Bookish Flights: Themed Book Recommendations & Author Interviews

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Emily Lynn Paulson joins us on Bookish Flights to talk about her latest novel, The Revenge Party, a dark and twisty psychological thriller about power, manipulation, revenge, and the masks people wear behind polished lives. Known for exploring the tension between image and reality in both her fiction and nonfiction, Emily shares what it was like stepping into thriller writing after writing so personally in memoir and investigative nonfiction.

We also talk about creativity, motherhood, online identity, and the freedom, and the vulnerability that comes with different forms of storytelling. Plus, Emily brings a fascinating book flight centered around influencer families and curated lives.

Episode Highlights:

• Transitioning from nonfiction into fiction
• Writing thrillers with emotional and thematic depth
• The freedom of fictional storytelling
• Why writing unlikeable characters can be difficult
• Balancing writing with motherhood and everyday life

Connect with Emily:

• Instagram
• Website

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:

• Strangers by Belle Burden
• American Fantasy by Emma Straub

Book Flight

• Like, Follow, Subscribe by Fortesa Latifi
• A Well-Trained Wife by Tia Levings
• Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

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 back to Bookish Flights, where we tell our stories through the books that shape us. Today’s episode is a celebration of libraries and the magic that happens inside them. I’m joined by Gigi Howard — librarian of 15 years and host of Drinks in the Library, the only library where drinks aren’t just allowed, they’re required.

We talk about her librarian heart, the unwritten (and very real) rules of librarianship, and why protecting a reader’s experience matters so deeply. Gigi shares what it’s really like working in a library, why she started her podcast, and how books can meet us exactly where we are.

Whether you’re a lifelong library lover or someone trying to find your way back to reading, this conversation is a reminder that there truly is a book for everyone.

So grab your library card — or your favorite drink — and let’s dive in.

Episode Highlights:

• What 15 years in libraries has taught Gigi about readers
• The “rules” of librarianship (and why they matter)
• The brilliance of graphic novels and raising kids who love books and stories
• The question every librarian asks to find the right book
• How Drinks in the Library came to life
• Why diminishing a reader’s experience does more harm than good
• A full Xochitl Gonzalez book flight

Connect with Gigi:

• Instagram
• Drinks in the Library Podcast
• Substack

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:

• Gingko Season by Naomi Xu Elegant
• The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
• Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield
• Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
• On Beauty by Zadie Smith

Xochitl Gonzalez Book Flight

• Anita de Monte Laughs Last
• Olga Dies Dreaming
• Last Night in Brooklyn

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 I’m joined by author Chawna Schroeder, a fantasy writer who describes herself as a “boundary stretcher,” someone who explores what it means to live beyond the boxes we often place around ourselves, our faith, and even our imagination. After more than two decades studying the craft of writing, Chawna creates richly layered stories that blend faith, philosophy, and speculative worldbuilding.

In this episode, we’re talking about Perplexity, the second book in her Sceptre & the Stylus series. This story weaves together political intrigue, hidden dangers, and characters navigating loss, responsibility, and purpose. We also dive into the books that shaped her as a reader, featuring a book flight centered on ensemble casts and found family.

Episode Highlights:

• What it means to be a “boundary stretcher” in both life and writing
• Why she’s drawn to large, interconnected character casts
• A simple breakdown of the difference between science fiction and fantasy
• How faith, purpose, and identity show up in her stories
• Why stories allow us to step into someone else’s life in a meaningful way

Connect with Chawna:

• Facebook
• Website

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 Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien
• A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
• Angela Bell’s episode
• Firebird by Kathy Tyres
• Sharon Hinck books
• The Bandit of Ashley Downs by Dave & Neta Jackson
• George Muller: The Guardian of Bristol's Orphans by Janet & Geoff Benge

Book Flight

• Recorder by Cathy McCrumb (adult sci-fi)
• The Ark, the Reed, and the Fire Cloud by Jenny Cote (middle grade historical fantasy)
• Criss Cross by C.C. Warrens (contemporary adult suspense)

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’m chatting with Rachel Linden for the latest installment of the BFF Book Club, all about her novel The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake. This was such a fun conversation. Rachel shares the inspiration behind the story, why she loves weaving food into her writing, and the “research loophole” she’s fully embracing—traveling, wandering, and eating her way through her settings.

