In Bed With Books

In Bed With Books

di Melissa

Stagione 10

Fighting Fate and Learning to Love in Witch Daughter | Interview with Author Tanaz Bhathena

Join me and author Tanaz Bhathena to talk about her recent adult fantasy, Witch Daughter. A modern retelling of part of Ferdowsi’s epic, The Shahnameh, this book follows the princess Tahmineh and her relationship to fate. First, as she runs towards it and her marriage to Rostam, a famed warrior who she hopes can provide the protection she needs as a suspected witch. And later, after the birth of her son, as she desperately tries to avoid a prophecy where her son and his father fight each other on the battlefield. Bhathena explores classic prejudices and patriarchy through the main character, Tahmineh, and the suspicions around her lineage. She explores what lengths a person will go to in order to secure their own safety, and then how that changes when those concerns have to include someone other than yourself. In all of her attempts to secure her safety, and then her son’s, Tahmineh also unknowingly works through the tensions she has around love, first through passion, and then through a slow burn and earned trust. Bhathena and I also discuss the research that went into writing this story. Tahmineh’s journey as a literary figure has shifted over the centuries, with suspected origins as demon or a witch, and was potentially sanitized for reader consumption. What does it mean to give this power back to her? Buy Witch Daughter now: https://bookshop.org/a/54661/9781538780862 Learn more about Tanaz Bhathena here: https://tanazbhathena.com/ Be sure to like, subscribe, and leave a review! If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com

Liminal Spaces and Influencer Culture in "Night of Madness" | Interview with Author Ryan Douglass

Join me and author Ryan Douglass to talk about his latest release, Night of Madness. When Jack Stanley, famed horror movie maker announces a competition with a $100k prize at the end, Mara knows that could be her ticket out of poverty. But once she makes it to the show, she fears that $100k may not be worth the cost. Douglass and I discuss the theme of influencer culture, especially how it skews our ability to cope with trauma and our understanding of class. Mara’s main motivation is the cash prize promised to the winner, but that’s not the case for all of the contestants of Jack’s haunted asylum. We look at how Mara’s upbringing - living with her grandparents, abandoned by her father, less fortunate than those closest to her - become driving forces for her, even after the asylum becomes a true case of life or death. Using classic slasher tropes, Jack plays out his fantasies with a cast and a crew held hostage to the promise of money and begs the question, how far would you go? Buy Night of Madness now: https://bookshop.org/a/54661/9781665983044 Learn more about Ryan Douglass here: www.instagram.com/ryan_souflee Be sure to like, subscribe, and leave a review! If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com

Death, Love, and Doing the Work | Interview with Poet Isabelle Correa

Join me and poet Isabelle Correa to talk about her recent release, “Portrait of a Person Who Pushes Love Away in Fear of Losing It.” The collection explores intergenerational trauma, religious myth, and pop culture in an intimate, cinematic interior life. Throughout the collection, Correa looks at the different ways we can corrupt our perceptions of love, and the power “no” has in healing that. During our conversation, we talk about how Correa establishes Love and Death as opposing universal forces, and how that becomes a foundation for peeling back the layers on how love and pain can become twisted. We take a couple of tangents, to talk about similar lessons we were taught as kids in church, and then later to talk about our joint interests in tarot and astrology. We also dive into a subject we lovingly called “The Work,” as in, the healing work that we are blessed to be able to do now that those who came before us could not. Buy Portrait of a Person Who Pushes Love Away in Fear of Losing It now: https://bookshop.org/a/54661/9781968451110 Learn more about Isabelle Correa here: https://www.isabellecorrea.com/ https://isabellecorrea.substack.com/ https://www.instagram.com/isabellecorreawrites/ Be sure to like, subscribe, and leave a review! If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com

Hidden Themes in Cozy Fantasy | The Hocus Pocus Handbook by Ann Aguirre

Join me and author Ann Aguirre to talk about her latest book, The Hocus Pocus Handbook. The book follows Thea, a human member of the Winter Court. After being replaced with a changeling as a baby, Thea has grown accustomed to the ways of faerie - their customs and rules, and the ways she can bend the rules for her own acts of “good trouble.” But when she takes things a little too far, she’s forced on a quest with the broodiest knight in the court. With the threat of being exiled back into the human world looming over her head, Thea must find her missing betrothed and try not to fall in love with someone else in the process. Aguirre and I had chatted about how she tied in heavier themes of classism, privilege, and The Other to her cozy fantasy. Afterall, who decides what’s cozy? We explored this theme of The Other through Thea, the main character, but also through Kerboros, the brooding enforcer for the Winter Court who’s trapped in servitude as punishment for his father’s crimes. The more they work together to find her betrothed, the more they start to understand each other, which threatens the very thin ice they’ve found themselves on. Buy The Hocus Pocus Handbook now: https://bookshop.org/a/54661/9781464224119 Learn more about Ann Aguirre here: https://www.annaguirre.com/ Be sure to like, subscribe, and leave a review! If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com

Interview with Bethan Croome: Outlawed Magic and Femme Power in Reign

Bethan Croome joined me to chat about her debut novel, Reign. Reign follows Niamh as anti-magic laws force her out of the home she’s always known and into a war for the throne. Croome’s debut romantic fantasy novel features forbidden magic, deep yearning, and cinematic battle scenes. Croome and I discuss our joint love of fantasy, and the weight that comes with authoring stories in that space. Later in the episode, we talk about the influence for Niamh, the main character, and how her and other characters within the book confront misogyny. How does Niamh handle being her blacksmith father’s secret protege in a kingdom that won’t allow her to be his mentee? How does her best friend cope with the systemic patriarchy holding her in place? And how does a thwarted Queen fight for her stolen throne in a kingdom that cannot even accept a woman as a blacksmith? This is episode 105 of In Bed with Books. Buy Reign now: https://bookshop.org/a/54661/9781464280665 Learn more about Bethan Croome here: https://www.instagram.com/bethfiit/ Be sure to like, subscribe, and leave a review! If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com

Writer vs Reader: The Role of Interactivity in Fiction Storytelling with Michael Pons

This week I’m joined by my friend Dr Michael Pons. He recently received his PhD in English Literature, and I was lucky enough to sit in on his dissertation defense. The question Dr Pons set to answering was “What is interactivity in storytelling?” focusing on video games. Michael and I dive into an hour long conversation connecting his findings on the limitations of interactivity to literature and television. Who are the participants involved? What is the role of the audience and the creator? What do they owe each other? Where does desire play into all of this? This is the first part of a 2-part conversation. You can find Michael on IG @mackerel_prawns If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com

Epic Cosmologies and the Revolutionary Power of Love: Interview with Author Lauren Kate

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by author Lauren Kate to discuss her latest release, White Lights. Falling back into a world of angels, romance, and millennia-old feuds, Kate brings us back into the world of Fallen, after Luce and Daniel’s happily ever after to see the effects their choice had on heaven. What does heaven look like when love is suddenly on the menu for the angels? White Lights follows Dez to Acheron, an elite film school no one’s ever heard of before, but has resources she never dreamed would be available to her. The only catch: she has to leave behind everyone she loves, and someone she might have grown to love. As she learns more about Acheron and some of her fellow students, Dez fears she’s made the wrong decision. But her connection with her mentor, Rafe, is undeniable, bringing her back to her love of filmmaking every time she questions herself. We discussed the influences on the creation of this universe, and the decision to continue the story, with Kate referencing dreams, higher education, and apocryphal texts. Her inspiration dates back as far as 500 BC, and the feminist themes that exist then, and that we look for now. We look at some of the bigger questions that Kate is exploring in these series, like what and who love has the power to change, and how one positive choice can radiate out and effect change on a larger scale. As a fan of Lauren Kate and her work, I truly did not have enough time to cover everything I wanted to, but for a look at how she explores the theme of love, grab White Lights now! https://bookshop.org/a/54661/9781538776773 Learn more about Lauren Kate here: laurenkatebooks.net And you can find her on Instagram, Facebook, Threads and TikTok @LaurenKateBooks If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com

Fate & Freewill in Why Choose Romance: Interview with author Kait Ballenger

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by author Kait Ballenger, once again, as she rounds out the Original Sinner trilogy with Beautiful Redeemer. Charlotte and Lucifer have come a long way since their fake engagement in book one - now they have to contend with the apocalypse, timeless battles between angels and demons, an absent Father, and a meddling mother. As identities are revealed and powers are discovered, Charlotte and Lucifer question their worth in the battles to come. In the midst of all this, Charlotte’s connection with Death is growing but will his and Lucifer’s past get in the way of her why-choose happy ending? It was great having Kait back on to talk about the conclusion of her Original Sinner trilogy. We start the conversation with a gentle reminder of what happened in books one and two, including some major spoilers, so listen at your own discretion if you haven’t read Original Sinner or Wicked Believer yet! After realizing that Lucifer and her were destined by forces grander than either of them could control, Charlotte begins to realize that she is more powerful than they could have anticipated. Kait talks about how she knew their story wasn’t over, the process of bringing in Death to help balance out their dynamic, and the questions that Charlotte faces when confronted with the reality that she hasn’t had nearly as much freewill as she thought. I get the scoop on upcoming books, as Kait plans to extend the universe by exploring the love stories of other seven deadly sin siblings! You can buy Beautiful Redeemer now: https://bookshop.org/a/54661/9781662528903 You can learn more about Kait Ballenger here: www.kaitballenger.com Art mentioned in this episode: Cabanel, Alexandre. The Fallen Angel. 1847, Musee Fabre, Montpellier, France. If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com

Finding Love, Family, and Self Across Fantasy Battlelines: Interview with Meghan Le Fay

In this episode, I’m joined by author Meghan Le Fay to talk about her debut, Wings of Life, first in the Dragonbound Chronicles. Wings of Life follows Serae as she’s thrust into the land of her country’s greatest enemy, Rihtlond. As the betrothed of the dane’s son, Serae gathers intel on the Riht in hopes of securing a victory for her people. As she learns more about the people and dragons of the Riht, Serae’s allegiances become strained. Can she sell out the family she’s found for the family that refused to see the real her? Drawing inspiration from fairytales and written history, Le Fay weaves together Viking influences with the brilliance of elemental magic and dragons. Serae, the main character, may start out with little control over her own fate but her skills are tested over and over again, proving to herself and the enemies around her that she can hold her own. The cultural and political differences that Le Fay built into Inra, Serae’s homeland, and the Riht help the main character grow in confidence, strength, and power, as the expectations set on her push her to new heights. Unlike Inra, where the right to lead is given through inheritance, the Riht tests their future leaders in ways that Serae was not prepared for. But with the weaponmaster, Wep, training her, Serae might stand a chance in the trials - assuming she doesn’t fall in love with him first. Le Fay and I also spend time talking about her writing practice, as Wings of Life marks not only her debut, but her stepping into a career as a full time author. We discuss the influences on Serae’s story, from second-born daughter to dragonbound, as well as those influences that helped shape Le Fay into the writer she is now. You can buy Wings of Life now: https://bookshop.org/a/54661/9781964264585 You can learn more about Meghan Le Fay here: https://meghanlefay.com/ IG: @meghanlefay If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com

My Top Ten Favorite Books from In Bed with Books!

In this bonus episode, I’m celebrating 100 episodes of In Bed with Books! There have been 68 books featured on the podcast, 55 if we don’t include books written by authors I've interviewed. There are so many books I loved (and just as many that I’d be happy never to think about again!), so to celebrate 100 episodes, I’ve ranked my top ten reads from the podcast. The Rules: It has to have been actively discussed, not just mentioned as part of a bookish chat No books from author interviews - I’m too biased. I’ve loved talking to all of the authors And finally, thank you to everyone that’s made one hundred episodes possible. I love to yap, but a podcast is more than just someone with a mic yapping into the void. I appreciate everyone who’s tuned in - whether you’ve been here since episode one, have stuck around through all the different iterations In Bed with Books has been through, or this is your first episode. Thank you, and here’s to 100 more! If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com

1 di 12