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Bookish Flights: Themed Book Recommendations & Author Interviews

Discover your next great read with themed book recommendations, author interviews, and books you won’t want to miss.

Hosted by Kara Infante, Bookish Flights is a weekly book podcast featuring conversations with authors and storytellers about books, writing, reading, and life. Every episode features a book flight: three book recommendations paired by theme, topic, or genre. Think of it as a wine flight of books! From historical fiction and mysteries to memoirs, romance, fantasy, and classics, there’s always something new to discover.

We’re not literary critics, and you certainly don’t need to be one to join the conversation. We’re simply people who love books and love talking about them. Whether you’re a lifelong reader, exploring a new genre, or just getting back into reading, you’re welcome here.

I started Bookish Flights to explore books outside my usual reading habits. Along the way, I’ve discovered that books do so much more than entertain us. They introduce us to new perspectives, help us understand one another, and bring people together. I believe books can be both a bridge and a balm for loneliness.

Tune in every Wednesday for a new conversation and a fresh book flight! Find more book recommendations, our free BFF Book Club, and Family Book Flights at www.bookishflights.com.

Latest Episodes:

To Your Health: A Lifestyle of Health, Happiness, and Confidence with Esther Avant (E108) Oct 16, 2024

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In today’s episode, I am chatting with Esther Avant. With 20 years of experience in the health and wellness industry, Esther has guided countless individuals toward achieving their goals. As a health industry veteran, author, speaker, and coach, she’s helped people apply the same proven strategies used in weight loss to propel their careers and level up their lives. Esther is the co-owner of MADE By ME Coaching, the host of the Live Diet-Free podcast, and the author of To Your Health: A Lifestyle of Health, Happiness, and Confidence.

In this episode, we dive deep into lifestyle transformation with Esther, who shares her insights on how to bring lasting change into our lives. From balancing self-compassion and personal responsibility to surrounding yourself with a supportive community, she offers practical advice to make a change.

Key Highlights:

Esther’s Origin Story: Hear about Esther and what led her to focus on lifestyle change and wellness.
Habit Formation & Lifestyle Changes: She lays out the steps to take to make these changes successfully.
Setting Goals and Staying Consistent: Esther talks about the power of consistency in achieving goals.
The 3 C's of Success: Esther introduces her 3 C’s for success—Consistency, Commitment, and Confidence. These pillars help build the foundation for long-term lifestyle improvements.
About Her Book, To Your Health: Esther's book is a practical guide to wellness, complete with worksheets to help you take actionable steps. She recommends getting the print version to fully engage with the material.
Book Flight: Esther shares the books that have had the biggest impact on her.

Connect with Esther:

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

Harry Potter seriesby J.K. Rowling
Kristin Hannah books
Chasing Cupcakes by Elizabeth Benton
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

Book Flight

Personality Isn’t Permanentby Benjamin Hardy
The Book of Mistakes by Skip Prichard
The Courage to be Dislikedby Ishiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga

The BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats.

Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with:

One chapter book for growing readers
One picture book for our littlest readers
A few family conversation starters + a simple activity

Three books. One common theme.

→ Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily

Support the show

Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

Manifest Your Dream Life Book Flight with Author Jennifer Blanchard (E107) Oct 09, 2024

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In today’s episode, I am chatting with Jennifer Blanchard, a self-made bestselling author known for her books Fck the How*, Quantum Leap Your Life, and Manifest Everything. These books serve as roadmaps for manifesting your dreams and desires without needing to know the “how” ahead of time. Jennifer’s practical and easy-to-understand approach to intentional manifesting has helped many take control of their lives and start manifesting their dreams. With more than a dozen books under her belt, including works of fiction, Jennifer is also the co-author of Miraclefesting: Inspiring Stories to Help You Recognize and Create Everyday Miracles in Your Life.

Episode Highlights:

Tapping into Childhood Dreams and Creativity: Jennifer shares how to reconnect with childhood dreams and creative desires while avoiding limiting beliefs from both yourself and others.
Creating Time and Space in Your Day: Jennifer offers insights on how to carve out time and space in your daily routine to explore creativity in a way that fits your life.
Writing Various Genres including Rom Coms and Her Newest Project
Book Flight: Jennifer’s book flight features a selection of non-fiction reads to help you manifest your dream life:

Connect with Jennifer Blanchard:

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

Nicholas Sparks books
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
After seriesby Anna Todd
Story Engineering by Larry Brooks
The Burnoutby Sophia Kinsella

Book Flight

E Cubedby Pam Grout
The Desire Mapby Danielle LaPorte
Playing the Matrix by Mike Dooley

The BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats.

Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with:

One chapter book for growing readers
One picture book for our littlest readers
A few family conversation starters + a simple activity

Three books. One common theme.

→ Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily

Support the show

Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

BFF Book Club - Darkness Calls the Tiger with Janyre Tromp (E106) Oct 04, 2024

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Welcome to today’s episode of Bookish Flights! This is a special one—our first BFF Book Club Meeting! The BFF Book Club is a monthly literary adventure where you read the book, join the club, and meet the author. I am thrilled to have Janyre Tromp on the show today to discuss her evocative novel, Darkness Calls the Tiger.

Janyre is the award-winning and best-selling writer and veteran editor with a deep love for history. Her mid-20th century historical novels always simmer with a healthy pinch of deliciously creepy suspense and include Darkness Calls the Tiger, Shadows in the Mind’s Eye and O Little Town. Happy listening!

Episode Highlights:

All about Darkness Calls the Tiger: Janyre shares insights into the cover design, her research process, and the techniques she used to immerse herself in the setting. We dive deep into the novel’s themes of courage, bravery, and revenge.
About Janyre: Hear how she transitioned into writing, what her job as an editor involves and how she tackled imposter syndrome to become the accomplished writer she is today.
Book Flight: Janyre shares some of her favorite 5-star reads from the past 6 months, perfect for your next literary adventure!

Grab a cup of coffee, settle in and our 1st BFF Book Club with Janyre Tromp.

Connect with Janyre Tromp:

Show Notes

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Beyond Ivy Walls by Rachel Fordham
The Stationary Shop by Marjan Kamali (discussed on Ep. 17)

Book Flight

Marvelous by Molly Greeley
Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate
I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger

Dessert Pairing

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

Also, thank you to Janis Robinson Daly for kicking off the show with an update about her latest novel, The Path Beneath Her Feet. Tune into Episode 32 to hear more about her unique story behind this series.

The BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats.

Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with:

One chapter book for growing readers
One picture book for our littlest readers
A few family conversation starters + a simple activity

Three books. One common theme.

→ Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily

Support the show

Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

Travel, Adventure and Writing and an Ayn Rand Book Flight with Author Niyati Goel (E105) Oct 02, 2024

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Niyati Goel currently resides in San Francisco with her husband. She has explored more than 21 countries collecting unforgettable experiences along the way. While Niyati’s heart belongs to traveling, it also finds comfort within the pages of books; her earliest literary love being Ayn Rand. Now, she is embarking on a new journey as a first-time author, aiming to merge her love for both travel and literature in a way that will captivate and inspire readers worldwide.

Episode Highlights:

A Love for Travel and Storytelling: Niyati shares how her passion for travel evolved into writing middle-grade novels (ages 6-10), turning her real-life adventures into imaginative stories. She discusses the serendipitous journey that led her to become an author.
Her adventure series of books about Asva: This series is filled with themes of friendship, compassion, resilience, and empathy.
How she chooses her books to read: Getting herself back into a reading habit and using the New York Times bestseller list.
Book Flight: Her book flight includes novels by Ayn Rand that have deeply influenced her, particularly by fostering a sense of bravery and independence.

Connect with Niyati:

Books and authors mentioned:

The Boxcar Children by Gertrude C. Warner
Enid Blyton books
Jeffrey Archer books
Putin by Philip Short
The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

Ayn Rand Book Flight

The BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats.

Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with:

One chapter book for growing readers
One picture book for our littlest readers
A few family conversation starters + a simple activity

Three books. One common theme.

→ Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily

Support the show

Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

Coming of Old Age Book Flight with Author Kit Tosello (E104) Sep 25, 2024

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In today’s episode, I am chatting with Kit Tosello. Kit is an award-winning writer of small-town contemporary fiction with a big heart, as well as insprational essays and devotionals. With her eye trained on the beauty hiding in plain sight all around us, she arranges words with tenderness, humor and ultimately, hope. When not writing, Kit can be found in the loose tea shop she operates with her husband, exploring the great Pacific Northwest, or enjoying the “great indoors” — bookstores & libraries. Most likely with a matcha latte in hand.

