Happy New Year Libration Nation! We are kicking off the year with Heartbeat by Terreece M. Clarke, a romance suspense novel in which Mike and Maya find love in the midst of danger and messiness. This is the first book in Clarke’s Courageous Love Series, and with excellent characters and diverse voices, it is a favorite of this week’s guest, Liz Bullard!

Liz Bullard is a multi-genre author, therapist, and coach known for her captivating storytelling and passion for helping creatives overcome obstacles. Her notable works include The Prophecy Series and the Lira Somers Mysteries—praised for fast-paced plots, vivid characters, and movie-like imagery. Liz’s love of reading and writing is evident in the eReads Podcast, where she celebrates the power of creativity and storytelling. When she’s not writing, coaching, or recording the podcast, she’s cooking, reading, or spending time with Preston the corgi.

Our drink this week is a Hibiscus French 75 Mocktail, using one of my favorite syrups Wild Hibiscus, which includes hibiscus flowers that make the cocktail match Heartbeat’s cover!

Ingredients

1 oz NA gin

.5 oz Wild Hibiscus syrup

.5 oz fresh lemon juice

NA Sparkling wine

Ice

Lemon twist or edible flower (for garnish)

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the gin, wild hibiscus syrup, and fresh lemon juice.

2. Fill the shaker with ice and shake well for about 15-20 seconds until the mixture is chilled.

3. Place hibiscus flower from the syrup in a champagne flute.

4. Pour mixture from shaker into flute

5. Top it off: Gently top off the drink with your choice of chilled NA sparkling wine.

In this Episode

Terreece M. Clarke’s Website

James Patterson

Janet Evanovich

Hello Libration Nation! This week I am joined by Nick George, a poet and educator, to discuss This Is The Honey an anthology of poems edited by Kwame Alexander. We talked about Nick’s journey with poetry, the significance of diverse voices in poetic anthologies, and the importance of seeing yourself reflected in stories. We read and analyze poems from the anthology, including works by Mahogany L. Brown and Jabari Asim. This is the last episode of 2025 as I’m taking a little break to relax and spend time with my family. Looking forward to some great episodes coming out in 2026!

Nicholas Steven George (or, Nick George the Poet) is a poet, educator, DJ and facilitator. He has performed at venues such as TedXCharlottesville, American Psychology Association Annual Convention, University of Lynchburg & Opera Roanoke. In performing his original work, he has opened for renowned poets like Jasmine Mans, Levi the Poet, Alysia Harris, Black Ice & Joshua Bennett. His work dwells at the intersection of culture, identity and spirituality. He has been writing, performing, and teaching for more than two decades. Nick’s award-winning work has been featured in a variety of industries and highlighted on platforms on the local and nationwide scale, ranging from private group facilitation and workshops, 1 on 1 coaching, and virtual/in-person performances. Find him on his website or on social media.

Moscow Mule

2 oz vodka

1 oz fresh lime juice

4 oz ginger beer

Fresh mint leaves (about 8-10)

Lime wedge (for garnish)

Ice

Copper mug (traditional)

In the bottom of a copper mug, add the fresh mint leaves. Gently muddle them with a muddler or the back of a spoon to release their oils.

Fill the mug with ice cubes.

Pour the vodka and fresh lime juice over the ice.

Top off with ginger beer, stirring gently to combine all ingredients.

Garnish with a lime wedge and a sprig of fresh mint.

Enjoy your refreshing Moscow Mule!

In this Episode

Drinks in the Library Merch

Sonya Sanchez

Langston Hughes

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

Amiri Baraka Black Art

Hello libration nation! This week's book is The Gunslinger by Stephen King a dark twisted fantasy novel and the first book in King’s The Dark Tower series. It follows the journey of Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger, as he traverses a desolate and mysterious landscape in pursuit of the enigmatic Man in Black. The story blends elements of fantasy, horror, and Western, exploring themes of destiny, obsession, and the nature of good and evil, as Roland confronts both external foes and his own inner demons on his quest to reach the Dark Tower, the nexus of all universes.

Guest

Bill Blume was determined to be a writer from a young age, often taking the lead in crafting adventures during childhood games in South Carolina. After graduating from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Broadcast Journalism, he worked as a TV news producer before transitioning to a dispatcher role for Henrico County Police in 2001. In Richmond, he and his wife became active in the local writing community, contributing to James River Writers, where he served on the board and continues to engage with fellow writers and industry professionals.He is the author of several books, and has an upcoming novel, To Hell and Back coming out January 20th, 2026.

Our drink this week was a Dark & Stormy, the perfect dark and spicy drink to pair with an anti-hero like Roland Deschain.

In This Episode

Sh*tty First Draft - Anne Lamott

George Lucas Star Wars changes

Original Gunslinger vs. Revised Edition

Shiver by Maggie Steifvater

James River Writers

Books by Stephen King

Battle of the Planets Series

Malinda Lo Books

NK Jemison Books

Erin Bowman Books

West of Apocalypse by Bill Blume

Richmond SPCA

Richmond Animal League

Sarah Glenn Marsh

This week’s book is Kindred by Octavia Butler, a time-traveling story about Dana, who goes back in time to ensure the survival of her ancestors: an enslaved woman named Alice and her enslaver, Rufus. This complicated yet entrancing narrative is multifaceted, and my guest this week, Alethea McCollin, and I had a great conversation about the ways Butler challenges her readers to think about the implications of our actions and how they shape the future.

Alethea McCollin is a multifaceted artist as a playwright, director, producer, actor, and founder of Orange Stilettos Productions, llc, known for her award-winning production of The Stilettos Monologues at the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival. She has produced various works, including her play Renaming Shaim at Theatre Row, New York City, and directed her first short film, The Next Great Writer, showcased at the Virginia Screenwriters Forum. Additionally, Alethea serves as Executive Secretary on the Board of Directors of James River Writers and is an English instructor at Virginia State University.

Our drink this week is one of Alethea’s favorite’s: Blackberry Citrus Tea, which is perfect for sitting by the fire curling up with a good book!

In this Episode

Drinks in the Library Merch

Kindred by Octavia Butler

James River Writers

Virginia State UniversityBooks by Toni Morrison

Books by Gabrielle García Márquez

Books by Isabel Allende

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, an American Slave by Frederick Douglas

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

Happy Thanksgiving! I’m taking the week to relax with family. Please enjoy the re-airing of this recording, which originally aired December 17, 2024.

Hello Libration Nation! This week we are discussing the classic series Animorphsby K.A. Applegate. Animorphs is a collection of 54 middle-grade books in which five young adults are gifted the power to morph into animals. It was a bit of a cult phenomenon when it was originally published in the late '90s and has recently seen a resurgence online.

My guest is Fiona Fenn. Fiona is an author of fantasy novels that put complicated “heroes” front and center. A fan of villains, redemption arcs, and intense explorations of healing in all its forms, her debut novel, The Crack at the Heart of Everything, is a love letter to every villain who wanted to do better but never got the chance.

I so enjoyed this conversation with Fiona, talking about the Animorphs series and her love for it, as well as her experience writing and publishing her first novel and everything that goes into this process.

Our drink this week is a Flying Saucer, as the Animorphs series begins with the kids meeting an alien who has flown to Earth

Flying Saucer Recipe (from Bevvy.com)

INGREDIENTS

1 oz Amaretto Di Saronno liqueur

1 oz Kahlua coffee liqueur

3 oz cream

3 oz ice

Combine in blender until smooth and creamy, serve with cinnamon stick for garnish!

In this Episode

Fiona Fenn’s Website

Buy The Crack at the Heart of Everything by Fiona Fenn

Michael Grant Gone series

Tiny Fox Press

Animorphs Aloud

Queer Liberation Library

KA Applegate Website

Free Animorphs PDFs

Fiona Fenn’s Substack

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary is a charming romantic comedy about two strangers, Tiffy and Leon, who share a London flat but have never met, communicating only through notes. As they navigate their unconventional living arrangement, they gradually develop a deep connection that leads to unexpected romance.

My guest this week is the hilarious Ashley Jones, who dreams of owning a stationery store and recapping reality TV for a living (dream big), all while aiming to finally shoot a T-shirt gun, an ambition she’s pursued for over a decade. Ashley is one of my favorite people I follow on social media, and I hope you follow her there too! You can find Ashley on Instagram @AshleyJonesy, Threads @AshleyJonesy, on TikTok @ohashleyjonesy and NOW on her just launched substack Yap Time: The Newsletter you read before a nap.

I had such a great time chatting with Ashley, we share so many of the same passions (Bravo shows, Taylor Swift, Pop Culture in general) that we frequently got off topic and I had to cut a good portion of the show, which I will be calling “The Lost Episode”, which will not be released and will become part of the lore of the show until fans clamor for me to release it 10 years from now, a la “All Too Well” 10 minute version, which is a Taylor reference and I promise that’s the last one, at least for the podcast intro!

Together we delve into the plot of The Flatshare , focusing on the characters' humanity and the book's feel-good nature. Ashley reflects on how the book changed her perspective on reading for enjoyment. We also talked about the value of empathy, dealing with insecurities, and the joy of following passions, ending the conversation with a nod to Ashley’s love for Sonic's Coke Zero and styrofoam cups.

In This Episode

Kelce Bowl (Super Bowl LVII)

Not Gonna Lie (Kylie Kelce’s Podcast - my #1 rival!)

Orpheus by Sara Bareilles

Styrofoam cups outlawed in Virginia

Sonic Drive In

Beth O’Leary’s Website

Books by Beth O’Leary

Brett Goldstein

The Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano follows a witty, overworked single mom and novelist who accidentally becomes entangled in real-life crime while trying to meet her writing deadlines. Blending humor, suspense, and heart, the series delivers a fast-paced mix of murder, motherhood, and unexpected friendship.

A little bit about this week's (returning) guest, Mair Downing.

Mair transitioned into real estate from a Fortune 200 company because she wanted a career where she could make a real difference in people’s lives. Whether working with buyers, sellers, or investors—helping clients right-size or find that perfect river getaway—she believes in the energy that comes from realizing goals are within reach. And with Mair’s guidance, they are.

FREE TIME

When Mair isn’t showing homes or preparing listings, she’s cheering on her teen daughters in their various activities—soccer, volleyball, and basketball—or snuggling with her Havanese, Odie (and, of course, her husband, too!). She loves to travel, enjoy great food, and soak in all that life has to offer. Check up her "What's Up Wednesday series on Instagram: @obsessedwithhomes

For quiet moments, she finds peace sitting on a dock, watching the water glimmer with a good book. Favorite right now: Black Phone by Joe Hill

Death by Chocolate Cocktail - we recorded this episode on Día De Los Muertos, also as the book titles and story contents often involve a little murder, we knew we needed a “deadly” cocktail!

Servings: 1

Ingredients

¾ oz vodka

¾ oz Bailey’s Irish Cream

¾ oz dark crème de cacao

¼ cup chocolate ice cream

½ cup ice

Chocolate shavings, for garnish

Instructions

Combine the vodka, Bailey’s, dark crème de cacao, chocolate ice cream, and ice in a blender.

Blend until smooth.

Pour into a chilled wine glass.

Garnish with chocolate shavings and enjoy!

In this Episode

DITL Merch is now out! Please considering one of these adorable items to support the show.

Barbara Streisand films Funny Girl and What’s Up Doc

Drawing Hands by MC Escher

Black Phone by Joe Hill

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Pushcart Prize

O. Henry Award