Martha Conway is the author of several novels including The Underground River, which was a New York Times Book Editor’s Choice. Her novel Thieving Forest won the North American Book Award for Best Historical Fiction, and her novel The Physician’s Daughter has been called “historical fiction at its finest.” In today’s episode, Annmarie and Martha discuss multiverses, theater kids, and how her latest book We Meet Apart was both a puzzle Martha created and a puzzle she needed to solve. 



Episode Sponsors:

Green Apple Books – Connecting curious San Francisco readers to great books since 1967. Browsing at Green Apple is a unique experience. From our handmade signs and book recommendations to the many nooks and crannies, you can both get lost in here and find serendipity. Our friendly, well-read employees also stand ready to help you in any way. For your next great read, stop by or go to greenapplebooks.com.

Orinda Books – An independently-owned bookstore just 30 minutes east of San Francisco. We are open six days a week with free parking, and the Orinda BART station is a pleasant half-mile walk away. We provide a diverse range of books and our children's department is extensive and inviting. Besides books, we also carry puzzles, toys, cards, and calendars, as well as locally-made chocolate, olive oil, ceramics, and artwork. We love to read and recommend our favorites — so don't hesitate to ask! Stop by or shop online at orindabooks.com.

Titles by Martha Conway:

Thieving Forest

The Underground River

12 Bliss Street

Sugarland

The Physician’s Daughter

We Meet Apart

Titles Mentioned in This Episode:

And The Ancestors Sing, by Radha Lin Chaddah

Bug Hollow, by Michelle Huneven

Skylark, by Paula McLain

Recipe for Joy, by Monica Comas

Follow Martha Conway:

Instagram: @marthamconway

Threads: @marthamconway

Substack: @marthaconway

marthaconway.com

**Writing Workshops:

If you liked this conversation and are interested in writing together, please consider the opportunities below.

For women interested in an online Saturday morning writing circle, you can sign up here.

For anyone interested in a May weekday accountability circle, you can sign up here.

For anyone in search of an evening class to jumpstart their creative practice, you can sign up here.

And if you’d like to travel with your writing, Annmarie is co-leading a writing retreat in Paris this June. Join us!

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Annie Hartnett is the award-winning author of three novels: Rabbit Cake, Unlikely Animals, and the national bestseller The Road to Tender Hearts, which won the 2025 New England Book Award for fiction and was named a best book of 2025 from NPR, LitHub, and Southern Living. In today’s episode, Annmarie and Annie discuss parenting worries, janky rental houses, and how to write a road trip book with or without a cat that can predict death.

Episode Sponsors:

Newtonville Books – An independent bookstore located at 10 Langley Rd, in Newton, Massachusetts -- in the old stone building at the north corner of the triangle parking lot. Come for the books. Stay for the books. And learn more and shop online at newtonvillebooks.com.

Blue Willow Bookshop – A locally-owned, independently-minded West Houston bookstore. Blue Willow is run by a team of opinionated, well-read women. Our staff meetings are full of laughter, our back room is full of snacks, and we absolutely love putting the right book into a reader’s hands. We’ve got recommendations. We’ve got pizzazz. And we look forward to welcoming you to our happy place. Stop in or shop online at bluewillowbookshop.com.

Titles Mentioned in This Episode: 

Rabbit Cake, by Annie Hartnett

Unlikely Animals, by Annie Hartnett

The Road to Tender Hearts, by Annie Hartnett

Margot’s Got Money Troubles, by Rufi Thorpe

Follow Annie Hartnett:

Instagram: @annie_hartnett

Threads: @annie_hartnett

Substack: @anniehartnett

anniehartnett.com

accountabilityworkshops.com

Photo credit: Traer Scott

**Writing Workshops: 

If you liked this conversation and are interested in writing together, please consider the opportunities below. 

For women interested in an online Saturday morning writing circle, you can sign up here. 

For anyone interested in a May weekday accountability circle, you can sign up here.

For anyone in search of an evening class to jumpstart their creative practice, you can sign up here.
And if you’d like to travel with your writing, Annmarie is co-leading a writing retreat in Paris this June. Join us!

