Episode 13: Fantastic Books, ARCs, And Reading Black Trauma

Episode 13: Fantastic Books, ARCs, And Reading Black Trauma

We're thrilled to have another new guest on this episode: That's Novel Bookseller Dezanii! We were lucky enough to snag an advanced reader's copy of Mazywood, Tananarive Due's newest book coming out September 22. Tananarive Due is one of Dezanii's favorite authors, so she devoured the book and joins us to discuss this book as well as another one of her favorites, The Reformatory. Jumping off from this discussion, we talk about what it's like to read stories featuring Black trauma as Black readers, and its importance for everyone's reading journey. We also hear from Alyssa and Eb on their latest reads. Just a heads up: there is a minor spoiler from 34-36 minutes for the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, so skip that section if you'd like to avoid! As always, here are the books we discussed this episode: Blood & Betrayals - Jeanette Rose For Whom The Belle Tolls - Jaysea Lynn [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781668208809] The Belles of Wrath - Jaysea Lynn [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/preorder-the-belles-of-wrath-jaysea-lynn] The Gate of Feral Gods - Matt Dinniman [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/the-gate-of-the-feral-gods-matt-dinniman?rq=matt%20dinniman] The Butcher's Masquerade - Matt Dinniman [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/the-butchers-masquerade-matt-dinniman?rq=matt%20dinniman] Annihilation - Jeff VanderMeer [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781250824042] Another Appalachia - Neema Avashia [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/another-appalachia-neema-avashia?rq=another%20appalachia] My Friends - Fredrik Backman [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/my-friends-fredrik-backman?rq=my%20friends] A Man Called Ove - Fredrik Backman [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781476738024] Beartown - Fredrik Backman [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781501160776] Sunrise On The Reaping - Suzanne Collins [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/sunrise-on-the-reaping-suzanne-collins?rq=sunrise%20on%20the%20reaping] Anxious People - Fredrik Backman [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781501160844] Us Against You - Fredrik Backman [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781501160806] My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You I'm Sorry - Fredrik Backman [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781501115073] Britt-Marie Was Here - Fredrik Backman [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781501142543] Sadako And The Thousand Paper Cranes - Eleanor Coerr [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9780142401132] Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/yesteryear-caro-claire-burke?rq=yesteryear] The Reformatory - Tananarive Due [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/the-reformatory-tananarive-due?rq=the%20reformatory] Mazywood - Tananarive Due [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/preorder-mazywood-tananarive-due?rq=mazywood] The Nickel Boys - Colson Whitehead [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/the-nickel-boys-colson-whitehead?rq=the%20nickel%20boys] Reel - Kennedy Ryan [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/reel-kennedy-ryan?rq=reel] Ace of Spades - Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/ace-of-spades-faridah-bk-ymd?rq=ace%20of%20spades] Love - Toni Morrison [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/events-1/february-book-club?rq=love] All About Love - bell hooks [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/all-about-love-new-visions-bell-hooks?rq=all%20about%20love] Women, Race & Class - Angela Davis [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/women-race-class-angela-davis?rq=angela%20davis]

Episode 12: Lots Of Books And Alt-Bezos Recommendations

This week's episode as a whole lot of great book recommendations thanks to Eb and Alyssa getting a bunch of quality reading time in the past few weeks! On top of that, they're returning to their Amazon swaps discussion, with recommendations for alternatives for audiobooks and e-readers for those looking to move away from supporting Amazon as it relates to books. This episode is spoiler free - check out all the books discussed below! Mazywood - Tananarive Due [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/preorder-mazywood-tananarive-due?rq=mazywood] The Reformatory - Tananarive Due [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/the-reformatory-tananarive-due?rq=the%20reformatory] Pleasure, Please - Ashley Cobb [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/pleasure-please-ashley-cobb] Enigma - RuNyx [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/enigma-runyx?rq=enigma] Gothikana - RuNyx [https://www.editionsbookstore.com/product/55778/Gothikana] Blackthorn - J.T. Geissinger [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781250379139] Ruthless Creatures - J.T. Geissinger [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781250346704] Carnal Urges - J.T. Geissinger [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781250346667] Savage Hearts - J.T. Geissinger [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781250388261] Brutal Vows - J.T. Geissinger [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781250388254] Nero - S.J. Tilly [https://www.editionsbookstore.com/product/54623/Nero] Butcher & Blackbird - Brynne Weaver [https://www.editionsbookstore.com/product/58605/Butcher-Blackbird-The-Ruinous-Love-Trilogy-The-Ruinous-Love-Trilogy-1] Harvest Season - Brynne Weaver [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/preorder-harvest-season-brynne-weaver?rq=brynne%20weaver] Tourist Season - Brynne Weaver [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/tourist-season-brynne-weaver?rq=brynne%20weaver] Blood and Betrayals - Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune [https://www.editionsbookstore.com/product/58520/Blood-Betrayals] A Brush With Love - Mazey Eddings [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781250805980] Cemetary Boys - Aiden Thomas [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781250792075] Mirrored Heavens - Rebecca Roanhorse [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/mirrored-heavens-rebecca-roanhorse?rq=mirrored%20heavens] Honey And Spice - Bolu Babalola [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/honey-spice-bolu-babalola?rq=bolu%20babalola] Sweet Heat - Bolu Babalola [https://www.editionsbookstore.com/product/58626/Sweet-Heat] Love In Color - Bolu Babalola [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9780063078505] This Is How You Lose The Time War - Amal El Mothar and Max Gladstone [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/this-is-how-you-lose-the-time-war-amal-el-mohtar-and-max-gladstone?rq=this%20is%20how%20you%20lose%20the%20time%20war] Annihilation - Jeff Vandermeer [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781250824042] Shutter Island - Dennis Lehane [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9780063072930] Storm Breaker - Nisja J. Tuli [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/storm-breaker-nisha-j-tuli?rq=storm%20breaker]

