Queer poet and writer Cass Donish is the author of three books including The Year of the Femme, Beautyberry, and the new poetry collection Your Dazzling Death. Today on the show, Cass and Annmarie talk about grief, queer love, and how to heal in the face of suicide loss.

Episode Sponsors:

Prairie Lights Books – Iowa City’s premier indie bookstore since 1978. Perhaps the strength of our reputation lies in the reading series of local, national and international writers who have read their works which were broadcast live on stations WSUI and WOI and which was the only regular literary series of its kind. All of this could not have been possible without a loyal customer base and a dedicated staff. Learn more or shop online at prairielights.com.

Skylark Bookshop – A fiercely independent bookstore where we strive to find new ways to celebrate literature and our community. Some books give us knowledge and perspective; others simply give necessary space to breathe. Putting the right book into the right hands is a deeply meaningful act. We believe that we can find that book for everyone who walks through our doors. We embrace enjoyment, entertainment, and the beauty of Skylark Bookshop. Stop by or shop online at skylarkbookshop.com.

Left Bank Books – The oldest and largest independently-owned bookstore in St. Louis, Missouri, where we offer a full-line of new and used books, gifts, cards, toys and services. We see ourselves as a cultural institution as well as a retail business. In that spirit, we produce over 300 events per year, most of which are free and open to the public. We've grown and changed throughout our 50 years, but our mission still remains the same – to spark public conversation by curating an intelligent, relevant, culturally diverse selection of books. Stop by or shop online at left-bank.com.

Books by Cass Donish

Your Dazzling Death

The Year of the Femme

Beautyberry

On the Mezzanine

Other Authors and Titles Mentioned in This Episode:

Letters to Forget, by Kelly Caldwell

Here’s a link to the Hot Widows Club podcast.

Here is the trailer for Emily in Paris.

And here’s another for Portrait of a Lady on Fire.

Follow Cass Donish:

Instagram: @cassdonish

Twitter: @CassDonish

cassdonish.com

**Writing Workshops and Wish Fulfillment:

If you know you’ve been looking for the kind of female friendship we’ve spoken about on this show OR if you’re just desperate to get out of America right now, consider joining Annmarie and her co-leader, Phyllis Biffle Elmore, for a writing retreat in France! Learn more here.

You can travel to a beautiful place, meet other wise women, and write your own stories. We’d love to help you make that wish come true.

As of this moment, we only have 3 spots left, but you can click this link for $900 off.

The password is RetreatWriteRepeat

and the coupon code is 25AK

In 2025, Annmarie is teaching online Tuesday nights for Writing Workshops. Learn more and register HERE.

For her folks interested in an online Saturday morning writing class, message Annmarie to learn more.

Photo credit: Josh Theus

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Glynnis MacNicol is the author of three books including I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself: One Woman's Pursuit of Pleasure and No One Tells You This. She wrote, produced, and hosted WILDER: A Reckoning with the Legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder, and she writes the weekly newsletter Good Decisions. On today’s show, Annmarie and Glynnis talk about seeking friendship and pleasure in Paris, the joys of middle age, and how to ask for what you want– and get it. 

Episode Sponsors:

Mostly Books – An independent bookstore in Tucson, Arizona, for readers of all ages. We offer a carefully curated selection of New & Used Books, Greeting Cards, T-shirts, and Gifts. Stop by our store in Tucson or buy books and Libro.fm audiobooks on our website: mostlybooksaz.com.

Books Are Magic – A family-owned independent bookstore in Brooklyn, committed to being a welcoming, friendly, and inclusive space for all people. We believe that books are indeed magic and that literature is one of the best ways to create empathy, transportation, and transformation. Stop by or shop online at booksaremagic.net

Books by Glynnis MacNicol

I’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself

No One Tells You This

Becoming a Baker

The 10 Habits of Highly Successful Women, co-authored with Rachel Sklar

Other Authors and Titles Mentioned in This Episode:

Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close, by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman

The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center, by Rhaina Cohen

Here are the trailers for two Katharine Hepburn movies, Adam’s Rib and

Desk Set.

Follow Glynnis MacNicol:

Instagram: @noonetellsyouthis

glynnismacnicol.com

**Writing Workshops and Wish Fulfillment: 

If you know you’ve been looking for the kind of female friendship Glynnis talks about in this interview and in her book, consider joining Annmarie and her co-leader, Phyllis Biffle Elmore, for a writing retreat in France! Learn more here. 

You can travel to a beautiful place, meet other wise women, and write your own stories. We’d love to help you make that wish come true. 

As of this moment, we only have 3 spots left, but you can click this link for $900 off. 

The password is RetreatWriteRepeat 

and the coupon code is 25AK

In 2025, Annmarie is teaching online Tuesday nights for Writing Workshops. Learn more and register HERE.

For her folks interested in an online Saturday morning writing class, message Annmarie to learn more. 

Photo credit: Jamie Magnifico

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kathleen Glasgow is a poet turned novelist, and she’s the author of the bestselling titles Girl in Pieces, You'd Be Home Now, and How to Make Friends With the Dark, and the coauthor, with Liz Lawson, of the bestselling mystery series, The Agathas. On today’s show, Annmarie and Kathleen talk about her newest book, The Glass Girl, and the complex relationship many families have with alcohol addiction and rehabilitation. 

Episode Sponsors:

Mostly Books – An independent bookstore in Tucson, Arizona, for readers of all ages. We offer a carefully curated selection of New & Used Books, Greeting Cards, T-shirts, and Gifts. Stop by our store in Tucson or buy books and Libro.fm audiobooks on our website: mostlybooksaz.com.

Brain Lair Books – A black-owned, woman-owned children's bookstore located in South Bend, Indiana. At Brain Lair, we partner with local schools and universities to help build an inclusive, welcoming community. We specialize in juvenile and young adult literature written by and for Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQIA+, and Disabled communities, as well as adult nonfiction about ending white supremacy, promoting anti-racism, and becoming a social activist. We can help you find the books you need. Drop by or browse online at brainlairbooks.com.

Books by Kathleen Glasgow

The Glass Girl, by Kathleen Glasgow

Girl in Pieces, by Kathleen Glasgow 

You’d Be Home Now, by Kathleen Glasgow

How to Make Friends with the Dark, by Kathleen Glasgow

The Agathas, by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson

The Night in Question, by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson

Other Authors and Titles Mentioned in This Episode:

Frighten the Horses, by Oliver Radclyffe

The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky 

The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger

A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle

Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, by Carolyn Keene

Here’s the trailer for Raising Arizona.

Finally, Kathleen is running a fundraiser for Youth on Their Own. If you buy a copy of ANY one of Kathleen’s books and upload your proof of purchase, they’ll make a donation to combat teen homelessness. Go to yoto.org to learn more.

Follow Kathleen Glasgow:

Instagram: @misskathleenglasgow

TikTok: @kathleenglasgow

Facebook: Kathleen Glasgow, Author

Threads: @misskathleenglasgow

kathleenglasgowbooks.com

**Writing Workshop Note: Annmarie’s teaching in-person Tuesday nights for Literary Cleveland. Learn more and register HERE.

Annmarie is teaching online Tuesday nights for Writing Workshops. Learn more and register HERE.

For the online October Saturday morning class, message Annmarie to learn more. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oliver Radclyffe is part of a new wave of transgender writers unafraid to examine the places where gender identity, sexual orientation, feminist allegiance, social class, and family history overlap. On today’s show, Annmarie and Oliver talk about his new memoir, FRIGHTEN THE HORSES, and discuss the complex nuances of gender transition.

Episode Sponsors:

Bluestockings – A collectively-run NYC activist center, community space and feminist bookstore that offers mutual aid, harm reduction support, non-judgemental resource research and a warming/cooling place that is radically inclusive of all genders, cultures, expansive sexualities and identities. Bluestockings seeks to empower all people to challenge oppression and participate in creating a society which is equitable, cooperative, and free, and we strive to empower our worker-owners through non-hierarchy, cooperation, and consensus-based decision making, providing an example of the society we are working toward. Stop by or shop online at bluestockings.com.

