Advertise on podcast: Prosecco N Prose | A Book Club

Send us a text Wendy and Amy grab their badges and investigate the first novel of the season, We Are Watching by Alison Gaylin. We paired it with a French 95 and then dove into conspiracy theories, digit sacrifice, secret gardens, and wolves. We also talked about how the internet can aid an abet in spreading information, whether fact or fiction, and things took a more literary turn into metafiction and binary opposition. Pop a cork and go down the rabbit hole with us! Whodunnit Novel: We Are Watching by Alison Gaylin - Website  Prosecco Whiskey Cocktail: French 95 from Tasting Table.  Other Links:  The Nerd Daily interview with Alison Gaylin Our Instagram page

Send us a text A Prosecco N Prose Production cab and Bea kick off their premier season with a roast of Wendy and Amy, because why not? They'll tell us what their mini-episodes will be bringing to the table. The verdict? Chaos and comedy!

Send us a text Wendy and Amy are delving into a new season of who-dun-its and whiskey cocktails. Everything we're reading and drinking is here in the Prologue so you can read and drink along with us. We talk about the first police procedural, learn the basics of whiskey, and try our first whiskey cocktail, a Glittering Gold Rush. Pop a cork to Season 8: Who-Dun-Its and Whiskey Cocktails! Featured Whiskey Cocktail  The Glittering Gold Rush from Carolyn at The Social Sipper with our bar cart bourbon for the season: Rabbit Hole.  Season's Reads & Prosecco Bourbon Cocktails February: We are Watching by Alison Gaylin & the French 95 March: Bonded in Death by J.D. Robb & the Bourbon & Honey 75 April: Hidden in Smoke by Lee Goldberg & Prosecco Bourbon Cocktail May: 25 Alive by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro & a Bourbon Spritz June: Nightshade by Michael Connelly & the Harvest Sparkle July: Murder in My Backyard by Ann Cleeves & the Bourbon & Bubbles #2 August: Blood Pact by Fiona McIntosh & another Bourbon & Bubbles September: Chapter One by Michael Wood & The Sparkler October: Imposter Syndrome by Andrew Mayne & a Prosecco Whiskey Cocktail November: The Black Wolf by Louise Penny & the Sparkling Orange Bourbon Cocktail December: Epilogue & a Vanilla Bourbon Fizz

Send us a text It's a new year and Wendy and Amy may have some competition in the studio, if they can handle the interview. cab and Bea want to bring a little behind-the-scenes to Prosecco N Prose, but they'll need to answer some tough questions first. Pop a cork to chaos and cocktails!

Send us a text It's that time of the year where we look back at our favorite books and bubbly of the season. We've got a few more surprising banned book facts to close out the season and a teaser for Season 8. Pop a cork to no more banning of books! Ingredients for Today's Ginger And Lime Sparkler: 3/4 fl. oz. ginger syrup (we made our own simple ginger syrup), 1 lime, and enough chilled prosecco to fill the glass.  Pour the ginger syrup into a flute and add the juice of half a lime. Top up with Prosecco and stir briefly. Garnish with half a slim slice of lime.  Links from Show: Prosecco is Always the Answer from Summersdale PublishersTimeline of book banning on the Freedom to Read websiteAmerican Library Association List of Banned and Challenged BooksDiscussion questions for banned booksStay tuned for our next season's lineup of police-type  procedurals and Prosecco and bourbon cocktails. 

Send us a text Wendy and Amy wrap up the banned book season with John Green's young adult fiction, Looking for Alaska. We talk about structure, last words, book covers, and more. Pop a cork to the bonds of teen friendship! Ingredients for Today's Spiced Pear Prosecco Cocktail: 1 tbsp. super fine sugar, 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon, 1 tbsp. ginger syrup, equal quantities of pear juice and Prosecco to fill the glass, slice of stem ginger, to garnish.  Dip the rim of a champagne flue into water and then dip into a dish of superfine sugar mixed with ground cinnamon. Add the ginger syrup and top with both the pear juice and Prosecco. Garnish with the slice of stem ginger.  Links from Show: Prosecco is Always the Answer from Summersdale PublishersTimeline of book banning on the Freedom to Read websiteAmerican Library Association List of Banned and Challenged BooksDiscussion questions for banned booksJohn Green's website

