Editor-in-chief and CEO of Moment Magazine Nadine Epstein joins Zibby to discuss her new book, RBG's Brave & Brilliant Women , and the special relationship she had with the late Supreme Court justice. The two talk about how Nadine and Justice Ginsburg crafted a list of over 150 inspiring women which was whittled down to the 33 present in the book, why it was important to Justice Ginsburg that the book be targeted to all readers, and how Justice Ginsburg shaped Nadine's personal life. Nadine ...
Jul 20, 2022•30 min•Season 13Ep. 84
Zibby is joined by #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz to talk about his latest two novels, Quicksilver and The Big Dark Sky . The two discuss why Dean decided to leave his publisher (as well as why he doesn't think the publishing industry should continue to vilify Amazon) and what many imprints misunderstand about their readers. Dean also shares why he likes to challenge himself more at this stage of his career than he did before, his deep fascination with coincidences, and which p...
Jul 19, 2022•27 min•Season 13Ep. 83
Zibby is joined by the Booker Prize-winning author of Girl, Woman, Other Bernardine Evaristo to talk about her first non-fiction book, Manifesto: On Never Giving Up . The two discuss why Bernardine didn't want to write another novel after the runaway success with Girl, Woman, Other, why she's written in various genres at the different stages of her life, and which medium she plans to return to with her next project. Purchase on Amazon or Bookshop. Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PeCX1K Bookshop: https:...
Jul 18, 2022•22 min•Season 13Ep. 82
Poet and publicist Kim Dower joins Zibby to discuss her fifth book of poems, I Wore This Dress Today for You, Mom , which helped her grapple with her mother's dementia and passing. The two talk about Kim's journeys as both a writer and a book publicist — as well as how the two roles inform each other — and what the catalyst was for her to return to poetry after nearly twenty years. Kim also shares some of her favorite poets and what inspired her to write a number of the poems in this collection....
Jul 17, 2022•23 min•Season 13Ep. 80
Creator of the blog and Facebook group Finding Cooper's Voice, Kate Swenson joins Zibby to talk about her first book, Forever Boy: A Mother's Memoir of Autism and Finding Joy . The two discuss why Kate felt comfortable sharing more personal information in this book than she does on her blog, how her family dynamic has evolved over the last eleven years, and how she manages to keep such a sunny disposition. Kate also shares how Covid impacted Cooper and his treatment, as well as her favorite part...
Jul 17, 2022•22 min•Season 13Ep. 81
Zibby is joined by the former deputy editor of Vanity Fair Dana Brown to talk about his debut memoir, Dilettante . The two discuss what they miss about the heyday of print magazines, the crazy true story of how Dana got his start at Condé Nast, and how working for the magazine helped him find where he belonged. Dana and Zibby also connect over the summer their times at VF overlapped and Dana shares what he's currently reading. Purchase on Amazon or Bookshop. Amazon: https://amzn.to/3c5vbsn Books...
Jul 16, 2022•30 min•Season 13Ep. 79
New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne joins Zibby to talk about her latest romance novel, Made in Manhattan . The two discuss how Lauren began her writing career by finding time to write steamy novels while working at her corporate job, when she decided to weave New York City into her stories, and her best advice for authors when building their websites. Lauren also tells Zibby about her own love story with her husband and the ways in which the both support one another. Purchase on Amaz...
Jul 15, 2022•29 min•Season 13Ep. 78
"I gave myself permission through the book to explore the questions I would've been terrified to ask in real life. I think that's the gift of writing." Zibby is joined by Lauren McBrayer to discuss her first adult novel, Like a House on Fire, which was already a Belletrist Book Club pick. The two also talk about how Lauren's initial desire to write a memoir metamorphosed into her writing the story of her future which inspired her to leave her marriage and come out as a lesbian. Lauren also share...
Jul 14, 2022•29 min•Season 13Ep. 77
Zibby is joined by award-winning author Judy Goldman to talk about her latest memoir, Child , which she didn't feel ready to write until her eighties. Judy shares how she processed and portrayed the sensitive nature of her personal history growing up in the segregated Jim Crow South, as well as why she felt called to write this memoir in the first place. The two discuss the benefits of launching a writing career later in life, what Judy hopes readers don't take away from this story, and the sign...
Jul 13, 2022•29 min•Season 13Ep. 76
New York Times bestselling author Christina Geist returns to talk with Zibby about her latest picture book, Buddy's New Buddy . The two discuss the story of how Christina first began writing books for children, how long she wants to follow Buddy and Lady, and where her illustrator leaves Easter eggs for sharp-eyed readers throughout all three books. Christina also shares the two recent times she felt insecure in new situations and how they inspired her to have more compassion for young kids. Pur...
