Rebel Reads Podcast-Join The Rebellion!

Rebel Reads
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Welcome to the Rebel Reads Podcast, where stories come to life and the literary world gets real. Join host Cheryl Briggs as she sits down with bestselling and breakthrough authors for deep-dive book chats, inspiring interviews, and exclusive behind-the-scenes scoops you won’t hear anywhere else. From unforgettable characters to powerful themes, each episode explores the magic of storytelling and how books connect, challenge, and change us. Whether you’re a die-hard reader, a curious writer, or just here for the vibes, you’re in the right place for fun, inspiration, and a whole lot of bookish!

  1. 5d ago

    Inside SISTERS ALONE with National Book Award Winner Shifa Saltagi Safadi (E.73)

    Hello Rebel Readers, National Book Award winning author Shifa Saltagi Safadi joins the Rebel Reads Podcast to talk about her powerful new novel-in-verse, SISTERS ALONE, released on September 8, 2026. We dive into this emotional story of sisterhood, survival, grief, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and resilience as sisters Rama and Leena find themselves trapped alone during a devastating blizzard. Shifa and I also chat about our kids, their reading preferences, and the books they love. She shares her writing style, what inspires her, including her own children and how her background as a teacher continues to fuel her passion for writing and connecting young readers with stories. Shifa’s story is truly inspiring, and I had an absolutely amazing time talking with her. This was one of those conversations I know I’ll always remember.  If you love books, authors, family stories, and conversations that stay with you long after the episode ends, you don’t want to miss this one!   Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, follow the Rebel Reads Podcast, and share this episode with a fellow book lover! Then tell us: Are you adding SISTERS ALONE to your TBR?  Come join the rebellion!  Happy Listening!

    Inside SISTERS ALONE with National Book Award Winner Shifa Saltagi Safadi (E.73)

  2. Sep 8

    Bestselling Author Laurie Gilmore’s Maple Hollow: BIG BAD WOLF, WILD WICKED MATE & a Big Secret! (E.72)

    Hello Rebel Readers, Laurie Gilmore is taking readers somewhere a little darker this fall.  In this episode of the Rebel Reads Podcast, we sit down with the #1 bestselling author Laurie Gilmore to talk about her new Maple Hollow paranormal romance series, her writing process, and what it takes to create the kind of stories readers can’t put down. Known for her cozy small-town romances, quirky characters, and swoon-worthy love stories, Laurie is opening the door to a new world filled with mystery, romance, and a little bit of magic. We’re talking about BIG BAD WOLF, releasing September 8, and WILD WICKED MATE, coming October 20. In BIG BAD WOLF, Ruby Bellerose lives in a cottage on the edge of the woods, where her quiet life takes a turn when she meets Rafe, a mysterious woodsman hiding a secret. But with something lurking in the forest, Ruby must figure out whether he’s her knight in shining armor or something much more dangerous. Then there’s WILD WICKED MATE, where best friends Phoebe and Theo finally have to confront the chemistry they’ve been ignoring for years. A road trip, a truck, and a whole lot of unresolved tension might change everything. Laurie takes us behind the scenes of her writing life, including how she got started as an author, her writing style, what a typical writing day looks like, her creativity, and how she builds romantic chemistry between characters. We also talk about the evolution of her career, revisiting an earlier story, and what it’s like to launch a brand-new paranormal romance world. If you love small-town romance, paranormal romance, friends-to-lovers, mysterious heroes, cozy settings, and a little sweetness with your spice, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.   Listen now and get ready to step into Maple Hollow.  BIG BAD WOLF — September 8 WILD WICKED MATE — October 20 Plus, Laurie has a big secret to share with the Rebel Reads listeners and trust us, you’re going to want to hear this one! Happy Listening!

    Bestselling Author Laurie Gilmore’s Maple Hollow: BIG BAD WOLF, WILD WICKED MATE & a Big Secret! (E.72)

  3. Sep 8

    Author Ashley Woo on WILDWOOD: Gothic Suspense, Haunted Houses & Family Secrets (E.71)

    Hello Rebel Readers, What if the place you thought would be your safe haven was actually the place that knew all your secrets?  In this episode of Rebel Reads Podcast, we’re joined by Ashley Woo, author of the chilling gothic debut WILDWOOD, releasing September 8, 2026. We talk about what makes a gothic thriller so unsettling, the inspiration behind Wildwood’s haunted atmosphere, and how witches, ghosts, and a living forest become part of a story about family history, inheritance, class, wealth disparity, and who truly owns the land we call home. Ashley also shares how her own move to Vermont helped inspire the novel, the real-life experiences that shaped its eerie setting, and what happens when beauty and isolation collide. If you love gothic suspense, haunted houses, psychological thrillers, supernatural mysteries, atmospheric fiction, and complicated family secrets, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. WILDWOOD by Ashley Woo — available September 8, 2026. Streaming on all platforms! Definitely send love, like, share, comment and follow!

    Author Ashley Woo on WILDWOOD: Gothic Suspense, Haunted Houses & Family Secrets (E.71)

  4. Sep 1

    BONES: Author K.L. Speer on Writing, Inspiration, Mental Health, & Redemption (E.70)

    Hello Rebel Readers, In this powerful episode of Rebel Reads Podcast, we sit down with debut author and artist K.L. Speer to talk about Bones a gripping post-apocalyptic survival story about trauma, redemption, found family, rebellion, and a love worth fighting for. We dive into the inspiration behind Bones, K.L.’s connection to the remote mountains of Montana where the story takes place, her creative process, and what it was like turning deeply personal experiences into fiction. But this conversation goes far beyond the book. K.L. opens up with incredible honesty about mental health, experiencing a mental health crisis, and how those experiences shaped both her life and her writing. This is a raw, vulnerable, and deeply human conversation about surviving the darkest moments, finding your way forward, and discovering what is still worth fighting for. And, of course, we talk about love, healing, trauma, survival, found family, and the complicated relationship between pain and hope.  Read Bones by K.L. Speer  Listen to Rebel Reads Podcast  Follow, rate, and review the podcast and share this episode with a fellow reader. Happy Listening! Content Warning: This episode includes an honest discussion of mental health crises and suicide. Please listen with care.If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis in the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you are in immediate danger, call ⁠911⁠ or go to the nearest emergency department.

    BONES: Author K.L. Speer on Writing, Inspiration, Mental Health, & Redemption (E.70)

  5. Sep 1

    Lunchtime Listen: The Water Lies: Author Amy Meyerson on Writing Suspense, Motherhood & The Secrets We Keep (E.69)

    Hello Rebel Readers, What happens when the truth is hiding just beneath the surface?  In this Lunchtime Listen, we’re joined by internationally bestselling author Amy Meyerson to talk about her novel, The Water Lies, her thrilling transition into the world of psychological suspense. Amy takes us behind the story of two mothers brought together by a mysterious death in the canals of Venice Beach, the real-life questions and ideas that inspired the novel, and what it was like stepping into a darker, more suspenseful genre after writing bestselling stories rooted in family, history, and secrets. We also get into the craft of writing suspense, creating tension, motherhood and intuition, and those moments when an author knows they’ve found the perfect twist. And because no thriller conversation would be complete without it… we have to talk about The Silent Patient.  What makes a psychological thriller impossible to put down? Why do certain twists stay with us long after we finish a book? And what books have influenced the way Amy thinks about suspense? Grab your lunch, your current read, and join us for a quick, juicy conversation with Amy Meyerson!  Listen now and then tell us: Are you ready to dive into The Water Lies? Now streaming on all podcast platforms. Like, share, comment, follow and send a little love our way. Happy Listening!

    Lunchtime Listen: The Water Lies: Author Amy Meyerson on Writing Suspense, Motherhood & The Secrets We Keep (E.69)

  6. Aug 27

    Behind the Voice: Inside the World of an Audiobook Narrator | Casey Montgomery (E68)

    Hello Rebel Readers, Our FIRST narrator episode is here and audiobook lovers, this one is for YOU!  What really goes into bringing your favorite books to life through sound? We’re going behind the voice with accomplished audiobook narrator and voice-over artist Casey Montgomery, who has already narrated 60 published titles and counting! Casey joins us for a candid conversation about the world of audiobook narration, character voices, romance, comedy, heart, horror, thrillers, mood reading, and what it takes to completely sink your teeth into a new project. We’re talking about the magic behind the microphone and what listeners may not realize goes into creating the audiobooks they love. Whether you’re an audiobook addict, romance reader, thriller fan, horror lover, aspiring narrator, author, or simply curious about what happens behind the scenes, this is an episode you do NOT want to miss. Press play and get ready to hear books and the people who bring them to life, in a whole new way. Follow the Rebel Reads Podcast, share this episode with your audiobook bestie, and tell us: What narrator has made you fall completely in love with an audiobook?  Listen now wherever you get your podcasts! Don't forget to like, share, follow, comment and send some love our way! Happy Listening!

    Behind the Voice: Inside the World of an Audiobook Narrator | Casey Montgomery (E68)

  7. Aug 19

    Author Alexandra Bracken on Immortal Rose, Perfume Magic & the Scents That Shape Us! (E.67)

    Hello Rebel Readers, #1 New York Times bestselling author Alexandra Bracken joins Rebel Reads to celebrate IMMORTAL ROSE, her highly anticipated adult fantasy debut, where perfumery and magic collide in a world of dark secrets, royal intrigue, murder, romance, and forbidden power. Alexandra takes us behind the world-building of IMMORTAL ROSE and into the fascinating science and artistry of fragrance, perfume, odor molecules, scent memories, and perfumery. We also get nostalgic about the smells that define us, from Victoria’s Secret Love Spell, Gap, Ulta, Bath & Body Works and why one familiar scent can instantly transport us back to another time and place. We’re also talking fantasy romance, enemies-to-lovers tension, writing for adult readers, and what inspired Alexandra to create a world where perfume is magic. If you love Alexandra Bracken, Immortal Rose, fantasy books, romantasy, fantasy romance, perfume, fragrance, BookTok, PerfumeTok, scent psychology, world-building, enemies-to-lovers romance, and bestselling authors, this episode is for you. 🌹 IMMORTAL ROSE is out August 18, 2026. 🎧 Listen now and discover the scent of magic. Don’t forget to like, share, comment and follow! Happy Listening !

    Author Alexandra Bracken on Immortal Rose, Perfume Magic & the Scents That Shape Us! (E.67)

  8. Aug 18

    Formula 1 Romance: Author J.K. MacLaren Talks Full Throttle, Enemies-to-Lovers & Sports Romance (E.66)

    Hello Rebel Readers, In this episode of the Rebel Reads Podcast, we’re putting Full Throttle by J.K. MacLaren on your most anticipated novel to add to your TBR list! The highly anticipated adult romance debut that brings the adrenaline, glamour, rivalry, and drama of Formula 1 racing to the world of sports romance. Cue the enemies-to-lovers tension, second-chance romance, forced proximity, racing rivalry, and undeniable chemistry.  We’re talking about what makes Formula 1 such a compelling backdrop for romance, the growing popularity of F1-inspired sports romance, and because every great Rebel Reads conversation needs a little fun, J.K lets us in on the inspiration for writing Full Throttle. Plus, what is like to watch the real-life Formula 1 movie starring Brad Pitt, coffee drinks of choice, Grandma’s cookbook, and the ultimate enemies-to-lovers debate. Listen now on the Rebel Reads Podcast and get ready to go FULL THROTTLE. Like, Follow, Share and Follow! Happy Listening!

    Formula 1 Romance: Author J.K. MacLaren Talks Full Throttle, Enemies-to-Lovers & Sports Romance (E.66)
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Rebel Reads Podcast, where stories come to life and the literary world gets real. Join host Cheryl Briggs as she sits down with bestselling and breakthrough authors for deep-dive book chats, inspiring interviews, and exclusive behind-the-scenes scoops you won’t hear anywhere else. From unforgettable characters to powerful themes, each episode explores the magic of storytelling and how books connect, challenge, and change us. Whether you’re a die-hard reader, a curious writer, or just here for the vibes, you’re in the right place for fun, inspiration, and a whole lot of bookish!

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