This week, we speak with the delightful Samantha Dion Baker, artist and author of Draw Your Adventures: Making Art to Celebrate Everyday Experiences and Travel Near and Far.

This episode is sponsored by The Housekeeper’s Secret by Sandra Schnakenburg.

Enter the Mona’s Eyes Giveaway: closes September 15th, 2025

Open to U.S. Mailing addresses only

Thank you to Europa Editions for sponsoring this giveaway.

Guest author recommendation from Jessica Francis Kane, author of Fonseca. 

Check out What Dan Read here. https://what-dan-read.com

Books Discussed:

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

This Motherless Land by Nikki May

The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin

How to Read A Book by Monica Wood

The Guest by Emma Cline

Find Samantha Dion Baker online:

Website www.sdionbaker.com

Instagram @sdionbekerdesign

Substack @Draw Your World

Samantha Dion Baker's Skillshare Classes

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This week, I'm joined by Lisa Pahl who talks about an inventive way to talk about death and dying, through use of The Death Deck. We also discuss books that deal with this topic. 

The Clouds Far Behind Me by Laurie Lo Cicero

Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor 

Influencing Death: Reframing Dying for Better Living by Penny Hawkins Smith

Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yin Li

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family by Marguerite Magnuson

Learn more about The Death Deck

The Death Deck on Instagram

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An adorably short episode where I talk about the Pulitzer winning book of fiction as well as ponder whether or not dead authors' work should be publishing after their death and without their permission. Plus, I recommend five books. 

The Names by Florence Knapp

Sleep by Honor Jones

How Not To Drown In A Glass of Water by Angie Cruz

Warhol's Muses by Laurence Leamer

Is Mother Dead by Videos Hjorth

Check out Peggi Kroll Roberts on Instagram. 

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Today, I'm in conversation with Annie Hartnett, author of the recently published Road to Tender Hearts. We talk about the inspiration for her protagonist, PJ as well as how many pages she wrote before she sold this novel. 

Books Recommended:

The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett

The Red Grove by Tessa Fontaine

Tilt by Emma Pattee

Women! In! Peril! by Jessie Ren Marshall

Three Bags Full by Leoni Swann

Hot Air by Marcy Dermansky

Guest Recommendation from Dean Van Nguyen, author of Words For My Comrades: A Political History of Tupac Shakur

Find Annie Hartnett on Instagram @Annie_hartnett

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This week, I'm in conversation with Lauren Steinstra, author of The Beauty of the End. We discuss genetics, how her career in science influenced her work and whether or not people should delete their 23 and Me accounts. Plus, lots of book recommendations. 

This episode is sponsored by People of the Titanic by Shawn Carlow

Andrew Porter, author of The Imagined Life recommends a favorite read. 

Giveaway: Girls and Their Horses

Books Discussed:

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

Sky Full of Elephants by Cabo Campbell

The Unthinkable: Who Survives Disasters and Why by Amanda Ripley

Dan and Jane at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley

Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. McGill

Other books Mentioned:

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Gallery info: I have a piece of art on display at the Rod Briggs Gallery through May 24th. Click here for more info. 

Art Hang Recording: Draw Book Covers

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On this episode of Books Are My People, I'm visited by artist and bibliophile Jane Mount. We discuss the importance of talking about banned books, her favorite book to paint, and how her degree in anthropology informs her work. 

This episode is sponsored by People of the Titanic by Shawn Carlow

Books Recommended: 

The Adventures of Amina Asarfti by Amina Someone

The Art of Noticing by  Rob Walker 

The Vanished Birds by Simonoa Jiminez

 All that Glitters:  by Orlando Whitfield

The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human by Siddhartha Mukerjee

Life with Picasso by Francoise Gilot 

Amy Shearn, author of Animal Instinct  recommends Being Here is Everything: The Life of Paula Modersohn-Becker by Marie Darrieusseca

Some of Jane's Books:

Books Make Good Friends

Bibliophile:an Illustrated Miscellany

Bibliophile’s Reader’s Journal

Find Jane online: https://janemount.com

Instagram @jane_mount

GIVEAWAY Kristen Arnett Smile if You’ve Heard This One

Book to Film Nickel Boys

The Women’s Hotel

Call the poetry hotline: 385 DIAL-FSG

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This week, I'm joined by author Kristen Arnett. We chat about clown and how they relate to her latest novel, Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One. 

Guest Book Author Recommendation: Eliza Kennedy Lucky Night recommends The Empusium by Olga Tokarczuk 

Book Recommendations:

State of Paradise by Laura Van Den Berg

Hot Air by Marcy Dermasnky

Lot by Bryan Washington

Kate & Frida by Kim Fey

Dry Season by Melissa Febos

Women’s Hotel by Daniel M. Lavery Substack through my  Read with Me program.

Giveaway: Kristen Arnett’s Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One on Instagram LINK UP Closes April 16th.  

Click here to find out ways in which you can help the attack on Federal funding for libraries. 

On Social Media: Twitter @

Instagram Kristen_Arnett

Blue Sky Kristen Arnett

Substack: Dad Lessons

Link up to her column, Am I the Literary Asshole on Lit Hub

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On this week’s episode of BOOKS ARE MY PEOPLE I’m joined by fellow book podcaster Traci Thomas of THE STACKS. We chat about some of her favorite author interviews, how she manages her reading time and, she even spills the tea regarding what kind of tea Regina Porter sent her after their interview! 

Guest Book Recommendation: Will Bardenwerper author of Homestand Small Town Baseball and the Fight for the Soul of America recommends The Good Hand: a memoir by Michael Patrick F. Smith

Books Recommended:

One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad

A Great Country by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

Original Sins by Eve L. Ewing

Private Rites by Julia Armfeld

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Other Books Discussed:

North Woods by Daniel Mason

Carry On by Shea Barry Andreoni

Empire of Ruin by Django Wexler

Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

The Partner by John Grisham

Transect of Coexistence Inquiry into Nature Art and Habitat by Illaria Mazzoleni 

Be Ready When The Luck Comes by Ina Garten

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

Other Things: 

One for the Books LA ist

Find Traci online at:

Instagarm @thestackpod

Substack: tracithomas

Traci's website

Links:

Link to Substack Nickel Boys:

Link to Instagram Nickel Boys:

Youtube Bookbinding for the Booker series:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_XVn89hrlI

Link to my handmade upcycled journals.

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This week, on episode #141 Jane Tara visits all the way from Australia to discuss her first book written for adults, Tilda is Visible. We talk about self love during the aging process, what it's like to write over 100 children's books and of course, we both recommend books. 

Christine Murphy, author of Notes on Surviving the Fire also recommends a favorite read. 

Books Recommended:

Pictures of You by Emma Grey

The Cafe with No Name by Robert Seethaler

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston

The Hypocrite by Jo Hamya

The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon

Christine Murphy Notes on Surviving the Fire recommends Devolution by Max Brooks

The Great Divide Giveaway Link

One-Day Choir Defying Gravity Link

Read Nickel Boys with me on Substack in March

Find Jane on Social Media:

instagram: @authorjanetara

Facebook: @authorjanetara

Jane's bookclub: Book Queens

Substack: @janetara

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This week, I speak with Jennifer Caspar, founder and owner of Village Well Books & Coffee and one of their events coordinators, Brett Morrow. We focus on The Culver City Book Festival, Saturday, February 22nd from 10 - 5 pm. I will be there representing Books Are My People. Come say hi! We also talk about the many activities and events held at this wonderful independent bookstore. 

Today’s episode is brought to you by MOLDed: A Memoir of Loss & Resilience - a dark yet humorous journey into the underreported experience of fighting toxic mold.

Books Recommended:

Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray

The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman

The Most by Jessica Anthony

The Great Divide by Christina Enriguez

Cherished Belonging by Gregory Boyle

Cynthia Weiner, guest author of A Gorgeous Excitement recommends Banal Nightmare by Halle Butler

Enter my The Great Divide Giveaway here. Closes March 5th, 2025.

Listen to my interview with Bookshop.org founder, Andy Hunter here on the episode titled: Bookshop.org and the Importance of Independent Bookstores

Brett Morrow is one of the events coordinators at Village Well Books & Coffee and is currently organizing the Culver City Book Festival. 

 Learn more about Village Well Books & Coffee here. 

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