Beyond the Next Chapter with Whitney Clark

Latest Episodes:

Jennifer Hillier, "Things We Do In the Dark" Aug 23, 2022

Show notes

"Jimmy was one of my favorite characters… even though he's dead. Dead from the first word!" declares Jennifer Hillier, when talking about the character of Jimmy Peralta in her new thriller, THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK. When Jimmy is found dead, his wife Paris is arrested for his murder.

Jennifer joins Olivia on the podcast to talk about her approach to the plot, why this book feels her most authentic yet, how distance learning and her writing collided, all-nighters, chicken adobo, and more.

Jennifer Hillier is an award-winning, bestselling author who lives in Toronto. THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK is published by Minotaur Books. Learn more about the author at https://jenniferhillierbooks.com/

Dolen Perkins-Valdez, "Take My Hand" Aug 16, 2022

Show notes

Historical fiction at its finest, TAKE MY HAND is a fictional retelling of a truly shocking practice in Alabama in the early 1970s: the forced sterilization of poor, mostly Black, women and girls.

Dolen Perkins-Valdez joins the podcast to talk with Olivia about the moving novel, told from the perspective of Civil Townsend, a nurse at the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic, who must advocate for her patients in ways she never expected. After researching the history of the time and events, she approached the fiction with an emotional question: "What would it have been like to be a nurse at that time, under your watch…and how do you live with yourself?"

Dolen Perkins-Valdez is a New York Times bestselling author, Chair of the Board of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation, and an Associate Professor of Literature at American University.

For more on the author visit: https://dolenperkinsvaldez.com/

Bonnie Garmus, "Lessons In Chemistry" Aug 09, 2022

Show notes

Widely praised as one of the best books of 2022, LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY is the debut novel about the reluctant host of 1960s cooking show from Bonnie Garmus. Bonnie joins Olivia for the podcast to talk about the sensation of debuting as a bestseller decades after first dreaming of becoming a novelist, and her own frustrating professional moment that sparked the unique character of Elizabeth Zott. LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY is now in production as a limited series for Apple+ starring Brie Larsen, and Bonnie is working on a new novel.

For more on the author visit: https://www.bonniegarmus.com/

A Moment With Margaret, other books that touch on reluctant stars: Audrina Patridge's TO THE HILLS & BACK, and ONE TO WATCH from Kate Stayman-London.

Julia Whelan, "Thank You For Listening" Aug 02, 2022

Show notes

Julia Whelan is a multi-hyphenate, multi-talented actor and writer. Her new novel, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, is published by AVON Books (8/2 release.)

When not writing, you'll find her narrating for authors like Kristin Hannah, Taylor Jenkins Reid and Gillian Flynn, she's earned endless accolades: Earphone Awards, Audies, Society of Voice Awards, even honored with Audiofile Magazine's Lifetime Achievement Golden Voice Award in 2020.

Julia's also an accomplished actress who debuted on ABC's Once and Again at the age of 14.

The audiobook industry is the setting for Julia's second novel, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING: "I wanted to write something that was a love letter to the genre...but that wasn't 100% a romance novel," she tells Olivia on the podcast. Funny, heartfelt and (of course) romantic, the story of Sewanee Chester and her Brock McKnight is also gives her readers unique insight into both the world of romance and the audiobook industry.

For more on the author, visit https://jmwhelan.com/

A Moment With Margaret

Margaret looks ahead to the August releases she's most excited for, including new books from favorite authors Taylor Jenkins Reid, Lisa Jewell, and Karin Slaughter, as well as THE MANY DAUGHTERS OF AFONG MOY by Jaime Ford.

Katherine Center, "The Bodyguard" Jul 26, 2022

Show notes

"Like, is that too fun?" Katherine Center says she wondered, about THE BODYGUARD plot that places Hannah, an executive protection agent, in the enviable position of posing as the girlfriend of a handsome movie star named Jack Stapleton. Originally considered more grounded careers for her client of Hannah's protection (scientists, etc.,) Katherine tells Olivia that ultimately "during the pandemic, there was no such thing as too fun, we went maximum fun," adding that she felt compelled to write the type of book she wanted to read in a moment of life that felt too dark and too serious.

On her second visit to Olivia's Book Club Podcast, Katherine shares more about the inspiration one of the most anticipated rom-coms of the year, her Texas roots that add life to the story, and the scoop on her HAPPINESS FOR BEGINNERS, that's headed to Netflix. If you're digging into her book backlist, you'll find Katherine and Olivia discussing THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE in Episode 6 of the podcast: https://oliviasbookclub.libsyn.com/ep-6

THE BODYGUARD is available now in paperback from St. Martin's Press and on audio from MacMillan Audio. For more on the author visit https://katherinecenter.com/

A Moment With Margaret:

Since Katherine Center is all about reading for joy, Margaret keeps it light with her book recommendations for the week, sharing the books that bring her joyful summer vibes (juicy & refreshing!)

