Beyond the Next Chapter with Whitney Clark (Whitney Clark)

In this episode of "Beyond the Next Chapter," our host Whitney Clark chats with author Ashley Poston about her new book. "A Novel Love Story" is out today! Ashley is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of "The Dead Romantics" and "The Seven Year Slip." Ashley talks to Whitney about her favorite romance novels, how friendships grow and change as you get older, and the pros and cons of TikTok as an author. 

A very modern, NYC retelling of the Jane Austen classic, “Emma,” Taylor Hahn’s “The Lifestyle” is a beach read that will make you blush! The lawyer turned novelist joins Olivia in the podcast studio of her Arizona hometown to talk about the research she did- and didn’t do- to learn the swinger lifestyle for her sexy story.

The married attorney turned novelist talked about the eye-opening research that went into writing the story of Georgina Wagman (think Cher from Clueless, but smart and grown up,) and her sex-positive solution to saving her marriage after catching her husband with another woman. From a seemingly perfect life to complicated chaos, Hahn’s protagonist is funny and endearing and the cast of characters go through change that the writer found not just entertaining but meaningful. Taylor talks about her love for Peloton instructor Robin Arzon, and how one of her playlists played a key role in inspiring THE LIFESTYLE.

THE LIFESTYLE, published by Anchor Books, is out now. For more on the author, visit:

https://www.taylorhahn.com/

Moment With Margaret: Considering the Jane Austen inspiration for THE LIFESTYLE, Margaret recommends PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND OTHER FLAVORS BY Sonali Dev, and ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD by Tom Stoppard.

Ellice Littlejohn has succeeded as corporate attorney in Atlanta -in spite of her many secrets. A secret affair, a secret hidden crime, a childhood full of chaos and poverty she’d like to keep secret from colleagues and even friends. Secrets come to the service when her boss is killed, and Ellice responds in the only way she knows how: with more secrets.

Wanda M. Morris joins the podcast to talk about her debut novel, ALL HER LITTLE SECRETS. Morris is a corporate attorney who aspired to write a book for years, starting and stopping this one multiple times before its November 2021 release from William Morrow.

Wanda shares her reaction to her debut, from accolades and buzz out of Entertainment Weekly, Marie Clair, LA Times, to being the #1 Top Pick for “Library Reads” by librarians across the country.

Wanda shares with Olivia how reading a disappointing book was important to her own new career, how themes of racism, sexism, workplace tension and discrimination are central to the book, and why she needed to represent a middle-aged Black woman as her protagonist in the pages, and on the cover of her book.

In a Moment With Margaret, Olivia and Margaret talk about Margaret's big life changes (new job, new industry, new schedule, new hair!) and how this will shake up her reading habits.

Sharing from the recent reading lists in the spirit of ALL HER LITTLE SECRETS: Margaret recommends a different sort of workplace drama, WIDOW FALLS by Kiersten Modglin, another book full of twists and surprises.

Sarah joins the podcast to discuss her second novel, THE LONDON SEANCE SOCIETY. Book number two comes just two years after her instant New York Times #1 bestseller, THE LOST APOTHECARY. That literary tsunami-style splash was made on the heels of leaving a long, successful career working in finance. Yes, finance! Sarah talks with Olivia about her past career and the perk of traveling regularly to London, where she says, “she felt like I’d lived a previous life there. I felt so enchanted by the old brick alleyways... really enamored of it all. I knew I wanted to set my first book there and ended up setting THE LONDON SEANCE SOCIETY there as well.”

Sarah talks about researching her Victorian-era novel, writing strong female characters like Lenna and Vaudeline, and her own adventure gaining perspective of a séance, digging deeper into what grieving people are seeking when they desire connection with those who have passed, and how those emotions can make us vulnerable.

THE LONDON SEANCE SOCIETY is released March 7, 2023 by Park Row Books. For more on the author visit sarahpenner.com
Also mentioned in this podcast: HESTER by Laurie Lico Albanese. To hear Olivia’s previous conversation with Laurie about this book, listen to this podcast episode from October 20, 2022.

“Sometimes friendship can be deadly.”

In ONE OF US IS DEAD, Jeneva Rose delivers a deliciously dramatic thriller written from the perspectives of four women in the posh Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta, where Southern civility and hospitality is for show only. Jeneva Rose joins the podcast to talk about her approach to writing the novel, and how she uses her previous career in social media marketing to promote THE PERFECT MARRIAGE on #booktok, and the hilariously awkward (and successful) outcome. She talks to Olivia about her unique approach to writing the book blurb before the book, and the creative ways she made the most of an IRL book tour.

A Moment With Margaret: “BookTok Made Me Do It!”

Like Jeneva Rose’s viral videos from her husband, Margaret found Kiersten Modglin on TikTok, and discusses why she loves her books.

Likewise, THE FRIEND ZONE by Abby Jimenez, and THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS by Ali Hazelwood remain a #Booktok sensations, and Margaret shares her thoughts on both (one of them just might not live up to the hype!)

Erick Rickstad is a New York Times and international bestselling author of novels including “What Remains of Her” and “The Silent Girls.” He joined the podcast to talk to Olivia about his latest dark, psychological mystery, “I Am Not Who You Think I Am.” It’s a tale that starts in 1976, with a tragic act of violence witnessed by then 8-year-old Maynard, who is not only shaped by the trauma and loss, but by the mounting pressure of keeping a secret from that day he grows to regret. The core of the story focuses on a teenage Maynard, convinced he has a mystery to solve, while navigating complicated teenage friendships and desires that drive him to hold new, even darker secrets. Rickstad talked about the book’s unique narrative that begins with a letter from the police chief to the community, how his life in Vermont and love of the outdoors influences both what he writes and the way he writes it, and reflects on his early love of books and memories of first joining a book club where he was the only boy.

Margaret and Olivia discuss similar, darkly affecting psychological thrillers involving younger characters. Margaret recommends “The Chalk Man” by C.J. Tudor, and Olivia reflects on Donna Tartt’s “The Secret History.”

Summertime is road trip season, and this week’s podcast guest is the perfect guide to inspire our sense of adventure. Daniel Seddiqui joins Olivia to talk about his new book, “Piecing Together America: Serving the Best Features and Craftsmanship of Every Major City,” and the original book that put him on the map,”50 Jobs in 50 States.”

Daniel reflects on some of his most rewarding moments, encourages consumers to buy American, and shares some of his strategies for connecting with people anywhere, anytime, to find common ground and make friends of strangers.

For more on his epic adventures, visit https://www.livingthemap.com/

For the first time on Beyond the Next Chapter, our host Whitney Clark is chatting with a children's book author—and she's local! Lindsay Gonzales lives in the Valley and is the author of a series of books about a young girl named E.D. Camps. The main character is based off of Lindsay's daughter, Elena. Lindsay loves camping and when she and her husband started taking their young daughters, she couldn't find any books about camping. So she wrote one! Lindsay talks to Whitney about how she became a published author, her favorite books, why she loves camping with her family, and her favorite camping spots in Arizona! 

There aren’t many people around who read more than Barbara VanDenburgh, the former Arizona Republic writer turned USA Today Books Editor. When she’s not reading or writing about books, she’s talking about them, as host of the First Draft Book Club at Changing Hands Bookstore in Phoenix.

Barbara joined the podcast to share some of the early 2023 books she’s most excited about, including the current pick for her book club:

NIGHT WHEREVER WE GO, Tracey Rose Peyton LIFE ON DELAY: MAKING PEACE WITH A STUTTER, John Hendrickson

VICTORY CITY, Salman Rushdie

THE CLIMATE BOOK: THE FACTS AND THE SOLUTIONS, Greta Thunberg HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE, Grady Hendrix

NEVER NEVER, Colleen Hoover & Tarryn Fisher

OSCAR WARS: A HISTORY OF THE OSCARS IN GOLD, SWEAT AND TEARS, Michael Schulman

IMMORTALITY A LOVE STORY, Dana Schwartz LOVE PAMELA, Pamela Anderson

FINDING ME, Viola Davis

Books also mentioned in this episode:

FAIRY TALE, Stephen King

THE GLASS CASTLE and HANG THE MOON, Jeannette Walls

To follow Barbara’s work, visit: https://www.usatoday.com/staff/2646127001/barbara-vandenburgh/

Join First Draft Book Club: https://firstdraftbookbar.com/book-club 

Colleen Hoover is a publishing phenomenon, dominating bestseller lists with her catalog of novels week after week. She is a writer who breaks the rules, gliding between traditional publishing houses to self-publishing with ease, and who refuses to limit herself to genre or expectations. Her ability to create complex, emotionally relatable characters make her readers a devoted fanbase who would never miss a Hoover release and are committed to sharing their favorites with other readers online, effectively creating a volunteer publicity machine for work.

Colleen joins Olivia on the podcast this week to talk about her emotional new novel "Reminders of Him," the magical effect social media has had on her career, what she does to keep writing fun, and how her roots as a social worker influence her writing and her continued commitment to giving back, through her Bookworm Box : https://www.thebookwormbox.com/. "Reminders Of Him" is available now.

In a Moment With Margaret... Margaret checks in from California and talks about Colleen's books, authors who inspire you to check out their back catalogs, and recommends "The Man Who Died Twice" by Richard Osman.

For more on Colleen Hoover visit her website: https://www.colleenhoover.com/

To join Olivia's Book Club (currently reading "Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir) : https://www.facebook.com/groups/1215960705219244/

Connect with Olivia

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Oliviafierro

IG: https://www.instagram.com/olivias.bookclub/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/oliviafierro

Connect with Margaret:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/overbookedandoverdue/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GMAZMargaret

Irish writer Lisa Harding makes her American literary debut with the highly acclaimed novel, “Bright Burning Things.” Harding writes an emotionally powerful story of Sonya, an actress and single mother who is spiraling out of control, battling alcoholism and trauma. Her four-year-old son, Tommy, is simultaneously Sonya’s lifeline and her prison as the pressures of motherhood push her to her limits. The child is heartbreakingly saddled with playing the role of adult, adoring his mother, and anxiously navigating his unstable environment. Lisa joined the podcast from Dublin to talk about this emotionally raw story: her desire to tell a story of addiction authentically, her reaction to both the success of the book and reader reaction who found it too difficult. Formerly a professional actress, Lisa also tells Olivia about her experience recording the audiobook and what fueled the most stunning moments of her performance.

After the author interview, Olivia and Margaret discuss “Crying In H Mart” by Michelle Zauner and Rebecca Serle’s “One Italian Summer.”

“Bright Burning Things” is available in hardcover from HarperVia.

While many 8-year-old's love reading, not many start non-profits to comfort others! This week's episode of Beyond the Next Chapter features Anaik Sachdev, the Valley boy who started the organization "The Loving Library." He's also joined by his mom and younger brother who serves as an ambassador. The group donates books to kids who are in the hospital and they now have chapters across the country, even in the UK. Anaik got the idea after his grandma was hospitalized with COVID-19 and she was lonely. Since then, more than 15,000 books have been donated! They talk about how you can give back, their favorite books for kids, how the non-profit has been able to grow and the plans for the future!

"Dream Girl" is NYT bestselling author Laura Lippman's latest suspenseful novel.  Lippman calls it "a book lover's book." Told from the perspective of an acclaimed novelist, Gerry Anderson, whose literary relevance was cemented with publication of a book called "Dream Girl." The story finds Gerry bed-ridden and isolated, recovering from physical injury and the passing of his mother, when he starts receiving mysterious phone calls from his book's fictional character. 

Is he losing his mind? Or is someone out to get Gerry, and if so, why? A fresh look at life post #MeToo from the perspective of a man who may have a very unreliable take on his own past. Lippman talks with Olivia about the novel, a crossover from Tess Monaughan, her early days as a journalist, #MeToo, and her friendships with millenials. 

In a A Moment With Margaret, Olivia and Margaret discuss revenge themes and Margaret shares why she recommends both Joshilyn Jackson’s “Mother May I?” and S.A. Cosby’s “Razorblade Tears.

It has been too long since the podcast caught up on what Margaret is reading. Olivia’s favorite reader to turn to for book recommendations, the once weekly A Moment With Margaret conversation is the sole focus of this week’s podcast!
Devoted audiobook listener and reality TV watcher, Margaret shares the books she consumed over the last few months and the emoji that best captures her feelings about each one. She talks with Olivia about her reasoning for each, and they discover they disagree about at least one review!

Here’s her list of books to help you determine which are a must for your TBR pile, and what you may she’s reviewing, and telling Olivia why they inspired these emojis.

Keep up with her reading list by following @overbookedandoverdue on Instagram

Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese (historical fiction/spooky vibes) - 👍

The Office BFFs by Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey (nonfiction) - 👍

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney (suspense/thriller) - 👍

More Than You'll Ever Know by Kate Gutierrez (women's fiction, suspense) - 😏

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (women's fiction) - 👍👍

The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell (suspense/thriller) - 😏

The House Across the Lake (suspense/thriller) - 😏

The Island by Adrian McKinty (suspense/thriller) - 👎

Love Me as I Am by Garcelle Beavais (non fiction) - 😏

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley (suspense/thriller) - 👎

The Royals Next Door by Karina Halle (rom/com) - 🤗

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin (fiction) - 👍😭

In a bonus episode of “Beyond the Next Chapter,” our host Whitney Clark talks to author Steven Rowley about his newest book “The Guncle Abroad.” It’s the sequel to his hit novel “The Guncle” which was released in 2021. The sequel follows Patrick and his niece and nephew as their father gets married in Italy. Whitney talks to Stephen about how he mixes humor and heart, his own love story and what it's like to be an uncle in his real-life! 

“Jimmy was one of my favorite characters… even though he’s
dead. Dead from the first word!” declares Jennifer Hillier, when
talking about the character of Jimmy Peralta in her new thriller,
THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK. When Jimmy is found dead, his
wife Paris is arrested for his murder.

Jennifer joins Olivia on the podcast to talk about her approach
to the plot, why this book feels her most authentic yet, how
distance learning and her writing collided, all-nighters, chicken
adobo, and more.

Jennifer Hillier is an award-winning, bestselling author who
lives in Toronto. THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK is published by
Minotaur Books. Learn more about the author at
https://jenniferhillierbooks.com/

Whoa, the holidays are upon us (and the cost of dinner is up 20% on average!) So, let’s talk about what we’re thankful for: BOOKS! In particular the really special ones that stay with us well past the last page.

News anchor Whitney Clark is an avid reader (44 books and counting this year) and shares her top five for 2022 on this week’s podcast. Olivia couldn’t stick to such a tight list, but shares a few others that are worth recommending.  So escape the family, close the bedroom door and enjoy this reading list!

Whitney’s Recommendations:

-CARRIE SOTO IS BACK, Taylor Jenkins Reid

-THE PARIS LIBRARIAN, Mark Pryor

-CRYING IN H MART, Michelle Zauner

-ATLAS OF THE HEART, Brene Brown

-ONE ITALIAN SUMMER, Rebecca Serle

Olivia’s Recommendations:

-FAIRY TALE, Stephen King

-WE ARE THE LIGHT , Matthew Quick

-I'M GLAD MY MOM DIED, Jennette McCurdy

-FINDING ME, Viola Davis

-THE GOLDEN COUPLE, Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

-BAD VIBES ONLY, Nora McInerny

-VERITY, Colleen Hoover

-LA WEATHER, Maria Amparo Escandon

-LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY, Bonnie Garmus

-LOOK CLOSER, David Ellis

In this episode of "Beyond the Next Chapter," Whitney Clark is joined by Marissa Daley, librarian and manager of the Fountain Hills library, and Paige Cordner, librarian at the Queen Creek library. Together, they dive into the world of book recommendations and read alikes, offering listeners a treasure trove of new books to explore based on popular titles they already love.

Marissa and Paige share their insights on what makes a read-alike, discuss some of their favorite genres, and provide personalized recommendations for books like "The Fourth Wing," "I'm Glad My Mom Died," and "Funny Story." They also explore the impact of social media on reading habits and the resurgence of certain genres like fantasy romance.

Whether you're a fan of Emily Henry's charming romances, Colleen Hoover's gripping stories, or Kristin Hannah's historical fiction, this episode is packed with suggestions to keep your reading list full and varied. Plus, get a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a librarian and the joys of fostering a love for reading in the community.

Why would a bestselling novelist put a stick of butter in her bra—and who notices when she does? These questions and more are answered when the Queen of the Beach read Jennifer Weiner returns to the podcast.

Her latest novel, THE SUMMER PLACE takes readers back to Cape Cod and delivers what we always expect in the pages of her novels: complex, intriguing characters who you care about and root for, and a plot that will deliver surprises.

THE SUMMER PLACE is a family drama that plays out through the pandemic- where relationships are shared by the pressure cooker environment of living and working together all the time all the days. Jennifer talks to Olivia about the personal moments which inspired some of the story, reflecting on the following year since the loss of her mother, and the female characters who bear her incredible characteristics.

THE SUMMER PLACE is available in hardcover from Atria Books. The Simon & Schuster audiobook is narrated by Sutton Foster. For more on the author visit http://www.jenniferweiner.com/

When Nora and her husband Aaron collaborated on his obituary her grief was introduced to the world, alongside the creative spirit and humor she and her son’s dad shared. Since then, Nora has become a beloved voice for others trying to see their way out of the darkness- or want to know how to support someone else who is in the thick of the worst. Nora is the host of the podcast “Terrible, Thanks for Asking” and joined the Olivia’s Book Club podcast to talk about her new collection of essays, BAD VIBES ONLY (And Other Things I Bring to the Table.)

Nora now lives in Phoenix with her second husband and kids, and enjoys life dehydrating in the desert sun.

BAD VIBES ONLY is available in hardcover from Atria books, and on audio from Simon & Schuster Audio.

For more on the author, visit https://noraborealis.com/

“L.A. Weather” tells the story of one very tumultuous year in the life of the Alvarado family. Successful Mexican-Americans living and working in Los Angeles, the three adult daughters maintain a commitment of meeting their parents for weekly family dinners to share their passion for food, and commitment to family.  

Author Maria Amparo Escandon joins the podcast to talk about the narrative technique she uses in the novel: taking the reader through the dramatic year that changes each character profoundly, month my month, and who in her own life inspired the patriarch’s unsettling preoccupation with the weather. Escandon discusses writing the book in what is not her native tongue, her love for Los Angeles, and what she calls “transcreation.”

“L.A. Weather” is a New York Times Bestseller, a Reese’s Book Club Pick, and named to the Best Books of 2021 by Harper’s Bazaar.

Inspired  by the vibrant story showcasing a Latino family that defies common fictional stereotypes, Margaret and Olivia discuss “Mexican Gothic” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Ericka Sanchez’s “I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.”

The queen of the beach read returns with That Summer. Novelist Jennifer Weiner talks to Olivia about writing women’s stories through the lens of the #MeToo movement. She shares about life on Cape Cod, why Beatrice is one of her favorite characters yet, and the importance of body image in her writing. When thinking of how she fell in love with reading, she shares how an essay by Nora Ephron may have changed her life.

Margaret shares her beach read recommendations: Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game, and Libby Hubscher’s Meet Me in Paradise.

In this episode we're taking you around the world, but on a budget! Our host Whitney Clarks to Jen Ruiz, the author of "12 Trips in 12 Months." The year before her 30th birthday, Ruiz decided to take a a challenge: Go on 12 trips in 12 months. Her book unpacks her travel journey around the world, how she was able to go from an attorney to a full-time travel blogger, and Jen shares some of her secrets to getting cheap flights. She even flew from the U.S. to New Zealand for $38! Ruiz also shares the magic of solo travel and her advice for women who may be at a crossroads in life and are looking for a change.

A Mardi Gras bachelorette party leads to a chance encounter for bridesmaid Serena Khan that leads her considering blowing up the life she’s carefully built just weeks before her thirtieth birthday. As if that’s not challenging enough, she’ll need to get it back together (or at least look together) before she’s featured in a Life at 30 profile she’s been anticipating since graduation,

Neely Tubati Alexander joins the podcast to talk about her debut novel, LOVE BUZZ. She chats with Olivia about her favorite parts of the writing process, her approach to inclusion and representation in her work, and what it all has to do with Nirvana.

