In THE BOTANIST’S ASSISTANT, Peggy Townsend weaves an unputdownable tale. A murder in the science lab shatters a woman’s quiet and ordered life when she decides she must solve the crime herself in this entertaining and uplifting mystery.

In this riveting story of family bonds and buried truths, a young woman’s homecoming becomes a reckoning as four days together threaten to shatter the comfortable lies that have held her family together.

Celebrated and internationally published children’s author Michelle Kadarusman writes gorgeous books that explore environmentalism and humanitarianism through powerful storytelling and emotion. She stopped by to talk about her work, including SEA BIRD and MUSIC FOR TIGERS.

Author Michelle Meadows joins us to talk a bit about her processes in writing children’s biographies and how her knack for poetry and rhyme contributed built itself into each one finding a balance to make them interesting and accessible for young audiences.

Janet Rich Edwards discusses CANTICLE! Set in thirteenth-century Bruges, this debut novel follows a young woman’s explorations of faith, agency, and love among a community of fiercely independent women.

Evelyn speaks with Amy K, Green about her novel HAVEN’T KILLED IN YEARS. This clever and constantly surprising novel is about the long-hidden daughter of a serial killer who is caught up in a new wave of crimes.  Evelyn recommends the audioobook that is narrated by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker.

Dr. Vaughn Joy discusses her film blog at https://blackwhiteandread.com, as well as her new book, SELLING OUT SANTA: HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS FILMS IN THE AGE OF MCCARTHY, which explores Christmas as a vehicle for national mythmaking as an idealizing mirror for American cultural and political attitudes of a given moment.

Meghan sat down with scientist/author Ainissa Ramirez to discuss her children’s picture book debut, SPARK: JIM WEST’S ELECTRIFYING ADVENTURES IN CREATING THE MICROPHONE.

Alexa Pedrero stops by to share NIFTY GIFTY: MINI CRAFTS WITH MAJOR CHARM, a guide to creative gift-giving that grew from her explosively popular crafting TikTok account @‌Lauraleii.

Julie Leong drops by to talk about her sophomore cozy fantasy, THE KEEPER OF MAGICAL THINGS and finding comfort in small acts of everyday magic.