Judith Turner-Yamamoto spent three decades attending dance glasses and it's brought a new perspective to how she interacts with the world. In this discussion, Adam and Judith chat about the connections between movement and writing and how the world of dance helps her appreciate her environment more as well as how the discipline has driven her writing.

They then chat about her new book, Loving the Dead and Gone, which folds into a mutual passion they both share- the stories of a small town. It's a powerfully emotional story that you won't be able to put down.

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Judith Lindbergh has spent her life dedicated to storytelling. It started through dance and acting and extended into becoming an author, teacher, and creator of The Writers Circle. There, writers of all age and experience come together to take workshops and classes under world class published authors. They foster creativity, openness, and the joy of writing.

In this discussion, Adam and Judith talk about her passion for sharing stories, how The Writers Circle came to be, and her published works.

If you're interested in extending your writing ability, I highly recommend checking out all the workshops available at The Writers Circle. You can do them virtually from anywhere in the world!

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A picture is worth a whole novel with Kerri Schlottman

Kerri Schottman has always been fascinated by photojournalism. She loves the stories that can be conveyed by a single picture and she’s had a great deal of exposure to the artists who take them. She found herself thinking about the concepts of how photos can remove the subject's voice in a way when we only look at a picture. This is how her new novel, Tell Me One Thing, came to be.

This is a deep discussion about where stories come from, how we find them, and why it matters who they are conveyed. 

Books mentioned in this episode

Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad

Abundance by Jakob Guanzon

Enjoyed this episode? Be sure to rate and review us on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts and send your feedback to [email protected]. If you email us proof of your review, Adam will send you a personalized book recommendation via email!

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Wow does this episode cover a lot! Iconic romance author Penny Reid opens this discussion by discussing her obsession with crafting before getting why and how she learned to make soap before getting into her deep dive into essential oils. We then bring up a classic Penny Reid concept- KNITTING!

But wait… there’s more! We also chat about the “Penny Reid-iverse” by getting into her journey as a self-published author, what it means to be a “traditional” published author, and how she created her own publishing imprint Smarty Pants Romance.

We also get into her always interesting research process which most recently sent her down the rabbit hole of learning about the lives of strippers and strip club owners… I promise this all ties together and leads to her new book, Folk Around and Find Out!

Learn to make your own soap - http://soapcalc.net 

Read a Penny Reid Book! https://pennyreid.ninja/ 

Books mentioned in this episode

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind

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Nikki Payne, debut author of Pride and Protest, is a cultural anthropologist by day who spends her time thinking about big questions and how to answer them. On this episode, she joins Adam to discuss one of the questions she's spent her life thinking about: What does it mean to be "ugly".

She opens the conversation by explaining how her fascination began with the movie, The Color Purple and has continued to this day. Nikki has even taught a college course about the idea of ugliness and how it's portrayed.

Another one of Nikki's fascinations is the work of Jane Austen, which is how her debut novel came to be. It's a must-read modern reconfiguring of Pride and Protest that you're going to love.

Books mentioned in this episode

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

Teeth in the Mist by Dawn Kurtagich

Enjoyed this episode? Be sure to rate and review us on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts and send your feedback to [email protected]. If you email us proof of your review, Adam will send you a personalized book recommendation via email!

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Bestselling rom-com writer Sophie Cousens lives on Jersey Island in the UK and it has changed the entire way she lives her life, in the best possible way. In this discussion, Adam and Sophie chat about what living on a small island is like, the stress she feels now that her books come with expectations, and her love of the romantic comedy genre. 

Her latest book, Before I Do, is the perfect end of year book to enjoy cuddled up by a fire!

Books mentioned in this episode

Darling Girl by Liz Michalski

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Surprise! It’s a bonus episode absolutely loaded with book recommendations! Adam is joined by his good pal, Amy Clark from momadvice.com and the fabulous Book Gang podcast to offer up some book recommendations just in time for your holiday travel season.

These recommendations span every genre so there is definitely something for everybody.

Enjoy and thanks for all the support in the first few months of Passions & Prologues!

Books mentioned in this episode

My Policeman by Bethan Roberts

With Teeth by Kristen Arnett

Bad habits by Amy Gentry

The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec 

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin

When All is Said by Anne Griffin

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

The Angel of the Crows by Katherine Addison

The Charm Offensive by Alison Chochrun

Deacon King Kong by James McBride

Glorious Rock Bottom by Bryony Gordon

Hiddensee by Gregory Maguire 

Landslide by Susan Conley

Lillian Boxfish takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney

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Sangu Mandanna, author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, has always loved to unwind after a busy day. Her favorite way to do so involves the simple, repetitive tasks of pointing and clicking. She first remembers playing with tamagotchi before graduating to the computer games of her youth that she would play with her father. 

Adam and Sangu discuss their shared love of the King’s Quest games from Sierra gaming, Sangu’s love of older games like The Last Express and Fantasy Life as well as the joy she now finds in the soothing world of Stardew Valley. Sometimes we all need an escape, be it books, video games, or anything else!

Books mentioned in this episode:

The Lido by Libby Page

Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher

Kill the Farm Boy by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne

Enjoyed this episode? Be sure to rate and review us on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts and send your feedback to [email protected]. If you email us proof of your review, Adam will send you a personalized book recommendation via email!

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Martha Anne Toll has lived a musical life. She was raised with siblings who formed a family string quartet, studied with a world class teacher for viola, and spent countless hours perfecting the singular notes that, collectively, make beautiful music. In addition to music, Martha has a love of books few can match, interviewing authors and reviewing stories for NPR while she’s also spent a lifetime in social justice.

In this discussion, Adam and Martha discuss how her passion for music surrounded her childhood, the teacher who helped her understand the intricacies of her instrument, and her exceptional debut novel, Three Muses. 

Books mentioned in this episode

A Small Porch by Wendell Berry

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead

Evicted by Matthew Desmond

An Equal Music by Vikram Seth

Enjoyed this episode? Be sure to rate and review us on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts and send your feedback to [email protected]. If you email us proof of your review, Adam will send you a personalized book recommendation via email!

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Horror novelist Dawn Kurtagich deeply understands what makes a story memorable. She seeks out the small details and aspects that make stories special. She learned these things by watching Xena, Warrior Princess. 

The show was an awakening for her on so many levels. In this wide reaching conversation, Dawn and Adam discuss how Xena opened up her world but they also discuss mental health, the small moments of life that Dawn thought about when she was at her most sick and didn’t think she would see another day, and the books that reminded her of why she fell in love with writing. She also breaks some exciting news about her thrilling book, Teeth in the Mist.

Trigger warnings for discussions of suicidal thoughts.

Books mentioned in this episode:

House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson

Siren Queen by Nghi Vo

Teeth in the Mist by Dawn Kurtagich

Circe by Madeline Miller

Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

Enjoyed this episode? Be sure to rate and review us on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts and send your feedback to [email protected]. If you email us proof of your review, Adam will send you a personalized book recommendation via email!

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