LOVE BUZZ is out in paperback and audio on May 2, 2023 from Harper Perennial. For more on the author, who has a contract for two more novels currently in the works, visit www.neelytubatialexander.com

Neely will celebrate her book’s launch locally at Changing Hands Bookstore in Phoenix on Friday May 12.

“You are cordially invited to visit the new Black Hills Manor Writing Retreat,” says the invitation received by five mystery/thriller writers, what could go wrong? That’s the lure that leads protagonist Blakely to a remote southern manor with a dark history in Kiersten Modglin’s novel, A QUIET RETREAT. Kiersten joins the podcast to talk to Olivia about writing strong women who save themselves, how she maintains her intense writing schedule with a goal of a book every other month (!), and why she can only enjoy her own fiction, such as IF YOU’RE READING THIS, once it becomes an audiobook.

An Amazon bestselling author who is a favorite for so many readers, don’t miss the conversation with the talented writer whose books always embody the theme: Love, Lies, Alibis. To download her full book list, visit: https://www.kierstenmodglinauthor.com/

In the first episode of "Beyond the Next Chapter," we'll introduce you to our host, Whitney Clark, and dive into her reading origin story. Some of her earliest memories include her dad reading to her and taking her to the library or the bookstore. Whitney is joined by her dad and Samantha Mears with the Maricopa County Library District, who is raising a young reader herself! Samantha shares how you can encourage your kids to read through the "1,000 Books Before Kindergarten" program.

It's the end of the year, so our host Whitney Clark is taking a look back at her favorite books of the year! She picks her top ten, and a few of the authors appeared on the podcast earlier this year. That includes Kristin Hannah who wrote "The Women," Kate Quinn of "The Briar Club," and Stephen Rowley the author of "The Guncle Abroad."

For so many fiction readers, JoJo Moyes is a household name. The British novelist and screenwriter talked to Olivia and Margaret about the research that went into her latest novel, “The Giver of Stars.” The book is now in paperback, and to write it, the British novelist made numerous trips to America’s heartland for research. She shares why it was important to ride horses in rural Kentucky (combining two of her passions), and some of the wild news headlines that helped her craft Alice, Marjery and the other Packhorse Librarians.  Moyes previews her next book that’s headed to the screen, the trilogy that made her famous, and why readers today are making previous releases best-sellers again.

Inspired by Moyes and the Pack Horse Librarians, Olivia and Margaret discuss other novels featuring librarians. For those into suspense, Margaret recommends “All the Devils are Here” by Louise Penny. A novel with a dark and mysterious network of women, there’s “The Lost Apothecary” by Sarah Penner. Olivia and Margaret also mention popular books “The Time Traveler’s Wife” by Audrey Niffenegger, and a children’s classic: “Matilda” by Roald Dahl. For those who haven’t read Sally Hepworth’s “The Good Sister,” Olivia suggests now is the time, as one of the main characters is as a librarian! Olivia talked to Hepworth about this novel in Episode 5 of the podcast.

From a Changing Hands bookseller, to a flight attendant to a New York Times bestselling author, Valley native T.J. Newman is getting ready for the release of her third book "Worst Case Scenario." Our host Whitney Clark talks to her about the latest thriller. After an airline pilot suffers a heart attack at 35,000 feet, a commercial airliner crashes into a nuclear power plant and the race is on to prevent a total meltdown. Newman talks to Whitney about what it's like to return home as an author, her pet peeves as a former flight attendant, and what it's like to see her other books adapted for the big screen!  

Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist Rebecca Makkai joins the podcast to discuss her novel, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU. The book follows film professor and podcaster Bodie Kane’s return to her alma mater to teach a two-week course. The environment and her students’ interest in producing a true crime podcast about the murder of her former roommate resurrect strong feelings, questions and concerns for Bodie.  Rebecca tells Olivia about making changes to the character of Bodie, her interest in the obsession with true crime, the emotional moments that arise on the book tour when readers discuss her highly acclaimed book, THE GREAT BELIEVERS, and her SubMakk substack. She also shares her tribute to her late father, the 84 Books Project.

I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU is available in hardcover from Viking and audio from Penguin Audio. For more on the author visit https://rebeccamakkai.com/

Jennifer Deibel spent nearly a decade living in Ireland and Austria, building a family and a deep love for all things Irish.

That passion for the Emerald Isle and the Gaelic tongue is still with the Arizona schoolteacher, and fueled her passion for writing her debut novel, “A Dance in Donegal” from Revell Books.

Jennifer talks to Olivia about making a “perfect cuppa”, life in the desert as compared to a land of green, and how she identifies with her protagonist, Moira. “A Dance in Donegal” follows Moira from Boston to Ireland in 1920, following through on her mother’s dying wish for her daughter to teach in the village where she once lived. There, Moira finds a missing piece of herself, and discovers mysteries surrounding her family’s past.

In a Moment With Margaret, they talk about books where the setting is as important as the characters. Margaret recommends “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens, Olivia recommends Elena Ferrante’s “My Brilliant Friend.”

This episode of Beyond the Next Chapter is truly living up to its name! We're joined by Dr. Dawn Wright, who's the first Black person to reach the bottom of the ocean. Wright is out with a new book called "Mapping the Deep: Innovation, Exploration, and the Dive of a Lifetime." Back in 2022, she visited the Challenger Deep in the Pacific Ocean. At more than 35,000 feet, it's the deepest and most unexplored place on planet Earth. Her book details her dive, her path in life and how she became a professor. She now works at a company called the Environmental Systems Research Institute, or ESRI. Wright talks about what she saw at the bottom of the ocean and why mapping the deepest parts of the ocean is so important for all of us. 

Widely praised as one of the best books of 2022, LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY is the debut novel about the reluctant host of 1960s cooking show from Bonnie Garmus. Bonnie joins Olivia for the podcast to talk about the sensation of debuting as a bestseller decades after first dreaming of becoming a novelist, and her own frustrating professional moment that sparked the unique character of Elizabeth Zott. LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY is now in production as a limited series for Apple+ starring Brie Larsen, and Bonnie is working on a new novel.

For more on the author visit: https://www.bonniegarmus.com/

A Moment With Margaret, other books that touch on reluctant stars: Audrina Patridge’s TO THE HILLS & BACK, and ONE TO WATCH from Kate Stayman-London.

Relaxing lakeside is not an option while reading Riley Sager’s latest, THE HOUSE ACROSS THE LAKE. His latest twisty, creepy, suspenseful novel takes readers away to a family vacation home in Vermont where actress Casey Fletcher can hide out after the loss of her husband and a very public meltdown. The arrival of a high-profile couple who bought the house across the lake, Katherine and Tom Royce, changes things for Casey in ways she’d never expect.

Riley returns to the podcast to talk about the lake view that inspired the novel, heading out on tour for the first time since the pandemic, and why as the writer of scary stories he prefers his entertainment on the funny side. Olivia and Riley find they have something deep in common: a love for the Peacock series Girls5eva. 

THE HOUSE ACROSS THE LAKE is released June 21, 2022 by Dutton Books, and the author will be at Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale at 7pm that night. For more on the event: https://calendar.time.ly/9plshfqx/posterboard

For more on the author: https://www.rileysagerbooks.com/

A Moment With Margaret:

Margaret shares two books that have made a big impression recently, one a nonfiction leadership book, the other a psychological thriller. PERMISSION TO SCREW UP: HOW I LEARNED TO LEAD BY DOING (ALMOST) EVERYTHING WRONG by Kristen Hadeed is worth a read and discussion, according to Margaret. She also recommends JUST LIKE MOTHER from Anne Heltzel, that she describes as creepy and impossible to step away from!

In the second episode of "Beyond the Next Chapter," our host Whitney Clark talks to the #1 New York Times Bestselling author Kristin Hannah. If you don't immediately recognize her name, you likely have seen her books!

Hannah has written more than 20 novels including "The Nightingale," "The Four Winds," and "The Great Alone." Hollywood has also taken note. Her book "Firefly Lane" was the #1 series on Netflix around the world the week it came out and Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group has already preemptively acquired the rights to "The Women."

Hannah's newest book, "The Women," is the fictionalized story of the brave nurses who served during the Vietnam War. Hannah grew up during that time period and it cast a big shadow over her life. Fans of Hannah's work will see familiar themes in "The Women," including the power of female friendships.

"I really write about women finding their voices. Women finding their power," Hannah said on the podcast. "And in the best of circumstances finding their power, and then pausing to turn and help other women who are still struggling on that journey."

"The Women" is out now wherever you buy your books.

Harvard MBA, CEO, and bestselling author Samantha Ettus shares with Olivia her secrets to building a thriving personal and professional life, as outlined in her book, “The Pie Life.” She tells Olivia about her strategies for making the most of home life, what shouldn’t be talked about at work (from the CEO’s perspective), and the true cost for women who step out of the workforce. Samantha is like the best friend you always wanted, ready with supportive, practical advice you’ll want to share with friends.

Margaret and Olivia talk about other books with life lessons they’d recommend!

A wedding ceremony is pierced by a scream, that sets the scene for Sally Hepworth’s latest suspenseful thriller, THE YOUNGER WIFE, told by alternating narrators.

Full of the twists and unreliable family memories and histories Hepworth is famous for, her new novel focuses on two sisters, Tully and Rachel, and how their lives change when they meet their seemingly perfect father’s new fiancée, Heather. Sally returns to the podcast to discuss the book, post-pandemic life, and the challenges (and joys) of reading books, in addition to writing them. 

In A Moment With Margaret, Margaret and Olivia discusses the Australian narrators of THE YOUNGER WIFE audiobook, true crime stories like Paul Holes’ UNMASKED: MY LIFE SOLVING AMERICA’S COLD CASES, Erika Krouse’s TELL ME EVERYTHING, and themes that are touched on similarly to TALKING TO STRANGERS by Malcolm Gladwell. Recommending two works of fiction for those who like to read true crime: Liz Moore’s LONG BRIGHT RIVER and Paula McLain’s WHEN THE STARS GO DARK.

THE YOUNGER WIFE is released by St. Martin’s Press on April 5, 2022.

THE GOOD SISTER is now available in paperback.

