Thoughts from a Page Podcast

Patti and I discuss her latest book Surviving Savannah, how she found a door into this story, the way the Pulaski and its passengers spoke to her, how Friends and Fiction came about and what the group is doing now, the fascinating research she conducted, and much more. Surviving Savannah can be purchased at Murder by the Book or the CFAP Bookshop storefront.  Patti’s 5 recommended reads are: Under the Southern Sky by Kristy Woodson Harvey The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews The Summer of Lost and Found by Mary Alice Monroe The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristen Harmel When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain Surviving Savannah is on my recent She Reads Most Anticipated Historical Fiction Books of 2021 list and will is a March Buzz Reads selection. If you enjoy reading historical fiction and want to listen to more podcast episodes like this one, try Erika Robuck, Julia Kelly, Kate Quinn, Hazel Gaynor, and Kristin Harmel.

J.T. and I discuss her latest mystery Her Dark Lies, closed circle versus locked room mysteries, the trip that lead to her creating Her Dark Lies, the character that she really struggled to write, writing books in a series compared to standalone books, and much more. Her Dark Lies can be purchased at Murder by the Book or the CFAP Bookshop storefront. J.T.’s recommended read is The Push by Ashley Audrain. If you enjoy reading mysteries/thrillers and want to listen to more podcast episodes like this one, try Jane Harper, Sarah Pearse, Alice Henderson, and David Heska Wanbli Weiden.

Jennifer and I discuss her debut The Little French Bridal Shop, the inspiration for both her story and the bridal shop in the book, how small falsehoods can easily turn into a web of lies, how she balances her day job and writing, reading recommendations, and more. The Little French Bridal Shop can be purchased at Murder by the Book or the CFAP Bookshop storefront.  Jennifer’s 3 recommended reads are: Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane The Late Bloomers’ Club by Louise Miller Your Corner Dark by Desmond Hall If you enjoy reading contemporary fiction and want to listen to more podcast episodes like this one, try Nancy Johnson, Julie Carrick Dalton, Madeleine Henry, Lauren Ho, and Lainey Cameron.

Kate and I discuss her latest book The Rose Code, writing about the unsung women code breakers at Bletchley Park who helped shorten the war by at least two years, the amount of secrecy required of those who worked at Bletchley Park and the mental and emotional toll on them, her favorite character to write in The Rose Code, and much more. The Rose Code can be purchased at Murder by the Book.  Kate’s 3 recommended reads are: The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab The Children’s Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson The Rose Code is on my recent She Reads Most Anticipated Historical Fiction Books of 2021 and is a March Buzz Reads selection. If you enjoy reading historical fiction and want to listen to more podcast episodes like this one, try Erika Robuck, Julia Kelly, Lauren Willig, Hazel Gaynor, and Kristin Harmel.

Mark and I discuss his new Gray Man novel Relentless, the inspiration for Court Gentry, the character he enjoys writing the most, what it was like working with Tom Clancy and continuing his series, writing two books a year, the fantastic mystery/thriller community and much more. Relentless can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Mark’s 4 recommended reads are: American Traitor by Brad Taylor Robert Ludlum’s The Treadstone Exile by Joshua Hood The Outside Man by Don Bentley The Breaker by Nick Petrie If you enjoy reading mysteries and thrillers and want to listen to more podcast episodes like this one, try Lisa Gardner, Jane Harper, Sarah Pearse or David Heska Wanbli Weiden.

Lauren and I discuss her latest book Band of Sisters, how she learned about this courageous group of women, how often women’s stories have been erased from the historical narrative, the one issue that almost broke the Smith College group, her 2021 Pink Carnation series Read-a-Long, and much more. Band of Sisters can be purchased at Murder by the Book.  Lauren’s 2 recommended reads are: Tooth and Claw by Joe Walton The Midnight Library by Matt Haig Band of Sisters is on my recent She Reads Most Anticipated Historical Fiction Books of 2021 and will be an April Buzz Reads selection. If you enjoy reading historical fiction and want to listen to more podcast episodes like this one, try Erika Robuck, Julia Kelly, Jennifer Rosner, Hazel Gaynor and Kristin Harmel.

Julia and I discuss her new book Come Fly the World, how she discovered and decided to tell these women’s stories, approaching the issue of memory and recall with her interviews, the importance of stewardesses’ contributions to both the feminist movement and to present-day women and their ability to travel freely, and much more. Come Fly the World can be purchased at Murder by the Book.  Julia’s  recommended reads are: Musings of a Curious Aesthete by Leonard Koren Fierce Poise: Helen Frankenthaler and 1950s New York by Alexander Nemerov Things I Don’t Want to Know: On Writing by Deborah Levy If you enjoy reading nonfiction and want to listen to more podcast episodes like this one, try Anna Malaika Tubbs, Joe Berkowitz, Eric Eyre, or Bridgett Davis.

