Off The Shelf with Morgann Book

This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with romance author Kandi Steiner. She opens up about writing A Love Letter to Whiskey in just 9 weeks during one of the hardest times in her life, and how that book went on to change everything. Plus, we dive into her newest release Love Overboard, how a second date conversation turned into a full-blown novel, and why this story feels like you’re watching reality TV unfold in real time.

CHAPTERS: 

0:30 - Introduction

1:00 - Pole Fitness

3:00 - Kandi’s First Writing Job

6:00 - Writing Her First Book & The Start of Her Career

11:05 - A Day in the Life of Kandi

12:35 - A Love Letter to Whiskey

23:00 - Love Overboard

38:30 - Actors Acting Out Scenes from the Book

41:22 - What’s Next?

FOLLOW US:

Morgann Book

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook 

Kandi Steiner

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kandisteiner

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorkandisteiner

Find her books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/kandi-steiner/

Find her books at Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Kandi%20Steiner%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall

Off The Shelf

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast 

Hosted by: Morgann Book

Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston 

Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston 

Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi

Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with Jessica Cunsolo to talk about her journey from writing anonymously on Wattpad to becoming a published author. From gaining millions of reads in real time to balancing law school and a book deal, Jessica shares how it all started. Plus, we dive into her latest novel The Blind Date Agreement, her evolving writing process, and more!

CHAPTERS: 

0:00 - Introduction

1:41 - How Jessica Started Writing on Wattpad

6:08 - Writing Anonymously

7:30 - Writing as a Job vs a Hobby

9:10 - She’s With Me

10:58 - Blind Date Segment

15:20 - The Blind Date Agreement

21:25 - Jessica is an Artist

23:00 - What Jessica is Writing Next

FOLLOW US:

Morgann Book

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook 

Jessica Cunsolo:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesscunsolo/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jess.cunsolo

Find her books at Indigo:https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/search?q=jessica%20cunsolo%20books&z=1

Find her books at Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Jessica%20Cunsolo%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall

Off The Shelf

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast 

Hosted by: Morgann Book

Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston 

Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston 

Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi

Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with Indigo romance buyer Kaitlynd Carmichael to break down what actually makes a romance book blow up. From BookTok’s influence to spotting trends before they hit, Kaitlynd shares how books go from shelf to sold out. They also dive into the rise of dark romance, slow burns, and why emotional love stories might be the next big trend, plus favourite reads and what to pick up if you’re new to romance.

CHAPTERS: 

0:00 - Introduction

1:00 - What Does a Romance Buyer at Indigo Do?

4:55 - Behind The Scenes at Indigo When A Book Gets Popular

9:40 - How Has Heated Rivalry Impacted Romance as a Whole?

12:30 - How Much Does BookTok Influence What Sells?

16:10 - How Has Romance Changed Over The Last 10 Years?

18:42 - Romance Trends

30:35 - Kaitlynd’s Top Books of 2025

36:00 - Indigo’s Book Boyfriend List

38:30 - Kaitlynd’s Writing Journey

40:25 - Most Exciting Upcoming Release

FOLLOW US:

Morgann Book

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook 

Off The Shelf

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast 

Hosted by: Morgann Book

Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston 

Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston 

Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi

Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with Joey Kidney to talk about turning 30, becoming a dad, and what it means to grow up in public. They get into Joey’s early days on YouTube, how creating content became an outlet during some of his hardest years, and why connection still matters more to him than numbers. Plus, Joey opens up about writing Just Remember, his evolving relationship with reading, and why people don’t want to be fixed - they just want to feel seen. Then, they answer listener questions on breakups, adult friendships, feeling behind in life, and figuring things out as you go.

CHAPTERS: 

0:00 - Introduction

1:20 - Turning 30

2:30 - The Start of Joey’s Content Career

13:25 - Joey Has Questions For Morgann

15:30 - Joey’s Journey with Reading

20:30 - Joey’s Writing a New Book

24:30 - Writing Vows

28:55 - What Is Joey a Fan Of Right Now?

33:00 - Just Remember

41:11 - Joey Gives Advice

56:25 - What’s Next?

FOLLOW US:

Morgann Book

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook 

Joey Kidney:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeykidney/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joeykidney

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/Joeykidney

Find his books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/joey-kidney/

Find his books at Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/just-remember-joey-kidney/1146888859

Off The Shelf

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast 

Hosted by: Morgann Book

Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston 

Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston 

Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi

Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with Leanne Toshiko Simpson to talk about her novel Never Been Better and the deeply personal journey behind it. From living with bipolar disorder to navigating creativity, teaching, and storytelling, Leanne shares what it really looks like to build a life and career while managing mental health.

CHAPTERS: 

0:00 - Introduction

2:15 - Teaching Creative Writing at U of T

6:00 - What Leanne Does Day to Day

10:25 - Being Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder

11:55 - What Do Books Get Wrong About Mental Health?

17:22 - Favourite Mental Health Romances

21:25 - Never Been Better

32:10 - Writing The Ending of Never Been Better

34:55 - CBC Canada Reads

36:55 - What’s Next

FOLLOW US:

Morgann Book

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook 

Leanne Toshiko Simpson:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leannetoshiko/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leannetoshikowrites

Find her books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/leanne-toshiko-simpson/

Find her book at Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/never-been-better-leanne-toshiko-simpson/1143604639

Pebbles and Company: https://www.pebblescompany.com/

Off The Shelf

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast 

Hosted by: Morgann Book

Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston 

Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston 

Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi

Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with content creator Simona Stallone to talk about all things BookTok, reading habits, and building a real-life book community. From overhyped books and underrated favourites to fanfiction, audiobook speeds, and “reading based on vibes,” they get honest about what they’re actually reaching for lately. Plus, Simona shares how Book Girls Toronto turned into a space where readers can show up, connect, and make friends through books.

CHAPTERS: 

0:00 - Introduction

1:10 - 1 Year Anniversary of Off The Shelf

2:10 - Overhyped and Underhyped Booktok Books

7:05 - What Simona is Reading Right Now

13:10 - The Book Girls Toronto

24:35 - Rachel Reid Showing Up at Heated Rivalry Trivia

28:35 - 24 Hour Read-A-Thon

32:25 - Out of Shape Olympics

FOLLOW US:

Morgann Book

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook 

Simona Stallone:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotherstallone/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theotherstallonedaily

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theotherstallone

Off The Shelf

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast 

Hosted by: Morgann Book

Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston 

Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston 

Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi

Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with BookTok creator Cassie to talk about her journey from posting her first TikTok to building a dedicated reading community online. They also dive into Cassie’s reader personality: her love of romantasy, favourite tropes like second-chance romance, and auto-buy authors including Abby Jimenez and Mariana Zapata. Plus, the two play Buy It, Borrow It or Skip It featuring viral BookTok titles like Fourth Wing, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Throne of Glass, and more.

CHAPTERS: 

0:00 - Introduction

1:20 - Starting Out On TikTok

4:00 - Rapid Fire Reader Questions

5:30 - Buy It, Borrow It, or Skip It

36:50 - Read It, Watch It or Miss It

50:00 - What Are You Reading and Watching Next?

FOLLOW US:

Morgann Book

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook 

CassiesBookTok:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassiesbookss/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cassiesbooktok

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cassiesbooks

Off The Shelf

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast 

Hosted by: Morgann Book

Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston 

Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston 

Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi

Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with award-winning audiobook narrator Ray Porter, best known for narrating Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary. With more than 500 audiobooks under his belt, Ray shares how he approaches storytelling, creates distinct character voices, and what it was like bringing Project Hail Mary to life.

They also talk about the emotional impact of the book, the science behind the story, and the upcoming film adaptation starring Ryan Gosling.

CHAPTERS: 

0:00 - Introduction

1:00 - Acting to Narrating Audiobooks

2:10 - Process From First Audiobook to Now

3:55 - How He Got Project Hail Mary

4:55 - Creating The Characters

8:05 - Hardest Thing to Narrate in PHM

10:00 - Do You Take Away The Same Thing as Readers?

11:35 - What to Listen to After Project Hail Mary

12:13 - Ryan Gosling

FOLLOW US:

Morgann Book

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook 

Ray Porter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.ray.porter/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@therealrayporter

Off The Shelf

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast 

Hosted by: Morgann Book

Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston 

Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston 

Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi

Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with editor turned author Emily Ohanjanians to talk about her leap from shaping stories to writing her own. Emily shares what life as an editor taught her about storytelling, how her debut character Ana first came to her, and the moment she finally decided to chase the idea that became The Book Tour.

They chat about drafting versus editing, writing bold women who take up space, and the support system that helped Emily bring her first novel into the world. She also drops her top book recs and gives us a glimpse of what she’s working on next.

CHAPTERS: 

0:00 - Introduction

1:45 - A Day In The Life of an Editor

5:35 - What Are You Reading Right Now?

6:15 - What’s A Common Mistake You See Authors Make? 

7:10 - How Did You Decide To Write Your Own Novel?

9:15 - How Did Your Degree in Literature & Linguistics Shape Your Career?

11:20 - The Book Tour

12:50 - What Inspired The Characters?

19:10 - Explaining The Acknowledgements 

26:45 - Book Recommendations

37:10 - 2026 Reading List

39:00 - What’s Next?  

FOLLOW US:

Morgann Book

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook 

Emily Ohanjanians

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emily.ohanjanians/

Find her books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/the-book-tour-a-novel/9781039013407.html

Find her book at Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-book-tour-emily-ohanjanians/1147531644

Off The Shelf

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast 

Hosted by: Morgann Book

Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston 

Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston 

Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi

Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with Ellie K Wilde and dives into the world of the Oakwood Bay series to explore the pop culture moments, tropes and real life sparks that shaped the beloved trilogy. We talk about how the series found its voice through character driven storytelling and slow burn tension. We also chat about reading recs, writing routines, reality TV and what Ellie is writing next.

CHAPTERS: 

0:00 - Introduction

1:00 - 2025 Reading List

2:20 - The Start of the Oakwood Bay Series

8:54 - If Only You Knew

16:10 - Ellie’s Writing Cave

19:15 - What The Character’s Taught Her

21:06 - 5 Out of Context Things That Inspired If Only We Knew

28:45 - The Slow Burn

30:00 - Blind Ranking Reality TV 

35:55 - Biggest Lesson Learned as an Author

37:02 - What’s Next

FOLLOW US:

Morgann Book

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook 

Ellie K. Wilde

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elliekwildeauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliekwildeauthor/

Find her books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/ellie-k-wilde/

Find her book at Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Ellie%20K%20Wilde%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall

Off The Shelf

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast 

Hosted by: Morgann Book

Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston 

Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston 

Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi

Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.