Episodios

  • How Marisa Kashino Landed the Deal for Best Offer Wins
    Nov 21 2025
    Marisa Kashino turns being new to publishing into a superpower, revealing her surprising journey from first draft to the darkly funny thriller, Best Offer Wins.Being brand-new to publishing turned out to be this author's secret weapon in landing her book deal. This week on Book Gang, we’re stepping into the ruthless, dream-chasing world of real estate with Marisa Kashino, journalist and author of Best Offer Wins. She shares how the freedom from expectations fueled her thriller's creativity and story structure, how her query journey unfolded with unexpected serendipity, and why stepping into fiction opened doors she never imagined… including an adaptation already in the works.In this heartwarming and hilarious conversation, we discuss:📚 From Reporting to Satire – Marisa shares how years of covering bidding wars, desperate buyers, and high-stakes real estate inspired her darkly funny take on ambition. Writing as Margo allowed Marisa to channel humor, frustration, and sharp social commentary she could never express out loud through Margot's antics.📚 Subtle Social Commentary – Margot's Asian American identity informs elements of this story, and Marisa shares personal experiences that have shaped these plot elements that informed Margo’s choices, her humor, and the unexpected ways readers may connect with her story.📚 A Secret Project Turns Big – Marisa kept her novel under wraps until she secured an agent, and now it’s heading toward an adaptation with 20th TV, Hulu, and Greta Lee attached. She talks about the thrill of sharing this milestone, how her family reacted, and the joy of seeing a private creative project reach the world.📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's companion book list: 23 Dark Comedy Books That Embrace the Absurd. Patrons will receive printable checklists to take on their next visit to the library!Meet Marisa KashinoMarisa Kashino spent 17 years as a journalist, most recently at The Washington Post, and wrote long-form features and oversaw home design coverage at Washingtonian Magazine. She grew up near Seattle and earned her degree in journalism and political science from the University of Washington. Marisa lives in the DC area with her husband, two dogs, and two cats. Best Offer Wins is her first novel.Mentioned in this episode:Download Today's Show TranscriptBuy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!Join the November Book Club TONIGHT at 8 PM ET (Weyward by Emilia Hart)NEW BOOK LIST: 23 Dark Comedy Books That Embrace The AbsurdBest Offer Wins by Marisa KashinoThe Writer’s CenterThe Shit No One Tells You About WritingYellowface by R. F. KuangBad Summer People by Emma RosenblumBeefAustin Taylor - Notes on Infinity Podcast InterviewLean In by Sheryl SandburgGreta LeeAllegra Goodman - Isola Podcast InterviewBookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect with Marisa Kashino on InstagramConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
    Más Menos
    47 m
  • Emma Pattee’s ADHD Trick That Brought Tilt to Life
    Nov 14 2025
    Discover the writing hack that Emma Pattee uncovered with a creativity coach, which helped her debut novel, Tilt, transition from her Google Drive to publication.Emma Pattee, climate journalist and fiction writer, joins the Book Gang podcast to discuss her heartpounding debut novel, Tilt. In Tilt, we follow a pregnant woman through a single, intense day as an earthquake hits Portland, where Pattee blends the chaos of the city with the intimate messiness of her marriage and motherhood journey.In our virtual walk with Emma through Portland, we explore:📚 How ADHD and journalism shaped her craft– Emma discusses how a creativity coach helped unlock a new writing system that helped her finally move a project off her Google Drive into a finished book. We discuss the heavy and rarely discussed wait of unfinished projects as creatives.📚 Reporting meets fiction – As a climate journalist, Emma discusses her research-heavy novel that involved interviews with geologists, seismic engineers, and first responders, worked off real destruction maps and city-planning data, then translated it into the book we hold in our hands now.📚 Survival, motherhood & climate anxiety intertwined – Tilt uses the impending "Big One" earthquake as a metaphor for Annie's journey to motherhood, where Emma discusses her stream-of-consciousness voice that keeps the reader inside one woman's daylong survival trek and how it intertwines with Emma's personal fears and discoveries.📚 Bonus Book List – These 23 eco fiction books will have you looking at the world in a whole new way. Marvel at our remarkable connection to nature through this incredible stack. Patrons will receive a printable checklist to take on your next library trip.Meet Emma PatteeEmma Pattee is a climate journalist and fiction writer whose work has appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and more. In 2021, she coined the term "Climate Shadow" to describe an individual's potential impact on climate change. Her debut novel, Tilt, is a National Bestseller, NYT Editor's Choice, and recognized by NPR, Time, Vogue, and Bustle as one of the best books of the year. She lives in Portland, Oregon.Mentioned in this episode:Download Today's Show TranscriptBuy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!Join the November Book Club 11/21 at 8 PM ET (Weyward by Emilia Hart)NEW BOOK LIST: 23 Eco Fiction Books You'll LoveNEW: 32-Page November Reading Guide & FULLY BOOKED Patron ShowTilt by Emma PatteeHillary RettigAlison Larkin - Home of the American Circus Podcast EpisodeDucks, Newburyport by Lucy EllmannThe Truth About Portland’s Brick Schools Is Scarier Than FictionDr. Katherine HayhoeBookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect with Emma Pattee on Instagram or her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
    Más Menos
    48 m
  • How the Pagebound App Reinvents Social Reading
    Nov 7 2025
    Discover Pagebound, the social reading app by Lucy Zhao & Jennifer Dobak. Learn how to gamify your reading life from quests to forums in today's beginner chat.Ever wish Goodreads had a heart or deeply desired a buddy read for every book in your book stack? It exists. This week, we're stepping inside Pagebound, the new social reading app built by readers for readers, with co-founders Lucy Zhao and Jennifer Dobak.This week's "building block" podcast episode is designed to deepen your reading life and provide a behind-the-scenes look at tools you can use to enhance it. Discover how these two women built a no-AI, reader-first platform that's reimagining how we connect through stories online.In this enlightening conversation, we discuss:📚 The Origin Story: Learn how Lucy Zhao and Jennifer Dobak transformed their shared love of reading into a bold tech venture built from scratch. From late-night coding sessions to their first "scrappy" testers, they share what it really takes to launch a reader-first social platform in an industry long dominated by giants.📚 A Human-Centered Platform: Learn how Pagebound's no-AI promise and book-by-book forum model create genuine connections instead of algorithmic noise. The founders explain why every title deserves its own conversation and how thoughtful design shaped the community from day one.📚 Gamifying the Reading Life: Explore how Pagebound is transforming the way we engage with our books through clever, joy-filled features like reading quests and milestone interactions that encourage active community membership, bringing a sense of adventure back to your reading life.Meet the GuestsLucy Zhao grew up as a cheeky kid, always carrying a book. She studied creative writing and business at the University of Michigan and has spent the last decade leading tech startups and launching products. Her favorite authors include James McBride, Maggie Nelson, and Jonathan Franzen. She lives with her toy aussiedoodle, Libby, and loves ice-cold watermelon slices.Jennifer Dobak studied Economics, French, and Italian at the University of Notre Dame before becoming a software engineer. When she's not coding, she's hanging out at her local indie bookstore. Her favorite authors include Lauren Groff, Mona Awad, and V.E. Schwab. She's a lifelong writer herself and is currently chasing her dream of finishing her own novel.Mentioned in this episode:Download Today's Show TranscriptBuy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!Join the November Book Club 11/21 at 8 PM ET (Weyward by Emilia Hart)NEW: 32-Page November Reading Guide & FULLY BOOKED Patron ShowPageboundFollow Book Gang on Pagebound (let's be friends!)Building Block Episode ICYMI: How the Storygraph App Can EnhanceBuilding Block Episode ICYMI: Get the Most Out of the Libby App (Podcast With the Libby Team)Building Block Episode ICYMI: Improve Your Reading Focus & Memory (Hacks for Readers With ADHD)Building Block Episode ICYMI: The Best Reading Hacks for Chronic PainPhantasma by Kaylie SmithEnchantra by Kaylie SmithThe Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett1984 by George OrwellA Crash Course in Gothic Fiction with Erin Crosby EckstineBookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect with Pagebound on Instagram or their WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
    Más Menos
    52 m
  • A Crash Course in Gothic Fiction With Erin Crosby Eckstine
    Oct 31 2025
    Take a crash course in Gothic fiction with Junie author Erin Crosby Eckstine as we trace the genre's origins, evolution, and enduring allure.Erin returns to Book Gang to share what surprised her most about debut life and what she's learned about balancing writing, book promotion, and an ever-growing TikTok community. Then, we dive deep into the eerie, elegant world of Gothic literature — where decaying mansions, stormy moors, and family secrets reflect the darkness within.If you've ever wondered what makes a book Gothic, how the genre evolved from the 18th century to the present day, or how writers can utilize Gothic techniques to explore contemporary fears, this episode is your guided tour through the creeping shadows, courtesy of a former English teacher.In this illuminating conversation, we discuss:📚 Debut Surprises: What Erin learned from releasing Junie and how this political moment is impacting visibility, sales, and future book deals for BIPOC authors like her.📚 A Gothic 101 Deep Dive: Erin breaks down the key elements of Gothic fiction, from its origins in 18th-century England to how modern writers are reimagining it today.📚 Erin's Top 5 Gothic Fiction Recommendations: Erin shares her top five picks for your books that include modern Gothic fiction that continue to illuminate today's anxieties — about identity, race, power, and belonging — through atmosphere and suspense.Meet Erin Crosby EckstineErin Crosby Eckstine is an author of speculative historical fiction. Her debut novel, Junie, was selected for the Good Morning America book club. Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Eckstine grew up between the South and Los Angeles before moving to New York City to attend Barnard College. She earned a master's in secondary English education from Stanford University and taught high school English for six years. She lives in Brooklyn with her partner and their cats. 📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's TWO companion reading guides to continue your Gothic education: 11 Classic Gothic Novels That Started It All and 30 Modern Gothic Novels That Keep the Candle Burning. Patrons will receive printable checklists to take on their next visit to the library!Mentioned in this episode:Download Today's Show TranscriptJoin the November Book Club 11/21 at 8 PM ET (Weyward by Emilia Hart)NEW BOOK LIST: 11 Classic Gothic Novels That Started It AllNEW BOOK LIST: 30 Modern Gothic Novels That Keep the Candle BurningJunie by Erin Crosby EckstineHow Family History & Legacy Shaped Junie (Erin Crosby Eckstine's First Episode on Book Gang)Jane Eyre by Charlotte BrontëThe Secret History by Donna TarttThe Odyssey by HomerWuthering Heights by Emily BrontëThe Lives of the BrontësTo Walk Invisible The Brontë SistersKanopy appShirley by Charlotte BrontëVilette by Charlotte BrontëThe Lilac People by Milo ToddBrickBeloved by Toni MorrisonWilliam FaulknerMexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-GarciaThe Hacienda by Isabel CañasThe House of the Spirits by Isabel AllendeWhy Is The New "Wuthering Heights" Movie Stirring Controversy?SaltburnWe Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley JacksonOur Share of the Night by Mariana EnriquezBleak House by Charles Dickens Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect with Erin Crosby Eckstine on Instagram or their WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
    Más Menos
    1 h y 8 m
  • Inside Bindery Books with CEO Matt Kaye
    Oct 24 2025
    Go behind the scenes with Bindery Books to discover their innovative publishing process, where tastemakers reshape how diverse books are made and sold.In this week's episode, we sit down with Matt Kaye, cofounder and CEO of Bindery Books, to explore how his multifaceted career—from traditional publishing to Amazon to Patreon—shaped a bold new model for the book world.Matt shares how the company identifies and empowers their carefully selected Tastemakers who curate, acquire, and co-develop books, offering listeners a rare, inside look at how these partnerships work from manuscript to marketing. Discover how the company tackles its small business challenges and the heartwarming pride that infuses many of its published works, including a project that's even captured the attention of celebrities.In this enlightening conversation, we discuss:📚 From Publishing to Patreon: Matt Kaye shares his unique publishing background and how he merged the best of all his past work experiences in tech and publishing to inspire Bindery's distinctive hybrid model that leverages influencers into the role of tastemakers.📚 The Tastemaker Model: Discover how Bindery curates its diverse lineup of Tastemakers, their roles in involving fans in the publishing process, and the commissions available for each book sale.📚 A New Author Experience: Matt discusses why writers are thriving under this partnership model, from fairer royalties to hands-on creative collaboration and nimble, audience-first publicity cycles.📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Instead of our usual companion list, I'm pointing you directly to Bindery Books this week as a thank you for their participation on today's show! Browse their catalog of offerings and meet the incredible tastemakers shaping each story.Meet Matt KayeMatt started his career as a book marketer in publishing (Avalon, Wiley, FSG). After earning a Columbia Business School MBA, he joined the Amazon Books team, where he held several tech roles, including VP of Growth at the seed-stage startup Inkshares, Head of Growth and Engagement at Trulia, and, most recently, Head of Product, Design, and Research at Patreon. Matt now serves as cofounder and CEO of Bindery Books.Mentioned in this episode:Download Today's Show TranscriptHow the Storygraph App Can Enhance Your Reading Life (Podcast With the CEO)Get the Most Out of the Libby App (Podcast With the Libby Team)Join the October Book Club TONIGHT at 8 PM ET (Diavola by Jennifer Thorne)Bindery BooksHolly Kennedy - The Sideways Life of Denny Vos episodeThe Sideways Life of Denny Voss by Holly KennedyAudiobraryThe Unmapping by Denise S. RobbinsOf Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara TrueloveBindery's PitchfestThis is Not a Test by Courtney SummersRecipes for an Unexpected Afterlife by Deston J MundenMeg's TearoomDeston MundenBookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect with Bindery Books on Instagram or their WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