The Word Is Change – A neighborhood bookstore in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, selling used and new books, hosting readings and meetings, buying books for resale, and supporting visual artists. Come into the store and find the perfect book you were looking for, OR the perfect book you didn’t even know you were looking for. And shop online at thewordischange.com

Authors and Titles Mentioned in This Episode:

Adult Human Male, by Oliver Radclyffe

Frighten the Horses, by Oliver Radclyffe

Who’s Afraid of Gender? by Judith Butler

The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice, by Shon Faye 

Here’s a trailer for Once. 

Follow Oliver Radclyffe:

Instagram: @oliverradclyffe

Twitter: @RadclyffeOliver

Facebook: OliverRadclyffeWriter

oliverradclyffe.com

**Writing Workshop Note: Annmarie’s teaching in-person Tuesday nights for Literary Cleveland. Learn more and register HERE.

For the online October Saturday morning class, message Annmarie to learn more.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rufi Thorpe is the author of four novels, The Girls from Corona del Mar, Dear Fang, With Love, The Knockout Queen, which was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner award, and her newest Book, Margo's Got Money Troubles, which was recently shortlisted for the Kirkus Prize. On today’s show, Rufi and Annmarie talk about professional wrestling, OnlyFans, and the countless sacrifices parents make for their kids. 

Episode Sponsors:

{pages} a bookstore – The place for book lovers of all ages, where reading, meeting and discussing books is a way of life. We offer a carefully curated selection of new fiction, non-fiction, children’s, cooking, surf, coffee table books and bestsellers. We are proud of our knowledgeable and caring staff who can match any reader with the perfect book. Learn more or shop online at pagesabookstore.com.

Annabelle’s Book Club LA – A highly curated collection of books and gifts with a modern point of view. Founded by 17-year-old Annabelle Chang, this YA-focused bookstore aims to spark imagination, inspire connection, and bring joy to people of all ages. Stop or find us online at annabellesbookclubla.com.

Titles by Rufi Thorpe:

Dear Fang, With Love

The Knockout Queen

The Girls from Corona del Mar

Margo’s Got Money Troubles

Other Authors and Titles Mentioned in This Episode:

Dennis Lehane

Walter Mosley

Here are a few trailers for some of Rufi’s favorite shows:

30 Rock 

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

I Think You Should Leave

The Eric Andre Show

Follow Rufi Thorpe:

Instagram: @rufithorpe

Twitter: @RufiThorpe

Facebook: RufiThorpeAuthor

rufithorpe.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ann Garvin is a USA Today Bestselling author of six novels. She writes about people who do too much in a world that asks too much from them. A former Registered Nurse, Ann currently teaches creative writing at Drexel University. Her latest book is BUMMER CAMP, in which “two sisters scramble to save their family’s legacy in a funny, huge-hearted novel about grandiose plans and summers to remember.” On today’s show, Ann and Annmarie talk about head lice, tick bites, weirdness, and the worries and wonders of camp. 

Episode Sponsors:

Mystery to Me – A general bookstore with a very specific name. Of course we curate a wide selection of mystery as well as general and literary fiction, non-fiction, science fiction, fantasy, rom-com, horror, graphic novels, young adult titles, and a delightful children's section. Visit our Madison, Wisconsin location or shop online at mysterytomebooks.com.

Bluestockings – A collectively-run NYC activist center, community space and feminist bookstore that offers mutual aid, harm reduction support, non-judgemental resources, and a warming/cooling place that is radically inclusive of all genders, cultures, expansive sexualities and identities. Bluestockings seeks to empower all people to challenge oppression and participate in creating a society which is equitable, cooperative, and free, and we strive to empower our worker-owners through non-hierarchy, cooperation, and consensus-based decision making, providing an example of the society we are working toward. Stop by or shop online at bluestockings.com.

Titles Mentioned in this Episode:

Bummer Camp, by Ann Garvin

Olive Kitteridge, by Elizabeth Strout

Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel

Here’s the trailer for Station Eleven.

Check out Tall Poppy Writers.

Follow Ann Garvin:

Instagram: @anngarvin_

Twitter: @anngarvin_

Facebook: @ann.w.garvin

anngarvin.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wade Rouse is the USA TODAY, Publishers Weekly, and internationally bestselling author of more than a dozen books which have been translated into 21 languages. On today’s show, Annmarie and Wade discuss difficult parents, screened-in porches, and how to pursue a writing life against the odds.

Episode Sponsors:

Literary Cleveland – Where writers can explore other voices and discover their own. The Inkubator is Literary Cleveland’s free annual festival for writers and readers. Generate new writing, improve your craft, and advance your career. Register for classes, sign up for our free writing conference, and find your writing community at LitCleveland.org.

Mac’s Backs – A proud Cleveland indie bookstore with three floors for browsing, great online service, and chocolate milkshakes right next door. Find your next great read and shop online at macsbacks.com.

Titles Mentioned in this Episode:

Magic Season, by Wade Rouse

The Recipe Box: A Novel, by Viola Shipman

Here’s the trailer for Terms of Endearment.

Follow Wade Rouse:

Instagram: @authorwaderouse and @viola_shipman

Twitter: @waderouse and @viola_shipman

Facebook: @authorwaderouse and @authorviolashipman

YouTube: @WadeRouse

waderouse.com and violashipman.com

Photo Credit: Ivan Hundric Photography

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Sarah Manguso is the author of nine books, most recently the novel LIARS.

Her work’s been recognized by an American Academy of Arts and Letters Literature Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the Rome Prize, and her writing has been translated into thirteen languages. On today’s show, Sarah and Annmarie discuss marriage and how our best intentions often crumble in the face of gender roles, misogyny, the patriarchy, and myriad forces so much larger than we are.

Episode Sponsors:

McNally Jackson – Independent booksellers with locations in Nolita, Williamsburg, Seaport, Rockefeller, and Downtown Brooklyn. To find your next great read, drop by or shop online at www.mcnallyjackson.com

Annabelle’s Book Club LA – A highly curated collection of books and gifts with a modern point of view. Founded by 17-year-old Annabelle Chang, this YA-focused bookstore aims to spark imagination, inspire connection, and bring joy to people of all ages. Stop or find us online at annabellesbookclubla.com.

Stories Mentioned in this Episode:

Liars, by Sarah Manguso

Learn more about Amber Heard and Gabby Petito.

Creep, by Myriam Gurba

Follow Sarah Manguso:

sarahmanguso.com

Photo Credit: Beowulf Sheehan

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rachelle Bergstein is a lifestyle writer, author and editor. Her latest book is The Genius of Judy: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood For All of Us. On today’s show, Annmarie and Rachelle discuss taboo topics from childhood – periods! bras! masturbation! – and how Judy Blume books demystified all of them. 

Episode Sponsors:

McNally Jackson – Independent booksellers with locations in Nolita, Williamsburg, Seaport, Rockefeller, and Downtown Brooklyn. To find your next great read, drop by or shop online at www.mcnallyjackson.com

Women & Children First – A bookstore that understands the transformative power of literature. As intersectional trans-inclusive feminists, we believe books are tools for liberation. Since 1979, we’ve celebrated and amplified under-represented voices. We offer a welcoming space for learning, dialogue, and reflection, and strive toward a feminist, equitable workplace. Come visit our Chicago location or shop online at womenandchildrenfirst.com.

Judy Blume Titles Mentioned in this Episode:

Deenie

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.

