Totally Booked with Zibby

Zibby interviews Ali Rosen about her fiction debut, RECIPE FOR SECOND CHANCES, an enchanting second-chance romance set against the backdrop of an Indian-Italian wedding in Umbria, Italy. Ali, an accomplished cookbook author and TV host, discusses her transition from writing cookbooks to fiction. The conversation also touches on Ali's approach to writing, how she balances work and family, her plans for her next novel (this time set in Ireland!), and her advice for aspiring authors, especially about finding joy in what they read and write. The interview concludes with a discussion about Ali's TV show, her cooking philosophy, and the importance of prioritizing personal happiness.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3t2VqZiShare, 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 writer, sailor, and scientist Hannah Stowe about her exquisite, luminous memoir, MOVE LIKE WATER: MY STORY OF THE SEA. Hannah describes her unique upbringing in Pembrokeshire, Wales, surrounded by the sea and abundant marine life, which sparked her passion for marine biology and sailing. She recounts her experiences working on research boats and studying marine life. She also discusses a significant spinal injury sustained while surfing, highlighting the dismissive attitudes of healthcare professionals and her struggle with the physical and mental aspects of healing. Zibby and Hannah also touch on Hannah's family background, her future plans, including a book about the history of women in seafaring, and her approach to life and creativity. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3T3sz1AShare, 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.

In this special episode (a live event for the Streicker Center!), Zibby speaks to New York Times bestselling author Ann Napolitano about HELLO BEAUTIFUL, a big, emotional, heartwrenching family drama. Ann delves into the emotional and creative journey of writing this book, revealing the depths of her immersion in the narrative and her subsequent feelings of loss upon completion. She touches on her writing process, including the balance between lyrical and analytical thinking, and the influence of her own life experiences on her characters. The conversation also explores the impact of her book's selection for @oprahsbookclub on her life and the broader implications of her work. Audience questions bring to light Ann's approach to character perspectives, her literary influences, and her reading recommendations, culminating in a rich dialogue about the nuances of storytelling and the personal connections writers forge with their creations.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4adZ8jRShare, 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 interviews author Ramona Ausubel about her playful, witty, and resonant new novel, THE LAST ANIMAL, which came from the idea of de-extincting woolly mammoths and evolved into a story about a single mom and her daughters grappling with creation, extinction, and family dynamics. Ramona reflects on her writing journey, from a shy, poetic child to a published author influenced by personal experiences and literary figures like George Saunders. Ramona emphasizes the richness of the writing process over the end goal of publication and shares her future projects, including a new novel, short stories, and a craft book. The interview also touches on Ramona's participation in a panel at the book fair and her plans to enjoy the local Miami culture.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3N1piwcShare, 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.

Sarah Blakley-Cartwright joins Zibby to discuss ALICE SADIE CELINE, a hypnotic, sexy, and incisive debut novel that explores the complex love story between a girl and her best friend's mother, raising questions about boundaries and relationships. Sarah elaborates on the characters in her book, particularly Celine, a bold, middle-aged woman struggling with visibility and identity. Sarah also discusses her background in the literary world, including her roles at various publications and her journey from writing YA to adult fiction. Finally, she gives advice for aspiring authors, including writing what they love, working with their weaknesses, and thinking long-term about their careers.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/46wXFC5Share, 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 interviews author Hannah Pittard, delving into her deeply personal journey as a writer. Hannah candidly discusses her struggle with credit card debt during grad school, a theme she later incorporated into her second novel, REUNION, as a form of confession and self-accountability. She also opens up about a painful personal betrayal involving her ex and close friend, explored in her sensational, genre-busting new memoir WE ARE TOO MANY. This betrayal led her to therapy, where she sought to understand her desires and relationship dynamics. The interview highlights Hannah's journey from overcoming financial and emotional challenges to finding her unique voice in the literary world.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4a0p0POShare, 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 one and only BARBARA KINGSOLVER (yes, of Demon Copperhead!!) has written a brilliant picture book with her daughter Lily — and spoke to Zibby all about it! The book, COYOTE'S WILD HOME, aims to positively represent predators and nature, targeting both children and adults. The narrative features parallel stories of a human child and a coyote pup learning about their environments, emphasizing respect and understanding for wildlife. Barbara and Lily share their deep-rooted environmental values, shaped by their rural upbringings and interactions with nature. Their collaboration involved overcoming challenges like distilling complex ecological ideas into a children's book format and working remotely during Lily's graduate studies.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/49UoT8yShare, 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 Books author alert!!!! Emma Grey joins Zibby to discuss THE LAST LOVE NOTE, a gorgeous, charming, heartrending novel that is also a Book of the Month pick!! After the sudden loss of her husband in 2016, Emma found solace in writing. The novel, set in Australia, intertwines romance and humor with the complexities of navigating life after the death of a loved one. Emma emphasizes the importance of balancing grief with your everyday responsibilities, drawing from her experience of managing her grief while raising her young children. The two also discuss the significance of community support in times of loss, the therapeutic nature of humor in storytelling, and the evolution of her writing career. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3sYiAzZShare, 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 interviews Cara Natterson, MD, and Vanessa Kroll Bennett, authors of THIS IS SO AWKWARD: MODERN PUBERTY EXPLAINED. They discuss their motivation for writing the book, aiming to empower parents, teachers, and other adults in guiding kids through puberty. The book covers more than typical puberty topics, delving into sports, eating behaviors, and mental health. Zibby praises the book's comprehensive approach and its usefulness in her own parenting. Both authors emphasize the importance of open, judgment-free conversations with kids about puberty and its challenges. The interview concludes with their advice for co-authoring a book and the unique challenges and rewards it presents.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/47wFxt5Share, 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.

Guest host Julie Chavez interviews author Rochelle B. Weinstein about her seventh book, WHAT YOU DO TO ME, which features a dual timeline and explores themes of love, nostalgia, and the impact of parental choices. Rochelle discusses her process of weaving music into her storytelling, revealing how she secured lyric approval from Tom Higgenson of Plain White T's for the book. The conversation delves into the challenges and joys of writing, the importance of music in storytelling, and the emotional connection songs create. Rochelle also reflects on her background in the music industry and its influence on her writing. The episode highlights the depth and complexity of character development, the balance of presenting relatable, flawed characters, and the author's desire to provide readers with a fun, nostalgic experience. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3sIrJwLShare, 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.