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Today I am chatting with one of my best friends, Bethanie Finger, about her debut YA Historical Fantasy novel, More Than Life! Take a listen as Bethanie and I chat all about her journey to get her book traditionally published, her motivation behind writing this story, how writing this book helped her process the grief of losing her own father, the plot line, characters, world building, Taylor Swift, and more! The entire episode is spoiler free!  A little about More Than Life: As the daughter of a high-ranking sea captain, nineteen-year-old Cordelia Kimbal lives a life of luxury in the sea faring kingdom of Mikiria. But when her father dies unexpectedly, she is stripped of her title and home, and forced to join the working class in order to survive. Determined to rise above her losses, Cordelia is eager to prove her worth and stand on her own. But four months after her father's passing, a mysterious letter arrives, revealing the secret location of the mythical island of Qualaris. Known for concealing the secrets of magic and eternal life, Qualaris is often dismissed as mere legend, but Jaspar, Cordelia's father's enigmatic apprentice, is convinced of its existence and is harboring its secrets—secrets that the dark enchanter, Janus would stop at nothing to obtain. For generations, Jaspar and his ancestors have pursued the discovery and rescue of Qualaris while battling a curse of nonexistence, and he believes that Cordelia is the island's true protector, the one who can save it and its people from Janus's impending threat. Faced with the daunting task of defending Qualaris and its people, Cordelia embarks on a quest to locate the island, embrace her birthright, and take on the darkest enchanter in history. If she doesn’t, the island and its people won’t be the only casualties of Janus’s war. Join Cordelia on her journey as she navigates a world of magic, mystery, and danger, discovering her true self and the strength within her. A special thank you to Bethanie for chatting with me on the podcast today and sharing your story! Follow Bethanie on Instagram. Check out Bethanie's website. Purchase More Than Life! Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected] Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!

To celebrate Valentine's Day I am chatting with my good friend Victoria Koops about the swoony YA Rom Com, The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway by Ashley Schumacher. This is such a fun book! If you enjoy Renaissance Festivals, Shakespearean things, Medieval Times, adorable singing bards (like Jaskier from The Witcher), a plus-sized protagonist, theatre, LGBTQ+ representation, and teen romance, this book is for you! Join Victoria and me as we chat all about Renaissance festivals, theatre kids/theatre life, the swoony romance between our two main characters, grief/grieving, relating to a plus-sized protagonist, believing in fate, our dream to quit our jobs and travel to all the Renaissance festivals in the States, and so much more! The first 30 minutes are spoiler free! A little about The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway: Since her mother’s death, Madeline “Gwen” Hathaway has been determined that nothing in her life will change ever again. That’s why she keeps extensive lists in journals, has had only one friend since childhood, and looks forward to the monotony of working the ren faire circuit with her father. Until she arrives at her mother’s favorite end-of-tour stop to find the faire is under new management and completely changed. Meeting Arthur, the son of the new owners and an actual lute-playing bard, messes up Maddie’s plans even more. For some reason, he wants to be her friend - and ropes her into becoming Princess of the Faire. Now Maddie is overseeing a faire dramatically changed from what her mother loved and going on road trips vastly different from the routine she used to rely on. Worst of all, she’s kind of having fun. Ashley Schumacher's The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway is filled with a wise old magician who sells potion bottles, gallant knights who are afraid of horses and ride camels instead, kings with a fondness for theatrics, a lazy river castle moat with inflatable crocodile floaties, and a plus-sized heroine with a wide open heart... if only she just admits it. Check out Victoria's website Purchase Victoria's debut novel: Who We Are in Real Life Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected] Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!

