Welcome in! I'm so glad you're here with me.

On today's episode, I am joined by Shawn and Maile (Silva) Smucker. Shawn and Maile are readers, writers, parents of 6 kids, and the owners of Nooks in Lancaster, PA. You can read more about their story here.

In our conversation, we discuss their journey to buying the bookstore, the books they are most drawn to, and how they are making room for rest and reading during this very full season of life.

Mentioned in this episode:

• So, We Bought a Bookshop Podcast
• Nooks Bookstore
• Shawn's Substack
• Maile's Substack
• This is Happiness
• Time of the Child
• The Dog Stars
• Here One Moment
• The Ministry of Time

NEW! Join Meg's Reading Room on Patreon!

Connect with me on Instagram @megsreadingroom

Connect with Nooks on Instagram @noooooks

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Music credit: Clavin Clavier

Welcome in! I'm so glad you're here with me.

On today's episode, I am joined by Kim Fay (@kimkfay).

Kim Fay is the author of the forthcoming Kate & Frida, the instant National Bestseller Love & Saffron, and The Map of Lost Memories, an Edgar Award Finalist for Best First Novel. She has also written a food memoir, Communion: A Culinary Journey Through Vietnam. She created and served as the series editor for the innovative To Asia With Love guidebooks, and was a Hotel and Travel Editor for the travel, food, and lifestyle website, Gayot.com, for thirteen years.

Kim is currently the Managing Editor for The Animation Guild's Keyframe magazine and website. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, musician Jim Vitale, and their very spoiled dog, Mabel. 

In our conversation, we discuss Kim's new novel, KATE & FRIDA. We also discuss how friendship and books have shaped Kim's life, our shared love of Mary Oliver, and where Kim is finding hope in this season.

Mentioned in this episode:

• KATE & FRIDA
• LOVE & SAFFRON
• THIS IS HAPPINESS
• TIME OF THE CHILD
• MARY OLIVER, DEVOTIONS
• THE COMFORT OF CROWS
• Tenderness as an Act of Resistance, Margaret Renkl
• HAPPY ALL THE TIME
• RACHEL CARSON
• HELENE HANFF
• THICH NHAT HAHN

NEW! Join Meg's Reading Room on Patreon!

Connect with me on Instagram @megsreadingroom

Connect with Kim Fay on Instagram @kimkfay

www.kimkfaybooks.com

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Music credit: Clavin Clavier

Welcome in! I'm so glad you're here with me.

On today's episode, I am joined by Nicole M. Hewitt (@nicolefictionaddiction). Nicole is the debut author of The Song of Orphan's Garden, a middle grade fantasy written in verse.

In our conversation, we discuss Nicole's new book, her writing process, and where she is finding hope in this season.

Mentioned in this episode:

• The Song of Orphan's Garden
• Megan E. Freeman
• The Selfish Giant
• The Ghosts of Bitterfly Bay
• Accidental Demons
• As You Wish
• The Gray
• Alone
• Away

NEW! Join Meg's Reading Room on Patreon!

Connect with me on Instagram @megsreadingroom

Connect with Nicole M. Hewitt on Instagram @nicolefictionaddiction

https://nicolemhewitt.com/

~~

Music credit: Clavin Clavier

Welcome in! I'm so glad you're here with me.

On today's episode, I am joined by Afoma Umesi (@whatafomareads). Afoma is the founder and editor of Reading Middle Grade where she curates book lists and write book reviews for kids of all ages.

In our conversation, we discuss what Afoma looks for in a good book, how she selects titles for Reading Middle Grade, and where she is finding creativity and joy in this season.

Mentioned in this episode:

• NetGalley
• Edelweiss
• Mary Anne Saves The Day
• Sweet Valley
• Middle Grade March
• Fish in a Tree
• Coyote Sunrise
• Dream Count
• Hello Beautiful
• The God of the Woods
• Dani Shapiro
• Ann Patchett
• Wrong Way Home
• Across So Many Seas
• Everything We Never Had
• The First State of Being
• The Secret of Honeycake
• A Place to Hang the Moon
• Blood in the Water
• Where the Heart Should Be
• James Ponti

NEW! Join Meg's Reading Room on Patreon!

Connect with me on Instagram @megsreadingroom

Connect with Afoma on Instagram @whatafomareads

Subscribe to Reading Middle Grade on Youtube

Subscribe to Reading Middle Grade on Patreon

www.readingmiddlegrade.com

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Music credit: Clavin Clavier

Welcome in! I'm so glad you're here with me.

Today is Rare Disease Day. On this person episode, I am sharing more about how rare disease affects our family and how it has shaped me as a reader.

Mentioned in this episode:

• VLCAD Deficiency
• The Bookshelf
• Shelf Subscriptions
• Shannan Martin - Counterweights
• Ep 26: A Rare Reading Life with Faith

NEW! Join Meg's Reading Room on Patreon!

Connect with me on Instagram @megsreadingroom

~~

Music credit: Clavin Clavier

Welcome in! I'm so glad you're here with me.

In today's episode, I am joined by Lydia Sohn (@lydia_sohn). Lydia is a minister, mother of three young children, and author of Here: A Spirituality of Staying in a Culture of Leaving.

In our conversation, we discuss Lydia's new book and what it means to stay and find beauty right where we're planted.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Here: A Spirituality of Staying in a Culture of Leaving
• Girl Meets God
• Big Magic
• The Artist's Way
• Dakota
• One Hundred Years of Solitude
• Martha's Vineyard - Isle of Dreams
• Daily Examen

NEW! Join Meg's Reading Room on Patreon!

Connect with me on Instagram @megsreadingroom

Connect with Lydia on Instagram @lydia_sohn

~~

Music credit: Clavin Clavier

In today's episode, I am joined by Faith (@faithreadsfic). Faith is a mother of three, homemaker, and lifelong reader. Faith is also the parent and advocate of a child with Rett syndrome.

In our conversation, we discuss Faith's reading life, what it's like to parent children with rare disorders, and why having community is so important.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Magic Tree House
• Junie B. Jones
• Hank the Cowdog
• Little House on the Prairie
• And Every Morning The Way Home Gets Longer and Longer
• The Giver
• The Great Alone
• The Book Thief
• Read Aloud Revival Podcast

NEW! Join Meg's Reading Room on Patreon!

Connect with me on Instagram @megsreadingroom

Connect with Faith on Instagram @faithreadsfic

~~

Music credit: Clavin Clavier

In today's episode, I am joined by Megan E. Freeman (@megan_e_freeman_writer). Megan is the author of the NYT Bestseller, ALONE and today she joins me to discuss her new companion novel, AWAY.

In our conversation, we discuss Megan's writing process, her deep love of poetry, and how our creativity and passions can change the world.

Mentioned in this episode:

• AWAY
• ALONE
• YOU COULD MAKE THIS PLACE BEAUTIFUL
• DEAR WRITER
• THE SONG OF ORPHAN'S GARDEN
• THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ
• ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS
• OUT OF THE DUST
• OTHER WORDS FOR HOME
• BLOOD WATER PAINT
• EVERY THING IS POISON
• NAOMI SHIHAB NYE
• 24 SECONDS FROM NOW
• THE VANISHED ONES

NEW! Join Meg's Reading Room on Patreon!

Connect with me on Instagram @megsreadingroom

Connect with Megan E. Freeman on Instagram @megan_e_freeman_writer

www.meganefreeman.com

~~

Music credit: Clavin Clavier

On this bonus episode of Meg's Reading Room, Mommy Meg and a very special guest read Little Blue Truck's Valentine by Alice Schertle (illustrated by Jill McElmurry) Happy Valentine's Day from our family to yours!

NEW!: Join Meg's Reading Room on Patreon!

Connect with me on Instagram @megsreadingroom

Welcome to my Reading Room! I'm so glad you're here with me.

In today's episode, I am joined by Leah (@family.book.nook). Leah is a stay-at-home mom of four boys and lifelong reader who shares her love for family read-alouds on Bookstagram - Family Book Nook.

In our conversation, we discuss Leah's reading life and how she utilizes her local library to nurture her boys' reading life. We also discuss our shared love for historical fiction (American Girl forever!) and how we are prioritizing presence in this season.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Read Aloud Revival / Sarah Mackenzie
• Lock Me Out App
• The Care and Keeping of You
• The Hair Book
• American Girl Historical Collection
• Meet Kirsten
• Through the Wardrobe: How C.S. Lewis Created Narnia
• Nancy Drew
• Mary-Kate and Ashley Books
• The Witch of Blackbird Pond
• Agatha Christie
• Dorothy L. Sayers
• Thursday Murder Club
• We Solve Murders
• The Four Winds
• Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales

NEW! Join Meg's Reading Room on Patreon!

Connect with me on Instagram @megsreadingroom

Connect with Leah on Instagram @family.book.nook

~~

Music credit: Clavin Clavier