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In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Amanda Wen. Amanda Wen’s novels have released to both reader and critical acclaim. Her second novel, The Songs That Could Have Been, won both the Selah and the Carol Awards, and her debut, Roots of Wood and Stone, was a finalist for the Christy Award. In addition to her writing, Amanda is an accomplished professional cellist and pianist who frequently performs with orchestras, chamber groups, and her church’s worship team, as well as serving as a choral accompanist. A lifelong denizen of the flatlands, Amanda currently lives in Kansas with her patient, loving, and hilarious husband, their three adorable Wenlets, and a snuggly Siamese cat. Today we are here today to discuss her latest novel, Echoes of a Silent Song.

Episode Highlights:

• Life in the flatlands of the Midwest and how place shapes story.
• The setting and inspiration behind the next book in her Melodies and Memories duology.
• Balancing full-time creative work as a musician, writer, wife, and mom.
• How Amanda realistically fits writing into a very full life.
• Why kids are often unintentionally funnier than adults.
• The way music and writing inform and strengthen each other.
• Research fears, perfectionism, and the pressure of getting details right.
• A deeper look at Echoes of a Silent Song and the heart behind the story.

Amanda also shares a book flight featuring novels about musicians across different genres of music—perfect for readers who love stories where art and storytelling intertwine.

Connect with Amanda:

• Instagram
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• Website

Show Notes

Some links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• O Little Town by Amanda Wen, Janyre Tromp, Deborah Raney
• My Friends by Fredrik Backman
• Emily Conrad books
• The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold
• When the Road Comes Around by Katie Powner (Hear more on Ep. 161)
• The Atlas of Untold Stories by Sara Brunsvold (Hear more on Ep. 154)

The 2026 Bookish Flights Reading Challenge is here - a simple, nostalgic way to be intentional with your reading. One book per month, with options for individuals and families. Download it at https://www.bookishflights.com/read/2026readingchallenge

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Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

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In today’s episode, I am chatting with Susan May Warren. Susan is the USA bestselling, Awardwinning novelist with nearly 2 million books sold. She’s lived all over the world (including Russia), and has penned over 100 novels, writing across genres such as contemporary and historical romances, romantic suspense, and thrillers. Susan’s works have achieved USA Today, ECPA, and CBA bestseller status, won numerous awards  and have been translated into eight languages. She’s a renowned writing coach, founder of Novel.Academy, and author of the popular writing method, The Story Equation. She lives in Minnesota and Florida with her handsome hubby, has 2 messy labradoodles, loves good wine, travelling and hanging out with her husband, 4 kids and their spouses and her 5 grandchildren. We are here today to discuss her latest book, Track of Courage. 

Episode Highlights:

• Why writing can be a meaningful and flexible career, especially during seasons of motherhood.
• How Susan uses structure and story blueprints to stay creative and consistent.
• What it really takes to maintain momentum and finish books.
• The balance between deep research and trusting your own voice as a writer.
• Why reading widely and learning the craft matters.
• How travel and lived experience continue to influence her stories.
• Susan’s book flight and the books that helped shape Track of Courage.

Connect with Susan:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• Debbie Macomber books
• James Scott Bell books
• Donald Maass books
• Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
• Across the Ages by Gabrielle Meyer

Book Flight

• Northern Lights by Nora Roberts
• Nashville Sweethearts by Rachel Houck
• What You Wish For by Katherine Center

The 2026 Bookish Flights Reading Challenge is here - a simple, nostalgic way to be intentional with your reading. One book per month, with options for individuals and families. Download it at https://www.bookishflights.com/read/2026readingchallenge

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Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

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In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Katie Bernet. Katie is an author living in Dallas, Texas. She’s an award-winning creative director, a long-standing member of the DFW Writer’s Workshop, and the director of the 2025 DFW Writer’s Conference. The oldest of three sisters, she’s a diehard fan of Little Women. We are here today to discuss her debut novel, Beth is Dead.