Think of this as a book recommendation podcast for all walks of readers, whether you’re an avid reader or you want to fall in love with books! It’s a place to come to find your next great read from romance, to thrillers, to historical fiction, non-fiction and so much more. As the title implies, in each episode host Whitney Clark will take you beyond the next chapter. We’ll talk to our favorite authors, local authors and dive into important topics: how can we improve literacy rates in our community? What’s a silent book club? Why are books banned? Audiobooks vs. books? How can I find more time to read? How can I encourage my kids to read? Starting in mid-January, episodes will be released every other Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts.  

When Meg Chernoff moves from LA to NYC and becomes friends with Instagram influencer Daphne, everything changes, including her own priorities.

Jenny Mollen, the New York Times bestselling author of I LIKE YOU JUST THE WAY I AM and LIVE FAST, DIE HOT joins the podcast to talk with Olivia about her first novel. Celebrity status and the feeling of being celebrity adjacent is a concept that Jenny knows well, as daughter to Arizona TV favorite, Dr. Art Mollen, and wife to actor Jason Biggs. In the way only Jenny has, she describes the motivation and drive that she mines from these relationships.

CITY OF LIKES is available now from Nacelle Books.

Moment With Margaret:

Margaret & Olivia discuss two other books that touch on the power or influence of social media that Margaret recently enjoyed. First SMILE AND LOOK PRETTY by Amanda Pellegrino, and Alex Finlay’s THE NIGHT SHIFT.

Summer is just around the corner, and on this episode of "Beyond the Next Chapter" host Whitney Clark talks to the author of "Just for the Summer." Abby Jimenez is known for her quick dialogue and romance novels that have depth and cover issues like trauma and toxic parents. Her latest book came out in April and was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller. Whitney talks to Abby about her writing process, her bakery business "Nadia Cakes," and Abby gives us a sneak peek of her next book that will be out in 2025! 

“It’s not happiness that makes us grateful, it’s gratefulness that makes us happy” – Kristi Nelson

Kristi Nelson brings her powerful message of the transformative practice of grateful living to the last podcast episode of the year.  The author of “Wake Up Grateful” guides readers through the ways you can change your life and perspective for the better, and the ways this shift is proven to improve your life and even your health. Executive Director of A Network for Grateful Living talks with Olivia about how to begin the practice, and the ways the lens of gratitude create change in times of sadness. Her inspirational message and practice is healing and powerful, cultivated over decades after a cancer diagnosis decades ago, and can help us all as we head into a new year. Find the “Wake Up Grateful” study guide here.

After reading more than 100 books in 2021, it is hard to pick your favorites, but Margaret manages to narrow down the 3 books she’s thought about most this year in A Moment With Margaret. Learn why Vincent Bugliosi’s “Helter Skelter,” S.A. Cosby’s “Razorblade Tears,” and “Greenlights” by Matthew McConaughey stood out in such a tall stack of books, and why Steven Rowley’s “The Guncle” earns an honorable mention by being the book she bought, rather than borrowed.

For Olivia, of the nearly 70 books read in 2021, standouts are Ashley Audrain’s “The Push,” Christina Baker-Kline’s “The Exiles,” both of Brit Bennett’s books, and Fredrik Backman’s “Anxious People.”

Which books you are most looking forward to reading in 2022? We’d love to hear from you, email Olivia and Margaret at oliviasbookclub@azfamily.com

Happy New Year! 

Katherine Center is all about the joy, writing characters and stories that pull at your heart. The author of “What You Wish For”, she talks to Olivia about “Things You Save in a Fire,” now in paperback. The effervescent artist shares where she goes to meet writing deadlines, the fun she has with her newsletter, how she researched life as a firefighter, and Olivia discovers she and Katherine have Duran Duran and Frances Hodgson Burnett in common! Visit www.katherinecenter.com to shop her books and swag

In A Moment With Margaret, Olivia and Margaret discuss three other books that highlight trailblazing ladies or an unexpected workplace romance: CJ Tudor’s “The Burning Girls,” “The Ex Talk” by Rachel Lynn Solomon, and “Madame Tussaud” by Michelle Moran.

Spring is here and summer is just around the corner! If you're looking for a good beach read, Allison Winn Scotch's new book "Take Two, Birdie Maxwell" may be the one! Our host Whitney Clark got to talk to Allison about how Julia Roberts inspired the main character, Birdie. Allison is a fan of 90's romcoms and wanted to create the same types of love stories in her books. She's also a big fan of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce and weighs in on why she thinks so many are rooting for (and sometimes against) the couple. Allison regularly gives shout outs to other female authors and shares why that is so important in the publishing world. 

With many YA novels to her credit already, Nina LaCour releases YERBA BUENA, her first adult novel. YERBA BUENA is a moving story of overcoming loss, learning to love, and what it means to find a place to call home. Nina talks with Olivia in this episode about crafting the love story of Sara and Emilie, the necessary research (mixing and drinking cocktails) required for writing mixologist Sara, and her book’s Los Angeles setting. Nina LaCour is also the author of a children’s book, MAMA AND MOMMY AND ME IN THE MIDDLE, a passion project inspired by her own daughter. YERBA BUENA is published by Flatiron Books.

A Moment With Margaret: Books on Grief

Margaret recommends NOTES ON YOUR SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE by Alison Espach and Kristen Bailey’s HOW MUCH WINE WILL FIX A BROKEN HEART?

On this week's episode, our host Whitney Clark chats with Ruth Ware. She's known for her psychological thrillers and is a No. 1 New York Times bestselling author. Her new book "One Perfect Couple" is out now. Whitney talks to Ruth about what inspires her work, what kind of research went into this book and how it compares to reality shows.

For attorney turned novelist William Landay, the justice system is a complex beast, and the stories worth telling don’t often resolve simply.

The intense emotion of uncertainty of what to believe is what propelled the narrative of William Landay’s 2012 bestselling novel DEFENDING JACOB, recently adapted as a limited series for Apple TV+. 

More than ten years later, Landay is back with a new family drama that also involves the courtroom. ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME begins with the disappearance of a suburban mother of three, Miranda Larkin, spouse of a prominent criminal defense attorney. The investigation, fears, suspicions, and absence of the matriarch and questions of the father’s involvement fuel the moving story that spans decades, grappling with the uncertainty of never knowing what to truly believe.

“It is human beings in a jury box, human beings who are judges and lawyers, and mistakes are made. So I wanted to capture some of that uncertainty – which is a difficult thing, when working toward a conclusion is the whole heart of the story,” Landay says as he joins Olivia on the podcast. He shares the journey over the years to write his fourth novel, and what advice he has for other writers who sometimes find the craft full of challenges. ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME published in hardcover by Bantam Books, and is available in audio.

For more on the author, visit www.williamlanday.com

Larry Loftis writers non-fiction thrillers. Not a genre Olivia was familiar with before reading his 2023 book THE WATCHMAKER’S DAUGHTER, Larry joined the podcast to talk about his approach to telling true stories that read like fiction. “I like thrillers, that’s what’s fun for me to read, turning the page, getting your heart rate going, so I just merged the two genres.”

Larry spends at least a year on research before beginning to write his books- and telling Corrie Ten Boom’s story was no different. Once he completes his extensive research, he exercises his creativity in the formatting and pacing of the story. He takes no creative license with the details: “I can’t make anything up. What I can do is decide when chapters end, that’s up to me. When there's a dead body, a gun, a briefcase stolen… then, I can end the chapter there. The reader says, ‘wait, wait, what happened? That's what a thriller is.”

Larry Loftis is the author of: THE PRINCESS SPY, CODE NAME: LISE, INTO THE LION’S MOUTH, and 2023’s THE WATCHMAKER’S DAUGHTER, published by William Morrow and is also available as an audiobook from Harper Audio.

Riley Sager is back and this creepy, twisty thriller takes readers on a tense ride to reveal what really happened the night of the Hope family murders, and why then 17-year-old Lenora was THE ONLY ONE LEFT.

Sager returns to the podcast for the third time to talk about his latest work, his book tour, and the plans for upcoming adaptation of THE HOUSE ACROSS THE LAKE for Netflix. For more on the author visit his website.

Riley Sager will be at The Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale on June 19^th, information is here. 

Valentine’s Day vibes on this week’s podcast, with Tim Xayasomloth, bookseller at Changing Hands Bookstore.  Tim has become known as "The Romance Guy" at the store ever since he challenged himself to read genres outside his fantasy and science fiction favorites, and found he loved the contemporary romance! Comparing a romance novel to a tasty margarita that “goes down easy,” Tim explains to Olivia why he believes men can benefit from reading romance to understand how to be a better guy and better partner.

Tim talks about the book that started him off: “The Bromance Book Club” by Lyssa Kay Adams, and why some of the romance tropes like enemies to lovers are so enjoyable. Tim also recommends “The Right Swipe” by Alisha Rai, “The Kiss Quotient” by Helen Hoang, and Rachel Lynn Solomon’s “The Ex Talk.”  

This podcast episode is dedicated to Elizabeth Stewart, Margaret’s sister, who shared her love for books not only with her little sister, but through her career as a librarian.

To check out more book recommendations from Tim and his colleagues at Changing Hands, visit: https://www.changinghands.com/page/staffpicks

Ben Lytle is a potentialist and invites all readers of his book to become one as well. He joins the podcast this week to discuss with Olivia the philosophy of potentialism, including his annual ritual of self-assessment, asking himself “am I doing what's making me happy? Am I contributing to life in the way I want to? Doing that, for me has always kept me vibrant.”

When Lytle began outlining what became his debut book, THE POTENTIALIST: YOUR FUTURE IN THE NEW REALITY OF THE NEXT THIRTY YEARS, his intended audience was exclusively the future generations of his own family. Luckily for the public, the CEO/entrepreneur decided to share his wisdom more broadly, publishing THE POTENTIALIST as the first of a three-book series.

His business resume includes launching and leading five successful companies, including Anthem, currently twentieth on the Fortune 500. Lytle is considered an expert on healthcare policy, a revolutionary thinker and leader devoted to inspiring individual and collective human potential through innovation and creative thinking.

