Okie Bookcast

Welcome to Chapter 49! My guests are Britni Brecheen and Kathryn Lynn - two friends who are launching a new bookstore and cafe in OKC. Britni has worked in bookstores and libraries for 12+ years and is currently a homeschool mom of two. Kathryn's first job was in a bookstore at the age of 15. They have had many jobs in many places, but reading and writing has been constant, and for them, it all comes back to books. In our conversation we talk about their vision for the new bookstore and its place in their geographic community, but also the wider bookish community of Oklahoma City. We also get into what led them to want to open the store, the ups and downs of getting the store off the ground, and a brief interlude about time spent in an international jail. You’re going to love hearing about the level of detail with which they are chasing their dream and their passion for books and readers. Connect with Second Story Books: Instagram | Facebook | Website | Bookshop.org Our review for this episode comes from blogger, aspiring author, and new mom, Samantha Bailey. She is a former educator who is taking some time out of the classroom to focus on raising her daughter and working on finishing her works in progress, including a children’s book that will release in 2024. Samantha is reviewing Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy. Connect with Samantha: Instagram | Website Mentioned on the Show: Frog and Toad - Arnold Lobel Homegoing - Yaa Gyasi Shark Heart - Emily Habeck Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution - R.F. Kuang To Shape a Dragon's Breath - Moniquill Blackgoose The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson Garlic and the Vampire - Bree Paulsen Garlic and the Witch - Bree Paulsen Under the Whispering Door - T.J. Klune Migrations - Charlotte McConaghy Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

Welcome to Chapter 48 of the Okie Bookcast! My guest is Susy Smith, author of Ascendant, the new book in her award-winning Asylum series, a set of dystopian novels set in Oklahoma that explore the intricacies of survival, freedom, and the dark side of human nature. In our conversation we talk about her novels and about starting her writing career a bit later in life. We also talk about setting books in Oklahoma, her poetry, and her important work with the Kanza tribe in the area of language learning and retention. Connect with Susy: website | Facebook | TikTok | Instagram | Twitter Our review for this episode comes from poet Sydney Aerin. Sydney is a licensed therapist who is passionate about mental health education, disability awareness, and equality for all. You can find Sydney's performance and publication information on her Instagram (@sydneysometimes), including a couple of performances coming later in September at the Sunny Dayz Mural Festival and Norman Arts in the Wind. You can also hear Sydney perform her poetry in Volume 5 and the upcoming Volume 6 of Behind the Rain, our audio anthology of Oklahoma poetry at okiebookcast.com/behind the rain. Sydney is reviewing Love Letters for Women, a poetry collection by another Oklahoma City poet (and Behind the Rain contributor) Kristen Grace. Connect with Sydney: Instagram Mentioned on the Show: Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins The Walking Dead - Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore Robert Frost Edgar Allen Poe The Inheritance Games series - Jennifer Lynn Barnes The Brothers Hawthorne - Jennifer Lynn Barnes Where the Red Fern Grows - Wilson Rawls A Wrinkle in Time and A Wind in the Door - Madeline L'Engle Emily of New Moon series - Lucy Maud Montgomery Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

It's the birthday episode of Your Next Great Read! Hannah and I talk about books we've discovered through the show and have our usual conversations about what we're reading and why you might love it. We also have a speed round segment of favorite books our listeners read in high school. Connect with Hannah: website | Twitter | Instagram Hannah Boom Town: The Fantastical Saga of Oklahoma City, Its Chaotic Founding... Its Purloined Basketball Team, and the Dream of Becoming a World-class Metropolis - Sam Anderson Uncle Paul - Celia Fremlen In My Dreams I Hold a Knife - Ashley Winstead You Shouldn’t Have Come Here - Jeneva Rose The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald J The Long Walk - Stephen King All the Sinners Bleed - S.A. Cosby Remarkably Bright Creatures - Shelby Van Pelt The Ferryman - Justin Cronin Les Miserables - Victor Hugo Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

Welcome to Chapter 47! Today I'm joined by 3 of the hosts of the 3 Book Girls podcast - Martha, Magen, and Vonnie. We have a blast talking about their podcast, a ton of books from every genre, and how the 3BG are essentially The Avengers. Since they review books, I asked Magen to provide the review for this episode and she talks about Love and Other Great Expectations by Becky Dean. Connect with 3 Book Girls: website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok Mentioned on the Show: Vonnie Ken Follett The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett The Burning: The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 - Tim Madigan The Tattooist of Auschwitz - Heather Morris The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien Odd Thomas - Dean Koontz Magen Ali Hazelwood Book Lovers - Emily Henry So This Is Christmas - Tracy Andreen If This Gets Out - Sofie Gonzalez and Cale Deitrich Unmasked - Paul Holes First King of Shannara - Terry Brooks Shadowhunters - Cassandra Clare Martha Stephen King Dungeon Crawler Carl - Matt Dinniman Undercurrents - Mary Anna Evans Small Gods - Terry Pratchett Children of Time - Adrian Tchaikovsky Empire of Silence - Christopher Ruocchio Maeve Fly - C. J. Leede The Princess of Mars - Edgar Rice Burroughs Others Frog Music - Emma Donoghue The Evening and the Morning - Ken Follet The Power - Naomi Alderman Love and Other Great Expectations - Becky Dean Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

Welcome to Chapter 46! My guest is Eileen Hobbs, author of the five books in the The Heath Cousins Series. Eileen grew up in Thailand as the child of missionaries and those experiences have found their way into her work, especially her most recent standalone book, Under the Golden Rain Tree. Eileen worked and taught at the University of Oklahoma for over 20 years, but is now focused on her writing career. In our conversation we talk about Eileen’s work and the inspirations behind her books. We also talk about the importance of character progression in book series, some advice for emerging middle-grade authors, and the fun of getting to interact with students and teachers around her books. Connect with Eileen: Website | Instagram | Facebook Jensen Bloom is our reviewer. Jensen is a medical writer and editor who lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In the rest of her time, she enjoys science fiction, humor, movies, and writing children's literature. She loves to travel and would go to outer space if they would let her. Jensen reviews Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Connect with Jensen: Twitter | Instagram Mentioned on the Show: The Silent Patient - Alex Michaelides Rizzo and Isles series - Tess Gerritsen Not a Happy Family - Shari Lapena Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden The Ginger Tree - Oswald Wynd The Enchanted April - Elizabeth Von Arnim Little Women - Louisa May Alcott Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

We've got a special episode of YNGR! Hannah is traveling so I've got a special guest co-host joining me, my friend and sister-in-law, Kami Weems. Kami and I are joined by author and podcaster, Chad Lehrmann. Chad has written a variety of horror and paranormal novels as well as nonfiction work about education and history. Connect with Chad: Instagram | TikTok | Author Page Chad Chasing the Devil: My Twenty-Year Quest to Capture the Green River Killer by Sheriff David Reichert In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson The Eradic By S. Goody Shattering the Perfect Teacher Myth by Aaron Hogan Kami Anxious People by Fredrik Backman The Pilot’s Daughter by Audrey J. Cole The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton J Drowning: The Rescue of Flight 1421 by T.J. Newman The Bomber Mafia by Malcom Gladwell Kindred by Octavia Butler The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

Welcome to Chapter 45! For this conversation, I had the joy of sitting down with married authors Will and Julia Thomas. Will is a two time Oklahoma Book Award winner and the author of fourteen Victorian Era mysteries, the Barker and Llewelyn novels. His books have received Shamus and Barry nominations and numerous starred reviews. The latest book in the series - Heart of the Nile - released earlier this year. Connect with Will: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Julia Bryan Thomas is the author of two contemporary British mysteries (under the name Julia Thomas) and two historical novels. Her WWII-era novel, For Those Who Are Lost, was an Oklahoma Book Award finalist and has been selected by the Library of Congress to represent Oklahoma at the 2023 National Book Festival. Julia’s latest book - The Radcliffe Ladies Reading Club - also released earlier this year. Connect with Julia: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Mentioned on the show: Anna Karinina - Leo Tolstoy Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte A Room of One's Own - Virginia Woolf Gift from the Sea - Anne Morrow Lindbergh The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald The Splendid and the Vile - Erik Larson Some Danger Involved - Will Thomas For Those Who Are Lost - Julia Bryan Thomas A Gentleman in Moscow - Amor Towles The Secrets We Kept - Lara Prescott Close to Shore: The Terrifying Shark Attacks of 1916 - Michael Capuzzo Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania - Erik Larson Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

