Bestselling debut author Virginia Evans joins Zibby to discuss THE CORRESPONDENT, a charming, intriguing, and witty novel in the form of letters and emails exchanged by a divorced and retired woman with her friends, family, and foes. Virginia shares the long journey to publication—nearly 20 years and nine novels in the making! She also discusses the power of the epistolary form, the influence of 84, Charing Cross Road, the real-life loss that informed the story’s emotional depth, and the power of finding solace in literature and connection with people we might never meet in person.

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Zibby is joined by Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, a leading voice in modern Judaism, to discuss FOR A TIME SUCH AS THIS, a poignant exploration of what it means to be Jewish today. Rabbi Cosgrove shares the urgent circumstances under which the book was written following the October 7th attacks in Israel, and how it explores the complex dynamics of Jewish identity, antisemitism, and solidarity in a time of crisis. The conversation also touches on the renewed sense of communal belonging among Jews worldwide, the moral clarity and challenges that emerged after the attacks, the many faces of antisemitism (overt violence vs. more subtle exclusionary forms), and the rising tensions both outside and within the Jewish community. When asked if he feels hopeful, Rabbi Cosgrove admits it’s difficult in the short and medium terms, but affirms that to be Jewish is to hold on to hope.

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Zibby chats with author Julia DeVillers about MEET ME AT WONDERLAND, a charming middle-grade rom-com set at an amusement park, inspired by Julia’s real-life teen job at Chuck E. Cheese and moose-suit meet-cute that changed everything. Julia describes how a life-threating cancer diagnosis in 2022 unexpectedly led to this book’s creation. She also discusses crafting authentic tween and teen voices, writing a dual POV, and the importance of showing strong, supportive relationships. Finally, she shares her personal connection to the On Being Jewish Now anthology and the joy of including a bonus chocolate mousse recipe (courtesy of Allie Rosen) in her novel.

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Zibby interviews Elyce Arons, the cofounder of Kate Spade and CEO and cofounder of Frances Valentine, about WE JUST MIGHT MAKE IT AFTER ALL, a moving portrait of her decades-long best friendship and business journey with Kate Spade. Elyce describes their early days as broke college students, the scrappy beginnings of their brand, and how they turned a simple handbag idea into a cultural phenomenon and multi-billion-dollar fashion company. She shares how she is honoring Kate’s legacy with Frances Valentine, with vintage-inspired, colorful designs. Finally, she reflects on her resilience in the face of personal and professional challenges, the importance of community and friendship, and how writing this book was a fulfilling and emotional experience.

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Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), Zibby interviews activist and author Shannon Watts about FIRED UP: How to Turn Your Spark into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age, which chronicles her journey from suburban mom to founder of Moms Demand Action, the nation’s leading grassroots movement for gun safety. Shannon shares how the tragedy at Sandy Hook ignited her activism, the personal cost of taking on the gun lobby, and how she ultimately redefined her own life. Reflecting on her divorce, burnout, and the power of community, she offers a roadmap to help women live more authentically and boldly.

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Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), Zibby interviews #1 New York Times bestselling author James Frey about his darkly funny and razor-sharp new novel, NEXT TO HEAVEN. James opens up about writing a book that’s bold, dirty, and wildly entertaining—a murder mystery set in an insulated world of obscene wealth, swingers, and secrets. He discusses the real-life inspiration for his book (his town!) and reveals how people's reactions have ranged from admiration to offense, precisely the kind of impact he aims for. He also delves into his singular style (no quotation marks, no apologies), his views on truth versus fact, and his refusal to play by literary rules. Finally, he reflects on living the life he has always dreamed of—chaotic, creative, and unapologetically his.

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Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), Zibby interviews award-winning journalist Leslie Gray Streeter about her vibrant and heartfelt new novel, FAMILY AND OTHER CALAMITIES. They reflect on Leslie’s memoir, BLACK WIDOW, which candidly captures the raw, messy early days of widowhood, and then dive into the new novel, touching on themes of loss, regret, second chances, humor, and the way decisions made in youth can reverberate throughout life. Leslie also shares personal stories of grief and how she has embraced her late husband’s Jewish traditions, finding unexpected community and belonging.

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Zibby is joined by beloved British author and National Book Award winner Nina Stibbe to discuss WENT TO LONDON, TOOK THE DOG, an endlessly funny, blissfully gossipy, and enviably well-observed memoir of a woman changing her life at 60. Nina shares the story behind her sabbatical in London (prompted by an empty nest and the need for creative renewal!), and explains how her private diary turned into this funny and vulnerable book about midlife, marriage, motherhood, and reinvention. The two also discuss the emotional risk of writing a memoir and the often-dismissed importance of women’s inner lives. 

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Zibby chats with writer Anna Mitchael about her lushly written and emotionally resonant collection of vignettes, THEY WILL TELL YOU THE WORLD IS YOURS, which traces a woman’s life from birth through midlife, capturing the subtle and seismic ways the world shapes her—and how she eventually pushes back. Anna reflects on the origins of her vignettes, many of which were inspired by personal memories or images, like a childhood Easter photo, and then delves into themes of motherhood, relationships, and the tension between creativity and productivity in a content-hungry world. She also talks about her years as a columnist and editor in Texas, and shares how embracing her “weirdness” ultimately led to her most authentic work yet. 

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Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), Zibby chats with National Book Award-winning author Susan Choi about FLASHLIGHT, a gorgeous, ferociously smart, and impossibly heartbreaking novel that traces a father’s disappearance across time, nations, and memory. Susan discusses the emotional and structural complexity of the book—how it was written out of order and quilted together with research and imagination. She delves into themes of family, grief, and cultural identity, and shares why she champions complex, even unlikeable characters. Finally, she reflects on her writing journey, from childhood stories and struggling through grad school to eventually working at The New Yorker and writing her first novel.

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