Okie Bookcast

Welcome to Chapter 41! My guest is J.J. Johnson, a husband, father, podcaster, and Award Winning Middle-Grade author. He grew up in Pryor Oklahoma, attended Oklahoma Baptist University where he majored in Theology. He now lives in Edmond with his wife and two boys who are commonly known online as - Hobbit 1 and Hobbit 2. J.J. and I talk about his award-winning Iggy and Oz series and his passion for writing books that connect with middle-grade boys. We also talk about being an independent author and how J.J. integrates his faith into his work for both kids and adults. Connect with J.J.: website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Mentioned on the Show: Bobbsey Twins - Laura Lee Hope Hardy Boys - Franklin W. Dixon Trapped in Death Cave - Bill Wallace Danger on Panther Peak - Bill Wallace Wheel of Time - Robert Jordan Realm Makers Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney Goosebumps - R. L. Stein I Survived series - Lauren Tarshis Kim Ventrella Charlotte's Web - E.B. White Ray Bradbury Dark Tower Series - Stephen King Dead Zone - Stephen King The Long Walk - Stephen King Old Man's War - John Scalzi Mistborn Trilogy - Brandon Sanderson Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury Heir to the Empire - Timothy Zahn Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

J and Hannah are joined by Aubrey Stanley, a Bookstagrammer who is part of The Bookish BFFs. Connect with Aubrey: BookishBFFs Connect with Hannah: website | Twitter | Instagram Bookcast conversation with Hannah about The Ashford House. Aubrey The Man Who Died Twice - Richard Osman The Thursday Murder Club - Richard Osman Never Lie - Freda McFadden Don’t You Cry - Mary Kubica Hannah When All the Girls Have Gone - Jayne Ann Krentz Frankenstein - Mary Shelley The Echo Wife - Sarah Gailey Murder On the Orient Express - Agatha Christie J The Ashford House - Hannah Joy Herron Sand - Hugh Howey The Nickel Boys - Colson Whitehead Watchmen - Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

We're talking about the Oklahoma Center for the Book and the Oklahoma Book Awards with OCB Executive Director, Connie Armstrong. Connie has led the Center since 2009. She holds degrees in history and political sciences from the University of Oklahoma and the University of Central Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Center for the Book is a state affiliate of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, and is organized to focus attention on the vital role of books and reading in our lives. The Center promotes the past, current, and future works of Oklahoma authors; promotes the literary heritage of the state; and encourages reading for pleasure by Oklahomans of all ages. In our conversation we talk about the work of the Center and the upcoming Awards, being held on April 22. Connect with the Center for the Book: website | Twitter | Facebook I’m taking a few episodes to highlight some other bookish podcasts by inviting hosts to provide reviews. Our review for this episode comes from Pamela Wilson, host of the Picky Bookworm, a podcast aimed at introducing lesser-known authors to the world through weekly chats. Pamela also owns The Picky Bookworm, a website dedicated to promotion of indie books, and editing and proofreading services. Her dream is to have a community where authors and bloggers alike can feel supported and encouraged. Pamela reviews Falling Through The Weaving by Leia Talon. Connect with Pamela: website | Twitter | Instagram Mentioned on the show: The Boy Who Carried Bricks - Alton Carter Hannah E. Harrison S.E. Hinton Ralph Ellison Alexander Lawrence Posey Woody Guthrie Angie Debo John Berryman Lynn Riggs Dr. H. Wayne Morgan Muriel Wright Errol Gibson Toni Hillerman Rilla Askew Bob Burke Sheldon Russell Michael Wallace All that is Wicked - Kate Winkler Dawson Sherlock Holmes Barker & Llewelyn Novels - Will Thomas Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

Welcome to Volume Four of Behind the Rain: An Audio Anthology of Oklahoma Poetry. I'm excited to share with you the work of these 11 Oklahoma poets. Open Mic Night - Kara Lisa Soft As Cotton - Brand Rackley @brandrackleyThe Honesty of Grief - Alannah Benae @alannah_benaeSome Days - Sally Hoch @sallyhochwriterCabin - David Jennings davidjenningsartinphotographyandpoetry.comChrono - MAC Woods @mac_since1985Forever - Shy Norton @shylascribblesartHeart of the House - Breanne Lynnett @breannelynnettCartridge - Thomas Juarez thomasjuarez.com@thomasj66714281Wildflowers at Dusk - Ken Hada @KhadakhadaKenkenhada.orgStillwater and Muffled Underwater Thoughts - Ruth Key thesouljar.blogspot.comIf you'd like to submit a poem for consideration for Volume Five of Behind the Rain (releasing July 14, 2023), visit okiebookcast.com/behindtherain for details. Connect with the Bookcast @okiebookcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for more Oklahoma voices. Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

I'm really excited to interview my Your Next Great Read cohost and favorite oldest daughter, Hannah Herron for this chapter of the Bookcast! Hannah has a new book coming out this month - The Ashford House - so this felt like the perfect time for a conversation about her work. Hannah is an author, screenwriter, and educator from Norman, Oklahoma. She’s written two books - Sleep Tight and Awake, the latter of which was an Oklahoma best seller, and her latest book The Ashford House releases on April 18. In addition to her novels, Hannah has written a screenplay called Sawtooth that was honored at the 2022 Broadcast Education Association in the feature film screenwriting category. In our conversation we talk about her interest in writing horror and thrillers, as well as her work across other genres. We talk about the new book and Hannah also shares things she’s learned about her own writing from teaching others. Connect with Hannah: website | Twitter | Instagram Our review for this episode comes from my fellow bookish podcaster, Raye, host of Being Bookish, a great podcast featuring reviews and conversations with authors. She describes herself as an Avid reader and book collector who reads anything but thrillers. Raye reviews Circe by Madeline Miller. Connect with Raye: website | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok Mentioned on the Show: Awake - Hannah Joy Hall Stephen King Paul Tremblay Riley Sager Ruth Ware Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis The Haunting of Hill House - Shirley Jackson Being Bookish podcast Circe - Madeline Miller Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

Hannah and J are joined by OKC Bookstagrammer, Melissa Coast (AKA stickynote_bookrecs on Instagram). The conversation ranges from haunted houses to classic sci-fi to some surprise romance entries. As always, something for everyone. We also have a special announcement from Hannah about her new book - The Ashford House - coming April 18! Connect with Hannah: website | Twitter | Instagram Books discussed on the show: Melissa I, Robot - Isaac Asimov The Vanishing Half - Brit Bennett What Follows Is True: Crescent Hotel - Sean Fitzgibbon Gregor the Overlander - Suzanne Collins Hannah Crazy Rich Asians - Kevin Kwan Home Before Dark - Riley Sager Anatomy: A Love Story - Dana Schwartz And Then There Were None - Agatha Christie J I Am All Crying Inside: and Other Stories - Clifford D. Simak How to Sell a Haunted House - Grady Hendrix Hyperion - Dan Simmons Patriot Games - Tom Clancy Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

Chapter 38 finds me in Crescent, OK at Paper Pages Bookstore talking with owner Karen Payne. Paper Pages is a fantastic store featuring a wide variety of books, as well as gifts and locally-sourced pastries and coffee. In our conversation we talk about the role of the store in the community, Karen's commitment to supporting local vendors and authors, and the joys and challenges of owning a store in a smaller community. Connect with Paper Pages: Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Check out pictures of the store. For our review this episode, I'm revisiting one of my favorite reads of 2022 - Oscar Hokeah's Calling for a Blanket Dance - winner of the 2023 Pen/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel. You'll hear Oscar talking about his novel from our conversation in Chapter 25 and then a few comments from me from the September edition of Your Next Great Read. Listen to the full interview with Oscar. Listen to the September YNGR. Mentioned on the show: Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery Outlander - Diana Gabaldon The Baptist Bootlegger - Nicholas Lyon Verity - Colleen Hoover Finlay Donavan Series - Elle Cosimano The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah Calling for a Blanket Dance - Oscar Hokeah Paper Pages Vendors: Quincy Bake Shop Rural Route Coffee Roasters Kelsey's Pens Serendipity Pottery Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