Episode Highlights:

• Writing Beth is Dead while living with her sisters, and how those real-life dynamics quietly found their way onto the page.
• A simple but powerful writing exercise that helped her move past resistance: making a love/hate list and choosing to write toward what felt hard.
• What changed for her when she reached the end of revisions and realized she understood Beth March in an entirely new way.
• She talks about which March sister was the most challenging character to write.
• A gentle reminder that creativity isn’t exclusive or earned - it’s something we all carry.

Connect with Katie:

• Instagram
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Show Notes

Some links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
• Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
• Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (full-cast audio)
• Enchantment by Orson Scott Card
• Girl Dinner by Olivia Blake
• The Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson

Book Flight

• Little Women by Louise May Alcott
• So Many Beginnings by Bethany C. Morrow
• Little Monsters by Máire Roche

The 2026 Bookish Flights Reading Challenge is here - a simple, nostalgic way to be intentional with your reading. One book per month, with options for individuals and families. Download it at https://www.bookishflights.com/read/2026readingchallenge

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Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

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In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Sami Young - a mom, wife, PE teacher, and avid reader who is perpetually caught between just one more chapter and not knowing what to read next. She’s a proud millennial with a TBR list taller than my houseplants, and you might remember her from Episode 63, when she joined me alongside her son, Jarek.

Episode Highlights:

• How Sami keeps a book with her everywhere she goes, even when reading time is short.
• What her real-life reading routine looks like right now and why nighttime has become her go-to.
• Easing into audiobooks by co-reading with a print copy.
• Why she likes to switch genres between books instead of reading the same kind back-to-back.
• Reflecting on reading aloud to her son when he was younger and how that shaped his love of reading.
• What it’s like to be a family of re-readers (and why their bookshelves are always full).
• Savoring quiet reading moments - like sitting in the sunshine with a book and wishing it could last forever.

Show Notes

Some links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• Alan Gratz books (book recs in Ep. 6 with Lilianna)
• Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
• Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
• Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
• The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
• Prisoner of War by Michael P. Spradlin
• The Other Woman by Sandie Jones

Book Flight

• The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
• People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
• The Last Year of the War by Susan Meissner

The 2026 Bookish Flights Reading Challenge is here - a simple, nostalgic way to be intentional with your reading. One book per month, with options for individuals and families. Download it at https://www.bookishflights.com/read/2026readingchallenge

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Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

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In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Connie Richardson. Connie is the debut author of Rapid City Summer. She teaches middle school English and Language Arts in the Chicago suburbs. She has published articles, short stories, and blog posts for the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and Scribbler. Additionally, Connie is a former graduate and current mentor in author Mary Adkin’s MFA-alternate program, The Book Incubator. When she is not teaching or writing, she enjoys fly-fishing out west, running, coaching cross-country and track & field, and cooking for her family and friends. 

This episode with Connie is so much fun, and her energy and passion for reading shine through the entire conversation. We talk about big life moments, the joy of finally seeing a debut novel out in the world, and what it means to fall in love with stories that open doors to new experiences. 

Episode Highlights:

• Writing for the space between middle grade and YA, which Connie calls lower YA.
• Her work as an ELA teacher and her school’s participation in a One Book, One School program that brings authors directly to students
• How Rapid City Summer is set in South Dakota and centers around the niche topic of fly fishing
• Why Connie loves writing and reading niche topics that readers may never experience firsthand
• A book flight featuring middle grade and YA novels that readers of all ages can connect to

Connect with Connie:

• Instagram
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Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• The Mystery of Locked Rooms by Lindsay Currie
• Slider by Peter Hautman
• Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
• Alone by Megan Freeman
• Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
• It’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

Book Flight

• The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
• The Canyon’s Edge by Dusti Bowling
• The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

The 2026 Bookish Flights Reading Challenge is here - a simple, nostalgic way to be intentional with your reading. One book per month, with options for individuals and families. Download it at https://www.bookishflights.com/read/2026readingchallenge

Support the show

Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

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In today’s episode, I am chatting with Shari Biery, NBC-HWC. Shari is a leading credentialed Purpose and Well-Being coach for midlife women empowering them to reclaim their identities and live with purpose and wellness after years of prioritizing everyone but themselves. Drawing from her two decades as a military spouse supporting her physician husband and as a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, Shari is the creator of the signature C.A.L.M. Method, author of the It’s YOUR Turn Bestselling book, and nationally recognized speaker and coach. 

