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Virtual Book Tour

Arts & Culture Podcasts

Since we've never been ones to keep interesting new books to ourselves, we're kicking off a series of conversations with Book of the Month authors about God only knows what. Recorded at Book of the Month headquarters on West 27th St. in front of a live audience of raucous employees! Give us your ears and we'll give you a look into the minds of writers we admire and a treasure trove of anecdotes, wisdom, and fun. Suggestions or ideas? Email us at virtualbooktour@bookofthemonth.com.

Location:

United States

Description:

Since we've never been ones to keep interesting new books to ourselves, we're kicking off a series of conversations with Book of the Month authors about God only knows what. Recorded at Book of the Month headquarters on West 27th St. in front of a live audience of raucous employees! Give us your ears and we'll give you a look into the minds of writers we admire and a treasure trove of anecdotes, wisdom, and fun. Suggestions or ideas? Email us at virtualbooktour@bookofthemonth.com.

Language:

English


Episodes
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Makiia Lucier would never eat a seadragon egg.

4/30/2024
The best way to listen to Virtual Book Tour is in the Book of the Month app! Makiia Lucier, author of Dragonfruit, joins us on this week’s episode of Virtual Book Tour! We learned that this beautiful fantasy novel was inspired by Makiia’s own memories of growing up on Guam and the historical elements that she used as inspiration for her story. Hanalei of Tamarind is the cherished daughter of an old island family, but when her father steals a seadragon egg meant for an ailing princess, she is forced into a life of exile. In the years that follow, she finds solace in studying the majestic seadragons, until an encounter with a female dragon offers what she desires most. A chance to return home, and to right a terrible wrong. Get Dragonfruit at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Duration:00:21:23

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Yulin Kuang on what makes an office romance so hot.

4/23/2024
The best way to listen to Virtual Book Tour is in the Book of the Month app! We had so much fun with Yulin Kuang, author of How to End a Love Story! We talked about her journey from screenwriter to author, what it's like to work in a writer's room, and what makes office romances so hot. Helen Zhang hasn’t seen Grant Shepard in the thirteen years since the tragic accident that bound their lives together forever. Now, a bestselling author, Helen earned a coveted spot in the writers’ room of the TV adaptation of her novel, only to find that Grant is the screenwriter on her show. Can they write themselves a new ending? Get How to End a Love Story at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Duration:00:29:55

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Simone Gorrindo on the unusual expectations of a military wife.

4/16/2024
The best way to listen to Virtual Book Tour is in the Book of the Month app! Simone Gorrindo joins us on this week's episode of VBT to discuss her new memoir, The Wives. We talk about uprooting her life from Manhattan to rural Georgia, the unusual expectations of being a military wife, and how her view of friendship changed. The Wives tells the story of one woman’s experience of joining a community of Army wives after leaving her New York City job - a profound intimate look at marriage, friendship, and today’s America. Get The Wives at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Duration:00:30:15

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Holly Gramazio created every single person’s dream attic.

4/9/2024
The best way to listen to Virtual Book Tour is in the Book of the Month app! On this week’s episode, we sit down with Holly Gramazio to discuss her debut novel, The Husbands. We talked about the choice fatigue that comes with online dating, her background in game design, and the importance of playing to feel at home When Lauren returns home to her flat in London one night, she is greeted at the door by her husband. There’s only one problem–she’s not married. As she tries to puzzle out how she could be married to someone she can’t remember meeting, her husband goes to the attic and abruptly disappears. In his place, a new man emerges, and she realizes that her attic is creating an infinite supply of husbands. Get The Husbands at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Duration:00:25:48

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Ashton Lattimore on the fight for freedom in 1830s Philadelphia.

4/2/2024
The best way to listen to Virtual Book Tour is in the Book of the Month app! On this week’s episode, we sit down with Ashton Lattimore to discuss her debut novel, All We Were Promised. We dove deep on the evolution of abolition in Philadelphia, how family ties bond us, and how her background as a lawyer and journalist finds its way into her writing. A housemaid with a dangerous family secret conspires with a wealthy young abolitionist to help an enslaved girl escape, in volatile pre-Civil War Philadelphia. Together, they will risk everything for one another in this story of friendship, deception, and women crossing boundaries in the name of freedom. Get All We Were Promised at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Duration:00:28:32

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Steve Cavanagh’s hangover sent him to law school.

3/26/2024
All the way from Ireland, Steve Cavanagh joins us in the BOTM office to discuss his new thriller, Kill For Me, Kill For You. We discussed where the idea of a murder swap originated, when to get your revenge, and how a hangover sent him to law school. One dark evening on NYC’s Upper West Side, two strangers meet by chance. Over drinks, they realize how much they have in common, especially loneliness and an intense desire for revenge against the men who destroyed their families. As they talk into the night, they come up with the perfect plan: if you kill for me, I’ll kill for you. Get Kill For Me, Kill For You at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Duration:00:10:38

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Amy Lin says grief is the final form of love.

