The Magic of Old Hollywood Books

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2023 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide

Tags: Molly Fader Interview, The Sunshine Girls
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The Best Con Artist Queens in Literature

Friday, July 7th, 2023

Wendy Heard discusses her con artist book of the summer, You Can Trust Me. Learn what it takes to write a thriller & get our best books on scammers and cons.

It’s our first thriller discussion of the summer. Join me in an enthralling conversation with renowned thriller author Wendy Heard as we dive deep into the world of thriller writing with her new release, You Can Trust Me.

Summer, a skilled pickpocketer, takes Leo, a young woman living on the streets, under her wing, embarking on a dangerous con that quickly spirals out of control. Their target? An enigmatic billionaire named Michael.

But as they delve deeper, they uncover a startling revelation—Michael is not who he appears to be, putting both Summer and Leo in grave danger.

When Leo mysteriously disappears, Summer refuses to stand by idly. Determined to rescue her friend, she infiltrates Michael’s private island, only to find herself trapped with no escape. As the suspense escalates, Summer realizes she may have met her match in this high-stakes page-turner.

Today we discuss why con artists are having a moment in pop culture on our screens and in our book stacks. In this absorbing interview, Wendy shares the art of crafting a riveting con artist sequence and why the four-act structure works so well in her writing process. We also discuss the challenges of juggling TWO book launches in one month and the differences between writing for a YA audience and adults.

If you want to dive deeper into the best con artist book stack, we have you covered in the second part of our conversation. Wendy brings her favorite con artist queens and shares why you should add these to your book stack too.

Captivating Con Artist Books to Read Now Book List

Today’s BONUS BOOK LIST offers the best books with grifters, scam artists, heists, and cons. This includes Wendy’s top picks and all my favorite con artist moments in fiction and nonfiction. Don’t miss it!

Meet Wendy Heard

Wendy Heard is the author of suspense and thrillers for adults and teens, including We’ll Never Tell, The Kill Club, She’s Too Pretty to Burn, and Dead End Girls. Her latest adult novel is You Can Trust Me. Heard has spent most of her life in Los Angeles, loves all things vintage, and has a collection of thrillers and adventure books from the ’80s.

The Best Con Artist Queens in Literature

Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:

Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform!

Mentioned in this episode:

Breathe and Count Back From Ten by Natalia Sylvester

Fables Books

Breathe and Count Back From Ten Book Chat

The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

Scamanda Podcast

You Can Trust Me by Wendy Heard

Remember Me by Christopher Pike

The Best Plus-Size Romance Characters to Love with Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone

We’ll Never Tell by Wendy Heard

Los Feliz Murder Mansion

The Hotel Cecil

The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark

The Last Flight by Julie Clark

The Arrangement by Robyn Harding

Pretty Things by Janelle Brown

Stone Cold Fox by Rachel Koller Croft

The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin

Shop the above (Amazon) links or through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Wendy on Instagram or her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

2023 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide

Tags: Con Artist Books, Wendy Heard Interview, You Can Trust Me
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The Best Debut Novels of 2023 (So Far)

Friday, June 23rd, 2023

Thao Thai discusses her multigenerational debut novel, Banyan Moon, a Vietnamese tale that transports readers. We also discuss the best debut novels of 2023.

We are celebrating the best debut novels of 2023 (so far) with debut novelist Thao Thai, author of Banyan Moon. Set against the stunning backdrop of Vietnam and Florida, this novel will be one of your favorite reads this year.

This emotional debut novel follows three generations of Vietnamese American women grappling with the death of their matriarch, Minh. As they begin clearing out the sprawling Banyan House, they unravel long-buried secrets about themselves and each other.

In today’s interview, we discuss what elements of Thao’s personal story made their way into this multigenerational legacy story that spans decades and generations, shedding light on the unique bonds of motherhood.

Thao shares her family’s intriguing history, from surprisingly sentimental heirlooms to the Vietnamese folk tales woven into this story’s threads. We also discuss the complicated journey of writing mother-daughter relationships and what details were crucial in capturing the motherhood journey.

I’m excited to share this Thao Thai interview with you and celebrate her beautiful publishing journey.

We would also like to congratulate Thao Thai on being selected for the Read With Jenna Book Club for July 2023!

In a piece for the Today show she shared, “I had been carrying this hope (to be selected) secretly in my heart for so long. I wanted it with every fiber of my being actually. She really picks diverse books that deal with a lot of issues, of family and heritage, and her books have always spoken to me. So the thought of being on that list — I would dream about it, I would literally dream it.”

