Totally Booked with Zibby

Zibby chats with author Jessica Fein about her astonishing, heartrending, vulnerable new book, BREATH TAKING: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes. Jessica describes her lengthy infertility journey, her and her husband’s unconventional journey to parenthood through international adoption, their three children from Guatemala, and their middle daughter Dalia’s diagnosis with an ultra-rare degenerative disease. She shares what it was like to turn her house into an ICU and care for Dalia 24/7 until she passed away at the age of 17—and how it impacted her marriage and other children. Ultimately, she reflects on the role of writing as a therapeutic outlet.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3LyD8ouShare, 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.

Bestselling author Ali Rosen returns to the podcast, this time to discuss ALTERNATE ENDINGS, a smart, witty, breathless second-chance romance about a single mother juggling homelife and career who starts traveling to Ireland for work… and reconnects with a high school love who is now the CTO of her company. Ali discusses the complexities of motherhood, divorce and custody, female friendships, writing a (slightly) older heroine, and the book’s breathtaking Irish setting. In the end, she reveals what her next book is about!Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4cTQVC8Share, 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 New York Times bestselling author Catherine Newman about SANDWICH, a wise, hilarious, and exquisitely written story about a family’s yearly Cape Cod vacation—but this time, fifty-something Rocky is sandwiched between her half-grown kids and aging parents and her secrets and memories start coming to the surface... Catherine discusses the universal experiences of middle-aged women, the real-life moments that have inspired her writing, and how she writes about life’s messiness with sensitivity and laugh-out-loud humor. Finally, she reveals her idea for her next book and shares the book she read recently and loved.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4bRJcmCShare, 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.

The View cohost and three-time Emmy Award winner Sunny Hostin returns to the podcast—this time to discuss SUMMER ON HIGHLAND BEACH, the third novel in her New York Times bestselling Summer Beach series. Sunny reveals how she makes time to write, which she balances with her morning talk show and a busy family life. Then, she delves into the novel, describing the tense family drama, the themes of self-discovery and self-worth, and the tension between honoring our legacies and finding our own way in the world. Finally, Sunny teases an upcoming project… and it involves witches.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3W90N3FShare, 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 Madeleine Henry about MY FAVORITE TERRIBLE THING, an evocative mystery about the sudden disappearance of the world’s most famous author on her wedding day, and the private investigator who reads between the haunting lines of her book…falling into a spiral of secret love, obsession, and death. Madeleine delves into her book’s intricate plot, atmospheric, off-season Hamptons setting, memorable characters, and the theme of extreme fame—and how isolating it can be. She also shares her experiences as a new mom, the topic of her next book, and her best advice for aspiring writers. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4faBCqqShare, 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 is joined by author Yukiko Tominaga to discuss SEE: LOSS. SEE ALSO: LOVE., a tender and honest debut novel about a Japanese widow raising her son in San Francisco with the help of her Jewish mother-in-law—which Yukiko reveals is inspired by her own mother-in-law. She talks about the San Francisco parenting community, the difference between Japanese and Jewish customs, and the universal nature of family and love. She also shares her best advice for aspiring authors—and details of her next project.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3Y54zhiShare, 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.

PEN USA Award-winning author Victor Lodato chats with Zibby about HONEY, a masterful and utterly enchanting novel about Honey Fasinga, an unforgettable heroine who escapes her mob family at 17 and reinvents herself as a stylish personality in the LA art world… but returns home decades later to settle old scores and confront family ghosts. Victor reveals who inspired this character and how he was able to capture the voice of an 82-year-old woman so perfectly. He also touches on his transition from theater to novel writing and describes his fascinating creative process, which always starts with a character’s voice.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3VYRXpcShare, 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.

Award-winning actor and comedian Paul Scheer joins Zibby to discuss JOYFUL RECOLLECTIONS OF TRAUMA, a vulnerable and hilarious memoir-in-essays about coming to terms with his childhood trauma and embracing his authentic self. Paul reflects on his experiences growing up with an abusive stepfather and how it shaped his need to hold onto positive memories through keepsakes. He also describes his late-in-life ADHD diagnosis and shares his best advice for aspiring writers. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4f1gx1lShare, 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 Steven Rowley returns to the podcast, this time to discuss his much-anticipated sequel, the wildly witty and tenderhearted THE GUNCLE ABROAD. Patrick O’Hara, a reclusive former sitcom actor who unexpectedly becomes the guardian of his niece and nephew after their mother’s death in THE GUNCLE, is now, five years later, returning to his guncle duties by taking them to their dad’s wedding in Italy. Steven talks about his writing process, from tackling loss and grief to injecting humor into his stories. He also shares his approach to writing authentic, immersive travel experiences and his best advice for aspiring writers. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4cB7brEShare, 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.

Critically acclaimed author (and repeat podcast guest!) Jamie Figueroa joins Zibby to discuss MOTHER ISLAND, a poignant, lushly written memoir about a Puerto Rican woman’s relationship with home, lineage, and selfhood. Jamie reflects on her career as a massage therapist and its profound influence on her storytelling. She also shares what it was like to connect with her Puerto Rican community, examine her mother’s life and their relationship, and put a very complex family history on paper.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3VQHOuIShare, 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.