Are you a doer? An overachiever? A woman who’s put herself on the back burner? Ever looked in the mirror and hardly recognized who you’ve become? This episode is for you. We dive into motherhood, peri-menopause, your body’s intuition, learning to listen more deeply, and what it looks like to finally put your needs first. I wish I had this episode years ago — and I think you will too. Shari has a new offering to find - What’s Your Spark Type? Take the short quiz and discover what your body and life are asking for in this season of your life.

Episode Highlights:

• How Shari’s two decades as a military spouse shaped her purpose and perspective.
• Why so many midlife women lose their sense of identity — and how to reclaim it.
• Listening to your body’s intuition and reconnecting with your inner compass.
• The importance of self-prioritization without guilt.
• The rise of loneliness — and why community and connection matter more than ever.

Connect with Shari:

• Instagram
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Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates
• Resisting Happiness by Matthew Kelly
• The American Woman by Zarna Garg

Book Flight

• Burnout by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski
• The New Menopause by Dr. Mary Claire Haver
• It’s YOUR Turn by Shari Biery

The 2026 Bookish Flights Reading Challenge is here - a simple, nostalgic way to be intentional with your reading. One book per month, with options for individuals and families. Download it at https://www.bookishflights.com/read/2026readingchallenge

Support the show

Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

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Today, I’m chatting with Angela Bell. Angela is a 21st century lady with 19th century sensibilities who resides in Texas with her charming pup, Mr. Bingley Crosby. She describes her historical romances as “a cuppa Victorian whimsy,” & today we’re discussing her delightful novel A Lady’s Guide to Marvel and Misadventure, which she describes as Around the World in 180 Days meets The Nutcracker Ballet. We also chat about her upcoming novel, now available for preorder - A Lady’s Handbook to Gadgets and Guile, pitched as Little Women meets Inspector Gadget. Angela’s love of whimsy, quirky characters, & heartfelt storytelling shines through every page.

Connect w/ Angela:

• Instagram
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Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• Jen Turano books
• The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House by Joanna Davidson Politano
• Heather Kaufmann books
• Melissa Tagg books
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
• Wormwood Abbey by Christina Baehr
• The Dress Shop on King Street by Ashley Clark
• The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold
• Of Silver and Secrets by Michelle Griep
• The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright

Book Flight

• Positively Penelope by Pepper Basham
• Illuminary by Chawna Schroeder
• The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano

Ad: Jacqui Lents, featuring The Daphne Project: A fresh start, a budding romance, & a small-town mystery. 

The 2026 Bookish Flights Reading Challenge is here - a simple, nostalgic way to be intentional with your reading. One book per month, with options for individuals and families. Download it at https://www.bookishflights.com/read/2026readingchallenge

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Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

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In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Ginny Kubitz Moyer. Ginny is a California native with a lifelong passion for local history. A graduate of Pomona College and Stanford University, she taught high school English for 26 years and has written both fiction and nonfiction. Her love for California and its rich tapestry of stories inspired her debut novel The Seeing Garden, which won Silver in the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award in Historical Fiction. Her second novel, A Golden Life, continues her celebration of her home state’s unique history. Ginny is also the author of the nonfiction books Taste and See: Experiencing the Goodness of God with Our Five Senses and Mary and Me: Catholic Women Reflect on the Mother of God. An avid weekend gardener, Ginny lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two sons, and one adorably stubborn rescue dog.

