Zibby chats with podcaster and writer Molly Stillman about her laugh-out-loud and heartfelt memoir IF I DON’T LAUGH I’LL CRY: How Death, Debt, and Comedy Led to a Life of Faith, Farming, and Forgetting What I Came into This Room For. Molly describes her childhood with a mom who was a Vietnam War veteran—and what it was like to lose her at seventeen to an autoimmune disorder caused by exposure to Agent Orange. She also shares how she squandered an unexpected quarter-of-a-million-dollar inheritanc...
Aug 27, 2024•27 min•Season 21Ep. 64
Ghanaian American cardiologist, cartoonist, and author Shirlene Obuobi joins Zibby to discuss her powerful, sexy, and emotionally brilliant new romance, BETWEEN FRIENDS AND LOVERS. Shirlene describes her protagonist, Josephine Boiteng, a former medical resident turned influencer who struggles with mental health, burnout, and an unrequited crush. She also delves into the novel’s medical and social media elements and the themes of love, vulnerability, and personal growth—revealing that she wrote t...
Aug 26, 2024•23 min•Season 21Ep. 63
Instagram sensation and webcomic superstar Cassandra Calin joins Zibby to discuss her debut graphic novel, THE NEW GIRL, a comically charming story about change, inspired by her own immigration experience. Cassandra shares what it was like to move from Romania to Canada at the age of 10 and then delves into her book's themes of cultural adjustment, puberty, and personal growth, as experienced through the eyes of her 12-year-old protagonist, Lia. Cassandra discusses her journey into drawing, the ...
Aug 23, 2024•21 min•Season 21Ep. 62
Zibby speaks with debut author Elizabeth O’Connor about WHALE FALL, a haunting and exquisite novel about an 18-year-old girl on a beautiful but blisteringly harsh Welsh island in 1938, and how her life changes when two anthropologists arrive to study her island’s disappearing way of life, forcing her to confront the outside world. The conversation delves into the novel's themes of isolation, folklore, cultural change, and the interplay between nature and humanity. Elizabeth shares insights into ...
Aug 22, 2024•20 min•Season 21Ep. 61
#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Lynn Barnes joins Zibby to discuss THE GRANDEST GAME, a brand new series in the lush, romantic, puzzle-filled world of THE INHERITANCE GAMES, where fan-favorite and new characters collide a year after we last saw them. Jennifer delves into the story, which revolves around Avery Grambs, a now 20-year-old billionaire heiress who designs a high-stakes game made to give someone a shot at fame and fortune. Jennifer also describes her writing process, incl...
Aug 21, 2024•33 min•Season 21Ep. 60
New York Times bestselling author Kimberly McCreight returns to the podcast to discuss LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER, a breathless, shocking thriller about a daughter who returns to her childhood home in Brooklyn after months of not speaking to her mother… only to find an empty house in complete disarray, food burning on the stove, and a bloody shoe. The story unfolds through dual narratives as Cleo races to uncover her mother’s secret life. Kimberley reveals the book’s personal significance, drawi...
Aug 20, 2024•26 min•Season 21Ep. 59
Zibby speaks with debut novelist Sarai Johnson about GROWN WOMEN, a stunning, tender, elegant novel about how four generations of complex Black women attempt to heal old wounds and redefine happiness for themselves… as they raise a new generation together. Sarai shares how her own complicated relationship with her mother and a desire to depict Black motherhood with nuance and depth inspired this story. She also shares her writing process, literary models, and best advice for aspiring authors. Pu...
Aug 19, 2024•19 min•Season 21Ep. 58
Zibby chats with author Caro Carver about BAD TOURISTS, a propulsive and deliciously dark novel about three tight-knit friends who embark on an extravagant post-divorce trip to the Maldives… only to realize the resort of their dreams is harboring a killer. Caro describes her own trip to the Maldives, her use of a new pseudonym and genre (she uses CJ Cooke for her gothic thrillers!), and her love of writing stories that resonate with women. She also shares details of her difficult childhood in a ...
Aug 18, 2024•28 min•Season 21Ep. 57
British novelist Clare Pooley joins Zibby to discuss HOW TO AGE DISGRACEFULLY, an utterly hysterical, quirky, and reassuringly wise novel that centers around Lydia, a menopausal woman and empty-nester who is lonely and suspects her husband is having an affair… so she decides to help out at a senior citizen social club. She finds herself surrounded by very eclectic and mischievous seniors who, after an accident, must band together to save their community hall. Clare delves into her journey with s...
Aug 17, 2024•24 min•Season 21Ep. 56
New York Time s bestselling author (and former flight attendant) TJ Newman returns to the podcast to discuss WORST CASE SCENARIO, a chilling, heart-stopping, unputdownable thriller about a commercial plane that crashes into a nuclear plant in the small town of Waketa, Minnesota. TJ reveals how her conversations with pilots about their deepest fears led to the book's terrifyingly plausible premise. The discussion delves into themes of personal sacrifice, ethical dilemmas, and the balance between ...
Aug 16, 2024•29 min•Season 21Ep. 54
Zibby chats with bestselling author Tom Seeman about ANIMALS I WANT TO SEE, a lyrical, tender, and insightful memoir about a boy who grew up in a family of fourteen in the projects of Toledo, Ohio, and journeyed from child janitor with big dreams to teenage petty criminal to student at Yale and Harvard. Tom describes his wonderful mother, whose resilience and kindness shaped his life and shielded him from his alcoholic father’s abuse. He also touches on his life-changing scholarship to a private...
Aug 16, 2024•26 min•Season 21Ep. 55
Zibby chats with award-winning author Sarah Manguso about LIARS, an eviscerating and unforgettable story of a marriage that burns to the ground and a woman who rises inexorably from its ashes. Sarah delves into her novel’s portrayal of a marriage that devolves into covert domestic abuse, exposing the often-overlooked dynamics of control and manipulation. She also reflects on her journey to becoming a writer and then describes a very tumultuous time in her life, which is when she wrote this power...
Aug 15, 2024•28 min•Season 21Ep. 52
Grief activist Lisa Keefauver joins Zibby to discuss GRIEF IS A SNEAKY BITCH, a warm, irreverent, and powerful guide for those navigating grief and those supporting the bereaved. Lisa shares the harrowing journey of losing her husband—a massive, undiagnosed tumor caused a scary shift in his behavior and culminated in a series of catastrophic strokes that took his life. Lisa delves into the complexities of grief, and then she and Zibby explore the importance of rituals, shared stories, and the ne...
Aug 15, 2024•30 min•Season 21Ep. 53
Zibby chats with #1 internationally bestselling author Marian Keyes about MY FAVORITE MISTAKE, a warm-hearted and deftly plotted page-turner about a woman who, in full mid-life crisis mode, switches Manhattan and a big-deal PR job for the Irish town of Maumtully, where she helps her old friends set up a luxury retreat… and bumps into an old flame. Marian delves into her novel’s themes of aging, midlife love, regret, and self-forgiveness. Then, she shares reflections on her own life, including he...
Aug 14, 2024•28 min•Season 21Ep. 50
Award-winning filmmaker, recording artist, professor, and bestselling author MK Asante joins Zibby to discuss NEPHEW, an explosive, intimate, and innovative memoir written as a love letter to a nephew who was shot nine times and survived. MK highlights the intentional connections between this book and his first memoir, BUCK, and then delves into his inspirations: his nephew; his brother, who was killed; his grandfather, who fought in the Civil Rights Movement; and African American culture, parti...
Aug 14, 2024•26 min•Season 21Ep. 51
Zibby speaks with debut author Lauren Aliza Green about THE WORLD AFTER ALICE, a gorgeous and gripping story of two estranged families brought together to celebrate an unexpected wedding. Twelve years after the stunning loss of sixteen-year-old Alice, her brother Benji and her best friend Morgan are getting married—unearthing secrets and reopening deep, painful wounds. Lauren discusses the novel’s exploration of grief, loss, and the lasting impact of suicide, particularly on teenagers. She share...
Aug 13, 2024•22 min•Season 21Ep. 48
Zibby interviews author Talia Carner about THE BOY WITH THE STAR TATTOO, a spellbinding and impeccably researched historical novel of ingenuity and courage, love and loss, spanning postwar France when Israeli agents roamed the countryside to rescue hidden Jewish orphans—to the 1969 escape of the Israeli naval boats of Cherbourg, France. Talia describes her writing process and inspiration for this novel, including a French road sign and interviews with Israeli Navy officers. She also talks about ...
Aug 13, 2024•27 min•Season 21Ep. 49
Zibby chats with bestselling Israeli author Noa Yedlin about STOCKHOLM, a refreshing, ingeniously plotted dark comedy about a tight-knit circle of seniors who attempt to hide the death of one of their best friends so he can win the Nobel Prize for Economics. Noa delves into the novel’s themes of friendship, success, egos, aging, and mortality. She reflects on her writing career, from journalism to fiction, and then offers advice to aspiring authors. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3WT4Rqs S...
Aug 12, 2024•24 min•Season 21Ep. 47
Bestselling Canadian author Catherine Mack joins Zibby to discuss EVERY TIME I GO ON VACATION, SOMEONE DIES, an irresistibly clever and hilarious series starring Eleanor Dash, a bestselling author whose Italian book tour turns into a real-life murder mystery when the man her protagonist is based on claims someone is trying to kill him—just as she decides to kill him off her series. Catherine discusses her writing career and publishing experiences, her love for including humorous footnotes (which...
Aug 12, 2024•37 min•Season 21Ep. 46
French documentary film director, journalist, and bestselling author Colombe Schneck joins Zibby to discuss SWIMMING IN PARIS, the Natalie Portman Book Club Pick and a brilliantly written, searingly intimate piece of biographical fiction about a woman experiencing all of life: friendships, love, sex, abortion, and swimming. Colombe shares why she finally felt compelled to write about her abortion in a burst of raw emotion after decades of silence. She also touches on the trauma carried by her Ho...
Aug 11, 2024•25 min•Season 21Ep. 44
Zibby chats with author Anastasia Zadeik about THE OTHER SIDE OF NOTHING, a riveting and redemptive portrayal of two suicidal young adults who meet in a psychiatric facility and escape on a cross-country journey—and their two mothers, who set out to find them. Anastasia emphasizes her intent to portray mental illness realistically, resisting the urge to sensationalize or simplify it. She shares that she drew from personal experiences, including her own struggles with depression and those of her ...
Aug 11, 2024•27 min•Season 21Ep. 45
Zibby chats with memoirist and podcast host Glynnis MacNicol about I’M MOSTLY HERE TO ENJOY MYSELF, an intimate, powerful, jubilant, and triumphant travelog about the radically pleasurable time she spent in Paris after spending the height of the pandemic entirely alone in her NYC apartment. Glynnis describes her five weeks abroad, reflecting on the liberation and joy she rediscovered. She touches on her book’s themes: food, friendship, and physical intimacy—and challenges the societal expectatio...
Aug 10, 2024•25 min•Season 21Ep. 42
Award-winning casting director Jen Rudin joins Zibby to discuss CONFESSIONS OF A CASTING DIRECTOR, an invaluable guide to breaking into film, TV, theater, and even YouTube, with advice from actors, agents, and other entertainment industry professionals. Jen reveals her childhood dream of acting and her eventual transition to a career behind the cameras. She describes the qualities needed to excel in casting, the joy of discovering new talent, and the challenges of entering and surviving in this ...
Aug 10, 2024•28 min•Season 21Ep. 43
New York Times bestselling author Clare Mackintosh joins Zibby to discuss I PROMISE IT WON’T ALWAYS HURT LIKE THIS, a deeply honest and compassionate memoir about the unfathomable grief she navigated after the loss of her five-week-old son and the solace and hope she slowly began to feel. Clare reflects on her journey through grief, sharing insights on how it evolved over time, and then describes the memoir writing process, which was painful and unlocked unresolved emotions. Then, she touches on...
Aug 09, 2024•27 min•Season 21Ep. 40
Zibby interviews award-winning Pakistani American author Hena Khan about DRAWING DEENA, a nuanced and quietly powerful middle-grade novel about a young artist determined to manage her anxiety, help her parents, and forge her own creative path. Hena delves into Deena's stresses, from her difficulty finding her artistic style to her parents’ arguments and financial concerns. She also shares talks about THE DOOR IS OPEN, the warm-hearted collection of interconnected stories she recently edited that...
Aug 09, 2024•26 min•Season 21Ep. 41
Debut author Simone Gorrindo joins Zibby to discuss THE WIVES, a fearless, gripping, and gorgeously rendered memoir (and Book of the Month Club pick!) about her experience of joining a community of Army wives after her husband joins an elite Army unit and uproots her New York City life. Simone describes her journey from big city editor to Georgia army wife, highlighting the dramatic identity shift and the strong bonds she unexpectedly formed with other military spouses. She touches on her person...
Aug 08, 2024•27 min•Season 21Ep. 39
Zibby chats with author Marjan Kamali about THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN, a heartwrenching and achingly beautiful novel of friendship, betrayal, and redemption set against three transformative decades in Tehran, Iran. Marjan describes the plot of her book, which follows two girls from very different backgrounds who form a close bond, face a betrayal, and reconnect years later in America. The conversation delves into themes of trauma, healing, friendship, and women’s rights and activism. Marjan also ...
Aug 08, 2024•28 min•Season 21Ep. 38
Zibby is joined by New York City’s premier “house call veterinarian,” Dr. Amy Attas, who takes us into the exclusive penthouses and hotel rooms of the wealthiest Manhattan pet owners in her heartfelt and hilarious new book, PETS AND THE CITY. Dr. Attas describes her 30-year career and shares anecdotes from her most memorable home visits, including when a dog swallowed his owner’s blue pills… She expresses her love and dedication to her work and even shares some practical advice for pet owners. P...
Aug 07, 2024•26 min•Season 21Ep. 37
Bestselling author Jamie Brenner returns to the podcast to discuss A NOVEL SUMMER, a delightful, sun-soaked beach read about a novelist who returns to the beach town where she spent her college summers… only to face her old friends’ reactions to the recognizable elements in her novels. Jamie reflects on how summer triggers nostalgia and introspection about friendships—and then delves into the different types of friendships, from college friends to “mom trenches” friends. She touches on her writi...
Aug 07, 2024•26 min•Season 21Ep. 36
Co-authors Audrey Bellezza (a two-time Emmy-nominated TV producer) and Emily Harding (also a TV producer!) return to the podcast to discuss their charming, hilariously witty, modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice , ELIZABETH OF EAST HAMPTON. Audrey and Emily delve into their Hamptons research trips, their collaborative writing and editing process, and their adaptation of Mrs. Bennett’s character into a modern entrepreneurial mom involved in mid-level marketing schemes! They also touch on t...
Aug 06, 2024•27 min•Season 21Ep. 34