Episode Highlights:

The Color of Home: Kit shares her journey to publication and the emotions of the journey.
About Kit
Book Flight: Featuring older protagonists in a Coming of Old Age book flight.

Connect with Kit:

Books and authors mentioned:

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold (Bookish Flights, Ep. 61)
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
The Kitchen Devotionalby Baker Publishing Group
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Jane Austen novels
Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri
Where Trees Touch the Sky by Karen Barnett

Book Flight

Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderersby Jessie Sutanto
Kinfolkby Sean Dietrich

The BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats.

Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with:

One chapter book for growing readers
One picture book for our littlest readers
A few family conversation starters + a simple activity

Three books. One common theme.

→ Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily

Support the show

Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

Morally Gray Women in Fantasy with Author K.W. Foster (E103) Sep 18, 2024

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In today’s episode, I am chatting with K.W. Foster. She is the author of deliciously haunting and spicy fantasy romances featuring morally gray women and the men (and women) who love them. Originally from the Midwest, she now resides in the Mid-Atlantic with her husband and two big fluffy dogs. Her debut novel, A Curse of Breath and Blood, came out yesterday —congratulations K.W!

Episode Highlights:

Writing Process: From the intricacies of cover design to what she has learned about herself through writing.
Creativity: Discover how K.W. fosters her creativity through both writing and her time spent outdoors.
Reading: We reminisce about the joys of reading aloud as a child, discuss DNFing (Did Not Finish) books and explore true leisure time through reading.
Book Flight: Her curated book flight featuring titles with morally gray female characters in fantasy settings, reflecting her own storytelling style.

Tune in for a deep dive into the world of morally gray characters.

Connect with K.W. Foster:

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

Nancy Drew books by Carolyn Keene
Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow

Book Flight

The Cruel Princeby Holly Black
Red Sisterby Mark Lawrence
The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson

The BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats.

Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with:

One chapter book for growing readers
One picture book for our littlest readers
A few family conversation starters + a simple activity

Three books. One common theme.

→ Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily

Support the show

Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

Middle Grade Novels of Courage and Creativity with Author Jaime Formato (E102) Sep 11, 2024

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Jaime Formato is a writer, elementary school teacher, and tiefling rogue from northern Florida. Her days are spent hanging out with kids and reading, and the nights are for D&D, hockey, and writing. She lives in a little house by the woods with her amazing husband, their beautiful children, two cats that don’t love her enough, two dogs that love her too much, and a whole lotta nature. Her novel Roll for Initiative, a geeky coming-of-age story came out in Fall 2022.

Episode Highlights:

Screening books for your children
Different types of books
Reading aloud
Attention span and reading

Jaime’s book flight features middle-grade novels that highlight courage and creativity.

Connect with Jaime:

Books mentioned:

Warrior Cats series by Erin Hunter
Percy Jackson seriesby Rick Riordan
The Baby-sitters Club series by Ann M. Martin
A Wolf Called Wanderby Rosanne Parry
Grady Hendrix books
Big Magicby Elizabeth Gilbert
Good Inside by Becky Kennedy
Anne of Green Gablesby L.M. Montgomery
Little Women by Louise May Alcott
The Faery Handbag by Kelly Link
Flip Turns by Catherine Arguelles

Book Flight

Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt
Lost Kites and Other Treasuresby Cathy Carr
Air by Monica Roe

The BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats.

Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with:

One chapter book for growing readers
One picture book for our littlest readers
A few family conversation starters + a simple activity

Three books. One common theme.

→ Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily

Support the show

Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

Soap Operas, Family Sagas & the Immigrant Experience with Alina Adams (E101) Sep 05, 2024

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In today’s episode, I am chatting with Alina Adams. Alina is a New Your Time best-selling author, soap opera insider and pioneer in online storytelling. She was born in the Soviet Union and immigrated with her parents to the U.S. at age 7, where she learned English by watching American soap operas at their home in San Francisco. Alina’s childhood and immigration experience was the inspiration for her two latest historical fiction novels, “The Nesting Dolls” (2020) and “My Mother’s Secret: A Novel of the Jewish Autonomous Region” (2022).

