Wine, Women And Words

We chat with Roni about her novel Hands of Gold which was inspired by her grandparents. We get real about imposter syndrome and where do we get our validity in our writing. Please be sure to visit our bookshop to pick up your copy of Hands of Gold.

In our first episode of the year, we chat with Adrienne Young and Isabel Ibañez about the Storyteller's Workbook and how useful it is for authors. Pick up your copy here.

On our last episode of the year, we chat with Amy Reichert about her latest books, Christmas markets, and Christmas Kringle... Get your copy of Once Upon a December here

***Spoilers** We sit down with Kristina McMorris to talk about her latest book, The Ways We Hide. We get into the grit about writing. Get your copy of The Ways We Hide here

We chat with Annette Chavez Macias about food, cousins and her latest book Big Chicas Don't Cry.  Pick up your copy of the book here.

Author Yasmin Angoe joins Diana and guest co-host Alex Kiester to discuss her latest novel "They Come at Knight," the second installation of her Nena Knight series. They discuss the inspiration behind the novel, the family and friend resources Yasmin used in the research process for her novel, continuing these characters' stories from the first novel and so much more! Be sure to check out our shop on Bookshop.org to be able to help support independent bookstores and this podcast. You can find  "They Come at Knight" under 'Featured Books' and our November title, "The Ways We Hide" by Kristina McMorris in our 'Book of the Month' shop.

Author Gwendolyn Kiste joins Diana and guest co-host Alyssa Palombo to discuss her latest novel, "Reluctant Immortals." They dive into reinventing classic characters (Lucy from Dracula and Bertha from Jane Eyre, in this case), creating female friendships in the novel, the California history featured in the novel and much more! Be sure to check out our shop on Bookshop.org to be able to help support independent bookstores and this podcast. You can find  "Reluctant Immortals" under 'Featured Books' and our November title, "The Ways We Hide" by Kristina McMorris in our 'Book of the Month' shop.

**CAUTION: SPOILERS**   We chat with Olesya Salnikova Gilmore joins us to discuss our October Book of the Month (and her debut novel!) "The Witch & the Tsar." We dive into the debut novel experience, the history and lore behind the novel, Olesya's experience weaving the two together into her story -- and much more!   Be sure to check out our shop on Bookshop.org to be able to help support independent bookstores and this podcast. You can find  "The Witch & the Tsar" in our 'Book of the Month' shop.  

Historical fiction author Karen Heenan joins us to discuss her latest novel "Coming Apart," a story of two sisters set during the Great Depression. We dive into shifting writing styles to a different period of history, Karen's experience exploring the complexities of the sisters' relationships and much more! Be sure to check out our shop on Bookshop.org to be able to help support independent bookstores and this podcast. You can find  "Coming Apart" under 'Featured Books' and our October title, "The Witch & the Tsar" by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore in our 'Book of the Month' shop.

Author Brandie June returns to discuss "Curse Undone" the second book in her "Gold Spun" duology. We dive into sparkly cocktails, Brandie's experience building her own world in book two for the faerie realm versus working with the scaffolding of a fairytale in book one, Brandie's idea of a reverse outline and much more. Be sure to check out our shop on Bookshop.org to be able to help support independent bookstores and this podcast. You can find  "Curse Undone" under 'Featured Books' and our October title, "The Witch & the Tsar" by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore in our 'Book of the Month' shop.

We get to talk with Helene Wecker about both The Golem and the Jinni and Hidden Palaces. Diana and Helene commiserate over historical fiction woes and Helene's science fiction influences.  Get your copy of Hidden Palaces and The Golem and the Jinni at our bookshop.  

Join us as we chat with Daniella Bernett about setting, plotting our books and more!   Be sure to get your copy of A Mind for Murder here.

Stacie Murphy returns to the show to discuss "The Unquiet Dead," the next adventure of Amelia and Jonas (the characters from her debut novel "A Deadly Fortune"). We discuss the agent-author relationship, Stacie's experience working with a sensitivty reader, expanding her characters' world in book two and much more! Be sure to check out our shop on Bookshop.org to be able to help support independent bookstores and this podcast. You can find  "The Unquiet Dead" under 'Featured Books' and our September title, "The Hidden Palace" by Helene Wecker in our 'Book of the Month' shop.

Have you ever wondered what the little yellow person is on google maps? Well with the help of Kim Taylor Blakemore we find out. Kim isn't just here to shed light on a google mystery, she returns to the show to talk about her latest book, The Deception, and how to do setting research without leaving your home.   Pick up your copy of Deception here.

***CAUTION: SPOILERS*** We welcome Sunyi Dean for our August Book of the Month episode to unpack all things "The Book Eaters." We discussed the inspiration behind the novel, how Sunyi created taste descriptions for the books her characters ate in the story, what the story initially began as and so much more!  Be sure to check out our shop on Bookshop.org to be able to help support independent bookstores and this podcast. You can find our August title, "The Book Eaters" by Sunyi Dean in our 'Book of the Month' shop.

Author Danielle Jackson joins us to discuss her debut novel "The Accidental Pinup." We discuss Danielle's inspiration and research process behind "Dreamland," the lingerie line featured in the novel, how Danielle's past career as a publicist in publishing prepared her to become an author and much more! Be sure to check out our shop on Bookshop.org to be able to help support independent bookstores and this podcast. You can find  "The Accidental Pinup" under 'Featured Books' and our September title, "The Hidden Palace" by Helene Wecker in our 'Book of the Month' shop.  

Author Katalina Gamarra joins us to discuss her debut novel, "Ben & Beatriz." We have a mini Shakespeare nerd-out session before discussing Katalina's inspiration for a modern-day Beatriz, how her theater background helped her write dialogue in the novel and much, much more! Be sure to check out our shop on Bookshop.org to be able to help support independent bookstores and this podcast. You can find  "Ben & Beatriz" under 'Featured Books' and our September title, "The Hidden Palace" by Helene Wecker in our 'Book of the Month' shop.

Author Rebecca Stott joins us to discuss her latest novel, "Dark Eart" set during the Dark Ages in Londinium, the Roman settlement in Britain. We nerd out on research (of course) and archaeology, the brooch that inspired the novel, the meaning behind the title and much more.  Be sure to check out our shop on Bookshop.org to be able to help support independent bookstores and this podcast. You can find  "Dark Earth" under 'Featured Books' and our September title, "The Hidden Palace" by Helene Wecker in our 'Book of the Month' shop.

Author Melody Razak joins us to discuss her debut historical fiction novel "Moth." We dive into the research behind the story, the craft of building dialogue in the writing process, Melody's year living in India writing this novel and much, much more.  Be sure to check out our shop on Bookshop.org to be able to help support independent bookstores and this podcast. You can find  "Moth" under 'Featured Books' and our August title, "The Book Eaters" by Sunyi Dean in our 'Book of the Month' shop.

Debut author Zoe Sivak joins us to discuss her historical fiction novel "Mademoiselle Revolution." We discuss pub week, what drew Zoe to this time period, the historical figures in the novel, cover art and so, so much more. Be sure to check out our shop on Bookshop.org to be able to help support independent bookstores and this podcast. You can find  "Mademoiselle Revolution" under 'Featured Books' and our August title, "The Book Eaters" by Sunyi Dean in our 'Book of the Month' shop.