Forever…

Then Again, Maybe I Won’t

Blubber

Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great

It's Not the End of the World

Other Titles Mentioned:

The Genius of Judy: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood For All of Us, by Rachelle Bergstein

Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma, by Claire Dederer

Biography of X, by Catherine Lacey

The Recovering: Intoxication and Its Aftermath, by Leslie Jamison

Here’s some 90s music to leave you with: Under the Bridge, by Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Follow Rachelle Bergstein:

Twitter: @RaBergstein

Instagram: @rachellewb

rachellebergstein.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emma Copley Eisenberg is a queer writer in Philadelphia, where she co-founded Blue Stoop, a community hub for the literary arts. Her latest book is HOUSEMATES which we talk about today. On today’s show, Emma and Annmarie discuss queer aunties, the magic of road trips, and whether art can actually save our lives.

Episode Sponsors:

The Head & The Hand – A nonprofit independent publisher and community bookstore based in the Kensington/Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia, where we’re committed to serving as a launchpad for the next generation of local writers. We strive to create innovative relationships between authors and their audiences, and we publish and stock writing with the power to both entertain and spark change. Come visit or find us online at theheadandthehand.com.

Women & Children First – A bookstore that understands the transformative power of literature. As intersectional trans-inclusive feminists, we believe books are tools for liberation. Since 1979, we’ve celebrated and amplified under-represented voices. We offer a welcoming space for learning, dialogue, and reflection, and strive toward a feminist, equitable workplace. Come visit our Chicago location or shop online at womenandchildrenfirst.com.

Titles Mentioned in this Episode:

Housemates, by Emma Copley Eisenberg

The Third Rainbow Girl: The Long Life of a Double Murder in Appalachia, by Emma Copley Eisenberg

Nicotine, by Nell Zinks

The Girls of Slender Means, Murial Spark

All This Could Be Different, by Sarah Thankham Mathews

Sophie's Choice, by William Styron

Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott

A Grace Paley Reader: Stories, Essays, and Poetry

Blue Stoop, a home for Philly writers

Learn more about Emma Goldman’s ice cream parlor here

Jordan Kisner podcast Thresholds

Follow Emma Copley Eisenberg:

Twitter: @frumpenberg

Instagram: @frumpenberg

emmacopleyeisenberg.com

Photo credit: Kenzi Crash

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R.O. Kwon is the author of the nationally bestselling novel The Incendiaries, which was named a best book of the year by more than forty publications. On today’s show, Annmarie and R.O. discuss her new book, Exhibit, an exhilarating novel that’s been called “the sexiest book of the year.” They also talk about photography, the torture and timelessness of ballet, and what it means for women to put voice to their desires both in and out of the bedroom.

Episode Sponsors:

Duende District – We make tiny bookstores for & by people of color— where all are welcome. What you'll find at each Duende District is a lovingly curated selection of new & used adult & children's books by authors of color in English & Spanish. Each boutique partnership offers a uniquely crafted & inviting literary space focused on engaging communities of color, while also inviting all people to participate in the experience. Visit our locations in Albuquerque & Brooklyn, or find us online at duendedistrict.com.

Loyalty Bookstores – A Black, Asian, and Queer owned bookstore, which aims to be the Mid-Atlantic’s neighborhood spot for books, gifts, and programming. At Loyalty, we highlight the diverse voices and creatives who make our communities great. We work to create an inclusive, welcoming environment because, well, books are home. Visit our DC and Silver Spring locations or find us online at loyaltybookstores.com.

Yu and Me Books – A bookstore / café / and bar that showcases strong, diverse voices, with a focus on immigrant stories, in a space where we can dream together, strive for change, and push systems closer to justice. Come to our NYC location to sip, read, and share amazing conversations, or find us online at yuandmebooks.com.

Titles Mentioned in this Episode:

Exhibit, by R.O. Kwon

The Incendiaries, by R.O. Kwon

Kink: Stories, edited by Garth Greenwell and R.O. Kwon

Small Rain, by Garth Greenwell

Follow R.O. Kwon:

Twitter: @rokwon

Instagram: @ro.kwon

ro-kwon.com

Photo credit: Jesse Dittmar

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