Bookish Flights: Themed Book Recommendations & Author Interviews

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In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Tyler Snure, an incredible young author whose journey is as inspiring as his books. Tyler published his debut novel, The Jewels of Fate, when he was just 17 years old. With a lifelong passion for reading and storytelling, Tyler began writing creatively at the age of seven, and his first book took over five years to complete. What started as a short story in elementary school blossomed into a captivating trilogy that fans of fiction, fantasy, and adventure will love.

The second novel in the series, The Sword of Sorenth, followed a few years later, solidifying Tyler’s talent for crafting engaging and action-packed stories. His books are perfect for all ages, especially readers aged 12-18, with themes of found family, community, and thrilling adventures akin to the Percy Jackson series. Tyler is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English and resides in Ontario, Canada, with his family and dog.

Episode Highlights

• Tyler’s early love for reading and writing stories
• The creative process behind The Jewels of Fate and the trilogy’s evolution
• Themes of found family and community in his books
• The tone and audience for his books and their similarity to the Percy Jackson series
• Insights into Tyler’s writing inspirations and journey

Connect with Tyler Snure:

• Instagram
• Youtube
• Facebook
• Website
• Purchase Tyler’s books

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• Divergent by Veronica Roth
• The Maze Runner by James Dashner
• The Hardy Boys by Franklin W. Dixon
• One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
• The Guest List by Lucy Foley
• The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

Book Flight

• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
• The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1 by Rick Riordan
• Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats.

Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with:

• One chapter book for growing readers
• One picture book for our littlest readers
• A few family conversation starters + a simple activity

Three books. One common theme.

→ Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily

Support the show

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

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Welcome to today’s episode of Bookish Flights! I’m delighted to be joined by Jenni L. Walsh, USA Today bestselling author of thirteen captivating books for adults and children. Jenni spends her days immersed in storytelling from her home in the suburbs of Philadelphia, where she masterfully balances her busy writing career with being a mom to two spirited kids—a soulful ten-year-old and a dinosaur-loving eight-year-old—alongside caring for six needy furbabies and cheering on her beloved Philly and ‘Nova sports teams.

Episode Highlights

Mental Sanity and Parenting

• Tips for maintaining mental health while navigating the beautiful chaos of parenting.
• Balancing life as a professional writer and an active volunteer in her kids’ classrooms.

Behind the Pages of Ace, Marvel, Spy

• The incredible inspiration behind her latest historical fiction novel, Ace, Marvel, Spy.
• Uncovering the life of Alice Marble: world tennis champion, spy, and unsung hero.

The Writing Life

• How Jenni uncovers and breathes life into the untold stories of unique women in history.

Book Flight

• A curated selection of historical fiction by women authors who have inspired Jenni’s writing journey.

Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a tennis fan, or someone who loves powerful stories of resilience, this episode promises inspiration, insight, and a touch of history’s hidden gems.

Connect with Jenni:

• Instagram
• Website
• Purchase Ace, Marvel, Spy

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• Side by Side: A Novel of Bonnie and Clyde by Jenni L. Walsh
• Letters to Rifka by Karen Hesse
• Operation Happy by Jenni L. Walsh (Middle Grade novel)
• Sonora by Jenni L. Walsh (Coming October 2025)
• The Bug Bandits by Jenni L. Walsh (Coming May 2025 - Middle Grade novel)
• Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Publish Date 06/03/25)
• The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
• The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict (Publish Date 02/11/2025)
• The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

Book Flight

• The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict
• Kate Quinn’s books
• Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats.

Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with:

• One chapter book for growing readers
• One picture book for our littlest readers
• A few family conversation starters + a simple activity

Three books. One common theme.

→ Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily

Support the show

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

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• Facebook
• Website

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🚨 I didn’t want to make this episode, but here we are. 🚨

In this solo episode of Bookish Flights, I’m sharing my story about how my Instagram account was hacked and the valuable lessons I learned along the way. Tune in to hear how to get it back and make sure this doesn’t happen to you!

I’m sharing actionable tips to secure your online accounts so you don’t have to go through the frustration, stress, and lost time I did. I’ve spent at least 5 hours on it so far and it is still not totally resolved! From enabling two-factor authentication to recognizing phishing attempts, these simple steps can make a huge difference in keeping your personal information safe.

We’re also talking about the importance of community and how many of you have asked how you can help. Whether it’s sharing your favorite episode or joining our newsletter for exclusive updates, every little bit helps keep this podcast growing and thriving.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What the hackers did and how QUICKLY they gained access to my account.
• Essential tips to protect your Instagram and other online accounts.
• How you can help.

