The Heart-Shaped Books Podcast Denise Ganley

As a curious middle-school reader, Daisy Bateman picked up the Charlotte MacLeod murder mystery, Rest You Merry, in the place where all good books are found... her parents' bathroom. A lifelong love of mysteries ensued, resulting in firm opinions on who is allowed to play Hercule Poirot who is "by definition, not a man of action."

As a young mother living in Caracas and working as a journalist covering Latin America, Christina Hoag discovered the Feast of the Goat, a dramatization of the assassination of the dictator, Rafael Leonidas Trujillo, who ruled the Dominican Republic for about 30 years with a very iron fist  This dark story about power run amuck and how power corrupts inspired her to write.

With a chaotic childhood and feeling like an outcast in her own family, Maegan Beaumont discovered Aerin Firehair the Dragonslayer, and found her own voice after seeing a strong female protagonist that didn't need other people to solve her problems.

At age 9, Barry Lyga may not have had silver eyes, telekinesis, or the ability to talk to animals, but just like Katie Welker, he felt like an outcast living in a new community while his parents were divorcing.

With a new school for 5th grade, a harsh teacher, and bullies afoot, author Karen Odden found comfort with a fish out of water heroine who faced similar challenges.

The first adult book that author Katy Grant read was a much loved American classic that lead her to wanting a Boo Radley living in her small town Tennessee neighborhood.