Fill Your Cup with Wild Geese Bookshop

After four months of sharing this space, we have decided introducing ourselves is long overdue. Join hosts, Kara and Emily, as they share a little bit about their upbringings and their journeys to the jobs that they have now.

Please share some information about you in the comments below, as well as, what you would like to see on the podcast in the future!

We are so glad you are here!!

Donate to our Read Grow Fly Fund via the Johnson County Community Foundation to encourage reading in conjunction with author events like this one! 

⁠⁠https://www.jccf.org/give-one-time⁠⁠

Select Existing Fund> Read Grow Fly Fund. 

In today’s episode we have our Communications Manager, Suzie, with us to talk about our reading journeys!  Reading is a personal journey, and malleable to what works for each individual person. Today, we talk through what has worked for us, and the ups and downs of reading throughout the different phases of our lives so far! 

What is the book that got you into reading, and when do you do most of your reading? Let us know in the comments below! 

Donate to our Read Grow Fly Fund via the Johnson County Community Foundation to encourage reading in conjunction with author events like this one! 

⁠https://www.jccf.org/give-one-time⁠

Select Existing Fund> Read Grow Fly Fund. 

In today's episode, Kara and Emily discuss their favorite and most anticipated movie adaptation releases! With the rise of popular books being optioned for both movie and television opportunities, bookish and film communities are coming together to unite over a common shared interest. Tune in to hear what you can expect from the two worlds colliding!

What are some upcoming book-to-movie adaptations that you are excited for? Let us know in the comments! 

Donate to our Read Grow Fly Fund via the Johnson County Community Foundation to encourage reading in conjunction with author events like this one! 

⁠https://www.jccf.org/give-one-time⁠

Select Existing Fund> Read Grow Fly Fund.

In today's episode we are joined by our writer in residence, Lyndsie Manusos, to talk about her journey with becoming a published author. Lyndsie talks advice, recommendations, and where to start with your writing journey. 

Check out Lyndsie online! 

http://lyndsiemanusos.com/

https://www.instagram.com/lmanusoswrites/

Follow her on Bluesky: @lmanusos.bsky.social

Order a copy of Lyndsie’s novella, From These Dark Abodes:

https://www.wildgeesebookshop.com/item/gwdJve2n52Nf36kuQ9DC9Q

Donate to our Read Grow Fly Fund via the Johnson County Community Foundation to encourage reading in conjunction with author events like this one! 

⁠https://www.jccf.org/give-one-time⁠

In this week’s episode, we look forward to sunny days and the seasons ahead with Inventory Manager, Emma!  Tune in as we discuss upcoming releases as well as our favorite Spring/Summer seasonal reads! 

Check out the titles discussed in this episode here:

https://wildgeesebookshop.com/lists/L23h59mtyB_s

Donate to our Read Grow Fly Fund via the Johnson County Community Foundation to encourage reading in conjunction with author events like this one! 

⁠https://www.jccf.org/give-one-time⁠

Select Existing Fund> Read Grow Fly Fund. 

In this week's episode, we celebrate Galentine's with Wild Geese Bookshop volunteer and friend, Grace, as we talk all things romance. We discuss all things romance genre including: tropes, recommendations, and upcoming releases.

Bookish Glossary:

Trope: A popular plot device, character type, or setting in a book

Microtrope: Niche, small characterizations or plot devices that build up a larger trope

Golden Retriever x Black Cat: An opposites attract pairing where one is happy and outgoing (golden retriever) and the other is more reserved and stoic (black cat)

Spice: Refers to the level of explicit physical intimacy on stage

Smut: A book or story with more than one explicit physical intimacy scene

Open Door: A book where physical intimacy is explicitly described on-page

Cracked Door: A book where physical intimacy is alluded to, but not explicitly shown on-page

Closed Door: A book where physical intimacy is not depicted on-page

ARC: Advanced Reader Copy

Check out the titles mentioned in this episode here:

https://wildgeesebookshop.com/lists/LwpHS3snqNRI

Preorder a copy of Chelsea Curto's upcoming debut traditionally published novel, In Stormy Weather!

⁠https://wildgeesebookshop.com/item/DFe05H_njq6gEUD5g7vLoQ⁠

Want to know about the spice levels and content warnings on the books you are reading? Check out romance.io!

https://www.romance.io

In this special bonus episode, we have Franklin Community High School teacher Eric Jenkins with us to discuss all things The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Eric will be the conversation partner for our event with Markus Zusak on March 11, 2026.

*Disclaimer* This episode of the podcast includes spoilers for the novel, The Book Thief. We recommend listening once you have read the book.

Donate to our Read Grow Fly Fund via the Johnson County Community Foundation to encourage reading in conjunction with author events like this one!

https://www.jccf.org/give-one-time

Select Existing Fund> Read Grow Fly Fund.