Tips to Protect Your Accounts:

1. Enable two-factor Authentication (2FA) for an extra layer of security. Literally STOP and go do this right now!
2. Be cautious with links—never click on unsolicited or suspicious ones.
3. Use strong, unique passwords for every account.
4. Verify official messages—Instagram will never ask for your password or send DMs to verify your account.
5. Update your account recovery info regularly.
6. Act quickly….if you can!

Ways to Stay Connected

• Join our email list: Stay connected, get exclusive updates, and be the first to know about new episodes. [Insert link]
• Spread the word: Many of you have asked how you can help, honestly the best way to help is to share an episode you have loved with a friend or on social media. A trusted recommendation from a friend is gold! 

Thank you for tuning in and for being part of this incredible community. I hope these tips help you from making the same mistakes I did. Happy reading my friends!

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’m thrilled to be joined by Debra Borchert. Debra’s career journey is as fascinating as the stories she writes. From her beginnings as a clothing designer to acting, hosting TV shows, working in high-tech marketing, and technical writing for Fortune 100 companies, she has truly done it all. As a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, Debra infuses her expertise in textiles and clothing design into her historical French fiction, earning accolades such as the Historical Novel Society Editors’ Choice and Publishers Weekly Booklife Editor’s Pick.

Join us as we delve into a multifaceted career journey, contrasting life in Seattle and New York and the inspiration drawn from traveling to story settings. Discover the creative process of connecting with characters through recipes, and enjoy a humorous anecdote about a speeding ticket linked to her favorite author. Plus, don't Debra’s curated book flight featuring novels set during the French Revolution.

Episode Highlights:

• Debra’s Diverse Career Path: From fashion design to acting and more, explore how varied experiences shape a writing journey.
• Authentic Storytelling: The role of travel in bringing vivid detail and imagination to her stories.
• A Writer’s Favorite: The book closest to Debra’s heart and why it stands out among her works.
• Getting Into Character: How recipes help Debra step into the shoes of her characters.
• Book Flight: Debra’s book flight features captivating stories set during the French Revolution.

Connect with Debra Borchert:

• Instagram
• Website
• Facebook
• Purchase Her Own War

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• Janet Evanovich’s books
• The Power of Positive Thinking by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
• Pockets by Hannah Carlson

Book Flight

• Annette Vallon by James Tipton
• Pure by Andrew Miller
• Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

The BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats.

Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with:

• One chapter book for growing readers
• One picture book for our littlest readers
• A few family conversation starters + a simple activity

Three books. One common theme.

→ Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily

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 Hadley Leggett. Hadley writes layered book club fiction exploring truth in shades of gray. Her winding career path has included degrees in medicine, biochemistry, Spanish, and science journalism, as well as a ten-year stint as a stay-at-home mom. After moving all over the United States during her childhood, she now lives in Seattle with her husband and three children, as well as her parents, three cats, and an ever-rotating troop of foster kittens. Hadley’s first novel, All They Ask Is Everything, is her love letter to the messiness of motherhood and will be published by Lake Union in August 2024. 

Episode Highlights:

• Hadley's Career Journey: Learn how Hadley transitioned into medical writing and how thinking outside the box helped her leverage her unique skillset.
• Motherhood’s Messiness: We discuss the societal pressures on mothers, emphasizing that while we ask more of them, basic support systems are often lacking. We also explore realistic motherhood, the highs and the lows.
• Finding Community: Hadley shares the importance of creating a supportive network, whether it’s among friends or within writing communities.
• Book Flight of Book Club Fiction: Discover Hadley’s perspective on book club fiction—books that strike a balance between genre/mainstream writing and literary fiction. Her book flight features 3 books in this genre that focus on portraying realistic motherhood.

This is such a fantastic episode on the reality of motherhood, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Connect with Hadley Leggett:

• Instagram
• Substack
• Website
• Purchase All They Ask is Everything

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
• The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
• Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene
• The Babysitter’s Club by Ann M. Martin
• Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
• By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult

Book Flight

• If I Lose Her by Brianne Sommerville
• Cutting Teeth by Chandler Baker
• Hold My Girl by Charlene Carr

The BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats.

Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with:

• One chapter book for growing readers
• One picture book for our littlest readers
• A few family conversation starters + a simple activity

Three books. One common theme.

→ Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily

Support the show

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

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• Facebook
• Website

Send us Fan Mail

In today’s solo episode, I’m sharing actionable tips, personal goals, and an exciting new reading challenge to help you make 2025 your best reading year yet. Whether you’re aiming to read more, discover new authors, or simply have your best reading year yet, this episode is packed with inspiration for all readers.

Episode Highlights:

• Why reading matters.
• Set reading intentions:
  • What genres or topics are you curious to learn more about?
  • Is there an author’s backlist you were hoping to explore?
  • Do you want to read to relax? To learn? To challenge yourself?
• Practical strategies for building a consistent reading habit.
• How audiobooks can transform your reading life.
• The value of joining a reading community like the BFF Book Club. 😉
• Tracking your progress.
• Details about the 2025 Bookish Flights Reading Challenges for adults and kids.

Join the 2025 Reading Challenge:

This year, we’ve created a fun and flexible challenge to inspire your reading journey.

• Adults: Complete 12 prompts for 12 books.
• Kids: Complete 8 prompts with a fun coloring progress tracker!

Resources Mentioned:

• The BFF Book Club – Join here.
• Episode 116: Do Audiobooks Count as Reading?
• StoryGraph and Goodreads
• Bookish Flights’ book flight database with fiction, non-fiction, and children’s book recommendations. 

Get Involved:

• What’s your reading goal for 2025? Share your plans with me on social media 
  • Instagram
  • Facebook 
• Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for more bookish inspiration and leave a review if you enjoyed the episode!

Thank you for tuning in to Bookish Flights! Let’s make 2025 your best reading year yet!

The BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats.

Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with:

• One chapter book for growing readers
• One picture book for our littlest readers
• A few family conversation starters + a simple activity

Three books. One common theme.

→ Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily

Support the show

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

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• Facebook
• Website

Send us Fan Mail

In today’s episode, I am chatting with Desiree Petrich. Desiree is a best-selling author, speaker, team development facilitator and host of the Lead with Confidence podcast. She is the founder and CEO of Intentional Action, and her mission is to help teams learn and grow together, and to help you build a life you love by taking control of what you can control. She will share her story of love, loss and leadership to inspire and encourage you to take responsibility for unlocking your full potential. Desiree fully believes that you can have the best parts of your day at home, and at work!

Episode Highlights:

• The Story Behind Her Book, Taking Intentional Action: Desiree shares the journey of founding Intentional Action, the challenges she faced and the pivotal moments that led to her book being published at just the right time. Her mission is to help others create intentional lives, whether through leadership at work or connection at home.
• Navigating Grief and Building Resilience: Desiree reflects on her personal experience of losing a parent, discussing the stages of grief and the tools that helped her cultivate resilience. Her vulnerability and insights provide encouragement for anyone navigating loss.
• Designing a Life with Intention: Discover practical tips and ideas for living intentionally, including the importance of self-education and taking small, meaningful steps toward your goals. 
• Desiree’s Book Flight: Desiree shares her favorite personal development books that have stuck with her long after she’s read them.

Connect with Desiree Petrich:

• Buy Taking Intentional Action
• Instagram
• Podcast
• Website

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• Nora Roberts books
• The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
• The Happiness Project by Gretchin Rubin
• The Four Tendencies by Gretchin Rubin
• Outer Order, Inner Calm by Gretchin Rubin
• The Motive by Patrick Lencioni

Book Flight

• Finish by Jon Acuff
• Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin
• Chasing the Bright Side by Jess Ekstrom

The BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats.

Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with:

• One chapter book for growing readers
• One picture book for our littlest readers
• A few family conversation starters + a simple activity

Three books. One common theme.

→ Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily

Support the show

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

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• Website

Send us Fan Mail

In today’s episode, we are chatting with Kate Kennedy. Kate is a mom, wife, sister, daughter, visionary, and a dreamer of big dreams. She’s a writer and a self-described theology nerd with a passion for empowering others to share their stories by bravely sharing her own. Kate’s work focuses on where the church meets the world and the beautiful tapestry of stories within our communities.

In 2018, Kate founded a tuition-free private school for children experiencing homelessness in Atlanta. What began with just 9 young scholars has now grown to serve over 60 scholars—a pivotal chapter in Kate’s personal story and a testament to her belief in stepping out in courage, even without the traditional credentials. Kate is the author of Once Upon a School, which is a story of her journey.

