Bookish Flights: Themed Book Recommendations & Author Interviews

Kara Infante
  • 5.0 (101)
  • Books
  • Updated Weekly

Bookish Flights is the place to talk books and reading. This podcast focuses on connection, storytelling and the transformative power of books. Each episode invites guests to share the three books that have influenced them, unlocking their wisdom and how it changed their lives. Books are a bridge that connects us, a remedy for loneliness, and the best conversational currency to be the most interesting person in the room! Rooted in the belief that stories shape who we are, this podcast brings people together through a shared love of literature. Perfect for book lovers, Bookish Flights inspires listeners to discover the books that can shape their own lives. You will love this show If you have ever asked: What are the best fiction and non-fiction books to read?Which books should I add to my reading list?How can I find more time to read?What are the best books for exploring new genres?What books are perfect for my kids?What is the publishing journey like for authors?What books do my favorite authors love to read?Discover book recommendations across a wide range of genres, including historical fiction, romantasy, rom-coms, mysteries, thrillers and personal development. Check out the website www.bookishflights.com to see book club picks and the wide range of book flights. 

  1. 2d ago

    Romantasy, Hybrid Publishing & the Influence of Readers with Penn Cole (E239)

    Send us Fan Mail New York Times bestselling author Penn Cole joins me to celebrate Burn of the Everflame, the fourth book in her Kindred’s Curse Saga. We talk about her journey from self-publishing to hybrid publishing, building her community one reader at a time, and the growing influence readers have on the publishing landscape. Penn also shares what it takes to write both sides of romantasy well, how fantasy creates space for political and social commentary, and why she stood behind her work when traditional publishing came calling. Episode Highlights: Penn’s lifelong love of reading and writingBuilding a community one reader at a timeHow readers are influencing the publishing landscapePenn’s journey from indie to hybrid publishingWriting both the romance and fantasy sides of romantasy wellFinding fresh ways to approach the romance formulaUsing fantasy to explore political and social issuesWhy writers should take their time before publishingHer Book Flight includes books that gave her “lightbulb moments” in her own writing Connect with Penn: WebsiteInstagramFacebookSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show. Books and authors mentioned in the episode: Lore of the Wilds / Heir of the Prophecy by Analeigh SbranaBook Flight Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline CareyChildren of the Star by Sylvia EngdahlZodiac Academy by Caroline Peckham and Suzanne Valenti✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster. Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmap Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! InstagramFacebookWebsite

    Romantasy, Hybrid Publishing & the Influence of Readers with Penn Cole (E239)

  2. Sep 4

    Truth, Crime & Fiction: Hank Phillippi Ryan on Journalism, Family Secrets & Writing Thrillers (E238)

    Send us Fan Mail Today’s guest is Hank Phillipi Ryan, the USA Today bestselling author of seventeen thrillers, including the Mary Higgins Clark Award-winning All This Could Be Yours. A true powerhouse in the mystery and suspense world, she won every major award in the genre and has captivated readers around the globe with her twist-filled novels. Before becoming one of today’s most celebrated thriller writers, Hank spent decades as an award-winning investigative reporter in Boston, earning an incredible 37 Emmy Awards for journalists that changed lives and even helped shaped new laws. Today, we’re celebrating her latest thriller, Mother Daughter Sister Stranger. Her book flight includes timeless novels she has re-read many times in the crime genre. Episode Highlights: Hank’s 40-year career as a reporter and investigative journalist—and how it shaped her as a storytellerMaking the career leap from reporting true crime to writing fictional crimeWhy learning to make something up was one of the biggest challenges of becoming a novelistThe idea of a “you never know day”and staying open to the unexpectedWhat Hank has learned from years of interviewing other writersHow different people can experience the exact same family history and remember it completely differentlyThe family secrets, perspectives and questions of truth at the heart of Mother, Daughter, Sister, StrangerWhy Hank says she still learns something every single day she writesThe power of watching fictional characters triumph—and how their victories can give readers hope, too Connect with Hank: WebsiteInstagramFacebookSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show. Books and authors mentioned in the episode: Prime Time by Hank Phillipi RyanNancy Drew novels by Carolyn Keene Sherlock Holmes novels by Sir Arthur Conan DoyleNgiao Marsh booksJosephine Tey booksDorothy Sayers booksBookish Flights Narrative Non-Fiction ListWinter’s Tale by Mark HalprinYou’ll Be Sorry by Lisa GardnerThe Unknown by Riley SagerBook Flight The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha ChristieIn Cold Blood by Truman CapoteThe Stand by Stephen King✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster. Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmap Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! InstagramFacebookWebsite

    Truth, Crime & Fiction: Hank Phillippi Ryan on Journalism, Family Secrets & Writing Thrillers (E238)

  3. Sep 2

    From the NFL to Crime Fiction: Andre Hardy on Tear the City Down (E237)

    Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Andre Hardy, a former NFL player turned writer and author of the debut crime novel Tear the City Down. Set in San Diego against the high-stakes world of professional football, the novel draws on Andre’s own experiences in the NFL while exploring the darker sides of the sport and the city. We also talk about his path to writing, the role of jazz throughout the Coltrane series, and the experiences that shaped his storytelling. Episode Highlights Andre’s journey from professional football to writing and what led him to put his own NFL experiences on the pageLooking beyond the glitz & glamour of professional football to the physical toll on players, particularly their bodies and brainsExploring the contrasts of San Diego and what lies beneath the beautiful version of the city most people seeWhy Andre believes writing about books challenges us to slow down, think more deeply, and examine what we believeThe influence of John Coltrane & how pairing the novels with Coltrane’s music creates a bigger, broader experience for readersAndre’s book flight of atmospheric mysteries and thrillers, including stories featuring male protagonists navigating fatherhood and relationships with their daughters Connect with Andre: InstagramFacebookWebsiteSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show. Books and authors mentioned in the episode: Edgar Allen Poe booksThe Blue Flame by George PelecanosRecord Lows by CJ GreenJames McBride booksPercival Everett booksMiddle Passage by Charles JohnsonThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott FitzgeraldDarktown by Thomas MullenGhalen by Walter MosleyBook Flight Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter MosleyPegasus Descending by James Lee BurkeShe Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster. Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmap Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! InstagramFacebookWebsite

    From the NFL to Crime Fiction: Andre Hardy on Tear the City Down (E237)

  4. Aug 28

    BFF Book Club - Spies, Lies & Alibis with Natalie Walters (E236)

    Send us Fan Mail In today’s BFF Book Club episode, I’m chatting with romantic suspense author Natalie Walters about our August pick, Spies, Lies, and Alibis. Natalie takes us behind the scenes of this Mr. & Mrs. Smith-inspired story and shares how she found her way to romantic suspense, what makes an idea worthy of becoming a novel, and why authenticity matters even in a story filled with spies, secrets, and high-stakes situations. Episode Highlights: How Natalie found her way into writing romantic suspense and the inspiration behind Spies, Lies, and Alibis.Why “not every idea is a story and not every story idea works,” and how she determines which ideas are worth pursuing.Her desire to create stories that feel authentic and believable, even when the circumstances are larger than life.Why “there has to be a cost to the decisions a character makes, one way or the other.”Balancing suspense, romance, and humor to create the kind of escape that makes readers think, “That was so fun, let’s do it again.”Trusting readers to fill in the“Not every idea is a story and not every story idea works.” Connect with Natalie: InstagramWebsite📚 Next Meet the Author Book Club - Brighter Than Before with Courtney Walsh 🗓️ Sep 29th | 🕓 5 pm PST / 7 pm CST / 8 pm EST After her seemingly perfect life falls apart, Claire takes a leap of faith into a fresh start in Chicago, discovering friendship, purpose, and the possibility of a brighter future along the way. Register Here. Books and authors mentioned in the episode: For the Write Reasons by Marybeth WhelanTheo of Golden by Allen LeviThe Shadow Friends by Tess GerritsenBook Flight The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy GilmanThe Spy Coast by Tess GerritsenThe Blonde Identity by Ally Carter✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster. Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmap Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! InstagramFacebookWebsite

    BFF Book Club - Spies, Lies & Alibis with Natalie Walters (E236)

  5. Aug 26

    Motherhood, Sobriety & Writing Complex Women in Book Club Fiction w/ Jessica Guerrieri (E235)

    Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, I am chatting with Jessica Guerrieri, an award-winning novelist and essayist whose literary fiction explores the complexities of motherhood, identity, family, and the ways our past continues to shape us. She is the author of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, winner of the 2023 Maurice Prize for Fiction, and her newest novel, Both Can Be True. Beyond her fiction, Jessica is a passionate voice in essays on sobriety and mental health communities. Her book flight includes books that explore alcoholism and addiction.  Episode Highlights: How writing became a form of escapism for Jessica as a new mom and in early sobrietyGiving ourselves permission to have an identity outside of motherhoodSobriety, identity, and figuring out what comes next in recoveryHow alcohol can numb both the difficult and joyful parts of lifeWhy reaching for our phones and doomscrolling doesn't actually give us the recharge we're looking forWriting complex women and allowing two conflicting truths to exist at onceWhy Jessica wants to write book club fiction that creates feelings, opinions, and conversationsThe intimacy of reading and how books allow us to experience someone else's life from the safety of our ownA book flight exploring alcoholism, addiction, motherhood, and family dynamics Connect with Jessica: InstagramWebsiteSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show. Books and authors mentioned in the episode: Dare to Lead by Brene BrownNothing Hurt and Everything Was Beautiful by Ben ReevesBook Flight Both Can Be True by Jessica GuerrieriThe Bright Years by Sarah Damoff (also The Burning Side)The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster. Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmap Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! InstagramFacebookWebsite

    Motherhood, Sobriety & Writing Complex Women in Book Club Fiction w/ Jessica Guerrieri (E235)

  6. Aug 19

    Alli Dyer on Night Songs, Family Legacy & the Magic of Audiobooks (E234)

    Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, I am chatting with Alli Dyer. Alli was born in Tennessee and raised in the mountains of Virginia. Alli is the author of Strange Folk and her latest novel, Night Songs. For the last decade, she worked in the entertainment and book publishing, bringing a unique perspective to the stories she tells.  We dive into Night Songs and the inspiration behind its story of family legacy, music, and discovering where we come from. Alli shares how growing up in the mountains of Virginia shaped her writing and why sensory details are so important when bringing a setting to life. We also talk about the stories that expand our understanding of the world and the special place audiobooks hold in Alli’s reading and writing life. Episode Highlights: The childhood fantasy of discovering there is something special hidden in your family historyHow place, memory, and sensory details find their way into fictionWriting about family legacy and the stories we inheritAlli’s love of audiobooks and how listening influences her storytellingThe books that have expanded her understanding of the worldHer book flight includes audiobooks that have influenced her writing and storytellingConnect with Alli: WebsiteInstagramFacebookSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show. Books and authors mentioned in the episode: The Coal Miner’s Daughter by Loretta Lynn & George VesceyThe Real Americans by Rachel KuongHeart Food album - Judee SillHamnet by Maggie O’FarrellThe Witches by Roald DahlThe Children by Melissa AlbertYesteryear by Caro Claire BurkeBook Flight Priestdaddy by Patricia LockwoodThe Knockout Queen by Rufi ThorpeAll the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster. Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmap Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! InstagramFacebookWebsite

    Alli Dyer on Night Songs, Family Legacy & the Magic of Audiobooks (E234)

  7. Aug 12

    How Art Keeps History Alive: Thao Thai on The Seekers of Deer Creek (E233)

    Send us Fan Mail Today's episode features Thao Thai, bestselling author of Banyan Moon. She joins us to discuss her latest novel, The Seekers of Deer Creek, a captivating story of two estranged sisters whose search for a lost painting uncovers long-buried family secrets stretching across generations and continents. In our conversation, we explore the many ways art preserves history and memory, the fascinating world of art conservation, and what it truly means to be an artist. Thao shares how her travels inspired the settings in the novel, why creativity is essential even in the busiest seasons of life, and how motherhood has shaped her writing. We also discuss the joy of reading physical books, the importance of making space for creativity, and why everyone has an inner artist waiting to be discovered. Episode Highlights The inspiration behind The Seekers of Deer CreekWhy art is one of history's greatest storytellersThe unseen work of preserving paintings and cultural artifactsVietnamese identity and artistic legacyBalancing motherhood and a creative careerThe value of reading physical booksWhy everyone should embrace their inner artistThao's book flight includes books about art and artists Connect with Thao: InstagramWebsiteSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show. Books and authors mentioned in the episode: The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine ArdenAll the Beauty in the World by Patrick BringleySula by Toni MorrisonClutch by Emily NemensBook Flight Almost Life by Kiran Millwood HargraveSirens & Muses by Antonia AngressAnita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster. Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmap Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! InstagramFacebookWebsite

    How Art Keeps History Alive: Thao Thai on The Seekers of Deer Creek (E233)

  8. Aug 7

    Rhys Bowen on The Castle in the Glen, Dual Timelines & Writing Historical Mysteries (E232)

    Send us Fan Mail This week on Bookish Flights, I'm joined by New York Times bestselling author Rhys Bowen to discuss her latest novel, The Castle in the Glen. We explore the inspiration behind the story, why the Isle of Skye was the perfect setting, and how Rhys layers mysteries "like peeling away the layers of an onion." Rhys also shares why she always travels to every location she writes about, how switching between her beloved mystery series and standalone novels keeps her creatively energized, and why returning to longtime characters feels like attending a high school reunion with old friends. Rhys’ book flight includes dual-timeline novels. Episode Highlights: The inspiration behind The Castle in the Glen and writing a novel in another author's voiceWhy the Isle of Skye became the perfect settingHow traveling to each setting shapes her storytellingThe differences between writing standalone novels and a long-running seriesWhy revisiting recurring characters feels like reconnecting with old friendsWhy she believes she'll always have more stories than she can write Connect with Rhys: WebsiteFacebookSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show. Books and authors mentioned in the episode: Tony Hillerman booksAgatha Christie booksThe Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienMolly Murphy series by Rhys BowenJane Eyre by Charlotte BronteThe Chateau on Sunset by Natasha LesterBook Flight The Book of Lost and Found by Lucy FoleyThe Restoration Garden by Sara BlaydesHomecoming by Kate Morton✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster. Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmap Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! InstagramFacebookWebsite

    Rhys Bowen on The Castle in the Glen, Dual Timelines & Writing Historical Mysteries (E232)
See All (241)

5
out of 5
101 Ratings

About

Bookish Flights is the place to talk books and reading. This podcast focuses on connection, storytelling and the transformative power of books. Each episode invites guests to share the three books that have influenced them, unlocking their wisdom and how it changed their lives. Books are a bridge that connects us, a remedy for loneliness, and the best conversational currency to be the most interesting person in the room! Rooted in the belief that stories shape who we are, this podcast brings people together through a shared love of literature. Perfect for book lovers, Bookish Flights inspires listeners to discover the books that can shape their own lives. You will love this show If you have ever asked: What are the best fiction and non-fiction books to read?Which books should I add to my reading list?How can I find more time to read?What are the best books for exploring new genres?What books are perfect for my kids?What is the publishing journey like for authors?What books do my favorite authors love to read?Discover book recommendations across a wide range of genres, including historical fiction, romantasy, rom-coms, mysteries, thrillers and personal development. Check out the website www.bookishflights.com to see book club picks and the wide range of book flights. 

Information

You Might Also Like