Novel Finds

In this episode, Julia chats with the wonderful author & illustrator Venessa Vida Kelley about their upcoming novel, When the Tides Held the Moon. This beautifully crafted book is full of two-toned illustrations and a story of love and found family in the most surprising of places. It isn't one you'll want to miss! Pre-order it now from one of (or all of) Venessa's favorite indie bookstores: Meet Cute Bookshop (San Diego, CA), Blue Willow Bookshop (Houston, TX), Loyalty Bookstore (Washington DC), and The Ripped Bodice (Brooklyn, NY) or find it at your local indie on April 29th!Follow Venessa on their website, Instagram, Tumblr, X (Twitter), Patreon, Etsy, and Bluesky---Thanks for being a Novel Friend! If you want to see more from me, find the podcast on Instagram or follow me on Bluesky for mini book reviews. If you want to support the podcast (and get some merch in the process), join the Novel Finds community on Patreon or check out our book lists on Bookshop.org to find the latest books from the podcast, and if your podcast app does it, make sure to rate and review the show!Novel Finds is an affiliate of Bookshop.org

In this short and sweet episode, Julia chats with debut author Veronika Dapunt about her upcoming book, Death and Other Occupational Hazards! Available in the UK on April 10th, and in the US on January 6th, 2026! She'll be having a release event at her favorite independent bookstore: Queens Park Books (named Independent Bookshop of the Year!)Read Veronika's favorite books: The Neverending Story and Momo, both by Michael EndeFollow Veronika Instagram to see what she's up to next!---Thanks for being a Novel Friend! If you want to see more from me, find the podcast on Instagram or follow me on Bluesky. If you want to support the podcast, join the Novel Finds community on Patreon or check out our book lists on Bookshop.org to find the latest books from the podcast, and if your podcast app does it, make sure to rate and review the show!Novel Finds is an affiliate of Bookshop.org

In this episode, Julia chats with Kate Pearsall, author of Bittersweet in the Hollow and Lies on the Serpent's Tongue. This episode is full of folklore, local legends, cryptids, magic, and more! Find both her books at her fave indie bookstores: Schuler Books, Sidetrack Bookshop, or Between the CoversWant to read some of Kate's formative books? Check out the works of Jane Austen, the Brontë Sisters, Louisa May Alcott's Gothic short stories, Barbara Kingsolver's Prodigal Summer, and Alice Hoffman's Practical MagicFollow Kate on Instagram & her website---Thanks for being a Novel Friend! If you want to see more from me, find the podcast on Instagram or follow me on Bluesky. If you want to support the podcast, join the Novel Finds community on Patreon or check out our book lists on Bookshop.org to find the latest books from the podcast, and if your podcast app does it, make sure to rate and review the show!Novel Finds is an affiliate of Bookshop.org

In this episode, Julia sits down with New York Times bestselling author J.C. Cervantes to chat about her upcoming companion novel to The Enchanted Hacienda, The Anatomy of Magic (in stores March 11th)!Love writing? J.C. recommends Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert for inspirational tips!J.C.'s Favorite Books and Authors: C.S. Lewis' Narnia series, Little Witch by Anna Bennett, Roald Dahl, Judy Blume, Sharon Creech, Pam Muñoz Ryan, and Rick Riordan to name a fewFind signed (and personalized) copies of her books at Collected Works Bookstore in Santa Fe and Books on the Bosque in AlbuquerqueStay up to date with J.C. through her website, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky!---Thanks for being a Novel Friend! If you want to see more from me, find the podcast on Instagram or follow me on Bluesky. If you want to support the podcast, join the Novel Finds community on Patreon or check out our book lists on Bookshop.org to find the latest books from the podcast, and if your podcast app does it, make sure to rate and review the show!Novel Finds is an affiliate of Bookshop.org

Welcome to season 5 of Novel Finds! This season is full of amazing authors, and I'm so excited to kick it off with Emily J. Taylor author of Hotel Magnifique and upcoming novel, The Otherwhere Post! In this episode, Emily and Julia chat about crafting magic systems, historical quills and ink, Holly Black, and more!Read Emily's favorite books/authors: Rebecca by Daphne Du Morier, Victoria Holt, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, Holly Black's Tithe series, Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier, Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor, and Dark Matter by Blake CrouchPre-order The Otherwhere Post from her fave indie bookseller, The Red Balloon (located in St. Paul, MN)Follow Emily on Instagram, and check out her website!---Thanks for being a Novel Friend! If you want to see more from me, find the podcast on Instagram or follow me on Bluesky. If you want to support the podcast, join the Novel Finds community on Patreon or check out our lists on Bookshop.org to find the latest books from the podcast, and if your podcast app does it, make sure to rate and review the show!Novel Finds is an affiliate of Bookshop.org

In this episode, Julia and her partner, Jonah, wrap up season 4 and talk about books, analytics, goals for next year, more books... and did we mention he has an English accent?Helpful Links from things we discussed:The Menuscript episode Julia was a guest on to talk about The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE SchwabFourth Wing (Xaden's POV) Ao3 by belle_beebeeYou Know Who Podcast---Thanks for being a Novel Friend! If you want to see more from me, find the podcast on Instagram. If you want to support the podcast, join the Novel Finds community on Patreon or check out our lists on Bookshop.org to find the latest books from the podcast, and if your podcast app does it, make sure to rate and review the show!Novel Finds is an affiliate of Bookshop.org

In this episode our recurring special guest, Dr. Shelby VanRossum, chats all things ACOFAS with Julia! THIS EPISODE IS FULL OF SPOILERS, and once they get past the book and into new theories, it's alllllllll about MOR. We stan an LGBT icon and her three fae himbos. Other holiday books we think you may enjoy: Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake, The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch, and Spectacular by Stephanie Garber---Thanks for being a Novel Friend! If you want to see more from me, find the podcast on Instagram. If you want to support the podcast, join the Novel Finds community on Patreon or check out our lists on Bookshop.org to find the latest books from the podcast, and if your podcast app does it, make sure to rate and review the show!Novel Finds is an affiliate of Bookshop.org

In today's episode, bestselling author Ashley Herring Blake chats with Julia all about Ashley's queer Hallmark-inspired Christmas standalone, Make the Season Bright! We sled through a tangential snow covered forest filled with Halloween, music, hair care, and more--while also talking about the book, of course!Find her newest book now at some of her fave indie bookstores: Parnassus Books, The Novel Neighbor, East City Bookshop, Loyalty Bookstore, Ripped Bodice (Brooklyn), Trident Books & Cafe, and Tombolo BooksIf you're interested, read one of AHB's fave romance series The Brown Sisters Trilogy by Talia HibbertAnd follow Ashley on social media: Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Twitter--but NOT FACEBOOK (which is a fake author page and a scam, get that reported!)---Thanks for being a Novel Friend! If you want to see more from me, find the podcast on Instagram. If you want to support the podcast, join the Novel Finds community on Patreon or check out our lists on Bookshop.org to find the latest books from the podcast, and if your podcast app does it, make sure to rate and review the show!Novel Finds is an affiliate of Bookshop.org

In this episode, Abigail Owen and Julia chat all about Abigail's newest release: The Games Gods Play. A mythic story that weaves modern and ancient Greek together in a wholy new story following a heroine who is thrust into... the games gods play!Read Abigail's favorite books: Star Wars, Admiral Thrawn trilogy and her paranormal inspiration, Twilight! Find her books at her fave indie bookstores: Lark & Owl Booksellers, The New Romantics, and The Lazy Daisy Bookshop or find them on Bookshop.orgFollow Abigail on social media: Website, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Abbie's Awesome Nerds, and don't forget to sign up to her newsletter!---Thanks for being a Novel Friend! If you want to see more from me, find the podcast on Instagram. If you want to support the podcast, join the Novel Finds community on Patreon or check out our lists on Bookshop.org to find the latest books from the podcast, and if your podcast app does it, make sure to rate and review the show!Novel Finds is an affiliate of Bookshop.org