Jul 12, 2022•27 min•Season 13Ep. 74
Zibby is joined by author and illustrator Mike White (along with two other special guests) to discuss his Mellybean series. Mike shares the story of how he adopted his real-life dog, Melly, and how she inspires him to be more optimistic and outgoing every day. The four also talk about the person who inspired Mike to get into illustration and storytelling, how working on the series helps him work through his mental illnesses, and where the series could go next. Purchase on Amazon or Bookshop. Ama...
Jul 12, 2022•20 min•Season 13Ep. 75
Bestselling author Lian Dolan returns to talk with Zibby about her latest novel, Lost and Found in Paris , which she has been working on-and-off on for nine years. The two discuss the undercurrents of grief in the story, which was inspired by the loss of Lian's own parents, as well as which major plot twist really happened to one of Lian's friends. Lian also shares what the last twenty years have been like working with her sisters on their show, "Satellite Sisters," which books and newsletters s...
Jul 11, 2022•26 min•Season 12Ep. 73
Zibby is joined by author and editor Meghan O'Rourke to discuss her latest book, The Invisible Kingdom , which took her nearly a decade to write. The two talk about the three major problems with medicine that have made it so hard to diagnose chronic illnesses, particularly in women, as well as how Meghan wanted to portray her own invisible illness journey as hopeful without sugarcoating the truth. Meghan also shares how Covid has impacted the ways in which our culture approaches chronic illness,...
Jul 10, 2022•31 min•Season 13Ep. 72
Author of Eliza Starts a Rumor Jane L. Rosen returns to the podcast to talk with Zibby about her latest novel, A Shoe Story . The two discuss which elements of the story were inspired by real moments from Jane's own family history, what her personal relationship with shoes is like, and how her neighbor inspired one of the book's characters. Jane also shares which project she's working on next and why it is one that is very important to her. Purchase on Amazon or Bookshop. Amazon: https://amzn.to...
Jul 09, 2022•22 min•Season 13Ep. 71
Journalist, co-founder of the Iceland Writers Retreat, and First Lady of Iceland Eliza Reid joins Zibby to discuss her book, Secrets of the Sprakkar , and all of the outstanding women who have inspired it. Eliza shares some of the commendable Icelandic policies that have advanced gender equality in the nation, as well as how she approaches her own role as First Lady as a feminist and an immigrant. The two also talk about the process of how this book came to be, what it has been like to tour with...
Jul 08, 2022•28 min•Season 13Ep. 70
Zibby is joined by the New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters , Amanda Eyre Ward, to discuss her latest novel, The Lifeguards . Amanda shares her unique style of drafting (which involves a number of colored index cards and a big board in her garden shed!) and reveals the illustrious group chat she belongs to. The two also talk about the epiphany Amanda had about her own writing after reading her friend Andrew Sean Greer's book, Less , which famous author taught her the trick to craf...
Jul 07, 2022•29 min•Season 13Ep. 71
"At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how old we are, we still all have that little child inside of us." Silvia Vasquez-Lavado, global explorer, activist, and founder of the non-profit Courageous Girls, joins Zibby to talk about her debut memoir, In the Shadow of the Mountain , which was recently optioned for film by Selena Gomez. The two discuss how Silvia got to a place where she could be so open about her experience with childhood sexual violence, as well as why she wants to break the sti...
Jul 06, 2022•22 min•Season 13Ep. 69
Zibby is joined by author Jennifer E. Smith to discuss her latest adult novel, The Unsinkable Greta James , as well as her first picture book, The Creature of Habit . Jennifer shares why she always tries to capture fleeting moments in her fiction and how the loss of her mentor helped her to better capture the grief of losing a loved one. The two also talk about where the inspiration for The Creature of Habit came from and which of her projects are being adapted for the screen. Purchase on Amazon...
Jul 05, 2022•23 min•Season 13Ep. 67
Zibby is joined by journalist and author Tiffanie Drayton to talk about her first book, Black American Refugee , which grew out of one of her popular New York Times articles. The two discuss how Tiffanie decided to portray the narcissistic abuse she endured from her ex-husband in the same way she portrayed the narcissistic abuse of living in America, as well as what it was like to reflect on some of her painful memories. Tiffanie also offers a less than ideal follow-up to the end of her story an...
Jul 04, 2022•27 min•Season 13Ep. 66
"Writing is ninety-nine percent perspiration and one percent inspiration." Zibby is joined by bestselling novelist Monica Ali to discuss her first book in ten years, Love Marriage . Monica shares how this book initially started as two separate stories that she ultimately intertwined, as well as the amount of research she conducted to make the medical elements of this novel seem as realistic as possible. The two also talk about how this story is all about sex (albeit in a non- Fifty Shades of Gre...
Jul 03, 2022•28 min•Season 13Ep. 65
The New York Times bestselling author of Three Women and Animal Lisa Taddeo returns to talk with Zibby about her latest book, Ghost Lover , a collection of short stories. The two discuss how they both use language to describe their grief to those who may have not experienced as much loss as they have, why Lisa wanted these stories to all focus on women and love without a male perspective, and what she does to make her writing literary but accessible. Lisa also shares which stages of development ...
Jul 02, 2022•23 min•Season 13Ep. 64
"This whole experience has taught me that my people are all over the place." In a special episode, Zibby is interviewed by New York Times bestseller and friend Allison Pataki to celebrate the release of Zibby's debut memoir, Bookends !!! Zibby shares why she likes to be so open about her emotions both online and in this book, what she has taken away from losing multiple loved ones, and how she might not have ever ended up where she is if she had never written an article for Seventeen in 1992. Sh...
Jul 01, 2022•32 min•Season 13Ep. 63
Editorial Director of Amazon Books, Sarah Gelman, returns to share the Amazon Book Review's top ten books of the year so far. Sarah explains that the team of expert editors doesn't pick these books based on sales data but rather, they assemble a list of books they all love and want to share with Amazon customers who may not find them anywhere else. Sarah also tells Zibby about her new book club, Sarah Selects, which listeners can check out and sign up for here ! Subscribe to Zibby's weekly newsl...
Jun 30, 2022•27 min•Season 13Ep. 62
"I'm a firm believer that the issue isn't whether or not your opportunities come. The issue is whether you're ready when your opportunity comes." CNN anchor Zain Asher joins Zibby to talk about her memoir, Where the Children Take Us , which documents her family's tragedy and triumphs. The two discuss why Zain wrote this book to honor her mother who raised her and her three siblings after her dad died in a car accident, which life lessons shaped her work ethic, and how her family grappled with ra...
Jun 29, 2022•33 min•Season 13Ep. 61
Zibby is joined by New York Times bestselling author and co-creator of Friends & Fiction Patti Callahan to talk about her two novels, Surviving Savannah and Once Upon a Wardrobe . The two discuss how Once Upon a Wardrobe grew out of the research Patti conducted for her 2018 book, Becoming Mrs. Lewis , why her books read so visually, and how she finds ways to weave her experience as a nurse into her stories. Patti also shares how she had heard the story of the SS Pulaski five years before she...
Jun 29, 2022•28 min•Season 13Ep. 60
National Book Award nominee Johanna Kaplan joins Zibby to discuss her latest collection of short stories, Loss of Memory Is Only Temporary . Johanna shares how she's continued to write while she taught for the past thirty-five years, what is the number one thing she looks for both in the books she reads and her own writing, and when she knew she wanted to become a writer. Johanna also tells Zibby about how her characters continue to stay with her and who she hopes this collection will appeal to ...
Jun 28, 2022•21 min•Season 13Ep. 60
We're re-releasing Zibby's interview with Delia Owens just in time for the movie premiere of Where the Crawdads Sing on July 15th!! Delia is the coauthor of three internationally bestselling nonfiction books about her life as a wildlife scientist. A winner of the John Burroughs Award for nature writing, Delia has been published in Nature , The African Journal of Ecology , and others. She wrote Cry of the Kalahari about her years living in the African wild studying lions and hyenas, and co-wrote ...
Jun 27, 2022•24 min•Season 13Ep. 58
Zibby is joined by Jane Pek to talk about her debut novel, The Verifiers . Jane shares her whirlwind success story, from how she pushed herself to get an MFA to landing an agent, a book deal, and a New York Times book review. Zibby and Jane also discuss how Jane's career as a lawyer and early love for mystery books both found their way into this novel, why she felt the world of online dating was ripe for a murder story, and what other kinds of projects she's looking to try her hand at. Purchase ...
Jun 26, 2022•24 min•Season 13Ep. 57
Career development coach, public speaker, and CEO of Manifest Yourself Kimberly B. Cummings joins Zibby to discuss her first book, Next Move, Best Move , which compiles her best professional advice for all types of readers. The two talk about what makes a good leader in the workplace, the effects of Corporate PTSD (as well as an instance in which Kimberly experienced it herself), and what inspired her to write this book. Kimberly also shares the journey she went on to build up her coaching busin...
Jun 25, 2022•28 min•Season 13Ep. 56
Zibby is joined by author and columnist Annabel Monaghan to discuss her debut adult novel, Nora Goes Off Script , which is one of Zibby's current favorite books. The two talk about how Annabel always knew she wanted to write but didn't start her career until her late thirties, why she became so inspired by Hallmark Channel movies, and what each reader believes this story's love interest looks like. Annabel also shares how she found writing both this novel and her next project so enjoyable, even ...
Jun 24, 2022•29 min•Season 13Ep. 55
