Completely Booked - Official Podcast of the Jacksonville Public Library

Author Jessica Hatch is a professional freelance editor and novelist with more than a decade of publishing experience. She worked her way through the slush pile at New York-based literary agencies like Writers House, New Leaf Literary & Media, and Fox Literary Management, and learned what attracts readers to a book at St. Martin's Press. Jessica's editorial clients have gone on to receive partial and full manuscript requests from agents, to earn Kirkus starred reviews and placement on Best Book of the Year lists, and to win national awards. As a writer, Jessica has won pitch wars; attended juried workshops in Aspen, London, and Rome; and has been published in The Millions, Writer's Digest, Fast Company, Burrow Press, and Babes Who Hustle, among others. Her debut novel, My Big Fake Wedding, debuted at #1 on Amazon's Humorous American Literature charts.

Interviewer Michelle Lizet Flores is a graduate of FSU and NYU creative writing programs. She currently works as a teacher and co-hosts the What's in a Verse Poetry Open Mic in Jacksonville, FL. She has previously been published in magazines and journals such as The Miami Rail, Chircú Journal, and Travel Latina. A finalist for the Juan Felipe Herrera Award for Poetry, she is the author of the chapbooks Cuentos from the Swamp and Memoria, as well as the picture book, Carlito the Bat Learns to Trick or Treat. Her short fiction can be found in the anthology, Places We Build in the Universe through Flowersong Press. Her first full-length collection of poetry, Invasive Species, is forthcoming through Finishing Line Press. Find out more at michellelizetflores.com.

Check out Jessica's contemporary romantic comedies in our catalog!

Places in Jacksonville mentioned in my novel: The Volstead (though under a different name), the Main Street Bridge, James Weldon Johnson Park, The Jessie, and the Main branch of the library!

Film/TV inspirations: The Big Chill, anything and everything John Hughes in the '80s, New Girl, Parks & Recreation

Book inspirations: Beth O'Leary's The Switch

Music inspirations: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Important organizations doing work related to a subplot in my novel: Ability Housing Jax, the JAX Rental Housing Project at UNF, HabiJax.

---

Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/library-u-enrollment

Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jaxlibrary Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaxLibrary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaxlibrary/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jaxpubliclibraryfl Contact Us: [email protected]

Tommy Orange is the author of the New York Times bestselling novel There There, a multi-generational, relentlessly paced story about a side of America few of us have ever seen: the lives of urban Native Americans. There There was one of The New York Times Book Review’s 10 Best Books of the Year, and won the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize and the Pen/Hemingway Award. There There was also longlisted for the National Book Award and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Orange graduated from the MFA program at the Institute of American Indian Arts, and was a 2014 MacDowell Fellow and a 2016 Writing by Writers Fellow. He is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. He was born and raised in Oakland, California.

Interviewer Prof. Nicole Nesberg, Migizi Miigwan (Eagle Feather), is a Designated Faculty member at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida. She has worked as a history professor for the past 20 years with an emphasis on race and gender on Turtle Island. Her dissertation research focused on women and urbanization to Chicago in the 1950s and 60s. Born in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, she is a member of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians and descended from the Crooked Tree Odawa. She migrated to Florida in 2005 where she is happily married and raising two boys.

Check out Tommy’s book, There There, in a variety of formats (including a Spanish translation)!

---

Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/library-u-enrollment

Jacksonville Public Library
Website: https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jaxlibrary
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaxLibrary/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaxlibrary/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jaxpubliclibraryfl
Contact Us: [email protected] 

Deborah Goodrich Royce's thrillers examine puzzles of identity. Ruby Falls won the Zibby Award for Best Plot Twist in 2021 and Finding Mrs. Ford was hailed by Forbes, Book Riot, and Good Morning America's "best of" lists in 2019.

She began as an actress on All My Children and in multiple films, before transitioning to the role of story editor at Miramax Films, developing Emma and early versions of Chicago and A Wrinkle in Time.

With her husband, Chuck, Deborah restored the Avon Theatre, Ocean House Hotel, Deer Mountain Inn, United Theatre, Savoy Bookstore, and numerous Main Street revitalization projects in Rhode Island and the Catskills. She serves on the governing and advisory boards of the American Film Institute, Greenwich International Film Festival, New York Botanical Garden, Greenwich Historical Society, and the PRASAD Project. Deborah holds a bachelor's degree in modern foreign languages and an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Lake Erie College.