Welcome to the first anniversary volume of Behind the Rain! We've been at this for a year and have had the joy of presenting 56 poems from 31 Oklahoma poets. Here's the lineup for this edition of the anthology: Dream Walking - Rebecca Lemke @newcrunchymomrebeccalemke.comBull Headed - Brand Rackley @brandrackleySpider - Jackie Kraft acebook@jackie.kraft.58Where--In That Dark Deep--Are You? - David Jennings @DJennPhotosdavidjenningsartinphotographyandpoetry.comEvent Horizon - Henbit @henbits.daffodilsDelivery - Carson Baumann @carsonsarahhkindacraftyokc.comRed From Roses - Thomas Juarez @thomasj66714281Sweat Dreems - Sydney Aerin @sydneysometimesOklahoma City Is: - Lucas Dunn There Is Nothing You Can PossessThe National Geographic Article Claims the Spiders Have Dreams - Gary Reddin @reddinwritesShoveling Out - Seth Copeland @SethTCopelandhttps://neutralspaces.co/seth_t_copeland/If you'd like to submit a poem for consideration for Volume Six of Behind the Rain (releasing October 13, 2023), visit okiebookcast.com/behindtherain for details. Submission deadline is September 15! Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

It's Chapter 44! My guest is John J. Dwyer, author of The Oklahomans and several other history and historical fiction titles. John grew up in Duncan and taught History and Ethics at Southern Nazarene University from 2006-2021. He also had a successful career in journalism and broadcasting before making the switch to writing books. John’s books have won both state and nationals awards, including the Will Rogers Medallion award for Western literature. When he’s not writing, John is president of the Red River Institute of History and is part of the Oklahoma Gold! radio program and podcast that features colorful and inspiring tales from Oklahoma History. Connect with John: website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Oklahoma Gold! Steven Wedel provides our review for this episode. Steven has published 37 books under his own name and two pseudonyms. Steve is an English teacher by day, who previously worked as a journalist, public relations director, corporate writer, and a lot of other things that didn't have to do with writing. His latest book - First Born - released earlier this summer. Steven is keeping with our theme of cowboys and history with his review of Deer Run Trail by David R. Lewis. Connect with Steven: website | Instagram | Twitter Mentioned on the show: The Oklahomans (Book 1 and Book 2) - John J. Dwyer James Michener Dr. Bob Blackburn Jerry Bennett The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre: A Photographic History Volume 1 - Dr. Karlos K. Hill Oklahoma Gold! podcast Winds of War - Herman Wouk War and Remembrance - Herman Wouk Lonesome Dove - Larry McMurtry Horseman, Pass By - Larry McMurty Pretty Boy Floyd - Larry McMurtry Michael Wallace Bob Burke Washington: The Indispensable Man - James Thomas Flexner Oklahoma Gold! on Waddy Young Deer Run Trail - David R. Lewis Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

This month, Hannah and I are joined by author and editor Rebecca Inch-Partridge. Rebecca is an author, an editor, and an avid science fiction fan who grew up imagining a more inclusive world for women writers. Today, she is shaping that reality with the publication of her first YA science fantasy novel, Escaping the Dashia, from Black Rose Writing. Connect with Rebecca: website | Facebook | Instagram Connect with Hannah: website | Twitter | Instagram Rebecca War Mage, Book 2 of the Spellmonger series by Terry Mancour The Case for Mars - Robert Zubrin Trainee - Margaret McGaffey Fisk Terrier: The Legend of Beka Cooper #1 - Tamora Pierce Hannah The Boy From the Woods - Harlen Coben Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros The Husband’s Secret - Liane Moriarty Half Resurrection Blues - Daniel Jose Older J 61 Hours - Lee Child All the Pretty Horses - Cormac McCarthy Check out Aaron Gwyn's obituary of McCarthyA Boy and His Dog at the End of the World - C.A. Fletcher Mort - Terry Pratchett Discworld novels by themes or characters Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

I had so much fun talking with children's author, Tammi Sauer! Tammi is a former teacher and library media specialist, who now works as a full-time children's book author. Her books have received accolades including starred Kirkus reviews, the NPR Best Book of the Year, Bank Street College Best Book of the Year, and the Oklahoma Book Award. Her books have been translated into several languages and some of them have even been adapted into musicals. In addition to her writing, Tammi speaks at schools and writing workshops all over the country, talking about her books and encouraging kids to be both readers and writers. In our conversation, you’ll hear a lot of the advice she shares with young authors and also about her books, her writing process, and the inside scoop on working with illustrators. Connect with Tammi: website | Twitter | Instagram Since we’re talking about picture books on this episode, I’m throwing things back to the November edition of Your Next Great Read for our review. Our guest for that show - retired elementary teacher and my Mom, Susan Hall - talks about Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees. Mentioned on the Show: The Mitten - Jan Brett You Go First - Ariel Bernstein (Author) and Marc Rosenthal (Illustrator) Chez Bob - Bob Shea Paper Towns - John Green Giraffes Can't Dance - Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees Books by Tammi Sauer Cowboy Camp - w/ Mike Reed Mary Had a Little Plan - w/ Vanessa Brantley-Newton Mary Had a Little Glam - w/ Vanessa Brantley-Newton All Kinds of Special - w/ Fernando Martin The Underpants - w/ Joren Cull Not Now, Cow - w/ Troy Cummings One Sheep, Two Sheep - w/ Troy Cummings Nugget and Fang - w/ Michael Slack Knock, Knock - w/ Guy Francis Chicken Dance - w/ Dan Santat Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

It's Chapter 42! For our conversation today, we're taking a look at indie authorship with a couple of fantastic young independent authors - Tyler Lenz and Amy Prokopis. Tyler Lenz was born in Enid, OK, and attended college at Oklahoma State University. He lives in Moore, OK with his wife, Roxanne, and two children where he currently works as the communications manager for a trucking company. Tyler has always enjoyed writing but only recently started taking it seriously after releasing his first book, "The Seam: Book One of Texas Accelerated." Connect with Tyler: TikTok | Facebook | Instagram Amy Prokopis is a friend of the podcast. She provided a review way back in episode 17 and was also featured in our Where Are They Now episode from January. Amy writes young adult fiction - everything from science fiction to fantasy to contemporary romance. Amy’s latest book is the second in her Guardians of the Sixth Gate trilogy. It’s called Shade of the Shadowlands and released just a few days ago! Connect with Amy: website | Instagram | TikTok Our review is from debut author Christina Rost. Christina’s contemporary romance novel, called The Decision, just released from Scrivenings Press. Connect with Christina: website | Facebook Christina is reviewing a book called UnDistracted: Capture Your Purpose Rediscover Your Joy by one of my favorite authors and speakers - Bob Goff. Mentioned on the Show: The Seam - Tyler Lenz The Arena - Amy Prokopis Guardians of the Sixth Gate - Amy Prokopis Shade of the Shadowlands - Amy Prokopis Adrian's Undead Diary - Chris Philbrook Bobiverse Series - Dennis E. Taylor The Serpent and the Wings of Night - Carissa Broadbent Harry Potter Series - J.K. Rowling Hatchet - Gary Paulson The Decision - Christian Rost Undistracted: Capture Your Purpose. Rediscover Your Joy - Bob Goff Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

We're back! No guest for this month's YNGR, so Hannah and I are taking a look at some books we're excited to read this summer. Hannah The Roanoke Girls - Amy Engel Confessions - Kanae Minato, Stephen Snyder Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chobsky Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros The Husband’s Secret - Liane Moriarty You Shouldn’t Have Come Here - Jeneva Rose J A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World - C.A. Fletcher Dogs of War - Adrian Tchakovsky Tell Me an Ending - Jo Harkin Wayward - Chuck Wendig The Ferryman - Justin Cronin Children of Memory - Adrian Tchaikovsky Connect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Shop the Bookcast on Bookshop.org Music by JuliusH

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