Totally Booked with Zibby

Zibby Publishing author alert! Zibby chats with debut author Nanda Reddy about A GIRL WITHIN A GIRL WITHIN A GIRL, a riveting and redemptive story of a young Guyanese trafficking victim and her journey to build and protect her life in the United States. Nanda shares how her personal experiences as an immigrant shaped this narrative, and then talks about her protagonist, who has hidden her past from her family for decades—until her sister’s reappearance forces her to confront the truth. She also talks about the novel’s portrayal of a deaf sibling and then delves into its themes of immigration, code-switching, identity, trauma, and resilience.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4blR80ZShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** 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 welcomes back award-winning reporter and author Matt Gutman to discuss his firsthand experience covering the devastating California wildfires. Matt, who previously opened up about his struggles with anxiety in NO TIME TO PANIC, shares how high-stakes reporting in crisis zones—from Gaza to LA—puts him in a rare state of clarity. He explains why, in moments of real danger, his anxiety dissipates, replaced by hyperfocus and adrenaline. Matt recounts the harrowing days spent on the ground as entire communities burned, including his own family's home, and the lasting imprint these traumatic events leave behind.Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** 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.

Bestselling author Tova Mirvis joins Zibby to discuss WE WOULD NEVER, a thrillingly plotted, provocative, fever dream of a novel about a close-knit Florida family whose all-consuming love for each other turns sinister. Tova shares how her own divorce and Orthodox Jewish upbringing influenced this story—though she emphasizes that the plot is fictional! She also delves into complex family dynamics (from overbearing mothers to custody disputes to fears of empty-nesting) and the lengths parents will go to protect their children.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4bn20MgShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** 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.

Maggie Smith, an award-winning New York Times bestselling author, discusses her latest book, offering pep talks and practical advice for aspiring writers. She delves into the journey of writing, sharing insights from her two decades of teaching. The conversation highlights the complexities of creativity, emphasizing the need to silence your inner critic and nurture delicate ideas. Smith encourages writers to embrace their unique voices, pointing out that vulnerability is a crucial part of the creative process.

New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict returns to the podcast to discuss THE QUEENS OF CRIME, a smart, biting, page-turning delight about the lengths to which five talented women writers (including Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sawyers) will go to be taken seriously in the male-dominated world of letters—and how they solve a mystery torn from the pages of their own novels. Marie explains how these real-life literary icons banded together to solve an actual murder, delving into the masks women must wear to survive… Then, she teases her next book, which explores ancient Egypt, archaeology, and a forgotten female pharaoh.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/41lJcsaShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** 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.

Writer, comedian, producer, TV host, activist, and author of six consecutive New York Times bestsellers, Chelsea Handler, chats with Zibby about her latest book, I’LL HAVE WHAT SHE’S HAVING, a surprisingly vulnerable, utterly hilarious, and always outrageous essay collection that captures her exhilarating, antic-filled, and joyful life. Chelsea delves into her unique takes on relationships, independence and solitude, and handling criticism. She also shares unforgettable life moments, from a transformative encounter with Jane Fond to skiing in Whistler to an unexpected visit to Kennebunkport, where three edibles helped her keep her cool!Chelsea’s book, I’ll Have What She’s Having is available now at chelseahandler.com/bookShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** 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.

Bestselling author Charmaine Wilkerson returns to the podcast to discuss her engrossing, beautifully imagined new family saga, GOOD DIRT. Charmaine delves into the story of Ebby Freeman, a woman seeking solace in France after a personal tragedy, only to find that her past is inescapable. Charmaine reveals how history, heirlooms, and identity shape Ebby’s journey and how the novel intertwines multiple perspectives—including those of ancestors, neighbors, and unexpected voices. She and Zibby also explore themes of trauma and resilience while reflecting on the deeply emotional and thought-provoking one-liners that punctuate the novel.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4ici6KRShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** 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.

Luxury fashion mogul and social activist Rebecca Minkoff joins Zibby to celebrate the paperback release of her USA Today bestseller, FEARLESS: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Rebecca shares her journey as an entrepreneur, from near business failures to unexpected triumphs, and the constant evolution required to stay afloat. She reflects on her resilience, risk-taking, and adaptability—not just in business but in relationships, parenting, and life, touching on her unconventional upbringing, her journey to finding love, and the delicate balance between motherhood and career.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3EJqbYKShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** 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 writing duo 'Taylor Hutton' (the pseudonym used by bestselling authors Adele Griffin and Julie Buxbaum!) to discuss STRIKE AND BURN, a seductive, devastating, and unputdownable dark romance. The two share how their friendship—originally set up by author Sarah Mlynowski—evolved into a collaborative writing partnership and an unexpected dive into dark romance (or… “traumantasy”). They delve into their unique writing process, the freedom of writing under a pseudonym, and how their book explores trauma, love, and healing.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3ELgusUShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** 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.

Bonny Reichert—chef, award-winning journalist, and daughter of a Holocaust survivor—joins Zibby to discuss HOW TO SHARE AN EGG, a transformative, beautifully written culinary memoir about the relationship between food, family, sustenance, and survival. Bonny shares how growing up in the shadow of her father’s Holocaust survival shaped her identity and how food became the vehicle for telling his story. She describes the power of recreating lost family recipes, the emotional challenges of writing about trauma, and the ordinary struggles of life—parenting, loss, and reinvention.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4130CJQShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** 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.