THE POTENTIALIST was released in hardcover by Amplify Publishing Group. To find out more about the author, explore the ten principles of the New World reality over the next thirty

years, and find out if your child is ready for the future, visit https://potentialistfuture.com/

During this podcast, these books were recommended:

ON WRITING: A MEMOIR OF THE CRAFT by Stephen King

BIG MAGIC by Elizabeth Gilbert

In “I’m So Effing Tired” wellness expert Dr. Amy Shah tackles what we’re doing that’s making us feel fatigued, outlining a plan for readers to implement changes that will create an energy surge. From what you eat, to when you eat, to managing stress, Dr. Shah talks to Olivia about the energy trifecta, and the personal moment that led her to make a change. From surviving shift work to evaluating what, and sometimes who, to let go of, this is an eye-opening chat that will make listeners want to dig deeper into her book.

Margaret recommends a work of fiction that focuses on exhausted moms called “Happy & You Know It” by Laura Hankin, and admits to what is making her personally exhausted (late nights with Love Island UK.)

Rachel Hawkins’ 2020 release of “The Wife Upstairs” was a huge hit. The contemporary thriller inspired by “Jane Eyre” was the first release outside of the YA genre and showed she can craft a page-turner for a variety of audiences. Rachel talks with Olivia about “Reckless Girls” (published January 2022) that tracks Lux and her boyfriend Nico as they sail off from Hawaii in search of Meroe Island, a remote location with a dark, menacing history with other twenty-somethings in search of adventure and packed with secrets.

Rachel talks about her recent success under the pseudonym Erin Sterling, choosing a new name, her love of literature, and her next thriller in the works.

In a special Moment with Margaret, Margaret Stewart recommends a 2010 book with a nautical theme, “Bloody Jack” by L.A. Meyer, and explains why she has no interest in slowing down her audio speed.

In this episode of "Beyond the Next Chapter," our host Whitney Clark introduces us to silent book clubs. What is a silent book club? Think of it as a flash mob, but for readers! You show up with a book and meet other readers. It's less pressure than a traditional book club and is growing in popularity. Whitney talks to the organizers of the Phoenix and East Valley Silent Book Club chapters who say they now have two meetings a month.

Best-selling author (more times than even he can count with certainty,) Dr. Kevin Leman likely wrote a book on any issue in your family you’d like to address and improve. From parenting, to romantic intimacy, to his theories on birth order that still have people talking decades later, Dr. Leman is a deep well of common sense who delivers hilarious truth bombs in a way only he can.

Leman talks to Olivia about his recent book, “8 Secrets to Raising Successful Kids,” why mom is the most influential figure in her son’s life, and why putting away the toaster is his secret to a happy marriage.

In “A Moment with Margaret”: Olivia & Margaret discuss self-help titles that resonate with them. They discuss “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle, “More Than Enough” by Elaine Welteroth, and “Give Them Lala” by Lala Kent.

Seven psychopaths enjoy a free ride to a prestigious east coast school, in exchange for being participating in a psychopathy study. What could go wrong? For one, students keep getting killed. One study participant, Chloe, isn’t at worried for her safety because she considers herself the dangerous one. Debut novelist Vera Kurian joins the podcast to talk about “Never Saw Me Coming,” and why readers find her protagonist irresistible, in spite of her homicidal plotting and lack of empathy.

Kurian discusses what it was like to achieve the dream of publishing a novel during a global pandemic, and in a Moment with Margaret, Margaret Stewart recommends “56 Days” by Catherine Ryan Howard.

Brace yourself for some serious Christmas magic! New York Times bestselling author of 29 novels (and counting), Mary Kay Andrews joins the podcast to talk about “The Santa Suit” the book she calls “a delicious, sweet, peppermint scented goodie.” The novella celebrates the magic of Christmas and second chances with a tale of a new beginning for Ivy Perkins, who is starting over personally and professionally with the purchase of The Four Roses farmhouse.

Mary Kay and Olivia chat about Friends & Fiction, which she co-founded and co-hosts, MKA’s skills at treasure hunting, hosting, and design, her early years as a newspaper reporter, how she became tech savvy in the pandemic, and the ritual of self-doubt she still goes through each time she’s set to write another book.

In A Moment With Margaret the readers discuss the fun in embracing the Christmas book genre, and Margaret recommends “One For the Books” by Jenn McKinlay, a previous guest on the podcast.

Can you fall in love with a stranger? Is anything a mystery anymore? “To Sir, With Love” is a romantic comedy written by Lauren Layne who serves up a satisfying look at modern love in Manhattan. Part “Love Is Blind” meets “You’ve Got Mail,” the novel’s protagonist Gracie Cooper is holding down the fort of her champagne shop/ family business, while falling for anonymous stranger on a dating app she only knows as “sir.” Lauren talks to Olivia about delivering a feel-good story when readers need it the most, and why her own life in Manhattan is so important to her writing.

For a reader who loves “To Sir, With Love” Margaret recommends other easy, breezy romantic comedies: “Yes & I Love You” by Roni Loren, “The Real Deal” by Lauren Blakely, and two books by Katharine McGee, “American Royals” and “Majesty.”

All pair nicely with a chilled glass of Cava.

A group of college friends lose one member of the group to suicide just before graduation in 1995. The loss resonates and shapes their relationships for decades in this funny and moving novel by Steven Rowley. Steven returns to the podcast to talk about his fantastic 2023 release, a story that is personal to the author in many ways, “there’s so much story in these middle years,” he says of the characters who align with his own path.  He talks with Olivia about the book’s success, the screen adaptations for his work that are awaiting the end of the writers’ strike, and his own marriage.

The book is available in hardcover from GP Putnam & Sons, and the author narrates the audiobook. For more visit his website

This is the last episode of the Olivia’s Book Club podcast. Keep up with the group on Facebook, and stay connected with Olivia on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube  

If you don't love Arizona quite yet, get ready to fall in love! In this episode we're joined by Roger Naylor. He's an Arizona-based travel writer and author in Arizona who's out with a new book called "Arizona National Parks and Monuments." It's a comprehensive guide to the 34 national park units in the state, including everything from the Grand Canyon to the smaller sites like the Fort Bowie National Historic Site. Roger shares his favorite things about the parks and gives some tips if you want to travel this winter. 

LOOK CLOSER is a wildly entertaining domestic thriller with so many twists and turns - even the savviest readers will fail to figure out who or what to believe until the very last page. The story centers on Simon and Vicky, a Chicago couple approaching ten years of marriage, and what (if any) connection they have to a woman found dead in a neighboring suburb. Author David Ellis joins the podcast to talk to Olivia about writing a tricky plot, his previous work with James Patterson, and discusses his other career: as a Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. David also tells Olivia about the unique experience of as prosecutor in the impeachment of the former governor of the Illinois, Rod Blagojevich.

LOOK CLOSER is available in hardcover from Putnam and the audiobook is from Penguin Audio. For more on the author visit: https://davidellis.com/

If you didn’t already know what a guncle is, the character of Patrick in Steven Rowley’s “The Guncle” is here to help.  As the Palm Springs dwelling, mimosa loving, sitcom celebrity gay uncle to Maisie and Grant, Patrick opens his heart and his home to the kids in a time of crisis. Olivia talks with the author of “Lily and the Octopus” and “The Editor” about this heartfelt and humorous novel of grief, growth, and finding the people you need right at the right time.

Margaret shares some favorite novels that uniquely touch on grief: “Sing, Unburied, Sing” by Jesmyn Ward, “The Weekend Wedding Assistant” by Rachel Gladstone, and “Long Bright River” by Liz Moore.

2023 is going to be a good year according to astrologer Valerie Tejeda. Tejeda is a bestselling author, an astrologer with a degree in psychology and certificates in astrology and music therapy, and the creator of the digital brand Big Cosmic Energy. She is the writer and narrator of SELF CARE BY THE SIGNS, a #1 Audible bestseller, a #1 Amazon bestseller, an AP bestseller, as well as SELF CARE BY THE MOON, an Audible Top 10 Listen and Editor's Pick for a 2021 favorite in self-development.

She joins the podcast to chat with Olivia (in spite of Mercury being in retrograde messing with reception,) and the powers of the planets and how we can use the stars to better understand ourselves and others. During the chat, Valerie explains why Mercury is messing with us all (and those with Olivia’s signs in particular,) and shares the inspiration for her contemporary romance novel GOOD ON PAPER. If you are astrology curious, this conversation is for you! Do you want to know if dogs are guided by their signs? Of course, we do! But you’ll have to listen as she shares some insight into her own canine cutie, Dulce.

Valerie has contributed to Self Magazine, Vanity Fair, MTV, Teen Vogue, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, among other publications, and is working on her next book, COSMIC CARE.

To learn more about Valerie, purchase her books, or schedule an astrological reading, visit valerietejeda.com

Don Winslow turns to the Greek tragedies for inspiration in what the author says is not only his last trilogy, but will be his last published books. CITY ON FIRE is the first of the three novels, and the first book Don has set in his hometown of Providence. The internationally bestselling author talks with Olivia on the cusp of his retirement from writing about crafting characters like Danny Ryan, who feels intimately familiar to him, or reworking a literal goddess into a contemporary and complex character.

Don talks with Olivia about connecting with emerging writers like T.J. Newman, and his excitement to tour the country and interact with readers, and why he felt called to dive into politics.

A Moment With Margaret: Paperback Preview

Olivia and Margaret recommend books coming out in paperback that we’ve featured on the podcast (search for these authors in our podcast library.) From thriller favorite Lisa Jewell, THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED is in paperback now. Debut sensation Zakiya Dalila Harris’ THE OTHER BLACK GIRL got everyone (including us) talking, and as of June 7, you can tote the book to the beach.  From writing team Christine Pride and Jo Piazza, the moving story of how a friendship tested in the wake of a police shooting of an unarmed Black teen, WE ARE NOT LIKE THEM, is available in paperback August 2nd.

Olivia’s Book Club Podcast has survived its first year! The podcast launched on May 17, 2021 with three episodes featuring novelists Kristin Hannah, Donna Freitas, and Jennifer Weiner, and book recommendations from Margaret Stewart.

This week, the podcast looks back at a few past conversations with writers whose books are now beach-bag ready in paperback. Don’t pack for your Memorial Day weekend without listening to these book recommendations!