Episode Highlights:

• How 25+ years of teaching English shaped Ginny’s writing voice and storytelling process.
• Why all her books are rooted in California history and the moment she first dreamed up The World at Home.
• A glimpse into San Francisco life during WWII and the type of historical fiction she loves to craft.
• Her evolution from nonfiction to fiction and why the shift felt meaningful.
• How Ignatian Spirituality guides her reflections, using the daily questions “Where did I find life today?” and “What drained me?”

Connect with Ginny:

• Instagram
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• Purchase Ginny’s books

Show Notes

Some links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
• Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
• All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bingley

Book Flight

• The Highland Witch (Corrag) by Susan Fletcher
• The Promise by Ann Weisgarber
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Dessert Pairing

• The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

The 2026 Bookish Flights Reading Challenge is here - a simple, nostalgic way to be intentional with your reading. One book per month, with options for individuals and families. Download it at https://www.bookishflights.com/read/2026readingchallenge

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Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

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In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Kay Smith-Blum. Kay is a former fashionista and Seattle School Board President, spends her days debunking the tropes of the mid-20th-century history. An odd dream and the recent upheaval over leaking radioactive waste tanks at the Hanford Nuclear site compelled her to write Tangles. Smith-Blum, a sunrise writer, has lived in Seattle for four decades. She works out her writer’s block in her sons’ gardens and the nearest lap pool.

Key Highlights:

• The extensive 8.5-month research process behind Tangles, including oral testimonies, archival histories, and peer-reviewed scientific research.
• The fascinating but troubling history of the Hanford Nuclear Plant, where workers were told their jobs were top secret and essential to the war effort.
• How officials repeatedly raised the “safe” level of radioactive waste in the water supply to downplay risks to surrounding communities.
• The long-term dangers and ethical concerns surrounding nuclear waste disposal.
• Her book flight includes dual-timeline historical fiction.

Connect with Kay Smith-Blum:

• Facebook
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Books and authors mentioned:

• Leon Uris books
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
• The Witch Elm by Tana French
• Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sedaris
• Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Book Flight

• Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult
• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• Horse by Geraldine Brooks

The 2026 Bookish Flights Reading Challenge is here - a simple, nostalgic way to be intentional with your reading. One book per month, with options for individuals and families. Download it at https://www.bookishflights.com/read/2026readingchallenge

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Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

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In this solo episode, Kara explores the fascinating research behind how daily reading may support a longer, healthier life. She breaks down the landmark Yale study showing that people who read books for just 30 minutes a day lived an average of 23 months longer than non-readers, examines why book-length reading provides unique cognitive benefits, and discusses what current science says about print books versus audiobooks.

Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of how reading strengthens the brain, builds cognitive reserve, and may contribute to healthy aging - plus practical ideas for fitting more reading into everyday life.

Episode Highlights:

• Reading books for just 30 minutes a day was linked to 23 extra months of life, on average.
• Frequent reading is associated with reduced cognitive decline across multiple long-term studies.
• Print or visual reading tends to support stronger comprehension and memory - key components of brain reserve.
• Audiobooks activate many of the same language and emotional brain networks, though the depth of processing may differ.
• Regardless of format, regular engagement with stories supports cognitive health.

Resources Mentioned:

• Episode 116: Do Audiobooks Count as Reading?
• Bavishi, Slade & Levy (2016). A Chapter a Day: Association of Book Reading With Longevity. Published in Social Science & Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.07.014
• Pan, Liu, Zhang, Chen & Chen (2021). Reading Activity Prevents Long-Term Decline in Cognitive Function in Older People. Published in BMC Geriatrics. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02357-y
• Baranowska-Łyda, Białek & Gortych-Michalak (2019). The Impact of Presentation Mode on Reading Comprehension: Text vs. Audio. Published in Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00636
• Michael, Keller, Carpenter & Just (2001). fMRI Investigation of Sentence Comprehension by Eye and by Ear. Published in NeuroImage. https://doi.org/10.1006/nimg.2000.0662

The 2026 Bookish Flights Reading Challenge is here - a simple, nostalgic way to be intentional with your reading. One book per month, with options for individuals and families. Download it at https://www.bookishflights.com/read/2026readingchallenge

Support the show

Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

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