Books Are My People

Latest Episodes:

A Magpie Tells The Story with Catherine Chidgey Aug 19, 2024

Show notes

Episode 129 of Books Are My People is sponsored by Let Gravity Seize the Dead by Darrin Doyle.

This week, I speak with Catherine Chidgey, the award-winning author of The Axeman's Carnival and Pet. We talk about magpies and finding the perfect point of view for your novel.
Books Recommended:

The Axeman’s Carnival by Catherine Chidgey

Jackie by Dawn Tripp

HORSE by Geraldine Brooks

The Grimalings by Rachel King

HUM by Helen Phillips

The Natural Way of Things By Charlotte Wood

Guest Author, Ellen Hopkins (Synch) recommends The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
Find Catherine on:
Facebook and Twitter @cathchidgey
Instagram @Catherinechidgey
Find Tama the magpie on Twitter @tamamagpie
Giveaway: I am giving away one copy of Xochitl Gonzalez’s Anita de Monte Laughs Last. To Enter: Simply leave a comment on my Giveaway Instagram Post and subscribe to my Books Are My People newsletter on Substack. This giveaway will close on Thursday, September 5th and I will contact the winner on September 6th. Open to U.S. mailing addresses only.

Molly The Magpie Link

Neil Gaiman Accusers Speak Up

Watch Carly’s Library Story in Idaho in TikTok @carlyjdot

The Booker Prize 2024 Longlist

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I hope you all have a wonderfully bookish week!

Catherine Newman - The Sandwich Generation and Book Recommendations Jun 17, 2024

Show notes

On episode 128 I speak with author Catherine Newman about summer hair, humor as survival strategy and Catherine’s previous job working in a sandwich shop.
This episode of Books Are My People is sponsored by Let Gravity Seize the Dead by Darrin Doyle.

Sandwich by Catherine Newman

We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman
Books Recommended:

Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby

Weekends with O’Keeffe by C.S. Merrill

Went to London, Took The Dog: A Memoir Nina Stibbe

Mother Doll by Katya Apekina

Amos and Borris by William Steig

Other Books:

Queenie Candice Cardy-Williams

Etsy Shop Summer Sale

Substack Book Club:

June: Independent Reading

July: Book to Film Adaptation- The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

September / October Read With Me Series: The Alternatives Caoilinn Hughes

Support the show

Get your Books Are My People merch here!
I hope you all have a wonderfully bookish week!

Me, Myself and I: Celebrating Five Years of Podcasting with a Special Guest Jun 03, 2024

Show notes

These week, on episode 127 I take it back to the OG days of the podcast five years ago when I struggled to get a guest on the show. Now, I am so lucky to get to pick amazing guests!
This episode of Books Are My People is sponsored by The Year We Danced: A Memoir by Stephen E. Smith

Books Recommended:

I am Not Sydney Poitier by Percival Everett

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

Johanna Porter is Not Sorry by Sara Read

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan

The Dolphin House by Audrey Schulman

Other Books Mentioned:

Kairos by Jenny Erpenveck

Additional Links:

Silent Book Club

1000 Words of Summer

Support the show

Get your Books Are My People merch here!
I hope you all have a wonderfully bookish week!

Let's Talk Picture Books May 20, 2024

Show notes

This week, on episode 126, I speak with picture book author Nell Cross Beckerman. We discuss how authors find illustrators, some of our favorite picture books and Nell’s recently published book, From Park to Playa: The Trails That Connect Us.

From Park to Playa: The Trails That Connect Us by Nell Cross Beckerman, illustrated by Sophie Diao

This episode of Books Are My People is sponsored by The Year We Danced: A Memoir by Stephen E. Smith

Books Recommended:

The House of East 88th Street by Bernard Waber

Bunny Days by Tao Nyeu

Big Sister and Little Sister by Charlotte Zolotow

In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak

Dear Tree Frog by Joyce Sidman

Follow Nell on Social Media:

Instagram @nellcrossbeckerman

Bluesky @nellcrossbeckerman

X @nellbeckerman

Click here to learn more about my Books Are My People Substack and Read With Me program.

Support the show

Get your Books Are My People merch here!
I hope you all have a wonderfully bookish week!

How to Start an Independent Press May 06, 2024

Show notes

This week on episode #125, author and Drag Queen Story Hour founder Michelle Tea visits and talks to us about her new Press, Dopamine, its forthcoming anthology, Sluts and how she generates so much writing.

This episode of Books Are My People is sponsored by The Year We Danced, A Memoir by Stephen E. Smith

Books Discussed:

Sluts Anthology edited by Michelle Tea

My Child The Algorithm by Hannah Silva

Skunks by Fiona Warnick

Candy Darling : Dreamer Superstar by Candy Darling

Missing White Woman by Kellye Garrett

Luster by Raven Leilani

Other Things Discussed:

MISA: Madeline Island Arts School

Apartment Guide’s on 7 Guidelines for building a home library featuring some bookshelf advice by yours truly.

Visit Michelle Tea’s Website here.

Find Michelle Tea on Instagram @michelleteaz

Find Michelle on Facebook @MichelleTea

Support the show

Get your Books Are My People merch here!
I hope you all have a wonderfully bookish week!

Turning Discarded Books Into Art Apr 22, 2024

Show notes

On episode #124, collage artist and printmaker Sarah Z. Short talks about her creative process, how language figures into her art, the books she used to love to teach and, she recommends some of her favorite reads on episode 124 of Books Are My People.
Books Discussed:
The Hunter by Tana French
Real Americans by Rachel Khong
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarrow
One Hundred Days by Alice Pung
The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel
Sarah Z. Short Website
Sarah Z. Short on Instagram
Other Things Discussed:
The Women by Kritsin Hannah giveaway closes 5/9/24 US mailing addresses only.

Click here to be taken to my Substack
Read with me series in May is The Book Of Ayn by Lexi Frieman

FSG Poetry hotline 385 3425374 Monday - Friday in April

Instructables Competition

George Orwell’s 1984 audiobook link

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Get your Books Are My People merch here!
I hope you all have a wonderfully bookish week!

Murder in Sicily with Jo Piazza author of The Sicilian Inheritance Apr 08, 2024

Show notes

#123 with Jo Piazza The Sicilian Inheritance

This week, I talk food and books with The Sicilian Inheritance author and podcaster extraordinaire, Jo Piazza.

Book Recommended

The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza

The Secret Book of Flora Lee by Patti Callahan Henry

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Finlay Donovan is Killing it by Elle Cosimano
Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano
Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

Breaking and Entering by Don Gilmore

Other things mentioned:

The Sicilian Inheritance Podcast (Watch the trailer)

Under the Influence Podcast

Where to find Jo Piazza:

Substack: Over the Influence @Jopiazza

Instagram: @joypiazzaauthor

Book Giveaway: Monsters We Have Made closes Wednesday, April 17th

To Enter: Visit and post a comment on my Instagram Page and make sure you subscribe to my Books Are My People newsletter on Substack. Open to US mailing addresses only. Gain extra entries by tagging friends and sharing in your stories.

Link to LA Times Festival of Books.

Sponsorship: reach out to booksaremypeople@gmail.com

Link to my Books Are My People Substack

Support the show

Get your Books Are My People merch here!
I hope you all have a wonderfully bookish week!

Changing Legislation through Books with Garrard Conley Mar 25, 2024

Show notes

On episode #122, author Garrard Conley (Boy Erased) speaks with me about his latest novel, All The World Beside. We talk about the research involved in writing historical fiction, how he helped change legislature, and some scandalous letters he discovered while conducting research. ,
Books Recommended:

All the World Beside by Garrard Conley

Exhibit by R.O. Kwon

James by Percival Everett

The Son of Man by Jean-Baptiste del Amo

The Morningside by Tea Obrecht

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Other Books Mentioned:

Anamalia by Jean-Baptiste del Amo

Ramona Ausebel, author of The Last Animal, recommends Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino
Garrard Conley's Links:
Instagram @gayrodcon
Twitter @gayrodcon
podcast : History Unerased

Giveaway for Amy Lin’s Here After closes on 3/27/24

Open to U.S. mailing addreses only.

My Read With Me series on Substack begins in May. We Will be reading The Book of Ayn by Lexi Freiman

March 27th at 9 am PT Free Book Cover Art Along and Book Discussion. You must be registered here to attend.

April 2: Substack Paying Subscriber Discussion on The Expatriates by Janice Y.K. Lee and the TV series, The Expats time: TBD

Hugo awards Article
Tournament of Books

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Get your Books Are My People merch here!
I hope you all have a wonderfully bookish week!

How to Write A Graphic Memoir Mar 11, 2024

Show notes

In episode #121, graphic memoirist, Kelcey Ervick joins the show to talk about her graphic memoir and what it’s like to write about and draw her lived experience.

Books Recommended:

I Was Their American Dream by Malaka Gharib

The Extinction of Irena Rey by Jennifer Croft

Good Talk by Mira Jacob

The Painter’s Daughter by Emily Howes

Give Me Space But Don't Go Far by Haley Weaver

Kelcey's books:
The Keeper: Soccer, Me, and the Law that Changed Women's Lives
Field Guide to Graphic Literature

Find Kelcey online:

Website

Substack

Instagram

Join the Books Are My People Bookclub on Substack