Episode 11: Trademarks, 6-Month Check-Ins, And Don't Tell Me To Smile

Eb and Alyssa are back in a solo episode this week, and boy is it a fun one. They start off hot with some celebrity gossip and how to respond to cat callers before moving into a check-in to see where they are 6 months into the year. They also chat about the recent bookish trademark drama that's taken over the internet. This episode is spoiler-free. All books discussed are listed below with links where you can purchase them from indie bookstores. The Brit - Jodi Ellen Malpas [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/the-brit-jodi-ellen-malpas?rq=the%20brit] The Book of Alchemy - Suleika Jaouad [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/the-book-of-alchemy-suleika-jaouad?rq=the%20book%20of%20alchemy] The Poet Empress - Shen Tao [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/the-poet-empress-shen-tao?rq=the%20poet%20empress] This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me - Ilona Andrews [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781250377265] The Women - Kristen Hannah [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/the-women-kristin-hannah?rq=the%20women] The Resurrection - Jodi Ellen Malpas [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781649379481] Chain-Gang All-Stars - Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/chain-gang-all-stars-nana-kwame-adjei-brenyah?rq=chain%20gang%20all%20stars] How We Show Up - Mia Birdsong [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/how-we-show-up-mia-birdsong?rq=how%20we%20show%20up] The Lion Women of Tehran - Marjan Kamali [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/the-lion-women-of-tehran-marjan-kamali?rq=the%20lion%20women%20of%20tehran] Payback's A Witch - Lana Harper [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9780593336069] The School for Good Mothers - Jessamine Chan [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781982156138] Evicted - Matthew Desmond [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9780553447453] Mirrored Heavens - Rebecca Roanhorse [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/mirrored-heavens-rebecca-roanhorse?rq=mirrored%20heavens] A Brush With Love - Mazey Eddings [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781250805980] Carl's Doomsday Scenario - Matt Dinniman [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/carls-doomsday-scenario-matt-dinniman] The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook - Matt Dinniman [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/the-dungeon-anarchists-cookbook-matt-dinniman] Losers Part 1 - Harley Laroux [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/losers-part-one-harley-laroux?rq=losers] Losers Part 2 - Harley Laroux [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/losers-part-two-harley-laroux?rq=losers] Enigma - RuNyx [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/enigma-runyx?rq=enigma]

Episode 10: Men, Undeserved Redemption Arcs And The Kindred's Curse Saga

A big heads up before you begin this episode: THERE ARE SPOILERS. Around 1 hour 20 minutes, we begin discussing the Kindred's Curse Saga by Penn Cole in more depth. If you have not finished all three books in this series, we do not recommend listening past that point unless you are okay with spoilers! This week we're thrilled to have special guest Andrea McRae on the podcast! Andrea is one of the booksellers at That's Novel and the reason why over half of our staff is obsessed with The Kindred's Curse Saga by Penn Cole. Following Cole's announcement of Burn Of The Everflame, the final book in the series, we have her on to discuss the series as a whole and her hopes for the final book. Books we mention with links to purchase them at indie bookstores: Red Rising - Pierce Brown [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/red-rising-pierce-brown?rq=red%20rising] The Neverlist - Jade Presley [https://www.editionsbookstore.com/product/56614/Never-List-Deluxe-Limited-Edition] Dungeon Crawler Carl - Matt Dinniman [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/dungeon-crawler-carl-matt-dinniman?rq=dungeon%20crawler%20carl] When The Moon Hatched - Sarah A. Parker [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/when-the-moon-hatched-sarah-a-parker?rq=when%20the%20moon%20hatched] The Ballad of Falling Dragons - Sarah A. Parker [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/preorder-the-ballad-of-falling-dragons-sarah-a-parker?rq=ballad%20] The Island Women of the Sea - Lisa See [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781501154867] Bride - Ali Hazelwood [https://www.editionsbookstore.com/product/55703/Bride] Mate - Ali Hazelwood [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/preorder-mate-ali-hazelwood-1?rq=bride] The School For Good Mothers - Jessamine Chan [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781982156138] The Push - Ashley Audrain [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/the-push-ashley-audrain?rq=push] Verity - Colleen Hoover [https://www.editionsbookstore.com/product/51821/Verity] Tender Is The Flesh - Agustina Bazterrica [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/tender-is-the-flesh-agustina-bazterrica?rq=tender%20is%20the%20flesh] Payback's A Witch - Lana Popović [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9780593336069] Spark of the Everflame - Penn Cole [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/spark-of-the-everflame-penn-cole?rq=spark%20of%20the%20everflame] Everything Is Tuberculosis - John Green [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9780525556572] The Anthropocene Reviewed - John Green [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/the-anthropocene-reviewed-john-green?rq=john%20green] The Fault In Our Stars - John Green [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9780142424179] Looking For Alaska - John Green [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9780142402511] Hollywood, Ending - John Green [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/preorder-signed-copies-hollywood-ending-john-green?rq=john%20green] Burn of the Everflame - Penn Cole [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/preorder-burn-of-the-everflame-penn-cole?rq=burn%20of%20the%20everflame]

Episode 9: Special Guest Author Marissa Serrao And The Return To The Amazon Discussion

Welcome back to another fun episode of Books & BS with your favorite hosts, Eb and Alyssa. In this one you'll get some fantastic reading updates from each, but we've got another special treat: Charlotte romantasy author Marissa Serrao is joining us and giving us all the nitty gritty of what working with Amazon as an indie author is like. We're talking royalties, Kindle Unlimited, selling on TikTok, receiving edits, the pros and cons of indie publishing vs. trad publishing, and the true grind it takes to be an indie author full time. It's a long one, but full of great discussion. As always, this episode is spoiler free, but all the books we discuss, with links to purchase them from independent bookstores, are listed below: Outlander - Diana Gabaldon [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9780385319959] When The Moon Hatched - Sarah A. Parker [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9780063415805] Starside - Alex Aster [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9780063462434] Stormside - Alex Aster [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/preorder-stormside-deluxe-edition-alex-aster] Fury Bound - Sabel Sorensen [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/fury-bound-sable-sorensen?rq=fury%20bound] Dire Bound - Sabel Sorensen [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/dire-bound-sable-sorenson?rq=dire%20bound%20] This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me - Ilona Andrews [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781250377265] Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/fourth-wing-rebecca-yarros?rq=fourth%20wing] The Poet Empress - Shen Tao [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/the-poet-empress-shen-tao?rq=the%20poet%20empress%20] I Probably Should Have Gone To Therapy - Darah DeWalt [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/i-probably-should-have-gone-to-therapy-darah-dewalt?rq=darah] On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous - Ocean Vuong [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/on-earth-were-briefly-gorgeous-ocean-vuong?rq=on%20earth%20we%27re%20briefly%20gorgeous%20] Martyr! - Kaveh Akbar [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/matyr-kaveh-akbar?rq=martyr] This Time Tomorrow - Emma Straub [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9780525539018] The Midnight Library - Matt Haig [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/the-midnight-library-matt-haig?rq=the%20midnight%20Library%20] Not Safe For Work - Nisha J. Tuli [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/xhc9vcn8ba3ic46b7fh4h2q0r5c7ka?rq=not%20safe%20for%20work%20] Then She Was Gone - Lisa Jewell [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781501154652] Mate - Ali Hazelwood [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/preorder-mate-ali-hazelwood-1?rq=mate] The School For Good Mothers - Jessamine Chan [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781982156138] The Island of Sea Women - Lisa See [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781501154867] Between Mischief and Magic - Marissa Serrao [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/between-mischief-and-magic-marissa-serrao?rq=marissa%20serrao] Between Salt and Serenades - Marissa Serrao [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/between-salt-and-serenades-marissa-serrao?rq=marissa%20serrao] Between Broomsticks and Beating Wings - Marissa Serrao [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/between-broomsticks-and-beating-wings-marissa-serrao?rq=marissa%20serrao]