We also talk about the deeper themes of the book, including healing, second chances, and what it looks like to live a fulfilled life in different seasons. Plus, she gives us a sneak peek at her upcoming novel A Sprinkle of Sweet Serendipity (releasing 05/19) and hints at a new genre she’s stepping into next.

Episode Highlights:

• The inspiration behind The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake.
• Why Rachel keeps coming back to food as a storytelling thread.
• Her perspective on “research” and how it shapes her books.
• Exploring what a fulfilled life looks like in different seasons.
• The heart behind writing stories rooted in healing and growth.

Connect with Rachel:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website

📚 Next Meet the Author Book Club
🗓️ June 1st | 🕓 5 pm PST / 7 pm CST / 8 pm EST

If you’d like to join us for an upcoming discussion, next month’s pick is The Life She Forgot by Joanna Davidson Politano - a historical story woven with mystery and heart, following a woman uncovering fragments of a past she can’t fully remember. As she pieces together lost memories, she’s drawn into questions of identity, truth, and what it really means to start over. It’s a blend of intrigue, emotion, and discovery—perfect if you love stories about hidden histories and second chances. Register Here.

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• Emily Henry books
• Katherine Center books
• Abby Jimenez books
• A Second Chance Scottish Summer by Rachel Mae Linden
• Recipe for a Charmed Life by Rachel Linden

Book Flight

• The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick
• Kate & Frida by Kim Fay
• Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt

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’m chatting with Holly Gutwillinger, a heartfelt writer born and raised in a small town in northern Ontario. Holly is a proud dog mom to two rescue dogs and one cat, and her love for animals shines through in both her life and her storytelling. We talk about her podcast and debut book, North of Broken and Furever Home, and the creative journey that led her there. Holly shares what it looked like to build a creative life over time, the seasons of trying different paths, and what it finally felt like to land on writing as her true passion.

Episode Highlights:

• The journey of trying different paths before finding writing.
• The inspiration behind her stories and connection to her own animals.
• Writing anthropomorphic characters and asking readers to see the world through a dog’s perspective.
• The mindset shift from “rescuing” her dogs to truly accepting them.
• Why creativity doesn’t have to be rushed and can evolve over time.

Connect with Holly:

• Instagram
• Ramblings from the Little Shed Podcast
• Website

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:

• Too Good to be Real by Melanie Johnson
• Annie Hartnett’s episode (Ep. 199)
• Animals in Fantasy Book Flight with Books Are Magical Podcast (Ep. 54)
• The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Book Flight

• Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley
• The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett
• Faking Christmas by Cindy Steel

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’m chatting with Jennifer van der Kleut (née McBride). Jennifer is an award-winning former journalist of both print and digital publications, including the D.C. affiliate of ABC7 News. A graduate of San Jose State University, she spent most of her life in the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to the Norther Virginia suburbs of D.C., where she currently lives with her husband and two sons. When she is not writing, she loves going to the beach with her family, going to concerts with her girlfriends, and getting lost in the pages of a book. We are here today to discuss her debut psychological thriller, The Better Mother.

Episode Highlights:

• How journalism trained her to write with clarity, focus, and purpose
• The shift from reporting facts to creating fictional worlds
• Why she’s drawn to writing from a villain’s perspective
• What she loved most about writing The Better Mother
• How understanding “why” drives both journalism and fiction

Connect with Jennifer:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website

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:

• Lucy Foley books
• Carol Goodman books
• Kaira Rouda books
• Robyn Harding books
• Ashley Winstead books
• Dream Harbor book series by Laurie Gilmore
• Elin Hilderbrand books
• The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
• The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen
• This is Not a Game by Kelly Mullen

Book Flight

• The Last Celebrity by Madeleine Henry
• Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson
• The Only One Left by Riley Sager

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’m chatting with Jennifer N. Brown. Jennifer is the Dean of Arts & Sciences at Bentley University, where she is also Professor of English and Media Studies, with a specialization in medieval literature written for and by women. She has published a lot on this topic but The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton is her first novel. She lives in the Boston area with her husbnad, their two children, and two miniature dachshunds. 

