A parent and child set fresh cookies from the oven onto the counter top. This image is just decorative to show that we're discussing our favorite cookbooks!
Blog, Bookish Life, Podcast Shownotes

The Joy of Cookbooks

One thing you may not know is that Natalia and Renee regularly text each other about food–what they’re eating, what they’re cooking, what they’re craving, what they discovered at Costco–you name it, they’ve chatted about it. So they’re rechanneling that hungry energy into a conversation about their favorite cookbooks, cookbook cultures, and cultural cookbooks. Renee […]

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A Black woman sits in a chair reading
Author Interview, Blog, Podcast Shownotes

5 Star Reads of 2023 (so far) + The Wild Wild Alaskan Front with Iris Yamashita

It’s been a very good year of reading for Renee so far. Even though we’ve barely scratched the surface of the year (and we’re still covered in snow), Renee shares seven books that she’s rated five stars already. Then, Jordy sits down with Academy-Award nominated screenwriter, Iris Yamashita, to discuss her debut novel, City Under

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Author Interview, Blog, Podcast Shownotes

The New Hercule Poirot + Discussing Toil & Trouble: A Women’s History of the Occult

In the first segment Jordy sits down to discuss the Jane Wunderly mystery series. This cozy yet suspenseful series is perfect for anyone looking for a spooky season recommendation that won’t leave you with nightmares. If you’re an Agatha Christie fan, this is for you.  Then, Mariquita talks with Lisa Kröger and Melanie R. Anderson

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Blog, Book Reviews, Podcast Shownotes

I’m Glad My Mom Died: A Discussion about Jennette McCurdy’s Memoir

Ashley, Rah, Mariquita, and Alana Amore discuss the memoir, I’M GLAD MY MOM DIED by Jennette McCurdy. The conversation gets into thoughts about how Jennette wrote her experiences including her relationship with her siblings, going to therapy, and healing after her abusive relationship with her mother.  There are spoilers in this conversation. There are also

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Blog, Bookish Life, Podcast Shownotes

Romance & Publicity with Berkley Publicist Kristin Cipolla

Do you ever find yourself daydreaming about working in the book industry world? Berkley Romance publicists, Kristin Cipolla, and host Jordy, discuss all things book publicity and the romance genre. If you are a book lover, this one’s for you.  Book Mentioned: First Book Recommendation: Do I Know You? by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

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Author Interview, Blog, Podcast Shownotes

The Magic of Feeling Seen + Deconstructing Happily Ever After: What We Lose When We Embrace Princess Tropes

There’s a special magic in feeling seen in a book – feeling like it was written just for you, to help validate your identity and experience. Maybe you even hesitate to recommend it because you can’t imagine anyone else could love it as much as you. Sally shares a couple of recent reads that gave

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Author Interview, Blog, Podcast Shownotes

Life in Canada’s Oil Sands – Kate Beaton interview of her new graphic novel, Ducks

Niba chats with Kate Beaton about her life and new novel, Ducks. After university, Kate Beaton leaves family behind to join Alberta’s oil rush, but as one of the few women among thousands of men, the culture shock is palpable. The harsh reality of life in the oil sands is that trauma is an everyday

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Author Interview, Blog, Book Reviews, Podcast Shownotes

Updating the Required Reading List with Piecing Me Together + The Ever Evolving Media with Iman Hariri-Kia

The episodes begins with Mariquita reviewing one of her new favorite young adult books titled Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson. Piecing me together is a beautiful coming of age novel about a young Black girl in North Portland. Then in the second segment, Ashley speaks with Iman Hariri-Kia about her debut novel, A Hundred

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Author Interview, Blog, Podcast Shownotes

Forbidden Love & Arranged Marriages with Mansi Choksi + The Red, White & Blues

In this episode Niba interviews Mansi Choksi about her debut book, The Newlyweds: Rearranging Marriage in Modern India. The Newlyweds is a literary investigation into India as a society in transition through the lens of forbidden love, as three young couples reject arranged marriages and risk everything for love in the midst of social and

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