Send us a text In today's episode I speak with author Nat Bickel! She was just written and published a new YA novel called "The Catalyst". We discuss some favorite books, her writing journey, and the highs and lows of self publishing! "Kelynn Sanders has a head full of dreams almost as overwhelming as the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. She can't contain it nor control it. The constant swimming of what ifs, wants, aspirations, and the possible failure of it all c...
Nov 09, 2024•35 min•Season 3Ep. 88
Send us a text In today's episode, I sit and have a fun conversation with authors Heidi O'Barr and returning guest Jessica Thompson! Secrets will be revealed! They will shock you!... Ok maybe not, but I had a delightful time discusing the joys of reading and writing with two cozy mystery writers. They have a new collection of cozy mystery short stories out just in time for Halloween. Watch our conversation today and then run out and get their new collection: A Graveyard of Secrets! Boo...
Oct 25, 2024•41 min•Season 3Ep. 87
Send us a text In today's story I interview Mary Kendall, the author of "Bottled Secrets of Rosewood", how her experiences inspire her creativity, and we discuss our favorite authors including Louise Penny, Alan Bradley, and more! If you need more books to add to your TBR, listen to this episode today! Find Mary and her book online here: https://www.marykendallauthor.com/ "After an archeological dig at Rosewood, Miranda's historic house, unearths an ancient blue bottle o...
Oct 09, 2024•47 min•Season 3Ep. 86
Send us a text In today's episode, I interview author Felicity Green. She is the author of the Scottish Witches Cozy Mystery Series. Her books are an excellent choice if you want some witchy cozy mysteries to read this October! Not only do we also explore her author journey from actress to author, we also end up talking about a lot of great cozy mysteries! So get ready to add to your TBR list with this fun episode! Find Felicity Green online: https://felicitygreenauthor.com/ Books Mentioned...
Sep 13, 2024•40 min•Season 3Ep. 85
Send us a text Hello Bookworms! Have you ever wondered what goes into writing a retelling of a classics story, legend, or myth? I discuss that topic and more with our guest today, author Jeanne Blasberg. She has written the book "Daughter of a Promise", and it is a modern day retelling of the Biblical story of David and Bathsheba. We talk about how different the story is seen in the modern "me too" movement, what goes into writing a retelling, and the powerful connection our ...
Aug 30, 2024•40 min•Season 3Ep. 85
Send us a text In this episode of "The Bookshelf Odyssey Podcast" we celebrate being boring! I have the pleasure of interviewing cozy mystery writer Anna A. Armstrong - who is NOT a boring writer! We kick off our conversation by discussing our mutual love for Jane Austen, acknowledging that while it may seem basic to some, we find immense comfort in her timeless works like "Pride and Prejudice." Embracing our so-called "boring" tastes, we chat about the joy and comf...
Jul 15, 2024•46 min•Season 3Ep. 84
Send us a text After an unplanned short hiatus from the podcast, I'm back behind the mic talking about my favorite author, Charles Dickens. My guest today is author Jesper Soerensen and he's just written a book about Dickens and his stories. In the episode we talk about his book, we share plenty of recommendations, and have a lot of discussion about the stories that Dickens wrote. We do not talk spoilers, so whether you're relatively new to Dickens or are a hardcore fan, there is ...
Jun 21, 2024•50 min•Season 3Ep. 83
Send us a text In today's episode, I play part 2 of my interview with authors Jessica Thompson and J. R. Lancaster. We talk about Jane Austen, our experiences reading her books, and favorite adaptations. I also share some of my favorite Jane Austen memes that came up out of the Super Bowl, we discuss other favorite mystery writers, and more! Thanks for joining us on this hilarious discussion about one of the greatest authors to put pen to paper! Pre-Order: The Luck of the Irish : Jessica Th...
Mar 22, 2024•30 min•Season 3Ep. 82
Send us a text Welcome to the first part of a two part conversation I have with mystery authors J. R. Lancaster and Jessica Thompson. Today, we're talking Murders, mysteries, and St. Patrick's Day... along with some "meet cute" stories! These authors are here to talk about their new St. Patrick's Day-Themed Cozy Mystery Anthology, edited by Jessica Thompson and Kate Darroch. We also talk about St. Patrick's Day traditions, and of course we will give you a big list o...
Mar 15, 2024•27 min•Season 3Ep. 81
Send us a text My guest today is the author Boo Trundle, who has written one of the most interesting and captivating novels I've ever read. "The Daughter Ship", a very personal novel that tells of one woman's journey to find healing. The story focuses on Katherine, a wife and mother who is struggling on the brink of despair. Helping to tell her story are "Truitt, Star, and Smooshed Bug—her inner children, each with their particular strategy for coping with Katherine’s pa...
Mar 07, 2024•45 min•Season 3Ep. 80
Send us a text My guest today is Margarita Barresi, author of "A Delicate Marriage". Her novel is a personal one, a novel that "celebrates Puerto Rican culture while delving into themes of class, oppression, and the effects of colonialism through the lens of a marriage." In our conversation, Margarita tells stories of her family that inspired her story, we talk about the importance of knowing your people's history, and of course there will be plenty of book recommendatio...
Feb 22, 2024•38 min•Season 3Ep. 79
Send us a text In today's episode, I have author Jessica Thompson back on the podcast. We talk about her new book coming out just in time for Valentines Day: A Caterer's Guide to Valentines and Violence . Then we get down to discussing one of our favorite mystery writers: Agatha Christie, the Grand Master of detective fiction! We chat about our history with reading Christie, some of our favorite novels, movie version, actors, and more! Find Jessica Thompson Online here: https://jessica...
Feb 08, 2024•42 min•Season 3Ep. 78
Send us a text My guest today is cozy mystery author Anne Seidel. She has a new book in a new series out called "Bullet Through the Art: A Sam Gordon Cozy Mystery." In today's episode we talk about her writing journey from screenplays to mystery novels; We talk about her reading life and our mutual love for audio books; and she offers up a ton of writing tips that will be an inspiration to any writer - no matter where you are on your own journey. So take a listen today and find ou...
Jan 06, 2024•53 min•Season 3Ep. 77
Send us a text Welcome to our Christmas episode! Today I talk to author Amey Zeigler. She's just written a new Christmas book called "The Christmas Mug" - It's book two in the Helping of Hope Series! In the interview we talk about our favorite reads and authors (Brandon Sanderson is a must; Calvin & Hobbes is essential reading... ). Then we explore her writing journey and the power of "just keep going!" Then, we end our discussion talking about her tips for new ...
Dec 15, 2023•44 min•Season 3Ep. 76
Send us a text My guest is cozy mystery writer Shannon Symonds. She's just published the first book in the brand new Balefire Bay Cozy Mystery Series! In this interview we get distracted talking about all the books we've enjoyed reading lately, but then dig into her story and talk about her writing journey. She also talks about her Christmas mystery "The Seaside Murder Before Christmas". Then we take some time to share Christmas memories, and more! This episode is absolutely ...
Dec 08, 2023•47 min•Season 3Ep. 75
Send us a text Join us on The Bookshelf Odyssey Podcast as we embark on a captivating journey with acclaimed author Lynne Golodner. In this episode, Lynne shares her journey behind her novel, "Woman of Valor." This novel delves into the intricate layers of identity, infidelity, true love, and the liberating process of shedding the need to please others. In our interview, Lynne shares with me the joys of being a voracious reader, the victories and challenges of writing, and offers some ...
Nov 30, 2023•34 min•Season 3Ep. 74
Send us a text In today's episode, I talk to author Jessica Thompson. She has a new book out called "Shoot Shovel & Shut Up". We talk about her new book and discuss some writing tips. Jessica Thompson's website: https://jessicathompsonauthor.com/ ____________ There are 4 ways you can help support the channel! -Like and subscribe! -I'm now a bookshop.org affiliate - check out my shop and find your next great read! https://bookshop.org/shop/bookshelfodyssey -Buy me a c...
Nov 02, 2023•40 min•Season 3Ep. 73
Send us a text Hello! In today's episode I interview new author Katie Lumsden - she is a booktuber and we share a love of Victorian literature in general and Dickens in particular. We talk about her new book The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, her reading journey into Victorian literature, and discuss why it's important to read the classics, even if they can at times be problematic. Find Katie on youtube at: @katiejlumsden Book: The Secrets of Hartwood Hall (bookshop.org affiliate link) Book...
Oct 05, 2023•50 min•Season 3Ep. 72
Send us a text In today's episode I get the privilege to sit down with J. R. Lancaster and talk about her new mystery, "Someone's Always Watching". We talk about some great books we've read lately, her writing journey, writing tips, and more! Find J. R. Lancaster online - website, newsletter, and more: https://linktr.ee/jrlancaster Books Mentioned: Blood and Moonlight by Erin Beaty Book Lovers by Emily Henry The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann S...
Jul 12, 2023•43 min•Season 3Ep. 71
Send us a text My guest today is an absolute inspiration - a young author who didn't wait to follow her dreams to become a writer! Shanti Hershenson is the author of The Bane of Angelfall Academy and the Biome Lock Saga - and many more, all at the age of 15 years old. My hope is the young people, and people young at heart!, will find inspiration from Shanti's journey and will follow their own dreams and tell your stories. Find Shanti online: https://www.shantihershenson.com/ https://ww...
Jun 26, 2023•27 min•Season 3Ep. 70
Send us a text In today's episode, I sit down with children's author Tonya Duncan Ellis to delve into the world of literature that tells interesting stories but also educates. We talk about her immensely popular YA book series, Sophie Washington, and her journey to publication. We'll also get a sneak peak at her upcoming children's picture book, "They Built Me for Freedom," which explores the significance of Juneteenth. From heartfelt discussions about Juneteenth to...
Jun 19, 2023•47 min•Season 3Ep. 69
Send us a text As school is out for the summer now, I'm going to have a couple of episodes that encourages teens - or anyone really - to pick up that pen or sit down in front of the computer, and write a story. So today, my guest is author Raquel Drosos. I was inspired by her recent blog post "7 Tips for Teenage Writers" and found it to be good advice for kids of all ages. And Raquel has some experience in this as she was first published when she was a teenager. So in today's...
Jun 17, 2023•41 min•Season 3Ep. 68
Send us a text In today's episode, I go to "the land down under" to speak with author Melanie Notaras. She wrote the children's book "The Art Show that Came to Life" and it stars Your School! Find out all about this custom made book can help your local school put the "FUN" in FUNdraising! Melanie and I also share some tips about how to encourage kids to read, especially during the summer break. And stay tuned, because coming up in a few days, I'll hav...
Jun 15, 2023•47 min•Season 3Ep. 67
Send us a text Have you ever wondered why food blogs and online recipes always seem to attach a lengthy story to their recipes? It turns out, there's a good reason for that... My guest today is cozy mystery author Wendy Sand Eckel. She is the author of the "farm-to-table" Rosalie Hart Mystery Series. In today's episode we talk about her journey to publication, and how food tells a story. We give some book recommendations, talk about the writing craft, and what Wendy loves mos...
Jun 12, 2023•46 min•Season 3Ep. 66
Send us a text My guest today is Douglas Robbins. He's the author of "Naricon: The Cloaked Deception", "Love in a Dying Town", and more. He's also the host of the podcast "Den of Discussion"! Today we talk about his writing journey, why he chose the self-publishing route, and why that might just be the route for you to take too! And of course, we have some writing tips and book recommendations. https://douglasrobbinsauthor.com/ Books Mentioned: “The Minist...
Jun 01, 2023•43 min•Season 3Ep. 65
Send us a text In today's episode I interviewed author Michelle Rene DeBellis, the author of the book "The Music We Make." We talk about her book, her writing journey, and how love, music, and family can guide us through pain. "She is proud to be the recipient of the following awards and nominations: Literary Titan's Book Award, The Kirkus Star/as well as being included in their "Best Indie Books of 2022", a nomination for the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, and th...
May 25, 2023•37 min•Season 3Ep. 64
Send us a text In today's episode I get the privilege to sit down and talk with screenwriter, novelist, (and playwright!) Matt Witten. He's had an Emmy nomination for his work on the TV-show "House" starring the brilliant Hugh Laurie, and has many television credits to his name. Our conversation covers topics like what it's like to write for television and how that differs from writing a novel, we discuss his newest book Killer Story, and he offers up some wonderful writ...
May 09, 2023•39 min•Season 3Ep. 63
Send us a text Star Trek. Romance. Zombies. What more do you need? In today's episode we're diving into the wonderful world of Zombie Apocalypse literature. But first, author A. M. Geever and I share our love for all things Star Trek, our love for reading, and what's the first, best thing you can do to prepare for the Zombie apocalypse... We then explore Anne's writing journey and why she took the self publication route. She gives some wonderful tips on how to write and share...
May 01, 2023•56 min•Season 3Ep. 62
Send us a text My guest today is author Kelly Vincent - their recent published works include the novel "Ugly". It tells the story of Nic Summers and her journey to find out who she is. Find out more about this book in today's episode, the book that Kirkus Review said was would "resonate with young adults going on their own difficult journeys and should help them feel less alone". Also in today's episode we talk about Kelly's writing journey, how creating powerf...
Apr 24, 2023•38 min•Season 3Ep. 61
Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with author Max Friedman to discuss his latest book, "Painful Joy." The book explores the experiences of Max's parents during the Jewish Holocaust, and the impact that this had on Max's life growing up. We delve into the history of the Holocaust and its effects on subsequent generations, as well as the process of writing such a personal and emotional book. Max shares with us his perspective on the importance of remembering and honori...
Apr 17, 2023•47 min•Season 3Ep. 60