Jennifer and I discuss her book The Yellow Bird Sings, her impetus for telling this story, the significance of the violin and the color yellow in the book, what she learned on her research trip to Poland and how that impacted her writing, why she selected Poland as the setting, and much more. The Yellow Bird Sings can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Jennifer’s 4 recommended reads are: Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell House on Endless Waters by Emuna Elon How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang The Rose Code by Kate Quinn If you enjoy reading historical fiction and want to listen to more podcast episodes like this one, try Hazel Gaynor, Nguyen Phan Que Mai, Kristin Harmel, Asha Lemmie, and Erika Robuck.

Bella and I discuss The Diabolical Bones, the Brontë novels that inspire the books in this series, the Brontë sister who influenced her pen name, the joy she feels writing these books, how she came up with the word detectors, and much more. The Diabolical Bones can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Bella’s 4 recommended reads are: Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean Watch Her Fall by Erin Kelly

Sarah and I discuss her debut The Sanatorium, having her novel chosen as a Reese’s Book Club selection, how she created such a strong sense of place, making the sanatorium a character in the novel, writing a closed circle mystery, her stunning book cover, whether there will be a sequel, and much more. The Sanatorium can be purchased at Murder by the Book.   Sarah’s 2 recommended reads are: The Heatwave by Kate Riordan When They Find Her by Lia Middleton Links for helping Houstonians: Kids’ Meals and The Houston Food Bank. If you enjoy reading mysteries and thrillers and want to listen to more podcast episodes like this one, try Lisa Gardner, David Heska Wanbli Weiden, Nick Petrie, and Jane Harper.

Zibby and I discuss her anthology Moms Don’t Have Time To, the genesis of the essays, how she pulled this project together so quickly, which genre is Zibby’s personal favorite, how she reads so many books, what surprised her the most about compiling these essays into an anthology, and much more. Moms Don’t Have Time To: A Quarantine Anthology can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Zibby’s 4 recommended reads are: The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones Eliza Starts a Rumor by Jane Rosen The Scaffold Effect: Raising Resilient, Self-Reliant, and Secure Kids in an Age of Anxiety by Harold S. Koplewicz Links for helping Houstonians: Kids’ Meals and The Houston Food Bank. If you want to listen to more podcast episodes like this one, try Wendy Walker, Lisa Duffy, Melissa Croce, and Fiona Davis & M.J. Rose.

Madeleine and I discuss her latest novel The Love Proof, what inspired her to write this book, her love of yoga, her writing process, what she likes to do in her free time, and more. The Love Proof can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Madeleine’s 2 recommended reads are: Beach Read by Emily Henry This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens

Susan and I discuss her latest novel The Nature of Fragile Things, the unexpected book that inspired her to write this story, her interest in the mail-order bride phenomenon, the fragility of San Francisco’s infrastructure prior to the 1906 earthquake, her book about the 1918 Spanish Flu and its relevance to the current pandemic, and much more. The Nature of Fragile Things can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Susan’s 2 recommended reads are: The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger Thanks to The Chanel Sisters by Judithe Little for sponsoring this episode.  You can purchase the book here. If you enjoy reading historical fiction and want to listen to more podcast episodes like this one, try Tori Whitaker, Asha Lemmie, Julia Kelly, Nguyen Phan Que Mai, and Marie Benedict.  

Erika and I discuss her latest novel The Invisible Woman, bringing Virginia Hall to life, highlighting the everyday people who contributed to the French Resistance, touring the CIA Museum, how readers are looking for stories of redemption during the pandemic, and much more. The Invisible Woman can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Erika’s 3 recommended reads are: The Darkest Night by Jennifer Robson Universe of Two by Stephen Kiernan Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson If you enjoy reading historical fiction and want to listen to more podcast episodes like this one, try Natalie Jenner, Judithe Little, Gill Paul, Hazel Gaynor, or Elise Hooper.

Eliza and I discuss her adult debut If I Disappear, how she created her unique format, finding a place in today’s world, how grief can impact and infect everything else, the importance of focusing on mental health, the fabulous true crime community and much more. If I Disappear can be purchased at Murder by the Book. Eliza’s 3 recommended reads are: The Herd by Andrea Bartz The Girls Are All So Nice Here by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn The Hunting Wives by May Cobb If you enjoy reading mysteries and thrillers and want to listen to more podcast episodes like this one, try Lisa Gardner, Julie Clark, Jane Harper, Wendy Walker or David Heska Wanbli Weiden.