Episode 6: Romance, Why Choose, and the SJM Controversy

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]

Episode 8: Interview With Bestselling Author Nisha J. Tuli

Welcome to a particularly exciting episode of Books & BS! In this episode Alyssa and Eb give an update on their hectic month, they finally discuss the book recommendations they gave each other, AND they interview best selling author Nisha J. Tuli. You might know her for her Artefacts of Ouranos series (Trial Of The Sun Queen) or her rom com, Not Safe For Work. In this episode we chat with her about her upcoming book release for STORM BREAKER, a YA Dystopian releasing on May 5. We ask her about her writing process, where she draws her inspiration from, and she teases some of her upcoming projects she'll be annoucing real soon! As always, this episode is spoiler-free. Below are a list of the books we discuss with links to purchase from Indie Bookstores. Trial Of The Sun Queen - Nisha J. Tuli [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/trial-of-the-sun-queen-nisha-j-tuli?rq=trial%20of%20the%20sun%20queen%20] Legendborn - Tracy Deonn [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/legendborn-tracy-deonn?rq=legendborn] Red City - Marie Lu [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781250885678] Katabasis - R.F. Kuang [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/in6hwl0i32g9xg5vcyzvvukpffpl6o?rq=katabasis] Yellowface - R.F. Kuang [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/yellowface-large-print-edition-rf-kuang?rq=yellowface] The Poppy War - R.F. Kuang [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/the-poppy-war-rf-kuang?rq=poppy%20war] Babel - R.F. Kuang [https://www.editionsbookstore.com/product/55916/Babel-Or-the-Necessity-of-Violence-An-Arcane-History-of-the-Oxford-Translators-Revolution] Shield of Sparrows - Devney Perry [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/shield-of-sparrows-devney-perry?rq=shield%20of%20sparrows] Rites of the Starling - Devney Perry [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/preorder-rites-of-starling-devney-perry?rq=rites] When The Moon Hatched - Sarah A. Parker [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9780063415805] Praise - Sara Cate [https://parkroadbooks.com/search?q=praise] Starside - Alex Aster [https://www.editionsbookstore.com/product/55660/Starside-Deluxe-Limited-Edition] Martyr! - Kaveh Akbar [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/matyr-kaveh-akbar?rq=martyr!] The 57 Bus - Dashka Slater [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9780374303235] The Thursday Murder Club - Richard Osman [https://www.editionsbookstore.com/product/55845/The-Thursday-Murder-Club-A-Novel-A-Thursday-Murder-Club-Mystery] Big Swiss - Jen Beagin [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781982153090] Lights Out - Navessa Allen [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/lights-out-navessa-allen?rq=lights%20out] The Women - Kristin Hannah [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/the-women-kristin-hannah?rq=the%20women] The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah [https://www.editionsbookstore.com/product/49039/The-Nightingale-A-Novel] Crucible - B.B. Reid [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/crucible-bb-reid?rq=crucibl] Storm Breaker - Nisha J. Tuli [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/storm-breaker-nisha-j-tuli?rq=storm%20breaker] Too Cold For Comfort - Nisha J. Tuli Not Safe For Work - Nisha J. Tuli [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/xhc9vcn8ba3ic46b7fh4h2q0r5c7ka?rq=not%20safe%20for%20work]

Episode 7: Amazon, Book Crawls, and Everything Is FINE

Welcome back to another epsidoe of Books & BS. In this one you'll hear Eb and Alyssa talk about the realities of business ownership and life, the bizarre books they've been enjoying, and all things Amazon: the latest kindle news, their predatory practicies, and more. As always, this episode is spoiler-free. Here are all the books discussed in the episode, with links to purchase each from an indie bookstore: On Wings of Blood - Briar Boleyn [https://www.editionsbookstore.com/product/54654/On-Wings-of-Blood-Standard-Edition-Original] The Poet Empress - Shen Tao [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/the-poet-empress-shen-tao?rq=the%20poet%20empress] Red City - Marie Lu [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9781250885678] The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K. Le Guin [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/the-left-hand-of-darkness-ursula-k-le-guin?rq=the%20left%20hand%20of%20darkness] Know My Name - Chanel Miller [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/know-my-name-chanel-miller?rq=know%20my%20name] When We Lost Our Heads - Heather O'Neill [https://parkroadbooks.com/book/9780593422915] Martyr! - Kaveh Akbar [https://www.thatsnovelbooks.com/shop/p/matyr-kaveh-akbar?rq=martyr]