Category: Research

Ep. 224: Crystal King on a Modern Reimagining of the Persephone Myth

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Crystal King is back on the podcast to discuss In the Garden of Monsters, a glorious literary feast for the senses—a modern reimagining of the classic myth of Persephone and Hades, set in a real-life garden of stone statues in Italy featuring food, art, literature, and architecture.

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“In the Garden of Monsters is a gorgeous and atmospheric dreamscape of a novel, one that drew me in and took me places both surreal and earthly. Crystal King is a magician, and this novel a delicious spell.”—Danielle Trussoni, New York Times bestselling author of Angelology and The Puzzle Master

 

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About the Author:

Crystal King is an author, culinary enthusiast and marketing expert. She has taught classes in writing, creativity and social media at Harvard Extension School, Boston University, Mass College of Art, UMass Boston and GrubStreet, one of the leading creative writing centers in the US. A Pushcart-nominated poet and former co-editor of the online literary arts journal Plum Ruby Review, Crystal received her M.A. in Critical and Creative Thinking from UMass Boston, where she developed a series of exercises and writing prompts to help fiction writers in medias res. She lives in Boston. Learn more: www.crystalking.com

 

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Laura Szaro Kopinski

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*A Bookish Home is 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.

Ep. 216: Madeline Martin Brings Us Into The Booklover’s Library

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What a treat to have one of my favorite historical fiction writers, Madeline Martin, back this week to discuss her new novel, The Booklover’s Library, a heartwarming story about a mother and daughter in wartime England and the power of the books that bring them together.

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“A spectacularly well-researched and well-plotted tale of World War II, motherhood, and the solace we find in books, The Booklover’s Library is filled with characters you’ll root for, drama that will bring you to tears, and the kind of emotional journey that will earn this novel a permanent place in your own booklover’s library. I loved every page.” -Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Daughter

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

About the Author:

Madeline Martin is a New York Times, USA Today, and International Bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance with books that have been translated into over twenty different languages. She lives in sunny Florida with her two daughters (known collectively as the minions), two incredibly spoiled cats and a man so wonderful he’s been dubbed Mr. Awesome. She is a die-hard history lover who will happily lose herself in research any day. When she’s not writing, researching or ‘moming’, you can find her spending time with her family at Disney or sneaking a couple spoonfuls of Nutella while laughing over cat videos. She also loves research and travel, attributing her fascination with history to having spent most of her childhood as an Army brat in Germany. Check out her website for book club visits, reader guides for her historical fiction, upcoming events, book news and more: http://www.madelinemartin.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.

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Links: 

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Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is 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.

Ep. 197: Stephanie Dray Gives an Unsung American Heroine Her Due

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This week, New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Dray discusses her captivating new historical novel, Becoming Madam Secretary, about Frances Perkins, one of the greatest political figures of the twentieth century, and an unsung heroine whose legacy is woven into the fabric of every American life.

becomingmadamsecretary

“Becoming Madam Secretary is a proud anthem to a forgotten founding mother. Frances Perkins starts out a bright young thing with an economics degree and an iron determination to make the world a better place, and ends up a shining star: first woman appointed to a presidential cabinet, architect of the New Deal, mother of Social Security, and FDR’s much-relied-upon work wife throughout his entire presidency. Stephanie Dray’s love and respect for this American heroine shines from every page, as does her impeccable research. Unputdownable!”
—Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

About the Author:

Stephanie Dray is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author of historical women’s fiction. Her award-winning work has been translated into many languages and tops lists for the most anticipated reads of the year. She lives in Maryland with her husband, cats, and history books. Learn more: https://www.stephaniedray.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.

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Links: 

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Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is 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.

Ep. 187: Maura Cheeks Explores the Passing of a Federal Reparations Law through Fiction

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This week Maura Cheeks is here to discuss her phenomenal debut, Acts of Forgiveness–named a most anticipated book by Elle, Real Simple, and more, the novel imagines the country has just passed the nation’s first reparations bill for Black families.

actsofforgiveness

“Acts of Forgiveness is the rare novel that lays out a hypothetical public policy and its attendant bureaucracy, weaving a story with an imaginative yet realistic exploration of what reparations might look like—what might be missed and what might be achieved. But above all, it is a story about family, with all the challenge, ambiguity, interconnection, obligation, and love the term carries. . . . A generous, thoughtful, and thought-provoking novel about inheritance in all its forms.”—Lydia Kiesling, author of The Golden State

 

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

About the Author:

Maura Cheeks has published writing in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Paris Review, and Tin House, among others. In 2019, she was awarded a masthead reporting residency with The Atlantic where she produced the feature-length article that would later inspire the idea for this book. Acts of Forgiveness is her first novel. Learn more: https://www.mauracheeks.com/

Read Maura’s New York Times article, What if Federal Reparations Weren’t a Fiction?

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.

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Links: 

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Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is 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.

Ep. 180: Isa Arsén on the New Novel Lessons in Chemistry Fans Will Adore

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On this episode I’m chatting with author Isa Arsén about Shoot the Moon,  which tells the story of a brilliant but lonely NASA secretary and her relentless drive to live a big life in a world that would keep her small. Fans of Lessons in Chemistry will want to run to pick this one up!

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Heartbreaking . . . Arsén asks big questions about love and duty, the human cost of scientific inquiry, and the difficulty of moving on from past trauma–but she also tells a cinematic story of fierce dedication and blazing love. –Shelf Awareness

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

About the Author:

Isa Arsén is a certified bleeding heart and audio engineer based in South Texas, where she lives with her spouse and a comically small dog. She’s published several shorts and pieces of experimental interactive media. Inspired by her own childhood summers in New Mexico, Shoot the Moon is her debut novel. Learn more: https://www.inarsen.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.

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Links: 

Macmillan Audio

Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is 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.

Ep. 178: Pauls Toutonghi on Weaving Together His Intricate, Moving New Novel and Advice for Emerging Writers

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This week my guest is Pauls Toutonghi, award winning author of the new novel, The Refugee Ocean, a modern epic of two refugees from 1940s Beirut and 2014 Aleppo connected across time by music and the hauntings of dreams deferred.

refugeeocean

“The Refugee Ocean is one of those breathtaking and simultaneously heartbreaking stories that slides under one’s skin and stays… It is a story of the power of music and its ability to bring lives and hope together and to heal wounds that threaten the soul.”–The Montecito Journal

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

About the Author:

Paul Toutonghi’s parents were both refugees to the United States. He has been awarded a Pushcart Prize, an Andrew W. Mellon research fellowship, a Fulbright Grant, and a residency at Hawthornden Castle. He has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times Book Review, Outside Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Granta, Tin House, and other periodicals. He’s married to the novelist, Peyton Marshall. He lives in Oregon, where he teaches at Lewis and Clark College. Learn more: https://paulstoutonghi.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.

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Links:

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Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is 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.

Ep. 177: Ritu Mukerji Takes Us to 19th Century Philadelphia with a Pioneering Female Physician Turned Sleuth

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On this week’s episode, Ritu Mukerji is here to discuss Murder by Degrees, an atmospheric murder mystery set in 19th century Philadelphia, in which a pioneering woman doctor investigates the disappearance of a young patient.

murderbydegrees

“Like Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs, Lydia is a strong and indomitable woman who transcends her circumstances to become her true self and a crusader for social justice. This atmospheric novel heralds the arrival of a talented new writer and an unforgettable heroine.”—Kirkus Reviews (Starred)

 

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

About the Author:

Ritu Mukerji was born in Kolkata, India, and raised in the San Francisco Bay area. From a young age, she has been an avid reader of mysteries, from Golden Age crime fiction to police procedurals and the novels of PD James and Ruth Rendell. She received a BA in history from Columbia University and a medical degree from Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. She completed residency training at the University of California, Davis and has been a practicing internist for fifteen years. She lives in Marin County, California, with her husband and three children. Learn more: https://ritumukerji.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.

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Links:

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Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is 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.

Ep. 175: Aimie K. Runyan Shares the Recipe for Creating Her Treat of a Novel, A Bakery in Paris

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This week, international bestselling author Aimee K. Runyan is here to discuss her new historical novel, A Bakery in Paris, which tells the story of two courageous women of different eras connected by a quaint French bakery.

bakeryinparis

“A Bakery in Paris is a delicious novel that will have you hungering not only for French confections but to turn the next page. Set in two tumultuous wartime periods in Paris, Aimie K. Runyan weaves a spellbinding story of family, friendship, love, self-discovery, and power of healing through cooking. Connected through time by family recipes, Runyan will delight the senses of every reader, as they follow along the emotionally charged journeys of each endearing character.”
– Eliza Knight, USA Today bestselling author of STARRING ADELE ASTAIRE

 

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

About the Author:

Aimie K. Runyan is a multipublished and bestselling author of historical fiction. She has been nominated for a Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer of the Year award and two Colorado Book Awards. She lives in Colorado with her wonderful husband and two (usually) adorable children. Learn more: https://aimiekrunyan.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.

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Links:

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Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is 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.

Ep. 174: Vanessa Riley Gives Us a Master Class in All Things Researching and Writing Historical Fiction

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This week, I’m thrilled to have acclaimed historical novelist Vanessa Riley here to discuss Murder in Drury Lane, which portrays the true diversity of the Regency-era and the hidden intrigue of England’s abolitionist movement, with an engaging heroine who has a talent for sleuthing.

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“In a time when Black and mixed-race people were marginalized and overlooked, the author brings these voices to the forefront through vibrant and well-developed characters. Readers will enjoy the Bridgerton-esque setting and dialogue and will keep working to uncover the clues. Combining elements of an Agatha Christie–style whodunit with the vivid portrayal of a more encompassing view of Regency-era England, the second Lady Worthing mystery does not disappoint.” —Library Journal

 

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

About the Author:

Vanessa Riley is the award-winning author of Island Queen, a Good Morning America Buzz Pick. Riley‘s historical novels showcase the hidden histories of Black women and women of color, emphasizing strong sisterhoods and dazzling multicultural communities. Her works encompass historical fiction, historical romance, and historical mystery and have been reviewed by the Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, NPR, Publishers Weekly, and the New York Times. This Southern, Irish, Trini girl holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering and an MS in industrial engineering and engineering management from Stanford University. Riley also earned a BS and MS in mechanical engineering from Penn State University. Her research skills have helped NASA, GM, Hewlett Packard, and several startups. Yet, her love of history (Caribbean, Georgian, and Regency) and lattes overwhelmed her passion for math and has led to the publication of over twenty titles. Vanessa is a member and former president of Regency Fiction Writers, a member of Georgia Writers Association, the Historical Novel Society, Crime Writers of Color, and on the Board of Directors of Christian Book Lovers Retreat. She’s an avid baker who loves creating her Trinidadian grandma’s cake recipes. You can find Vanessa writing on her southern porch with proper amounts of caffeine. To learn more please visit www.vanessariley.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.

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Links:

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Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is 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.

Ep. 171: Bryn Turnbull on the Art Forging Heroines of The Paris Deception

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This week, internationally bestselling author Bryn Turnbull is here to delve into The Paris Deception, an enthralling novel about art theft and forgery in Nazi-occupied Paris, and two brave women who risk their lives rescuing looted masterpieces from Nazi destruction.

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“Turnbull effectively combines fascinating background on winemaking and art restoration and forgery with plenty of wartime suspense and some appealing dollops of romance. This will be a page-turning delight for anyone who loves tales of women in the resistance, especially Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale (2015).” –Booklist

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

About the Author:

Bryn Turnbull is an internationally bestselling author of historical fiction. Equipped with a Master of Letters in Creative Writing from the University of St. Andrews, a Master of Professional Communication from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from McGill University, Bryn focuses on finding stories of women lost within the cracks of the historical record. 

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Her debut novel, The Woman Before Wallis, was named one of the top ten bestselling works of Canadian fiction for 2020 and became an international bestseller. Her second, The Last Grand Duchess, came out in February 2022 and spent eight weeks on the Globe & Mail and Toronto Star bestseller lists. Her third novel, The Paris Deception, came out in May 2023.  Learn more: https://www.brynturnbull.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.

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Links:

Macmillan Audio

Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is 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.