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

Send us Fan Mail What happens when storytelling becomes a way to keep someone's memory alive? Today on Bookish Flights, I'm joined by literary fantasy author Tiffany Chu to discuss The Constellation of Forgotten Things, a grief memoir told through short stories. Tiffany began writing the book with Ren, a teenage boy she and her family were in the process of adopting when he passed away. Through stories exploring grief, loss and the memories that keep love alive, Tiffany hopes readers will find connection and feel a little less alone in their own experiences. Episode Highlights: The deeply personal story behind The Constellation of Forgotten Things and writing the book with Ren, the teenage son Tiffany was in the process of adopting when he passed away.Exploring grief and healing through storytellingCaring for memories as a way to keep love aliveRediscovering the importance of community and allowing ourselves to need othersHow books help us experience different perspectives and understand one anotherFinding the extraordinary in seemingly ordinary peopleHow Tiffany makes room for reading and writing in her everyday life Connect with Tiffany: InstagramWebsiteKickstarterSome 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: Wuthering Heights by Emily BronteJane Austen booksCharles Dickens booksGulliver’s Travels by Jonathan SwiftThe Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre DumasMaggie O’Farrell booksAnn Patchett booksPiranesi by Susanna ClarkThe Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienBook Flight  Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun LeeThe Buried Giant / Never Let Me Go by Kazuo IshiguroLinghun by Ai JiangThe 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 Do you love a good literary mystery with a touch of the supernatural? This week on Bookish Flights, I'm joined by Kathleen Carr Foster, author of The Jewel of Corlivo, for a conversation about storytelling, historical research, and her journey to becoming a published novelist. Kathleen shares what went into creating the world of her debut novel, what she's learned about herself through writing, and why sometimes the hardest part is simply getting started.  Episode Highlights: Kathleen's decision to leave the corporate world and pursue writing.The inspiration behind The Jewel of Corlivo and the historical research that brought its setting to life.Why research can sometimes become a form of procrastination.Learning to embrace criticism and discovering the joy of writing a book that others enjoy.Why your first draft doesn't need to be perfect—you just need to start.The importance of reading contemporary fiction and understanding today's publishing landscape.Three literary mysteries with a supernatural twist in Kathleen's Book Flight. Connect with Kathleen: 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 Gifts of Imperfection by Brene BrownThe Poet Empress by Shen TaoBook Flight A Discovery of Witches by Deborah HarknessThe Historian by Elizabeth KostovaPossession by A.S. ByattDessert Pairing The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton by Jennifer N. BrownThe 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 What was childhood like before screens, constant supervision, and endless distractions? In this episode of Bookish Flights, I'm joined by Meghan Cox Gurdon, longtime Wall Street Journal book critic and author of Free Range Girl, a memoir about her unconventional childhood in rural Maine during the 1970s. We talk about the process of writing a memoir, the freedom of growing up in a different era, and what we can learn from looking back at our own stories. We also discuss her previous book, The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction, exploring the challenges of deep reading in today's distracted world and the importance of reading aloud to foster connection and a lifelong love of books. Episode Highlights: Meghan's experience writing a memoir and why she encourages everyone to write down their memoriesGrowing up in rural Maine without modern conveniences and how childhood has changedWhat Meghan learned about herself and the importance of extending grace to the people we loveWhy deep reading has become increasingly difficult, even for devoted readersThe power of reading aloud and how it helps children develop a love of literatureHow reading aloud is even being used to help socialize traumatized animals at the ASPCA (and why dogs aren't picky about their literature!)Meghan's childhood reading habits and why she still considers herself an indiscriminate readerA Book Flight featuring memoirs written with tenderness of heart and a deep appreciation for those we love Connect with Meghan: WebsiteInstagramSome 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 Divine Comedy by Dante AlighieriThe Aeneid by VirgilReading Magic by Mem FoxEdith Wharton booksA Perfect Coincidence by Jim RasenbergerThe Watch Tower by Elizabeth HarrowerStation Eleven by Emily St. John MandelTrue Grit by Charles PortisOf Human Bondage by W. Somerset MaughamBook Flight Growing Up by Russell BakerFarmer Boy by Laura Ingalls WilderThe Glass Castle by Jeannette WallsThe 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 Want to be a guest on more podcasts? After more than 250 interviews on Bookish Flights, I've seen what makes a podcast guest stand out and what can make a pitch fall flat. In this solo episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes of podcast hosting to share a few things I wish more potential guests knew. From getting a host's attention to making the most of your interview once it airs, there are some things you might not have considered! Whether you're an author hoping to reach more readers or an entrepreneur looking to grow your audience, you'll want to tune in before sending your next pitch. Ready to start pitching yourself to podcasts? I created Pitch Perfect, a self-paced workbook to help authors, entrepreneurs and creatives navigate the podcast pitching process and put what they've learned into action. 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 on Bookish Flights, I'm joined by contemporary romance author Deborah Clack to talk about her journey from high school history teacher to published novelist. Deborah shares how she always viewed the world through the lens of storytelling, the steep learning curve of becoming an author, and the rejection she faced along the way. We also talk about making time for ourselves as moms, finding hope in difficult seasons, and her Shelter & Sky series, including her newest novel, After We Fall. Episode Highlights: Growing up with a love of storytellingGoing from teaching history to writing romanceBelieving in your stories while still learning the craftNavigating rejection and the road to publicationMaking time for creativity and letting go of mom guiltWriting about grief, hope, and learning to live againWhy the Shelter & Sky books can stand alone, but are even better read in orderA Book Flight featuring three dramatic, emotional romances Connect with Deborah: 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: Lynne Gentry booksBecky Wade booksThe Water Keeper by Charles MartinOur Perfect Storm by Carley FortuneJohn Le Carre booksLynn H. Blackburn booksBook Flight The Bodyguard by Katherine CenterDream a Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth PhillipsLong Way Gone by Charles MartinThe 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 What happens when you step outside your comfort zone and make room for something new? Courtney Walsh joins the BFF Book Club to talk about her novel Brighter Than Before and the courage it takes to get out of your own way, build meaningful connections, and remember just how strong you really are. Episode Highlights: Getting outside your comfort zone (even when you’d really rather stay home!)Finding friendship and community as an adult and making friends when you’re constantly on the moveWhy the smallest everyday interactions can make such a differenceThe value of spending time alone and getting into your own headWhy female friendships can be so difficult—and so important—to find as an adultThe courage it takes to start over and Cclebrating the bravery and strength of women Connect with Courtney: InstagramWebsite📚 Next Meet the Author Book Club - The Brunswick with Callie Murray 🗓️ Nov 3rd | 🕓 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: Crafting Sweet Escapes and Swoony Fiction with Courtney Walsh (E153)Ashley Poston booksKatherine Center booksAs Luck Would Have It by Courtney Walsh (Pre-order for 03/02/27 pub date)Anne of Green Gables by L.M. MontgomeryHarry Potter - Full-Cast Audio by J.K. RowlingBook Flight Becky Wade booksCover Story by Mhairi McFarlaneThe Blonde Identity by Ally CarterDessert Pairing Spies, Lies and Alibis by Natalie WaltersThe 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 this episode of Bookish Flights, I’m joined by national bestselling and award-winning author Katherine Reay to talk about her latest novel, The Undercover Bookshop. We chat about life on a Montana ranch, writing spy novels, the fascinating true history behind her fiction, and why sometimes the facts are far more unbelievable than anything she could make up. Katherine also brings us a Book Flight of Classic British Mysteries. Episode Highlights: Life on a Montana ranch and finding creativity in the quietHow moving gave Katherine a chance to recalibrate her life and routinesWriting spy novels—and why she says she would “crumble like an old biscuit” as a real spyThe roles women played during the Cold WarDigging into the true history behind The Undercover BookshopChoosing fact over fiction when the real story is already unbelievableThe luxury of sneaking in an hour of reading during the dayKatherine’s Book Flight of Classic British Mysteries Connect with Katherine: 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: A Shadow in Moscow by Katherine ReayThe Berlin Letters by Katherine ReayThe Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha ChristieWhat’s Didn’t The Ask Evans by Agatha ChristieJohn Le Carre booksFrederick Forsyth booksDaniel Silva booksPride and Prejudice by Jane AustenThe Astral Library by Kate QuinnBook Flight A Shilling for Candles by Josephine TayStrong Poison by Dorothy L. SayersThe Murder of Roger Ackroydby Agatha ChristieThe 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, 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