In this interview, I chat with Hazel Gaynor about ⁠⁠Before Dorothy, why this story appeals to everyone not just The Wizard of Oz fans, The Wizard of Oz book is celebrating 125 years, how she was a fan of the book first, the title and cover, why she chose the setting she did, and much more.

Hazel's recommended reads are:

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠for a set price here⁠ via credit card with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠on Venmo⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.    

⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Before Dorothy can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. 

Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month.

Link to my article about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.    

Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview, I chat with Karen Dukess about ⁠Welcome to Murder Week, writing a mystery versus standard fiction, her trip that inspired this book, the popularity of BritBox mysteries, what surprised her the most, and much more.

Karen's recommended reads are:

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or for a set price here via credit card with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠on Venmo⁠⁠⁠.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.    

⁠Welcome to Murder Week⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. 

Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month.

Link to my article about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.    

Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview, I chat with Renée Ahdieh about Park Avenue, crafting the Park siblings, exploring the Korean American immigrant experience, writing her first adult novel and how it differed from writing YA, the symbolism of the Birkin bag for Jia, the story of her stunning cover, and much more.

Renée's recommended reads are:

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide  ⁠here⁠⁠⁠ with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠on Venmo⁠⁠.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.    

Park Avenue⁠⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. 

Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month.

Link to my article about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.    

Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview, I chat with Ali Brady about Battle of the Bookstores, the You've Got Mail inspiration, writing the steamy scenes, creating a guy who loves romance novels, using Beta readers and how that impacted the original ending, choosing character names, and much more.

Bradeigh's recommended reads are:

Alison's recommended reads are:

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide  ⁠here⁠⁠⁠ with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

Contribute to the podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠on Venmo⁠⁠.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.    

Battle of the Bookstores⁠⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. 

Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month.

Link to my article about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.    

Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kelly Hooker joins me for the May Real Time Reading episode where we highlight our current, past, and upcoming reads.

Kelly’s Selections:

Last: 

The Grand Paloma Resort by Cleyvis Natura

When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy

Now:

Four Mothers by Abigail Leonard

Silver Elite by Dani Francis

Next:

Far & Away by Amy Poeppel

Sunburned by Katherine Wood

DNFs or Didn't Like:

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

Book Mail Highlights:

Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady

The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey

Cindy's Selections:

Last:

Tilt by Emma Pattee

Matriarch by Tina Knowles

Now:

Conform by Ariel Sullivan 

Hunger Like a Thirst: From Food Stamps to Fine Dining, A Restaurant Critic Finds Her Place at the Table by Besha Rodell

Next:

The One and Only Vivian Stone by Melissa O’Connor 

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

DNFs or Didn’t Like:

Gracie Harris Is Under Construction by Kate Hash 

Book Mail Highlights: 

Friends with Words : Adventures in Languageland by Martha Barnette 

The Midnight Hour by Eve Chase

Interested in each of our Summer Reading Guides? Grab Kelly’s here and Cindy’s here. You will add so many great books to your TBR from both lists. We have very little overlap so check them both out!

Donate to the podcast here or on Venmo.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.    

Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month.

Link to my article about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.    

Connect with Kelly Hooker on Instagram.

Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Threads. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview, I chat with Kristy Woodson Harvey about ⁠⁠⁠⁠Beach House Rules, deciding on a format for telling the story, finding the right title for this one, what surprised her the most about writing this one, why she chose a white collar crime and her reasearch on the subject, and much more.

Kristy's recommended reads are:

Listen to the Friends and Fiction Fifth Anniversary Episode.

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide  here⁠⁠ with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

Donate to the podcast ⁠here⁠ or ⁠on Venmo⁠.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.    

Beach House Rules⁠⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. 

Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month.

Link to my article about ⁠⁠⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠⁠⁠.    

Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview, I chat with Annabel Monaghan about ⁠⁠⁠It's a Love Story, her inspiration for this book, writing sex scenes, creating Jane's character, reader response to Jane, what surprised her the most when writing this one, and much more.

Annabel's recommended reads are:

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page ⁠⁠⁠⁠2025 Winter Reading Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠ with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.    

It's a Love Story⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. 

Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month.

Link to my article about ⁠⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠⁠.    

Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview, I chat with Mary Alice Monroe about ⁠⁠⁠Where the Rivers Merge, setting the book in the ACE Basin, writing a duology, her love of the land and its ecosystems, crafting a strong sense of place, writing her first historical novel, her title and cover, and much more.

Mary Alice's recommended reads are:

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page ⁠⁠⁠2025 Winter Reading Guide⁠⁠⁠ with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.    

Where the Rivers Merge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. 

Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month.

Link to my article about ⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠.    

Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview, I chat with Judith Viorst about ⁠⁠⁠Making the Best of What's Left, living the fifth fifth of your life, dealing with loneliness and redefining happiness, what surprised her the most when writing this one, her cover, the importance of community, reader response, and much more.

Judith's recommended reads are:

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page ⁠⁠⁠2025 Winter Reading Guide⁠⁠⁠ with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.    

⁠⁠⁠⁠Making the Best of What's Left⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. 

Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month.

Link to my articles about ⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠ and Gifting Books for Mother's Day.

Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview, I chat with Elisabeth Dini about ⁠⁠Bearer of Bad News, the idea of a bearer of bad news, what surprised her the most when writing this one, how she settled on the format, honoring real women through her character names, her job at the International Criminal Court and how it informed the story, and much more.

Elisabeth's recommended reads are:

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page ⁠⁠2025 Winter Reading Guide⁠⁠ with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.    

⁠Bearer of Bad News⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. 

Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠Buzz Reads⁠ column with five new recommendations each month.

Link to my article about ⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠.    

Connect with me on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices