The Women Books & More’s Podcast

Irene Rawlings

Mystery, intrigue, romance and recipes every Wednesday. Join Irene Rawlings to explore hidden Paris. Make pierogi in Poland and single malt in Denver. Meet the Dutch Oven Divas of the Desert. Travel to Denmark in search of the perfect seaside hotel. Expect guests like acclaimed chef Jacque Pepin. Best-selling authors like Lisa See, Isabelle Allende and Mark Greaney. Women, Books & More with Irene Rawlings.

  1. 3h ago

    Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library—and the Story Behind “Scrambled Egg Sandwiches”

    Dolly Parton has written unforgettable songs, starred in beloved films and built a business empire—but one of her most meaningful accomplishments begins with a simple idea: every child deserves a book. In this episode of Women, Books & More, Irene Rawlings celebrates Dolly’s remarkable life, her joyful generosity and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which has placed millions of free books into the hands of young children. Irene also remembers joining more than 300 members of Sisters on the Fly in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, for a celebration that included vintage campers, campfires—and an unforgettable Dolly Parton look-alike contest. Then, inspired by Dolly’s belief in books and the stories that shape us, Irene shares something especially personal: a reading of her original picture-book manuscript, “Scrambled Egg Sandwiches.” Based on her childhood as the daughter of Polish immigrants, it is a story about an unfamiliar lunch, a moment of embarrassment and the discovery that what makes us feel different can also bring us together. Irene’s writing is encouraged by a wonderful community called the 12 x 12 Picture Book Challenge. It brings together people who write stories for children. If this episode touches you, please consider supporting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. You can make a donation or help bring the program to children in your own community through a local Imagination Library partner. Because every child deserves a book—and every story deserves the chance to be told. For more about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: https://imaginationlibrary.com And a link to the Good Night With Dolly Series https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1462359903936327 For more about 12 x 12 Picture Book Challenge: https://12x12challenge.com For more about Sisters on the Fly: https://www.sistersonthefly.com Please connect with Women, Books & More womenbooksandmore@gmail.com

  2. Sep 2

    Chris Bohjalian on The Amateur: Guilt, Privilege and a Fatal Golf Shot

    What if one seemingly random moment changed the entire course of your life? In Chris Bohjalian’s gripping new novel, The Amateur, eighteen-year-old Mira Winston is a gifted golfer with a promising future. Then, on a hot summer day in 1978, a ball she hits tears through a practice net at an affluent Westchester country club and kills a teenage caddy named Kenny Foster. At first, everyone agrees it was a terrible accident. But questions soon emerge—about the net, about Mira and about the secrets concealed behind the club’s polished manners. Before long, Mira is on trial. Chris joins Irene Rawlings to discuss the personal experiences that inspired The Amateur, including his own years as a teenage caddy; why golf provides such a revealing window into class and privilege; and what the older Mira understands about guilt, memory and responsibility that her eighteen-year-old self could not. They also talk about Mira’s troubling relationship with an older, married club member; the adults who fail to protect her; the importance of keeping Kenny and his family at the heart of the story; and how Chris keeps readers questioning what really happened until the final pages. Chris Bohjalian is the number-one New York Times bestselling author of Midwives, The Flight Attendant, The Lioness and many other acclaimed novels chrisbohjalian.com If you enjoy Women, Books & More, please follow the show, share this episode with a book-loving friend and help us spread the word. Questions, comments or suggestions for future guests? Write to us at womenbooksandmore@gmail.com.

    Chris Bohjalian on The Amateur: Guilt, Privilege and a Fatal Golf Shot

  3. Aug 26

    Catherine Ostler on The Renoir Girls: Hidden Lives Behind One of Renoir’s Most Famous Paintings

    Many of us have stood in a museum before a beautiful portrait of a child and wondered: Who was she? Who did she grow up to be? In The Renoir Girls: A Hidden History of Art, War & Betrayal, journalist and author Catherine Ostler traces the astonishing lives of Irène, Alice and Elisabeth Cahen d’Anvers—three sisters born into a wealthy Jewish banking family in Belle Époque Paris and immortalized as children by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The paintings capture the girls in a world of beauty, privilege and apparent security. But beyond their gilded childhood, their lives would take dramatically different paths through love and loss, marriage and scandal, antisemitism and two world wars. Their family’s wealth, culture and powerful social connections could not ultimately protect them from the dark forces gathering across Europe. Catherine joins Irene Rawlings to discuss the sisters’ privileged upbringing; their formidable mother, Louise, whose passion for art, music and literature helped shape their world; and Renoir himself, whose luminous paintings stand in troubling contrast to his attitudes toward Jewish people. She also takes us behind the scenes of her own remarkable detective story. Drawing upon letters, diaries, archives and previously unpublished family material, Catherine pieces together the lives of three women who had largely disappeared behind the fame of the artist who painted them. For more about Catherine Ostler: catherineostler.com If you enjoyed this conversation, please follow Women, Books & More and share the episode with your book-loving friends. Word of mouth helps new listeners discover the show. And…we would love to hear from you. Write to us with your thoughts, questions or book suggestions at womenbooksandmore@gmail.com.

  4. Aug 19

    Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt: Death, Grief and the Beauty of Being Alive

    What happens when Death (the main character of this book) learns to love life? In Ben Reeves’s Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt, Death is a man named Travis Smith. He quietly accompanies people at the ends of their lives—not causing death but making the passage a little gentler. Then Travis meets eight-year-old Layla. Boisterous, curious and determined to be his friend, Layla draws the solitary Travis into her family. Her mother, Dalia, is a midwife—a woman who ushers people into the world while Travis accompanies them out of it. Through them, Travis (Death) discovers friendship, family, love and attachment. On this episode of Women, Books & More, host Irene Rawlings talks with Ben Reeves about creating Death as a tender and surprisingly sympathetic protagonist and the novel’s exploration of grief, mortality and the fleeting beauty of being alive. They also talk about Death’s hobby of restoring old photographs, the symbolism of mayflies whose bright-and-glorious lives last just a day, and the question at the heart of the novel: If you understood how fleeting life really was, would you experience an ordinary moment differently? An early version of Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt won the 2024 Bath Novel Award. Learn more about Ben Reeves and his work: https://benreeves.co.uk/ What are you reading? What are your recommendations for me? And who would you like to hear on Women, Books & More? Email us at womenbooksandmore@gmail.com. If you enjoyed the conversation, please tell a friend. Word of mouth is one of the best ways for new listeners to discover Women, Books & More.

    Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt: Death, Grief and the Beauty of Being Alive

  5. Aug 12

    Amy Irvine on Almost Animal: Motherhood, Identity & the American West

    Acclaimed nature writer Amy Irvine joins Irene Rawlings on Women, Books & More to discuss her powerful new memoir, Almost Animal. For more than twenty years, Amy has written about the American West and our relationship with the natural world. In this deeply personal conversation, she reflects on motherhood, identity, belonging, and the challenge of holding onto yourself while caring for others. Together, Irene and Amy explore the courage it takes to write a memoir, the expectations placed on women, the restorative power of wild places, and how Almost Animal became a story of resilience, self-discovery, and finding your way back to yourself. For more about Amy Irvine: amyirvine.com If you enjoyed this conversation, please follow Women, Books & More wherever you listen to podcasts, leave a review, and share the episode with a friend. We'd also love to hear from you. Tell us what you're reading, suggest authors you'd like us to interview, or simply say hello. You can reach us anytime at womenbooksandmore@gmail.com.

  6. Aug 5

    Chanel Cleeton: An Infinite Love Story, the Space Race & the Women Behind the NASA Astronauts

    Bestselling author Chanel Cleeton joins Women, Books & More to discuss her new novel, An Infinite Love Story. Set during the early years of America's Space Race, the novel shines a light on the women whose courage, resilience, and sacrifices unfolded behind the headlines. Chanel shares the surprising inspiration behind the book, the extensive research that brought Cape Canaveral and the early NASA years to life, and how her own experience as the wife of an American fighter pilot shaped the story. We also talk about love, history, journalism, military families, and why history's biggest moments are often lived one family at a time. If you enjoy historical fiction, compelling conversations, and stories inspired by real events, you'll love this episode of Women, Books & More. More about Chanel Cleeton: She is the bestselling author of numerous historical novels, including Next Year in Havana, a Reese's Book Club selection, and The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes. She also authored the Wild Aces Romance Series. chanelcleeton.com Connect with Women, Books & More: If you enjoyed this conversation, please follow Women, Books & More, leave a review, and share this episode with fellow readers. New episodes are released every Wednesday. What are you reading? Send us your suggestions. womenbooksandmore@gmail.com

  7. Jul 29

    David Heska Wanbli Weiden on Wisdom Corner, Native Justice, and the Return of Virgil Wounded Horse

    Award-winning author David Heska Wanbli Weiden joins Women, Books & More to discuss Wisdom Corner, the eagerly awaited sequel to his acclaimed debut, Winter Counts. Host Irene Rawlings explores the return of Virgil Wounded Horse, whose search for justice on South Dakota's Rosebud Reservation becomes far more than a murder investigation. Their conversation examines contemporary Native life, the complexities of tribal, state and federal law, the lasting impact of Native boarding schools, and the larger questions of justice, identity and community that lie at the heart of the novel. Weiden also talks about creating Virgil Wounded Horse, weaving authentic cultural details into a fast-paced thriller, and why crime fiction can both entertain and deepen our understanding of the world. About the Author: David Heska Wanbli Weiden is an enrolled citizen of the Sicangu Lakota Nation and a professor of English and Native American & Indigenous Studies at Stony Brook University. His novels have earned widespread acclaim for combining compelling mysteries with powerful explorations of Native life, justice and resilience. https://davidweiden.com/ We'd love to hear from you. Email us at womenbooksandmore@gmail.com with your suggestions for future guests or simply to share your latest favorite read. Your recommendations help shape future episodes. Until next time, happy reading!

  8. Jul 22

    Author Catherine Kurtz discusses FEAST, Historical Fiction & French Cuisine

    In this episode of Women, Books & More, Irene Rawlings talks with author Catherine Kurtz about her richly imagined historical novel, Feast. Set in nineteenth-century France, the story follows Minha, a young woman with an extraordinary sense of taste who discovers she can detect poison—an ability that draws her into the kitchens and intrigues of a grand château. Catherine shares the inspiration behind the novel, the fascinating culinary traditions of nineteenth-century France, the research that brought the story to life, and the themes of identity, resilience, and belonging that lie at the heart of Feast. In this episode: The inspiration behind Minha and her extraordinary ability The culinary traditions of nineteenth-century France The little-known history of poison tasters Bringing the world of Château Bellefalaise to life Why Feast is about far more than food Learn more about Catherine Kurtz: www.dhhliteraryagency.com/catherine-kurtz If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to Women, Books & More, leave a review, and share the podcast with a fellow reader. We'd love to hear from you at womenbooksandmore@gmail.com

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Mystery, intrigue, romance and recipes every Wednesday. Join Irene Rawlings to explore hidden Paris. Make pierogi in Poland and single malt in Denver. Meet the Dutch Oven Divas of the Desert. Travel to Denmark in search of the perfect seaside hotel. Expect guests like acclaimed chef Jacque Pepin. Best-selling authors like Lisa See, Isabelle Allende and Mark Greaney. Women, Books & More with Irene Rawlings.

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