Totally Booked with Zibby

Episodes

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  Hank Phillippi Ryan on What Happens After the Happy Ending 02.10.2026 28m

  Hank Phillippi Ryan sits down with Zibby Owens to chat about her new novel Mother Daughter Sister Stranger, a twisty thriller about Eliza’s search for her sister Bea who goes missing on the eleventh anniversary of the plane crash they survived but killed their parents.  Hank talks about how stories shape our lives, family lore, the experience of writing a young character on the cusp of growing up, and why reading the end of a book first teaches her about story construction. She also recounts growing up as the oldest of five children in rural Indiana, how her books benefit from her long career as a TV crime journalist, the question of ‘what happens after a story’s happy ending?’, and the touching reason she and her husband celebrate the day before their anniversary.Learn more about Hank at https://hankphillippiryan.com and follow her on Instagram @hankpryan.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Rebekah Lowin on Impossible Jewish Joy 01.10.2026 23m

  Rebekah Lowin sits down with Zibby Owens to discuss A Year of Jewish Joy, her new cookbook full of meaningful recipes, homemade crafts, and table guides for the Jewish holidays. Rebekah talks about being inspired by her grandmother, the impossible joy of the Jewish people, her experience working for Martha Stewart in New York City years ago, and how the blog she started in 2019 led to this book. She also shares her experience growing up in Connecticut without a Jewish community, reverence for tradition while making things new, how pressure is part of the joy of hosting, and her dream of opening a brick-and-mortar shop one day. Learn more about Rebekah here https://rebekahlowin.com and follow her on Instagram @rebekahlowin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Elizabeth Wellington Rollins on Writing Her Way Home 30.09.2026 24m

  Elizabeth Wellington Rollins joins Zibby Owens to discuss her debut novel and Book of the Month Club Pick The Three Graces of Pearl Street, the story of an Italian American grandmother, daughter, and granddaughter who must all live together again after years apart and what that collision stirs up.  Elizabeth talks about the little threads of home she wove into this story, her inspiration from the Roman myth of the three graces, the story’s intentional conversation with The Godfather, and distilling the big energy of her grandmother and great-aunts into her character Graziella. Elizabeth also shares about growing up in Westchester, her career journey from tech copywriter and travel writer to fiction writing, the impact of having gestational diabetes while pregnant with her daughter, and how living in a small Vermont town gives her the mental space to write. Follow Elizabeth on Instagram @elizabethwellingtonrollins.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Meg Mason: The New Reese's Book Club pick! 29.09.2026 30m

  Newly minted Reese's Book Club pick Meg Mason joins Zibby Owens to discuss her new novel (and Zibby’s October Book Club pick!) Sophie, Standing There, the story of book lover Sophie Pattison who finds herself living alone and isolated, and how her favorite author provides solace when she needs it most. Meg talks about the surreal success of her first novel, her struggles while trying to write another book, depression after touring, and the moderating mess while interviewing Ann Patchett that inspired Sophie’s story. She also shares how the literary landscape had changed between publishing her first and second books, the temporary but daunting feeling of loneliness, and the authors who have inspired her most. Join Meg and Zibby virtually for Zibby’s October Book Club on October 4, 2026 here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/zibbys-book-club-meg-mason-tickets-1994577848036 Learn more about Meg here https://www.megmason.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Susan Coll on the Nonsensical Business of Publishing 28.09.2026 23m

  Susan Coll sits down with Zibby Owens to discuss her new novel Word Salad, a bookish comedy about former economics major Matilda who finds herself working at her hometown bookstore where she must navigate the nonsensical business of publishing and the people in it. Susan talks about teaching herself to write, structuring each chapter as a scene, the remarkable literary community in Washington, DC, and her endless fascination with the publishing industry. She also shares her own background as a bookseller, the determination that kept her writing after her first novel died on submission, and using different parts of her brain at work versus while writing. Learn more about Susan here https://susancoll.com and follow her on Instagram @susan_keselenko_coll.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fran Hauser on Embracing the Twenty-Minute Mindset 25.09.2026 30m

  Fran Hauser joins Zibby Owens to discuss her new book Twenty Minutes is the New Hour, a guide to help women embrace the twenty-minute mindset, reclaim their time, and take small steps towards better productivity. Fran talks about the techniques she used to launch her bookstore Bedford Books in just eight weeks, how time becomes the enemy of the good, and adding more kairos over chronos in women's lives. She also dives deeper into setting boundaries around notifications, the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people, the fear connected to procrastination, email management, and what she feels guilty about. Learn more about Fran here https://www.franhauser.com/about and follow her on Instagram @fran_hauser. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Allison Sweet Grant on The Psychological Weight of Cancer 24.09.2026 25m

  Allison Sweet Grant joins Zibby Owens to talk about her new poetic memoir Lump, an unconventional, moving collection of essays and verse about her experience with breast cancer. Allison discusses how the book started out as a journal to process the difficult moments of her cancer journey, being diagnosed at the beginning of Covid at forty years old, what kept her from going to the doctor right away, and the psychological weight of this horrible disease. She also shares her initial attraction to poetry in elementary school, how intimidating it is to publish a book while married to a bestselling author, the barometer cancer becomes for daily life challenges, and sharing the book with her daughters.Follow Allison on Instagram @allisonsweetgrant.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Isabel Allende on The Quiet Happiness of Aging 23.09.2026 25m

  Isabel Allende joins Zibby Owens to discuss her new memoir Story Telling, a heartfelt love letter to life and writing that recounts the past forty-five years of her career, the philosophy and emotion behind craft, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. Inspired by the masterclass she did with the BBC, Isabel writes about the quiet happiness of aging, how the inner critic never goes away, the loss of her daughter, and the bad aspects of life that make great literature. She also shares the challenges of irony and humor in translation, her soul’s need to write, her belief that her stories exist in another dimension, how to overcome feeling stuck while writing, and the benefits of writing a bad novel. Learn more about Isabel here https://isabelallende.com/en/home. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Zibby Owens on Her Decade of Extreme Change 22.09.2026 37m

  Bestselling author Renée Rosen interviews Zibby Owens about her new book Between Chapters, a heartfelt and candid collection of essays centered around her decade of extreme change and where it all led. Zibby discusses overcoming intense social anxiety as a young girl, the impact of her first published piece in Seventeen Magazine after her parent’s divorce, her editing process, and launching a Between Chapters essay platform on Substack featuring stories from her community. She also talks about the overwhelming aspects of motherhood, the rocky journey with weight loss and food noise that ended with Mounjaro, the pain and devastation of the Palisades wildfires, the start of her podcast, and navigating the online hate after speaking about October 7th. Order Between Chapters here https://zibbymedia.com/products/between-chapters or follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Laura Moriarty on Writing Amid Her Cancer Diagnosis 21.09.2026 21m

  Laura Moriarty sits down with Zibby Owens to discuss her new novel and August 2026 Read With Jenna Pick Sunlight Finds You, a deeply felt love story set in 1949 that ends in heartbreak and shame, and changes the course of seventeen-year-old Nora’s life forever. Laura talks about the book’s look into dealing with uncertainty, her extensive research into the time period, and the conversations with her mother that shed light on both the joys and challenges of being a woman during that time. She also shares the hardship of being diagnosed with oral cancer while writing this book, letting go of writing expectations to free the story, and her gratitude for the perspective into life that reading gives us.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Harlan Coben on The Blurry Line Between Memoir and Fiction 18.09.2026 34m

  Harlan Coben sits down with Zibby Owens to discuss his new book Plot Twist, a memoir that blends personal narrative and writing advice, acknowledging that both are inevitably connected.Harlan talks about the importance of critical thinking in fiction, incremental ambition, accepting adaptations as a different perspective, and how insecurity makes good writers. He also shares personal experiences, from loving and losing his parents, his time at Amherst College, navigating the blurry line between memoir and fiction, and the magic behind creating from a blank page.Learn more about Harlan here https://www.harlancoben.com and follow Harlan on Instagram @harlancoben Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Dara Horn on The Big Lie of Antisemitism 17.09.2026 29m

  Instant New York Times bestseller! Dara Horn joins Zibby Owens to discuss her new book The Final Solution to the Jewish Question, an exploration into the lies of antisemitism throughout history and her vision for the future.  Dara discusses how Holocaust education fails to do its job, her surprise at finding so much more ignorance than malice, how the hate movement has taken over AI, and the big lie of antisemitism. She also shares her own personal experiences, from serving on Harvard’s Antisemitism Advisory Group to wrestling with how to help herself, and the struggles her son has already faced. But Dara also leaves us with an important, hopeful reminder: “the opposite of hate isn’t love, it’s curiosity”.Learn more about Dara at https://www.darahorn.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Sona Movsesian on Betraying Her Preconceptions of Motherhood 16.09.2026 27m

  USA Today bestseller Sona Movsesian sits down with Zibby Owens to discuss her new book The World’s Worst Mom, a funny and relatable look into motherhood.Sona discusses her experience with IVF and the conversations that it demands, her obsession with mortality after having kids, the trauma of losing her home in the 2025 Southern California wildfires, and betraying her preconceptions about motherhood. She also shares the need for laughter, her experience working with Conan O’Brien for over seventeen years, and how she hopes her sons will see her in twenty years. Follow Sona on Instagram @sonamov.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Elizabeth Castellano on the Pressure of a Two-Book Deal 15.09.2026 21m

  Elizabeth Castellano joins Zibby Owens to talk about her new novel Proof of Progress, the humorous story of B-list actress and comedian Maria Astorini whose second book is thirty-seven years overdue. Elizabeth shares how this book was inspired by her own difficulties while writing her second novel under contract, the impact of pressure on her writing, and the pieces of real life that made it into the story. She also discusses unconventional friendship, debunking the myth that book deals are impossible, and imparting little truths through humor. Learn more about Elizabeth here https://www.elizabethcastellano.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Amy Chozick on Sex Work and Motherhood 14.09.2026 25m

  Live from the Children’s Museum of the East End, Amy Chozick sits down with Zibby Owens to talk about her new psychological thriller With Friends Like You. In the novel Emily, a struggling new mom in Manhattan, embarks on the search for her long-lost friend Daisy who disappeared years ago after becoming a stripper. But when Emily finally finds her, the question becomes: Is Daisy saving her life or destroying everything?Amy discusses how her own experiences have influenced her characters, the resentment in postpartum that has nowhere to go, female friendship, and the unique challenges of raising kids in New York City. She also recounts her career as a journalist, the piece she wrote on Stormy Daniels three weeks postpartum, the fascinating collision of new motherhood and sex work, and her current work as a TV writer. Follow Amy on Instagram @amychozick.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Lea Vale on Her Ode to 9/11 11.09.2026 24m

  Lea Vale joins Zibby Owens to discuss her new novel Blue Sky Black, the second-chance romance told across two timelines that she wrote as a love letter to the friend she lost on 9/11.Lea shares her own experience in New York City that day 25 years ago, the trauma of having to cope with a loved one simply disappearing, and the importance of talking about tragedy. She also recounts how the romance genre finally allowed her to write this story, infusing hope and light into such a difficult subject. Learn more about Lea Vale at https://leavale.com and follow her on Instagram @leavaleauthor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Zibby’s 9/11 Essay 11.09.2026 4m

  Zibby was one of the countless people who lost a loved one on 9/11. Stacey Sanders, Zibby’s college roommate, worked in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. To process the loss, Zibby wrote an essay for her business school newspaper, The Harbus, two weeks after it happened. She reads it here to pay tribute to the 25th anniversary of the attacks.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Kara Kavensky on Finding Joy 10.09.2026 28m

  Kara Kavensky sits down with Zibby Owens to talk about her memoir Tell Me About Joy, inspired by WWII veteran Bob who shared with her his greatest regret: “I missed out on marrying the love of my life. Her name is Joy.”Interwoven with her own personal story, Kara writes about her journey to find Bob’s long-lost love and how it changed her life. She touches on her own healing after being married to a narcissist, the human face of war, sharing stories of resilience, the heaviness of losing a child, and ultimately, finding joy again.  Learn more about Kara here https://www.karakavensky.com/home and follow her on Instagram @karakavensky Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Jonathan Santlofer on Finding Empathy for His Villainous Characters 09.09.2026 27m

  Jonathan Santlofer joins Zibby Owens for a deep dive into his new novel Ten Perfect Guests, an immersive, fun, “whodunit” thriller following the aftermath of a beloved art figure’s death and the people summoned to a remote island under threat of losing their inheritance. Jonathan discusses the challenges of juggling ten different points of views, the joy of playing with familiar tropes like greed, lust, and betrayal, and the beauty of finding empathy for his most villainous characters. He also recounts the discovery of his mild dyslexia in art school, how losing ten years of his artwork to a building fire eventually led him to writing, and the grief of unexpectedly losing his wife. Learn more about Jonathan at https://jonathansantlofer.com and follow him on Instagram at @jonathansantlofer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Eriq La Salle on the Journey of a Character’s Soul 08.09.2026 28m

  Eriq La Salle joins Zibby Owens to discuss his new thriller Laws of Solomon, the fourth book in his Martyr Maker series, which takes a previous side character who was inspired by The Godfather’s Luca Brasi and lifts him up to the lead. Eriq discusses the ever-present question of ‘can our most villainous, vile characters find redemption?’, the journey of a character’s soul, how his favorite films have inspired his work, and the coming of age story of a man. He also touches on his transition from actor to author, the duality of his thrillers, and the blessings that come from failure. Learn more about Eriq here https://www.iameriqlasalle.com and follow him on Instagram @eriqlasalle  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.