Bookish Flights: Themed Book Recommendations & Author Interviews

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In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Carmela Dutra, a Bay Area author who cherishes her family, rainy days, and making others laugh. After years of creating award-winning indie children’s picture books, Carmela transitioned into cozy mysteries filled with emotion, humor, and heart. When she’s not penning her latest tale, Carmela enjoys sketching, sipping copious amounts of coffee, and over-cuddling her allergy-inducing cats and dog. She shares her life with her best friend and husband, raising two dinosaur-obsessed sons. We dive into her debut cozy mystery, A Murder Most Fowl, which Carmela describes as a mix between Only Murders in the Building and The Great Food Truck Race. 

Key Highlights:

• Carmela’s transition from award-winning children’s picture books to cozy mysteries.
• How she infuses humor and heart into her writing.
• Behind-the-scenes insights into writing A Murder Most Fowl.
• Her unique marketing strategies for her books.
• Her book flight features historical mysteries.

Connect with Carmela:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Buy A Murder Most Fowl

Books and authors mentioned:

• Little Katie Goes to the Moon by Carmela Dutra
• A Literary Feast: Sweet Foodie Rom-Coms & Flash Fiction with Jordan Millsaps (E132)
• Famous Last Word by Gillian McAllister
• We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

Book Flight

• A Flaw in the Blood by Stephanie Barron
• A Curious Beginning by Deanna Rayborn
• Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

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 Mollie Rushmeyer, author of whimsical romance full of heart, humor, and a love for all things British, bookish, and steeped in history and mystery. A modern girl at heart—she wouldn’t want to go a day without central air or modern plumbing!—Mollie has always felt a special connection to the past and to stories with a happily ever after. Her debut novel, The Bookshop of Secrets, was a finalist for a 2023 Carol Award.

A born-and-bred Midwesterner, Mollie lives in central Minnesota with her husband and two spirited daughters. In this episode, we dive into her latest novel, The Rules of Falling for You, and explore the themes and inspirations behind her writing.

Episode Highlights:

• Mollie’s unique hobby of singing.
• The rules and expectations we set in life—and what it looks like to surrender those to God.
• Regency-themed balls that make us both wish we could attend.

If you love romance with heart, humor, and a touch of historical magic, this conversation is for you!

Connect with Mollie:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• Gabrielle Meyer books
• C.S. Lewis books
• J.R.R. Tolkien books
• The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
• Some Like it Scot by Pepper Basham

Book Flight

• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
• A Wrinkle of Time by Madeleine L’Engle
• The Giver by Lois Lowry

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 honored to chat with Le Ly Hayslip, internationally known Vietnamese-American author, philanthropist, peace activist, and speaker. Le Ly grew up in central Vietnam during the American-Vietnam War and later authored two bestselling memoirs, When Heaven and Earth Changed Places and Child of War, Woman of Peace. Her story of resilience inspired Oliver Stone’s 1993 film Heaven & Earth. Beyond her writing, she founded two humanitarian organizations—East Meets West Foundation and Global Village Foundation—dedicated to rebuilding Vietnam through education, medical care, and essential resources.

Episode Highlights:

• Her upbringing in a rice-farming family of 6 children in central Vietnam, living under the pressures of both American forces and the Viet Cong.
• The importance of protecting family gravesites and places of worship as a way of preserving identity and tradition.
• Why her book cannot be published in Vietnam, and how Oliver Stone’s film adaptation offers another way to experience her story.
• How returning to Vietnam in the 1980s inspired her lifelong humanitarian work.
• Her invitation to visit the beauty of Vietnam, where she leads trips in both the spring and fall.

✨ Le Ly also shared with me about the upcoming Global Village Foundation Awards Gala to celebrate 30 years of U.S. & Vietnam diplomatic relations at the  on 11/15/25. You can find more information on the Global Village Foundation website. 

Le Ly’s story is one of survival, forgiveness, and hope. As she says, “We cannot change the past. But if each of us stands up to change the world, we will change the world.”

Connect with Le Ly:

• Website
• Global Village Foundation
• Instagram

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:

• Life and Teaching of the Masters of the Far East by Baird T. Spalding
• Many Lives - Many Times by Nguyen Phong 
• Ramtha: The White Book by Ramtha

Book Flight

• On the Ho Chi Minh Trail by Sherry Buchanan
• Perfect Spy by Larry Berman
• Dancing in the Light by Shirley MacLaine

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 Aime Austin. Aime was born in Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from Smith College and Cornell Law School. She is the author of the Casey Cort and Nicole Long series of legal thriller, and is the host of the podcast, A Time to Thrill (you might even find an episode we did together over there 😉). Before writing full-time, Aime practiced family and criminal law in Cleveland, Ohio. When she’s not writing crime fiction or interviewing brilliant creators, she’s in a yoga pose, knitting or reading. Aime currently splits her time between Los Angeles and Budapest. 

Key Highlights:

• How many authors begin their writing journeys in romance before moving into other genres—in Aime’s case, crime fiction.
• The ways motherhood can shift professional identities while still leaving space for creative outlets.
• How her legal background, though not her passion, has been invaluable in shaping her novels.
• The rabbit holes she’s fallen into while researching and how curiosity fuels her writing.
• The process of gaining confidence as a writer.

Connect with Aime:

• Website
• Instagram
• Buy Aime’s books

Books and authors mentioned:

• 101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think by Brianna Wiest
• The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Book Flight

• His Last Mistress by Aime Austin
• If He’s So Great, Why Do I Feel So Bad by Avery Neal
• Leave a Cheater, Gain a Life by Tracy Schorn

Episode Sponsor

This episode was sponsored by Baker Book House, head over to their website and get a generous 30% off, as well as free shipping. 

• The Bitter End Birding Society by Amanda Cox (Amanda is joining us in October for our Meet the Author chat)
• The Atlas of Untold Stories by Sara Brunsvold
• When the Road Comes Around by Katie Powner

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 Janet Skelsien Charles. Janet is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of The Paris Library, Moonlight in Odessa, Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade and the audiobook The Parisian Chapter. Janet was born and raised in Montana. After graduating from the University of Montana, she got a job teaching English in Ukraine. She later when to France intending to teach for a year, and has been there ever since. Place is at the heart of every story she has ever written. She loves traveling, spending time with friends and family, and reearching stories of forgotten people and places. We are here today to discuss her latest multicast audiobook, The Parisian Chapter.

We dive into her latest work, The Parisian Chapter, a rich, immersive story that connects to Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade and The Paris Library. Each can be enjoyed as a standalone, but together they form a tapestry of interconnected characters and the many roles within a library.

Episode Highlights:

• How teaching English in France led Janet to stay.
• The highs and lows of researching historical fiction.
• Why she avoids reading in her own genre while writing.
• The real history behind the women she brings to life on the page.
• How small contributions can still create a lasting impact on a community.

Whether you’re drawn to historical fiction, fascinated by research deep-dives, or simply love a good literary journey through time and place, this episode is full of stories, insight, and inspiration.

Connect with Janet:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• Fiona Davis books
• Kristin Harmel books
• Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
• The Bookbinder’s Secret by A.D. Bell (coming 01/13/2026)
• The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
• The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger

Book Flight

• The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street by Susan Jane Gilman
• How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent by Julia Alvarez
• Small Admissions by Amy Poeppel

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 thrilled to chat with Gordon Korman, a true legend in the middle grade world. With over 100 books under his belt (106, to be exact!), Gordon has something for every young reader—from the most reluctant to the endlessly curious.

His latest release, Snoop, follows a screen-obsessed boy who finds himself grounded—and discovers that life gets trickier when screens are all you have. Gordon shares how he began his writing career at age 14, what keeps him excited about writing for middle grade, and why he believes humor and the right book at the right time can completely change a child’s reading life.

Episode Highlights:

• Gordon’s unexpected milestone of hitting 100 books—and how kids helped him see its impact.
• Why middle grade is the most powerful age to reach readers.
• The inspiration behind his latest novel, Snoop.
• How humor helps kids learn, connect, and grow.
• Encouragement for parents of reluctant readers—and why it only takes one “yes” book to spark a love of reading.

This is a fun, thoughtful, and inspiring conversation for anyone who loves books, works with kids, or just wants to remember the magic of finding that book.

Connect with Gordon Korman:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• The Fort by Gordon Korman
• Rearview Window by Alfred Hitchcock
• Island Trilogy by Gordon Korman
• Superfudge by Judy Blume
• Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
• Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
• The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith

Book Flight

• Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
• Jack Henry books by Jack Gantos
• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

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

Send us Fan Mail

In today’s episode of Bookish Flights, I’m joined by Katie Powner, whose brand-new novel When the Road Comes Around just released yesterday—huge congratulations to Katie!

Katie grew up on a dairy farm in the Pacific Northwest, where she spent her days climbing trees, chatting with cows, and experimenting with perms. Now living in Montana—where cows still outnumber people—Katie is a wife and a mom to the third power: biological, adoptive, and foster. She writes contemporary fiction full of heart and humanity, and she’s been storytelling for as long as she can remember.

Episode Highlights:

• What community means and how it shows up in Katie’s writing.
• Her honest take on foster care and parenting through different lenses. Check out her blog to learn more.
• Who her favorite character was to write in When the Road Comes Around.
• Why she’s drawn to quirky characters (both reading and writing them).
• The ripple effects of family and embracing an unconventional family life.

Katie also shares her writing routine (hint: it involves nap time) and how she’s learned to make the most of the quiet pockets in her day. This episode is a meaningful look at the beauty of everyday grace, the power of connection, and the stories that shape us. Tune in and check out Katie’s latest novel—you won’t want to miss it!

Connect with Katie Powner:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
• The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston
• Summer of Light by W. Dale Kramer
• The Survivors by Adam Frankel

Book Flight

• All the Children are Home by Patry Francis
• The Nature of Small Birds by Susie Finkbeiner
• Just a Regular Boy by Catherine Ryan Hyde

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 Jacqui Lents. Jacqui was born and raised in her beloved Michigan, where her life has meandered more like a lazy river than a high-speed expressway. Before settling into her career as a high school social studies etacher, she dabbled in at least fifteen different jobs—some more unusual than others. When she is not revinventing herself, Jacqui can be found throwing axes (responsibly), attempting to conquer her TBR pile, swimming in her loch, or hanging out with her husband of over twenty years, who has yet to flee despite her ever-evolving hobbies. Jacqui is the host of the award-winning podcast, Jacqui Just Chatters and we are here to tday to talk about her debut novel, The Daphne Project.

This is Jacqui’s first appearance on Bookish Flights as a published author (yay!), and we dive deep into the themes that inspired her book. We talk about what it means to become "vintage," embracing imperfections, personal growth, and the hard but transformative process of rediscovering your identity.

Episode Highlights:

• Jacqui’s journey from educator to author.
• What inspired The Daphne Project.
• The beauty (and humor) in becoming “vintage.”
• Reinvention and identity in midlife.
• Why real stories about real people matter.
• How teaching shaped her writing voice.

📚 Whether you're feeling a little vintage yourself or just love a good story about transformation, this episode is for you.

Connect with Jacqui Lents:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
• Little Women by Louisa Mae Alcott
• Stalking Around the Christmas Tree by Jacqueline Frost
• Beachbum Bookworm Booktube channel
• The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Book Flight

• Happy Place by Emily Henry
• The Christmas Tree Farm series by Jacqueline Frost
• The Magic Ship by Sandra Perretti

Dessert Pairing

• Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan

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 Mariah Dawn. Mariah is the author of Dragon in You. Mariah is an author, EMT and mom living in sunny San Diego, where ‘Yay’ is her favorite word and a reflection of her positive outlook on life. Her book is a memoir of the first 32 years of her journey through love, loss and the rediscovery of faith. 

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of domestic violence and the death of a spouse.

Mariah shares how writing her memoir became a healing process—how she initially dissociated from her story as a protective mechanism, but through putting words on the page, she was able to reclaim her truth and ground herself once again. Her story is one of fierce resilience, courage, and deep hope. It reminds us that our stories matter—and that even in our darkest moments, we can find light.

Episode Highlights:

• What it was like to write such a vulnerable and personal book
• Her experiences navigating domestic violence and her advice for others in similar situations
• Grief, motherhood, and the strength to keep going
• How faith and storytelling helped her reconnect with herself

Connect with Mariah Dawn:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• Healing Your Lost Inner Child by Robert Jackman

Book Flight

• No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us by Rachel Louise Snyder
• The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals by Gavin De Becker
• Building a Non-Anxious Life by John Delony

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 Karen Nelson. Karen is the author of The Sunken Town and the co-founder of the nonprofit Writing by Writers. During her long career in nonprofits she has protected open space, funded cancer research, trained people to complete endurance events, and helped writers bring their work into the world. When not organizing writing workshops, she can be found hiking with her dog, reading, traveling, experimenting in the kitchen, and hosting dinner parties. She writes for various publications and is at work on her next novel.

Episode Highlights:

• How Karen started Writing by Writers and the services they provide to support writers.
• Her passion for cooking and hosting monthly dinner parties as a creative outlet.
• The writing journey behind The Sunken Town and the years it took to complete.
• How she decides which books to read in print versus on audio.
• Her book flight featuring suspenseful literary novels set in academia.

Connect with Karen Nelson:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• Cynthia Newberry Martin on Reading and Belonging (to Something Bigger) (Ep. 29)
• Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
• I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai
• Cowboys are My Weakness by Pam Houston
• Colored Television by Danzy Senna

Book Flight

• The Secret History by Donna Tartt
• The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman
• Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl

Support the show

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

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• Facebook
• Website