BOOKSTORM

The USA Today Bestselling author COLLEEN OAKLEY joins BOOKSTORM Podcast to discuss The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise! We loved this adventurous and witty novel! Eighty-four year old Louise tells twenty-one year old Tanner, “enjoy your life of following the rules, my dear.” And that sets the tone for this wild road trip of a story. And what reader cannot relate to that statement?! Isn't there a small part of us that wants to throw caution to the wind and embrace the unpredictable? We talked about the relationship between parents and their adult children... are parents of adult children entitled to privacy? Why is it so hard for children, even adult ones, to believe that their parents had a full life before they arrived? Don't they know that their parents may have interests, experiences, or abilities they know nothing about? What happens when life throws obstacles and roadblocks in our pathway? Do we crawl into a corner and stay there forever? Or do we re-invent ourselves, regroup, and try something new? We talked about aging ... and how the concerns of the young and the aged are more similar than we might imagine. Colleen's character says "getting old is one series of indignities after another." Do you agree? What a heartwarming discussion - join us!

You can find more of your favorite bestselling authors at BOOKSTORM Podcast! We're also on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube!

New York Times bestselling author CHRIS BOJALIAN joins BOOKSTORM Podcast to discuss THE LIONESS, his newest thriller (and now an upcoming television movie by eOne)! Chris transports us to Tanzania in the early 1960s. An A-list Hollywood actress and her new husband have brought an entourage of Hollywood-types on their honeymoon safari ... what could go wrong? For one, as Chris discusses, this is a time of major political upheaval. De-colonization was underway. The world's superpowers were backing various African factions in an effort to promote communism or democracy. It was a full-out proxy war, with Russians and CIA operatives crawling all over sub-Saharan Africa. We talk about these power plays. We discuss the "old ways," when the "Great White Hunter" was revered. We talk about exploitation. We explore prejudice and hate in various forms ... and on all continents. One character wonders: “Was there no place on the planet where he wasn’t going to have to fight to survive?” Sometimes that fight is physical and sometimes its psychological ... sometimes it takes place in far-away lands, and sometimes its right in our hometown. We talked about strength, and whether nature or nurture holds the most power over our strengths and weaknesses?  We talk about fear and how it can stop us in our tracks. Is there such a thing as healthy fear? And since this is a safari, we talk about the wild animals hunting and killing human prey in the darkness of night. Who do you fear more? Humankind or wild animals? What does it take to have a survivor mentality? WOW, this discussion left us talking. JOIN US!

You can find more of your favorite bestselling authors at BOOKSTORM Podcast! We're also on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube!

New York Times bestselling author Heather Gudenkauf joins BOOKSTORM Podcast to talk about The Overnight Guest, her newest thriller! Wylie Lark retreats to an isolated farmhouse --where a double murder was committed decades ago -- to write her new book. Yes, this is a scary one. We talk about thrills, chills, and bad actors... and how people turn evil. Is it nature or nurture? We cover trauma and the lasting impacts. How do people escape those feelings? When does retreat become problematic? We talk about what makes something feel like home: A history? People? A mindset? Why is a sense of home so important to our sense of security? What happens when it's violated? We had a fantastic discussion about making peace with your past. What happens, though, when it impacts your present? We talked about really knowing people, especially the ones you date! Join us for fascinating and thoughtful discussion!

You can find more of your favorite bestselling authors at BOOKSTORM Podcast! We're also on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube!

#1 New York Times Bestselling author David Baldacci joins BOOKSTORM Podcast to discuss SIMPLY LIES, his newest psychological thriller! The criminal underworld. An international PI company. And two smart women engaged in a cat and mouse game. We dove deep into this story! We talked a lot about trauma. Why do some people survive it and go on to lead productive lives? Why does it emotionally break others? Are we equipping young people to cope with past trauma? We talked about evil people – did they start out that way? Isn’t there something redeeming about every human? When do we stop giving people a break? We also talked about technology and the incredible new ways to express ourselves in art, music, and culture. But what about the downsides? Technology has made it easier to commit crimes, tax evasion, or theft. It’s easier to hide behind that screen and harm others. Can we stay one step ahead of wrongdoers when it comes to technology? Finally, we talked about identity – is it ever possible to adopt a new one? Deep down, are we destined to be a certain type of person? David offers some fascinating thoughts. DO NOT MISS!

You can find more of your favorite bestselling authors at BOOKSTORM Podcast! We're also on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube!

#1 New York Times bestselling author LISA SCOTTOLINE joins BOOKSTORM Podcast to discuss LOYALTY, her newest novel!  Lisa takes us to the rugged and beautiful island of Sicily, where lush lemon groves and mouth-watering cuisine contrast with a turbulent history of colonization and corruption. She shares fascinating details about what inspired her characters ... and how she wandered all over Sicily (including being thrown out of a place!) for her research! We cover it all -- we talked about darkness and light. Justice and oppression. Hardship and fighting the good fight. Do you have superstitions that haunt you? Do you blame bad things on something you've done?  We discussed the foundations of modern Sicily, the rise of the Mafia, the role (and secret power) of women in 19th Century Sicily. We touched on power in relationships, justice, class warfare, colonization, capitalism, and love. (and how do we do every act with love?) Do you know what the Italian word "Agita" means? We do now! And bonus: FLAT BRADLEY COOPER makes an hilarious sort-of appearance :-)

You can find more of your favorite bestselling authors at BOOKSTORM Podcast! We're also on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube!

