It's spooky season and we are tackling horror in our ongoing genre series. What is horror? Why do we need it? Is it for everyone? These are just a few questions we attempt to answer in this very special October episode. Horror has so many layers and can be much deeper than it appears on the surface. Join our conversation as we take a closer look at the stories and authors that often keep us up at night. Do you read horror? What are you favorites? Let us know on the socials and send us an email. We want to hear from you! [email protected] Books and Authors mentioned in this episode: (and a few extra we forgot to mention) Stephen King (of course!) Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix  The Walking Dead (graphic novels) S. A. Cosby The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones The Spite House by Johnny Compton R. L. Stine Paul Tremblay Final Girls by Riley Sager Alma Katsu Also check out Mother Horror's (aka Sadie Hartmann) 101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered.    

Angela and Sarah discuss the benefits of both modern and classic literature and how reading develops empathy and offers valuable insight into social conversations.   What are you currently reading? We want to know. Find us on the socials or send us an email. [email protected] Thank you for listening!

How do you find a writing routine that works for you? Have you tried different routines? This week Angela and Sarah tackle the way we get those words on the page and what to do if your current routine isn't working for you. Every writer needs a routine. What's yours? Share your ideas with us on the socials or send us an email at: [email protected] Thank you for listening! Please rate and share our show! *A brief note about this episode. When we recorded, hurricane Helene had just rolled in and had not yet impacted North Carolina, East Tennessee, and surrounding areas. In the aftermath of such loss and suffering, we are deeply grieved. Our hearts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this tragedy. We will continue to keep these communities in our thoughts and prayers.

We've all been there, a dreaded slump. This week's episode is about the low seasons of life that impact our creativity and inevitably affect our reading and writing habits. Join Angela and Sarah as they work through ways to approach and handle these slower ebbs of life. Find encouragment in listening to their own stories of dealing with these difficult moments. Find us on the socials! Please share and rate our podcast. You can email us at: [email protected]

We love a beautifully written memoir. On this episode we discuss why we love reading them, why you should be reading them if you aren't already, and some of our favorites. Human connection begins with stories and memoirs relate the human experience in a way that draws empathy and better understanding. What are some of your favorite memoirs? We hope you are enjoying these weekly episodes. New episodes drop every Tuesday. Find us on the socials and send us an email to let us know your thoughts.  [email protected] A list of books mentioned in today's episode will be added soon.     

This week's episode is all about writing groups: who needs them, how to join one, how to start one, and why they are so beneficial. If you're new to our podcast, welcome! We are two book lovers at two opposite ends of the publishing industry, chatting each week about all things, stories, books, reading, and publishing. Have you found a writing group you love? Still searching? Grab a cup of coffee and let's talk about how surrounding ourselves with other writers and readers will help us on our journeys. *Please note: about halfway through this episode we experienced some technical difficulty which our producer was unable to repair. We feel this episode is still worth sharing and we hope you will enjoy it despite a few glitches near the end. Find us on the socials. Send us an email. Share our podcast with others! We appreciate all of our listeners. Thank you for joining us each week! [email protected]  

Everyone loves a good festival, or at least we do! In this episode Angela and Sarah discuss current festivals, organizing a festival, why we need them, and their importance in building stronger communities. We also discuss the growing trend of book conventions. Do you have a favorite book festival or event? What bookish events have you been to this year? Let us know on the socials or drop us an email:  [email protected] Book festivals and events in 2024 and 2025: https://booksrun.com/blog/important-book-fairs-festivals-conferences-and-other-events-to-attend-in-2024/ https://publishersarchive.com/2025-book-events.html#google_vignette https://aalbc.com/events/index.php Enjoy listening to our show? Please share our podcast with others and rate us 5 stars where podcast ratings are available.

Traditional? Independent? Hybrid? Writing a book is the beginning of your journey to authorhood. Choosing which path you'll take to having that book and future books published is a big decision. In this episode, Angela and Sarah dive into the options available for writers in today's market and how to navigate these decisions. Come join us with a cup of coffee and your latest manuscript as we unpack another hot topic in the world of words. Follow us on the socials and let us know what you think! Send us an email at [email protected] Featured in this episode: https://www.robertfrost.org/the-road-not-taken.jsp  

Secure your seatbelts for this one. Sarah and Angela are fired up about author rants they've been seeing and hearing online. This episode covers just how much goes into every book that's published and the many people working hard to make each book successful. While we understand how often authors can feel neglected and those are valid emotions, we also know there are many talented industry professionals who are often overlooked and rarely mentioned. Join us as we attempt to tackle some of the author rants making rounds online. What do you think? Mentioned in this episode: https://groveatlantic.com Follow us on the socials and join the conversation! If you found this podcast helpful, please consider leaving a review. Thanks for listening!

Do you read the prologue? Do you skip past it and flip right to chapter one? In this episode, Sarah and Angela tackle the forever ongoing discussion of prologues, those hot topic little sections at the beginning of some books that often get overlooked and have sparked quite a debate online and within the literary community. Do we need them? Are there rules for writing prologues? Whether you're a reader, a writer, an industry professional, a bookstore owner, or someone who stumbled upon this episode, we cover all aspects of prologues and how they can enrich a story, but also how they can detract. Join us as we do our best to dissect one of the biggest and longest running debates the book world has ever seen. Let us know what you think. Do you have a favorite prologue? Would you like to see more prologues in books? Fewer? We want to know! Books and podcasts mentioned in this episode: https://www.theshitaboutwriting.com https://bookshop.org/p/books/it-s-one-of-us-a-novel-of-suspense-j-t-ellison/18500249?ean=9780778311768  

Are all the parts and pieces of a book important? Sarah and Angela discuss the anatomy of books, why these parts and pieces are necesssary, and how they enhance the reading experience. In an age where everything is fast-paced and attention spans are waning, we may be missing the hidden gems of the books we are reading. Grab a cup of coffee, your favorite bookish snack, and join us in this discussion. What parts have you skipped over or didn't even realize were there? Are you someone who studies your books from cover to cover? Let us know on Facebook and Instagram or send us an email!