Cartoonist and writer Mimi Pond jokes that her obsession with the Mitford Sisters nearly sank her marriage. That fascination became her new graphic biography, "Do Admit! The Mitford Sisters and Me." In a one-on-one conversation with Book Lust host Nancy Pearl, Pond shares why these wildly influential sisters, who moved in circles ranging from Churchill to Hitler to the Black Panthers, still captivate her today.

In the last episode of Book Lust, Susan Straight talks with Nancy Pearl about "Sacrament," her novel about three women nurses fighting through the first year of COVID. Straight reflects on how the pandemic reshaped her storytelling and stirred memories of loss, caregiving, and resilience. She also revisits "In the Country of Women," exploring the generations of women—from her Swiss mother to her Mississippi-born mother-in-law—whose overlooked histories shaped her life and work.

In a conversation with Book Lust host Nancy Pearl, popular young adult author Maggie Stiefvater discusses her first novel written for adults, "The Listeners," a captivating tale inspired by true events and set against the backdrop of World War II. In the interview, Stiefvater explores mythic storytelling, historical research, and the courage to change when life seems settled.

On Book Lust with Nancy Pearl, Kira Jane Buxton talks about weaving humor into her storytelling, including her latest novel "Tartufo," set in a fading Italian village full of unforgettable characters. She shares how the idea was sparked by her time living in a small Italian town, walks through her writing process, and reflects on her affection for every character she creates...even the most complex and temperamental ones.

On a new episode of Book Lust, longtime Seattle Times arts critic Moira Macdonald joins Nancy Pearl to talk about her debut novel, “Storybook Ending.” Inspired by a piece of ephemera discovered in a book at her favorite Seattle bookstore, Macdonald’s first novel is a tale of friendship, community, and the quiet magic of bookstores. She also shares how her years as a journalist and book critic shaped her fiction writing; and why, in her eyes, all of life intersects at the bookstore.

This month’s guest on Book Lust with Nancy Pearl is Brad Craft, a long-time bookseller at Seattle’s University Book Store. The two reminisce about how much book publishing and bookselling have changed since Craft started selling books in the 1980s. Spoiler: it’s a lot. But, while a lot has changed, the fundamental relationship between books and readers hasn’t. The two talk about genres and how booksellers connect readers to their next favorite book. Craft tells Nancy about “Brad’s Big Fat Book Club,” the online book club he organizes that meets monthly to collectively tackle really long books, making 600-page books less intimidating.

Local author Thomas Kohnstamm said his latest novel, "Supersonic," is a book of place, specifically, Seattle. He told Book Lust host Nancy Pearl "Seattle isn't the Space Needle or the Fremont Troll," but rather the interactions between neighbors, the waves of people entering the city, and the constant process of building. The novel tells the stories of four families over 150 years of Seattle history, and delves into what Kohnstamm calls the mythology of the city in a way only a book written by someone born and raised here could.

Nancy Pearl talks with legal scholar and author Michelle Adams about her new book "The Containment: Detroit, the Supreme Court, and the Battle for Racial Justice in the North." Adams' book dives into the landmark Milliken v. Bradley case, which halted efforts to desegregate Detroit schools in 1974. "The Containment" is a gripping legal and historical drama about policies that shaped a city—and a nation—with a few unexpected heroes along the way.

Nancy Pearl speaks with author Erika Swyler about her new genre-bending novel, "We Lived on the Horizon." It's a little bit speculative fiction, but it's also mystery, sci-fi, romance, political thriller, and horror, too. The book takes place in a thought-provoking world where AI is in charge and sacrifice is rewarded. They discuss AI and robots in fiction, how Swyler builds characters and stories, and how they would rearrange the library if they each had their own way.

Nancy Pearl speaks with author and Booklist editor Donna Seaman about her latest publication, "A River of Books: A Life in Reading." In it, Seaman tells the story of her life as defined by books. They discuss what she hopes for in the works she reviews and reads on her own time, her past as a child who "really didn't like being a child at all," and the poet she recommends these days to those seeking solace and clarity.