Beyond the Next Chapter with Whitney Clark

Latest Episodes:

Riley Sager, "The House Across The Lake" Jun 21, 2022

Show notes

Relaxing lakeside is not an option while reading Riley Sager's latest, THE HOUSE ACROSS THE LAKE. His latest twisty, creepy, suspenseful novel takes readers away to a family vacation home in Vermont where actress Casey Fletcher can hide out after the loss of her husband and a very public meltdown. The arrival of a high-profile couple who bought the house across the lake, Katherine and Tom Royce, changes things for Casey in ways she'd never expect.

Riley returns to the podcast to talk about the lake view that inspired the novel, heading out on tour for the first time since the pandemic, and why as the writer of scary stories he prefers his entertainment on the funny side. Olivia and Riley find they have something deep in common: a love for the Peacock series Girls5eva.

THE HOUSE ACROSS THE LAKE is released June 21, 2022 by Dutton Books, and the author will be at Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale at 7pm that night. For more on the event: https://calendar.time.ly/9plshfqx/posterboard

For more on the author: https://www.rileysagerbooks.com/

A Moment With Margaret:

Margaret shares two books that have made a big impression recently, one a nonfiction leadership book, the other a psychological thriller. PERMISSION TO SCREW UP: HOW I LEARNED TO LEAD BY DOING (ALMOST) EVERYTHING WRONG by Kristen Hadeed is worth a read and discussion, according to Margaret. She also recommends JUST LIKE MOTHER from Anne Heltzel, that she describes as creepy and impossible to step away from!

Carola Lovering "Can't Look Away" Jun 14, 2022

Show notes

CAN'T LOOK AWAY is a romantic suspense novel from Carola Lovering, that follows the 2013 romance between Molly Diamond and Jake Danner, and the love that inspires the hit, "Molly's Song."

Carola joins the podcast to chat with Olivia about the story, plot surprises, and the thrill of visiting the set of TELL ME LIES, her 2018 novel that's headed to Hulu as an original series.

CAN'T LOOK AWAY is published by St. Martin's Press and is available on audio from Macmillan Audio June 14, 2022 .

A Moment With Margaret:

Margaret recommends audiobooks that are good enough to share this summer on your road trips. First, THE HOUSE ON THE CERULEAN SEA, by TJ Klune, and Eva Jrczyk's THE DEPARTMENT OF RARE BOOKS AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS.

Jennifer Weiner, "The Summer Place" Jun 07, 2022

Show notes

Why would a bestselling novelist put a stick of butter in her bra—and who notices when she does? These questions and more are answered when the Queen of the Beach read Jennifer Weiner returns to the podcast.

Her latest novel, THE SUMMER PLACE takes readers back to Cape Cod and delivers what we always expect in the pages of her novels: complex, intriguing characters who you care about and root for, and a plot that will deliver surprises.

THE SUMMER PLACE is a family drama that plays out through the pandemic- where relationships are shared by the pressure cooker environment of living and working together all the time all the days. Jennifer talks to Olivia about the personal moments which inspired some of the story, reflecting on the following year since the loss of her mother, and the female characters who bear her incredible characteristics.

THE SUMMER PLACE is available in hardcover from Atria Books. The Simon & Schuster audiobook is narrated by Sutton Foster. For more on the author visit http://www.jenniferweiner.com/

Nina LaCour, "Yerba Buena" May 31, 2022

Show notes

With many YA novels to her credit already, Nina LaCour releases YERBA BUENA, her first adult novel. YERBA BUENA is a moving story of overcoming loss, learning to love, and what it means to find a place to call home. Nina talks with Olivia in this episode about crafting the love story of Sara and Emilie, the necessary research (mixing and drinking cocktails) required for writing mixologist Sara, and her book's Los Angeles setting. Nina LaCour is also the author of a children's book, MAMA AND MOMMY AND ME IN THE MIDDLE, a passion project inspired by her own daughter. YERBA BUENA is published by Flatiron Books.

A Moment With Margaret: Books on Grief

Margaret recommends NOTES ON YOUR SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE by Alison Espach and Kristen Bailey's HOW MUCH WINE WILL FIX A BROKEN HEART?

A Look Back (in Paperback) May 24, 2022

Show notes

Olivia's Book Club Podcast has survived its first year! The podcast launched on May 17, 2021 with three episodes featuring novelists Kristin Hannah, Donna Freitas, and Jennifer Weiner, and book recommendations from Margaret Stewart.

This week, the podcast looks back at a few past conversations with writers whose books are now beach-bag ready in paperback. Don't pack for your Memorial Day weekend without listening to these book recommendations!

Debut novelists Zakiya Dalila Harris (THE OTHER BLACK GIRL,) Ashley Audrain (THE PUSH,) and T.J. Newman (FALLING) share their journeys to publishing a buzz-worthy book.

Boss of the bestseller list Colleen Hoover (REMINDERS OF HIM, IT ENDS WITH US) talks to Olivia about her previous career in social work and her non-profit The Bookworm Box.

Historical fiction favorites Kristin Harmel (THE FOREST OF VANISHING STARS,) JoJo Moyes (THE GIVER OF STARS) and Kristin Hannah (THE FOUR WINDS) talk about the research that goes into these novels, and the ways plot and characters can transform from draft to draft.

If these authors have piqued your interest, there is much more to each conversation. Just search for the author by name in the Olivia's Book Club podcast library for more book talk.

Christina Lauren, "Something Wilder" May 12, 2022

Show notes

Lovingly known as the "reigning romance queens" (PopSugar), the writing duo known as Christina Lauren are as lovable as a pair of friends as they are successful as a writing team. Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings join the podcast to talk with Olivia about their new book, SOMETHING WILDER, a wildly exciting romantic adventure set in Utah involving a treasure hunt and a second chance romance.

Christina and Lauren talk about the way they collaborate (and why they were already prepped for pandemic life), their love for BTS, putting Lauren's PhD in neuroscience to use in THE SOULMATE EQUATION, and not being remotely outdoorsy.

A Moment With Margaret: Liked This? Read That!

For fans of Lisa Jewell's THEN SHE WAS GONE, Margaret recommends LOCAL WOMAN MISSING by Mary Kubica. If you enjoyed reading the heartwarming and humorous THE GUNCLE by Steven Rowley, Margaret says you'd enjoy WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD by Lisa Roe. Margaret also shares her love for former Pump Rules star Stassi Schroeder's follow up to NEXT LEVEL BASIC, this memoir titled OFF WITH MY HEAD.

Jeneva Rose, "One of Us is Dead" May 10, 2022

Show notes

"Sometimes friendship can be deadly."

In ONE OF US IS DEAD, Jeneva Rose delivers a deliciously dramatic thriller written from the perspectives of four women in the posh Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta, where Southern civility and hospitality is for show only. Jeneva Rose joins the podcast to talk about her approach to writing the novel, and how she uses her previous career in social media marketing to promote THE PERFECT MARRIAGE on #booktok, and the hilariously awkward (and successful) outcome. She talks to Olivia about her unique approach to writing the book blurb before the book, and the creative ways she made the most of an IRL book tour.

A Moment With Margaret: "BookTok Made Me Do It!"

Like Jeneva Rose's viral videos from her husband, Margaret found Kiersten Modglin on TikTok, and discusses why she loves her books.

Likewise, THE FRIEND ZONE by Abby Jimenez, and THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS by Ali Hazelwood remain a #Booktok sensations, and Margaret shares her thoughts on both (one of them just might not live up to the hype!)

Don Winslow, "City on Fire" May 03, 2022

Show notes

Don Winslow turns to the Greek tragedies for inspiration in what the author says is not only his last trilogy, but will be his last published books. CITY ON FIRE is the first of the three novels, and the first book Don has set in his hometown of Providence. The internationally bestselling author talks with Olivia on the cusp of his retirement from writing about crafting characters like Danny Ryan, who feels intimately familiar to him, or reworking a literal goddess into a contemporary and complex character.

Don talks with Olivia about connecting with emerging writers like T.J. Newman, and his excitement to tour the country and interact with readers, and why he felt called to dive into politics.

A Moment With Margaret: Paperback Preview

Olivia and Margaret recommend books coming out in paperback that we've featured on the podcast (search for these authors in our podcast library.) From thriller favorite Lisa Jewell, THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED is in paperback now. Debut sensation Zakiya Dalila Harris' THE OTHER BLACK GIRL got everyone (including us) talking, and as of June 7, you can tote the book to the beach. From writing team Christine Pride and Jo Piazza, the moving story of how a friendship tested in the wake of a police shooting of an unarmed Black teen, WE ARE NOT LIKE THEM, is available in paperback August 2nd.

Abby Jimenez, "Part of Your World" Apr 26, 2022

Show notes

Abby Jimenez just may be the most interesting woman in the world! She's competed on the Food Network, is the owner of Nadia Cakes, a bakery that ships all across the country, and is a bestselling author (not to mention mom to pets who are very popular on social media.)

She joins the podcast to talk about her new novel "Part of Your World," which she describes as an "age gap, social gap romance" about Alexis Montgomery and Daniel Grant, a doctor and carpenter who meet-cute when she's driving through town and her car gets stuck in the mud.

Abby shares specific advice with Olivia for aspiring novelists, talks about her bakery business, and shares which network offer to adapt this book for screen that she's already turned down.

A Moment With Margaret: Beach reads that are top of the TBR for Margaret include Emily Giffin's "Meant To Be," (May 31) and "A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons" (June 7) by Kate Khavari. Olivia and Margaret discuss enjoying Jennifer Weiner's new book, "The Summer Place" (May 10).

Gilly Macmillan, "The Long Weekend" Apr 19, 2022

Show notes

Bestselling author of THE NANNY, Gilly Macmillan, joins the podcast to discuss her newest thriller, THE LONG WEEKEND.

Set in the isolated Dark Fell Barn, where three women are on edge as they receive a threatening note that one of their husbands will be murdered. Gilly talks with Olivia about the characters, the importance of the isolation of the environment for building the tension, and an old movie called "A Letter to Three Wives" that sparked her idea. "It's a kind of messy process but it's the only one I know, really," she says of working her way from first draft to a significantly different final draft.

THE LONG WEEKEND was published by William Morrow on March 29,2022.

A Moment With Margaret: recommendations based on other popular books. If you liked Grady Hendrix's THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP, pick up FINAL GIRLS from Riley Sager. If you enjoyed Rebecca Serle's ONE ITALIAN SUMMER, then add MEET ME IN PARADISE, by Libby Hubscher, to your TBR. For fans of THE WIFE UPSTAIRS, read Carter Wilson's THE NEW NEIGHBOR.

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