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

Tara Pringle Jefferson is the founder of The Self Care Suite, a digital wellness community for Black women. Her voice has been featured on New York magazine’s The Cut, Black Enterprise, and Essence. In today’s episode, Annmarie and Tara discuss Bloom How You Must: A Black Woman’s Guide to Self-Care and Generational Healing, and the importance of both self-care and community care as a sustaining force for Black women.

Episode Sponsors:

Tastes & Tomes – A Black woman-owned, mission-driven, pop-up/mobile bookshop in Columbus, Ohio. Founded during the pandemic by author, poet, advocate, and educator, Tracy Ramey (pen name Tracy D.F. Resonance), Tastes & Tomes centers historically underrepresented stories, banned and challenged books, and indie authors. Find Tastes & Tomes online at bookshop.org/shop/tastesandtomes. And if you’re in the Columbus area today, April 7, 2026, come on out to Zora’s House for the Inaugural National Black Bookstore Day. Come support your local Black bookstore. Let’s celebrate and recognize literacy, knowledge, and those who paved the way before us.

Literary Cleveland – Developing writers, amplifying voices, and transforming our community through storytelling. Explore other voices and discover your own. Search for classes and find your creative community at litcleveland.org.

Titles Mentioned in This Episode:

Bloom How You Must: A Black Woman’s Guide to Self-Care and Generational Healing, by Tara Pringle Jefferson

Firstborn Girls, by Bernice L. McFadden

Dominion, by Addie E. Citchens

The Price of Exclusion: The Pursuit of Healthcare in a Segregated Nation, by Nicole Carr

Follow Tara Pringle Jefferson:

Facebook: @wherewomenbloom

Instagram: @wherewomenbloom

Threads: @wherewomenbloom

Substack: The Well Rested Black Woman

tarapringlejefferson.com

theselfcaresuite.com

**Writing Workshops:

If you liked this conversation and are interested in writing together, please consider the opportunities below.

For women interested in an online Saturday morning writing circle, you can sign up here.

For anyone interested in an evening class to jumpstart your creative practice, you can sign up here.

And if you’d like to travel with your writing, Annmarie is co-leading a writing retreat in Paris this June. Join us!

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

Melody Chu is a writer and attorney. The daughter of Chinese immigrants from Taiwan, she graduated from Princeton University and Harvard Law School and has practiced as an attorney in Hong Kong, Beijing and the United States. In today’s episode, Annmarie and Melody discuss her debut novel Mathey Girls. They also talk about independent publishing and the power of female friendships across distance, time, and grief. 

Episode Sponsors:

Loganberry Books – An independently owned and operated bookstore in the historic Larchmere neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. Loganberry features a carefully curated collection of new, used and rare books in all genres for both readers and collectors, with an inventory over 100,000 volumes. Find your next great read and shop online at loganberrrybooks.com.

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

Titles Mentioned in This Episode:

Mathey Girls, by Melody Chu

Kundun (1997) Official Trailer

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) Official Trailer

Follow Melody Chu:

Facebook: @MelodyChu

Instagram: @MelodyChu_author

Threads: @melodygchu

melodychuauthor.com

**Writing Workshops:

If you liked this conversation and are interested in writing together, please consider the opportunities below.

For women interested in an online Saturday morning writing circle, you can sign up here.

For anyone interested in an evening class to jumpstart your creative practice, you can sign up here.

And if you’d like to travel with your writing, Annmarie is co-leading a writing retreat in Paris this June. Join us!

Photo Credit: Melissa Lipnick, Life Unscripted Photography

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

Natalie Haynes is a writer, broadcaster and “rock star mythologist.” Her retelling of the Trojan War, A Thousand Ships, was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction and has been translated around the globe. She’s out now with No Friend to This House, a reimagining of the story of Medea. In today’s episode, Annmarie and Natalie poke fun at Perseus, demystify Greek myths, and discuss the relevance of classic literature in our modern world. 

Episode Sponsors:

Pocket Books – An independent, queer, feminist bookstore committed to the idea that bookstores are places for communities to share knowledge, wisdom, resources, and connections. We stock an intentional and eclectic selection of books that we hope will help you feel safe exploring something new. Pocket Books is a place of discovery where readers find support for their ideas and new interests. Stop by one of our Lancaster, Pennsylvania locations or shop online at pocketbooksshop.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.

Titles by Natalie Haynes: 

No Friend to This House

A Thousand Ships

The Children of Jocasta

Stone Blind

Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth

Pandora's Jar: Women in the Greek Myths

Additional Titles Mentioned in This Episode 

The Overstory, Playground, and Bewilderment, all by Richard Powers

O Brother, Where Art Thou? Official Trailer

Clash of the Titans (1981) Official Trailer

Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics

Follow Natalie Haynes:

Facebook: @nataliehaynesstandupclassicist

Twitter/X: @officialnhaynes

Instagram: @NatalieHaynesAuthor

Threads: @nataliehaynesauthor

Bluesky: @NatalieHaynes

nataliehaynes.com

**Writing Workshops: 

If you liked this conversation and are interested in writing together, please consider the opportunities below. 

For women interested in an online Saturday morning writing circle, you can sign up here. 

For anyone interested in an evening class to jumpstart your creative practice, you can sign up here.

And if you’d like to travel with your writing, Annmarie is co-leading a writing retreat in Paris this June. Join us!
Photo Credit: James Betts

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

Beth Ann Fennelly is the former poet laureate of Mississippi and the author of seven books, including Heating and Cooling and The Titled World. In today’s episode, Annmarie and Beth Ann discuss her latest book, The Irish Goodbye: Micro-Memoirs, and what we can learn from everyday moments observed with extraordinary clarity and humor.

Episode Sponsors:

Square Books – A general independent bookstore on the historic town square of Oxford, Mississippi, home of the University of Mississippi and many great writers, including William Faulkner, Barry Hannah, Larry Brown, and, for a time, both Willie Morris and John Grisham. Square Books is known for its strong selection of literary fiction, books on the American South and by Southern writers, and its emphasis on books for children. The store hosts the popular Thacker Mountain radio show and over 150 author events a year. Stop by our Oxford location or shop online at squarebooks.com.

Fountain Bookstore – An independent, general, full-service bookstore serving the Metro Richmond area and the world! Fountain hosts more author programming than any other entity in the state of Virginia. We also ship autographed copies worldwide. Come check us out! You’ll find enthusiastic booksellers happy to talk about their favorite titles. Or find us online at fountainbookstore.com.

Titles by Beth Ann Fennelly 

Open House

Tender Hooks

Unmentionables

Great with Child: Letters to a Young Mother

The Tilted World, coauthored with Tom Franklin

Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs 

The Irish Goodbye: Micro-Memoirs

Additional Titles Mentioned in This Episode 

House of Smoke, by John T. Edge

Me vs. Slugs: Pandemic Edition, by Beth Ann Fennelly

Outtakes from the Highlight Reel, by Beth Ann Fennelly

Follow Beth Ann Fennelly:

Facebook: @BethAnnFennelly

Instagram: @bethannfennelly

Threads: @bethannfennelly

Substack: The BethAnnigan

bethannfennelly.com

**Writing Workshops: 

If you liked this conversation and are interested in writing together, please consider the opportunities below. 

For women interested in an online Saturday morning writing circle, you can sign up here. 

For anyone interested in an evening class to jumpstart your creative practice, you can sign up here.

And if you’d like to travel with your writing, Annmarie is leading a writing retreat in Paris this June. Join us!

Photo Credit: Paul Gandy

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

Sadeqa Johnson is the New York Times Bestselling author of six award-winning novels, including Yellow Wife and The House of Eve. In today’s episode, Annmarie and Sadeqa discuss her latest novel, Keeper of Lost Children, and how one American woman’s vision in post WWII Germany changed the course of countless lives.

Episode Sponsors:

Fountain Bookstore – An independent, general, full-service bookstore serving the Metro Richmond area and the world! Fountain hosts more author programming than any other entity in the state of Virginia. We also ship autographed copies worldwide. Come check us out! You’ll find enthusiastic booksellers happy to talk about their favorite titles. Or find us online at fountainbookstore.com.

Politics and Prose – DC’s premier independent bookstore and cultural hub. At Politics and Prose, we’re devoted to cultivating community and strengthening the common good through books, programs, and a respectful exchange of ideas. And we’re committed to exceptional customer service and to the values of independence, inclusion, and diversity. Stop by one of our Washington, DC locations or shop online at politics-prose.com.

Titles by Sadeqa Johson 

Keeper of Lost Children

Yellow Wife

The House of Eve

Second House from the Corner

And Then There Was Me

Additional Titles Mentioned in This Episode 

Broken Country, by Clare Leslie Hall

Harlem Rhapsody, by Victoria Christopher Murray

Follow Sadeqa Johnson:

Facebook: @SadeqaJohnson

Instagram: @sadeqasays

TikTok: @sadeqasays

www.sadeqa.net

**Writing Workshops: 

If you liked this conversation and are interested in writing together, please consider the opportunities below. 

For women interested in an online Saturday morning writing circle, you can sign up here. 

For anyone interested in a memoir writing class, you can sign up here.

And if you’re looking to write and learn with Sadeqa, she’s hosting a writing retreat in Arcachon, France this April. You can sign up here.

And if you’d like to travel with Annmarie is leading a writing workshop in Paris this June.

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

Caitlin Vincent is an award-winning librettist, trained vocalist, opera company director and arts commentator. Her librettos have won all three of America’s top opera prizes, her vocal work is featured on the Grammy Award-nominated album 40@40, and her latest book, OPERA WARS, is out now. In today’s episode, Caitlin and Annmarie discuss the riotous world of opera and the battle for its future.

Episode Sponsors:

Rizzoli Bookstore – For over 60 years, Rizzoli has been recognized as one of America’s premier independent booksellers. Known for its curated selection of illustrated books on architecture, interior design, fashion, photography, cookery, and the fine and decorative arts, as well as literature and foreign language titles, Rizzoli remains a literary landmark of New York City and a destination for distinguished authors and book lovers from around the world. Stop by our Broadway location, or shop online at rizzolibookstore.com.

Politics and Prose – DC’s premier independent bookstore and cultural hub. At Politics and Prose, we’re devoted to cultivating community and strengthening the common good through books, programs, and a respectful exchange of ideas. And we’re committed to exceptional customer service and to the values of independence, inclusion, and diversity. Stop by one of our Washington, DC locations or shop online at politics-prose.com.

Title Mentioned in This Episode 

Opera Wars: Inside the World of Opera and the Battles for Its Future

Follow Caitlin Vincent:

Facebook: @Caitlin.Vincent

Instagram: @CaitlinCVincent

LinkedIn: @CaitlinVincent

Photo Credit: Ruth Schwarzenholz Photography

**Writing Workshops: 

If you liked this conversation and are interested in writing together, please consider the opportunities below. 

For women interested in an online Saturday morning writing circle, you can sign up here. 

For anyone interested in an online Saturday late morning writing circle, you can sign up here.

And if you’d like to travel with your writing practice, Annmarie is leading a writing workshop in Paris this June. Reservations open soon.

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

Paula McLain is the author of the New York Times bestselling novels, The Paris Wife, Circling the Sun, and Love and Ruin, and the instant bestseller When the Stars Go Dark. In today’s episode, Annmarie and Paula discuss McLain’s latest novel, Skylark, and the parallel stories of courage and resistance that transcend time.

Episode Sponsors:

Loganberry Books – An independently owned and operated bookstore in the historic Larchmere neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. Loganberry features a carefully curated collection of new, used and rare books in all genres for both readers and collectors, with an inventory over 100,000 volumes. Find your next great read and shop online at loganberrrybooks.com.

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.

Books by Paula McLain:

The Paris Wife

Circling the Sun

Love and Ruin

When the Stars Go Dark

Skylark

Like Family: Growing Up in Other People’s Houses, a Memoir

A Ticket to Ride



Follow Paula McLain:

Facebook: @PaulaMcLainAuthor

Instagram: @Paula_McLain

paulamclain.com

Photo Credit: Liesa Cole

**Writing Workshops:

If you liked this conversation and are interested in writing together, please consider the opportunities below.

For women interested in an online Saturday morning writing circle, you can sign up here.

For anyone interested in an online Saturday afternoon writing circle, you can sign up here.

And if you’d like to travel with your writing practice, Annmarie is leading a writing workshop in Paris this June. Reservations open soon.

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

Sarah Freligh is the author of seven books, including Sad Math, winner of the 2014 Moon City Press Poetry Prize, Hereafter, winner of the 2024 Bath Novella-in-Flash Contest, and A Brief Natural History of Women. Her work has appeared in numerous literary journals and is anthologized in New Micro: Exceptionally Short Fiction, Best Small Fiction 2022, and several editions of Best Microfiction. In this episode, Sarah and Annmarie discuss holiday traditions, the importance of both maintaining and breaking with creative routines, and how writing can be an invaluable way to process life’s heartache and joy.

Episode Sponsors:

Pocket Books – An independent, queer, feminist bookstore committed to the idea that bookstores are places for communities to share knowledge, wisdom, resources, and connections. We stock an intentional and eclectic selection of books that we hope will help you feel safe exploring something new. Pocket Books is a place of discovery where readers find support for their ideas and new interests. Stop by one of our Lancaster, Pennsylvania locations or shop online at pocketbooksshop.com.

Hidden Barn Books – An independent bookstore in Bar Harbor, Maine.  Come browse for books! Isn't searching for that next book, not knowing what you might find, wonderfully stimulating and relaxing? We invite you to come and linger, pore through our books, and enjoy your time exploring. Or find us online at hiddenbarnbooks.com.

Books by Sarah Freligh:

Other Emergencies

Sad Math

A Brief Natural History of Women

We

Hereafter

Dear You

Sort of Gone

Other Titles Mentioned in This Episode

The God of the Woods, by Liz Moore

Long Bright River, by Liz Moore

Olive Kitteridge, by Elizabeth Strout

The Intentions of Thunder, by Patricia Smith

You Could Make This Place Beautiful, by Maggie Smith

How the Word Is Passed, by Clint Smith

Follow Sarah Freligh:

Facebook: @SarahFreligh

Twitter/X: @sfreligh

Instagram: @sfreligh

sarahfreligh.com

Photo Credit: Walter Colley Images

**Writing Workshops: 

If you liked this conversation and are interested in writing together, please consider the opportunities below. 

For women interested in an online Saturday morning writing circle, you can sign up here. 

For anyone interested in an online Saturday afternoon writing circle, you can sign up here.

If you’re interested in growing your own practice as a writing instructor, you can learn more about an upcoming teacher training class here.

And if you’d like to travel with your writing practice, Annmarie is co-leading a women’s writing workshop in Santa Fe, NM in April. Reservations are now open.

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

Kate Baer is a writer and #1 New York Times bestselling author of four books, including her latest, How About Now. In this episode, Kate and Annmarie discuss women’s health, the importance of vulnerability and connection, and how in order to write you have to be willing to fail.

Episode Sponsors:

Pocket Books – An independent, queer, feminist bookstore committed to the idea that bookstores are places for communities to share knowledge, wisdom, resources, and connections. We stock an intentional and eclectic selection of books that we hope will help you feel safe exploring something new. Pocket Books is a place of discovery where readers find support for their ideas and new interests. Stop by one of our Lancaster, Pennsylvania locations or shop online at pocketbooksshop.com.

Hidden Barn Books – An independent bookstore in Bar Harbor, Maine. Come browse for books! Isn't searching for that next book, not knowing what you might find, wonderfully stimulating and relaxing? We invite you to come and linger, pore through our books, and enjoy your time exploring. Or find us online at hiddenbarnbooks.com.

Books by Kate Baer:

How About Now

And Yet

What Kind of Woman

I Hope This Finds You Well

Other Titles Mentioned in This Episode

The Correspondent, by Virginia Evans

Heart the Lover, by Lily King

The Road to Tender Hearts, by Annie Hartnett

Martyr!, by Kaveh Akbar

Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple

Here’s a trailer for the TV show Arrested Development.

Follow Kate Baer:

Instagram: @katejbaer

Twitter/X: @KateJBaer

katebaer.com

**Writing Workshops:

If you liked this conversation and are interested in writing together, please consider the opportunities below.

For women interested in an online Saturday morning writing circle, you can sign up here.

For anyone interested in an online Saturday afternoon writing circle, you can sign up here.

If you’re interested in growing your own practice as a writing instructor, you can learn more about an upcoming teacher training class here.

And if you’d like to travel with your writing practice, Annmarie is co-leading a women’s writing workshop in Santa Fe, NM in April. Reservations are now open.

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