Buy your tickets for our event on March 11, 2026 with Markus Zusak here!

https://wildgeesebookshop.com/event-tickets/markus-zusak-at-the-historic-artcraft-theatre

Can't make it to the event? Preorder a copy of the 20th Anniversary Edition of The Book Thief here!

https://www.wildgeesebookshop.com/item/WLhu9GQ-hlMwSgNT9yTmVQ

About Eric Jenkins:

Eric Jenkins is an educator at Franklin Community High School in Franklin, Indiana, where he teaches 10th-grade Honors and General English Language Arts, Indiana University’s ACP Composition course, W131, and Ivy Tech’s EDUC 101: Principles in Teaching. In 2024, Jenkins was named Indiana Teacher of the Year and received the Indiana University School of Education Dean’s Medallion for his contributions to the profession. His work emphasizes challenging students to grow as readers, writers, and thinkers while advocating for public education at the state and national levels.

In this episode, we discuss the behind-the-scenes moments of Wild Geese Bookshop author events. Join Kara, Emily, and Loren as they recap the 2025 events season while also looking ahead at what 2026 will bring for Wild Geese Bookshop.

We would love to see you at an event in 2026! Check out the link below to see who is coming! https://wildgeesebookshop.com/upcoming-events-tickets

Be sure to keep up with us on Instagram and Facebook @WildGeeseBookshop  

Donate to our Read Grow Fly Fund via the Johnson County Community Foundation to encourage reading in conjunction with author events!

⁠https://www.jccf.org/give-one-time⁠

Select Existing Fund> Read Grow Fly Fund.

Bookish Glossary:

ARC: Advanced Reader Copy

In this extended episode, Wild Geese Bookshop booksellers and community members discuss their favorite reads of 2025.

Hosted by: Kara Confer and Emily Hone Cover Artist: Kara Confer

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @WildGeeseBookshop

Shop the books we talked about: https://wildgeesebookshop.com/lists/LvEUGztGvrbQ

Show Notes & timestamps:

1:56 Emily Hone's Golden feather - I, Medusa by Ayana Gray

2:43 Kara Confer's Golden feather - Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake

4:49 Kara's honorable mention  - The Will of The Many & The Strength of the Few by James Islington

7:25 Emily's honorable mention - The Poppy War by RF Kuang & Yellowface by RF Kuang 11:49 Kara's honorable mentions - The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff, 12:10 Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

13:43 Emily's honorable mentions - There's Always Next Year Leah Johnson & George M. Johnson, Female Fantasy by Iman Hariri-Kia19:40 Lyndsie Manusos: Golden feather - I, Medusa by Ayana Gray

23:41 Lyndsie's honorable mentions - Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow, Audition for the Fox by Martin Cahill, Hellions by Julia Elliott, Slipstream by Madge Maril & The Paddock Club by Madge Maril, American Rapture by GJ Leede, Fen, Bog & Swamp by Annie Proulx

36:31 Emma West: Golden feather - One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

39:19 Emma’s honorable mentions: Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake, The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead, Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry, The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides, Play Nice by Rachel Harrison, Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison, My Friends by Frederik Backman, Hot Girl Murder Club by Ashley Winstead 

51:20 Suzie VanOsdol: Golden Feather - Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Bauldree. Suzie’s honorable mentions: These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean, Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man Jesse Q. Sutanto, The Knight & The Moth - Rachel Gillig

1:17:25 Tiffany Phillips: Golden feather - Writing, Creativity, & Soul by Sue Monk Kidd. Tiffany’s honorable mentions: A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst, Run for The Hills by Kevin Wilson, My Friends by Frederik Backman, Some Bright Nowhere by Ann Packer, The Book of Lost Hours by Haylie Gelfuso, When Among Crows by Veronica Roth, Beautiful Ugly Alice Feeney, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Responses from readers: 

1:36:46: Kitley: Golden feather - Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

1:39:17 Melissa: Golden feather - Secret Haven by Catherine Cowles

1:43:56 Suzie: Golden feather Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross. Honorable mention: The Knight & The Moth by Rachel Gillig and The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

1:46:01 Emma: Golden feather Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry and First Time Caller by BK Borison, Accidentally Wedded to a Werewolf by Isabelle Taylor, The Love Haters by Katherine Center

1:49:11 Wendy’s Picks! A City & Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami, A Short Walk Through a Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke, The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway, Beartown by Frederik Backman, My Friends by Frederik Backman, Bury Our Bones In The Midnight Soil by VE Schwab, The Overstory by Richard Powers

1:52:25 - Rebecca’s Golden feather: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Rebecca’s honorable mentions: I Who Have Never Known Men by Jaqueline Harpman and Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

1:55:46 Brianne’s Golden feather: The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Clover, The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb

1:57:16 Allison’s Golden feather: Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle & Bed & Breakup by Susie Dumond

1:58:16 Megan's Golden feather: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

2:01:02 Jess picks! My Friends by Frederik Backman, An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister, Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney 

2:03:47 Emily’s picks: Finding Freedom by Erin French, The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman

2:04:51 Cat’s Golden feather: Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson