Drinks in the Library

Gigi Howard
  • 4.9 (29)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Drinks in the library, the only library where drinks aren’t just allowed, they are required! Each episode librarian Gigi Howard interviews a guest about their favorite book and we pair it with a drink for you to make at home or share with your next book club meet-up!

  1. The Seven Daughters of Dupree by Nikesha Elise Williams with Rhonda McKnight

    20H AGO

    The Seven Daughters of Dupree by Nikesha Elise Williams with Rhonda McKnight

    To support Drinks in the Library and listen to ad-free episode and additional bonus content, subscribe on Patreon In Nikesha Elise Williams’ The Seven Daughters of Dupree, it's 1995, and fourteen-year-old Tati is determined to uncover the identity of her father. But her mother, Nadia, keeps her secrets close, while her grandmother Gladys remains silent about the family's past, including why she left Land's End, Alabama, in 1953. As Tati’s search deepens, she uncovers a legacy of family secrets, where every generation of Dupree women has posed more questions than answers. Guest Even as she pursued degrees in Textile Technology, Organizational Leadership and finally, Adult Education, Rhonda McKnight’s love for books and desire to write stories was always in the back of her mind. She loves reading and writing stories that touch the heart of women through complex plots and interesting characters in crisis. She writes from the comfort of her South Carolina home. Don’t miss her latest books of women’s fiction Bitter & Sweet, and Writer in Residence, which you can pre-order now and will be published on September 8, 2026! You can find Rhonda on Instagram & Threads @AuthorRhondaMcKnight. Southern Peach Sweet Tea Ingredients 4 black tea bags4 cups water3 ripe peaches, sliced1/2 to 3/4 cup sugarIceFresh peach slices for garnish (optional) Directions Bring 4 cups of water to a boil Turn off the heat and add the tea bags. Let the tea steep for about 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags.Add the sliced peaches and sugar to the hot tea. Stir until the sugar dissolves.Let the peaches sit in the tea for about 20 minutes so the flavor comes through.Pour the tea through a strainer into a large pitcher or bowl and allow to cool.Fill mason jars with ice and pour in the peach sweet tea.Garnish with fresh peach slices if you like, and serve cold.

    40 min
  2. How to Save Your Own Life by Erica Jong with Selene Castrovilla

    MAY 19

    How to Save Your Own Life by Erica Jong with Selene Castrovilla

    In How to Save Your Own Life, Erica Jong follows novelist Isadora Wing as she grapples with fame, aging, marriage, and the search for personal freedom after the success of her earlier books. Blending sharp humor with emotional honesty, the novel explores identity, desire, and self-reinvention in the face of midlife uncertainty. Award-winning author and creator Selene Castrovilla explores the courage, conscience, and reinvention that shape both nations and ourselves. She has written historical books for children including George Washington's Spectacular Spectacles: the glasses that saved America.She has a book for adults called Love the Ones Your With under the pen name SJ Perrault which will be coming out later this year. She also hosts a podcast Life in Jest with her best friend Pascale, which will feature me in an upcoming episode, I’m so excited! You can find out more at her website https://selenecastrovilla.com/ and also under her SJ Perrault name on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/s.j.perraultauthor TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@s.j.perraultauthor Support Drinks In The Library by following on Patreon, for just $5 a month you will get ad-free episodes, bonus content, and support my work and the podcast! Our drink this week needs no explanation: The Life Saver Cocktail Ingredients 3 oz dry champagne½ oz triple secSqueeze of fresh lemon juiceDirections Pour the triple sec and fresh lemon juice into a champagne flute.Top slowly with chilled dry champagne.Give it a gentle stir and serve immediately.

    47 min
  3. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah with Kara Infante

    MAY 12

    The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah with Kara Infante

    The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah follows two sisters in Nazi-occupied France as they navigate love, loss, resistance, and survival during World War II. Through their very different paths, the novel explores the courage of ordinary women and the sacrifices made in the face of war. My guest this week is Kara Infante, a mom, wife and host of the Bookish Flights Podcast At Bookish Flights, Kara Infante and her guests tell their stories through the books they love. Each episode features a book flight - three thoughtfully paired books connected by a theme, topic, or genre. Think of it like a wine flight…but for books. Kara and I are both on each other’s shows this week, so head over there to hear me talk about 3 books I love by Xochitl Gonzalez Drink Options: Lyre’s Classico NA Sparkling Wine Lavender French 75 Ingredients 1 ½ oz Empress gin ¾ oz fresh lemon juice½ oz lavender simple syrup3 oz chilled champagne or proseccoIce Optional garnish: Lemon twistDried culinary lavender Directions Add gin, lemon juice, and lavender simple syrup to cocktail shaker with ice.Shake well until chilled.Strain into a champagne flute or coupe.Top with sparkling wineGarnish with a lemon twist or a pinch of dried lavender.  In this episode Bookish Flight Episode with Kristin Hannah Books by Tracy Lange The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna  Johnston The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett Books by Kate Quinn Books by Marie Benedict

    45 min

  4. MAY 5

    Great Expectations by Charles Dickens with Francine Prose

    Great Expectations by Charles Dickens follows Pip, an orphan who rises from humble beginnings after receiving a mysterious fortune, believing it will transform him into a gentleman worthy of love. As he navigates London society, Pip becomes entangled with the eccentric Miss Havisham and her cold ward Estella, while slowly uncovering the true source of his wealth.  Francine Prose is the author of twenty-two works of fiction, including The Vixen, Mister Monkey, the New York Times bestseller Lovers at the Chameleon Club, Paris 1932, A Changed Man, and Blue Angel, a finalist for the National Book Award. Her nonfiction includes the modern classic Reading Like a Writer and the acclaimed memoir 1974: A Personal History. A former president of PEN America and a member of both the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, she is widely regarded as one of our most insightful and versatile contemporary writers. Her latest book, Five Weeks in the Country explores a fascinating moment which Francine describes as this: “In 1857, Hans Christian Andersen visited Charles Dickens, his wife and nine children in the British countryside for five comically and heartbreakingly awkward weeks. Telling their story seemed like the perfect way to talk about writing, love, marriage, children and two brilliant authors: a public figure in crisis and a houseguest, more at home in his fairy tales than in life, who overstays his welcome.” Valentine’s Claret Punch is our drink pairing, and is what Dickens and Anderson were drinking the night they met and led to the misunderstanding that led Anderson to believe he should visit the Dickens family for an extended stay! In this Episode Great Expectations - John Mills Film Great Expectations -  1998 Version

    31 min

  5. APR 28

    Sole Survivor by Derek Hansen with Heather Morris

    In Sole Survivor  by Derek Hansen, Rosie Trethewey leaves her unhappy city life after inheriting a remote shack on New Zealand’s Great Barrier Island, hoping for a fresh start. There, she meets two isolated and troubled neighbors, Red O’Hara, a traumatized former prisoner of war, and Angus McLeod, a bitter retired policeman, whose lives she gradually changes. As outside forces threaten their island home, the three form an unlikely bond and learn to heal from the pain of their pasts. My guest this week is author Heather Morris. In 2003, Heather met Lale Sokolov, whose story inspired The Tattooist of Auschwitz, now one of the 21st century’s bestselling books and adapted in 2024 as a widely acclaimed Stan Original Series. It was followed by Cilka’s Journey and Three Sisters, completing the Tattooist trilogy. Her first contemporary novel, The Wish, was inspired by her years working in a public hospital, alongside families facing the toughest of times with love and courage. The Wish’s US publication date is May 5, 2026. Her upcoming novel, The Piano Teacher of Montparnasse, releases in October 2026, and tells the story of French Resistance fighter Andrée Levallois, who risked her life to protect one of her students during the war. Heather’s books have sold over 19 million copies worldwide. The drink this week is one Heather enjoys on vacation, and I enjoy most days: Chardonnay! I have to note that since Heather is in Australia and I am in the US, during the actual recording of this she was enjoying her morning coffee while I sipped a cold glass of wine. In this Episode Books by Heather Morris Pākehā population New Zealand Māori People Crowded House Band Neil Finn

    52 min

  6. APR 21

    Shark Heart by Emily Habeck with Ashley Hall

    Shark Heart by Emily Habeck is a surreal love story about newlyweds Wren and Lewis, whose marriage is upended when Lewis is diagnosed with a rare condition that will slowly transform him into a great white shark. As they confront grief, change, and the limits of love, the novel uses magical realism to explore what it means to stay connected when life becomes unrecognizable. A nonprofit leader by day, Ashley spends her free time volunteering; chasing down Richmond’s best hikes and restaurants with her friends, family, and pup; and adventuring across the globe. A recovering English major, she’ll take any excuse to turn a good read into a great conversation. Ashley is the Executive Director of Communities in Schools Chesterfield, and on May 12th they are having their first ever Adult Spelling Bee Fundraiser! You should definitely come to raise some money for a great cause, also - I will be one of their “Celebrity Spellers” so come witness me failing horribly at spelling!  Spelling bee tickets: https://cisofchesterfield.networkforgood.com/events/96878-cis-c-adult-spelling-bee-extravaganza Searn more about CIS: www.cisofchesterfield.org  Our drink this week is the Metamorphosis Cocktail, which I absolutely loved - it literally changes colors!  Metamorphosis Cocktail  Ingredients  2 oz gin 1 oz butterfly pea tea (cooled) ¾ oz fresh lemon juice ½ oz Simple Syrup Ice Optional flair: Edible glitter  Black sugar or salt rim Lemon twist or edible flower Directions: Brew butterfly pea tea by steeping 1–2 tsp dried flowers in ½ cup hot water for 5–7 minutes; strain and cool. Fill a glass with ice and add 2 oz gin + 1 oz cooled butterfly pea tea. Slowly pour in ¾ oz fresh lemon juice and watch the color change from blue to purple. Stir in ½ oz simple syrup to taste, then garnish if desired. In This Episode Shadowlands Film Quote  (I could not remember who to attribute this to while we were recording) Speculative Fiction

    39 min

  7. APR 14

    Culpability by Bruce Holsinger with Barbara Ferrara

    Culpability by Bruce Holsinger is a techno-thriller and family drama about the moral fallout of a fatal crash involving an autonomous minivan. The novel follows the Cassidy-Shaw family as they confront guilt, secrets, and the ethical questions surrounding AI after their teenage son, Charlie, is involved in the accident while the car is in self-driving mode. It explores themes of technology's impact on human relationships, corporate greed, and the complex dynamics between parents and teenagers.  My guest this week is Barbara Ferrara. She is a librarian, mother, lifelong learner, passionate reader who loves to travel and is currently learning Spanish.Our drink this week is an Old Fashioned, since it is the opposite of AI. I also made sure to pick a Virginian bourbon, since the author, Bruce Holsinger, lives here in Virginia! I went with the Tarnished Truth Bourbon, which is brewed in the famous Cavalier Hotel at Virginia Beach! Old Fashioned Recipe 1 teaspoon sugar 3 dashes Angostura bitters 1 teaspoon water 2 ounces bourbon (or rye whiskey, if preferred) Garnish: orange twist In This Episode Meta AI book heist Descript  The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger Tickets to Live Show with Meg Medina April 18th

    45 min

  8. APR 7

    We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman with Lindsey Goldstein

    We All Want Impossible Things is a tender, darkly funny novel about friendship, grief, and letting go. It follows Ash as she supports her best friend Edi through the final stages of illness, capturing the small, intimate moments that define a lifelong bond. The story balances humor and heartbreak while exploring love, loss, and what it means to say goodbye. Lindsey Goldstein is the author of Gap Year Her essays about love and parenting have appeared in The New York Times, The Chicago Story Press, Kveller, and The Sunlight Press. She lives in Irvine, CA with her husband, kids, and rescue mutt. You can find her on her website Lindseygoldsteinauthor.com and on Instagram and Threads @GoldsteinLindsey We recorded this with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, a favorite of Lindsey’s and one I recommend for Spring! In particular I drank a glass of Leia Vinters Sauvignon Blanc.  In This Episode The Dinosaurs on Netflix Crone Sandwich -Catherine Newman’s Substack Tickets to Live Show with Meg Medina April 18th

    43 min
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4.9
out of 5
29 Ratings

About

Drinks in the library, the only library where drinks aren’t just allowed, they are required! Each episode librarian Gigi Howard interviews a guest about their favorite book and we pair it with a drink for you to make at home or share with your next book club meet-up!

Information

  • Creator
    Gigi Howard
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    115
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Gigi Howard
  • Show Website
    Drinks in the Library

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