This week, KJ Dell’Antonia is on the podcast to discuss her new novel, In Her Boots, a delightfully entertaining story set in small town New Hampshire about a ruse that goes awry and a chaotic homecoming that proves that confronting your past can sometimes set you free.
“In Her Boots is a modern, big-hearted, laugh-out-loud funny novel that reminds us that the only way to find true connection, friendship and belonging is to fully be ourselves. A joy to read from page one all the way to the very end.” —Louise Miller, author of The Late Bloomers’ Cluband The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living
You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.
About the Author:
KJ Dell’Antonia is the former editor of Motherlode and current contributor to The New York Times, as well as the author of How to Be a Happier Parent and the instant New York Times bestseller and Reese’s Book Club Pick, The Chicken Sisters. She lives with her family on a small farm in Lyme, New Hampshire, but retains an abiding love for her childhood in Texas and Kansas. Learn more: https://kjdellantonia.com
Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:
Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page.
*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.
This week I’m chatting with author Matt Bell about his essential new title for writers, Refuse to Be Done: How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts.
“I can’t imagine anyone setting pen to paper, or fingertips to keyboard, who won’t want to keep this book permanently close at hand.” —Benjamin Dreyer, New York Times bestselling author of Dreyer’s English
You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.
About the Author:
Matt Bell is the author most recently of the novels Appleseed (a ny times notable book of 2021), Scrapper (a Michigan Notable Book) and In the House upon the Dirt between the Lake and the Woods (a finalist for the Young Lions Fiction Award). His stories have appeared in Best American Mystery Stories, Esquire, Tin House, Conjunctions, Fairy Tale Review, Gulf Coast, and many other publications. A native of Michigan, he now teaches creative writing at Arizona State University. Learn more at www.mattbell.com.
Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:
Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page.
*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.
My guest this week is Alena Dillon, author of My Body is a Big Fat Temple, a laugh out loud memoir of pregnancy and early motherhood that is also thought-provoking, powerful, and a bit like an older sister taking you aside to tell you what to really expect.
“Alena Dillon is one of my favorite writers and to read her journey through pregnancy is a great joy and heartbreak.”―Amy Schumer
You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.
About the Author:
Alena Dillon is the author of Mercy House, a Library Journal Best Book of 2020, which has been optioned as a Paramount+ television series produced by Amy Schumer, as well as The Happiest Girl in the World, and My Body Is A Big Fat Temple, a memoir of pregnancy and early parenting, forthcoming from Woodhall Press October 2021. Alena’s work has appeared in publications including LitHub, River Teeth, Slice Magazine, The Rumpus, The Doctor TJ Eckleburg Review, and Bustle. She teaches creative writing and lives on the north shore of Boston with her husband, son, black lab, and lots of books. Learn more at alenadillon.com
Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:
Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page.
*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.
This week, tune in to hear Lindsey Palmer discuss her new novel, Reservations for Six, an entertaining and insightful page-turner about modern marriage and a tight-knit group of friends navigating their 30s and beyond.
“It’s not often you find a book that so perfectly captures the messy complexities of modern mid-life marriages and manages to also be a riveting page turner, yet with Reservations for Six, Palmer somehow pulls it off. I inhaled this book in two days, but these six characters so fully came alive for me that I’ll be thinking about them for much, much longer. Absolutely brilliant.”―USA Today bestselling author, Colleen Oakley
You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.
About the Author:
Lindsey J. Palmer is a writer, editor, and educator. She is the author of four novels, RESERVATIONS FOR SIX, OTHERWISE ENGAGED, IF WE LIVED HERE, and PRETTY IN INK. She worked in the magazine industry for many years, most recently as Features Editor at Self, and previously at Redbook and Glamour. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, she earned a Master of Arts in English Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and taught A.P. Literature and Creative Writing at a Manhattan public school for several years. Nowadays she’s a senior editor at BrainPOP, an animated educational site for kids, which means she spends her days researching topics as diverse as Alan Turing, Juneteenth, and Mindfulness, and then translating what she’s learned into an engaging, narrative format. Lindsey lives on Cape Cod with her husband and daughter.
Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:
Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page.
*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.
Today I’m thrilled to share an episode with one of my favorite authors, Kristy Woodson Harvey. We discussed The Wedding Veil, a sweeping new novel following four women across generations, bound by a beautiful wedding veil and a connection to the famous Vanderbilt family.
“Masterfully woven…[a] literary homerun. This split-time narrative will delight readers of both contemporary and historical novels. As with all her books, Harvey delivers her trademark glamour and lighthearted spirit, all while weaving in fashion, architectural design, and the dramas that play out in daily life. It’s a delightful, well-shaped novel that leaves readers with a burst of joy in the end.” ―New York Journal of Books
You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.
About the Author:
Kristy Woodson Harvey is the New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, including Under the Southern Sky, and The Peachtree Bluff series, which is in development for television with NBC. Her writing has appeared in numerous online and print publications including Southern Living and USA TODAY and she was a finalist for the Southern Book Prize. Kristy is the cocreator and cohost of the weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction. She blogs with her mom Beth Woodson on Design Chic, and loves connecting with fans on KristyWoodsonHarvey.com. She lives on the North Carolina coast with her husband and son where she is (always!) working on her next novel.
Listen to Past Episodes of A Bookish Home Featuring Friends & Fiction Authors:
*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.
This week, we’re celebrating the 100th episode of A Bookish Home! To mark this milestone, I’m speaking with one of my dream guests from the beginning, romance author Jasmine Guillory.
Jasmine’s novel, By the Book, just released and is a bookish reimagining of Beauty and the Beast.
“My cheeks hurt from smiling through this delightful book for adults who haven’t outgrown fairytales. And speaking of magic, how does Jasmine Guillory keep getting better and better?” ―Jodi Picoult
You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.
About the Author:
Jasmine Guillory is the New York Times bestselling author of six romance novels, including The Wedding Date, The Proposal, and While We Were Dating. Her work has appeared in O, The Oprah Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Bon Appetit, and Time. She lives in Oakland, California.
*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.
This week, we have a very special episode. I’m speaking with the team behind this year’s Caldecott winning picture book, Watercress: Andrea Wang and Jason Chin. In case you’re not familiar, the Caldecott is basically the Academy Award for picture books, so this is very exciting! Watercress also won a Newbery Honor and the Asian Pacific/Pacific American Award for Literature.
“Andrea Wang’s heartfelt and nuanced intergenerational story comes to life through Jason Chin’s brilliant watercolors, making Watercress a feast for the senses. But be warned: Come prepared with tissues.”~ Minh Lê, for NPR
You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.
About the Author/Illustrator:
Andrea Wang is an acclaimed author of children’s books. Her book Watercress was awarded the Caldecott Medal, a Newbery Honor, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, a New England Book Award, and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor. Her other books, The Many Meanings of Meilan,Magic Ramen, and The Nian Monster, have also received awards and starred reviews. Her work explores culture, creative thinking, and identity. She is also the author of seven nonfiction titles for the library and school market. Andrea holds an M.S. in Environmental Science and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing for Young People. She lives in Colorado with her family. To learn more about Andrea Wang and follow her on social media visit https://andreaywang.com.
Jason Chin is a celebrated author and illustrator of many children’s books includingYour Place in the Universe, Miranda Paul’s Nine Months: Before a Baby is Born, a Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor Book, and Andrea Wang’s Watercress. His book Grand Canyon was awarded a Caldecott Honor, a Sibert Honor, and the NCTE Orbis Pictus Award. His other acclaimed nonfiction titles—Redwoods, Coral Reefs, Island: A Story of the Galápagos, and Gravity—have received numerous starred reviews and other accolades. He is also the illustrator of Stephanie Parsley Ledyard’s debut title, Pie Is for Sharing, and Miranda Paul’s Water Is Water. Jason lives in Vermont with his wife and children. To learn more about Jason Chin and follow him on social media visit https://www.facebook.com/authorjchin/.
Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:
Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page.
I hope to see you at my session: Romance by the Book with Lauren Kate (By Any Other Name) and Emily Wibberly and Austin Siegmund-Broka (The Roughest Draft)! Register here.
*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.
This week, I’m honored to be speaking with this year’s Newbery Medal winner, Donna Barba Higuera, author ofThe Last Cuentista.
In the book, 12-year-old Petra Peña’s suspended animation fails during the 370-year journey to a new planet after Earth is destroyed, so when all the other children are mysteriously reprogrammed and the adults purged, Petra becomes the lone bringer of Earth’s now forbidden stories and her grandmother’s Mexican folklore to a changing humanity.
“Deftly blends Mexican folklore with science fiction in this thrilling and emotional post-apocalyptic novel.” —Shelf Awareness, Starred Review
You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Donna Barba Higuera’s Middle Grade and Picture books reinvent history, folklore, and or her own life experience into compelling storylines. She lives in Washington State with her husband, four kids, three dogs and a frog.
Her books include Lupe Wong Won’t Dance, El Cucuy (coo-coo-ee) Is Scared, Too!, and The Last Cuentista, and have won awards including: the Newbery medal, both Pura Belpré medal and honor, PNBA best book of the year award, and the Sid Fleischman award for best children’s humor book of the year.
To learn more about Donna Barba Higuera and follow her on social media visit https://www.dbhiguera.com.
Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:
Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page.
I hope to see you at my session: Romance by the Book with Lauren Kate (By Any Other Name) and Emily Wibberly and Austin Siegmund-Broka (The Roughest Draft)! Register here.
*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.
This week, Fiona Davis is back on the podcast to discuss her new novel, The Magnolia Palace, which reveals secrets, betrayal, and murder within one of New York City’s most impressive Gilded Age mansions.
We discuss why The Frick Museum piqued her curiosity, crafting dual timeline historical fiction, the revision stage of her writing process, and much more.
“I savor every glorious new Fiona Davis novel and The Magnolia Palace has it all—two intriguing heroines, two fabulous time periods to get swept up in, and a delicious mystery that keeps you on tenterhooks. I loved every minute of it!” — Martha Hall Kelly, New York Times bestselling author of Lilac Girls and Sunflower Sisters
You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Fiona Davis is the New York Times bestselling author of six historical fiction novels set in iconic New York City buildings, including The Dollhouse, The Address, and The Lions of Fifth Avenue, which was a Good Morning America book club pick. Her novels have been chosen as “One Book, One Community” reads and her articles have appeared in publications like The Wall Street Journal and O the Oprah magazine.
She first came to New York as an actress, but fell in love with writing after getting a master’s degree at Columbia Journalism School. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and she’s based in New York City.
*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.
Today I’m excited to share an interview with an author changing the way we think about the mental load, invisible labor, and equality at home. In her new book Find Your Unicorn Space, Eve Rodsky helps women carve out time for creativity and gives overworked moms “permission to be interesting”⎻minus the guilt.
“Magnificent! Eve Rodsky illuminates the importance of investing in the creative pursuits that make your life more deeply fulfilling.” — Reese Witherspoon
You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Rodsky’s work is backed by Hello Sunshine—Reese Witherspoon’s media company whose mission is to change the narrative for women through storytelling. A Fair Play documentary is the in the works and she also has a new podcast with Dr. Aditi Nerurkar called Time Out that you can listen to here.
Eve Rodsky received her B.A. from the University of Michigan, and her J.D. from Harvard Law School. After working in foundation management at J.P. Morgan, she founded the Philanthropy Advisory Group to advise families and charitable foundations on best practices. Rodsky was raised by a single mom in New York City and now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their three children.
*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.
A Bookish Home Podcast 