BOOKSTORM

Kristina McMorris returns to BOOKSTORM to discuss her newest release, The Ways We Hide! If you’re like us, you believe there can never be enough novels about WWII. This one is offers an entirely different perspective. Join us as we explore the idea that no mission is more treacherous than escaping one's past. We talk about the impacts of trauma. We explore the ways that people cope. Is there a generational shift in the way people manage stress and anxiety? We talk about belief, imagination and perseverance as ways to tackle problems. We discussed the importance of the people behind the scenes … even those in the shadows. We learned about spycraft during wartime … and about some of the incredible women whose inventions were mission critical. 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 Shelby Van Pelt joins us to discuss her bestseller Remarkably Bright Creatures! We dove deep into the aquarium of life with this fantastic story. We saw truths about one another from the unusual perspective of a remarkably bright – or perhaps remarkably observant – octopus. We discuss his observations about how humans hide, grieve, lash out, or fail to communicate (and all of these thoughts are all filtered through his view that he’s unjustifiably incarcerated!). We talk about loneliness, aging, independence, and trauma. What happens when the events of one date in our history shapes every aspect of our future? How do we move forward after loss? Are geographical changes helpful for a fresh start, or are we simply running away? We explored common feelings of unworthiness, and the negative choices that sometimes follow. And what about our unique qualities as humans? So many life truths! Dive in! 

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

Bestselling author Thrity Umrigar joins us to talk about Honor, her newest novel! At its heart, this is a love story - love for one another,  love for the place of our birth. It features a character who experienced India in a whole new way when she returned as an adult. We see her trying to reconcile different aspects of her birth country. On the one hand, she knew it to be patriarchal, feudal, or intolerant. Now she also sees everything that is beautiful about India, including acceptance of different faiths, respect for elders, or a willingness to help others in need or challenge dangerous traditions. We talk about pride, and how it drives religious persecution and politics. We address the age-old question of “who am I.” Are we defined by the religious identity we choose, or does it define us by its nature as an all-encompassing faith? You’ll be riveted in this story and our wide-ranging, deep discussion! 

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

Bestselling author Jaime Ford joins BOOKSTORM podcast to discuss The Many Daughters of Afong Moy! Have you ever wondered whether trauma can be passed down to subsequent generations? What about gifts and aptitudes? Would you ever use an experimental medical treatment to remember those incidents? Are answers that important? We tackle the incredibly provocative subject of epigenetic inheritance … and the implications are fascinating. This story traces generations of women across cultures and continents. Can the change the trajectory of their lives and reject the impact of generational harm? Can these women see the patterns that ensnared their mothers before them? We don’t just examine the past. This story includes a glimpse of a future America where accelerated climate-induced storms have upended our daily lives. (You don’t want to encounter an ARKstorm!) We debate our ability to remember the past and whether we’re just not listening hard enough. And exactly how do you “calm your ocean”? Join us for a wide-ranging chat about culture, traditions …. and remembering. 

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

Every marriage has its secrets! Is falling in love irrational? Should we run from it? Best-selling author John Searles joins BOOKSTORM to talk about some of the harsher aspects of love! The characters in Her Last Affair all experienced serious trauma in their past. Some of them later harmed others. Do we view people with deep wounds with empathy? What happens when they cross a legal line or a moral one? They’ve lost self control. We talked about vicious words — and positive words —  that stay with us our whole lives. We talked about the truth of our lives, including our failures and missteps. When is faking it until you make it NOT a good thing? We confront inner versus outer beauty. This book will leave you with QUESTIONS! Join us for no-answers … and some fun reminiscences about drive-ins.

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

Bestselling author Laurie Lico Albanese joins BOOKSTORM to talk about HESTER, her masterful reimagining  the tragic heroine in The Scarlett Letter! You’ll never read that classic the same. Laurie captivated us with little-known historical facts — the very beginnings of the Underground Railroad, the dark side of Nathaniel Hawthorne, and the black families that established thriving businesses and helped shift perceptions during a horrific chapter in our past. We talk about extraordinary women during a dangerous time in history … a time when people ascribed certain gifts (also a curse!) to witchcraft and sought to squelch those traits. And what exactly is synesthesia?? These ambitious heroines stood up to sexism and racism, and found their voice in unique ways. They took control over their future. We explore the complexity of issues surrounding immigration. Why do we fear “others?” And who exactly is the outsider in a nation of primarily immigrants? Did Hester find her people? Join us to find out! 

(And … how does the old country song “real bad boy, but a real good man” tie into this discussion?!)

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

Best-selling author William Kent Krueger joins BOOKSTORM Podcast to discuss FOX CREEK, his fantastic new novel! The chase is on through Minnesota’s Boundary Waters - and against that backdrop we discuss the mystical obstacles that oppose us in life, as well as the man-made ones. What is it about the natural world that gives us peace? What’s the difference between being and doing? And who has the great responsibility to stand between evil and their people? Parents? Leaders? Do dreams and visions play a role in your life? Have you ever lived contrary to your moral compass? This interview, like his story, is an immersive experience you won’t soon forget! Slow down with us and just be. 

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

Bestselling author Meg Waite Clayton joins BOOKSTORM to discuss her incredible novel THE POSTMISTRESS OF PARIS! Why would an American heiress risk her life to help artists and intellectuals in France who were being hunted by the Nazis? What role generally did Americans play in helping the French Resistance? How were war refugees treated across Europe? We explore those fascinating topics and so much more! We talk about art and how it can expose evil … but also whether our attention gives evil a needed audience. What’s the point of surrealism - to provoke thought? Prompt Action? (And what is the game of Exquisite Corpse?!) We explore our artistic gifts and whether they tether us to our humanity. And wait until you hear an interesting tidbit from history about Hitler … as an artist who despised creativity. Do you process trauma through art or music? Join us for an illuminating episode! 

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

Best-selling author Lauren Belfer joins us to talk about Ashton Hall, her newest novel! We were immediately immersed in this brilliant, atmospheric story that explores marriage, motherhood, societal expectations, and the historical role of women. Lauren draws parallels between the challenges facing women in the Sixteenth Century and now: struggles to control their destiny, financial dependence, or the demands of caring for an aging parent or a child with special needs. She explains neurodiversity, and how her characters tried to nurture their children’s natural curiosity … and navigate the additional challenges that come with a differently-abled child. We touch upon sexual orientation and the expectations and choices that may surface in a marriage wrestling with those important issues. What happens when there’s no equality or sense of partnership in a relationship? We address the clarity of thought that is necessary to grow as a person … and how to create space for that growth. We also ask a few tough questions: How many lives can you imagine yourself living? What has sent your life in a certain trajectory?  Fantastic discussion on some weighty topics! 

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

Wade Rouse joins us to discuss a number of universal life themes from his newest novel, The Edge of Summer. Wade vividly recounts anecdotes from his formative years in the Ozarks. He shares memories of his cherished late grandmother, and acknowledges the tremendous positive influence she’s had on his life. He talks about how his characters had to reconcile themselves to their history, both good and bad. Have you ever wanted to run from your upbringing? Haven’t we all at some point? What a beautiful and (lively!) show about family history, identity, family dysfunction, and even the importance of heirlooms! We touch on grief, wealth, maturity, and unearthing some of the significant happenings in our history. How can we know where we’re going if we don’t know where we’ve been? 

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