Episode Highlights:

• The Power of Conviction: Kate shares her journey of founding a school for children experiencing homelessness with no formal background in education. 
• Motherhood and Mission: Kate shares her journey from stay-at-home mom to visionary leader, balancing the demands of motherhood while answering a call she couldn’t ignore. Driven by a deep conviction and a need she saw in her community, she took the courageous first steps to create lasting change.
• Gathering Quiet Stories: Kate explores her passion for uncovering the often-overlooked stories within our communities and why they matter.
• Kate’s Book Flight - Memoirs of Women Empowerment: Hear about the memoirs that have inspired Kate, all centering on women’s resilience, courage and the empowerment that comes from sharing our stories.
• Believing in Yourself: Kate opens up about trusting her intuition, taking the first steps toward change and learning that you don’t always need credentials—just a willingness to say “yes.”

Connect with Kate King:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Website

Books and authors mentioned:

• Kathy Izard books
• I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet by Shauna Niequist
• Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor
• This is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter

Book Flight

• Present over Perfect by Shauna Niequist
• The Smallest Lights in the Universe by Sarah Seager
• Leaving Church by Barbara Brown Taylor

The BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats.

Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with:

• One chapter book for growing readers
• One picture book for our littlest readers
• A few family conversation starters + a simple activity

Three books. One common theme.

→ Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily

Support the show

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

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Today’s episode is extra special because it's our next BFF Book Club meeting! Each month, we dive into a new book, and today we're welcoming Cindy Steel to chat about her charming rom-com, Faking Christmas.

Cindy was raised on a dairy farm in Idaho. She grew up singing Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire songs at the top of her lungs and learning to solve all of life’s problems when milking cows and driving a tractor—rewriting happy endings everytime. She married a cute Idaho boy and is the proud mother of two wild and sweet twin boys and a baby girl. 

Episode Highlights:

• Behind the Scenes of Faking Christmas: Cindy shares how her husband’s career took them to the location that inspired this book, giving her a chance to revisit the place that stole her heart and bring it to life in her novel.
• The Depth of a Rom-Com: We dive into how Cindy layered complex emotions, like grief, into the story while keeping it filled with hope and humor, creating characters far deeper than what you might expect from a typical romantic comedy.
• Cindy’s Book Flight: Hear about the books that inspired Cindy while writing Faking Christmas, including one character who influenced Miles’ love for reading.

This episode was a blast to record, with a fantastic group of readers who brought thoughtful questions and perspectives to our discussion. Whether you’ve read Faking Christmas or are adding it to your TBR, you’ll love getting this insider look at the story, the characters and the author behind it all.

Connect with Cindy:

• Instagram
• Website

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• A Christmas Spark (The Pride and Pranks series) by Cindy Steel
• The One with the Kiss Cam by Cindy Steel
• Rebel Summer (The Falling for Summer series) by Cindy Steel
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
• Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
• The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
• Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens

Book Flight

• The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
• The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon
• The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

The BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats.

Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with:

• One chapter book for growing readers
• One picture book for our littlest readers
• A few family conversation starters + a simple activity

Three books. One common theme.

→ Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily

Support the show

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

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• Facebook
• Website

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In today’s episode, I am chatting with E.H. Underhill. E.H. is the author of The Solar Storm Chronicles - New Heroes. He is also a Christian, husband and father of three, but to keep the lights on he draws house plans during the day. He is from Plymouth, Massachusetts but currently resides in Central Florida, the setting for his first book. His writings are inspired by his Christian faith and growing up with Star Wars, Marvel and DC. He is now starting his own superhero universe to give an alternative to the mainstream ones that have been injected with politics and toxic secular values. 

E.H. shares his journey of creating a superhero universe that offers a family-friendly alternative to mainstream franchises. We discuss his book The Solar Storm Chronicles - New Heroes, which is recommended for readers aged 12 and up. The level of action and violence is comparable to The Lord of the Rings, making it an exciting yet appropriate read for young teens and families alike. This episode is a must-listen for fans of superhero stories, parents looking for meaningful content for their families.

Episode Highlights:

• E.H.’s Inspiration: How his Christian faith and love for iconic franchises shaped his writing.
• Family-Friendly Superheroes: Crafting a superhero universe with positive, engaging themes for all ages.
• Upcoming Projects: Sneak peeks into the comic books and additional books in The Solar Storm Chronicles trilogy.
• Parenting Wisdom: The importance of curating content for children and allowing them to enjoy being bored.
• Family Adventures: The joy of road trips, camping, and building memories with kids.

Connect with E.H. Underhill:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Warner
• Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
• American Sniper by Chris Kyle
• Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Book Flight

• The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
• Fate of the Jedi by Aaron Allston
• The Solar Storm Chronicles - New Heroes by E.H. Underhill

The BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats.

Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with:

• One chapter book for growing readers
• One picture book for our littlest readers
• A few family conversation starters + a simple activity

Three books. One common theme.

→ Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily

Support the show

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

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website