Next up in our celebration of BLANK is a special episode with Zibby’s editor, Carmen Johnson. After discussing the publishing process (what are editors looking for? How do they evaluate pitch letters and manuscripts? What is the editorial process like?), Carmen offers a behind-the-scenes look at her role as an editor at Amazon Publishing. Then, she and Zibby discuss their ongoing author-editor relationship, reflecting on their collaborative work with BLANK, and sharing their excitement as they e...
Feb 28, 2024•26 min•Season 20Ep. 14
As we anxiously wait for Zibby’s debut novel BLANK to hit the shelves this Friday, March 1st… we’re bringing you an exclusive preview! Tune in to hear Zibby read the first chapter of her book and fall in love with Pippa as she navigates family, friendship, success, and exhilarating self-(re)discovery! Oh, and don’t forget to order your copy! Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3OWVCBo Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens ! Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...
Feb 27, 2024•14 min•Season 20Ep. 13
In this special episode (a live podcast recording at Zibby’s Bookshop!), Zibby interviews legendary English actress and author Joan Collins about her hilarious, intimate, and completely spellbinding new memoir, BEHIND THE SHOULDER PADS. Joan shares anecdotes from her eclectic and vibrant life, from dodging air raids during World War II to her iconic role in Dynasty. Zibby asks Joan about her childhood, personal relationships, marriage, and creative process. Then, Joan offers advice to aspiring c...
Feb 26, 2024•29 min•Season 20Ep. 12
In this special episode (a live event at Zibby’s Bookshop in Santa Monica!), Hazel Hayes (Irish-born, London-based author of OUT OF LOVE) and Aparna Nancherla (superstar, LA-based comedian and author of UNRELIABLE NARRATOR) chat about their books! The two delve into their experiences with imposter syndrome, the writing process, and the emotional journey of publishing a book. Aparna reflects on the challenges of balancing humor with serious topics like mental health and body images, and Hazel rea...
Feb 25, 2024•37 min•Season 20Ep. 11
Zibby chats with award-winning author Roxana Robinson about her bold and insightful late-in-life romance, LEAVING. Roxana describes the intricate dynamics between her two characters, Sarah and Warren, and then touches on themes of personal growth, familial obligations, and mature love. They also discuss the role of children in shaping relationships, the importance of self-discovery, and the challenges of navigating love in the later stages of life. Finally, Roxana reflects on her creative proces...
Feb 24, 2024•29 min•Season 20Ep. 10
In this special episode (a live event at Zibby’s Bookshop in Santa Monica!), New York Times bestselling author, writing instructor, and grief and loss coach Hope Edelman chats with renowned psychotherapist and Zibby Books author Meghan Riordan Jarvis about END OF THE HOUR, Meghan’s poignant and beautifully written memoir. Meghan delves into the origins of the book—writing was a therapeutic tool during her own treatment for trauma, which she experienced after the deaths of her parents. She and Ho...
Feb 23, 2024•34 min•Season 20Ep. 9
In this special episode (a live event at Zibby’s Bookshop in Santa Monica!), writer and podcaster Laura Tremaine chats with Australian author Emma Grey about THE LAST LOVE NOTE, a “gorgeous, charming, funny, heart-rending, longing-filled triumph of a read” (Katherine Center). Emma describes her journey into writing (she fell in love with Anne of Green Gables, of course) and then delves into the intricacies of grief, candidly discussing the loss of her husband and mother and the power of writing ...
Feb 22, 2024•22 min•Season 20Ep. 8
Debut author Lindsay Hameroff joins Zibby to discuss TILL THERE WAS YOU, a delightful second-chance romance with a dollop of celebrity drama about a musician on the edge of fame and the aspiring chef who becomes the inspiration for his hit single. Lindsay explains how a Harry Styles song inspired this novel and then discusses the main character’s journey as a chef, the challenges of balancing relationships with career aspirations, and the comedic elements of her story. She also shares insights i...
Feb 21, 2024•18 min•Season 20Ep. 7
Zibby welcomes back Jordan Salama to discuss STRANGER IN THE DESERT, an incredible travel memoir of his epic quest through the Argentina Andes in search of a heritage that spans hemispheres, from the Jewish Levant to the old trade routes of South America. Salama reveals the discovery that inspired this book: a family history document hidden in his grandfather’s basement with 500 years of his Sephardic Jewish heritage and his ancestor’s journey across Argentina. He talks about his search for long...
Feb 20, 2024•29 min•Season 20Ep. 6
Golden Globe-winning actor and New York Times bestselling author David Duchovny joins Zibby to discuss THE RESERVOIR, a fever dream of a novella about a lonely ex-financier who is stuck in his apartment during the pandemic and becomes obsessed with the Central Park reservoir, slowly going mad. David shares this story's inspiration and delves into the themes of loneliness, resilience, the allure of conspiracies, and the psychological impact of isolation. He also talks about his new podcast “Fail ...
Feb 19, 2024•26 min•Season 20Ep. 5
Zibby speaks to Jessica Gee, mom in the mega-popular Bucket List Family, about NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BUCKET LIST FAMILY TRAVEL, an indispensable and beautifully illustrated guide with fifty destination itineraries and countless expert tips for traveling with kids. Jessica shares the origins of her family’s adventures (it involves selling an app, making some money, and traveling instead of buying a house!). The discussion explores her and her husband's intentional approach to building their brand, ...
Feb 18, 2024•21 min•Season 20Ep. 4
Zibby interviews New York literary agent Lucinda Halpern about GET SIGNED, an incredibly helpful guide to elevating your storytelling, creating a timeless book, and launching your dream career. After describing her journey in the industry and demystifying the role of a literary agent, she delves into the evolving landscape of book publishing. She covers the importance of finding the right agent, crafting effective query letters, doing extensive market research, and building your own digital plat...
Feb 17, 2024•32 min•Season 20Ep. 3
Zibby is joined by licensed grief and trauma therapist Gina Moffa to discuss MOVING ON DOESN’T MEAN LETTING GO, a heartfelt and helpful map through any loss—a parent, a friendship, a job, a miscarriage—that helps shift the pain when it feels unpredictable and overwhelming. Gina reflects on her experiences as a grief therapist, highlighting social discomforts and the need for supportive communities that embrace vulnerability. She also talks about trauma, societal expectations surrounding grief an...
Feb 16, 2024•31 min•Season 20Ep. 2
Maggie Smith, the New York Times bestselling author of the heartrending memoir YOU COULD MAKE THIS PLACE BEAUTIFUL, joins Zibby to discuss her beautifully lyrical and calming new picture book, MY THOUGHTS HAVE WINGS. Maggie reveals how challenging conversations with her children—during her divorce and the pandemic lockdown—prompted the creation of this book. She describes the bedtime rituals they developed to fight nighttime anxiety. She and Zibby delve into the challenges of parenting, reflecti...
Feb 15, 2024•29 min•Season 20Ep. 1
Zibby is joined by debut author Carrie Sun to discuss her new memoir, PRIVATE EQUITY, an incisive, sharp, and utterly compelling examination of her time working in one of the most prestigious hedge funds in the world (and an urgent indictment of privilege, extreme wealth, and work culture). Carrie delves into her time at Wharton, a toxic relationship from her past, and the life-threatening culture of New York's financial world. She and Zibby tackle work-life balance, extreme burnout, trauma, the...
Feb 14, 2024•27 min•Season 19Ep. 100
Guest host Alisha Fernandez Miranda interviews Rachel Kapelke-Dale about THE FORTUNE SELLER, an engrossing and propulsive coming-of-age story about an Ivy League equestrian team and the young tarot card reader who infiltrates it. Rachel reveals her connections to the horse world, highlighting her fascination with the class tensions in that environment: some are born into wealth, and others must work to participate in the sport. Then, she describes her writing process (she has evolved from being ...
Feb 13, 2024•27 min•Season 19Ep. 99
Zibby speaks with New York Times bestselling author Tia Williams about A LOVE SONG FOR RICKI WILDE, an enchanting, modern-day fairy tale set in Harlem, featuring a free-spirited florist and an enigmatic musician who are irreversibly linked through history, art, and magic. Tia reveals how the initial spark of inspiration struck her during a sleepless night and then delves into her creative process. She also discusses her novel’s themes of following one’s dreams and pursuing creative passions and ...
Feb 12, 2024•21 min•Season 19Ep. 98
Zibby welcomes doctor and New York Times bestselling author Uché Blackstock to discuss LEGACY: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine, a searing indictment of our healthcare system, a generational family memoir, and an urgent call to action. Uché shares stories of her upbringing, her mother’s influence, and her experiences as a Black woman navigating the medical field. She and Zibby delve into the topics of culturally responsive care, racial health disparities, and the impact of histo...
Feb 11, 2024•20 min•Season 19Ep. 97
#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner returns to the podcast to discuss THE BIGFOOT QUEEN, her charming middle-grade trilogy about friendship, adventure, and celebrating your true self. Jennifer reveals the project's origins and then describes her approach to crafting a story that resonates with young readers while addressing deeper societal issues. She delves into the complexities of adolescence, identity, authenticity, and relationships. Then, she gives us a glimpse of her upcom...
Feb 10, 2024•29 min•Season 19Ep. 96
Debut novelist Elba Iris Pérez joins Zibby to discuss THE THINGS WE DIDN’T KNOW, a lyrical and heartfelt coming-of-age story of a young girl’s childhood between 1950s Puerto Rico and a small Massachusetts factory town. Elba shares her inspiration for this novel, touching on the importance of cross-cultural narratives and the challenges of navigating multiple identities. She also discusses her rich cast of characters and the novel’s portrayal of familial relationships, mental illness, cultural id...
Feb 09, 2024•21 min•Season 19Ep. 95
Zibby interviews debut author Jenny Hollander about EVERYONE WHO CAN FORGIVE ME IS DEAD, a relentlessly twisty and bitingly sharp thriller (with smart, dark humor, long-buried secrets, and a chilling mystery) about a woman who is haunted by a harrowing event she witnessed at journalism school. Jenny delves into the themes of trauma, identity, and the media’s exploitation of the tragedy explored in the book. She also touches on her own experiences (as a British expat in NYC and as someone who str...
Feb 08, 2024•24 min•Season 19Ep. 94
Zibby speaks to debut author and psychotherapist Sagit Schwartz about SINCE SHE’S BEEN GONE, an intense, masterfully plotted thriller about a clinical psychologist who is racing to uncover the truth about her mother’s death while struggling with her mental health. Sagit reflects on the emotional journey of writing this book, which is dedicated to her late mother, who passed away from cancer. She also shares her connection to the book’s focus on eating disorders and then discusses the themes of l...
Feb 07, 2024•28 min•Season 19Ep. 93
#1 New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah joins Zibby to discuss THE WOMEN, a novel of searing insight and lyric beauty about a young nurse whose life is changed by the Vietnam War. Kristin dives into the nuances of writing and publishing, touching on the impact of social media and the industry's unpredictability. Then, she discusses her newest novel, touching on the personal significance of the story, the extensive research that went into its creation, and the themes of love, loss, an...
Feb 06, 2024•28 min•Season 19Ep. 92
Award-winning journalist Meg Kissinger joins Zibby to discuss WHILE YOU WERE OUT, a searing and deeply personal memoir of a family besieged by mental illness, the systems that failed them, and the love that sustained them. Meg shares what it was like to grow up in a large family that was marked by joy but overshadowed by severe mental illness, including the tragic loss of two siblings to suicide. She also delves into the complexities of navigating the mental health system, grappling with questio...
Feb 05, 2024•25 min•Season 19Ep. 91
Zibby speaks to journalist and drag historian Elyssa Maxx Goodman about GLITTER AND CONCRETE, an intimate, evocative history of drag in New York City with original interviews and glamorous color photos. Elyssa, inspired to write this book after the passing of the renowned drag queen Flawless Sabrina, describes her determination to preserve stories of drag artists for future generations. She and Zibby discuss the rich history of drag in NYC, its influence on American culture, and the importance o...
Feb 04, 2024•21 min•Season 19Ep. 90
Zibby welcomes bestselling author and repeat MDHTTRB author Chris Cander to discuss THE YOUNG OF OTHER ANIMALS, a deeply suspenseful and profoundly moving novel about the dark secrets and the shared trauma that threaten to destroy an already shaky bond between a mother and a daughter. Chris describes her own experience of a violent attack in Spain at the age of nineteen and reflects on the process of fictionalizing her trauma for this novel. She and Zibby also discuss the novel’s narrative struc...
Feb 03, 2024•28 min•Season 19Ep. 89
Zibby is joined by debut author Molly Roden Winter to discuss MORE, an electric, intimate, and unputdownable memoir of love, desire, motherhood, and self-fulfillment that follows a happily married mother as she explores sex and relationships outside her marriage. Molly describes the intimate details of her unconventional journey into an open marriage and then delves into how she has grappled with societal expectations and judgments, family commitments, personal desires, and honoring her most aut...
Feb 02, 2024•28 min•Season 19Ep. 88
#1 New York Times bestselling author Alex Michaelides joins Zibby to discuss THE FURY, a masterfully paced thriller about a reclusive ex-movie star and her famous friends whose spontaneous trip to a private Greek island is upended by a murder. Alex and Zibby delve into the creative process behind this novel, including its unique narrative structure, the balance between structure and spontaneity, and the inspiration drawn from Greek mythology and Alex’s upbringing in Cyprus. He also describes the...
Feb 01, 2024•20 min•Season 19Ep. 87
Zibby is joined by author and business strategist Erica Keswin to discuss THE RETENTION REVOLUTION, a game-changing playbook for businesses that rethinks the workplace and puts relationships at the center of it all. Erica describes what led her to a career in workplace strategy, and then delves into the importance of rituals, community, intentionality, and human connection in the workplace. She and Zibby also discuss worker retention strategies and the importance of genuine care in company leade...
Jan 31, 2024•23 min•Season 19Ep. 86
Zibby Books author alert!! Zibby interviews award-winning author and repeat MDHTTRB guest Donna Hemans about THE HOUSE OF PLAIN TRUTH, a lush, evocative story about a fractured Jamaican family, a tapestry of family secrets that has been buried for decades, and a daughter determined to reclaim her home. Donna shares the personal history that inspired her novel—it involves her own family’s migration from Jamaica to Cuba and eventually to the United States. She also delves into her book's themes of...
Jan 30, 2024•26 min•Season 19Ep. 85