Episode Highlights:

A Deep Dive into Soap Operas and Figure Skating: Tune in to hear how these passions have shaped Alina's life and career.
The Immigrant Experience: Alina shares her unique perspective on growing up in America after immigrating from the Soviet Union at age 7.
Birobidzhan: Discover the first Jewish Autonomous Region and its significance in Alina's work.
Author of Many Genres: Explore Alina's diverse writing portfolio, including Regency romance, historical fiction, soap operas, and non-fiction.
Book Flight: Alina’s book flight features family sagas that reflect the immigrant experience, offering rich stories of heritage and resilience.

Don't miss this insightful conversation with Alina Adams, where history, culture, and storytelling intertwine!

Connect with Alina Adams:

Instagram
Facebook
Purchase The Nesting Dolls or My Mother’s Secret.

See the full list of books talked about on the show HERE.

The BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats.

Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with:

One chapter book for growing readers
One picture book for our littlest readers
A few family conversation starters + a simple activity

Three books. One common theme.

→ Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily

Support the show

Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

A Very Bookish Flights Celebration: Reflecting on the Past 100 Episodes (E100) Sep 01, 2024

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In today’s episode, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by my dear friend, Jacqui Lents from the Jacqui Just Chatters podcast. We covered a lot of ground, discussing everything from my TBR list and favorite episodes to inspiring guests and whether there might be some book writing in my future. You'll also get to hear the story behind Bookish Flights and how it all began. This conversation takes a deep dive into motherhood, military life, and finding your center amidst the chaos.

A huge thank you to everyone who submitted questions for this episode! You're all doing incredible things, and I’m excited to highlight a few of you:

Jacqui Lents (@jacquilentsauthor) – She did an outstanding job as host today! Don’t miss her featured in our only 2-part episode (Ep. 19 & 20)!
Bound Sisters Podcast (featured on Ep. 86) - Featured on Ep. 86, these sisters run their own fabulous podcast.
Ashley Terpstra (@ashleylovesliteracylittles) – A reading specialist and dear friend who was featured in Ep. 8, who is passionate about literacy for littles.
Shakyra Banos (@shakyracanchaney) – Jacksonville’s best photographer!
Jessica Fowler (@therapybookspodcast) – Hostess of the What Your Therapist is Reading podcast.
Alexis (@alexisthestylist888) – San Diego’s best hair stylist.
Eli Gardner (@abrakadabraink) – Featured on Ep. 98, Eli is not only a talented author but also runs a horse rescue.

Join the BFF Book Club

This episode was sponsored by Bethany House. Learn more about the Treasures of the Earth series by Kimberley Woodhouse HERE.

Support the show

Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

Gaming, Faith and Creativity: A Conversation with Author Hannah Mae (E99) Aug 28, 2024

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In today’s episode, I am chatting with Hannah Mae. Since day one, Hannah Mae and her two sisters were instilled with a love of God and His Scriptures by their loving parents. Encouraged by her friends and family, Hannah transformed her game design, Celestial, into her very first book. Now, she can’t imagine life without writing.

Episode Highlights:

The Ocarina Instrument: Discover the unique instrument Hannah plays. To learn more, check out David Erick Ramos.
Her Creative Journey: Explore how Hannah's creative life led her from designing a video game, Celestial, to writing her first novel.
Flying Faith: Learn about her blog and podcast that reflect her faith and creative life.
Book Flight: Hannah shares the books that influenced the writing of Celestial.

Connect with Hannah Mae:

Show Notes

Some links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

Linore Rose Burkard books
Secrets in the Mists by Morgan L. Busse
Lord of the Ringsby J.R.R. Tolkien
Fight Like a Girl by Lisa Bevere
Royal & Ancient by Amanda Lauer
The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
Of Fire and Ash by Gillian Bronte Adams

Book Flight

Searching the Scriptures by Charles Swindoll
This Present Darknessby Frank Peretti
Shadowcastby Crystal Grant

The BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats.

Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with:

One chapter book for growing readers
One picture book for our littlest readers
A few family conversation starters + a simple activity

Three books. One common theme.

→ Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily

Support the show

Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

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