Since this was one of my favorite debuts of the year, Thao joins me in conversation about some of the best debuts published in 2023. I share some trivia about two of her favorite books and bring a couple of my favorites (so far) to round out this stack.

The Best Debut Novels of 2023 to Not Miss

Take advantage of today’s bonus book list too! I’ve compiled a complete list of all the best debuts I’ve read this year. It was a fun reading assignment, and I have so many books to share with you today!

Meet Thao Thai

Thao Thai lives in Ohio with her husband and daughter. Her work has been published in the Los Angeles Review of Books, WIRED, Sunday Long Read, Catapult, and other publications. She received her MFA from The Ohio State University and her MA from The University of Chicago. Banyan Moon is her first novel.

The Best Debut Novels of 2023 (So Far)

Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:

Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform!

Mentioned in this episode:

The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle Book Chat

The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain

Banyan Moon by Thao Thai

Tanya Ho Design

The Ringling

Cupcakes and Cashmere

Cup of Jo

Before and After the Book Deal by Courtney Maum

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Smith Paul

Exclusive Crystal Smith Paul Interview

Maybe Next Time by Cesca Major

The Best Life Lessons From Time Travel Books (Cesca Major podcast episode)

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

The Best Escapist Books Set on Islands (Meg Shaffer podcast episode)

The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue

Hula by Jasmin Iolani Hakes

What Lies Behind the Postcard: Jasmin Iolani Hakes on the New Meaning of Summer Reading

Sunshine Nails by Mai Nguyen

Not So Pretty

Weyward by Emilia Hart

Emilia Hart: “If it doesn’t convince you as the writer, it won’t convince the reader.”

2023 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide

Shop the above (Amazon) links or through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Thao on Instagram or her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

Tags: Banyan Moon, Banyan Moon Interview, Thao Thai Interview
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The Best Wedding Themed Rom-Com Books

Thursday, June 8th, 2023

Byron Lane joins the podcast to discuss his charming fictional wedding rom-com book, Big Gay Wedding, and top book recommendations for the wedding season.

In this delightful Book Gang podcast episode, the talented author, Byron Lane, of Big Gay Wedding and A Star is Bored, discusses his writing journey.

In the novel Big Gay Wedding, Chrissy owns a Louisiana farm that combines manners and animal encounters for children in town.

She’s been content with her well-orchestrated and polite life until her son, Barnett, returns home with an unconventional request – to host a “big gay wedding” on her property.

The problem is that Chrissy hasn’t told anyone in town about her son and must now grapple with her expectations for his imagined future too.

As you’ll discover, this conversation takes a surprisingly personal turn; we discuss Byron’s struggles and what he hopes this novel means for others in the LGBTQ community.

With his heartfelt proposal to Steven Rowley immortalized in his book’s acknowledgments, we explore whether any of their other moments made their way into the story.

Join us as we dive into the world of this charming new wedding rom-com, a perfect selection for Schitt’s Creek fans!

That’s not all, though; Byron brings his favorite books about weddings, including some hot new releases to check out from now from your local indie bookshop or library! We also discuss some little-known trivia around a wedding season classic!

Meet Byron Lane

Byron Lane is the author of A Star Is Bored, hailed by the New York Times Book Review as “wildly funny and irreverent.” He’s a playwright, screenwriter, Emmy Award–winning journalist, and former assistant to actress Carrie Fisher.

He’s originally from New Orleans and lives in Palm Springs, California, with his husband, author Steven Rowley, and their rescue dogs, Raindrop and Shirley. His newest novel Big Gay Wedding is on store shelves now from Henry Holt.

The Best Wedding Themed Rom-Com Books

Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:

Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform!

Mentioned in this episode:

Big Gay Wedding by Byron Lane

The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle Book Chat

The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain

A Star is Bored by Byron Lane

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

Bridesmaids Best Friend Speech

Father of the Bride

The Editor by Steven Rowley

The Celebrants by Steven Rowley

Book Soup

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

D’Vaughn and Kris Plan A Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins

Harlequin Romance Carina Press

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

The Romance Recipe by Ruby Barrett

Liar City by Allie Therin

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Q&A: Casey McQuiston, Author of Red, White & Royal Blue

The Royal We by Heather Cocks

Red, White & Royal Blue Movie

Best Men by Sidney Karger

Sidney Karger: On Applying Real Emotions to Fictional Characters

The Gay Best Friend by Nicholas DiDomizio

Burn it All Down by Nicholas DiDomizio

The Spectacular Life Lessons From Books About Road Trips

2023 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide

Shop the above (Amazon) links or through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Byron on his website or on Instagram

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

Currently Reading Podcast

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The Best Escapist Island Books (Podcast)

Friday, May 26th, 2023

Escape real life with these island books. Learn why The Wishing Game is just the book escape you need with our interview with Meg Shaffer.

Let’s head to a fictional island with this Meg Shaffer interview as we discuss her magical debut, The Wishing Game.

About Meg Shaffer’s Book

In this Willy Wonka-style adventure, we follow the story of Lucy Hart, a 26-year-old teacher’s aide who has always found solace in the pages of the Clock Island series by Jack Masterson. Lucy’s financial life is problematic, but mostly because it has become a hurdle to adoption.

A public letter begins to go viral, sharing that a new book- A Wish for Clock Island– has been written and only one copy exists. Jack has plans to give it away to someone courageous, clever, and who knows how to make wishes.

This invitation also says that you should check your mailbox if you know the answer to the riddle “Why is a raven like a writing desk?”

And Lucy just so happens to know the answer to this mysterious package’s question, as do a few other longtime readers that have had beautiful interceptions throughout their lives with Jack.

Based on the true story of a boy who ran away and showed up on the doorstep of his favorite fantasy author, we learn more about Meg’s writing process and why she wanted to write this love letter to our childhood reading. We also discuss a few other islands to escape to when you need a literary vacation.

Don’t miss today’s bonus book list with 22 more books set on islands for the best armchair travel escapes.

Meet Meg Shaffer

Meg Shaffer is a part-time creative writing instructor and a full-time MFA candidate in TV and Screenwriting at Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri. Find her online or at home, watching Hitchcock films and/or writing Star Trek fan fiction when she should be doing her homework.

The Best Escapist Books Set on Islands (Podcast)

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Mentioned in this episode:

Joining the Patreon community is an affordable way to support the show and gain access to a wealth of resources, including author interviews and curated book lists. And if you’re a fan of the show, sharing it with just one friend, leaving a like, or leaving a review can go a long way in helping the podcast reach new listeners.

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

Magic Season Book Chat

The Twelve Lives of Alfred Hitchcock by Edward White

The Lodger

Joan Harrison

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Peter and the Wolf

This American Life: Just South of the Unicorns

Piers Anthony Xanth Series

Books & Books

Green Glass Door Game

Ray Bradbu r y Short Stories

Revelle by Lyssa Mia Smith

Scribd

How to Use the Scribd App for Your Reading Life

Maybe Next Time by Cesca Major

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

We’ll Never Tell by Wendy Heard

You Can Trust Me by Wendy Heard

Shop the above (Amazon) links or shop through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram or on TikTok

Connect with Meg on her site or Instagram

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

FOLLOW CRYSTAL’S JOURNEY ON INSTAGRAM

Tags: Meg Shaffer Interview, The Wishing Game
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Exclusive Crystal Smith Paul Interview- Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?

Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023

Crystal Smith Paul discusses her debut novel, “Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?” (a May 2023 Reese’s Book Club pick) and her decade-long journey to publishing.

Last week, we recorded an interview with debut novelist Crystal Smith Paul for the Book Gang podcast. She shared some beautiful, insightful details about her new historical fiction book, Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?, including the complex themes and inspiration behind it.

We’re also thrilled to share today that Crystal Smith Paul’s debut novel “Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?” has been selected as the May Book of the Month and the May Reese Book Club pick! Join us in congratulating Crystal on this well-deserved recognition, and don’t miss your chance to read this powerful and thought-provoking novel.

Listen to this Book Gang show filled with the best historical fiction books for summer, including Crystal’s riveting debut:

Crystal Smith Paul Interview (Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?)

Crystal Smith Paul’s debut novel delves into the effects of racism on American families through the story of a multigenerational celebrity family.

Drawing inspiration from her own diverse family, Smith’s book explores themes of race, colorism, and social justice.

She holds degrees from Spelman College, UCLA, and NYU. Currently, she resides in Los Angeles and is working on her second novel.

In your book, colorism and the generational trauma of racism in the U.S. are significant themes. Can you speak to why you chose to explore these particular themes and what message you hope readers take away from your portrayal of them in your story?

Tackling these themes truthfully came very naturally.

Being a black woman, I have seen a lot of things throughout the years, and I’ve heard many things, you know, from my parents, my grandparents, and even my great-grandparents, who I was fortunate enough to know on one side of my family anyway.

So they say, write what you know, and these themes are inherent to who I am. I couldn’t be separated from them.

And that’s really, what I want readers to take away from this is how these structures and these systems have permeated all of our lives in America and how interconnected we all are because of the way that this country was founded.

We don’t really like to talk about and dive into it, but slavery had a significant impact. And not just slavery, but reconstruction, then Jim Crow, and so on. Just two days ago, a teen was shot twice for ringing a doorbell.

So, it goes into every layer of our life. And I think that if readers can be more empathetic, not just to the struggles of black people, but how other races relate to these issues, then we can start to have a more meaningful dialogue and hopefully get past some of this trauma.

The novel features a dual-timeline narrative. How did you approach weaving together the different periods and storylines?

I love this question. The three sisters was a theme I’ve been writing about truthfully since my first short story in high school. My mom has all these sisters, and I’ve always been obsessed with the idea of having sisters.

And that narrative changed a lot through the years because it didn’t have an anchor to me.

When Kitty Karr came on the scene, that entire story really just like poured out of me. And it was the easiest part to write. She had so much to say.

When did you write this book and how long did it take you?

I’ve been writing this book for about 10 years.

Wow! How do you stay the course after 10 years of working on this book? How do you not get discouraged, or were there points where you were ready to put it aside?

Amy, this is just something that has been in me for as long as I can remember, and I knew that I had to keep going because I wasn’t going to be like happy in life if this didn’t come to fruition and not in terms of, oh, it’s published, but it just needed to be finished.

I had to finish it.

And what kept me going truthfully is the narrative because the inspiration does come not only from myself for my own personal healing. But then also, my family. This book is dedicated to my mom’s mom, my dad’s mom, and then my father’s grandmother.

So, thinking of their memory is, truthfully, what kept me going.

Crystal, you have such a diverse career. Like you have done so many different things, and I know that you know, at least for me, so many things that I do are informed by my various jobs. What do you think your past careers have done for the scope of what Kitty Karr is living?

I love that question. I will start with the most interesting career I’ve had, which informed a big part of this book. I worked as a paralegal at the DOJ in major frauds, otherwise known as white-collar crime.

It was fascinating to me to be around all of these brilliant, analytical lawyers daily. I found out that they were also storytellers, actually watching them in court, and the way that they weaved the narrative of the crime was really interesting to me.

I also have a master’s in journalism, which played a role because I realized I don’t like journalism and research, but I loved the creative license. Through that, I realized I want to create, and I still want to come from a place of interconnectedness versus an outside reinterpretation of someone’s life. 4

So, then, of course, I attended UCLA for film school, so when I was not working in screenwriting, I was doing a lot of education in screenwriting and realized this is the type of writing I want to do. That element has informed my novel writing process because I still think in scenes and in pictures.

I’ve also made sure that no matter what, I’ve always had jobs that didn’t take too much away from me and allowed me to write when I came home on the weekends.

So everything, all of your experiences, if you can learn to appreciate everywhere your life takes you, you can use anything for inspiration.

Crystal Smith Paul Books

Crystal Smith Paul is a debut novelist known for her gripping family saga that delves into complex issues of race, identity, and family secrets.

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?: A Novel

In "Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?", a multigenerational family saga, the lives of the St. John family are explored as they navigate the Jim Crow South, old Hollywood glamour, and present-day showbiz.

After white silver screen icon Kitty Karr Tate dies, she bequeaths her estate to the three Black St. John sisters, prompting questions and revelations that threaten to unravel family ties and secrets.

As Elise St. John sorts out Kitty's affairs, she discovers shocking information in one of Kitty's journals that will leave readers on the edge of their seat.

This scintillating debut has pushed author Crystal Smith Paul to the top of must-read lists and will be included in this year's Summer Reading Guide (launching May 12th).

Don’t miss the bonus book list that included Crystal’s favorites in our list of the best new historical fiction books of 2023.

This post contains affiliate links.

Have you read Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? What did you think of this historical fiction novel?

Tags: Crystal Smith Paul Interview, Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?
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The Best Historical Fiction Books For Summer

Friday, April 28th, 2023

Debut novelist Crystal Smith Paul joins the podcast to discuss her historical fiction book, Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?, and her top book recommendations.

The Best Historical Fiction Books for Summer with Crystal Smith Paul

Historical fiction lovers, you do not want to miss this fascinating discussion around some of your favorite books and some details on upcoming 2023 historical fiction book releases.

Today’s interview with Crystal Smith Paul offers a peek behind the curtains at the creation of the riveting debut novel, “Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?”, soon to hit store shelves on May 2nd from Henry Holt & Company.

The novel explores impactful themes such as colorism and the generational trauma of racism in the U.S. In today’s Book Gang interview, Crystal discusses her research on these themes and what message she hopes readers take away from Kitty’s fictional story. The true story that inspired many of these fictional characters should not be missed today.

Learn about Paul’s rich background that lent itself well to Kitty’s Hollywood backstory, how she approached this dual-timeline narrative, and the most significant challenges she faced with writing and publishing.

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? y Crystal Smith Paul

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? Summary

Craving an old Hollywood historical fiction escape? If you loved The Vanishing Half, you will appreciate this powerful debut novel that examines race and privilege.

Eighty-one-year-old Kitty Karr Tate has died, and her death has dominated the week’s news. She was an American icon, an Academy Award winner, a writer, a television star, and a philanthropist. But, along with praise for her career, there are also wild theories about her mysterious life and the circumstances of her demise.

In one final mysterious plot twist, Kitty has bequeathed her entire fortune- approximately six million dollars to the Black daughters of her co-star in a sitcom aired almost fifty years ago.

As these women are thrust further into the spotlight, they are left to grapple with why they received these funds. After all, they are daughters who had been multimillionaires by birth. So why do they receive this unexpected windfall?

We get to solve this mystery along with the St. Johns family in this dual-timeline story, beginning in the 1930s and shifting to 2017.

This sweeping multigenerational saga is worthy of a miniseries, and I can’t wait to hear more about the inspiration for Kitty’s story.

Paul’s examination of our fractured world acknowledges the grim realities of racial disparities while offering the reader reprieves through fantastical Hollywood escapes. Don’t miss this debut, hitting store shelves on May 2nd or this fascinating conversation.

Editor’s Note: Since recording this interview, Crystal Smith Paul was selected as the May Reese’s Book Club Pick and a May BOTM selection.

Don’t miss Crystal’s favorite books in today’s bonus book list with the best historical fiction books for your summer that include some of the most anticipated books of the summer season!

I round out our discussion with some intriguing trivia about these incredible selections featured today.

Crystal Smith Paul author of Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?

Meet Crystal Smith Paul

Crystal Smith Paul attended Spelman College and UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television and received her master’s in journalism from NYU. Her nonfiction writing has appeared in Salon, Jezebel, and HuffPost. She currently works in digital marketing for wellness and beauty brands. Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? is her first novel.

The Best Historical Fiction Books For Summer

Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:

Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform!

Mentioned in this episode:

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? By Crystal Smith Paul

Normal Family by Chrysta Bilton

Mom Advice Book Club

Normal Family Book Chat

A Chosen Exile by Allyson Hobbs

Passing by Nessa Larsen

The Autobiography of An Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson

Imitation of Life

Random Family by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

Mary Jane McLeod Bethune (1875-1955) •

Q&A with The Personal Librarian Co-Authors Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray | Penguin Random House Audio

The Celebrity Book Club Deep Dive Episode You Need

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Powell’s Books Interview – Yaa Gyasi, Author of Homegoing

Cape Coast Castle in Ghana

When Adults Banned Their Books, These Teens Fought Back By Organizing by The Defector

The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho by Paterson Joseph

The Picaresque Life of and 18th Century Black English Polymath by the NYT

Connect With Us:

Connect with Crystal Smith Paul on her Website or Instagram

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice.com

Join the Book Gang Patreon (for our exclusive FULLY BOOKED book review show & more!

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

Tags: Crystal Smith Paul, Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?
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The Spectacular Life Lessons from Books About Road Trips

Friday, April 14th, 2023

Hit the open road with these books about road trips. Hop in the getaway car and learn what it takes to write a great Thelma & Louise story with Colleen Oakley.

Do you love road trip books? We will go on a wildly entertaining road trip with a college dropout and an eighty-four-year-old woman on the run from the law in today’s show.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise by Colleen Oakley

Today’s Book Gang podcast features an interview with Colleen Oakley discussing her feisty new novel, The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise, which pays tribute to the iconic movie Thelma & Louise.

