In this episode of the Libro.fm podcast, Craig and Olivia sit down with Annie B. Jones—author of Ordinary Time: Lessons Learned While Staying Put, owner of The Bookshelf in Thomasville, Georgia, and host of the beloved From the Front Porch podcast. Annie shares the inspiration behind her essay collection, how running an indie bookstore shaped her view of third places, and why books aren’t just escape, but flashlights guiding us back into connection with the world. Plus, see how Libro.fm is celebrating Independent Bookstore Day on April 26!

Celebrate Indie Bookstore Day: https://2ly.link/2608h

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About Annie B. Jones: Annie B. Jones is a writer, podcaster, and the owner of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in Thomasville, Georgia. Jones hosts From the Front Porch, a weekly podcast about books, small business, and life in the South, and her work has been featured in Southern Living magazine. A native of Tallahassee, Florida, she lives in Thomasville with her husband, Jordan, and their dog, Sam Malone.

Get Annie’s Book:

• Ordinary Time

Books discussed on today's episode:

• Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
• Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito
• Woodworking by Emily St. James

This episode of the Libro.fm podcast features an interview with Amanda Jones, a school librarian and anti-censorship advocate whose book "That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America" became a national bestseller. Amanda discusses her decision to write the book, the process of narrating the audiobook version, and the importance of combating book bans and censorship in libraries and schools. She provides advice for starting grassroots organizations to fight book bans and shares insights on navigating the complex issues around representation and censorship in literary collections.

Read the full transcript:

Use promo code: SWITCH when signing up for a new Libro.fm membership to get two additional credits to use on any audiobooks—meaning you’ll have three from the start.

Get Amanda’s Book:
That Librarian

Books discussed on today's episode:

• Banned Together (Our Fight for Readers' Rights) by Ashley Hope Pérez
• Creep by Emma van Straaten
• All Friends Are Necessary by Tomas Moniz
• Big Familia by Tomas Moniz
• The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander

In this episode of the Libro.fm podcast, hosts Craig and Karen interview Aaliyah Bilal, author of the 2023 National Book Award finalist "Temple Folk." Aaliyah discusses her creative process and journey to becoming a writer, why she prefers to write short stories and the inspiration behind her collection, and book recommendations for those interested in exploring Islam in Ghana and Sudan.

Read the full transcript:

Use promo code: SWITCH when signing up for a new Libro.fm membership to get two additional credits to use on any audiobooks—meaning you’ll have three from the start.

About Aaliyah: Aaliyah Bilal is an American writer acclaimed for her debut short story collection, Temple Folk, which explores the lives of Black Muslims in 1970s America. The collection was a finalist for the 2023 National Book Award for Fiction and the 2024 Aspen Words Literary Prize. Bilal received the 2024 Whiting Award and the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence.

Get Aaliyah's books:

• Temple Folk

Books discussed on today's episode:

• The Prophet of Zongo Street by Mohammed Naseehu Ali
• Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih