Totally Booked with Zibby

Sara Shepard is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of Pretty Little Liars, The Lying Game, The Perfectionists, The Elizas and The Heiresses. Her latest book, Reputation centers on a very prestigious university, an Internet security hack and what happens when everyone's secrets are on display for all to read. Sara and I chatted about why she always includes a murder in her books, the party she crashed that led to a writing career, and the truly crazy experience when Pretty Little Liars became a television series on Freeform! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Hurwitz is the former head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama and senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama. She was also the chief speechwriter for Hillary Clinton on her 2008 presidential campaign. Sarah’s book, Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life--in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There) is her account of exploring Judaism as an adult and sharing what it offers for our modern lives. Sarah and I chatted about the role of meditation and mindfulness in Jewish culture and Sarah’s unique writing and editing tricks. I loved getting the inside scoop of her life as a speechwriter! Sarah is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School and has been featured on The Today Show, NPR, and in The Washington Post,The Boston Globe, and People.com. She was named one of the Forward's fifty Jews who impacted American life in 2016 and 2019.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New York Times best-selling author Andrea Buchanan is the author of ten books including The Daring Book for Girls and Mother Shock. In her latest memoir, The Beginning of Everything: The Year I Lost My Mind and Found Myself, Andi recounts her year of experiencing a profound health crisis and the struggle to find her way back to her former self. Andi and I discussed the loss of control that comes with illness, Andi’s unique approach to writing after this traumatic experience, and the idea that often you must just "be where you’re at" instead of starting from the beginning. I was particularly moved by Andi’s love of piano and the daily practice she used as a way to heal.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lee Matalone is the author of debut novel Home Making, a story of three characters united in a quest to find a sense of identity, home, and belonging. I really enjoyed chatting with Lee about her personal connection to the source material, the path from shorter pieces to a novel, and Lee’s idea that our homes say so much about who we are and what we value. Lee’s writing has been featured in LitHub, The Rumpus, The Offing, and Denver Quarterly. Listen in!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shonda Moralis is the author of Breathe, Mama, Breathe: 5-Minute Mindfulness for Busy Moms. As a self-proclaimed recovering perfectionist and people-pleaser, Shonda’s book explores mindfulness breaks and their power to create more connection, calm, and contentment for moms. I so enjoyed chatting with Shonda, and her college-age daughter, about her path to meditation, finding the space, even if it’s in a closet, for that much-needed mom break and her inspiring concepts for practicing mindfulness. You will just have to listen to the episode to find out what a "three-breath hug" and a "SNAP break" are all about! Shonda holds a master's in social work, is a psychotherapist in private practice and is also the author of Breathe, Empower, Achieve: 5-Minute Mindfulness for Women Who Do It All.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Valentine's Day! I wrote this essay, "Making Time for Love This Valentine's Day" for SheHustleCollective.com. Don't mind me when I start crying at the end of the episode after I read it! It's about how I'm trying to do so much professionally that I've somehow neglected the people I love the most. Yes, I prioritize my kids, but what about my husband? My friends?! I feel like a giant failure. Can anyone relate? Hope you listen and enjoy this.... and I hope it encourages you to hug the people you love in your life a little closer today. There's not enough time in life these days, but love is the most timeless thing there is.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gigi Levangie is the author of Been There, Married That, a funny take on a ruthless Hollywood divorce. She also wrote The Starter Wife and Maneater, which were both adapted into award-winning miniseries. She was a screenwriter for “Stepmom” starring Julia Roberts. Gigi and I talked about everything from marriage and divorce, LA vs. NY, the advice she gives friends on whether or not to stay in their marriages, and how to deal with divorce and blended families. Gigi is absolutely hilarious and finds the humor in just about everything. I loved every minute of it.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I chatted with husband-and-wife team, Siena Cherson Siegel (author) and Mark Siegel (illustrator) of the graphic novel TO DANCE. This autobiographical book chronicles a ten-year period of Siena’s life as she falls in love with ballet and moves to New York to train at the School of American Ballet. This inspiring couple shared what it was like to create together, the journey to merge their passions, and insights into the rise in popularity of the graphic novel. Mark Siegel should know - he's the author and illustrator of several book/graphic novels himself including Oskar and the Eight Blessings and is the founder and editorial director of First Second, an award-winning graphic novel imprint. Siena is a former dancer from Puerto Rico who trained at the School of American Ballet and later worked in their education department. Their unique story is inspiring, heartwarming and important! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan Peres is the author of As Needed For Pain: A Memoir of Addiction. This story explores Dan’s struggle with a massive addiction to opiates while working as editor-in-chief of Details magazine. Dan and I discussed hiding addiction in plain sight, his road to sobriety, the role of magic in his life, eating issues, fatherhood, the magazine world, and his path to recovery.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alice Berman is the author of the Audible Originals book I Eat Men Like Air. This murder mystery takes place as seven twentysomethings gather to celebrate their friend's upcoming wedding. I just could not stop listening! I loved chatting with Alice about her love of true crime, the importance of cultivating friendships with other authors and the process of bringing a story to life with Audible. Alice’s other work, Lost Boys and Technicolor Girls, is in development with ABC to become a series with Freeform. Plus Alice is a crucial member of my team as head of partnerships! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.