Bookable Space

Steven Mayfield joins host Yvonne Battle-Felton in this episode of Bookable Space. Steven will be reading from Delphic Oracle, U.S.A.About the bookIt is 1925 when a love affair between enchantress Maggie Westinghouse and con man July Pennybaker upends the small town of Miagrammesto Station, tumbles it about, and sets it back down as Delphic Oracle, Nebraska. Will their love fulfill its destiny? The narrator of this wry, entertaining novel, Father Peter Goodfellow, weaves back and forth in time to answer that question. Along the way, he introduces the Goodfellows, the Penrods, and the Thorntons—families whose members include a perpetual runaway, a man with religion but no faith, a man with faith but no religion, a boy known as Samson the Methodist, a know-it-all librarian who seems to actually know everything, a quartet of confused midsummer lovers, and a skeleton unearthed in a vacant lot. Funny, poignant, and occasionally tragic, their histories are part of how a place at the confluence of the Platte, Loup, and Missouri River Valleys became home to the long-lost Oracle of Delphi. Author the author:Steven Mayfield was the 2021 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Silver Medalist for his novel, Treasure of the Blue Whale. A former neonatologist, he lives and writes in Oregon and can order beer or wine in four languages. His wife can say, “Pay no attention to this man,” in five. 

Susan Cole joins host Yvonne Battle-Felton in this episode of Bookable Space. Susan will be reading from Holding Fast: A Memoir of Sailing, Love, and Loss.About the book HOLDING FAST is Susan Cole’s story of leaving everything behind to follow her husband's lifelong dream of sailing away. Susan’s journey took her from the glitzy world of Madison Avenue advertising to riding out Hurricane Mitch, the largest hurricane on record at the time, on a sailboat in Guatemala. She hadn’t wanted to go in the first place, but ended up on a life-changing odyssey. “Riveting true story about the author’s life on a sailboat with her young family. Sensitive, brave, inspiring, funny, and beautifully written.”About the authorSusan Cole has lived on or around sailboats for over thirty years. Between sails, she earned a B.A. at Barnard College, an M.A. at Columbia University, and ran a market research firm in New York. Holding Fast is her first book. She currently lives in New Orleans.

Love being read to? In this episode of Bookable Space, host Yvonne Battle-Felton is joined by Arnie Bernstein reading from Bath Massacre: America's First School Bombing and two other pieces.Arnie Bernstein bio: Arnie Bernstein delves into the forgotten corners of history through narrative nonfiction. His explorations of American Nazis, Swastika Nation: Fritz Kuhn and the Rise and Fall of the German-American Bund, has earned world-wide acclaim, including The NY Times, Publishers Weekly, and media in Poland, Germany, England, Israel, and more. Arnie is a member of PEN, The Authors Guild, International Federation of Journalists, and Society of Midland Authors. He is a competitive runner, can recite all dialog from The Godfather by heart, and is a lifelong fan of the Chicago White Sox, which means he doesn’t have to read the Book of Job. Bath Massacre: America’s First School Bombing is the horrifying true story of the deadliest school killing in American history. On May 18, 1927, in the small town of Bath, Michigan, the local school blew up, killing 38 children and four adults. The madman behind this crime burned down his home, killed his wife, and blew himself up in front of the devastated school grounds. Bath Massacre resonates powerfully for modern readers and reminds us that domestic terrorism and mass murder are sadly not just a product of our times. To purchase signed books or for more information: https://www.arniebernstein.com

Love being read to? Hosted by writer, Yvonne Battle-Felton, inthis episode of Bookable Space we're joined by Laura Pashby reading from Little Stories of Your Life.About the book:It’s easy to feel that our own lives are not enough, but real lives are not defined by bright, exciting events: we don’t need a grand narrative arc. It’s the stretches of time in between that matter, the tiny moments and the daily choices that make us who we are. Little Stories of Your Life shows you how to use words and photographs to capture precious little moments and how to share these in order to connect with others.Each chapter explores the different ways you can tell your own stories, considers why you might choose to tell them and helps you to create a patchwork of tiny tales about your life, however small they might be. Throughout the book, Laura shares her own personal stories and research that shows you how to tune out of the bigger picture and focus on the everyday. There are exercises to gently guide you through how to journal and harness your inner creativity, as well as tips on improving your photography, photo challenges and writing prompts to get you started.Laura Pashby is a writer and photographer from the Cotswolds. Her first book, a creativity guide called Little Stories of Your Life: Find your voice, share your world and tell your story, is published by Quadrille. She loves walking in the woods, particularly on a foggy morning.

Love being read to? Joining host Yvonne Battle-Felton, this episode of Bookable Space features AA Abbott reading Lies at Her Door.About the book: She forgot about her childhood friend… until his body is found under her garden. Can she prove she didn’t commit the decades-old murder? Lucy Freeman struggles to find satisfaction in life. Trapped in the shadow of her rock star brother, the thirty-two-year-old craves more than her days at home caring for her terminally ill mother. But her routine takes a turn for the horrifying when a giant sinkhole collapses the earth outside their house and reveals a skeleton.Shocked to discover the bones belong to a former member of her sibling’s band, Lucy’s worst nightmare comes alive when police suspect her of the killing. And as she turns to her dying parent’s diaries in a desperate search for vindication, she’s entangled in a dark and complicated truth. Will unearthing long-buried wrongs prove lethal?Lies at Her Door is a heavy-hitting psychological thriller novel. If you like strong character growth, overcoming dysfunctional relationships, and revealing unexpected secrets, then you’ll love AA Abbott’s chilling whodunnit. Buy Lies at Her Door to excavate the facts from the rubble today!About the author:British crime thriller writer A.A. Abbott (also known as Helen Blenkinsop) enjoys escaping with an exciting and emotional read, and that’s what she aims to write, too. Based in Bristol, her latest psychological thriller is set in the city’s swanky Clifton district. Here, gracious Georgian houses overlook the dramatic Avon Gorge. While it’s a place of beauty, nothing is ever as perfect as it seems. ‘Lies at Her Door’ is Helen’s ninth book. She’s had help from beta readers on subjects as varied as police procedure, philosophy and Parkinson’s disease. They’ve made huge improvements to the story, as has Helen’s editor, Katharine D’Souza. Like 10% of us, many of Helen’s family are dyslexic. While she is not, she wants her books to be enjoyed by readers with dyslexia and visual impairment too. She publishes her thrillers in a large print dyslexia-friendly edition as well as standard paperback and ebook versions. (You can also adjust the font on your electronic device to suit your needs.) Helen likes speaking to book groups, business networks and social circles. She also has fun reading thrillers and short stories at live fiction events and on Zoom. If you're a book blogger, litfest organiser, reviewer or simply adore books, she’d love to hear from you. Helen is a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors, Bristol Fiction Writers' Group, and Birmingham's New Street Authors. Find out more, check out notes for book clubs and get a free e-book of short stories at https://aaabbott.co.uk

Love being read to? In this episode of Bookable Space, host Yvonne Battle-Felton is joined by Debbie Burke reading Until Proven Guilty.About the book: A guilty rapist freed on a technicality. A father wrongfully convicted of molesting his daughter. An unknown son from the past with a dark secret. Investigator Tawny Lindholm and attorney Tillman Rosenbaum struggle to resolve three baffling cases where DNA doesn’t lead to the truth. Instead, it lays bare lies, deception, and betrayal, threatening Tawny and Tillman’s new marriage and endangering their family. About the author: Debbie Burke is a suspense novelist, award-winning journalist, and blogger at The Kill Zone website. Her Tawny Lindholm Thrillers with Passion series plunges crime-solver Tawny Lindholm into fast-paced twisty plots with quirky characters and snappy dialogue, set against the rugged scenery of Montana.Website: https://debbieburkewriter.com  Twitter: burke_writer    Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B075NNWMNH   Email: debbieburkewriter@gmail.com

Love being read to? Joining host Yvonne Battle-Felton, this episode of Bookable Space features Trudy Krisher reading from On the March: A Novel of the Women's March on Washington.About the author: Trudy Krisher an award-winning author of a number of historical novels with social justice themes (SPITE FENCES, KINSHIP, UNCOMMON FAITH, FALLOUT). She has a reputation as a trailblazer in writing and speaking out about sensitive issues surrounding self-identity, race, and gender through her fictional works. You can read more about her at her website: www.trudykrisher.com. ON THE MARCH is available as ebook, paperback, and hardcover from both Amazon and Ingram. About the book:  The lives of three strangers collide when they travel together to the national Women’s March on Washington in January 2017. Henrietta Oldham is an elderly woman who runs a failing antique store; Birdie Jackson is a shy African-American teenager who is marching at the insistence of her feminist aunt; Emily Messer is a recent college graduate who needs more in her life than her job as a barista. Although Henrietta, Birdie, and Emily appear to have little in common as they begin their ride from Kansas to Washington, D.C., they find common bonds in shared experiences of sexual harassment, pay inequity, self-sabotage, and even bra-stuffing. As the women begin to know and trust each other, they each start to discover their voice and cultivate the courage to share their secrets. Inspiring and appealing to women of all ages, On the March is a warm, and often funny, novel of the zeitgeist and the renewed feminist spirit of our times. It would make a terrific read for book clubs

Love being read to? In this episode of Bookable Space we're joined by Emily Johnson reading Pushing Through the Cracks.Pushing Through The Cracks  Four years ago, Emily, a divorced mother of two, was living her best life with a new partner and a blended family of six. But then addiction and mental illness entered her home uninvited, threatening to tear the whole family apart.With an alcoholic husband and two teenage sons – one a depressed gambler and the other with chronic obsessive-compulsive disorder – Emily is left to cope alone. And when the Covid pandemic hits, Emily, a serial people-pleaser, enabler, and born rescuer, almost breaks too.This true story delves into the darkest sides of mental illness and addiction with raw, often harrowing honesty. It shines a light on taboo subjects, including self-harm, suicidal feelings, gambling, alcoholism, depression, severe OCD, and eating disorders, all exacerbated by an unprecedented global pandemic and dwindling support services.This is a story of remarkable strength, self-realisation and reclamation of a lost identity. This is a story of finding hope, pushing through the cracks in the darkness. Emily J. Johnson - AuthorEmily is a mother, author, and advocate for raising awareness of mental illness. Having spent 15 years living in Australia, Emily returned to the UK in 2010 and lives on the south coast of England. Emily continues living and working around her family's ongoing mental illness recovery, splitting her time between part-time work, caring, and writing.This episode includes a trigger warning.

Love being read to? In this episode of Bookable Space, joined by host Yvonne Battle-Felton, Carolyn Korsmeyer reads Charlotte's Story.About the author: A longtime admiration for Jane Austen led Carolyn Korsmeyer to write Charlotte’s Story. Her second novel, Little Follies, will be published in January, 2023. She is also the author of numerous philosophical works, including Things: In Touch with the Past, Savoring Disgust: The Foul and the Fair in Aesthetics, and Making Sense of Taste: Food and Philosophy.About the book: Charlotte Lucas, a character first appearing in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, has made an unfortunate marriage to the loquacious William Collins, reckoning that his tedious conversation is a small price to pay for the prosperous home and family she desires. However, trouble brews within the first months of marriage, for they are not nearly as good a match as she had hoped.To ease the strain of their relationship, Charlotte leaves her husband to visit the fashionable city of Bath with several women companions. The weeks there prove to be a time for self-discovery and freedom, and the marital frost begins to thaw. However, events in Bath result in an unfortunate, even calamitous, consequence.Charlotte devises an audacious solution that combines bold connivance and compassionate duplicity, pursuing her hope of happiness with the wit and courage to seek it.