Thoughts from a Page Podcast
Episodes
Interview with Chris Cander - A GRACIOUS NEIGHBOR
26 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Chris and I discuss A Gracious Neighbor, the short story that inspired her novel, how we never really know what goes on behind clos...
Interview with Tess Day - Director of Publicity, Zibby Books
04 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this Behind the Scenes interview, Tess provides an inside look at working as a publicist at a start-up publishing company, her path to publicity, w...
Interview with Gillian McAllister - WRONG PLACE WRONG TIME
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Gillian and I discuss Wrong Place Wrong Time, plotting this one out, creating the right pacing for the story, finding the right tit...
Interview with Hayley Scrivenor - DIRT CREEK
01 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For this special episode, Carol Ann Tack of Top Shelf at Merrick Library and I interview Hayley Scrivenor together. We talk about her debut novel Dir...
Interview with Zibby Owens - BOOKENDS
31 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Zibby and I discuss Bookends, how her podcast influences her writing, writing to process the events in her life, how important it ...
Interview with Leigh Newman - NOBODY GETS OUT ALIVE
30 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Leigh and I discuss Nobody gets Out Alive, her focus in these short stories on the real Alaska, the isolation and loneliness experi...
Interview with Vanessa Riley - SISTER MOTHER WARRIOR
29 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Vanessa and I discuss Sister Mother Warrior, providing the historical context for her book. which character was the hardest to writ...
Interview with Sarah Pearse - THE RETREAT
27 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Sarah and I discuss The Retreat, her fascination with local history and time's relentless march forward, making the island a centra...
Interview with Carley Fortune - EVERY SUMMER AFTER
26 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Carley and I discuss Every Summer After, setting a book in Canada, choosing Barry's Bay as the book's locale and the response by re...
Interview with Jamie Brenner - GILT
25 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Jamie and I discuss Gilt, the way guilt permeates the story, the inspiration for this book and for Pavlin and Company, the hardest ...
Interview with Ellen Jovin - REBEL WITH A CLAUSE
21 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Ellen and I discuss Rebel with a Clause, her grammar table and how it all began, how grammar appeals to people from all walks of l...
Interview with George Dawes Green - THE KINGDOMS OF SAVANNAH
19 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, George and I discuss The Kingdoms of Savannah, his stunning book cover and how it came into being, the 25th anniversary of The Moth...
Interview with Jane Rosen- A SHOE STORY
18 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Jane and I discuss A Shoe Story, her writing process, choosing the shoes for each chapter of this novel, how her book was selected ...
Interview with Lucy Clarke - ONE OF THE GIRLS
13 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Lucy and I discuss One of the Girls, exploring the dynamics of a bachelorette party, creating her own fictional Greek island, the e...
Interview with Eleanor Brown - ANY OTHER FAMILY
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Eleanor and I discuss Any Other Family, writing a book centered around adoption and the issues the process raises, crafting charact...
Interview with Anna Ford, Founder and CEO of Bookclubs
08 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Anna and I discuss Bookclubs and how the company was launched, the company's various resources available for book clubs and individ...
Interview with Jon Baker - President, Baker Literary Scouting
07 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this Behind the Scenes interview, Jon provides an inside look at his job as a literary scout, how he got started and why he launched his own compan...
Kelly Hooker - Our Favorite Books of April-June 2022
06 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Kelly and I chat about our favorite books that published in April through June of 2022. Kelly’s top 10 reads: Cover Story by Susan...
Interview with Margarita Montimore - ACTS OF VIOLET
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Margarita and I discuss Acts of Violet, melding her love of stories about unresolved disappearances and those set in the showbiz wo...
Interview with Piper Huguley - BY HER OWN DESIGN
28 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Piper and I discuss By Her Own Design, telling Ann Lowe's little-known story, how she went about filling in the gaps of Ann's life,...
Interview with Geraldine Brooks - HORSE
26 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Geraldine and I discuss Horse, how she learned about the horse Lexington, her research and visiting the Smithsonian's Museum Suppor...
Interview with Julie Clark - THE LIES I TELL
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Julie and I discuss The Lies I Tell, why con artist stories are so popular right now and creating a female con artist who uses gend...
Interview with Joey Hartstone - THE LOCAL
21 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Joey and I discuss The Local, how Marshall, Texas came to be the patent lawsuit capital of the U.S., how he learned about Marshall ...
Interview with Ali Brady - THE BEACH TRAP
14 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Alison, Bradeigh and I discuss The Beach Trap, how they came up with the name Ali Brady and why they chose to write under a pen nam...
Interview with Annabel Monaghan - NORA GOES OFF SCRIPT
10 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Annabel and I discuss Nora Goes Off Script, how Nora is resonating with so many readers, the great reception the book is getting on...
Interview with Clare Pooley - IONA IVERSON'S RULES FOR COMMUTING
07 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Clare and I discuss Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting, the inspiration for the story and Iona, her fascination with intergeneratio...
Interview with Elina Cohen - Senior Designer, HarperCollins
02 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Elina provides an inside look at designing a book's interior including the fonts, spacing, title page, spine dye, formatting, endpa...
Interview with Marie Myung-Ok Lee - THE EVENING HERO
31 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Marie and I discuss The Evening Hero, humanizing her main character, her trip to North Korea that rounded out details for the book,...
Interview with Amy Tector - THE HONEYBEE EMERALDS
29 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Amy and I discuss The Honeybee Emeralds, the inspiration for the fictional necklace in the book, avoiding information dumps, the un...
Interview with Chanel Cleeton - OUR LAST DAYS IN BARCELONA
27 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Chanel and I discuss Our Last Days in Barcelona, writing a dual timeline story, how readers wanted to learn Isabel's story, why wri...
Interview with Joy Callaway - THE GRAND DESIGN
20 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Joy and I discuss The Grand Design, why she decided to write about the Greenbrier and Dorothy Draper, the Greenbrier's rich history...
Interview with Audrey Blake - THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER
19 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, we discuss The Surgeon's Daughter, writing together as a duo and what that process is like for them, setting their books in the rea...
Interview with Natalie Jenner - BLOOMSBURY GIRLS
17 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Natalie and I discuss Bloomsbury Girls, why she chose to set her novel in a bookstore, the bookstores that inspired her fictional B...
Elizabeth Barnhill - Book Club Recommendations
11 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Elizabeth and I chat about some great titles for book clubs. Elizabeth’s picks: The Love of My Life by Rosie Walsh The Anomaly ...
Interview with David J. Dennis, Jr. - THE MOVEMENT MADE US
10 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, David and I discuss The Movement Made Us, his father's role in the Civil Rights Movement, getting his father's story down and how ...
Mary O'Malley and Pamela Klinger-Horn - Their Favorite Summer 2022 Reads
06 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Mary and Pamela join me to discuss their recommended reads for Summer 2022. Mary's selections: It All Comes Down to This by Therese Anne Fowler Wom...
Interview with Heather Lazare - Editorial and Publishing Consultant
05 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Heather provides an inside look at the editorial process and how she got started, what the job entails, the Northern California Wri...
Interview with Erica Ferencik - GIRL IN ICE
04 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Erica and I discuss Girl in Ice, how she likes to "follow her fascinations," writing an arctic setting, hovering on the cusp of wha...
Interview with Adriana Trigiani - THE GOOD LEFT UNDONE
28 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Adriana and I discuss The Good Left Undone, writing an epic family saga, taking a jewelry-making class at Christie's and how it ins...
Interview with Delia Ephron - LEFT ON TENTH
27 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Delia and I discuss Left on Tenth, how she decided to write this book, her work with The Empathy Project which works to teach doct...
Interview with Reyna Grande - A BALLAD OF LOVE AND GLORY
26 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Reyna and I discuss A Ballad of Love and Glory, shedding a light on a lesser-known time period, writing in a variety of genres and ...
Interview with Michelle Huneven - SEARCH
25 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Michelle and I discuss Search, her inspiration for the story, the format for telling the tale, the characters that were the easiest...
Interview with Kimberly Brock - THE LOST BOOK OF ELEANOR DARE
21 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Kimberly and I discuss The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare, the inspiration and historical background for this book, providing Eleanor Da...
Interview with Dolen Perkins-Valdez - TAKE MY HAND
20 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Dolen and I discuss Take My Hand, the inspiration for this book, her research, how she selected Civil's name, creating the court tr...
Interview with Christine Simon - THE PATRON SAINT OF SECOND CHANCES
19 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Christine and I discuss The Patron Saint of Second Chances, her inspiration for this story, when she knew she wanted to be a writer...
Kelly Hooker - Best Books of 2022 (so far)
15 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Kelly and I chat about the best books of 2022 publishing in January through March. Kelly’s top 10 reads: No Land to Light On by Ya...
Interview with Ashley Winstead - FOOL ME ONCE
14 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ashley and I discuss Fool Me Once, how second-chance romance is her favorite trope, writing books in several genres, her fabulous cover, setting a boo...
Interview with Mary Laura Philpott - BOMB SHELTER
14 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Mary Laura and I discuss Bomb Shelter, her life changing moment, focusing on why loving someone is not enough to keep them safe, grappling with growi...
Interview with Fareeda Bullert - Senior Marketing Manager, Berkley
07 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Fareeda provides an inside look at marketing in the publishing world and discusses how she got started in marketing, her favorite p...
Interview with Tiffany and Leon Chen - IT'S NOT JUST COOKIES
06 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Tiffany, Leon, and I discuss It's Not Just Cookies, the fact that this is the first time that they are publishing any of their reci...
Interview with Landis Wade - DEADLY DECLARATIONS
05 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Landis and I discuss Deadly Declarations, the Mecklenberg Declaration of Independence, setting the series in a retirement community...
Interview with Bonnie Garmus - LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY
05 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Bonnie and I discuss Lessons in Chemistry, the event that inspired the story, why Elizabeth Zott is resonating with everyone, how t...
Kathleen West - HOME OR AWAY
29 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For this special episode, Carol Ann Tack of Top Shelf at Merrick Library and I interview Kathleen West together. We talk about her new book Home or...
Tony Birch - THE WHITE GIRL
27 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Tony and I discuss The White Girl, crafting strong female characters, the two sections of the book that were the hardest for him to write, why he crea...
Azar Nafisi - READ DANGEROUSLY
27 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Azar and I discuss Read Dangerously, how she selected the authors to include in this book, the reemergence of book banning, coming up with the format...
Rosie Walsh - THE LOVE OF MY LIFE
24 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Rosie and I discuss The Love of My Life, having her book selected as a GMA Book Club pick, the obituary writing business, the tortuous process she wen...
David Sipress - WHAT'S SO FUNNY?
23 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
David and I discuss What's So Funny? A Cartoonist's Memoir, how he started creating cartoons for The New Yorker, using cartoons to process his emotio...
Simone St. James - THE BOOK OF COLD CASES
18 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Simone and I discuss The Book of Cold Cases, creating an accused female serial killer, how swapping the gender roles changes every aspect of the story...
Peng Shepherd - THE CARTOGRAPHERS
15 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Peng and I discuss The Cartographers, the true story about an event with a gas station map in the early 1900s that inspired a portion of this story, p...
Peter Swanson - NINE LIVES
11 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Peter and I discuss Nine Lives, writing his take on Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, why Agatha Christie has stayed so popular and relevant...
Libbie Grant - THE PROPHET'S WIFE
09 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Libbie and I discuss The Prophet's Wife, working with two publishers simultaneously, basing her book on the true events surrounding the creation and e...
Elise Hooper - ANGELS OF THE PACIFIC
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Elise and I discuss Angels of the Pacific, writing about the Pacific arena during World War 2, her research trip and snorkeling around a World War 2 w...
Rebecca Serle - ONE ITALIAN SUMMER
04 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Rebecca and I discuss One Italian Summer, exploring the dialogue between fate and free will, including a bit of magical realism in her stories, how th...
Caroline Hewitt - Audiobook Narrator
03 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Caroline and I discuss her role as an audiobook narrator, how she got started, the process for getting hired to narrate a particular book, the way she...
Erika Robuck - SISTERS OF NIGHT AND FOG
03 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Erika and I discuss Sisters of Night and Fog, how one of her characters appeared in her dreams asking for Erika to tell her story, creating a poll so ...
Louise Candlish - THE HEIGHTS
01 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Louise and I discuss The Heights, including her own phobia in the novel, how she created the format for this one including writing a book within a boo...
Jennifer E. Smith - THE UNSINKABLE GRETA JAMES
28 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jennifer and I discuss The Unsinkable Greta James, writing a love story about Greta and her music, exploring what it is like to live a creative life, ...
Adele Myers - THE TOBACCO WIVES
26 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Adele and I discuss The Tobacco Wives, the dangers the tobacco companies knowingly ignored and covered up, her stunning cover, the role marketing and ...
Brit Bennett - THE VANISHING HALF
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brit and I discuss The Vanishing Half, why writing her sophomore novel was more difficult, what she loves to hear from her readers, balancing research...
Lisa Barr - WOMAN ON FIRE
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lisa and I discuss Woman on Fire, the 2013 event that inspired this book, how the ownership of certain pieces of art is one of the only remaining issu...
Lyn Liao Butler - RED THREAD OF FATE
20 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lyn and I discuss Red Thread of Fate, how this book is a more personal story for her, wanting to make sure she had the adoption details exactly right,...
Deanna Raybourn - THE IMPOSSIBLE IMPOSTER
16 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Deanna and I discuss The Impossible Imposter, the inspiration for Veronica and Stoker, crowdsourcing information about her previous books on her Twitt...
Kim Fay - LOVE & SAFFRON
16 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kim and I discuss Love & Saffron, her personal inspiration for the book, drafting an epistolary novel, writing letters on a typewriter, capturing the ...
Elena Armas- THE SPANISH LOVE DECEPTION
11 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Elena and I discuss The Spanish Love Deception, her unusual and very cool publishing journey, winning the Goodreads Choice Best Debut Novel Award and ...
Bryn Turnbull - THE LAST GRAND DUCHESS
08 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bryn and I discuss The Last Grand Duchess, why she decided to focus on Olga's story, telling the family's personal story, how the Romanovs are the mos...
Kristin van Ogtrop - Literary Agent
03 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kristin and I discuss her role as a literary agent, tips for how to find a literary agent, the process for pitching a book to an agent, exclusive subm...
Ruta Sepetys - I MUST BETRAY YOU
01 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ruta and I discuss I Must Betray You, life in Romania under Nicolae Ceausescu, conveying what it was like to live under constant surveillance, the inc...
Lizzie Damilola Blackburn - YINKA, WHERE IS YOUR HUZBAND?
30 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lizzie and I discuss Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband?, her personal inspiration for this book, her belief that self love is the most important kind of lo...
Crossover Episode with Wine, Women and Words podcast
30 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this crossover episode, I join Diana and Michele on Wine, Women, and Words to chat podcasts, books and Diana's new book, Antoinette's Sister. Suppo...
Fiona Davis - THE MAGNOLIA PALACE
25 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Fiona and I discuss The Magnolia Palace, choosing the Frick Collection for this book, why and how she created the scavenger hunt in the book, what sur...
Meriel Schindler - THE LOST CAFE SCHINDLER
21 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Meriel and I discuss The Lost Cafe Schindler, trying to better understand her father by delving into his past, researching her family's history, the ...
Robert Dilenschneider - NAILING IT
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bob and I chat about Nailing It, his desire to inspire and encourage the younger generations to see the many opportunities available to them, how hard...
Mary O'Malley and Pamela Klinger-Horn
13 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Mary and Pamela join me to discuss their recommended reads for January through April of 2022. Mary's selections: The High House by Jessie Greengrass...
Kerri Maher- THE PARIS BOOKSELLER
11 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kerri and I discuss The Paris Bookseller, writing about the iconic Shakespeare and Company in Paris, the fabulous book club kit created for this book,...
Julia Kelly - THE LAST DANCE OF THE DEBUTANTE
04 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Julia and I discuss The Last Dance of the Debutante, the last year Queen Elizabeth II received debutantes at court, how she enjoys focusing on time pe...
Elizabeth Barnhill - Our Historical Fiction Favorites
28 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Elizabeth and I chat about some of our favorite books in the historical-fiction genre. Elizabeth’s selections: The Light Between ...
Kelly Hooker - Our Top Reads of 2021
24 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Kelly and I chat about our favorite books of 2021. Kelly’s top 12 reads of 2021: These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant We...
Olga Grlic - Cover Design
14 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Olga and I chat about book cover designing, what the process looks like from start to finish, all of the parties that must sign off on a book cover, t...
Wiley Cash - WHEN GHOSTS COME HOME
13 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Wiley and I chat about When Ghosts Come Home, why he chose to set the book in 1984, how good stories come from tension, why he is comfortable writing ...
Karen Walrond - THE LIGHTMAKER'S MANIFESTO
08 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Karen and I chat about her new book The Lightmaker's Manifesto, her studying and writing about the intersection of joy and activism, her own claiming ...
Mark Pearson - Libro.fm
04 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Mark and I chat about Libro.fm, how the company began, how audiobooks are the fastest growing segment of publishing, the way the relationship between ...
Anne Byrn- A NEW TAKE ON CAKE
23 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Anne and I chat about her latest cookbook A New Take on Cake, why she decided to do this cookbook, how cake mix baking is more common today than when ...
Nicole Baart - EVERYTHING WE DIDN'T SAY
22 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and I discuss Everything We Didn't Say, researching cold cases for inspiration, rewriting this book three times, setting books in her home stat...
Jenna Blum - WOODROW ON THE BENCH
21 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jenna and I discuss Woodrow on the Bench, what Woodrow taught her and others that interacted with him, how each chapter of the book contains a lesson...
Kimmery Martin - DOCTORS AND FRIENDS
19 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For this special episode, Carol Ann Tack of Top Shelf at Merrick Library and I interview Kimmery Martin together. We talk about her new book Doctors a...
Kimi Cunningham Grant - THESE SILENT WOODS
18 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kimi and I discuss These Silent Woods, living off the grid, the book's original title, her tweak to the cover design, how writers need to have both th...
Laurence Leamer - CAPOTE'S WOMEN
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Laurence and I discuss Capote's Women, the illusion these women created for the world and how happiness was elusive for them, what surprised him the m...
Deborah Voll - THE TELL-ALL GUIDE TO AIRBNB HOSTING
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Deborah and I discuss her book The Tell-All Guide to Airbnb Hosting, her encore career, serving as an Airbnb Superhost by renting rooms in her home, s...
Alice Henderson - A BLIZZARD OF POLAR BEARS
11 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Alice and I discuss A Blizzard of Polar Bears, working as a wildlife researcher and bioacoustician, how she believes strongly in including accurate sc...
Tabitha Forney - PAPER AIRPLANES
09 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tabitha and I discuss Paper Airplanes, telling this very personal story, how 9/11 transformed the United States, the chapter she found the most diffic...