Debut novelists Zakiya Dalila Harris (THE OTHER BLACK GIRL,) Ashley Audrain (THE PUSH,) and T.J. Newman (FALLING) share their journeys to publishing a buzz-worthy book.

Boss of the bestseller list Colleen Hoover (REMINDERS OF HIM, IT ENDS WITH US) talks to Olivia about her previous career in social work and her non-profit The Bookworm Box.

Historical fiction favorites Kristin Harmel (THE FOREST OF VANISHING STARS,) JoJo Moyes (THE GIVER OF STARS) and Kristin Hannah (THE FOUR WINDS) talk about the research that goes into these novels, and the ways plot and characters can transform from draft to draft.

If these authors have piqued your interest, there is much more to each conversation. Just search for the author by name in the Olivia’s Book Club podcast library for more book talk.

Jeff Kinney is the creative mind behind one of the most successful book series for kids of all time. He joins the podcast to talk about his latest projects: “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Big Shot,” the sixteenth in the series, and the animated film, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” currently on Disney+.

He talks with Olivia about why his characters should never grow up, the perks of running a bookstore, and reacts to recent efforts to ban books across the country.

In a Moment With Margaret, the two talk about the early books that paved the way for a lifelong love of reading.

When Eve Rodsky applied her expertise in organizational management to making her own household and partnership become more manageable and equitable, she sparked a movement among readers of her first book “Fair Play.”

Now, Eve is back to chat with Olivia about her new book, “Find Your Unicorn Space: Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too-Busy World.” Here, Eve uses this podcast as an example of what a unicorn space can be, involving creativity, connection, and a sense of completion.  She talks about the pandemic’s impact on personal space, and the challenge most of us face when claiming time for activities that bring joy.  Eve shares why we may want to swap a gratitude journal for a “guilt journal” and strategies when seeking support from others when you’re seeking your unicorn space.

“Find Your Unicorn Space: Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too-Busy World” is available in hardcover now from G.P. Putnam’s Sons. Eve also hosts “Time Out: A Fair Play Podcast” for iHeart.

https://www.everodsky.com/

The year is coming to an end! Did you hit your reading goal? Do you want to read more in 2025? This episode is dedicated to helping you find more time to read. Whitney is joined by three other members of Arizona's Family who are avid readers. From audiobooks, to finding books you love, they talk about their favorite ways to squeeze reading time into their busy lives. The crew also talks about their favorite books of the year! 

T.J. Newman’s life changes dramatically this summer. The author is a former indie bookstore bookseller, turned flight attendant, turned novelist. “Falling” is already a bestseller in the UK and is poised for a huge release at home July 7th. Overcoming dozens of rejections from literary agents to get here, Newman’s suspenseful tale of a kidnapping plot targeting the family of an airline pilot ultimately landed her seven-figure deals for the book, and the movie rights. She talks to Olivia about the failures that paved the way, and why her mother has earned the right to say “I told you so” forever.

In a Moment With Margaret, T.J. joins Margaret and Olivia to talk about their love for local bookstores and libraries, and new options for audiobooks.

Jenn McKinlay is a prolific writer who is best known for the Library Lover’s and Cupcake Bakery Mysteries. McKinlay is quickly building a loyal following for her women’s fiction and romantic comedies, and her latest is “Wait for It.” When the protagonist, Annabelle, moves from Boston to Phoenix, McKinlay brings readers a slice of life in the desert, a setting the author calls home.

She talks about writing, the ways the pandemic cramped her style, baking, travel, and who is the boss of her house (hint: not a human.)  Her next Library Lover’s book, “Killer Research” is available November 2.

A Moment With Margaret: Margaret and Olivia discuss a few other books with subtle character connections or crossover characters in stand-alone books. Margaret recommends Roni Loren’s “Yes & I Love You” and “What If You & Me,” and Olivia recalls old favorites by Emily Giffin, including “Something Borrowed” and the fun finding easter eggs between books, like Jennifer Weiner’s “Big Summer” and “That Summer.”

Grab your favorite soup or sandwich from Panera and settle in for a chat with Elle Cosimano – don’t worry, no spoilers!

The beloved Finlay is back and smack dab in the middle of yet another wonderful mess in Elle Cosimano’s  February 1st release, “Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead,” the follow up to her hit, “Finlay Donovan Is Killing It.”

In this story Finlay and Vero must sort out who is after her ex-husband Steven, and what they can do to protect him, or if they want to. Throw in plenty of secrets, lies, disguises and love triangles and the book is a non-stop mystery full of laughter, friendship, and an adorably relatable heroine.

Elle joined the podcast to talk to Olivia about the series, crafting the friendship between Finlay and Vero, and how many more stories are already in the works (more than listeners may expect!)

She shares advice on writing, and her delight over the love her book covers have received on Instagram.

“Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead” is published by Minotaur Books.

“Finlay Donovan Is Killing It” is now available in paperback.

In A Moment With Margaret, Margaret and Olivia discuss some of the reading challenges and book club selections that are out there for the start of the year, and Margaret discusses her current reads and TBR.

To join Olivia's Book Club (currently reading "Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1215960705219244/

Connect with Olivia

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Oliviafierro

IG: https://www.instagram.com/olivias.bookclub/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/oliviafierro

Connect with Margaret:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/overbookedandoverdue/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GMAZMargaret

Delia Owens’ marsh girl story is a fiction phenom, on the bestseller lists 166 weeks and counting, and holds the New York Times Bestseller List record for the most weeks at #1. The WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING novelist joins the podcast to talk to Olivia about seeing her story made for the big screen, and “meeting” the characters she imagined, on the set of the Hello Sunshine and 3000 Pictures film. Owens shares who inspired the title of the book and movie, and updates the status of her next novel.

“Where the Crawdads Sing” is in theaters today, Rated PG-13. The book is published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

For the first podcast of 2022, we are joined by an author whose ‘buzzed about’ 2021 debut novel is now available in paperback.

Gabriela Garcia’s “Of Women and Salt” was named a Best Book of the Year (2020) by Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, and The Boston Globe. The novel is a multi-generational story of women, taking readers from nineteenth-century Cuba, to present-day Mexico, Miami, and the immigrant detention centers in Texas along the southern border. “Of Women and Salt” explores the experiences of women through the lens of class, privilege, citizenship, motherhood, addiction, poverty and trauma, and with subtlety spotlights the generational damage caused by family secrets. Garcia talks about the ways her work as an immigrant rights advocate can be felt in some of the most moving portions of the book, along with her own personal travels and family history as an American of Cuban and Mexican descent.

In  A Moment With Margaret, Margaret shares her take on Anthony Doerr’s “Cloud Cuckoo Land” and the challenges with listening to a book on audio that weaves through many time periods, places and people.

What are you reading this year? Let us know by email at oliviasbookclub@azfamily.com

As a former journalist, novelist Kristin Harmel fully embraces the research required to craft accurate and immersive historical fiction. Harmel became more deeply immersed in World War II Poland and the Jews who her protagonist, Yona, helps to hide and keep alive in the forest against the odds. Along the way, Harmel discovered that she is directly descended from the Polish Jews.  Sharing personal and historical revelations, along with telling Olivia about founding Friends and Fiction, and how she started a professional career as a journalist as a teenager, her passion for writing is contagious.

In a Moment With Margaret, we discuss the Most Read Books so far on the Goodreads 2021 Reading Challenge, including “The Forest of Vanishing Stars” and our other favorites, “The Guest List” by Lucy Foley, and Rachel Hawkins’ “The Wife Upstairs.”  

Erika Krouse is a writer of both fiction and nonfiction, who joins the podcast to discuss her book, TELL ME EVERYTHING: THE STORY OF A PRIVATE INVESTIGATION. This is a memoir focused on a tale of true crime which parallels the narrator's personal history. This is a moving, painful story of power, powerlessness, and the way lives are left shattered when the system doesn't protect those who need it.

In her book, Erika describes herself as simultaneously "forgettable" and "familiar," but ultimately she's the kind of person others will share their secrets with. This quality, paired with her own scars and knowledge as an abuse survivor, make her a unique voice to tell the story of efforts to hold a Colorado university legally responsible for creating a toxic environment that leads to sexual assault and abuse.

Erika talks with Olivia about the choices she made in writing this book- including efforts to balance honesty with protecting the victims, the skills she's developed to manipulate others, and the implications of sharing her personal story of  abuse.

TELL ME EVERYTHING is published by Flatiron Books, March 15,2022.

For more on the author visit http://www.erikakrousewriter.com/

This week Olivia's joined by Hannah Makela, a Tucson-based book blogger and host of Brunch Babes Reads book club,  Hannah recommends Sydney Blondell's book of poetry MONARCH (which her will discuss on April 30th) and Erin A. Craig's SMALL FAVORS. Olivia and Hannah get hungry discussing tasty brunch favorites, and Olivia mentions a recent read: LIGHT FROM UNCOMMON STARS by Ryka Aoki.

Hannah can be found on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok at @thepaperbackbruncher or follow/join the club @brunchbabesreads

Julia Whelan is a multi-hyphenate, multi-talented actor and writer. Her new novel, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, is published by AVON Books (8/2 release.)

When not writing, you’ll find her narrating for authors like Kristin Hannah, Taylor Jenkins Reid and Gillian Flynn, she’s earned endless accolades: Earphone Awards, Audies, Society of Voice Awards, even honored with Audiofile Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Golden Voice Award in 2020.

Julia’s also an accomplished actress who debuted on ABC’s Once and Again at the age of 14.

The audiobook industry is the setting for Julia’s second novel, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING: “I wanted to write something that was a love letter to the genre...but that wasn’t 100% a romance novel,” she tells Olivia on the podcast. Funny, heartfelt and (of course) romantic, the story of Sewanee Chester and her Brock McKnight is also gives her readers unique insight into both the world of romance and the audiobook industry.

For more on the author, visit https://jmwhelan.com/

A Moment With Margaret

Margaret looks ahead to the August releases she’s most excited for, including new books from favorite authors Taylor Jenkins Reid, Lisa Jewell, and Karin Slaughter, as well as THE MANY DAUGHTERS OF AFONG MOY by Jaime Ford.

Dani Shapiro is the author of eleven books, and the host and creator of the hit podcast Family Secrets. She joined the podcast to talk with Olivia about her most recent novel, SIGNAL FIRES, her first work of fiction in thirteen years. SIGNAL FIRES was named a best book of 2022 by numerous publications, including Time Magazine, and The Washington Post.

