Author Zara Marielle discusses her debut novel, The Café of Infinite Doors. This empowering portal fantasy follows Marceline, a woman trapped in a toxic marriage who makes a life-changing decision after a fight with her husband. Defying his wishes, she takes a job at a mysterious café filled with birds, a place where she feels safe, welcomed, and truly seen. But Marceline soon discovers that the café exits outside the boundaries of time and space. Before long, she's swept into a thousand-year-old rivalry between two Scottish goddesses, a conflict that threatens not only the sanctuary she's come to love, but the fate of the entire world. In this episode, Zara shares the journey to publication, discusses how writing this novel allowed her to explore themes of women's empowerment and self-discovery, and reveals how her love of traveling and experience with improv theater found their way into the story.

Author Marc S. Perlman discusses his debut novel, The Riddle of the Trees. This contemporary spy thriller was inspired by a bicycle ride through the Belovezhskaya Forest (Belovezhskaya Pushcha / Białowieża Forest) along the border of Poland and Belarus during Marc's solo travels through Eastern Europe. The forest's remote beauty, shadowy atmosphere, and location between two nations sparked the idea for a story steeped in secrets, intrigue, and geopolitical tension. But Marc's protagonist, Jack Miller, isn't a highly trained operative or world-class spy. He's an ordinary guy who suddenly finds himself in extraordinary circumstances and far deeper waters than he ever expected. While many of the locations and encounters in the novel draw from Marc's real-life travels, the danger and espionage are entirely fictional. In this episode, Marc shares his writing journey, explains why he wasn't always drawn to the spy genre, and reveals how an ordinary calendar became the most valuable tool in his writing process.

Best-selling author Tess Gerritsen discusses her latest novel, The Shadow Friends. Tess is the author of more than 30 books, including her famous Rizzoli & Isles series. Her novels have been published in 40 countries and have sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. The Shadow Friends is the third installment in Tess's Martini Club series, which she says feels especially personal because it explores some of her own thoughts and feelings about growing older. The novel begins with the suspicious death of a renowned disease expert and Russian defector at a conference in Purity, Maine—pulling five friends, all retired spies, into yet another dangerous mystery. Retirement, it seems, is not as quiet as they thought it would be. In this episode, Tess reflects on her writing journey, explains how her own small town in Maine inspired the setting and characters for the Martini Club series, and shares why emotional connection—not plot—is ultimately what keeps readers turning pages.

Author Pam Webber discusses her new novel, Massawa. This historical romance is the first book in a new series. Set in North African during World War II, it is inspired by the real American women who were recruited to serve as spies. The novel follows Kit, a newly minted spy with no field experience but plenty of courage, as she's sent to the coastal city of Massawa in Eritrea, to investigate a conspiracy that threatens the only Allied naval base on the Red Sea—a strategic outpost crucial to halting the Nazi advance in North Africa. Blending real historical events with espionage, danger, adventure, and romance, Massawa shines a light on a fascinating and little-known chapter of WWII history. In this episode, Pam and I chat about her writing journey, the extensive research behind the novel, and the remarkable event known as the "Miracle of Massawa," which played an important role in the Allied war effort.

Author Meera Subramanian and illustrator Danica Novgorodoff discuss their powerful new book, A Better World is Possible: Global Youth Confront the Climate Crisis. Set against the backdrop of the 2019 Youth Climate Strike in New York City, the book follows four young activists whose lives have been shaped by extreme weather events and the realities of a changing climate. Through their stories, readers gain a deeper understanding of the connections between environmental, economic, and social justice issues—and the many ways young people are working to create change. Meera, an environmental journalist, and Danica, a graphic novelist and illustrator, combined their talents to create a work that explores both the urgency of the climate crisis and the reasons for hope. At its heart, the book reminds us that there is a place for everyone in this movement. In this episode, I'll chat with Meera and Danica about the origins of the project, the unique challenges and rewards of their collaboration, and why the voices of the young activists featured in their book deserve our attention.