Colleen shares how she aimed to capture various aspects of the film in her story and how her research on police work and investigations informed the development of the missing person case and jewelry heist in the book.

We also discuss what it takes to write about two very different generations and why she included Tanner’s struggles with chronic pain in her story.

Don’t miss Colleen’s favorite books in today’s bonus book list with books about road trips for the perfect escape!

Meet Colleen Oakley

Colleen Oakley is the USA Today bestselling author of The Invisible Husband of Frick Island, You Were There Too, Close Enough to Touch, Before I Go, and The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise. Colleen’s novels have been longlisted for the Southern Book Prize twice, and Close Enough to Touch won the French Reader’s Prize. Her books have been translated into more than 21 languages.

The Spectacular Life Lessons from Books About Road Trips

Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:

Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform!

Mentioned in this episode:

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley

Normal Family by Chrysta Bilton

A Day in the Life of a Book Publicist

Normal Family Book Chat

Fables Books

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley

You Were There Too by Colleen Oakley

Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley

Before I Go by Colleen Oakley

Thelma and Louise

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Stardew Valley

The Last Of Us

Rose the Prude – Golden Girls

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

The Long Way Back by Nicole Baart

Side Trip by Kerry Lonsdale

Rebecca’s Book Reviews

Everything We Keep by Kerry Lonsdale

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Connect With Us:

Connect with Colleen Oakley on her Website or Instagram

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice.com

The Stuff of Lasting Friendship: The Millions Interviews Jessica Francis Kane

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

This post contains affiliate links.

Tags: Colleen Oakley Interview, The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise
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The Best Book Club Books to Spark Conversation

Friday, March 31st, 2023

Looking for the best book club books for a thought-provoking chat? These book club picks are page-turners curated by historical fiction writer Meagan Church.

The Best Book Club Books to Spark Conversation

Mark Twain once said, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” Meagan Church is here to explore those exact rhythms in her stunning debut, The Last Carolina Girl, published by Sourcebooks this week.

This captivating coming-of-age story set in 1935 North Carolina follows the story of Leah, an orphan sent to live with the wealthy Griffin family, where she experiences mistreatment and hardship.

Against the backdrop of North Carolina’s eugenics board, the novel delves into themes of poverty, power, and body autonomy. It’s a must-read for historical fiction fans looking for a book that will leave them thinking long after they’ve turned the last page.

Meagan’s heart-wrenching novel was inspired by the real-life story of her great-aunt, who was forcibly sterilized in Indiana.

Through her book, Meagan shares the research she uncovered into the United States’ history with eugenics, shedding light on a complex and difficult topic with a rich history in North Carolina.

Reading this book will be incredibly eye-opening for many readers- it certainly was for me.

In addition to discussing her writing process, Meagan shares her top book club picks for the best conversation starters on the podcast.

Thanks to the support of Patreon members, listeners have access to a bonus curated list of 13 of the best books to spark a great conversation with the titles she highly recommends for impactful conversations.

We discuss what makes a good book for discussion and curate the perfect book club selections, including our favorite books from many voices in literary fiction, nonfiction, and historical fiction.

Meagan Church speaks with MomAdvice about her novel, The Carolina Girl and other great book club books

Meet Meagan Church

Meagan Church is a writer passionate about uncovering overlooked stories and bringing unheard voices to light. Her writing reflects her desire to explore the nuances of who we are and to chronicle the plight and fight of those silenced by history. She received a B.A. in English from Indiana University and has built a successful career as a storyteller and freelance writer for brands, blogs, and organizations. She currently lives in North Carolina with her family.

The Best Book Club Books to Spark Conversation

Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:

Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform!

Mentioned in this episode:

The Last Carolina Girl by Meagan Church

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain

Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary

Rules for Visiting by Jessica Francis Kane

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

A Semi-Radical Plan to Maintain Friendships in Your 30s, 40s and Beyond on Slate

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

The Celebrity Book Club Deep Dive Episode You Need

Brit Bennett on Publishing The Vanishing Half During the George Floyd Protests on Vox

Radium Girls by Kate Moore

The Poisoner’s Handbook on PBS

The Poisoner’s Handbook on Hoopla

The Poisoner’s Handbook by Deborah Blum

The Woman They Could not Silence by Kate Moore

The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

11 Facts About Judy Blume’s ‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret’ on Mental Floss

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret

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