Today I am interviewing a debut author who also happens to be one of my very dear friends. I am so excited for all of you to listen to today's episode, where I chat with my friend, and frequent podcast guest, Victoria Koops about her debut YA Rom Com novel, Who We Are In Real Life! Join Victoria and me as we chat all about this fantastic book and Victoria's writing process. You'll hear us dive into what it took in order to get the book published, the inspiration for the book (such a fun story!), the characters, queer representation, the swoony romance, Dungeons and Dragons, Victoria's advice for new writers trying to break into the world of publishing, teen relationships, and more! Whether you're a long-time listener who has come to love my episodes with Victoria, or a newcomer, you will enjoy this episode and Victoria's wonderful new book! Entire episode is spoiler free! A little about Who We Are In Real Life:  IRL, Darcy has just moved to the small prairie town of Unity Creek with her two moms. It feels like she left everything good behind in the city. She misses her tabletop gaming friends and her boyfriend ― and is horrified by the homophobia her family faces in their new home. Then she meets kind, quiet Art, who invites her to join his Dungeons & Dragons game. Art is mostly happy fading into the background at school and only really coming alive during his friends’ weekly D&D game ― until meeting Darcy pulls his life off-course in wonderful and alarming ways. Suddenly he has something worth fighting for. But what if that something puts him in conflict with his father, an influential and conservative figure in their town? Can Art stand up against his father’s efforts to prevent Darcy and her friends from starting a queer-straight alliance at school? Meanwhile, in game, Darcy’s and Art’s D&D characters join forces to fight corruption as they grow closer in the homebrew world of Durgeon’s Keep ― as fantasy and reality collide.  A special thank you to Victoria Koops for chatting with me today, and to her publicist at Groundwood books for the ARC.  Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected] Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!

Today I am chatting with author Lauren Munoz about her debut YA Murder Mystery novel, Suddenly A Murder. If you love a good murder mystery, you will love Suddenly A Murder! This story follows seven high school friends who are celebrating graduating from high school on a private island for a 1920s-themed getaway. But while there, one of them turns up dead. Take a listen as Lauren and I chat all about this suspenseful book! We chat about the characters, the 1920s theme, Agatha Christy novels, Lauren's writing style, writing from one character's POV vs. multiple in a murder mystery, the perils of living in Chicago in the winter, and so much more! The entire episode is spoiler-free! A little about Suddenly A Murder: Someone brought a knife to the party. To celebrate the end of high school, Izzy Morales joins her ride-or-die Kassidy and five friends on a 1920s–themed getaway at the glamorous Ashwood Manor. There, Izzy and her friends party in vintage dresses and expensive diamonds—until Kassidy’s boyfriend turns up dead. Murdered, investigators declare when they arrive at the scene, and now every party guest is a suspect. There’s the girlfriend, in love. The other girl, in despair. The old friend, forlorn. The new friend, distressed. The brooding enigma. And then, there’s Izzy—the girl who brought the knife. To find the killer, everyone must undergo a grueling interrogation, all while locked in an estate where, suddenly, the greatest luxury is innocence. Check out Lauren's website. Follow Lauren on Instagram and Twitter (X). Purchase Suddenly A Murder. A special thank you to Lauren Munoz for being my guest today. And a special thank you to Jordana Kulak at Penguin Young Readers for setting up the interview. Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected] Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!

Today I am chatting with NY Times Best Selling author Ayana Gray! Ayana and I will be chatting about her Beasts of Prey trilogy. We discuss all three books in the trilogy; Beasts of Prey, Beasts of Ruin, and the final book in the series (which publishes on January 16, 2024), Beasts of War. Take a listen as Ayana and I chat about the storyline of each book, her writing style, challenges she's faced in writing the series, the inclusion of African culture and history in each book, the characters, Ayana's world building, and more! The entire episode is spoiler-free! A little about Beasts of War: Once a prisoner to Fedu, the vengeful god of death, Koffi has regained her freedom, but she is far from safe. Fedu will stop at nothing to hunt her down and use her power to decimate the mortal world. Koffi knows when Fedu will strike: during the next Bonding, a once-in-a-lifetime celestial event. To survive, Koffi will have to find powerful new allies quickly, and convince them to help her in the terrible battle to come. Once a warrior-turned-runaway, Ekon has carved out a new life for himself outside Lkossa, but the shadows of his past still haunt him. Now, alongside unexpected friends, Ekon tries to focus on getting Koffi to the Kusonga Plains before the next Bonding. If he fails, Koffi will be consumed, either by her own dangerous power, or the terrible fate Ekon is doing everything he can to prevent. Ekon devotes himself to protecting Koffi, but the lingering threats from his own past are more urgent than he knows. As Koffi and Ekon race to the Kusonga Plains—and try to garner the help of Eshōza’s ancient gods along the way—they must face a slew of dangerous beasts old and new. In the end, destiny may unite Koffi and Ekon for the last time—or tear them apart for good. I'd like to say a special thank you to Ayana Gray for coming on the podcast and chatting with me today. And a special thank you to Sierra Pregosin at Penguin Young Readers for setting up the interview. Check out Ayana's website Follow Ayana on Instagram Purchase Beasts of War Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected] Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!

Today I am chatting with my friend Morgan about Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer. Take a listen as Morgan and I chat all about this hilarious grumpy vs. sunshine New Adult Fantasy Rom-Com! You'll hear us chat about how villains aren't supposed to be so attractive, a dragon tamer who's not good at taming dragons, how the villain is totally undone by his assistant, an adorable crown-wearing frog, an ogre who bakes, and more! This is such a fun episode and you won't want to miss it! And, be sure to check out my previous episode where I interviewed the author! A little about Assistant to the Villain: ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem and terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits. With ailing family to support, Evie Sage's employment status isn't just important, it's vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer―naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie. But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain―and his entire nefarious empire―out. Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay. Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected] Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!

Today I am chatting with my friend Abigail about The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Join Abigail and me as we chat all about this enthralling book! We will not only be chatting about the plotline, but about all the characters (including those we love to hate), the Hawthorne family secrets, Hawthorne Manor, our favorite Hawthorne brothers, if we are Team Jamison or Team Grayson, and more! First 15 minutes are spoiler free! A little about The Inheritance Games: Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: Survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why - or even who Tobias Hawthorne is.  To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man's touch - and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes. Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne House is also occupied by the family that Tobias Hawthorne just dispossessed. This includes the four Hawthorne grandsons: Dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions.  Heir apparent Grayson Hawthorne is convinced that Avery must be a con-woman, and he's determined to take her down. His brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather's last hurrah: A twisted riddle, a puzzle to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive. Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected] Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!

Today I am chatting with New York Times Bestselling author Susan Dennard!  Susan is the author of the Witchlands series as well as The Luminaries series. Today,  Susan and I are chatting about book two in her Luminaries series, The Hunting Moon. Take a listen as Susan and I chat about Susan's writing process, world-building, character development, and all the Nightmares who live in Hemlock Falls... The entire episode is spoiler-free! A little about The Hunting Moon... Winnie Wednesday has gotten everything she thought she wanted. She passed the deadly hunter trials, her family has been welcomed back into the Luminaries, and overnight, she has become a local celebrity. The Girl Who Jumped. The Girl Who Got Bitten. Unfortunately, it all feels wrong. For one, nobody will believe her about the new nightmare called the Whisperer that's killing hunters each night. Everyone blames the werewolf, even though Winnie is certain the wolf is innocent. On top of that, following her dad's convoluted clues about the Dianas, their magic, and what happened in Hemlock Falls four years ago is leaving her with more questions than answers. Then to complicate it all, there is still only one person who can help her: Jay Friday, the boy with plenty of problems all his own. As bodies and secrets pile up around town, Winnie finds herself questioning what it means to be a true Wednesday and a true Luminary―and also where her fierce-hearted loyalties might ultimately have to lie. A special thank you to Susan Dennard for chatting with me today! And thank you also to Giselle Gonzalez at Tor Teen for setting up the interview! Check out Susan's website Follow Susan on Instagram, and Twitter (X) Check out Susan's monthly newsletter for writers! Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected] Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!

Today I am chatting with Adult, Middle Grade, and Young Adult fiction author Kate Alice Marshall about her newest book, The Narrow.  The Narrow is a haunting ghost story that will give you chills down your spine... Join Kate and I as we chat about the challenges of writing a ghost story with a mystery element, the complicated characters, Kate's writing style, and the hauntingly dangerous river that inspired it all. The entire episode is spoiler free! A little about The Narrow: Everyone has heard the story of the Narrow. The river that runs behind the Atwood School is only a few feet across and seemingly placid, but beneath the surface, the waters are deep and vicious. It’s said that no one who has fallen in has ever survived. Eden White knows that isn’t true. Six years ago, she saw Delphine Fournier fall into the Narrow—and live. Delphine now lives in careful isolation, sealed off from the world. Even a single drop of unpurified water could be deadly to her, and no one but Eden has any idea why. Eden has never told anyone what she saw or spoken to Delphine since, but now, unable to cover her tuition, she has to make a deal: her expenses will be paid in return for serving as a live-in companion to Delphine. Eden finds herself drawn to the strange and mysterious girl, and the two of them begin to unravel each other’s secrets. Then Eden discovers what happened to the last girl who lived with Delphine: she was found half-drowned on dry land. Suddenly Eden is waking up to wet footprints tracking to the end of her bed, the sound of rain on the windows when the skies are clear, and a ghostly silhouette in her doorway. Something is haunting Delphine—and now it’s coming for Eden, too. A special thank you to Kate for chatting with me on the podcast today. And a special thank you to Kaitlin Kneafsey at Penguin Young Readers/Penguin Random House. Check out Kate's website. Follow Kate on Instagram and Goodreads. Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected] Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!