Episode Highlights:

• The real history behind Elizabeth Barton and the lost manuscript
• Writing as both a historian and a novelist
• The freedom fiction offers compared to academic writing
• Balancing historical accuracy with compelling storytelling
• Writing across dual timelines (historical + modern)
• How present-day perspectives shape historical fiction
• The role of empathy in both history and reading
• Letting go of perfection and knowing when to finish a book

Connect with Jennifer:

• Instagram
• Website

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:

• Orlando by Virginia Woolf
• Heart the Lover by Lily King
• Flashlight by Susan Choi

Book Flight

• The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles
• The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish
• Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

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

Today I’m thrilled to welcome back Janyre Tromp. If her name sounds familiar, that’s because she previously joined us on Episode 106, where we talked about her novel Darkness Calls the Tiger. Janyre is an award-winning, bestselling historical suspense novelist known for weaving together rich history, myth, and stories that search for beauty—even when it isn’t pretty. Her newest book, The Scorpion Thief, takes readers into a Cold War political game involving a cursed Egyptian artifact, two estranged sisters on opposite sides of a dangerous heist, and a mystery that stretches from the streets of Cairo to Washington D.C. and even New Orleans. 

Episode Highlights:

• The fascinating real-life history behind the Cold War setting—and why it almost feels too wild to be fiction.
• How Janyre balances being a self-proclaimed “history nerd” with writing fast-paced, gripping suspense.
• The inspiration behind The Scorpion Thief and weaving Egyptian myth into a political thriller.
• Her creative process, including sketching her book covers before they’re ever designed.
• What it looks like to make space for writing in a full and busy life.
• Why she describes herself as an eclectic reader and how that shapes her recommendations.
• Her three-word description of the book: noir, mystery, and Egyptian.

Connect with Janyre:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• Brene Brown books
• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
• Death Was Not on the Guest List by Jenni Walsh (publication date 06/16/26)
• Burning the Raven Tree by Janyre Tromp (coming 09/08/26)
• The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
• Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

Book Flight

• The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick
• Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
• Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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’m chatting with Chelsea Bobulski, author of A Deal with a Debutante, her latest release with Haven Fiction and the first book in her London’s Most Eligible series. Chelsea is also the author of the YA fantasy novels The Wood and Remember Me, and brings her background in history into the heart of every story she writes. In this conversation, we talk about what it looks like to step into the past through research, how storytelling connects us across time, and why romance novels might just make us better at loving the people in our real lives.

Episode Highlights:

• Chelsea’s love of history and how research becomes a doorway into another world.
• Writing A Deal with a Debutante and bringing Edwardian England to life.
• What it looks like to “live inside” the stories you’re writing.
• The balance between historical accuracy and creating a story that feels alive.
• How good stories—especially romance—can shape the way we show up in our own lives.
• Why romance novels remind us to slow down and be intentional in our relationships.
• The idea that dreams can evolve over time—and that’s not failure, it’s growth.
• Finding joy in storytelling, creativity, and building a life you actually want to live.

Connect with Chelsea:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• 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:

• Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
• The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Ray Carson
• The Berenstain Bears books by Jan & Mike Berenstain
• Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

Book Flight

• Consuelo & Alva Vanderbilt by Amanda Mackenzie Stewart
• A.K.A. Lucy by Sarah Royal
• Even After This by Deborah Clack

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’m chatting with Amy Schweizer. Amy is a USMC military spouse of 15 years, mom to three boys, and an expert in youth sports development. She has played soccer for over 20 years, culminating with being a member of the Cincinnati Ladyhawks of the USL. She is the Founder and Owner of Tiny Troops Soccer, a developmental program for children ages 2-5 with 35 locations worldwide. She loves creating physical activity programs that benefit the overall well-being of military children, families, and the surrounding communities. She is also a passionate advocate for military spouse employment. Her first book - I Will Be Okay - Adventures of a Military Kid - was selected as the 2021 Inspirational Leader of the Year by The Rosie Network. If you are interested in grabbing a copy or a few of I Will Be Okay - Adventures of a Military Kid, please connect with Amy at [email protected]. 

Episode Highlights:

• Navigating frequent moves while trying to build and maintain a career.
• The reality of parenting without nearby family support.
• How Tiny Troops Soccer started from a personal need.
• Why early childhood movement and play matter so much.
• Building a business that can move with military life.
• Supporting military kids through transition and change.
• Advocacy for military spouse employment and flexible career paths.
• Encouragement for military spouses trying to build something of their own.

Connect with Amy:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

Book Flight

• Traction by Gino Wickham
• Profit First by Mike Michalowicz
• A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
• Never Lie by Freida McFadden

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