*This podcast was made possible through the generous support of Book Alchemy’s paid membership. To support the show and future projects, please consider becoming at member at secretlibrarypodcast.com

Saying goodbye is bittersweet

Nine years ago, I launched a podcast with very little certainty that it would thrive. I didn’t know if we would even hit ten episodes. Today I fact-checked my total of 250+ episodes and learned I was WILDLY off. This is technically episode 487.

I would not have been able to continue this long without the incredible generosity of both my guests and my listeners. Without Haley Hatcher of Heart-Centered Podcasting’s support. Without the multiple logos Barry McWilliams patiently created, and without Emily Hawkins, who composed the dream theme music I wish we’d had from the very beginning.

In this final episode, I am honored that my friend Katherine May offered to take over the interviewer’s role, letting me reminisce and share the experience of producing this show for so long. Thank you Katherine, I couldn’t have closed this well without you.

The show will be here in the archives for you to revisit, and now we close one chapter. I’m delighted, relieved, exhausted and a bit sad all at once.

Thank you, above all, for listening.

*This podcast is made possible through the generous support of Book Alchemy’s paid membership. To support the show, please consider becoming at member at secretlibrarypodcast.com

Creating a cloud in book form

This week, I spoke with the queen of fog, Laura Pashby, a photographer and author with a deep fascination for this ethereal phenomenon. We dive into the inspiration behind Laura's latest book Chasing Fog, discussing her lifelong relationship with fog, its role in her photography and writing, and how it became a central theme in her life and work.

We also look at the broader implications of fog in literature, its emotional and philosophical significance, and the challenges of writing and capturing such an elusive subject. Additionally, our conversation touches on including the personal and memoir elements within the book, Laura's journey to publication, and the reception of her work. As the final interview of the Secret Library, this was a poignant moment, and I was moved by feeling of the show drifting into fog as well.

Chapters:

00:21 Meet Laura Pashby: A Lifelong Bookworm02:07 The Fascination with Fog05:16 From Photography to Writing About Fog08:15 The Journey to Publishing Chasing Fog12:44 Writing Memoir Elements in a Nonfiction Book20:33 Fog in Literature and Personal Reflection23:35 Revisiting Childhood Fears23:50 Folklore and Fog on Dartmoor26:07 Climate Change and Fog29:42 The Process of Writing the Book from a Proposal32:34 The Emotional Rollercoaster of Book Reviews35:20 Finding Enchantment in Fog

About Laura:

Laura Pashby tells stories using words and photographs. She is the author of the narrative non-fiction book Chasing Fog, which is published by Simon & Schuster and was described by Literary Review as ‘a frequently beguiling and thought-provoking book’.

She shares stories with her engaged Instagram following, on her bestselling Substack, and in beautiful magazines.

*This podcast is made possible through the generous support of Book Alchemy’s paid membership. To support the show, please consider becoming at member at secretlibrarypodcast.com

Burnt out to embracing joyous reading + writing

In this episode of The Secret Library Podcast, I am joined by Petya Grady, writer and the creator of A reading life on Substack. Petya shares her unique journey from Bulgaria to the US, including her unexpected career transition from academia to UX strategy and social impact startups. Burned out from the corporate world, Petya turned to her love of books to find solace, leading to a fascinating discussion about 'reading and writing kinks.' We explore the psychological allure of reading and writing, how certain themes and settings captivate us, and why it's important to embrace what truly excites us in our literary pursuits. This episode fully embraces the pleasure principles of reading and writing, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.

Chapters:

01:26 The Concept of Reading and Writing Kink04:01 Exploring Pleasure Principles in Literature07:44 Personal Reading Kinks and Favorite Authors11:10 The Joy of Recognizing You Personal Reading Fingerprint17:08 Preferences Regarding Place and Setting in Books21:35 Cold War Fascination and Spy Stories22:12 The Bulgarian Umbrella Case23:55 Surveillance and Spy Devices24:49 Cold War Literature and Personal Reflections26:44 The Relevance of Historical Fiction28:42 When Life and Literature Meet36:17 Speculative Fiction and Creative Freedom

About Petya:

Petya K. Grady is the author of A Reading Life, a newsletter exploring books, reading, and the pursuit of intellectual fulfillment. She is currently at work on her first novel, set in Communist-era Bulgaria. Petya lives and writes in Memphis, Tennessee.