Send us a text Wendy and Amy discuss America's current most banned author, Ellen Hopkins, and her gritty young adult novel, Tricks. We talk about a book so banned, British customs worked to keep it out; the benefits of reading a book with so many difficult topics; Hopkins' brilliant writing style; and a Peachy Prosecco Cocktail. Pop a cork to reads that take you on an emotional roller coaster! Ingredients for Today's Peachy Prosecco Cocktail: 1/2 fl. oz vodka, 1/2 fl. oz. peach liqueur, 1/2 fl. oz. amaretto, 1 fl. oz. orange juice, squeeze of fresh lemon juice, enough prosecco to fill the glass, basil leaf, and fresh peach slices.  Add all of the ingredients, except the Prosecco and peach slice, to a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and pour into a tumbler. Top the glass with Prosecco and garnish with the peach slices.  Links from Show: Prosecco is Always the Answer from Summersdale PublishersTimeline of book banning on the Freedom to Read websiteAmerican Library Association List of Banned and Challenged BooksDiscussion questions for banned booksEllen Hopkins' website

Send us a text Wendy and Amy discuss a much-loved teen classic Forever by Judy Blume. We discuss Ernest Hemingway, teen sex, naming conventions of certain anatomy, and, of course, our Maple Fizz cocktail. Pop a cork to books about first love and first times that stick with you forever. Ingredients for Today's  Maple Fizz Prosecco Cocktail: 2 tsp maple syrup, 1 ¾  oz. chilled cranberry juice, 3 ⅓  oz. chilled prosecco Shake maple syrup and cranberry juice with ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into tumbler and top with prosecco. Stir quickly before serving. Links from Show: Prosecco is Always the Answer from Summersdale PublishersTimeline of book banning on the Freedom to Read websiteAmerican Library Association List of Banned and Challenged BooksDiscussion questions for banned booksJudy Blume's websitePenis naming article

Send us a text Wendy and Amy discuss The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas while sipping a Watermelon Prosecco Cocktail. We tackle tough topics like police violence, media spin and how difficult stories continue to teach important lessons. Pop a cork to books that make you stop, think, reflect, and grow. Ingredients for Today's  Watermelon Prosecco Cocktail: 1 small watermelon, 6 3/4 fl. oz vodka, 1 chilled bottle of Prosecco, and fresh mint Peel then chop the watermelon into chunks and pop them into the freezer, along with your bottle of vodka. When you're ready to serve, put about a quarter of the watermelon chunks into a blender along wit the vodka and blitz until smooth. Top with Prosecco and then blend on a low setting to combine. Fill a large pitcher with ice, pour the pink cocktail over it and garnish with plenty of fresh mint leaves.    Links from Show: Prosecco is Always the Answer from Summersdale PublishersTimeline of book banning on the Freedom to Read websiteAmerican Library Association List of Banned and Challenged BooksDiscussion questions for banned booksAngie Thomas' website. 

Send us a text Wendy and Amy discuss Sold by Patricia McCormick and sip a Frozen Lemon Fizzer prosecco cocktail. We talk about the horrific reality of child sex slavery, gender dynamics and women as property. Pop a cork to the strength of a woman! Ingredients for Today's  Frozen Lemon Fizzer: 4 scoops lemon sorbet, 1  3/4 fl. oz. limoncello, 2 oz. Prosecco, 2 springs mint Blend the lemon sorbet on low speed and add the limoncello slowly. Add prosecco. Pour into chilled cocktail glasses and serve garnished with mint.    Links from Show: Prosecco is Always the Answer from Summersdale PublishersTimeline of book banning on the Freedom to Read websiteAmerican Library Association List of Banned and Challenged BooksDiscussion questions for banned booksPatricia McCormick's website. 

