Advertise on podcast: Bookish Flights: Books, Author Interviews & Must-Read Recommendations

Send us Fan Mail Today, I’m joined by bestselling author Annie Barrows to talk about her journey from editor to author, why she loves writing for children, and her Stella & Marigold series, including the newest book, Past and Presents. We also talk about the joy of getting lost in a story, writing with the reader in mind, and, of course, I couldn’t let Annie go without asking about one of my favorites, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Episode Highlights: Annie’s journey from editor to author and the moment she realized the writers were having more funWhy she loves writing for children and believes kids are “the most interesting people on earth”The Stella & Marigold series and writing stories that entertain and respect young readersWhy Annie believes a writer’s first loyalty should be to the readerThe pleasure of slowing down with a book and how reading can make us better writersThe joy of stepping outside yourself and living in someone else’s world through a storyThe Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and why Annie believes the book continues to connect so deeply with readers Connect with Annie: WebsiteInstagramFacebookSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show. Books and authors mentioned in the episode: David Copperfield by Charles Dickens Ivy and Bean by Annie BarrowsThe Best of Iggy for Annie Barrows (series for boys)Like by Annie BarrowsThe Magic Half by Annie BarrowsIndigo’s Star by Hilary KayBook Flight The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall (Middle Grade)Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Klan, Illustrated by Sophie Blackall (Picture book)Bog Myrtle by Sid Sharp (Fairy tale - early chapter book, read aloud)The BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats. Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with: One chapter book for growing readersOne picture book for our littlest readersA few family conversation starters + a simple activityThree books. One common theme. → Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan Mail Today’s episode features Alex Alexander, author of Are We Friends Yet: How to Deepen Your Relationships and Create the Community You Need and host of the Friendship IRL podcast. Alex and I talk about writing her first book, what surprised her about the process, and her experience navigating self-publishing versus traditional publishing. We also explore the ideas at the heart of her work: how reframing the way we think about friendship can make connection feel much more accessible. Her book flight features books about friendship and connection. Episode Highlights: How Friendship IRL and Are We Friends Yet? complement each otherWhat surprised Alex most about writing her first bookSelf-publishing versus traditional publishingWhy continuing to “put in the reps” matters as a writerReframing what friendship and community can look likeSimple ways to connect with the people already in our livesHow sharing something as simple as a favorite book can build connection Connect with Alex: InstagramWebsiteFriendship IRL PodcastSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show. Books and authors mentioned in the episode: Good Friends by Priya VulchiBook Flight Modern Friendship by Anna GoldfarbHow We Show Up by Mia BirdsongThe Art of Gathering by Priya ParkerThe BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats. Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with: One chapter book for growing readersOne picture book for our littlest readersA few family conversation starters + a simple activityThree books. One common theme. → Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan Mail This week, I’m joined by Zibby Owens—bestselling author, host of Totally Booked with Zibby, and founder of Zibby Media—to talk about her new memoir, Between Chapters. We talk about motherhood, reinvention, the emotions that come with telling your own story, and what she discovered looking back over a decade of her life. After interviewing more than 2,300 authors herself, Zibby also shares what all of those conversations have taught her about people, stories, and books. Episode Highlights: How reflecting on a decade of her life became Between ChaptersThe uncertainty of not always knowing when one chapter is ending and another is beginningReal-life motherhood and the messy moments that come with itWhat writing this memoir helped Zibby learn about herselfWhy we don’t need to compare our hard things to someone else’sWhat she has learned from interviewing more than 2,300 authorsBuilding a life and career around books, stories, and connectionAnd, of course, how she manages to find time to read!Zibby’s Book Flight: Memoirs from debut authors coming out this fall, each centered around overcoming something.Connect with Zibby: InstagramWebsiteSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show. Books and authors mentioned in the episode: Slow Motion by Dani ShapiroThe Things You’ll Never Know by Ashley Audrain (Pub date 01/12/27)Book Flight Downhill by Juana LibedinskyTell Me About Joy by Kara KavenskyDesire Feeds the Feast by Tarajia Morell (Pub date 11/03/26)Dessert Pairing Between Chapters by Zibby OwensThe BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats. Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with: One chapter book for growing readersOne picture book for our littlest readersA few family conversation starters + a simple activityThree books. One common theme. → Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan Mail Today’s episode features Gordon Jack, author of Poppy Montgomery Gets Even. After 30 years as a high school librarian and writing two young adult novels, Gordon is turning his attention to adult fiction with a cozy mystery featuring an unforgettable octogenarian crime fighter. He talks about how his years surrounded by books shaped him as a writer, finding humor in complicated characters, and bringing two generations experiencing loneliness together on the page. His Book Flight features funny books that influenced his own writing and sense of humor. Episode Highlights On the natural pairing of librarians and writers: “You are in a world of books and surrounded by them.”How rereading taught Gordon to notice “the craft of a sentence and word choice”Why “the most important thing about being a writer is that you are interesting to yourself”Finding humor in the fact that “people are complicated and have faults”Why Gordon considers himself “more a tinkerer than a creator”Exploring loneliness among young men and older adults and bringing those generations together through fiction Connect with Gordon: InstagramFacebookWebsiteSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show. Books and authors mentioned in the episode: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. SalingerHercule Poirot series by Agatha ChristieSheila Grau booksTranscription by Ben LernerNothing to See Here by Kevin WilsonCountry People by Daniel MasonNest of Tongues by Randy RibayBook Flight Joy in the Morning by P.G. WodehouseToday Will Be Different by Marie SempleCivilWarland in Bad Decline by George SaundersDessert Pairing Birds of America by Lorrie MooreEpisode Sponsor - The Future Lab with Lee Schneider The BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats. Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with: One chapter book for growing readersOne picture book for our littlest readersA few family conversation starters + a simple activityThree books. One common theme. → Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan Mail New York Times bestselling author Penn Cole joins me to celebrate Burn of the Everflame, the fourth book in her Kindred’s Curse Saga. We talk about her journey from self-publishing to hybrid publishing, building her community one reader at a time, and the growing influence readers have on the publishing landscape. Penn also shares what it takes to write both sides of romantasy well, how fantasy creates space for political and social commentary, and why she stood behind her work when traditional publishing came calling. Episode Highlights: Penn’s lifelong love of reading and writingBuilding a community one reader at a timeHow readers are influencing the publishing landscapePenn’s journey from indie to hybrid publishingWriting both the romance and fantasy sides of romantasy wellFinding fresh ways to approach the romance formulaUsing fantasy to explore political and social issuesWhy writers should take their time before publishingHer Book Flight includes books that gave her “lightbulb moments” in her own writing Connect with Penn: WebsiteInstagramFacebookSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show. Books and authors mentioned in the episode: Lore of the Wilds / Heir of the Prophecy by Analeigh SbranaBook Flight Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline CareyChildren of the Star by Sylvia EngdahlZodiac Academy by Caroline Peckham and Suzanne ValentiThe BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats. Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with: One chapter book for growing readersOne picture book for our littlest readersA few family conversation starters + a simple activityThree books. One common theme. → Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan Mail Today’s guest is Hank Phillipi Ryan, the USA Today bestselling author of seventeen thrillers, including the Mary Higgins Clark Award-winning All This Could Be Yours. A true powerhouse in the mystery and suspense world, she won every major award in the genre and has captivated readers around the globe with her twist-filled novels. Before becoming one of today’s most celebrated thriller writers, Hank spent decades as an award-winning investigative reporter in Boston, earning an incredible 37 Emmy Awards for journalists that changed lives and even helped shaped new laws. Today, we’re celebrating her latest thriller, Mother Daughter Sister Stranger. Her book flight includes timeless novels she has re-read many times in the crime genre. Episode Highlights: Hank’s 40-year career as a reporter and investigative journalist—and how it shaped her as a storytellerMaking the career leap from reporting true crime to writing fictional crimeWhy learning to make something up was one of the biggest challenges of becoming a novelistThe idea of a “you never know day”and staying open to the unexpectedWhat Hank has learned from years of interviewing other writersHow different people can experience the exact same family history and remember it completely differentlyThe family secrets, perspectives and questions of truth at the heart of Mother, Daughter, Sister, StrangerWhy Hank says she still learns something every single day she writesThe power of watching fictional characters triumph—and how their victories can give readers hope, too Connect with Hank: WebsiteInstagramFacebookSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show. Books and authors mentioned in the episode: Prime Time by Hank Phillipi RyanNancy Drew novels by Carolyn Keene Sherlock Holmes novels by Sir Arthur Conan DoyleNgiao Marsh booksJosephine Tey booksDorothy Sayers booksBookish Flights Narrative Non-Fiction ListWinter’s Tale by Mark HalprinYou’ll Be Sorry by Lisa GardnerThe Unknown by Riley SagerBook Flight The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha ChristieIn Cold Blood by Truman CapoteThe Stand by Stephen KingThe BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats. Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with: One chapter book for growing readersOne picture book for our littlest readersA few family conversation starters + a simple activityThree books. One common theme. → Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Andre Hardy, a former NFL player turned writer and author of the debut crime novel Tear the City Down. Set in San Diego against the high-stakes world of professional football, the novel draws on Andre’s own experiences in the NFL while exploring the darker sides of the sport and the city. We also talk about his path to writing, the role of jazz throughout the Coltrane series, and the experiences that shaped his storytelling. Episode Highlights Andre’s journey from professional football to writing and what led him to put his own NFL experiences on the pageLooking beyond the glitz & glamour of professional football to the physical toll on players, particularly their bodies and brainsExploring the contrasts of San Diego and what lies beneath the beautiful version of the city most people seeWhy Andre believes writing about books challenges us to slow down, think more deeply, and examine what we believeThe influence of John Coltrane & how pairing the novels with Coltrane’s music creates a bigger, broader experience for readersAndre’s book flight of atmospheric mysteries and thrillers, including stories featuring male protagonists navigating fatherhood and relationships with their daughters Connect with Andre: InstagramFacebookWebsiteSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show. Books and authors mentioned in the episode: Edgar Allen Poe booksThe Blue Flame by George PelecanosRecord Lows by CJ GreenJames McBride booksPercival Everett booksMiddle Passage by Charles JohnsonThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott FitzgeraldDarktown by Thomas MullenGhalen by Walter MosleyBook Flight Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter MosleyPegasus Descending by James Lee BurkeShe Rides Shotgun by Jordan HarperThe BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats. Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with: One chapter book for growing readersOne picture book for our littlest readersA few family conversation starters + a simple activityThree books. One common theme. → Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan Mail In today’s BFF Book Club episode, I’m chatting with romantic suspense author Natalie Walters about our August pick, Spies, Lies, and Alibis. Natalie takes us behind the scenes of this Mr. & Mrs. Smith-inspired story and shares how she found her way to romantic suspense, what makes an idea worthy of becoming a novel, and why authenticity matters even in a story filled with spies, secrets, and high-stakes situations. Episode Highlights: How Natalie found her way into writing romantic suspense and the inspiration behind Spies, Lies, and Alibis.Why “not every idea is a story and not every story idea works,” and how she determines which ideas are worth pursuing.Her desire to create stories that feel authentic and believable, even when the circumstances are larger than life.Why “there has to be a cost to the decisions a character makes, one way or the other.”Balancing suspense, romance, and humor to create the kind of escape that makes readers think, “That was so fun, let’s do it again.”Trusting readers to fill in the“Not every idea is a story and not every story idea works.” Connect with Natalie: InstagramWebsite📚 Next Meet the Author Book Club - Brighter Than Before with Courtney Walsh 🗓️ Sep 29th | 🕓 5 pm PST / 7 pm CST / 8 pm EST After her seemingly perfect life falls apart, Claire takes a leap of faith into a fresh start in Chicago, discovering friendship, purpose, and the possibility of a brighter future along the way. Register Here. Books and authors mentioned in the episode: For the Write Reasons by Marybeth WhelanTheo of Golden by Allen LeviThe Shadow Friends by Tess GerritsenBook Flight The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy GilmanThe Spy Coast by Tess GerritsenThe Blonde Identity by Ally CarterThe BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats. Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with: One chapter book for growing readersOne picture book for our littlest readersA few family conversation starters + a simple activityThree books. One common theme. → Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, I am chatting with Jessica Guerrieri, an award-winning novelist and essayist whose literary fiction explores the complexities of motherhood, identity, family, and the ways our past continues to shape us. She is the author of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, winner of the 2023 Maurice Prize for Fiction, and her newest novel, Both Can Be True. Beyond her fiction, Jessica is a passionate voice in essays on sobriety and mental health communities. Her book flight includes books that explore alcoholism and addiction.  Episode Highlights: How writing became a form of escapism for Jessica as a new mom and in early sobrietyGiving ourselves permission to have an identity outside of motherhoodSobriety, identity, and figuring out what comes next in recoveryHow alcohol can numb both the difficult and joyful parts of lifeWhy reaching for our phones and doomscrolling doesn't actually give us the recharge we're looking forWriting complex women and allowing two conflicting truths to exist at onceWhy Jessica wants to write book club fiction that creates feelings, opinions, and conversationsThe intimacy of reading and how books allow us to experience someone else's life from the safety of our ownA book flight exploring alcoholism, addiction, motherhood, and family dynamics Connect with Jessica: InstagramWebsiteSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show. Books and authors mentioned in the episode: Dare to Lead by Brene BrownNothing Hurt and Everything Was Beautiful by Ben ReevesBook Flight Both Can Be True by Jessica GuerrieriThe Bright Years by Sarah Damoff (also The Burning Side)The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie HartnettThe BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats. Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with: One chapter book for growing readersOne picture book for our littlest readersA few family conversation starters + a simple activityThree books. One common theme. → Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, I am chatting with Alli Dyer. Alli was born in Tennessee and raised in the mountains of Virginia. Alli is the author of Strange Folk and her latest novel, Night Songs. For the last decade, she worked in the entertainment and book publishing, bringing a unique perspective to the stories she tells.  We dive into Night Songs and the inspiration behind its story of family legacy, music, and discovering where we come from. Alli shares how growing up in the mountains of Virginia shaped her writing and why sensory details are so important when bringing a setting to life. We also talk about the stories that expand our understanding of the world and the special place audiobooks hold in Alli’s reading and writing life. Episode Highlights: The childhood fantasy of discovering there is something special hidden in your family historyHow place, memory, and sensory details find their way into fictionWriting about family legacy and the stories we inheritAlli’s love of audiobooks and how listening influences her storytellingThe books that have expanded her understanding of the worldHer book flight includes audiobooks that have influenced her writing and storytellingConnect with Alli: WebsiteInstagramFacebookSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show. Books and authors mentioned in the episode: The Coal Miner’s Daughter by Loretta Lynn & George VesceyThe Real Americans by Rachel KuongHeart Food album - Judee SillHamnet by Maggie O’FarrellThe Witches by Roald DahlThe Children by Melissa AlbertYesteryear by Caro Claire BurkeBook Flight Priestdaddy by Patricia LockwoodThe Knockout Queen by Rufi ThorpeAll the Colors of the Dark by Chris WhitakerThe BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats. Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with: One chapter book for growing readersOne picture book for our littlest readersA few family conversation starters + a simple activityThree books. One common theme. → Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan Mail Today's episode features Thao Thai, bestselling author of Banyan Moon. She joins us to discuss her latest novel, The Seekers of Deer Creek, a captivating story of two estranged sisters whose search for a lost painting uncovers long-buried family secrets stretching across generations and continents. In our conversation, we explore the many ways art preserves history and memory, the fascinating world of art conservation, and what it truly means to be an artist. Thao shares how her travels inspired the settings in the novel, why creativity is essential even in the busiest seasons of life, and how motherhood has shaped her writing. We also discuss the joy of reading physical books, the importance of making space for creativity, and why everyone has an inner artist waiting to be discovered. Episode Highlights The inspiration behind The Seekers of Deer CreekWhy art is one of history's greatest storytellersThe unseen work of preserving paintings and cultural artifactsVietnamese identity and artistic legacyBalancing motherhood and a creative careerThe value of reading physical booksWhy everyone should embrace their inner artistThao's book flight includes books about art and artists Connect with Thao: InstagramWebsiteSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show. Books and authors mentioned in the episode: The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine ArdenAll the Beauty in the World by Patrick BringleySula by Toni MorrisonClutch by Emily NemensBook Flight Almost Life by Kiran Millwood HargraveSirens & Muses by Antonia AngressAnita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl GonzalezThe BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats. Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with: One chapter book for growing readersOne picture book for our littlest readersA few family conversation starters + a simple activityThree books. One common theme. → Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan Mail This week on Bookish Flights, I'm joined by New York Times bestselling author Rhys Bowen to discuss her latest novel, The Castle in the Glen. We explore the inspiration behind the story, why the Isle of Skye was the perfect setting, and how Rhys layers mysteries "like peeling away the layers of an onion." Rhys also shares why she always travels to every location she writes about, how switching between her beloved mystery series and standalone novels keeps her creatively energized, and why returning to longtime characters feels like attending a high school reunion with old friends. Rhys’ book flight includes dual-timeline novels. Episode Highlights: The inspiration behind The Castle in the Glen and writing a novel in another author's voiceWhy the Isle of Skye became the perfect settingHow traveling to each setting shapes her storytellingThe differences between writing standalone novels and a long-running seriesWhy revisiting recurring characters feels like reconnecting with old friendsWhy she believes she'll always have more stories than she can write Connect with Rhys: WebsiteFacebookSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show. Books and authors mentioned in the episode: Tony Hillerman booksAgatha Christie booksThe Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienMolly Murphy series by Rhys BowenJane Eyre by Charlotte BronteThe Chateau on Sunset by Natasha LesterBook Flight The Book of Lost and Found by Lucy FoleyThe Restoration Garden by Sara BlaydesHomecoming by Kate MortonThe BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats. Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with: One chapter book for growing readersOne picture book for our littlest readersA few family conversation starters + a simple activityThree books. One common theme. → Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan Mail This week on Bookish Flights, internationally bestselling author Anna Johnston of The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife and she  returns to discuss her heartfelt new novel, When Lemons Give You Life. Inspired by her years working in aged care, Anna shares why she loves writing older characters who remind us that every stage of life still has purpose, dignity, and the capacity for joy.  Episode Highlights: The inspiration behind When Lemons Give You Life and why she calls it "an antidote to despair"Writing Lisa's character from her own experience of receiving an adult ADHD diagnosisThe misconceptions surrounding ADHD in women and why she hopes readers feel seenResearching the unique challenges older LGBTQ+ adults can face in aged careWhy cooking can become its own love language and a powerful way to care for othersHow stories help us build empathy and compassion—especially for older generationsAnna's book flight features 3 memoirs Connect with Anna: InstagramFacebookWebsite Books and authors mentioned in the episode: Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North / The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel JoyceMy Friends by Fredrik BackmanBook Flight Don’t Buy What I’m Selling by Lu ChekowskyImogen in Waiting by Lindsay BartelsThe Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie JakuThis episode is sponsored by Baker Book House, they brought a sweet, summer contemporary book flight. Enjoy 30% off and free shipping on any books ordered directly through their website. Bookmarked for Love by Sarah MonzonIn a Word, Yes by Kit ToselloAlmost by Design by Jenny ErlingssonThe BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats. Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with: One chapter book for growing readersOne picture book for our littlest readersA few family conversation starters + a simple activityThree books. One common theme. → Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan Mail This week on Bookish Flights, I'm joined by Ginny Kochis, author of Quirky Catholic Kids. Ginny shares what inspired her to write a practical guide for parents raising neurodivergent children through the lens of faith, while reminding us that many of these lessons apply to parenting children of all ages. We discuss what neurodivergence really means, why emotional regulation begins with us as parents, and how learning to respond instead of react can transform our homes. Ginny also offers practical next steps for families who suspect their child may be experiencing developmental or learning differences, including resources available through schools, Child Find, and neuropsychological evaluations. Above all, this conversation is an encouraging reminder to celebrate the unique children God has entrusted to us rather than comparing them to someone else's expectations. Episode Highlights: What inspired Ginny to write Quirky Catholic KidsWhat neurodivergence is—and what it isn'tWhy emotional regulation can't be taught in the middle of a meltdownPractical ways parents can respond instead of reactLearning to embrace your child's unique giftsFinding evaluations and support through schools, Child Find, and neuropsychologistsParenting with faith, grace, and confidence instead of comparisonConnect with Ginny: WebsitePurchase Quirky Catholic KidsInstagramSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show. Books and authors mentioned in the episode: Episode 46: A Book Flight Representing Neurodivergent Teens with Ginny KochisRaising Your Spirited Child by Mary Scheedy KurcinkaA Million Junes by Emily HenryAnnabel Monaghan’s booksAshley Poston booksKatherine Center booksBook Flight Physica by Hildegaard van BingenA Call to a Deeper Love: The Family Correspondence of the Parents of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus by Louis and Zelie MartinGod Loves the Autistic Mind by Father Matthew SnyderThe BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats. Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with: One chapter book for growing readersOne picture book for our littlest readersA few family conversation starters + a simple activityThree books. One common theme. → Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! InstagramFacebookWebsite

Send us Fan Mail As a physical therapist, I spent years helping people build habits that would improve their lives long after they left the clinic. Those experiences taught me that lasting change doesn't happen in one big moment—it happens through small, consistent choices. Lately, I've found myself asking that same question about reading. What makes someone a reader? As a lifelong reader and mom of three, I wanted to know what the research actually says about why some people develop a lifelong love of books while others struggle to make reading a habit. In this solo episode, we're diving into the science behind reading habits and the practical ways we can create environments where reading becomes a joyful, natural part of everyday life. In this episode, we discuss: Why enjoyment matters more than pressure when it comes to lifelong readingThe powerful role parents and caregivers play by modeling readingHow your environment influences your reading habits more than motivation aloneWhy giving children—and adults—the freedom to choose their own books makes all the differencePractical ways to encourage a lifelong love of reading at any ageWhether you're hoping to read more yourself or you're raising the next generation of readers, this episode is filled with encouraging, research-backed ideas that you can start putting into practice today. Books Mentioned Atomic Habits by James ClearI'd Love to Hear From You - What made you a reader? Come join the conversation on Instagram and Threads @bookishflights, and let me know the book, person, or moment that sparked your love of reading. If you enjoyed this episode, I'd be so grateful if you'd follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a fellow book lover. Happy reading, my friends! The BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats. Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with: One chapter book for growing readersOne picture book for our littlest readersA few family conversation starters + a simple activityThree books. One common theme. → Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! InstagramFacebookWebsite