world. 

For the first time, the podcast is featuring an Arizona author! Christina Estes is out with her debut novel "Off the Air." It's a murder mystery set in Phoenix (and it features more than 15 local businesses and neighborhoods). It stars Jolene Garcia, a competitive local TV reporter who wants tell important stories in her community. The book was inspired by Estes' own career. She has spent more than 20 years reporting in Phoenix and currently works for NPR. Estes tells Whitney she hopes people are entertained, they have a better understanding of how local news works, and a better appreciation for Phoenix. "Off the Air" also won the Tony Hillerman Prize for Best First Mystery Set in the Southwest. 

What if every time you met a man, you would know how long you would spend with him? That's the premise of Rebecca Serle's new book "Expiration Dates." Our host Whitney Clark got a chance to talk to Serle about her latest project and the story of Daphne Bell. In this podcast episode, Whitney and Rebecca dive into faith versus free will, the significance of female relationships and how they change throughout your 30's, and Rebecca's secrets to a successful book club! Serle is known for incorporating magical realism into her stories and "Expiration Dates" is no different. She's a New York Times best selling author who also wrote "One Italian Summer" and "In Five Years." 

Whitney Clark takes us on a trip down memory lane! Her guest this week is Laura Sharp, the owner of a Gilbert-based pop-up bookstore. Literally, A Bookshop is a children's bookstore that also hosts events for grown-ups! Think the Scholastic Book Fair, but instead of your school gymnasium, events for adults are hosted at wine bars and breweries across the Valley. You can buy a book while drinking a beer or a glass of wine, while also connecting with your fellow readers. Laura shares why she started the events for adults, what it's like owning an independent bookstore, and the magic of introducing kids to books. 

In this episode of "Beyond the Next Chapter," our host Whitney Clark introduces us to silent book clubs. What is a silent book club? Think of it as a flash mob, but for readers! You show up with a book and meet other readers. It's less pressure than a traditional book club and is growing in popularity. Whitney talks to the organizers of the Phoenix and East Valley Silent Book Club chapters who say they now have two meetings a month.

In the second episode of "Beyond the Next Chapter," our host Whitney Clark talks to the #1 New York Times Bestselling author Kristin Hannah. If you don't immediately recognize her name, you likely have seen her books!

Hannah has written more than 20 novels including "The Nightingale," "The Four Winds," and "The Great Alone." Hollywood has also taken note. Her book "Firefly Lane" was the #1 series on Netflix around the world the week it came out and Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group has already preemptively acquired the rights to "The Women."

Hannah's newest book, "The Women," is the fictionalized story of the brave nurses who served during the Vietnam War. Hannah grew up during that time period and it cast a big shadow over her life. Fans of Hannah's work will see familiar themes in "The Women," including the power of female friendships.

"I really write about women finding their voices. Women finding their power," Hannah said on the podcast. "And in the best of circumstances finding their power, and then pausing to turn and help other women who are still struggling on that journey."

"The Women" is out now wherever you buy your books.

In the first episode of "Beyond the Next Chapter," we'll introduce you to our host, Whitney Clark, and dive into her reading origin story. Some of her earliest memories include her dad reading to her and taking her to the library or the bookstore. Whitney is joined by her dad and Samantha Mears with the Maricopa County Library District, who is raising a young reader herself! Samantha shares how you can encourage your kids to read through the "1,000 Books Before Kindergarten" program.

Think of this as a book recommendation podcast for all walks of readers, whether you’re an avid reader or you want to fall in love with books! It’s a place to come to find your next great read from romance, to thrillers, to historical fiction, non-fiction and so much more. As the title implies, in each episode host Whitney Clark will take you beyond the next chapter. We’ll talk to our favorite authors, local authors and dive into important topics: how can we improve literacy rates in our community? What’s a silent book club? Why are books banned? Audiobooks vs. books? How can I find more time to read? How can I encourage my kids to read? Starting in mid-January, episodes will be released every other Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts.  

A group of college friends lose one member of the group to suicide just before graduation in 1995. The loss resonates and shapes their relationships for decades in this funny and moving novel by Steven Rowley. Steven returns to the podcast to talk about his fantastic 2023 release, a story that is personal to the author in many ways, “there’s so much story in these middle years,” he says of the characters who align with his own path.  He talks with Olivia about the book’s success, the screen adaptations for his work that are awaiting the end of the writers’ strike, and his own marriage.

The book is available in hardcover from GP Putnam & Sons, and the author narrates the audiobook. For more visit his website

This is the last episode of the Olivia’s Book Club podcast. Keep up with the group on Facebook, and stay connected with Olivia on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube