It's solo episode time! I'm using this opportunity to wrap up what was honestly a pretty uneventful summer and share my massive excitement for the upcoming fall season. While summer was quiet, I am absolutely living for what's ahead, cool weather, changing leaves, and all the cozy fall vibes. I dive into my fall photography project ideas and get really excited talking about my seasonal reading plans. While I'm usually a mood reader who picks up whatever calls to me regardless of season, spooky season is the one exception to that rule! This fall I'm planning to dive deep into horror and thriller reads, and this year I'm adding dark academia to the mix for the first time. If you're someone who gets as hyped about fall as I do, or if you're looking for some spooky reading inspiration, this episode is pure autumn anticipation energy. Consider this your official fall hype session!

This week I'm joined by New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author Ruth Cardello! This was such a fun conversation diving into Ruth's impressive writing career that spans over a decade. We explore her origins in self-publishing back in 2011 and her journey into traditional publishing, getting the inside scoop on both sides of the industry. Ruth shares candidly about the changes she's witnessed in publishing over the years, as well as the inevitable ups and downs that come with any creative career. Whether you're an aspiring author or any kind of creative entrepreneur, you'll love Ruth's practical advice about writing, the business side of publishing, and marketing strategies that apply far beyond just books. Her insights into navigating a long-term creative career are invaluable, and her perspective on the evolving publishing landscape is fascinating. A must-listen for anyone curious about the writing life or building a sustainable creative career!

Ruth Cardello's Links

https://ruthcardello.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ruthcardello

https://www.tiktok.com/@author.ruthcardello

This week I'm joined by fellow TikToker C.Dotcentral! She's a BookToker, anime fan, history enthusiast, and so much more. Her content focuses on reading diversely, both in terms of authors and genres. Bringing variety and representation to her book recommendations. We dive into our reading journeys, swap bookish stories, and get into the nitty-gritty of content creation, how we both got started and what keeps us passionate about creating. C.Dotcentral also shares her excitement about expanding into longer-form content on YouTube, and we chat about the challenges and opportunities that come with growing across platforms. This was such a fun, casual hang filled with bookish conversations and creator insights. Perfect for anyone who loves hearing about diverse reading or is curious about the content creation journey!

https://www.tiktok.com/@c.dotcentral

This week I'm joined by my BookTok friend Lauren, aka LaurenReadsHistory! Lauren is a fantastic content creator who focuses primarily on nonfiction books, especially history titles, bringing educational content to BookTok in her own unique way. We dive into both her content creation journey and her broader reading journey, exploring how she carved out her niche in the history book space. We also discover our shared passion for photography and get into the technical side, discussing gear, techniques, and Lauren's professional videography work. Whether you're interested in nonfiction recommendations, curious about building a specialized BookTok presence, or just love hearing about the intersection of creative pursuits, this conversation offers insights into balancing educational content with engaging social media presence.

Laurens Socials

https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenreadshistory

https://www.instagram.com/l_maharaj/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/lmcreativefilm/?hl=en

This week I'm joined by Zoe Yohn, a fellow BookToker, podcaster, and writer! Zoe hosts the Broken Spine Social Club podcast, and we dive into her reading journey and how she's built her own corner of the book community. We discover our shared passion for journaling and discuss the intentional move toward a more analog way of living in our increasingly digital world. Whether you're interested in hearing from another creator balancing multiple creative pursuits, looking for journaling inspiration, or curious about finding balance between online content creation and offline mindfulness, this conversation offers thoughtful insights into living more intentionally while still engaging with the digital book community.

Zoe's Links

https://www.tiktok.com/@zoeyohn

https://pastecc.com/zoe-links

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/broken-spine-social-club/id1742652203

https://open.spotify.com/show/6uDCmsGHpQGf5vjTsd5SlH

This week I'm joined by fellow BookToker, podcaster, and debut author Evan Leikam! Evan hosts the Book Reviews Kill podcast and has built a successful BookTok presence, but this year he added 'published author' to his resume with his debut novel Anji Kills a King. We dive into our current reads, discuss the art of DNFing, and explore Evan's writing journey. Plus, you'll hear the incredible story of how he landed his literary agent through a TikTok live stream, proving that social media can lead to real publishing opportunities. We also talk about how Evan weaves real-world themes into his fantasy world, creating stories that entertain while tackling meaningful issues. Whether you're interested in the publishing process, BookTok success, or just love hearing from multi-talented creators, this conversation delivers.

Evans Links

https://www.tiktok.com/discover/evan-leikam

https://www.instagram.com/book_reviews_kill/?hl=en

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/book-reviews-kill/id1600627002

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/51035006.Evan_Leikam

This week on Books and Beyond, I'm joined by BookTok and Bookstagram creator Sam Boyd! We dive into our reading journeys and how Sam originally started creating content in the makeup niche before finding her way to BookTok. Sam shares her recent shift into 'BookTok bro' type books and we geek out about her current obsession with Dungeon Crawler Carl. Including the story behind her recent Princess Donut tattoo! Whether you're curious about genre transitions, the evolution of BookTok, or just want to hear two book lovers chat about their latest reads, this conversation has something for everyone.

Sam's Socials

https://www.tiktok.com/@samboydreads

https://www.instagram.com/samboydreads/

Author Dartanyan Johnson joins me for an honest conversation about the indie author life. We share our reading journeys, explore how he got started writing, and discuss his current releases and future book plans. Dartanyan opens up about the reality of independent publishing, juggling writing with marketing, promotion, and all the business side that comes with being your own publisher. A candid look at the challenges and rewards of following your creative passion in the indie publishing world.

Dartanyan's Links

https://www.tiktok.com/@author3djohnson

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dartanyan-Johnson/author/B0893X5NDZ?ref=dbs_mng_calw_0&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=2a24122f-6a84-465b-b832-9467943d0b92