We talked to Mark Waddell, author of Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World!

Mark Waddell grew up on the cold, windswept prairies of western Canada and later earned a Ph.D. in the history of science, medicine, and technology from the Johns Hopkins University. After teaching at Michigan State University for fifteen years, he and his husband moved to Vancouver Island. When not writing, he plays the viola in the Civic Orchestra of Victoria, walks his dogs on the beach, and slays fearsome monsters in Dungeons & Dragons.

Buy:

• Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World
• The Body in the Back Garden

On this special SILVER ANNIVERSARY 25th episode, Sierra and Claire talk about their season, take listener questions, and talk a little about their process bookselling (Claire, obvs), and writing and publishing (Sierra, obvs).

We'll be back in the fall and we can't thank you enough for listening, enjoying, and supporting us. Please leave a review if you can, feel free to send in questions to [email protected], and give us a rating on whatever podcast platform you use.

Thank you!!!

Our last author guest of season 1! Dianne Freeman has written an 8.5 book series and has a lot of insights about writing a series, Plus:

• Haunted hotels on Route 66
• How Claire sells a series in her store
• Sierra points out that Claire has not yet, yet again, read ACOTAR.

Dianne Freeman is a life-long book lover who left the world of corporate finance to pursue her passion for writing. After co-authoring the non-fiction book, Haunted Highway, The Spirits of Route 66, she realized her true love was fiction, historical mystery in particular. She also realized she didn’t like winter very much so now she and her husband pursue the endless summer by splitting their time between Michigan and Arizona. Her debut novel, A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder won an Agatha Award for Best Debut, a Lefty Award for Best First Novel, and was nominated for a Mary Higgins-Clark Award.

Books discussed in this episode:

• The Countess of Harleigh series by Dianne Freeman, especially her newest book, A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder
• George and Frances Roll the Dice (novella) by Dianne Freeman
• A Death on Corfu by Emily Sullivan
• Early Termination by Cindy Goyette
• This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead
• A Fashionably French Murder by Colleen Cambridge
• The Big Fix by Holly James
• The Will Trent series by Karin Slaughter
• Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
• Meet Me At Wonderland by Julia DeVillers

We spoke to author Meredith Schorr about the origins of chicklit, romcoms, WF, and contemporary romance. We also talked about marketing for authors from Sierra’s perspective and from Claire’s, how to navigate events for the socially awkward, and social media for authors.

Meredith's latest book, Roommating, is published today June 10, 2025 (happy book birthday!). A born and bred New Yorker and lifelong daydreamer, Meredith fueled her passion for writing everything from restaurant reviews, original birthday cards, and even work-related emails into a career penning romantic comedies. When she’s not writing books filled with grand gestures and hard-earned happily-ever-afters or working as a trademark paralegal, she’s most often reading, running, or watching TV…for research, of course. Follow her at https://www.instagram.com/meredithschorr

Books discussed in this episode (all links benefit Wild Sisters Books)

• Roommating by Meredith Schorr
• Someone Just Like You by Meredith Schorr
• As Seen On TV by Meredith Schorr
• The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
• Maine Characters by Hanna Orenstein
• Remember Me Tomorrow by Farah Heron
• Silver Elite by Dani Francis

We get into the recent TikTok book deal for the Australian guy, hot Sacramento summers and how that affects business, and kid literacy. As usual, Claire gives her bookseller view and Sierra views her author view on those issues.

Then we welcomed author Mara Williams, whose debut novel The Truth is in the Detours pubs in August 2025, and the surprising little secret about your work that editors may looking for.

Mara Williams drafted her first novel in third grade on a spiral notebook—a love story about a golden retriever and the stray dog who admired her from beyond the picket fence. Now she writes about strong, messy women finding their way in the world. Mara has a BA in English Literature from the University of California at Berkeley, takes creative writing from Stanford Continuing Studies, and actively engages in writing groups and critique circles. Mara’s novel The Second Chance Playlist was a winner of the 2024 Emily Contest. When not writing or reading, Mara can be found enjoying California’s beaches, redwoods, and trails with her husband, three kids, and disobedient dog.

Books mentioned in this episode:

• The Truth is in the Detours by Mara Williams
• The Epicenter of Forever by Mara Williams
• Light a Penny Candle by Maeve Binchy
• Echoes by Maeve Binchy
• Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan
• Before I let Go by Kennedy Ryan
• How to Solve your own murder by Kristen Perrin
• WaterMoon (again) by Samantha Sotto Yambao
• Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Lauren Parvizi is the author of Trust Me on This and La Vie, According to Rose, winner of the 2024 Women’s Fiction Writers Association STAR Award in the Debut category. She worked for more than a decade as a digital editor and content writer, and earned an MFA from San Francisco State University. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and sons.

Books discussed in this episode:

• La Vie, According to Rose by Lauren Parvizi
• Trust Me on This by Lauren Parvizi
• An Island Strange and Wild by Lisa Amowitz
• Lula Deans Little Library of Banned Books (voicy!) by Kristin Miller
• Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
• Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
• Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven
• Big Chief by Jon Hickey
• My Name Is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende
• If We Were a Movie by Zakiya N. Jamal

We talked to Liz of My Secret Copy, who creates incredible, reader-centric book merch! We discuss what her inspiration was for starting the shop, challenges as a small business, and much more -- including TONS of book recs!

Shop stickers, bags, pins, bookmarks and more at https://mysecretcopy.com/

Books mentioned on this episode:

• The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks
• The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson
• The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle
• Lost and Lassoed by Lyla sage
• Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jiminez
• Great Big Beautiful Life by EmHen
• PS I Hate You by Lauren Holly
• Head Cases by John McMan
• The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
• You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon
• Death in Bloom by Jess Dylan
• Passion Project by London Sperry
• Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
• The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett

Author Maggie North joins us to talk about romances, second chance stories, Canadian wilderness, autism rep, and Sierra gushing over her.

Maggie writes deeply emotional, strangely hilarious novels about introverts at the end of their @#$% ropes, STEM, Canada, and other overlooked, underrated things you'd love to discover. She lives in Ottawa, Canada, with her spouse, The Kid, and a rotating cast of hypoallergenic aquarium friends.

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Rules for Second Chances by Maggie North
• The Ripple Effect by Maggie North
• The Favorites by Layne Fargo
• Ready or Not by Cara Bastone
• You, Again by Kate Goldbeck
• The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson
• August Lane by Regina Black
• On Freedom by Dr Timothy Snyder
• Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley
• All the Blues in the Sky by Renee Watson (middle grade)
• The Celebrants by Stephen Rowley
• Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage
• Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister

Buy all of these here https://bookshop.org/shop/wildsistersbookco

We talked about the reach of libraries their programs, imposter syndrome and how it never goes away and, themes in books. Listen to the end for bookshelf hacks!

Terah is an author and former librarian, who now writes upmarket fiction with bittersweet endings. She is the author of One Summer in Savannah and Long After We Are Gone. Her books have been chosen as a Target Book Club pick, LibraryReads pick, Kobo Best Book, Together We Read pick, Publisher’s Marketplace Buzz Book, and a Goodreads Choice Awards nominee for Best Debut. Terah was also named Target’s first Author of the Year. Her third book, Where the Wildflowers Grow, will be published in February 2026.

Books discussed in this episode:

• On Summer in Savannah by Terah Shelton Harris (buy here)
• Long After We Are Gone by Terah Shelton Harris (buy here)

______

• Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
• Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
• Bruno, Chief of Police by Martin Walker

(buy all here)

Buy links support Wild Sisters Book Co on Bookshop.org.

Jordan Morris is the author of graphic novel Youth Group, and a comedy writer with experience working in TV, features, comics, podcasts, digital comedy and video games. He's written for shows on Max, Disney Plus, Comedy Central, Cartoon Network and YouTube Originals. He also created and co-wrote the 2x Eisner nominated graphic novel Bubble. He has also written stories for Marvel, IDW’s Godzilla and Archie: Chilling Adventures.

He co-hosts Jordan, Jesse, Go!, a podcast with Jesse Thorn (NPR) and Free With Ads, a movie recap show with comedians Emily Fleming & Matt Leib.

Books discussed on this episode:

• Youth Group by Jordan Morris
• Godzilla vs LA (comic) by Jordan Morris et al
• Earth Abides by George R. Stewart
• You Belong Here by Sarah Phoebe Miller
• Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
• WaterMoon (as per usual) by Samantha Sotto Yambao
• Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
• A Very Typical Family by Sierra Godfrey

Find Jordan at Jordanmorris.net - a nice/good website. He’s signing at Things From Another World on May 3 in LA and Altadena Lit fest (Listfest in the Dena) on May 4, 2025.

Buy all books from