Totally Booked with Zibby

Zibby chats with podcaster and writer Molly Stillman about her laugh-out-loud and heartfelt memoir IF I DON’T LAUGH I’LL CRY: How Death, Debt, and Comedy Led to a Life of Faith, Farming, and Forgetting What I Came into This Room For. Molly describes her childhood with a mom who was a Vietnam War veteran—and what it was like to lose her at seventeen to an autoimmune disorder caused by exposure to Agent Orange. She also shares how she squandered an unexpected quarter-of-a-million-dollar inheritance in less than two years… which filled her with shame and embarrassment. Finally, she describes her writing journey, the challenges of revisiting painful memories, and how she balances humor and seriousness.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/46Z3QAFShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghanaian American cardiologist, cartoonist, and author Shirlene Obuobi joins Zibby to discuss her powerful, sexy, and emotionally brilliant new romance, BETWEEN FRIENDS AND LOVERS. Shirlene describes her protagonist, Josephine Boiteng, a former medical resident turned influencer who struggles with mental health, burnout, and an unrequited crush. She also delves into the novel’s medical and social media elements and the themes of love, vulnerability, and personal growth—revealing that she wrote this during a challenging period in her own life and used many of her experiences as inspiration.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4duICwSShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Instagram sensation and webcomic superstar Cassandra Calin joins Zibby to discuss her debut graphic novel, THE NEW GIRL, a comically charming story about change, inspired by her own immigration experience. Cassandra shares what it was like to move from Romania to Canada at the age of 10 and then delves into her book's themes of cultural adjustment, puberty, and personal growth, as experienced through the eyes of her 12-year-old protagonist, Lia. Cassandra discusses her journey into drawing, the experience of growing meteorically on social media, and the creative process behind the creation of this novel.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4dppfoZShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zibby speaks with debut author Elizabeth O’Connor about WHALE FALL, a haunting and exquisite novel about an 18-year-old girl on a beautiful but blisteringly harsh Welsh island in 1938, and how her life changes when two anthropologists arrive to study her island’s disappearing way of life, forcing her to confront the outside world. The conversation delves into the novel's themes of isolation, folklore, cultural change, and the interplay between nature and humanity. Elizabeth shares insights into her inspiration, drawn from her academic background in English literature and personal connections to coastal landscapes. She also delves into her writing process, next project, and best advice for aspiring authors.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3XbiH7LShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Lynn Barnes joins Zibby to discuss THE GRANDEST GAME, a brand new series in the lush, romantic, puzzle-filled world of THE INHERITANCE GAMES, where fan-favorite and new characters collide a year after we last saw them. Jennifer delves into the story, which revolves around Avery Grambs, a now 20-year-old billionaire heiress who designs a high-stakes game made to give someone a shot at fame and fortune. Jennifer also describes her writing process, including how her psychology and cognitive science background informs her storytelling and her love for crafting complex riddles.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3XaDVT5Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New York Times bestselling author Kimberly McCreight returns to the podcast to discuss LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER, a breathless, shocking thriller about a daughter who returns to her childhood home in Brooklyn after months of not speaking to her mother… only to find an empty house in complete disarray, food burning on the stove, and a bloody shoe. The story unfolds through dual narratives as Cleo races to uncover her mother’s secret life. Kimberley reveals the book’s personal significance, drawing from her own experiences as a divorced mother, and then delves into the themes of midlife, parenting, public vs. private selves, and complex mother-daughter relationships. She also describes her organic writing process and hints at her upcoming book (it involves a hiking trip up Mount Kilimanjaro…). Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3SUidR4Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zibby speaks with debut novelist Sarai Johnson about GROWN WOMEN, a stunning, tender, elegant novel about how four generations of complex Black women attempt to heal old wounds and redefine happiness for themselves… as they raise a new generation together. Sarai shares how her own complicated relationship with her mother and a desire to depict Black motherhood with nuance and depth inspired this story. She also shares her writing process, literary models, and best advice for aspiring authors.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3WRELTHShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zibby chats with author Caro Carver about BAD TOURISTS, a propulsive and deliciously dark novel about three tight-knit friends who embark on an extravagant post-divorce trip to the Maldives… only to realize the resort of their dreams is harboring a killer. Caro describes her own trip to the Maldives, her use of a new pseudonym and genre (she uses CJ Cooke for her gothic thrillers!), and her love of writing stories that resonate with women. She also shares details of her difficult childhood in a violent household and the challenge of raising children while processing past trauma. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3YMupa0Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

British novelist Clare Pooley joins Zibby to discuss HOW TO AGE DISGRACEFULLY, an utterly hysterical, quirky, and reassuringly wise novel that centers around Lydia, a menopausal woman and empty-nester who is lonely and suspects her husband is having an affair… so she decides to help out at a senior citizen social club. She finds herself surrounded by very eclectic and mischievous seniors who, after an accident, must band together to save their community hall. Clare delves into her journey with sobriety and breast cancer and shares how an anonymous blog eventually led to a successful writing career. She also shares her perspectives on aging, highlighting the power of living every moment to the fullest, regardless of age. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3WNFMvJShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New York Times bestselling author (and former flight attendant) TJ Newman returns to the podcast to discuss WORST CASE SCENARIO, a chilling, heart-stopping, unputdownable thriller about a commercial plane that crashes into a nuclear plant in the small town of Waketa, Minnesota. TJ reveals how her conversations with pilots about their deepest fears led to the book's terrifyingly plausible premise. The discussion delves into themes of personal sacrifice, ethical dilemmas, and the balance between duty and family. TJ also reflects on the pressure of writing after her previous successes and gives updates on the screen adaptations of her earlier books.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3Arxd2pShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.