Send us a text Wendy and Amy discuss a beloved middle-grade read, Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. We talked about friendship, grief and gender roles. We also explored how a book like this can help when tackling tough topics with young readers. Pop a cork to classics that never get old! Ingredients for Today's Slow Gin and Blackberry Sparkle Pairing: 1 fl. oz. slow gin Blackberries Enough chilled prosecco to fill the glass. Add the sloe gin to a tumbler along with a blackberry or two before topping it up with prosecco.  Links from Show: Prosecco is Always the Answer from Summersdale PublishersTimeline of book banning on the Freedom to Read websiteAmerican Library Association List of Banned and Challenged BooksDiscussion questions for banned booksKatherine Paterson's website. 

Send us a text Wendy and Amy discuss their first nonfiction read ever for the podcast, George M. Johnson's memoir All Boys Aren't Blue. We talk about the benefits of reading someone else's story and how much can be learned from them, as well as the value this book in particular brings to readers. Pop a cork to being open to others' truths! Ingredients for Today's Prosecco Cobbler Cocktail Pairing: 1/2 tsp lemon juice 1/2 tsp curacao Slice of orange Enough chilled Prosecco to fill the glass. We use Kirkland purple label.  Half fill a goblet glass with crushed ice. Add the lemon juice, curacao, and orange slice. Stir, top with Prosecco, stir again and serve.  Links from Show: Prosecco is Always the Answer from Summersdale PublishersTimeline of book banning on the Freedom to Read websiteAmerican Library Association List of Banned and Challenged BooksDiscussion questions for banned booksGeorge M. Johnson's website. 

Send us a text Wendy and Amy take on heavy topics discussing Thirteen Reasons Why by J. Asher. We talk about story structure and symbology, as well as why such an impactful story would be banned. Pop a cork to books that can teach us to look and listen for ways to help and speak up for others. Thanks to Podcast Feedspot for helping us spread the word about our podcast!    Ingredients for Today's Black Velvet Cocktail Pairing: 2 cans Guinness 1 bottle Kirkland's Prosecco Fill half champagne flutes with beer and then "VERY SLOWLY" top them with chilled prosecco.  Links from Show: Prosecco is Always the Answer from Summersdale PublishersTimeline of book banning on the Freedom to Read websiteAmerican Library Association List of Banned and Challenged BooksDiscussion questions for banned booksNeed to talk? 1.800.SUICIDE | www.hopeline.com Jay Asher

Send us a text Wendy and Amy discuss a high school staple, The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. We talk about the fourth musketeer, Holden as a contradiction, and ducks. Pop a cork to teen angst.  Ingredients for Today's D'Artagnan Cocktail Pairing: 1 tsp. Armagnac (We subbed Remi Martin Cognac VSOP) 1 tsp. orange liqueur (We used Grand Marnier) 3 tsp. chilled orange juice 1/2 tsp. simple syrup Slice of orange Enough chilled prosecco to fill glass (Kirkland's DOCG | Purple Bottle) Links from Show: Prosecco is Always the Answer from Summersdale PublishersTimeline of book banning on the Freedom to Read websiteAmerican Library Association List of Banned and Challenged BooksDiscussion questions for banned booksThe 4th Musketeer - D'ArtagnanJ. D. Salinger

Send us a text Wendy and Amy start off the season with one of the most banned and challenged books, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. We talk about reading difficult topics and what can be learned from that. We also dive into a bit of the history of Dick and Jane readers and their use in this novel. Pop a cork to incredible writing that tackles harsh realities.  Ingredients for Today's Cocktail Pairing: 1/2 fl. oz. gin 1/2 fl. oz. cherry brandy 1/3 fl. oz. lemon juice 4 cherries (Bada Bing Cherries, Tillman Farm Bottle of prosecco (Kirkland's DOCG | Purple Bottle) Links from Show: Prosecco is Always the Answer from Summersdale PublishersTimeline of book banning on the Freedom to Read websiteAmerican Library Association List of Banned and Challenged BooksDiscussion questions for banned booksDick and Jane link Dick and Jane (Dana Teach) scholarly articleToni Morrison Society link