Author Mima Tipper discusses her latest novel, Channeling Marilyn, a heartfelt and hilarious young adult paranormal comedy. The novel follows high school senior Lexa Donovan, who's tired of feeling like a supporting character in her own life. So when the tall, plus-size teen unexpectedly lands the role of Cherie, the sexy showgirl, in her high school's production of the play Bus Stop, she's shocked. After all, the role was immortalized by none other than Marilyn Monroe in the 1956 film adaptation. But Lexa's biggest surprise is still to come. Before she can talk herself out of the part, Marilyn Monroe's ghost appears and offers to become her personal acting coach. What follows is a whirlwind of awkward rehearsals and laugh-out-loud moments as Lexa tries to navigate high school theater accompanied by the spirit of a Hollywood legend. In this episode, Mima and I discuss her writing journey, why she believes Marilyn Monroe continues to fascinate audiences decades after her death, and how reimagining the ending of a cultural icon's story became a powerful way to process her own grief.

Author Carlyn Greenwald discusses her latest novel, What Happened to Those Girls. This harrowing YA thriller is packed with secrets, betrayals, and a killer lurking in the woods. Emma has always been the black sheep of her friend group, so when her so-called friends leave for a camping trip without her, she's hurt, especially since she was the one who planned it—but she's not entirely surprised. What she doesn't expect is to wake up the next morning and learn that every one of them was found dead at the campsite. Did Emma survive simply because she was left behind? Or is there something more sinister at play? As the police begin their investigation and suspicions start to swirl, Emma finds herself in a race against the clock to uncover who murdered the girls—and why—before she becomes the prime suspect. In this episode, Carlyn and I discuss her writing journey, the influence that films like The Blair Witch Project had on the novel, and why even the darkest YA stories need to leave room for hope.

Author Derek Baxter discusses his latest book, The Forgotten World War: Exploring the Secret History of the American Revolution, from Spain to India and Back Again. Many of us think of the American Revolution as a colonial struggle: American colonies fighting for their independence from Britain. While that's certainly how the conflict began, it didn't stay that way for long. As Derek reveals in his book, the Revolutionary War quickly expanded into a global conflict, with battles being fought across multiple continents and oceans. Most people know about France's role in the war, but what about the Dutch Republic, the Oneida nation, or the Kingdome of Mysore in India? And while the Siege of Yorktown is often seen as the war's decisive conclusion, major fighting continued elsewhere around the world long after the guns fell silent in Virginia. In The Forgotten World War, Derek paints a much broader picture of the Revolution, revealing a conflict that was far more international—and far more complex—than many of us learned in school.

On today's episode of The Bookshop at the End of the Internet. I'm joined by author Brad Barkley to talk about his new young adult novel, The Reel Life of Zara Kegg. In this heartfelt story, sixteen-year-old Zara moves with her dad to a small town, still reeling from the loss of her mother. Life feels stalled—until Zara takes a job as a projectionist in a rundown movie house, a quiet refuge where she finds unexpected comfort in the glow of the old films. There she meets Zachary, a boy with odd clothes, odd stories, and a charm that masks his own struggles. What unfolds is a love story threaded with both comedy and tragedy, much like the movies playing on Zara's screen. In this episode, I'll chat with Brad about his writing journey, the importance of honest young adult stories, and how his love of old Super 8 films shaped this novel.

Author Kevin Hincker to talk about his new sci fi novel, The Story Eaters of Yamm. This is a book about a book—and about the strange, brilliant minds who write them. The main character, Larry, is a struggling sci-fi author with a worldview that doesn't quite match the rest of society. Out of work and living with his mom, he gets roped into a market-research-meets-thought-experiment project alongside other sci fi writers, all chosen for their ability to imagine the future. Their assignment? Gameplay an alien invasion. It's all fun and free lunches…until the alien snails they've been inventing actually show up. In this love letter to the genre, Kevin leans into everything he adores about science fiction—its humor, its imagination, and its willingness to ask big questions.