Chapter 37 of the Bookcast focuses on the Oklahoma Writers' Federation, Inc. - a non‑profit federation of writers' groups from across Oklahoma and beyond dedicated to promoting higher standards for the written word. I sat down with Nick Lyon (President) and Bre Lockhart (Conference Coordinator) about OWFI and it's mission and the upcoming conference. Connect with OWFI: website | Facebook Nicholas Lyon is the author of the historical novel The Baptist Bootlegger and current president of the Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. For his day job, he teaches English to high school students who would rather be on TikTok. He is also a woodturner and musician. He lives with his wife and two kids in Guthrie, OK. Connect with Nick: website | Twitter | Facebook Bre Lockhart is a fantasy and sci-fi author with pen names in the genres of mystery and poetry. She’s also a fiction editor, an admin for Tulsa Writers Syndicate, a writer for Indie Author Magazine, and the conference coordinator for OWFI. Connect with Bre: website | Facebook | Twitter Our review for this episode comes from Bookcast guest and friend of the show, Betsey Kulakowski. Betsey is the best-selling author of The Veritas Codex paranormal thriller series. Her 5th book in the Series, The Lost Templar was released in December of 2022, and she's preparing for the spring launch of the 6th book -- The Pirate's Curse. Betsey reviews Stranger in the Woods by Anni Taylor. Connect with Betsey: website | Instagram My book is available for preorder on Kindle! Order now and get yours when it drops on March 14! God Help Me! I'm a Young Dad Mentioned on the show: Paper Pages Books Dear Writer, You Need to Quit - Becca Syme First Blood - David Morrell How to Sell a Haunted House - Grady Hendrix Josh Malerman My Heart is a Chainsaw - Stephen Graham Jones Stephen King Neil Gaiman Tao Wong Matt Dinniman Dawn Chapman Ready Player One - Ernest Cline Lance Hawvermale Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien Silence of the Lambs - Thomas Harris Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

Our guest for this month's YNGR is Mel Odom. Mel is the author of over 200 novels and is a professor in the Professional Writing department at the University of Oklahoma. He's also a Bookcast alum, appearing on Chapter 4 of the show way back in 2021. Listen to chapter 4 of the Bookcast. Be sure to stay through the end of the conversation for a big announcement! Connect with Mel: website | Facebook Connect with Hannah: website | Twitter | Instagram Books Discussed on the Show: Mel The Girl From Everywhere - Heidi Heilig Sleep No More - Jane Ann Krentz The Never Game - Jeffery Deaver The Gray Man - Mark Greaney Hannah Dead Silence - S.A. Barnes Book Lovers - Emily Henry Local Woman Missing - Mary Kubica Shutter Island - Dennis LaHane J The Book of Accidents - Chuck Wendig The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood Shutter - Ramona Emerson The Children of Men - P. D. James Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

My guest for Chapter 36 is author, historian, and attorney Bob Burke. Bob has written over 150 books about Oklahoma and Oklahomans, ranging from topics like The Oklahoma City Bombing to the Oklahoma State Fair to Oklahoma legends like Wiley Post and Ralph Ellison. Bob is a 3-time winner of the Oklahoma Book Award, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oklahoma Center for the Book, and has been inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame, and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Bob and I talk about his interest in Oklahoma, his passion for writing biographies, his extensive writing process and working with co-authors. I also got to hear a ton of stories from Bob about everything from baseball to Donald Duck. Connect with Bob: website | Facebook Our review is from Sheeva Azma, Sheeva is a freelance science writer, digital and strategic communicator, and science policy wonk who merges her interests in science, writing, and policy to solve hard problems through effective messaging with her science communications company, Fancy Comma, LLC. She is a scientist turned science writer who has written two books designed to encourage scientists to try their hand at science writing. Sheeva reviews Who Can Hold the Sea by by James D. Hornfischer. Connect with Sheeva: website | Twitter Mentioned on the show: Typically I try to include all of the books mentioned, but Bob talked about so many different books and projects that it seemed best to point you to his catalog. Books by Bob Burke David McCullough Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

