Read with Laura Joy

In this episode, listen to Laura Joy Lloyd’s talk at the Anacortes Public Library in the spring of 2026. Want Laura to speak to your book club or other community organization? Send Laura a message through the Contact page on her website.

To learn more about Wren Island novels, interactive serialized fiction, and other fun stuff, head to Laura’s website: https://www.laurajoylloyd.com/

To start influencing what happens on Wren Island, subscribe to receive Laura’s emails: https://www.laurajoylloyd.com/sign-up-for-lauras-posts/

Thanks for listening to Read with Laura Joy!

About Laura Joy Lloyd

Laura Joy Lloyd writes uplifting contemporary stories set on Pacific Northwest islands. Through an innovative style she calls interactive serialized fiction, Laura invites readers to influence many of her projects in real time as she writes. Laura also enjoys swimming, knitting, keeping company with creatives, and organizing whatever feels messy.

This is episode 150, Anacortes Public Library Talk, released on October 16, 2026. This episode’s original home: https://laurajoylloyd.com/anacortes-public-library-talk-rwlj150/

Music credit: plain-acoustic-inspiring-folk-music-128699 courtesy of Pixabay.

Discover Wren Island, where there’s always more to the story and YOU influence what happens next! In this episode, the author talks about the second Wren Island novel, Far From Unremarkable, and shares interactive aspects of the story.

Get your copy of Far From Unremarkable: https://www.laurajoylloyd.com/

Become a Wren Islander: https://www.laurajoylloyd.com/sign-up-for-lauras-posts/

What is Far From Unremarkable about?

A monumental regret. A fluttering chance for redemption.

Seventy-year-old Wallace Bernard moves to a remote island in the Pacific Northwest, ideal digs for a man accustomed to being invisible. Drawn by magnetic neighbors into troubleshooting a stalled-out romance, an aimless youngster’s prospects, and an unworldly woman’s sway toward independence, he becomes a trusted member of his new community—unaware he is inextricably linked to one neighbor’s enduring grief. When fresh loss dissolves his loner facade, magnanimous friends offer attentive support. But can Wallace find peace in being far from unremarkable?

Restorative Wren Island is the setting for this heartwarming story about embracing community, pursuing friendship, and cherishing loved ones.

How does interactive serialized fiction work?

People who subscribe to receive Laura’s emails (also known as Wren Islanders) receive regular installments of a continuing story. Between releases, Wren Islanders are included in behind-the-scenes peeks at the developing story and invited to influence what happens next.

Become a Wren Islander: https://www.laurajoylloyd.com/sign-up-for-lauras-posts/

About Laura Joy Lloyd

Laura Joy Lloyd writes uplifting contemporary stories set on Pacific Northwest islands. Through an innovative style she calls interactive serialized fiction, Laura invites readers to influence many of her projects in real time as she writes. Laura also enjoys swimming, knitting, keeping company with creatives, and organizing whatever feels messy.

Send a message to Laura: https://www.laurajoylloyd.com/contact-laura/

Find more fun stuff on Laura’s website: https://www.laurajoylloyd.com/

This is episode 149, How Readers Influenced Far From Unremarkable: A Wren Island Novel. This episode’s original home: https://laurajoylloyd.com/how-readers-influenced-far-from-unremarkable-a-wren-island-novel-rwlj149/

Thanks for listening to Read with Laura Joy! This is interactive serialized fiction, where there’s always more to the story and readers influence what happens next!

Music credit: plain-acoustic-inspiring-folk-music-128699 courtesy of Pixabay.

Children’s author Essea White joins Laura Joy Lloyd to discuss the value of cultivating childlike wonder, the thrill of reading timeless stories, the idiosyncrasies of including fictional characters in our daily lives, and more.

More about Essea White: https://www.esseawhite.com/

“I Wonder” children’s book by Essea White: https://www.esseawhite.com/book/

About Laura Joy Lloyd

Laura Joy Lloyd writes uplifting contemporary stories set on Pacific Northwest islands. Through an innovative style she calls interactive serialized fiction, Laura invites readers to influence many of her projects in real time as she writes. Laura also enjoys swimming, knitting, keeping company with creatives, and organizing whatever feels messy.

Find Interesting Enough (A Wren Island Novel) by Laura Joy Lloyd: https://laurajoylloyd.com/books/interesting-enough/

More fun stuff from Laura Joy Lloyd: https://laurajoylloyd.com/

Episode website: https://laurajoylloyd.com/a-conversation-with-essea-white-part-2-rwlj148/

Release date: December 12, 2025

Music credit: “plain-acoustic-inspiring-folk-music-128699” and “candlelight carols by moodmode” courtesy of Pixabay

Children’s author Essea White joins Laura Joy Lloyd to discuss the value of cultivating childlike wonder, the thrill of reading timeless stories, the idiosyncrasies of including fictional characters in our daily lives, and more.

More about Essea White: https://www.esseawhite.com/

Find “I Wonder” children’s book by Essea White: https://www.esseawhite.com/book/

About Laura Joy Lloyd

Laura Joy Lloyd writes uplifting contemporary stories set on Pacific Northwest islands. Through an innovative style she calls interactive serialized fiction, Laura invites readers to influence many of her projects in real time as she writes. Laura also enjoys swimming, knitting, keeping company with creatives, and organizing whatever feels messy.

Find Interesting Enough (A Wren Island Novel) by Laura Joy Lloyd: https://laurajoylloyd.com/books/interesting-enough/

More fun stuff from Laura Joy Lloyd: https://laurajoylloyd.com/

Episode website: https://laurajoylloyd.com/a-conversation-with-essea-white-part-1-rwlj147/

Release date: December 5, 2025

Music credit: “plain-acoustic-inspiring-folk-music-128699” and “candlelight carols by moodmode” courtesy of Pixabay

Holly Varni, author of the beloved Moonberry Lake series, joins Laura Joy Lloyd to discuss why older generations deserve more respect on the page, how befriending someone unlike ourself can be helpful, the beauty of letting a story unfold in its own time, why it feels like a calling to write fiction that goes against popular demand, and more.

More about Holly Varni: https://www.hollyvarni.com/

Moonberry Lake books by Holly Varni: https://www.hollyvarni.com/hollys-books/

Moments from Moonberry Lake podcast: https://www.hollyvarni.com/moments-from-moonberry-lake/

About Laura Joy Lloyd

Laura Joy Lloyd writes uplifting contemporary stories set on Pacific Northwest islands. Through an innovative style she calls interactive serialized fiction, Laura invites readers to influence many of her projects in real time as she writes. Laura also enjoys swimming, knitting, keeping company with creatives, and organizing whatever feels messy.

Wren Island books by Laura Joy Lloyd: https://laurajoylloyd.com/books/

More fun stuff from Laura Joy Lloyd: https://laurajoylloyd.com/

Episode website: https://laurajoylloyd.com/a-conversation-with-holly-varni-part-2-rwlj146/

Release date: November 14, 2025

Music credit: “plain-acoustic-inspiring-folk-music-128699” courtesy of Pixabay

Holly Varni, author of the beloved Moonberry Lake series, joins Laura Joy Lloyd to discuss why older generations deserve more respect on the page, how befriending someone unlike ourself can be helpful, the beauty of letting a story unfold in its own time, why it feels like a calling to write fiction that goes against popular demand, and more.

More about Holly Varni: https://www.hollyvarni.com/

Moonberry Lake books by Holly Varni: https://www.hollyvarni.com/hollys-books/

Moments from Moonberry Lake podcast: https://www.hollyvarni.com/moments-from-moonberry-lake/

About Laura Joy Lloyd

Laura Joy Lloyd writes uplifting contemporary stories set on Pacific Northwest islands. Through an innovative style she calls interactive serialized fiction, Laura invites readers to influence many of her projects in real time as she writes. Laura also enjoys swimming, knitting, keeping company with creatives, and organizing whatever feels messy.

Wren Island books by Laura Joy Lloyd: https://laurajoylloyd.com/books/

More fun stuff from Laura Joy Lloyd: https://laurajoylloyd.com/

Episode website: https://laurajoylloyd.com/a-conversation-with-holly-varni-part-1-rwlj145/

Release date: November 7, 2025

Music credit: “plain-acoustic-inspiring-folk-music-128699” courtesy of Pixabay

Laura Joy Lloyd shares a musical soundtrack that accompanies episodes of Virgil’s Dilemma.

For more of the music that inspires Wren Island stories, check out the Wren Island Playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2YxV4U9Kl5n1TAb9prS6HI

About Virgil’s Dilemma

A woman on the verge of choosing to trust. A single dad dedicated to protecting his son. A shadow from the past creeping forward at the worst possible time.

After losing his ex-wife to a destructive addiction, Virgil Tagaloa vowed to create a stable life for himself and his son. Ten years later, Virgil and fourteen-year-old Jax are thriving on Wren Island. But as Virgil prepares to pop the big question to the only woman he’s ever truly loved, a shadow from the past creeps into the picture. When his once-clear vision for the future becomes unsettlingly murky, how will Virgil find solid footing to move forward?

Released as interactive serialized fiction in the fall of 2025, this story was available as an e-book to people who subscribed to receive emails from Laura Joy Lloyd.

About Laura Joy Lloyd

Laura Joy Lloyd writes uplifting contemporary stories set on Pacific Northwest islands. Through an innovative style she calls interactive serialized fiction, Laura invites readers to influence many of her projects in real time as she writes. Laura also enjoys swimming, knitting, keeping company with creatives, and organizing whatever feels messy.

Get Interesting Enough: A Wren Island Novel: https://laurajoylloyd.com/books/interesting-enough/

Subscribe to receive Laura’s emails: https://laurajoylloyd.com/sign-up-for-lauras-posts/

Find more fun stuff on Laura’s website: https://laurajoylloyd.com/

This is episode 144, Theme Song from Virgil’s Dilemma. This episode’s original home is: https://laurajoylloyd.com/theme-song-from-virgils-dilemma-rwlj144/

Music credit: “Cinematic World Adventure—Discovering Asia” by Sonican courtesy of Pixabay.

Thanks for listening to Read with Laura Joy! This is interactive serialized fiction, where there’s always more to the story and readers influence what happens next!

Discover Wren Island, where there’s always more to the story and YOU influence what happens next! In this episode, Laura Joy Lloyd reads from Virgil’s Dilemma, a Wren Island story-in-progress, and invites listeners to influence what happens next.

What is Virgil’s Dilemma about?

A woman on the verge of choosing to trust. A single dad dedicated to protecting his son. A shadow from the past creeping forward at the worst possible time.

How do you influence what happens next?

Answer questions in the Part 3 feedback form: https://forms.gle/Pn5uYHY8RSbwJMkw9

Send a message to Laura: https://laurajoylloyd.com/contact-laura/

About Laura Joy Lloyd

Laura Joy Lloyd writes uplifting contemporary stories set on Pacific Northwest islands. Through an innovative style she calls interactive serialized fiction, Laura invites readers to influence many of her projects in real time as she writes. Laura also enjoys swimming, knitting, keeping company with creatives, and organizing whatever feels messy.

Get Interesting Enough: A Wren Island Novel: https://laurajoylloyd.com/books/interesting-enough/

Subscribe to receive Laura’s emails: https://laurajoylloyd.com/sign-up-for-lauras-posts/

Find more fun stuff on Laura’s website: https://laurajoylloyd.com/

This is episode 143, Virgil’s Dilemma Part 3. This episode’s original home is: https://laurajoylloyd.com/virgils-dilemma-part-3-rwlj143/

Music credit: “Cinematic World Adventure—Discovering Asia” by Sonican courtesy of Pixabay.

Thanks for listening to Read with Laura Joy! This is interactive serialized fiction, where there’s always more to the story and readers influence what happens next!

Discover Wren Island, where there’s always more to the story and YOU influence what happens next! In this episode, Laura Joy Lloyd reads from Virgil’s Dilemma, a Wren Island story-in-progress, and invites listeners to influence what happens next.

What is Virgil’s Dilemma about?

A woman on the verge of choosing to trust. A single dad dedicated to protecting his son. A shadow from the past creeping forward at the worst possible time.

How do you influence what happens next?

Answer questions in the Part 2 feedback form: https://forms.gle/6WnUAvYSbYhTJdQR6

Send a message to Laura: https://laurajoylloyd.com/contact-laura/

About Laura Joy Lloyd

Laura Joy Lloyd writes uplifting contemporary stories set on Pacific Northwest islands. Through an innovative style she calls interactive serialized fiction, Laura invites readers to influence many of her projects in real time as she writes. Laura also enjoys swimming, knitting, keeping company with creatives, and organizing whatever feels messy.

Get Interesting Enough: A Wren Island Novel: https://laurajoylloyd.com/books/interesting-enough/

Subscribe to receive Laura’s emails: https://laurajoylloyd.com/sign-up-for-lauras-posts/

Listen to Part 1 in a previous episode: https://laurajoylloyd.com/virgils-dilemma-part-1-rwlj141/

Find more fun stuff on Laura’s website: https://laurajoylloyd.com/

This is episode 142, Virgil’s Dilemma Part 2. This episode’s original home is: https://laurajoylloyd.com/virgils-dilemma-part-2-rwlj142/

Music credit: “Cinematic World Adventure—Discovering Asia” by Sonican courtesy of Pixabay.

Thanks for listening to Read with Laura Joy! This is interactive serialized fiction, where there’s always more to the story and readers influence what happens next!

Discover Wren Island, where there’s always more to the story and YOU influence what happens next! In this episode, Laura Joy Lloyd reads from Virgil’s Dilemma, a Wren Island story-in-progress, and invites listeners to influence what happens next.

What is Virgil’s Dilemma about?

A woman on the verge of choosing to trust. A single dad dedicated to protecting his son. A shadow from the past creeping forward at the worst possible time.

How do you influence what happens next?

Answer questions in the Part 1 feedback form: https://forms.gle/RoS8mcJQzdipSY616

Send a message to Laura: https://laurajoylloyd.com/contact-laura/

About Laura Joy Lloyd

Laura Joy Lloyd writes uplifting contemporary stories set on Pacific Northwest islands. Through an innovative style she calls interactive serialized fiction, Laura invites readers to influence many of her projects in real time as she writes. Laura also enjoys swimming, knitting, keeping company with creatives, and organizing whatever feels messy.

Get Interesting Enough: A Wren Island Novel: https://laurajoylloyd.com/books/interesting-enough/

Subscribe to receive Laura’s emails: https://laurajoylloyd.com/sign-up-for-lauras-posts/

Find more fun stuff on Laura’s website: https://laurajoylloyd.com/

This is episode 141, Virgil’s Dilemma Part 1. This episode’s original home is: https://laurajoylloyd.com/virgils-dilemma-part-1-rwlj141/

Music credit: “Cinematic World Adventure—Discovering Asia” by Sonican courtesy of Pixabay.

Thanks for listening to Read with Laura Joy! This is interactive serialized fiction, where there’s always more to the story and readers influence what happens next!