Totally Booked with Zibby

Latest Episodes:

Book of the Month Club pick Sally Hepworth’s Mad Mabel Apr 23, 2026

Show notes

Yes, Sally Hepworth and I spoke about her new novel, Mad Mabel, which features an older, quirky protagonist whose neighbor dies in the opening, and the young friend who comes along. But we also spoke about Sally’s recent divorce and how she has been getting through that. Sally is such a good storyteller that anything out of her mouth is captivating. No wonder her latest book is a Book of the Month Club pick.

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A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now!

Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook.

Listen on Spotify here.

Listen on Apple here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bestselling Author Annabelle Gurwitch on Lung Cancer, Humor, and Adventure Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

I’ve been a fan of actress and bestselling author Annabelle Gurwitch since I first read You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up. I’ve interviewed her on my podcast about her last book You’re Leaving When? and then got lucky enough to publish her new book, The End of My Life is Killing Me through Zibby Publishing — which has now been on the USA Today bestseller list for two weeks! You might have seen Annabelle lately because she has been all over the media with shout-outs from and interviews with Bill Maher, Drew Barrymore, Terry Gross at NPR, and Jenna Fischer. The book is hilarious and heartbreaking, fast-paced, thought-provoking, and a must-read. Hear from Annabelle and me at Totally Booked: Live in New York.

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A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now!

Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook.

Listen on Spotify here.

Listen on Apple here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Through Grief — with Humor and Heart Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

Hear from two amazing women authors who have survived loss and learned to live with it by finding humor in the darkest times. Screenwriter Angela Nissel writes about the loss of her mother — who had been caught up in a deceptive relationship — in Good Grief, Pass the Bread, Mom is Dead. Content creator Leslie Harter-Berg shares how she survived the sudden loss of her 30-year-old husband while on vacation post-Disneyland with their family and small children in You’re So Strong. The two of them are funny, sensitive souls who should really be friends. Taken together, these two conversations highlight how writing is healing, how humor is necessary, and how we can get through the hardest things life throws our way.

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A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now!

Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook.

Listen on Spotify here.

Listen on Apple here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Celebrity Spotlight: Gina Gershon Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

Actress Gina Gershon takes us through the unexpected, entertaining steps to becoming a star and the attitude it takes to do so in her memoir Alphapussy: How I Survived the Valley and Learned to Love My Boobs.

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A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now!

Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook.

Listen on Spotify here.

Listen on Apple here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Little Free Library Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

I touched base with Little Free Library CEO Daniel Gumnit about how to promote literacy, why stories are best when shared, and exactly how to bring a Little Free Library to your “neck of the woods.” Learn more here.

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A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now!

Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook.

Listen on Spotify here.

Listen on Apple here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

That’s What Friends Are For with Wade Rouse Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

Bestselling memoirist Wade Rouse shares about his first novel, That’s What Friends Are For, inspired by “The Golden Girls.” In crafting humorous story lines about four gay friends in later life, Wade explores complex issues ranging from prejudice and discrimination to loyalty and love. We spoke about the book live at Zibby’s Bookshop.

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A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now!

Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook.

Listen on Spotify here.

Listen on Apple here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bookstore Owner + NYT Bestselling Author Jenny Lawson on How to Be Okay When Nothing is Okay Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

Founder of Nowhere Bookshop is anywhere but nowhere. She’s a guru. Jenny Lawson has written book after book about her mental health, obstacles, tips and tricks, using her sense of humor and relatable voice. How to Be Okay When Nothing is Okay is my favorite of all her books to date. I dog-earred so many pages with actual, actionable advice. Plus I love following her on social (thebloggess). Let me know if this book makes you feel better. I know I did.

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A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now!

Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook.

Listen on Spotify here.

Listen on Apple here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Perfect Graduation Gift — with Great Life Advice Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

Christina Geist, bestselling children’s book author and brand guru, wrote Before You Fly Away: Life Lessons from Home, a beautifully illustrated gift book. It’s chockfull of short thoughts and sayings that Christina put together to help her kids out in the world. But really, it’s going to help all our kids. And, perhaps, us, too. Stay tuned on my Instagram for a giveaway this week!

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A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now!

Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook.

Listen on Spotify here.

Listen on Apple here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zibby Publishing’s Start at the End by International Bestseller Emma Grey Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

Australian author Emma Grey’s The Last Love Note kicked off Emma’s journey with our publishing house. I read the PDF on a flight when her agent pitched it for my podcast — and fell in love. We acquired the U.S. rights and published it to much acclaim including as picks of Book of the Month Club and Target Book Club. Then came Pictures of You, an intense story about coercive control, which was also a breakout hit. Emma’s third U.S. novel Start at the End comes out today! It’s about love, loyalty, second chances, artistic ambition, family and what ifs. Join Emma on tour and learn more here!

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A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now!

Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook.

Listen on Spotify here.

Listen on Apple here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thank You and Announcement from Zibby Apr 03, 2026

Show notes

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A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now!

Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook.

Listen on Spotify here.