Love fantasy stories and dragons? Then I've got the conversation for you! My guest, Kathryn Fogleman-White, describes herself as Keeper of Dragons, and lover of coffee. As a Master Storyteller, Kathryn believes in providing quality books that give readers a chance to pause and take a brain break from the rest of the world. She the author of the Tales of the Wovlen series of novels and co-author of Books 4 and 5 of the Heroes of Ravenford series. As a writing coach, Kathryn believes that authors - published and aspiring - should never feel alone in their writing. We cover a lot of ground in our conversation, talking about her unique approach to writing, working on her first novel at 10 years old, and of course, dragons. Connect with Kathryn: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Our review today comes from Nicholas Lyon. Nicholas is the author of the recently published novel The Baptist Bootlegger about a Baptist preacher bootlegging hooch in 1950's Oklahoma. He is also the current president for the Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. and a high school English teacher. He lives in Oklahoma with his wife and two boys. Nicholas reviews The Discretionist by Lance Hawvermale. Connect with Nicholas: Twitter | Facebook Mentioned on the Show: Eragon - Christopher Paolini Dragonheart The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien Tales of the Wovlen - Kathryn Fogleman Nigel Andreola - Starry Night Media Heroes of Ravenford - F. P. Spirit Dr. Caroline Leaf Dr. John Townsend Dr. Henry Cloud Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien The Baptist Bootlegger - Nicholas Lyon The Discretionist - Lance Hawvermale Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

Welcome to the January edition of Your Next Great Read! Hannah and I are joined by Oklahoma author Jamie (J. L.) Hyde to talk about the books we're loving and why you might love them too! Plenty of thrillers and true-crime this month, with other great books thrown in as well. Connect with Jamie: Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Purchase Jamie's books: jlhyde.com/books Connect with Hannah: website | Twitter | Instagram Books discussed on the show: Jamie The Turn of the Key - Ruth Ware Lessons in Chemistry - Bonnie Garmus All Good People Here - Ashley Flowers Murder In Greenwich: Who Killed Martha Moxley? - Mark Fuhrman Hannah The Pale Blue Eye - Louis Bayard Fairy Tale - Stephen King Murder at Archly Manor - Sarah Rosett The Stranger Beside Me - Ann Rule J Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story - Bono All Systems Red - Martha Wells Gone Tomorrow - Lee Child In Cold Blood - Truman Capote Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

Welcome to Chapter 34! I had the joy of talking with Andrew Berzanskis, Editorial Director for the University of Oklahoma Press. Andrew has worked in publishing for two decades, during which his work involved acquiring books for the University of Washington Press, West Virginia University Press, and the University of Georgia Press. He got his start in university press publishing through an editorial fellowship at the University of Texas Press. In our conversation, you’ll learn about the mission of OU Press and some of the similarities and differences between university presses and the larger commercial publishers. We also talk about the kinds of books featured by OU Press and Andrew walks through the publication process from acquisition to production, including some incredible advice for authors interested in working with these presses. Connect with Andrew and OU Press: Website | Andrew on Twitter | OU Press on Twitter Doing something a little different with the review this month. The book is Rilla Askew's Prize for the Fire, reviewed by Rilla (giving a synopsis of the book from Chapter 30 of the show) and me providing a short review (from the November episode of Your Next Great Read). Mentioned on the show: Prize for the Fire - Rilla Askew The Good Country: A History of the American Midwest, 1800-1900 - Jon Lauck A Promise Kept: The Muscogee (Creek) Nation and McGirt v. Oklahoma - Robert J. Miller and Robbie Ethridge Brandon Hobson Joy Harjo Sanora Babb Way I See It - Wampus Reynolds Pekolah Stories - Amanda Bales Garth Brooks: The Road Out of Santa Fe - Matt O'Meilia Woody Guthrie Literati Press Comics and Novels Magic City Books Full Circle Books Music by JuliusH Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

Welcome to Volume Three of Behind the Rain: An Audio Anthology of Oklahoma Poetry. I'm excited to share with you the work of these 11 Oklahoma poets. Darkness Comes to Me - Ken Hada @KhadakhadaKenkenhada.orgOld Car - David Jennings davidjenningsartinphotographyandpoetry.comEstelle and Rain in the Forecast - Ruth Key thesouljar.blogspot.comA Circle Seen from all Sides - Caleb Jordan @gkmonthlySelections from A Wichita Mountains Ontology - Seth Copeland @SethTCopelandhttps://neutralspaces.co/seth_t_copeland/Preservation - Brand Rackley @brandrackleyto do list - Nicholas Allen @nallenwritesnallenwrites.comNo, Thank You - Shayla Raquel @shaylaleeraquelshaylaraquel.comThe Ghosts Still Live Here - Durell Carter @DurellrcCicadas and Sycamores - Thomas Juarez @thomasj66714281Remembering Oklahoma - Linda Neal Reising @nealreising If you'd like to submit a poem for consideration for Volume Four of Behind the Rain (releasing April 15, 2023), visit okiebookcast.com/behindtherain for details. Connect with the Bookcast @okiebookcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for more Oklahoma voices. Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

As we turn the calendar over to 2023, some of my former guests and reviewers have checked in for this special "Where Are They Now?" episode of the Bookcast. I've included each guest's name and the episodes where you can hear more from them, as well as a link to their websites. Enjoy this opportunity to catch up with these friends! Charles J. Martin - Chapter 1 literatipressok.com Betsey Kulakowski - Chapter 27 authorbetseykulakowski.com Debra Chandler - Chapter 3 dechandlerwrites.com Mark Edward Jones - Chapter 2 mejbooksllc.com Hannah Herron - Chapter 1 hannahjoyherron.com Amy M. Le - Chapter 2 quillhawkpublishing.com Jerry Bennett - Chapter 19 thejerrybennett.com Amy Prokopis - Chapter 17 amyprokopis.com Ginny Myers Sain - Chapter 7 ginnymyerssain.com Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

It's the year-end edition of Your Next Great Read. No guest this month so Hannah and I took a few minutes to talk about our favorite and least favorite reads from this year as well as our regular conversation about what we're reading and why you might enjoy it too. Remember - you can purchase all the books mentioned on the show through the links below or by visiting the Next Great Read store on Bookshop.org. Connect with Hannah: website | Twitter | Instagram Hannah Best of the Year: Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir Leave No Trace - Mindy Mejia The Power - Naomi Alderman Verity - Coleen Hoover Into the Water - Paula Hawkins J Best of the Year: Dead Silence - S.A. Barnes Blowback - James Patterson and Brendan DuBois The Invention of Sound - Chuck Palahniuk We Could Be Heroes - Mike Chen Time and Again - Clifford D. Simak Other books mentioned The Martian - Andy Weir Resurrection Day - Brendan DuBois Everything You Want Me to Be - Mindy Mejia Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk The Girl on the Train - Paula Hawkins City - Clifford D. Simak Way Station - Clifford D. Simak Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

It's Chapter 32 of the Okie Bookcast! Today I talk with Kylar Merrell, comic writer and artist and the driving force behind Foreign Press Comics - an Oklahoma-based publisher. Kylar has created several titles, including Terminal, Valkyrian, and his contributions to the newly released Fletcher Cross anthology. He's also the host of the Comics Unscripted podcast. He describes himself as a fifth grade science teacher by day and a comic creator and publisher by night. We have a great time talking about the world of independent comics, but also about the creative process and the cool ways in which Kylar is using Foreign Press Comics to bring artists together. Connect with Kylar: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website | Podcast Our reviewer for this episode is John-Eric Osborn. Eric is a comic artist and creator whose work includes one of my favorite comics - We Promised Utopia - and one of my Next Great Read cohost Hannah’s favorites - Hiro Doggie: Space Corgi. Eric is reviewing Desolation Jones by Warren Ellis and J.H. Williams. Connect with Eric: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website Mentioned on the show: DC New 52 Francis Manapul Adora and the Distance - Mark Bernadin, Ariela Kristantina (Illustrator) and Bryan Valenza (Illustrator) Pandemics in Panels - Foreign Press Comics Fletcher Cross - Foreign Press Comics SoonerCon New World ComicCon New World Comics New Star Comics The Rez Detectives: Justice Served Cold - Steven Paul Judd (Author), Tvli Jacob (Author), M. K. Perker (Illustrator) Heathen - Natasha Alterici Blankets - Craig Thompson Skim - Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki Fun Home - Alison Bechdel Comics Unscripted Podcast Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

It's Chapter 31 of the Okie Bookcast! My guest is award-winning children's author, Mariana Llanos. Mariana is a Peruvian-born writer of children’s books who has lived in Oklahoma since 2002 and started her publishing career in 2013 with her book Tristan Wolf. She is the author of 12 published books, the latest of which, Run Little Chaski, an Inka Trail Adventure, won the 2022 Oklahoma Book Award in the children’s books category. She also recently released an audio story titled Qoritika and the Three Alpacas, produced by Sony Music Entertainment. Connect with Mariana: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website Our review comes from June Coleman. June is a retired Language Arts teacher from Yukon. Always wanting to write a book, reading about Fred Rogers caught her attention when he wrote, “Let some word that is heard be yours.” June says we are never too old to change our trajectory; but we must be willing to step WAY OUT of our comfort zones. So, she did just that in releasing her debut Christian children’s book “Introducing Joyfull Lee” for ages 5-9. Her purpose was to promote reading and show children what forgiveness and grace looks like in a world somewhat lacking in both. June says that chocolate won’t solve many problems, but it’s a fine place to start. June reviews 96 Miles by J. L. Esplin. Connect with June: Instagram | Facebook Mentioned on the Show: Run Little Chaski - Mariana Llanos Run Little Chaski song in English and Spanish Qoritika and the Three Alpacas - Mariana Llanos LatinX Pitch SCBWI The Last Cuentista - Donna Barba Higuera Singing with Elephants - Margarita Engel Introducing Joyfull Lee - June Coleman 96 Miles - J. L. Esplin Music by JuliusH Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

It's a family affair on Your Next Great Read! Co-hosts J Hall and Hannah Joy Herron are joined by special guest, Susan Hall (J's Mom and Hannah's Grammie). We're talking about what we're reading, why we love it, and why you might love it, too. We've got something for everyone in this conversation - children's books, comics, thrillers, historical fiction, and more. Remember - you can purchase all the books mentioned on the show through the links below or by visiting the Next Great Read store on Bookshop.org. Connect with Hannah: website | Twitter | Instagram Susan Her Hidden Genius - Marie Benedict The Boys from Biloxi - John Grisham Horse - Geraldine Brooks Giraffes Can’t Dance - Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees Hannah The Missing - C L Taylor What Alice Forgot - Laine Moriarty Dark Places - Gillian Flynn Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone - J. K. Rowling J Heat 2 - Michael Mann and Meg Gardiner Prize for the Fire - Rilla Askew Glamorella’s Daughter - Bennett and Martin Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective - Donald J. Sobol Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

My guest for Chapter 30 of the Bookcast is Rilla Askew. Rilla is the author of five novels, a book of stories, and a collection of creative nonfiction, MOST AMERICAN: NOTES FROM A WOUNDED PLACE, which was long-listed for the PEN/America Award for the Art of the Essay. She’s a PEN/Faulkner finalist, recipient of the Western Heritage Award, Oklahoma Book Award, and a 2009 Arts and Letters Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Her novel about the Tulsa Race Massacre, FIRE IN BEULAH, received the American Book Award in 2002. Her essays and short fiction have appeared in AGNI, Tin House, World Literature Today, Prize Stories: The O. Henry Awards, and elsewhere. In addition to writing, Rilla currently teaches creative writing in the English Department at the University of Oklahoma. Her latest novel, PRIZE FOR THE FIRE, published by OU Press, is about the Early Modern English martyr Anne Askew. In our conversation we talk about Prize for the Fire and about the challenges of writing a historical fiction biography. We also discuss the themes of strong women in difficult circumstances and religion across all of Rilla’s work. Finally, Rilla provides some incredible advice for emerging authors that I think you’ll find really encouraging. E. Joe Brown provides our review for this chapter. Joe’s latest novel "A Cowboy's Destiny" released in August and has made several best seller lists in Oklahoma. In support of the book, he launched three book signing tours across Oklahoma, Kansas, and New Mexico this fall. Joe has been a guest on several radio programs in Oklahoma and New Mexico, most recently appearing on the LA Talk Radio program Rendezvous with The Writer. Joe is reviewing Chandler is Dead by Robert D. Kidera. Mentioned on the Show: Nimrod International Journal Fire in Beulah - Rilla Askew Wolf Hall - Hilary Mantel Strange Business - Rilla Askew The Mercy Seat - Rilla Askew The Hummingbird's Daughter - Luis Alberto Urrea Joan: A Novel of Joan of Arc - Katherine J. Chen A Cowboy's Destiny - E. Joe Brown Chandler is Dead - Robert D. Kidera Music by JuliusH Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH