Notes from Erin Podcast

Erin Ashley
  • 5.0 (2)
  • BOOKS

The podcast extension of Notes from Erin, your literary soundtrack. I talk with authors, musicians, and fellow book and music lovers about creativity, process, and what they can't stop recommending. notesfromerin.substack.com

  1. Randee Dawn on We Interrupt This Program & Writing Fantasy That Feels Real

    APR 27

    Randee Dawn on We Interrupt This Program & Writing Fantasy That Feels Real

    What happens when fairies decide to make TV? Author and entertainment journalist Randee Dawn joins Erin to talk about her Tuniverse series — contemporary fantasy that swaps swords and sorcery for soap operas, cozy mysteries, and mythical creatures navigating the modern world. Randee's latest book, We Interrupt This Program, drops readers into a magically constructed cozy mystery village — think Murder, She Wrote meets Irish folklore — where the showrunner fairy won't leave his house, the Greek muses have gone on vacation, and a silver-haired writer named Winnie has to figure out why everything has stopped working. It's funny, it's warm, and it's the kind of fantasy that sneaks up on you. In this episode, Erin and Randee dig into the resurgence of contemporary fantasy (and what CGI, Harry Potter, and romantasy have to do with it), how Randee's background covering music and TV for outlets like Variety and the LA Times shaped her fiction, what it actually feels like to write a novel, and why community — writers groups, reading series, conventions — is what made her publishing journey possible. They also talk soundtracks as creative fuel, the writing advice that changed how Randee thinks about character, and why New Zealand might just be the most functional country on earth. Paired this episode: We Interrupt This Program by Randee Dawn — a cozy, witty fantasy that rethinks what entertainment is even for. If you loved this episode, the full conversation — and Erin's album pairing — lives on Substack. Subscribe to Notes from Erin for more books, music, and the conversations that connect them. Chapters (00:00) Welcome & Meet Randee Dawn(01:52) Earliest Reading Memories(03:33) The Fantasy Resurgence Explained(08:20) From Music Journalism to Fantasy Novels(13:37) The Origin of the Tuniverse(16:33) Writing Books vs. Writing Everything Else(21:28) Brooklyn Books & Booze(26:18) We Interrupt This Program — Synopsis(29:08) Building Trope Town(37:57) Character, Conflict & What Makes a Story Work(43:25) Shared Universe Easter Eggs(44:04) How the TV-Phrase Titles Work(48:05) Quick-Fire Round(49:59) Writing with (or without) Music(52:05) Why Everyone Should Visit New Zealand

    51 min
  2. Leonor Mamanna on Consistency, Reading & Curating

    APR 21

    Leonor Mamanna on Consistency, Reading & Curating

    Leonor Mamanna has sent Leave It to Leonor every single Thursday for almost 10 years, 492 editions and counting. In this episode, we talk consistency, curation, and what it means to be the person people come to for recommendations. We also get into her three-book-at-a-time reading routine and the social campaign she built around A Little Life that took on a life of its own. Subscribe to Leave It to Leonor Subscribe to Notes from Erin Chapters: (00:00) Introduction to Leonor and Her Newsletter (03:04) The Journey of Consistency in Writing (05:57) The Evolution of Leonor's Newsletter (09:04) Curating Content: Essays and Recommendations (11:59) The Influence of Leonor's Career on Her Writing (15:02) Favorite Podcasts and Ideal Guests (17:59) Reading Habits and Influences (25:14) Exploring Literature: Nonfiction and Romance (26:07) Book Recommendations: Must-Reads for Everyone (28:11) The Impact of A Little Life on Social Media (30:19) Creative Marketing: The Evolution of Book Promotion (34:17) The Influence of Social Media on the Book Industry (38:02) Pop Culture Reflections: TV Shows and Characters (44:35) The Value of a Curated Newsletter

    49 min

  3. APR 7

    Completely Booked with Jordan Hernandez

    As a reader, cultivating a community of fellow readers is important both digitally, and in person and this is one thing that Jordan Hernandez of Completely Booked has thought about and equally perfected. In this interview, I spoke with Jordan about her community, the importance of reading diverse books, lessons she pull from both her reading and running life and so much more. Connect with Jordan: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | Substack Connect with me: Newsletter | Instagram | Threads Chapters: 00:00 The Journey to Reading 02:57 Building a Community Around Books 06:01 The Evolution of Completely Booked 09:10 The Importance of Diverse Reading 11:58 Navigating Social Media for Community Growth 14:58 Empathy Through Literature 26:44 Exploring Audiobooks and Their Impact 34:06 Highlighting Upcoming Black Women Authors 40:41 The Importance of Reading in Relationships 44:22 Building Community Through Books

    50 min
  4. ReShonda Tate on With Love from Harlem, Hazel Scott, and Writing Women Back Into History

    MAR 10

    ReShonda Tate on With Love from Harlem, Hazel Scott, and Writing Women Back Into History

    In this episode, I sit down with author ReShonda Tate to talk about her new novel With Love from Harlem, a sweeping historical fiction set in 1940s and 50s Harlem following jazz prodigy and civil rights advocate Hazel Scott and her complicated relationship with Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr. We get into Hazel's erased legacy, the sisterhood between Hazel and Billie Holiday, what Black women in exile have in common across generations, and what ReShonda believes Hazel would say to artists navigating this moment. Read more on Substack: http://notesfromerin.substack.com Connect with me on social media: Instagram Threads Connect with ReShonda Tate: Instagram WebsitePurchase With Love from Harlem Chapters: (00:00) Introduction to ReShonda Tate and Her Journey as a Reader (02:42) The Creative Process Behind Writing Historical Fiction (05:50) Exploring Hazel Scott's Life and Legacy (08:48) The Complex Relationship Between Hazel Scott and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. (11:37) The Importance of Sisterhood and Friendship in Harlem (14:56) The Cultural Significance of Harlem and Its Artists (17:43) Reflections on Black Womanhood and Resilience (20:07) Looking Ahead: ReShonda's Future Projects

    20 min
  5. Bsrat Mezghebe - I Hope You Find What You're Looking For

    MAR 3

    Bsrat Mezghebe - I Hope You Find What You're Looking For

    Interview with Bsrat Mezghebe, author of the debut novel I Hope You Find What You're Looking For, published by Liveright. We talk about Eritrean independence and the real women who inspired the book, her earliest reading memories, the role of music in her storytelling, being featured as a Well-Read Black Girl, and how she balanced personal and political narratives in her fiction. Chapters: (00:00) Meet Bsrat Mezghebe, Author of I Hope You Find What You're Looking For (02:55) Bsrat's Earliest Reading Memories and What Made Her a Writer (05:58) Being a Well-Read Black Girl Pick and What It Meant (08:45) How I Hope You Find What You're Looking For Came to Be (11:52) Writing Eritrean Independence Into a Personal Story (14:50) The Real Women Who Became the Heart of the Book (17:59) How Music Shaped the Writing of This Novel (22:03) Artistic Influences, Cultural References, and the World Behind the Book (25:49) Why the Title I Hope You Find What You're Looking For and Where the Characters Go (28:31) What Bsrat Wants Readers to Take Away (30:58) On Community, Connection, and Who This Book Is For (33:08) Bsrat's Music Picks and Book Recommendations You can watch the full episode on Substack: https://notesfromerin.substack.com/p/bsrat-mezghebe-debut-novel Connect with Bsrat: https://bmezghebe.com/

    41 min

  6. JAN 6

    musical memoirs worth reading

    Random notes on book tracking, music memoirs and reading/listening goals for the new year. Get full access to Notes from Erin at notesfromerin.substack.com/subscribe

    32 min

  7. 12/23/2025

    Bookish Banter with Stephanie of That Bookish Life

    In this episode of the Notes from Erin podcast, Erin speaks with Stephanie, the writer behind the Substack newsletter 'The Bookish Life.' They discuss Stephanie's journey as a reader, her transition from Instagram to Substack, the impact of audiobooks on her reading habits, and the importance of diverse reading. They also share their favorite reads, the role of music in literature, and the significance of tracking reading habits. The conversation highlights the joy of connecting with fellow readers and the excitement of discovering new books. Get full access to Notes from Erin at notesfromerin.substack.com/subscribe

    1 hr

  8. 12/09/2025

    Back of House: A Question About Home, Memory, and Belonging

    What does home taste like? In this conversation, Erin sits down with artists Diana Albrecht and Ryan Stopera to discuss their collaborative photobook cookbook, 'Back of House'—a collection of twelve immigrant stories told through food. They explore how food serves as a universal language that connects culture, memory, and identity, the intentional curation of diverse voices, and why celebrating invisible caretakers matters more than ever. From the complexity of answering "what food is home?" to the beauty of cooking failures, this conversation celebrates the stories we carry through the meals we make. Get full access to Notes from Erin at notesfromerin.substack.com/subscribe

    53 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
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About

The podcast extension of Notes from Erin, your literary soundtrack. I talk with authors, musicians, and fellow book and music lovers about creativity, process, and what they can't stop recommending. notesfromerin.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Erin Ashley
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Erin Ashley
  • Show Website
    Notes from Erin Podcast