    Más Menos
    53 m
  • How Olivia Muenter Went From "Recovering Influencer" to Bestseller
    Oct 17 2025
    Debut novelist Olivia Muenter joins Book Gang to discuss her hit debut, Such a Bad Influence, and the dark side of online fame in her real and imagined worlds.What happens when your child becomes famous? In Such a Bad Influence, Olivia Muenter pulls back the curtain on the innocent early days of a fictional family's online moment that went viral, to later reveal the insidious nature of the influencer era when fame and fortune find them.A self-described "recovering influencer," Olivia shares how her debut became a sharp, emotional page-turner and the ways her work as an influencer tied into her more complicated truths in this mixed media thriller.In this revealing conversation, we discuss:📚 Unlearning the Influencer Mindset – Olivia shares what it really means to be a "recovering influencer," the habits that were hardest to break, and how her social media past shaped her storytelling voice.📚 Choosing an Independent Path with Quirk Books – Olivia shares why partnering with a boutique publisher was the right fit for her debut, from the creative freedom it offered to the close-knit collaboration that helped Such a Bad Influence find its perfect audience.📚 The Hidden Cost of Kid Influencing – Olivia discusses the unsettling realities of children growing up online to create family content and explores how she used her unsent newsletters to craft a mixed media experience for readers, illustrating the struggles long after the cameras stop rolling.📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's fun companion book, 18 influencer books that are as unputdownable as your favorite feed. Patrons will also receive today's printable checklist to take on their next visit to the library.Meet Olivia MuenterOlivia Muenter is a writer, reader, and the co-host of the Bad on Paper podcast. Her first novel, Such A Bad Influence was an instant USA Today Best Seller. Her second novel, Little One, will be published in 2026.A former fashion & beauty editor and freelance writer, Olivia's work has been published in Glamour, Byrdie, Bustle, Brides, Health.com, Philadelphia Magazine, and more. You can find her most personal writing via her weekly newsletter, where she shares about her life, her work, and everything in between.Mentioned in this episode:Download Today's Show TranscriptNEW BOOK LIST: 18 Page-Turning Influencer BooksJoin the October Book Club on 10/24 at 8 PM ET (Diavola by Jennifer Thorne)Such a Bad Influence by Olivia MuenterBad On Paper PodcastLittle One by Olivia MuenterShark Heart by Emily HabeckHow Shark Heart Transformed Emily Habeck and Her ReadersBad InfluenceImprove Your Reading Memory and FocusI'm Glad My Mom Died by Jenette McCurdyBookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect with Olivia Muenter on Instagram or her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
    Más Menos
    58 m
  • How Fanfic Led Ashley Jordan to a Reese's LitUp Fellowship
    Oct 10 2025
    Author Ashley Jordan joins Book Gang to share her LitUp Fellowship journey to launch her debut, Once Upon a Time in Dollywood, and how fanfiction paved her path.Ashley Jordan, a Reese's Book Club LitUp Fellow, joins us this week to share the story behind her sparkling debut Once Upon a Time in Dollywood—a romance that pairs laugh-out-loud humor with deeply emotional storytelling.In this light conversation, we discuss:📚 From Fanfic to Fellowship – Ashley reflects on how writing The Walking Dead fanfiction taught her the building blocks of writing and how that experience led her to being named a Reese's Book Club LitUp Fellow, complete with her dream mentorship and a writer's retreat that transformed her creative process.📚 Rewriting the Narrative for Black Women – Through her protagonist Eve, a playwright determined to tell Black women's stories that aren't defined by pain, Ashley explores how joy, ambition, and love can coexist with realism. We discuss why expanding the lens on representation in romance matters now more than ever.📚 Dollywood, Therapy, and the Soft Boyfriend We Deserve – Ashley shares how setting the story in Dollywood allowed her to capture the magic of Southern charm, how she approached writing therapy with nuance and heart, and why she wanted Jamie—a self-described "cinnamon roll" love interest—to reflect a gentler kind of masculinity in today's romance landscape.📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's juicy companion book list filled with the best books about theater to step behind the curtain with these compelling stories of complex lives, both on and off the stage. Patrons will also receive today's printable checklist to take on their next visit to the library.Meet Ashley JordanAshley Jordan is a millennial from Atlanta by way of Brooklyn. She attended Spelman College, earning a degree in Psychology and a lifelong appreciation for women's stories. By day, she works in public health, and by night, she's a devoted writer—ever since penning her first short story in second grade.When Ashley isn't writing or working, she's likely at a Beyoncé concert, rewatching Mad Men, or passionately debating basketball. In 2023, she became a Reese's Book Club LitUp Fellow, an experience that helped shape her journey to publishing Once Upon a Time in Dollywood.Mentioned in this episode:Download Today's Show TranscriptNEW BOOK LIST: 22 Incredible Books About TheaterJoin the October Book Club on 10/24 at 8 PM ET (Diavola by Jennifer Thorne)Once Upon a Time in Dollywood by Ashley JordanLemonadeCelebrating Only One-Bed Moments in Romance (Sarah Adler Podcast)LitUpJasmine GuilloryBolu BabalolaTilt by Emma PatteeKennedy RyanTia WilliamsThe Kennedy Ryan Phenomenon: Inclusive Narratives with HeartEmily HenryRegina BlackAugust Lane by Regina BlackNikki PayneDanielle JacksonMeryl Wilsner Beverly JenkinsBookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores. Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect with Ashley Jordan on Instagram or her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
    Más Menos
    38 m
  • Unmasking Hysteria in The Mad Wife with Author Meagan Church
    Oct 3 2025
    Author Meagan Church unpacks the hidden lives of women in her chilling novel, The Mad Wife, as we explore the history of hysteria in women's health diagnoses.If you loved Meagan Church’s historical fiction, you’ll be captivated by the bold turn she takes in The Mad Wife, her third novel. Rooted in the untold medical stories of women’s lives, this book lulls readers into the familiar rhythms of mid-century domesticity, before flipping the script with a shocking plot twist.In our revealing conversation, we explore:Building a Vivid 1950s World – From S&H stamps to molded salads, how Meagan nailed the texture of the era, weaving ordinary domestic details into a setting that feels both authentic and unsettling.From History to Suspense – Why Meagan pivoted from a traditional historical fiction lens in her earlier novels to the creeping tension of domestic suspense, and how she made the genre shift feel authentic to her writing process. We discuss the bravery required for this project and how she felt haunted, both in real life and on the page, as she told Lulu's story.The Medical History of “Hysteria” – What her chilling research revealed about diagnoses like hysteria, prescriptions like Miltown, and procedures like lobotomy and ECT that shaped women’s lives in disturbing ways.📚 As a bonus for listeners, don’t miss this week’s companion list: Books With Good Plot Twists That Will Make Your Jaw Drop. Patrons will also receive today’s printable checklist to take on their next visit to the library.Meet Meagan ChurchMeagan Church is the Southern indie bestselling author of The Girls We Sent Away, The Last Carolina Girl , and The Mad Wife, this month's Barnes & Noble Book fiction pick. She writes to tell grounded stories that explore the complexity of human nature. Her historical fiction chronicles the plight and fight of unheard voices of the past. After receiving a B.A. in English from Indiana University, Meagan built a career as a storyteller and freelance writer for brands, blogs, and organizations. She is an adjunct professor for Drexel University’s MFA in Creative Writing program, helping authors tell their own stories through editing, coaching, and workshops. A Midwesterner by birth, she now lives in North Carolina with her high school sweetheart, three children, and a plethora of pets.Mentioned in this episode:Download Today's Show TranscriptUPDATED BOOK LIST: Books With Good Plot TwistsJoin the October Book Club on 10/24 at 8 PM ET (Diavola by Jennifer Thorne)The Last Carolina Girl by Meagan ChurchThe Girls We Sent Away by Meagan ChurchThe Mad Wife by Meagan ChurchThe Best Book Club Books to Spark ConversationSaints for All Occasions by J. Courtney SullivanOn Writing by Stephen KingFinding Grace by Loretta RothschildDonut Dollies of VietnamThe Women by Kristin HannahWeymouth Center for the Arts & HumanitiesMegan’s Jello InstagramHow to Make Glow in the Dark JELL-OMiltownMother’s Little HelperUnwell Women by Elinor CleghornThe Bell Jar by Sylvia PlathTerah Shelton HarrisBookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonBuy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation in any amount- I am grateful!)Connect with Meagan Church on Instagram or her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
    Más Menos
    1 h y 2 m