Today I am interviewing YA author Kayvion Lewis about her brand new book Thieves' Gambit! Join Kayvion and me as we chat all about this heart-pounding, high-octane, thrill ride! You'll hear us talk about Kayvion's writing process, the fantastic characters, what you need to Google in order to write a book about a heist, gorgeous, thieving British men, and so much more! The entire episode is spoiler-free! A little about Thieves' Gambit: At only seventeen years old, Ross Quest is already a master thief, especially adept at escape plans. Until her plan to run away from her legendary family of thieves takes an unexpected turn, leaving her mother’s life hanging in the balance. In a desperate bid, she enters the Thieves’ Gambit, a series of dangerous, international heists where killing the competition isn’t exactly off limits, but the grand prize is a wish for anything in the world—a wish that could save her mom. When she learns two of her competitors include her childhood nemesis and a handsome, smooth-talking guy who might also want to steal her heart, winning the Gambit becomes trickier than she imagined. Ross tries her best to stick to the family creed: trust no one whose last name isn’t Quest. But with the stakes this high, Ross will have to decide who to con and who to trust before time runs out. After all, only one of them can win. A special thank you to Kayvion Lewis for being a guest on the podcast today! And a special thank you to Olivia Russo and Lizzie Gooddell at Penguin Young Readers/Penguin Random House for setting up the interview. Check out Kayvion's website Follow Kayvion on Instagram Purchase Thieves' Gambit Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected] Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!

Today I am chatting with my friend, and YA Book Chat Patreon member, Abigail about Stars and Smoke, by Marie Lu. Join Abigail and me as we chat all about this exciting YA contemporary novel that follows a young pop star, as he's drawn into the world of being a spy and trying to take down a major criminal. In this episode we chat about hot young Asian men, pop stars, what it might be like for a 19-year-old to be a spy, family issues, what you should do if you have a fever (Yes, it's applicable to the book!), the plotline, the importance of Necco Wafers, and so much more! The first 15 minutes are spoiler-free! A little about Stars and Smoke: Meet Winter Young―Global pop sensation, with a voice like velvet and looks that could kill. His star power has smashed records, selling out stadiums from LA to London. His rabid fans would move heaven and earth for even a glimpse of him―just imagine what they’d do to become his latest fling. Meet Sydney Cossette―Part of an elite covert ops group, Sydney joined their ranks as their youngest spy with plans to become the best agent they’ve ever had. An ice queen with moves as dangerous as her comebacks, Sydney picks up languages just as quickly as she breaks hearts. She's fiery, no-nonsense, and has zero time for romance―especially with a shameless flirt more used to serving sass than taking orders. When a major crime boss gifts his daughter a private concert with Winter for her birthday, Sydney and Winter's lives suddenly collide. Tasked with infiltrating the crime organization’s inner circle, Sydney is assigned as Winter's bodyguard with Winter tapped to join her on the mission of a lifetime as a new spy recruit. Sydney may be the only person alive impervious to Winter's charms, but as their mission brings them closer, she’s forced to admit that there's more to Winter Young than just a handsome face . . . Follow Abigail Spaggiari on Instagram Purchase Abigail's book Read more of Abigail's writing on Wattpad. Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected] Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!

Today I am chatting with my friend, and Patreon member, Sarah about the young adult contemporary fantasy The Cursebound Thief, by Megan O'Russell. This is the first book in the Fracture Pact series. The Cursebound Thief is a thrill ride from start to finish. With dynamic characters, a fantastic magic system, a heist to restore magic, and more, this book has something for everyone! Join Sarah and me as we chat all about it. The first 15 minutes are spoiler-free! A little about The Cursebound Thief: The world wants a hero. The curse needs a thief.  The party of the decade stands between Jerek Holden and saving the people he would do anything to protect. After twelve years, he’s finally found a way to break the curse that ripped all magic from the world and destroyed the peace that took generations to build. All he needs is one, simple artifact. But he can’t steal the heliostone alone.  A girl with a soul of fire. A vampire bound by a vow. A werewolf bent on revenge. A knight torn between honor and duty. A hacker to keep them all alive.  The fate of magic lies in their hands―if they can survive long enough to pull off the heist of the century. Check out Megan O'Russell's website. Follow Megan on Instagram. Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected] Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!