Dani tells Olivia about how the idea for SIGNAL FIRES first struck her years ago, and that she felt only recently capable of crafting the moving story in part due to her life experience in recent years, specifically the revelations about her own family she shared in her bestselling memoir, INHERITANCE.

SIGNAL FIRES is available in hardcover from Knopf Doubleday, and in audiobook (narrated by the author) from Penguin Random House. For more on Dani Shapiro, visit her website: https://danishapiro.com/

Dani Shapiro will be part of an author event in Phoenix in March. To request ticket information visit: https://www.brandeisphoenix.org/2023ba.html

In this episode of Beyond the Next Chapter, our host Whitney Clark talks to an author and psychologist about overcoming trauma associated with work. Gretchen Schmelzer is a longtime psychologist and author. She's writing a book about the topic now. She also has a book called "Journey Through Trauma" which was released in 2018. After the COVID-19 pandemic, Gretchen noticed that employers were becoming concerned with the mental health with their employees. She travels the country working with doctors, firefighters and even journalists. Gretchen shares tips with Whitney on how to address trauma, how to notice it and how employers can work with their employees. 

Allison Larkin’s novel The People We Keep takes readers back to the early 1990s, with teenage April lives mostly alone in a motorhome in a rundown town in rural New York. The People We Keep is the coming-of-age story of a talented young woman who seems to always go without- without a mom, often without a dad, without opportunity, without understanding, without stability, without much of a safety net. Larkin joined the podcast to talk about about writing the story of a traveling musician who spends life on the road, a character that first came to mind fifteen years ago. She shared the journey of the book, the work she put in to hone her own musical skills, and her passion for encouraging other writers.

In a Moment with Margaret, Margaret and Olivia discuss how Instagram-worthy the gorgeous cover of The People We Keep is, and their affection for all things 90s. Margaret recommends The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Olivia admits to having binged (and loved) Freeform’s Cruel Summer, also set in the 90s and streaming on Hulu.

Rebecca Serle is taking readers to Positano, Italy in her latest novel, “One Italian Summer.” The story follows Katy, who, in the depths of grief after her mother’s death, goes alone on a planned mother-daughter trip to the Amalfi Coast.  Rebecca joins the podcast this week to talk about writing the emotional novel about a daughter’s love for her mother, the inevitable future of defining yourself after you lose your parents and her fears of losing her own parents. She talks about curiosities surrounding your parent’s life before yours, “memory is fiction,” she says. Rebecca shares an incredible memory of her own of a trip to Rome with her mother, that even involved meeting a man her mom had dated!  Olivia and Rebecca discuss her other works, and the magic that is “The Gilmore Girls” and audiobook narrator, Lauren Graham.

“One Italian Summer” is available now from Atria Books.

This episode features an Arizona author and her debut novel! "All Our Wars" by Stephanie Vasquez is out now. It's a fictionalized organized crime thriller featuring the daughter of a high-ranking Mexican cartel leader. After Sofia De Luna's mother was murdered, Sofia has to make some tough choices about her family business. It's a love story with dual timelines for fans of shows like Netflix's "Narcos." Vasquez grew up in Tucson and studied Journalism and Latin American studies at the University of Arizona. She's written for a number of publications, including the Tombstone Epitaph. She talks about why she is drawn to stories about families, which TV shows and movies inspired her book, and how she became a published author through a contest.

Maggie Smith’s debut novel, TRUTH AND OTHER LIES, is the fascinating story of three women and the secrets and lies that connect them, shape them, and threaten them. A journalist, psychologist, podcast host and business owner, Maggie joins the podcast to talk about what inspired the book. Maggie talks about using her own life experience writing the relationship Megan and her mother, the political candidate. The book tackles politics, family dynamics, professional identity, and what happens when you look deeper beyond the facades of those you admire, and those you resent.

Margaret and Olivia discuss sharing a name with another person (Maggie Smith the author is not Maggie Smith the actress) with Margaret occasionally receiving emails for THE Martha Stewart, and the show INDEFENSIBLE.

Margaret recommends other new books released this week: THE BOOK OF COLD CASES by Simone St. James and Harlan Coben’s THE MATCH, NINE LIVES by Peter Swanson. Olivia recommends I’M SO EFFIN’ TIRED by Dr. Amy Shah, a previous podcast guest, now in paperback. 

TRUTH AND OTHER LIES is published by Ten16Press, released March 8, 2022.

Historical fiction at its finest, TAKE MY HAND is a fictional retelling of a truly shocking practice in Alabama in the early 1970s: the forced sterilization of poor, mostly Black, women and girls.

Dolen Perkins-Valdez joins the podcast to talk with Olivia about the moving novel, told from the perspective of Civil Townsend, a nurse at the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic, who must advocate for her patients in ways she never expected. After researching the history of the time and events, she approached the fiction with an emotional question: “What would it have been like to be a nurse at that time, under your watch…and how do you live with yourself?”

Dolen Perkins-Valdez is a New York Times bestselling author, Chair of the Board of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation, and an Associate Professor of Literature at American University.

For more on the author visit: https://dolenperkinsvaldez.com/

CAN’T LOOK AWAY is a romantic suspense novel from Carola Lovering, that follows the 2013 romance between Molly Diamond and Jake Danner, and the love that inspires the hit, “Molly’s Song.”

Carola joins the podcast to chat with Olivia about the story, plot surprises, and the thrill of visiting the set of TELL ME LIES, her 2018 novel that’s headed to Hulu as an original series.

CAN’T LOOK AWAY is published by St. Martin’s Press and is available on audio from Macmillan Audio June 14, 2022 .

A Moment With Margaret:

Margaret recommends audiobooks that are good enough to share this summer on your road trips. First,  THE HOUSE ON THE CERULEAN SEA, by TJ Klune, and Eva Jrczyk’s THE DEPARTMENT OF RARE BOOKS AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS.

“A plane crashes into the ocean, sinks with people trapped inside,” T.J. Newman says in describing the premise of this summer’s new novel, DROWNING. The writer returns to the podcast to talk with Olivia about battling the pressures of following up her debut bestseller, and her gratitude for the opportunity to live her dream as a full-time writer. A former bookseller and flight attendant, Newman’s commercial airline centered thrillers sparked bidding wars in publishing and in Hollywood. This time around, deadline pressures were as intense as the burden of expectation, but Newman said she loved writing this intensely emotional book: “At its core, this story would not work if it were not a story of grief and loss and hope and survival and a family coming together” she says. 

DROWNING is published by Avid Reader Press, available for pre-order before its May 30, 2023 release.

Newman will be signing books at Changing Hands Bookstore, where she used to work, on Monday May 29, 2023. She’ll be at The Poisoned Pen Bookstore the following night. For more on TJ Newman, and to follow the latest developments as both her books head to the big screen, visit her website.

Emily Itami is a debut novelist who uses her expertise as a travel writer to transport her readers to Tokyo in “Fault Lines.” The book focuses on Mizuki, a wealthy and beautiful Tokyo wife and mother, who is profoundly bored. Her witty internal dialogue reveals there are cracks beneath the shiny surface which, like the fault lines running through the city, threaten to damage or destroy.  Emily joined the podcast from London to reflect on her experience living in Tokyo, the expectations women face, and how motherhood changes everything.

Margaret discusses a recent novel she enjoyed, “Heard It In a Love Song” by Tracey Garvis Graves.

“The process of writing felt very much like a scavenger hunt. I would have one clue, then I as the writer also didn’t know, like the reader, where it led,” says Peng Shepherd of her new novel, THE CARTOGRAPHERS, when in-studio for the podcast.

Peng shares her interest in cartography, her lifelong passion for stories, and how she approached the follow up to her highly successful 2019 debut, THE BOOK OF M.

Olivia and Peng were joined by her mother, Lin Sue Flood, a former longtime Phoenix news anchor and full-time proud parent. Lin Sue talked about how she encouraged her daughter’s success, always said yes to her requests of new books, and encouraged her earliest efforts at storytelling.

An avid reader herself, Lin Sue recommended two books she recently enjoyed: Matt Haig’s THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY, and Celest Ng’s LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE.

Peng Shepherd will meet her readers at The Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale on Wednesday, March 30 at 7pm. Information: https://poisonedpen.com/

THE CARTOGRAPHERS is published by William Morrow. THE BOOK OF M is now available in paperback.

Witnessing a suicide of a married lover, while at dinner with another married lover, is the moment that sends Lisa Taddeo’s “Animal” narrator, Joan, out of New York and headed to California.

A dive into grief, rage, and sexual power, the novel is powerfully written and in moments deeply moving and even disturbing. Taddeo reveals she’s far from the darkly intense author many expect is behind her work, shares how she juggled the novel while parenting her six-year-old, and how the pandemic didn’t change her. Listen for the hilarious comment her daughter had for her at a book-signing, and what Olivia said that Lisa jokingly called “the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

“Animal” is published by Avid Reader Press and has been optioned by MGM and Plan B Entertainment.

In a Moment with Margaret, Margaret recommends two other novels with complicated characters: “Pretty Girl” by Karin Slaughter and Jodi Picoult’s “Spark of Light.”

Screenwriter Rachel Koller Croft’s debut novel STONE COLD FOX is a deliciously wicked thriller about a gorgeous woman who has no intention of letting anyone or anything (even her own truth) get in the way of the way of a ring on her finger and millions in the bank. Rachel joins the podcast to talk to Olivia about the story, the journey to get a publisher to say yes, and which character in the book is loosely inspired by someone in her life.

STONE COLD FOX is out February 14, 2023 in hardcover from Berkley, and the audiobook is Penguin Random House audio, read by Carlotta Brentan. Rachel’s book tour includes dates in Chicago, California, New York and Arizona. Visit

https://www.rachelkollercroft.com/ for details, or catch her in person with Olivia for her book event at The Poisoned Pen Bookstore on Thursday March2, 2023 at 7pm. https://calendar.time.ly/9plshfqx/event/75299678/20230302190000

Lovingly known as the “reigning romance queens” (PopSugar), the writing duo known as Christina Lauren are as lovable as a pair of friends as they are successful as a writing team. Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings join the podcast to talk with Olivia about their new book, SOMETHING WILDER, a wildly exciting romantic adventure set in Utah involving a treasure hunt and a second chance romance.

Christina and Lauren talk about the way they collaborate (and why they were already prepped for pandemic life), their love for BTS, putting Lauren’s PhD in neuroscience to use in THE SOULMATE EQUATION, and not being remotely outdoorsy.

A Moment With Margaret: Liked This? Read That!

For fans of Lisa Jewell’s THEN SHE WAS GONE, Margaret recommends LOCAL WOMAN MISSING by Mary Kubica. If you enjoyed reading the heartwarming and humorous THE GUNCLE by Steven Rowley, Margaret says you’d enjoy WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD by Lisa Roe. Margaret also shares her love for former Pump Rules star Stassi Schroeder’s follow up to NEXT LEVEL BASIC, this memoir titled OFF WITH MY HEAD.

Falling in love and getting engaged without ever looking at each other? That’s the premise of the Netflix hit reality show, Love Is Blind. The unique dating show was a huge hit and launched not only a marriage but new careers for Lauren and Cameron.

Fans follow their video content and now they can read about their relationship. Olivia talked with the duo about their book, “Leap of Faith” which is part memoir, but also a useful guide for couples navigating new dynamics, who will take inspiration from the familiar pair as role models in how to define their paths as a couple.

Olivia & Margaret both LOVE reality TV as much as they love their books, so they chat about other enjoyable reads from Tan France, Andy Cohen, Jonathan Van Ness, Margaret Josephs and Stassi Schroeder.  

“Like, is that too fun?” Katherine Center says she wondered, about THE BODYGUARD plot that places Hannah, an executive protection agent, in the enviable position of posing as the girlfriend of a handsome movie star named Jack Stapleton. Originally considered more grounded careers for her client of Hannah’s protection (scientists, etc.,) Katherine tells Olivia that ultimately “during the pandemic, there was no such thing as too fun, we went maximum fun,” adding that she felt compelled to write the type of book she wanted to read in a moment of life that felt too dark and too serious.

On her second visit to Olivia’s Book Club Podcast, Katherine shares more about the inspiration one of the most anticipated rom-coms of the year, her Texas roots that add life to the story, and the scoop on her HAPPINESS FOR BEGINNERS, that’s headed to Netflix. If you’re digging into her book backlist, you’ll find Katherine and Olivia discussing THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE in Episode 6 of the podcast: https://oliviasbookclub.libsyn.com/ep-6

THE BODYGUARD is available now in paperback from St. Martin’s Press and on audio from MacMillan Audio. For more on the author visit https://katherinecenter.com/

A Moment With Margaret:

Since Katherine Center is all about reading for joy, Margaret keeps it light with her book recommendations for the week, sharing the books that bring her joyful summer vibes (juicy & refreshing!)

First, Margaret shares why she loves Emily Henry’s newest novel, BOOK LOVERS- which she loves even more than BEACH READ and THE PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION.

She also shares her love for Mary Kay Andrews’ THE HOMEWRECKERS, which tells an uplifting story of a home flipper that she describes as “light and airy” and a perfect source for summer entertainment.

Margaret’s personal update: we are three weeks until our book club discusses LESSONS IN CHEMISTY, and Margaret is still on her library waitlist!

After the death of their father, estranged siblings discover their dad may have been keeping a secret for more than 50 years. While his death was ruled accidental, the siblings are afraid something more sinister is at play. It's a slow-burn mystery and family drama and Laura Dave joins the podcast to talk about "The Night We Lost Him." Dave is a #1 New York Times best-selling author who most recently wrote "The Last Thing He Told Me." That book is also hit series on Apple TV starring Jennfier Garner. Dave talks to our host Whitney Clark about the real event that inspired "The Night We Lost Him," her own fears, what it's like working with Garner, and the plans for her next book (a sequel to "The Last Thing He Told Me."). 

Fans of Riley Sager’s work know that he is a master at delivering twist after twist in suspenseful thrillers like “Home Before Dark,” “Lock Every Door,” and his latest, “Survive The Night.”

Sager joins the podcast to talk to Olivia about the novel, its protagonist Charlie, and why the film student fears she may be the Campus Killer’s next victim. He set the book in 1991, the same time that Sager was a college student, allowing him to reference his own favorite music and movies to bring the story and tension to life. Sager talks about how post-pandemic readers may tap into their own feelings of being trapped as they journey along in the car next to Josh, not knowing when or how the road trip will end, or who will survive the night. See below for links to the companion movie and music playlist for “Survive the Night.”

Olivia admits to the author that this is her first time reading his work—another reliable recommendation from Margaret!

In a Moment with Margaret, they discuss the Spotify playlist (and movie list!) the author crafted as companions to his latest book. Margaret also recommends “Summer of ‘69” by Elin Hilderbrand, a different genre, but a book that also taps heavily into music to set the scenes and the period.

https://www.rileysagerbooks.com/survive-the-night-movie-guide

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3cgIbYbNQSFuj8g8xxhscE?si=febc64122c9c4b5b

Do you set high standards for yourself or others? Do you consider yourself a "perfectionist"? In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Ellen Hendriksen who's out with a new book called "How to Be Enough: Self-Acceptance for Self-Critics and Perfectionists." The author is a clinical psychologist who's been featured in major publications like the New York Times, the Washington Post, Psychology Today and many more. She also founded an award-winning podcast called Savvy Psychologist.  Dr. Hendriksen talks about different forms of perfectionism, how it can lead to burnout and what you can do if you recognize those symptoms in yourself. 

Queen of suspense Mary Kubica opens the year with her latest suspenseful mystery, JUST THE NICEST COUPLE, to be released January 10th. The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author joins the podcast to talk about her twisty tale of two seemingly perfect couples, and the secrets that are exposed between them when one of the husbands disappears.  Mary joins the podcast to talk with Olivia about her previous career as a teacher, how she constructs her storylines, and how motherhood helped to launch her successful career.

Mary will celebrate her books birthday with an event at The Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale on January 10th. For event information or  to pre-order a copy of JUST THE NICEST COUPLE, visit https://poisonedpen.com/ To learn more about the author visit https://marykubica.com/

Vanessa Blair is most definitely not living her dream life. She’s working as a telemarketer for a judgmental tyrant who wants her out because of her RBF. Her facial expression aside, she’s done everything expected of the employees and then some (hello, office Olympics?)

For fans of movies like Office Space and the classic 9-5, Anastasia Ryan’s debut novel YOU SHOULD SMILE MORE is laugh out loud funny and disturbingly relatable to most anyone who has worked in a company claiming to embrace a meaningful corporate culture. When Vanessa and her peers turn her termination into a challenge, they learn from the tenets of THE ART OF WAR, realize that friendships were the true perk of the job, and find a way to a happier ending that can incorporate gainful employment, kittens, and maybe even love.

Anastasia talks to Olivia about the jobs and interviews that inspired her story, her own history as a foster mom to kittens, and why being an introvert feels like an obstacle to selling books! 
For more on the author visit  https://anastasiaryan.com/

Follow her on IG, TikTok and Twitter: @byanastasiaryan

YOU SHOULD SMILE MORE is available in paperback and for e-readers from Sourcebooks.

Ashley Audrain, the author of the 2021 powerhouse women’s fiction debut, THE PUSH, returns to the podcast to talk with Olivia about her new novel, THE WHISPERS.

THE WHISPERS takes us to an affluent street where we experience life, frustration, marriage concerns, parenting failures, heartbreaks, tragedies, embarrassment, suspicions, all through the eyes (and whispers) of four women: Whitney, Blair, Rebecca and Mara.

Ashley says her experience during the restrictions of the pandemic helped to shape the novel. “Your world became so small, your world was only as big as what you could see outside your front window, which was your neighbor and your neighboring houses. I think we all became a little more intimate and closer with the people we lived in proximity with, that was very much on my mind when I was writing the characters of this book and their settings on the street” she says.

THE WHISPERS is out now from Pamela Dorman/Viking and is also available in audio. For more on the author visit her website.

Click here to revisit Olivia and Ashley’s conversation about THE PUSH.

 If you're going on a trip this summer and you're looking for a good book, we've got you covered! In this episode of "Beyond the Next Chapter," our host Whitney Clark talks to the folks at the Phoenix Library about the most highly anticipated books of the summer. She's joined by Anna Chenoweth, the library collections manager, and Maria Lopez, the community relations manager. For a list of the recommendations: https://www.azfamily.com/2024/06/11/beyond-next-chapter-podcast-most-highly-anticipated-books-summer/

“Things like structural edits, what the characters do, that’s really the choice of the writer,” quips Sulari Gentill, while discussing communications with the devoted fan base of her Rowland Sinclair series, and her new stand-alone literary mystery, THE WOMAN IN THE LIBRARY.

All the way from Australia, the author chats with Olivia in the Arizona podcast studio before meeting her readers and leading writing workshops at The Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale.

Sulari talks about playing with genre and the blurring of fact and fiction, with her novel about a novel, written by protagonist Hannah, whose early draft THE WOMAN IN THE LIBRARY READER is spending most of our time with.

THE WOMAN IN THE LIBRARY is now available in paperback from Sourcebooks, hardcover from Poisoned Pen Press, and as an audiobook by Dreamscape Media. For more on the author, visit: http://sularigentill.com

Happiness Project Founder and New York Times bestselling author
Gretchen Rubin returns to the podcast to talk with Olivia about her new 
book, LIFE IN FIVE SENSES, another useful tool for the toolkit of anyone 
who shares her insatiable desire to understand human nature and find 
ways to live a happier life.

For this book Gretchen embarks on an experiment to see how a focus 
on her senses might change her perspective and discovered she found 
greater calm, joy, and connection to the people and places surrounding 
her. Gretchen shares surprising discoveries from daily visits the New 
York Metropolitan Museum of Art and which life experience she’d like a 
do-over for, after practicing these methods to be more in her body and 
in the moment.

LIFE IN FIVE SENSES is available in hardcover from Crown Publishing and 
is also available in audio format, read by the author.

Want to better tap into your five senses? Check out the Happier With 
Gretchen Rubin podcast.