Interviewer Jessica Hatch is a professional freelance editor and novelist with more than a decade of publishing experience. She worked her way through the slush pile at New York-based literary agencies like Writers House, New Leaf Literary & Media, and Fox Literary Management, and learned what attracts readers to a book at St. Martin's Press. Jessica's editorial clients have gone on to receive partial and full manuscript requests from agents, to earn Kirkus starred reviews and placement on Best Book of the Year lists, and to win national awards. As a writer, Jessica has won pitch wars; attended juried workshops in Aspen, London, and Rome; and has been published in The Millions, Writer's Digest, Fast Company, Burrow Press, and Babes Who Hustle, among others. Her debut novel, My Big Fake Wedding, debuted at #1 on Amazon's Humorous American Literature charts.

---

Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/library-u-enrollment

Check out all of Deborah's books from the library: https://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results?qu=deborah+goodrich+royce&te=

And Jessica's, too: https://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results?qu=%22jessica+hatch%22&te=

Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jaxlibrary Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaxLibrary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaxlibrary/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jaxpubliclibraryfl Contact Us: [email protected]

Kristy Cambron is a vintage-inspired storyteller writing from the space where art, history, and faith intersect. She's a Christy Award-winning author of historical fiction, including her bestselling novels, The Butterfly and the Violin and The Paris Dressmaker. Her work has been named to Cosmopolitan's Best Historical Fiction Novels of 2021, Publishers Weekly Religion & Spirituality TOP 10, Library Journal Reviews' Best Books, RT Reviewers' Choice Awards, INSPY Award nominations, received a 2020 Christy Award for her novel, The Painted Castle, and is a 2022 Carol Award Finalist for The Paris Dressmaker.

Interviewer Madeline Martin is a New York Times and international bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance. She lives in sunny Florida with her two daughters, two incredibly spoiled cats and a husband so wonderful he's been dubbed Mr. Awesome. She is a die-hard history lover who will happily lose herself in research any day. When she's not writing, researching or 'moming', you can find her spending time with her family at Disney or sneaking a couple spoonfuls of Nutella while laughing over cat videos. She also loves travel, attributing her fascination with history to having spent most of her childhood as an Army brat in Germany.

----

Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/library-u-enrollment

Check out Kristy's books from the library, including her World War II novels and verse mapping books: https://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results?qu=AUTHOR%3D%22kristy+cambron%22&te=

And for more WWII reads and some Highland romance, check out Madeline's books from the library: https://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results?qu=AUTHOR%3D%22madeline+martin%22&te=

Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jaxlibrary Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaxLibrary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaxlibrary/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jaxpubliclibraryfl Contact Us: [email protected]

Valerie Bowman's debut novel was published in 2012. Since then, her books have received starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus. She's been an RT Reviewers' Choice nominee for Best First Historical Romance and Best Historical Romance Love and Laughter. Two of her books have been nominated for the Kirkus Prize for fiction.

Valerie grew up in Illinois with six sisters (she's number seven) and a huge supply of historical romance novels. After a cold and snowy stint earning a degree in English Language and Literature with a minor in history at Smith College, she moved to Florida the first chance she got. Valerie now lives in Jacksonville with her family including her mini-schnauzers, Huckleberry and Violet. When she's not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or vacillating between watching crazy reality TV and PBS.

Interviewer Jessica Hatch is a professional freelance editor and novelist with more than a decade of publishing experience. She worked her way through the slush pile at New York-based literary agencies like Writers House, New Leaf Literary & Media, and Fox Literary Management, and learned what attracts readers to a book at St. Martin's Press. Jessica's editorial clients have gone on to receive partial and full manuscript requests from agents, to earn Kirkus starred reviews and placement on Best Book of the Year lists, and to win national awards. As a writer, Jessica has won pitch wars; attended juried workshops in Aspen, London, and Rome; and has been published in The Millions, Writer's Digest, Fast Company, Burrow Press, and Babes Who Hustle, among others. Her debut novel, My Big Fake Wedding, debuted at #1 on Amazon's Humorous American Literature charts.

---

Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/library-u-enrollment

Valerie BowmanCheck out Valerie's books from our catalog: https://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results?qu=AUTHOR%3D%22valerie+bowman%22&te= Twitter: https://twitter.com/ValerieGBowman Website: https://valeriebowmanbooks.com/

Jessica HatchCheck out Jessica's books from our catalog: https://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results?qu=AUTHOR%3D%22jessica+hatch%22&te= Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessicaNHatch Website: https://www.jessicahatch.com/

Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jaxlibrary Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaxLibrary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaxlibrary/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jaxpubliclibraryfl Contact Us: [email protected]

Madeline Martin is a New York Times and international bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance. She lives in sunny Florida with her two daughters, two incredibly spoiled cats and a husband so wonderful he's been dubbed Mr. Awesome. She is a die-hard history lover who will happily lose herself in research any day. When she's not writing, researching or 'moming', you can find her spending time with her family at Disney or sneaking a couple spoonfuls of Nutella while laughing over cat videos. She also loves travel, attributing her fascination with history to having spent most of her childhood as an Army brat in Germany.

Interviewer Valerie Bowman's debut novel was published in 2012. Since then, her books have received starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus. She's been an RT Reviewers' Choice nominee for Best First Historical Romance and Best Historical Romance Love and Laughter. Two of her books have been nominated for the Kirkus Prize for fiction.

Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/library-u-enrollment

Madline Martin Check out Madeline's books from our catalog: https://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results?qu=AUTHOR%3D%22madeline+martin%22&te= Twitter: https://twitter.com/MadelineMMartin

Valerie BowmanCheck out Valerie's books from out catalog: https://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results?qu=AUTHOR%3D%22valerie+bowman%22&te= Twitter: https://twitter.com/ValerieGBowman Website: https://valeriebowmanbooks.com/

Jacksonville Public Library Website: https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jaxlibrary Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaxLibrary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaxlibrary/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jaxpubliclibraryfl Contact Us: [email protected]

In her self-published novel, Seen, Julie G. Delegal takes a story straight from Jacksonville's headlines and tells a fictional version that explores a similar event from two perspectives. Join us to chat with Julie about the process of fictionalizing true events and how she was inspired to write this novel!

Julie G. Delegal is a freelance journalist and author who lives in Jacksonville. Her novel, Seen, earned the 2022 Independent Book Awards Gold Medal (IPPY) for best fiction in the Southeast region. For ten years, Julie covered education and other topics for Folio Weekly, Jacksonville's alternative weekly magazine. She has published journalism, editorials, and feature articles in various online and print media outlets throughout Florida.

A proud PTA veteran, Julie also wrote for the family law firm, now Delegal and Poindexter, P.A., while raising three children with her husband, Tad. She earned her bachelor's degree in English, minoring in Political Science and Women's Studies, from the University of Florida.

Interviewer Kay Huggins is a creative, the owner of Aphelion Editing and Consulting, and the host of The Raindrop Corner Podcast. As a longtime resident of Jacksonville, Florida, they have sought to support local artistry, foster thought-provoking content, and aid in human rights advocacy. For over a decade, their life has been dazzled with project management, technology industries, logistics, writing, and production. Through the intersectionality of Kay's craft, they aim to champion the community by providing a platform to marginalized groups. Currently, Kay is writing their debut novel and enjoying leisure moments with their wife and fur babies.

Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/library-u-enrollment

Julie Delegal Check out Julie's book Seen from our catalog: https://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results?qu=TITLE%3Dseen&qu=AUTHOR%3D%22delegal%22&te= Twitter: https://twitter.com/julieinjax Webiste: https://julieinjax.com/

Kay Huggins Twitter: https://twitter.com/kayisadragon Website: https://www.kaylareneehuggins.com/

Jacksonville Public Library Website: https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jaxlibrary Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaxLibrary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaxlibrary/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jaxpubliclibraryfl Contact Us: [email protected]

Chris Barton and Alton Yates in conversation with local educator TiLena Robinson discussing Chris's book Moving Forward, a nonfiction children's book about Alton's roles in Space Age military experiments and in Jacksonville's 1960 civil rights sit-ins that culminated in Ax Handle Saturday.

Chris Barton is the author of picture books including bestseller Shark vs. Train, Fire Truck vs. Dragon, Sibert Honor-winning The Day-Glo Brothers, and Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions, which has been included on 21 state reading lists. His new books in 2021 and 2022 include How to Make a Book (About My Dog) and Moving Forward: From Space-Age Rides to Civil Rights Sit-Ins with Airman Alton Yates. Chris and his wife, YA/middle-grade novelist Jennifer Ziegler, live in Austin, Texas, and co-host the children's literature video series "This One's Dedicated to…"

Interviewer TiLena Robinson worked as a middle and high school social studies teacher with Duval County Public Schools for nine years before becoming a Secondary Social Studies Specialist with the school district in October 2015. She transitioned into her current role as a Regional Social Studies Specialist for high school in October 2021 and continues to work with administrators, teachers and students to carry out the vision and mission of Duval County Public Schools. She is a member of DCPS's African American History Task Force and works to bring equity, inclusion, and diversity to education by working with teachers to implement the teaching of Africa and its' peoples and the contributions of African Americans into high school social studies. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a Specialization in Reading, and a certification in Educational Leadership.

Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/library-u-enrollment

Chris BartonCheck out Chris Barton's books from our catalog: https://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results/?ln=en_US&q=chris%20barton&rw=0 Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bartography Webiste: https://chrisbarton.info/

Jacksonville Public Library

Website: https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jaxlibrary Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaxLibrary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaxlibrary/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jaxpubliclibraryfl Contact Us: [email protected]

Jim Rugg is an Eisner and Ignatz Award-winning cartoonist, designer, and YouTuber. His comics have been published by Marvel, DC, Image Comics, AdHouse Books, New York magazine, Dark Horse Comics, Titan Books, and Fantagraphics.

Rugg's comics career began with the publication of Street Angel in 2004. Street Angel comics are part of the National Archives and the Smithsonian Collection. In 2007, Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg created The PLAIN Janes, launching the Young Adult graphic novel explosion. Rugg's graphic novel Afrodisiac was honored on the AIGA 50/50 list for book design. In 2018, Rugg started Cartoonist Kayfabe on YouTube with Ed Piskor (X-Men Grand Design). Cartoonist Kayfabe celebrates all things comics – with creator interviews, history, tutorials, and discussions about comics. In 2020, Jim Rugg created the world's 1st blacklight comic book, Mtsyry: Octobriana 1976. He taught visual storytelling at the School of Visual Arts from 2012-2022. Rugg has run one marathon so far and lives in Pittsburgh with his wife and cats.

Interviewer Badr Milligan is a project manager by day and an audio creator by night. Since 2012, he has used a mic to help others share their stories. He hosts the award-winning show, The Short Box Podcast, and recently created the Nexxt Spin podcast for fellow vinyl lovers. Inspired by the expanding podcast medium and community around him, he assembled the first Jax Podcaster's United! meet-up in 2018, a now regular event with a fast-growing collective of podcasters and audio enthusiasts dedicated to helping one another through collaboration and community. Badr is also an FSCJ alumnus and veteran of the Florida Air National Guard, using both experiences to run his own small business, The Short Box Entertainment Company.

---

Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/library-u-enrollment

Jim Rugg

• Borrow Jim's books from our collection: https://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results?qu=%22jim+rugg%22&te=
• Website: https://www.jimrugg.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/jimruggart
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimruggart/

Badr Milligan/The Short Box

• Website: https://www.theshortboxpodcast.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheShortBoxJax
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshortboxjax/

Jacksonville Public Library

• Website: https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/jaxlibrary
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaxLibrary/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaxlibrary/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jaxpubliclibraryfl
• Contact Us: [email protected]

Marc Cameron is a New York Times bestselling author. Cameron's Jericho Quinn Thriller Series debuted in 2011. Since then, he's written eight Quinn novels and four Arliss Cutter novels featuring a deputy US marshal based in Alaska, including the most recent Cutter, Cold Snap. Marc is the author of five Tom Clancy/Jack Ryan novels for the Tom Clancy estate, including the most recent, Chain of Command.

A retired Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal, Marc spent nearly thirty years in law enforcement. He holds a second-degree black belt in jujitsu and is a certified law enforcement scuba diver and man-tracking instructor. The job of a deputy US marshal is extremely varied. Marc's career focused primarily on dignitary protection and fugitive operations. As a member of the rural Tactical Tracking Unit for the US Marshals District of Alaska, Marc routinely tracked lost hikers, hunters, and fugitives in the vast Alaska bush. His assignments have taken him from Alaska to Manhattan, Canada to Mexico and dozens of points in between.

Interviewer Michael Wiley writes the Sam Kelson Chicago PI mystery series, the Shamus Award-nominated Franky Dast mysteries, the Daniel Turner thrillers, and the Shamus Award-winning Joe Kozmarski hard-boiled detective mystery series. He lives in Jacksonville and teaches at the University of North Florida.

---

Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/library-u-enrollment

Marc Cameron

• Borrow Marc's books from our collection: https://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results?qu=AUTHOR%3D%22marc+cameron%22&te=
• Website: https://marccameronbooks.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarcCameron1

Michael Wiley

• Borrow Michael's books from our collection: https://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results?qu=AUTHOR%3D%22michael+wiley%22&te=
• Website: http://www.michaelwileyonline.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mwileyauthor

Jacksonville Public Library

• Website: jaxpubliclibrary.org
• Twitter: twitter.com/jaxlibrary
• Facebook: facebook.com/JaxLibrary Instagram: instagram.com/jaxlibrary
• YouTube: youtube.com/user/jaxpubliclibraryfl
• Contact Us: jplpromotions (at) coj.net