3/19/2024
Amy Lin joins us at the BOTM HQ to discuss her new memoir, Here After. This was such a beautiful and moving conversation about how her late husband inspires her to be brave every day, why grief is the final form of love, and the importance of community during loss. Amy Lin never expected to find a love like the one she shares with her husband. Here After is a rich and unflinchingly honest portrayal of her life with her late husband, the vortex created by his death, and the ongoing struggle she faces as she attempts to understand her own experience in the context of commonly held “truths” about what the grieving process looks like. Get Here After at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Duration:00:11:24

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Sierra Greer predicts robot girlfriends.

3/12/2024
On this week’s episode, we sit down with Sierra Greer, author of Annie Bot! We had so much fun talking about the future of AI, the ways we never stop coming-of-age, and we play a rapid fire game of “Real or Fake AI.” Annie Bot was created to be the perfect girlfriend for her human owner. Designed to satisfy his emotional and physical needs, she has dinner ready for him every night, wears the outfits he orders for her, and adjusts her libido to suit his moods. But becoming more human also means becoming less perfect, and as Annie’s relationship grows more intricate and difficult, she starts to wonder: does he really desire what he says he wants? Get Annie Bot at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Duration:00:10:02

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Xochitl Gonzalez owes her college roommate $20.

3/5/2024
We are so excited to sit down with Xochitl Gonzalez to discuss her newest book Anita de Monte Laughs Last! We discussed why this book feels more personal to her than her debut, how our view of relationships change as we grow older, and why she owes her college roommate $20. Anita de Monte, a rising star in the art world, is found dead in NYC; her tragic death is the talk of the town. Until it isn’t. By 1998, Anita’s name has been all but forgotten, certainly by the time Raquel, a third-year art history student, is preparing for her final thesis. But when Raquel finds herself rising up the social ranks, she stumbles upon Anita’s story, raising questions about the dynamics of her own relationship. Get Anita de Monte Laughs Last at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Duration:00:11:01

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Cara Bastone is rooting for the nice guy.

2/29/2024
This is a preview of our episode with Cara Bastone, author of Ready or Not. Our full conversation is available for free in the Book of the Month app. Cara Bastone joined us at the BOTM HQ to talk about her new book, Ready or Not! We had so much fun talking about how she first conceived of this story (pun intended), how to show up for someone who is expecting, and how she was first introduced to the romance genre. Eve Hatch is pretty content with her life, until she finds herself expecting after an uncharacteristic one-night stand. The unplanned pregnancy cracks open all of the relationships in her life. Eve’s loyal friendship with her best friend Willa is feeling off, right when she needs her most. And it’s Willa’s brother who steps up to help. Before long, Eva is rethinking everything she thought she knew about herself and her world. Get Ready or Not at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Duration:00:10:44

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Kristin Hannah shines a light on the forgotten women of the Vietnam War.

2/27/2024
This is a preview of our episode with Kristin Hannah, author of The Women. Our full conversation is available for free in the Book of the Month app. We sit down with 3-peat BOTM author Kristin Hannah to discuss her new book, The Women! We talk about the original inspiration behind the book, the role women played in the Vietnam War, and the importance of engaging with our history. When Frances McGrath’s brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path. As inexperienced as the men sent to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death and hope and betrayal. But war is just the beginning; the real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America. Get The Women at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Duration:00:08:30

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Avery Cunningham on the melting pot of 1920s Chicago.

2/13/2024
We sat down with Avery Cunningham to discuss her debut novel, The Mayor of Maxwell Street. We discussed the wealthy's pastime in horse racing, the seedy underbelly of organized crime, and the lesson Avery took from writing this story. After the unexpected death of her only brother, Nelly becomes the premier debutante overnight, but Nelly has aspirations beyond society influence and marriage. For the past year, she has worked undercover as an investigative journalist, sharing the achievements and tribulations of everyday Black people living in the shadow of Jim Crow. Her latest assignment thrusts her into the den of a dangerous vice lord: the Mayor of Maxwell Street. Get The Mayor of Maxwell Street at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Duration:00:34:19

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Yangsze Choo knows when you're lying.

2/6/2024
We're speaking with Yangsze Choo about her new book, The Fox Wife! We talked about why Yangsze based this story in 1908 Manchuria, how her time abroad informed her approach to stories, and of course, magic. In the last years of the dying Qing Empire, a courtesan is found frozen in a doorway. Her death is clouded by rumors of foxes, which are believed to lure people by transforming themselves into beautiful women and handsome men. Taking inspiration from Chinese folklore, this winter tale follows a fox seeking revenge in the dangerous world of men. Get The Fox Wife at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Duration:00:32:43

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Rebecca Ross finds magic in everyday life.

2/1/2024
Rebecca Ross joins us on Virtual Book Tour to discuss her duology - Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows. We had a magical time talking about the duality that lives in all of us, why romantasy is a genre capturing readers, and how Rebecca's love of fantasy started. In this epic follow-up to Divine Rivals, Iris has returned from the front, but the war is far from over. Roman is missing, and the city of Oath continues to dwell in a state of disbelief and ignorance. As the days grow darker, inevitably drawing Roman and Iris closer together, the two of them will risk their very hearts and futures to change the tides of the war. Get Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Duration:00:25:20

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Amy Jo Burns on the beauty of regret.

1/30/2024
On this week's episode, we sit down with Amy Jo Burns, author of Mercury! We had a great time speaking about the legacy of making things with your hands, why we should be rethinking the term "Rust Belt," and the learnings that come with regret. It’s 1990 and seventeen-year-old Marley West is blazing into the river valley town of Mercury, Pennsylvania. A perpetual loner, she seeks a place at someone’s table and a family of her own. The first thing she sees when she arrives in town is three men standing on a rooftop. The Joseph brothers become Marley’s whole world before she can blink. Get Mercury at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Duration:00:33:46

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Alex Michaelides is playing with your expectations.

1/23/2024
We are so excited to be welcoming Alex Michaelides, three-time BOTM author, onto VBT for this week's episode! We took a peek behind the emerald curtain and got to learn more about how he plays with the expectations of the reader, why The Fury is a whydunit rather than a whodunit, and how Alex fell back in love with writing. Lana Farrar is a reclusive ex-movie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to escape and spend Easter on her private Greek island. It has all the necessary ingredients for a press sensation: a celebrity; a private island cut off by the wind…and a murder. Get The Fury at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Duration:00:36:47

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Molly Roden Winter and the perks of open marriage.

1/18/2024
Live from the BOTM headquarters, Molly Roden Winter joins us to discuss her new memoir, More. We talked about everything from motherhood, outdoor escapades, and the intricacies of an open marriage. This episode had the whole office in tears from laughing; you're in for a treat! Molly Roden Winter was a mom of two young children with her husband, Stewart. One night, when Stewart missed the kids’ bedtime, again, she stormed out of the house to clear her head. At impromptu drinks with a friend, she met an unbelievably hot younger man. When Molly told her husband that Matt had asked her out, she was surprised that he encouraged her to accept. There began Molly’s open marriage and with it a life-changing journey of self-discovery. Get More at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Duration:00:43:45

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Amy Pease is a little too fond of eyebrows.

1/9/2024
We are so excited to be sitting down with Amy Pease to talk about her debut book, Northwoods. We loved getting to hear about her experience going from a Book of the Month long-time member to author, and we also talked about the hallmarks of writing a small town mystery, how her work as a healthcare provider helped her writing, and Amy's favorite niche sub genre. Eli North’s drinking is getting worse by the day, his emotional wounds after his deployment in Afghanistan are as raw as ever, his marriage and career are over, and the only job he can hold down is at the local sheriff’s department with his mother. When the body of a boy is found in the lake, Eli has the opportunity to solve the case and get the shot at redemption he so desperately needs. Or will answers to this dark case elude him and continue to bring destruction to the Northwoods? Get Northwoods at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.

Duration:00:28:27

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Emily Austin, family relationships, and phobias of bald men.

1/2/2024
New Year, new Virtual Book Tour Episode! We are so excited to be kicking off 2024 with Emily Austin, author of Interesting Facts About Space! We discuss writing about anxiety, rediscovering artifacts from our youth, and of course, space. Enid is obsessed with space and can tell you any fact without batting an eye in fear. Her one major phobia? Bald men. But she tries to keep that one under wraps. When she’s not listening to her favorite true crime podcasts on a loop, she’s serially dating a rotation of women from dating apps, while also trying to forge a relationship with her estranged half-sisters. Interesting Facts about Space shows us the power of revealing our secret shames, the most beautifully human parts of us all. Get Interesting Facts About Space at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Duration:00:38:31

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Josie Silver is bringing the holiday cheer.

12/26/2023
We have the perfect episode for the holiday season–we are talking with Josie Silver about her newest book, A Winter in New York. We talk about the inspiration to set the story in New York, how grief reshapes our approach to love, and we learn some interesting facts about the history behind Valentine's Day. When Iris takes a walk through Little Italy, a family-run gelateria catches her eyes, and she realizes that it's the same shop that is in an old photo of her mother’s. Curious, Iris returns the next day and learns that the sole keeper of their family’s gelato recipe is sick and the shop is in danger of closing. When Iris samples the gelato, she realizes that their gelato and her mother’s are one in the same. Get A Winter in New York at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Duration:00:31:11