First, Margaret shares why she loves Emily Henry's newest novel, BOOK LOVERS- which she loves even more than BEACH READ and THE PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION.

She also shares her love for Mary Kay Andrews' THE HOMEWRECKERS, which tells an uplifting story of a home flipper that she describes as "light and airy" and a perfect source for summer entertainment.

Margaret's personal update: we are three weeks until our book club discusses LESSONS IN CHEMISTY, and Margaret is still on her library waitlist!

David Ellis, "Look Closer" Jul 19, 2022

Show notes

LOOK CLOSER is a wildly entertaining domestic thriller with so many twists and turns - even the savviest readers will fail to figure out who or what to believe until the very last page. The story centers on Simon and Vicky, a Chicago couple approaching ten years of marriage, and what (if any) connection they have to a woman found dead in a neighboring suburb. Author David Ellis joins the podcast to talk to Olivia about writing a tricky plot, his previous work with James Patterson, and discusses his other career: as a Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. David also tells Olivia about the unique experience of as prosecutor in the impeachment of the former governor of the Illinois, Rod Blagojevich.

LOOK CLOSER is available in hardcover from Putnam and the audiobook is from Penguin Audio. For more on the author visit: https://davidellis.com/

Delia Owens, "Where the Crawdads Sing" Jul 15, 2022

Show notes

Delia Owens' marsh girl story is a fiction phenom, on the bestseller lists 166 weeks and counting, and holds the New York Times Bestseller List record for the most weeks at #1. The WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING novelist joins the podcast to talk to Olivia about seeing her story made for the big screen, and "meeting" the characters she imagined, on the set of the Hello Sunshine and 3000 Pictures film. Owens shares who inspired the title of the book and movie, and updates the status of her next novel.

"Where the Crawdads Sing" is in theaters today, Rated PG-13. The book is published by G.P. Putnam's Sons.

Daniel Seddiqui, "Piecing Together America" Jul 12, 2022

Show notes

Summertime is road trip season, and this week's podcast guest is the perfect guide to inspire our sense of adventure. Daniel Seddiqui joins Olivia to talk about his new book, "Piecing Together America: Serving the Best Features and Craftsmanship of Every Major City," and the original book that put him on the map,"50 Jobs in 50 States."

Daniel reflects on some of his most rewarding moments, encourages consumers to buy American, and shares some of his strategies for connecting with people anywhere, anytime, to find common ground and make friends of strangers.

For more on his epic adventures, visit https://www.livingthemap.com/

Jenny Mollen, "City of Likes" Jul 05, 2022

Show notes

When Meg Chernoff moves from LA to NYC and becomes friends with Instagram influencer Daphne, everything changes, including her own priorities.

Jenny Mollen, the New York Times bestselling author of I LIKE YOU JUST THE WAY I AM and LIVE FAST, DIE HOT joins the podcast to talk with Olivia about her first novel. Celebrity status and the feeling of being celebrity adjacent is a concept that Jenny knows well, as daughter to Arizona TV favorite, Dr. Art Mollen, and wife to actor Jason Biggs. In the way only Jenny has, she describes the motivation and drive that she mines from these relationships.

CITY OF LIKES is available now from Nacelle Books.

Moment With Margaret:

Margaret & Olivia discuss two other books that touch on the power or influence of social media that Margaret recently enjoyed. First SMILE AND LOOK PRETTY by Amanda Pellegrino, and Alex Finlay's THE NIGHT SHIFT.

Taylor Hahn, "The Lifestyle" Jun 28, 2022

Show notes

A very modern, NYC retelling of the Jane Austen classic, "Emma," Taylor Hahn's "The Lifestyle" is a beach read that will make you blush! The lawyer turned novelist joins Olivia in the podcast studio of her Arizona hometown to talk about the research she did- and didn't do- to learn the swinger lifestyle for her sexy story.

The married attorney turned novelist talked about the eye-opening research that went into writing the story of Georgina Wagman (think Cher from Clueless, but smart and grown up,) and her sex-positive solution to saving her marriage after catching her husband with another woman. From a seemingly perfect life to complicated chaos, Hahn's protagonist is funny and endearing and the cast of characters go through change that the writer found not just entertaining but meaningful. Taylor talks about her love for Peloton instructor Robin Arzon, and how one of her playlists played a key role in inspiring THE LIFESTYLE.

THE LIFESTYLE, published by Anchor Books, is out now. For more on the author, visit:

https://www.taylorhahn.com/

Moment With Margaret: Considering the Jane Austen inspiration for THE LIFESTYLE, Margaret recommends PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND OTHER FLAVORS BY Sonali Dev, and ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD by Tom Stoppard.

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