This week on The Bookshop at the End of the Internet, I'm chatting with author Andy Honda, the creative mind behind the charming children's series Koa's Ruff Life. Inspired by her real-life rescue pup, Koa—a lovable Rhodesian Ridgeback—Andy's stories follow his adventures across New York City. From the Central Park Zoo to Bryant Park to Christmas in the city, each book celebrates the small, magical moments she and Koa share, sprinkled with fun NYC facts to spark curiosity in young readers. In our conversation, Andy opens up about her unexpected path from science to storytelling, the joy she finds in writing for kids, and the meaningful volunteer work she and Koa do in children's hospitals and special‑needs schools. Tune in to hear about Andy's journey, Koa's adventures, and the love letter to NYC behind this delightful series.

Author Jen Braaksma talks about a truly extraordinary project: Befriending Betsy. This book began with another writer—Betsy Pauly, a woman remembered for her kindness, humor, and deep love for animals. After Betsy passed away, she left behind pieces of a manuscript and a husband determined to see her story reach the world. That's where Jen stepped in. Jen was brought on to help shape Betsy's unfinished work, but this wasn't your typical co-authoring experience. She had to learn Betsy's voice, understand her heart, and honor a story that began long before she arrived. In our conversation, Jen shares what it was like to step into another writer's creative world, how her background as a book coach guided the process, and the unique challenge of capturing a voice that's no longer here to speak for itself. It's a moving, thoughtful look at storytelling, legacy, and the connections we forge through words.

Author Nancy Bernhard discusses her powerful debut novel, The Double Standard Sporting House. Set in New York City, 1868, during the shadowy reign of Tammany Hall, Nancy's story follows Doc—a sharp, fearless woman who runs an elite brothel as a covert way to fund her free clinic for women. Her world is one of grit, autonomy, and unexpected power, built at a time when society demanded "respectability" above all else. Nancy shares the surprising historical research behind the novel, including eye‑opening statistics about sex work in 19th‑century NYC and the complex reasons so many women entered the trade. We also dive into her writing journey, the family inspiration behind the book, and why she describes medicine of the era as "the wild west." If you love historical fiction, hidden histories, or stories about women carving out their own paths, you won't want to miss this conversation.

Author Joe Battaglia discusses his debut novel, Beneath the Rings. Joe is a seasoned sports journalist who spent years covering the Olympic Games. His experiences inspired Beneath the Rings, which centers around a terrorist event at the 2040 Summer Olympic Games in Doha. In this story, an independent journalist finds herself in the center of an international hostage situation and has to race against time to uncover the terrorist plot steeped in corruption, trafficking, and revenge to save the Olympic Games from international disaster. Joe has drawn upon his nearly thirty-year career in journalism, including coverage of multiple Olympic Games, to craft a fictional story based on an amalgamation of people he's known, places he's been, and events he's witnessed.

Author Susie Spikol about her books Forest Magic (For Kids) and The Book of Fairies. Susie has spent nearly thirty years working as a naturalist at nature centers and spends her time reminding people about the wonders of open-ended play outdoors. In Forest Magic, she has created dozens of activities for kids and parents that are inspired by her work and the magic of the natural world. Her latest book, The Book of Fairies, is a field guide to fairies. She began this book when she was eight years old, making up stories to explain what she saw in the natural world. The Book of Fairies includes real science peppered throughout its pages, as well as a fun and imaginative "how to find" section for each fairy.

In the conclusion of this two‑part series, The Bookshop at the End of the Internet presents four more conversations with members of the First Coast Romance Writers, recorded during their recent retreat. This episode features Melody Johnson, Leah Miles, Vanessa Victoria Kilmer, and Vickey Wollan—authors whose work spans romantic suspense, paranormal worlds, adventure, and holiday stories. From ghosts and haunted lore to treasure hunting, Navy SEALs, and the creative resilience of writing with dyslexia, these interviews highlight the breadth and imagination of the romance genre. Join host Stacey Horan as she wraps up this special series celebrating storytelling, community, and the joy of discovering new authors.

In this first installment of a special two‑part series, The Bookshop at the End of the Internet features five brief, lively interviews recorded onsite at a working retreat of the First Coast Romance Writers. Host Stacey Horan chats with Maggie FitzRoy, LaTisha Redding, Lynn Westhoff, Marie Morton, and Ann Wright—authors at various stages of their writing journeys who bring humor, passion, and unique perspectives to the romance genre. From YA themes to paranormal trilogies to Caribbean‑inspired sports romance, this episode offers a warm, engaging look at the many ways stories take shape. Tune in for books, inspiration, and a behind‑the‑scenes glimpse into a vibrant writing community.

Author Marty Neumeier discusses his new thriller, Octavo. This didactic novel delves into the nature of creativity while spinning a thrilling tale through two storylines. One is set during the Renaissance and follows the last pupil of Leonardo DaVinci who writes an adventurous account of the lengths he and DaVinci go through to get DaVinci's notebooks published. There is a mystery surrounding why and how the notebooks fail to be published, and Marty's tale shows DaVinci in the role of detective, trying to solve the mystery. The second storyline is set in modern times and features two art authenticators discover the manuscript. Determined not to let the manuscript meet the same fate as Davinci's notebooks, they hatch a plan to steal it, which leads to even more adventure.