Totally Booked with Zibby

Jason Mott's latest novel, Hell of a Book — which is already a New York Times bestseller and a Read With Jenna Book Club pick— is meant to make readers laugh out loud on one page while offering a critical look at serious topics like race and policing in America on the next. Jason joins Zibby to discuss the technical structure of the book, as well as how his introverted tendencies both inspired the story's undertones and prompted Zibby to reflect on her own shyness. The two also talk about ways they like to recharge after spending time around other people and why Jason doesn't like to take himself too seriously. Check out Zibby and Kyle’s appearance on Good Day LA where they recommended this book here.Purchase on Amazon or Bookshop.Amazon: https://amzn.to/3iq3Ul8Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3CyHnLc** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Although Gina Yashere's path to comedy wasn't easy, writing her memoir, Cack-Handed, in her own voice allowed her to work through some things she thought she had left behind. Now a legend in the comedy world, with a CBS sitcom that she created and stars in, Gina is reflecting on how she got to where she is. She shares what growing up as the daughter of two Nigerian immigrants in the U.K. was like in the 1980s, why she turned to comedy as a way to mitigate some of the racialized violence she experienced, and how writing this book helped her understand her mother in a brand-new way.Purchase on Amazon or Bookshop.Amazon: https://amzn.to/36NZkXlBookshop: https://bit.ly/3rlS9Pu** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Moms Don't Have Time to Lose Weight guest Ann Garvin joins Zibby for a new conversation. The two discuss Ann's latest novel, I Thought You Said This Would Work, and how we rarely ever talk about how significant friendships are in our lives, as well as how destabilizing it can be to lose them. Ann also shares what motivated her to start Tall Poppy Writers, a female writing collective designed to help women connect with one another to not only improve their work but also build a supportive community.Purchase on Amazon or Bookshop.Amazon: https://amzn.to/3hSa8KeBookshop: https://bit.ly/2TnPlVA** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zibby is joined by journalist Claire Nelson to talk about her incredible debut memoir, Things I Learned From Falling, which documents her near-death experience while hiking at Joshua Tree. As Claire waited for days for assistance to arrive —wondering if any would come at all— she set out on a self-reflection journey in which she uncovered uncomfortable truths about her inner beliefs and her mortality at large. Despite her harrowing journey, Claire shares how she approaches each day with comedy and a determination to live.Purchase on Amazon or Bookshop.Amazon: https://amzn.to/3iwXBLCBookshop: https://bit.ly/3xV6SUe** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While The Photographer may be Mary Dixie Carter's first novel, she has been writing and creating art her entire life. Mary Dixie tells Zibby how her previous roles as an actress and a journalist helped shape her into the writer she is today, the bizarre real-life interaction with a photographer that inspired her dark and suspicious protagonist, and why she finds life more fascinating behind the metaphorical camera.Purchase on Amazon or Bookshop.Amazon: https://amzn.to/3kLjWrgBookshop: https://bit.ly/3wURGFl** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zibby is joined by restaurateur Peter Hoffman to talk about his debut memoir, What's Good, which not only takes readers through Peter's own history but through those of his favorite ingredients as well. The two talk about the people who shaped Peter's cooking style, what we all gain when we cook with local ingredients, and where to find the best strawberries in New York City.Purchase on Amazon or Bookshop.Amazon: https://amzn.to/3zh5Im7Bookshop: https://bit.ly/2UntIW9** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I realized that being a good reader and helping other people read well is a political act. You take a stand in society when you decide to chase after that." Along with instilling a lifelong love of reading, Tracy Swinton Bailey's father taught her how powerful literacy could be, which inspired her to start the literacy nonprofit Freedom Readers in 2010. Tracy talked with Zibby about her memoir, Forever Free, the incredible results Freedom Readers has produced, and how the group plans to grow in a post-pandemic world. Listeners can get involved at freedomreaders.org.Purchase on Amazon or Bookshop.Amazon: https://amzn.to/3xW4zA2Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3BnrOVZ** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Abbie Greaves is still perplexed by the question posed on the cover of her latest book, Anywhere for You: "How far would you go for the love of your life?" Abbie and Zibby also discussed heartbreaking truths about missing persons, why they love stories with a large cast of characters, and all of the amazing things we often overlook during our daily commutes.Purchase on Amazon or Bookshop.Amazon: https://amzn.to/36MxGKiBookshop: https://bit.ly/36QXgxY** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily Henry joined Zibby for an Instagram Live to discuss her latest novel, People We Meet on Vacation — one of her two books currently on the New York Times bestsellers list! The two had a wide-ranging and fun conversation about everything from expensing vacations to their favorite rom-com, and why it's so hard for them to pick out book recommendations.Purchase on Amazon or Bookshop.Amazon: https://amzn.to/3eFRnYJBookshop: https://bit.ly/3eDKUgQ** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the Hampton Classic horse show around the corner, New York Times reporter Sarah Maslin Nir's debut memoir, Horse Crazy, is more timely than ever. As she traveled the world for work, Sarah secretly documented the history of horses in each region, satisfying a lifelong obsession while also developing her own personal narrative. From growing up as the daughter of a Holocaust survivor to working for the founder of The Black Cowboy Museum and meeting a woman whose own horse obsession led her to nefarious deeds, Sarah's story is as complex and riveting as the animals she loves.Purchase on Amazon or Bookshop.Amazon: https://amzn.to/3eDzsBEBookshop: https://bit.ly/3wT3k3t** Check out the Z.I.P. membership program—Zibby’s Important People! As a Z.I.P., you’ll get exclusive essays, special author access, discounts at Zibby’s Bookshop, and more. Head to zibbyowens.com to subscribe or upgrade and become a Z.I.P. today!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for more about today's episode. (Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.