Narratives & Nightcaps

Creeping dread, unsettling discoveries, and what feels like a terrifying nightmare -- come to life. Author Marcus Kliewer joins the show to talk about his latest supernatural horror novel, THE CARETAKER, as well as his recently released audio collection of horror short stories called PLEASE REMAIN SEATED. Connect with Marcus on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcus_kliewer/Find more of his writings on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/OldHouseArchive/⁠Find more author interviews, book recommendations, and beverage pairings at ⁠https://www.narrativesandnightcaps.com/⁠. Cheers!

Salem, witches, and a murder mystery -- a must for spooky season. Today, indie author K.T. Carlisle is here to explore her newest release and sixth self-published book, WITCH AMONG US.

Connect with K.T.: https://ktcarlisle.com/ ⁠

Find more author interviews, book recommendations, and beverage pairings at ⁠https://www.narrativesandnightcaps.com/⁠.

Cheers!

For one London to flourish, another will fall... our reading adventure in the Shades of Magic series continues with A GATHERING OF SHADOWS by V.E. Schwab! Reminder -- spoilers ahead! This is our virtual book club chat, so proceed with caution if you haven't read it. Visit www.narrativesandnightcaps.com for more books, pairings, and author interviews. Cheers!

Must be 21+ | Please sip responsibly | Paid PartnershipThe fall season calls for campfires, cocktails, and haunting, atmospheric reads. Good thing we’ve partnered with High Camp Flasks—trading our usual book club notes for fireside stories. Naturally, High Camp has the perfect gear to accompany this occasion. High Camp is our go-to adventure companion for taking cocktails (and mocktails) from the bar to the backyard, campsite, or wherever you’re headed next. In particular, we love the Highball Shaker, which lets you mix 6-8 drinks at once while keeping everything perfectly chilled. Then the Parkside Tumblers give you the cocktail-in-the-wilderness experience without worrying about broken glass. Using our High Camp Highball Shakers and Parkside Tumblers, we gathered around the metaphorical fire, poured ourselves something great, and matched each book with its perfect pairing. Here’s what was in our glasses while we discussed the books that kept us up after dark:- God of the Woods by Liz Moore - Twin Peaks Punch- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens - Lush- The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah - Campfire Whiskey Sour- A Gift Before Dying by Malcolm Kempt - Hot Pepper Salt Air Margarita- Unwanted by Mia Sheridan - Mountain Man- The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes - Cask-Aged Negroni- It’s Not Her by Mary Kubica - Blackberry Bourbon Smash- The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager - Campfire Old FashionedWant the ingredients and recipes for your next fireside read? How to make each cocktail is in this blog: https://www.narrativesandnightcaps.com/blog/fireside-fiction-and-elevated-nightcaps-with-high-camp-flasks

Visit https://highcampflasks.com to elevate your cocktails and the moments that matter. Cheers!

Brianna Labuskes is the bestselling author of historical fiction and psychological thrillers, and most recently, she’s introduced readers to Olive Hunt – a crime scene cleaner whose latest calls turn out to be the work of a serial killer. And... he’s thanking Olive for her work in CLEAN SLATE. Connect with Bri: https://briannalabuskes.com/ ⁠⁠And on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/brilabuskes/⁠Find more author interviews, book recommendations, and beverage pairings at ⁠https://www.narrativesandnightcaps.com/⁠.

Cheers!

A psychotherapist for 20 years, freelance writer, TV and radio presenter, internationally bestselling author of nonfiction, and now with her fiction debut -- Philippa Perry joins the show to chat about her cozy crime novel, SHRINK SOLVES MURDER. Connect with Philippa on Substack here: https://philippaperry.substack.com/And on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/askphilippa/Find more author interviews, book recommendations, and beverage pairings at https://www.narrativesandnightcaps.com/. Cheers!

A few recent reads to help you pick your next book! Don't worry it's spoiler-free, but here's what we're chatting about this episode:- My Friends by Fredrik Backman- Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan- A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christoper Murray- Real Americans by Rachel Kwong- Doomsdate by Laura Piper Lee- The Pools by E. LockhartConnect with us at narrativesandnightcaps.com! Cheers!

Must be 21+ | Please sip responsibly | Paid Partnership

As autumn settles in, the air turns crisp, and the days grow shorter, the excitement for spooky season begins to bubble up. Whether your vibe is cute fall romances, witches, or some straight scary reads, this episode has them all. And, we’re partnering with Phantom Wines to pair each book recommendation with a wine or wine cocktail. 

Phantom Wines sits at the intersection of the science and art of winemaking, a love of literature, and a sense of mystery. 

There’s the Phantom Proprietary Red, a BIG red that’s dark, alluring, and lingers after the last sip—which feels appropriate for an episode full of ghosts, demons, curses, secrets, and things that refuse to stay buried. Here are the books we’ve paired with the Red in this episode:

• Spoiled Milk by Avery Curran — gothic horror, obsession, and a mystery that keeps getting stranger

• The Witching Hour by Anne Rice — witches, family curses, supernatural history, and gothic atmosphere

• Happy Medium by Sarah Adler — ghosts, romance, and a little supernatural meddling

• The Outsider by Stephen King — murder, mystery, and the unsettling question of what exactly is lurking in the shadows

Then we have the Phantom Chardonnay, a balance of fresh fruit flavors and richer, creamier notes. It’s approachable while still layered, much like these fall books with something beneath the surface or whispers of the past that continue to haunt the present. Here are our book recommendations for the Chardonnay:

• The Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Cañas — haunted history, secrets, and gothic atmosphere

• Verity by Colleen Hoover — psychological suspense, dark secrets, and unreliable truths

• The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman — family magic, generational secrets, and the supernatural

• The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab — immortality, longing, and a life lived beyond the ordinary

Visit https://phantomwine.com for more and their store locator https://phantomwine.com/srs-store-locator/. 

Head to https://narrativesandnightcaps.com for more books, pairings, and author interviews. 

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Jenny L. Howe is the author of romances for adults and teens -- HEA or HFN guaranteed! If cozy, cute, small-town romances are your fall reading vibes, then her newest YA romance needs to be at the top of your TBR this season. Jenny joins the show to talk about HOW (NOT) TO RENOVATE A HAUNTED HOUSE, spooky season favorites, books being mirrors and windows, and SO much more. Connect with Jenny at https://www.jennylhowe.com/ and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jennylhowe/. Follow her pen name, Lucy Helen Howell https://www.instagram.com/lucyhelenhowell/. Find more author interviews, book recommendations, and beverage pairings at https://www.narrativesandnightcaps.com/. Cheers!

J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty novels of psychological suspense. She’s also the Emmy-Award winning cohost of A Word on Words, the literary television series on PBS. In this episode of Narratives & Nightcaps, we explore her 20-year career and latest suspenseful domestic thriller – YOU KNOW WHY. Connect with J.T. on her website, subkstack, and social media:https://www.jtellison.com/home https://jtellison.substack.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thrillerchick/Find more author interviews, books, and beverage pairings at https://narrativesandnightcaps.com.