NYT bestselling author Susan Meissner joins BOOKSTORM Podcast to discuss ONLY THE BEAUTIFUL, her newest novel releasing April 18! This incredible story offers a glimpse into the lives of two remarkable women in the 1930s who share a very special connection.  Given the backdrop, we talk about the atrocities committed by Hitler in the name of hereditary purity, especially with regard to "different children." But we also covered the atrocities committed in the name of eugenics right here in the United States against those with disabilities, different gifts, or minorities. What happens when people with bad intentions play God with the lives of others? Who decides whose life has value? What happens when our trust in humans has been shaken? We talked about love and trust and deciding who to trust in difficulties. We talked about discernment and wisdom. Do you have good instincts?  How can you reclaim your belief in humanity? We covered the gift of synesthesia, or seeing color when hearing words and voices. And because this story has such depth, we also talked about guilt and shame. Many people struggle with these negative mindsets, even over things that aren't their fault. Those feelings can become crippling for some. What happens when you cannot forgive yourself? Does it hold you back in your present relationships? Finally, we talked a lot about love ... and how it requires you to get up out of your chair. Love is action. You'll love Susan's thoughtful insights on all of these subjects ("Love is the starting point of everything wonderful") -- Join us!

You can find more of your favorite bestselling authors at BOOKSTORM Podcast! We're also on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube!

The brilliant New Zealand writer and Four-Time Academy Award Nominated filmmaker, Anthony McCarten, dives down deep with BOOKSTORM PODCAST into his new novel, Going Zero! Is the “every-person” sometimes underestimated? What would we do if we were challenged to go off-grid and hide? Do we all possess a level of cunning and heroism we don’t know we have? What are the powers and weaknesses of Artificial Intelligence v. human beings? Let’s talk about Chat Bot--original or just delivering the most obvious results? Humans, however, are driven by the emotion, irrational, unpredictable and creative! Chat bots will never be Einstein, or Picasso or Tolstoy! Are we in the midst of a slow encroachment of technology, unregulated surveillance and covert influence? Do we have any real privacy remaining? Cyber worlds, virtual reality v. the importance of real-world, human experience and connection. Join the discussion! 

You can find more of your favorite bestselling authors at BOOKSTORM Podcast! We're also on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube!

New York Times Bestselling author Robert Dugoni joins BOOKSTORM to discuss Her Deadly Game! This story is an intricate, masterful web of a murder mystery! Since Robert's characters have such depth, we easily jumped into a fascinating and wide-ranging discussion about life, families, law, and justice. How can a criminal attorney defend a criminal? Is a criminal trial even about finding the truth? Is truth the same thing as justice? We talked about empathy and the human mind. We talked about the skills associated with the game of chess. How do those skills translate into real life? How do you stay one step ahead of an enemy? And we were just getting started! We discussed what happens when professional obligations -- or anything else for that matter -- begin to control our lives. Have we given up our power? Is that sustainable for anyone? And as if that's not enough, we talked about family dynamics and family businesses. That can be a bumpy road. Can you relate? Join us -- you'll particularly love hearing Robert's observations on fiction that matters ... to him and to us all. 

You can find more of your favorite bestselling authors at BOOKSTORM Podcast! We're also on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube!

BOOKSTORM Podcast welcomes back NYT bestselling author ALKA JOSHI to discuss The Perfumist of Paris!  Once again, Alka transports us to another place  and time, infused with the complex and enticing scents of perfume in the making: lavender, geranium, violet, cedar, sage, musk, sandalwood, vetiver, incense … a mud hut … a person you love. We talk about how these scents, both the good and the bad, comprise our lives.  We dive deep into the role of women in the 1970s, particularly as they were negotiating career choices and family responsibilities. Can parents have it all? Maybe so, but it's easy to lose oneself in the process. How do we reclaim that lost part? Perhaps by pursuing a long-held dream or developing a talent? We talk about being intentional. A quote: “The measure of us isn’t in the day-to-day. And it’s not in our past or our future. It’s in the fundamental changes we make within ourselves over a lifetime.” Wow! Have you struggled with shame over a past decision? What about something that happened that was out of your control?  Are we as a society equipping young people to dismantle negative self-talk and turn those once-shameful experiences into something inspiring? Join us for an incredible discussion!

You can find more of your favorite bestselling authors at BOOKSTORM Podcast! We're also on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube!

New York Times Bestselling author Laura Dave joins BOOKSTORM to discuss her international sensation The Last Thing He Told Me! You'll love our thoughtful discussion about happiness, trust, and really knowing people. What happens when we learn information that doesn't square with what we believe about someone? Or what we want to believe about someone? Can we dismiss those blips because we want to see the best in them ... or are they red flags we shouldn't ignore? Have you ever been in a relationship where you're waiting for the other shoe to drop? We also talk about the sacrifices necessary to sustain relationships and raise children, especially in blended families. Why are step-parent relationships extra tough to navigate? Laura got us thinking: what does it mean to be the hero in your own life? Join us -- you'll be so glad you did!

You can find more of your favorite bestselling authors at BOOKSTORM Podcast! We're also on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube!