Sley House Presents

Award-winning author Isabel J. Kim visits to talk about her debut novel Sublimation, available June 2, 2026 from Tor. She talks about the book's major concepts, how they apply to the personal act of narrativization, empathy, how nostalgia colors our perceptions and decisions, and how we make better choices about ourselves and our lives.You can find more about Isabel J. Kim at www.isabel.kim and you can get Sublimation at your local library or your favorite book retailer.

Author Neena Viel visits the show to talk about her latest novel, I'll Watch Your Baby, available now from St. Martin's Griffin. She talks about the book's origins in America's most famous "welfare queen," how the book incorporates social commentary with its scares, the importance of humor in her work, and more.You can find more about Neena Viel at her website www.neenaviel.com, and you can get the book now at your local library or your favorite book retailer.

Author and illustrator J.C. Phillipps is her to talk about her middle grade graphic novel The Ghost in Cabin 13, available now from Penguin Workshop. She talks about visual composition, about developing her own style through composition, about what is too visually spooky for middle graders, and why visual art like graphic novels matter to engagement and literacy with children.You can find more about J.C. Phillipps online at jcphillipps.com, and you can get The Ghost in Cabin 13 today at your favorite book retailer or your local library!

Author Emily Carpenter is here to talk about her latest novel, A Spell for Saints and Sinners, available now from Kensington. She talks about the book's roots in Georgia, about her take on the importance of the Southern Gothic, and about writing characters full of desire, structured around the navigations of class and power. You can find more from Emily Carpenter at emilycarpenterauthor.com and you can find A Spell for Saints and Sinners at your local library or your favorite book retailer today.

Best-selling and award-winning author Fonda Lee joins the show to talk about samurai and her new book The Last Contract of Isako, now available from Orbit Books. She talks samurai, codes of honor, reflecting on why we crave speculative stories, and more.You can find Fonda Lee at her website, www.fondalee.com, and you can get The Last Contract of Isako at your favorite book retailer or your local library today.

Author Briana Cox visits the show to share her debut novel Indigent, currently self-published and available for purchase direct or through most online book retailers. She talks about the book's origins as inspired by problems of medical indigency, about writing authentic characters, how violence is done to minority communities, and more.You can find Briana Cox at their website brianacoxwriter.com, and you can read Indigent today through places like Bookshop.org or Briana's website.

Best-selling author Sunyi Dean visits the show to dive into some of the themes and elements of her new book The Girl with a Thousand Faces, now available from Tor. She breaks down some of the book's origins, talks about generational and historic trauma, how we process those traumas, and how we act to move forward from the things in us that hurt and isolate us.You can find more about Sunyi Dean at her website, www.sunyidean.com, and you can get The Girl with a Thousand Faces at your local library or your favorite book retailer today.

Dying for a good read? You're in luck! S.A. Barnes returns to the show (for the fourth time!) to talk about her latest book, Death's Daughter. She talks about romance, romantic fantasy, the importance of reading romance, how romance engages readers emotionally, and a whole lot more!For more information about S.A. Barnes, you can visit her website at www.staceykade.com, and you can get Death's Daughter from Bramble today at your local library or your favorite book retailer.

Best-selling author Jackson Ford returns to talk about his latest novel, Sisters of the Lizard, the sequel to The Bone Raiders. He dives into what he thinks as a craftsman, about writing stories with real heart and stakes, and why it matters that a story be bold enough to go deep, look inward, and try on big ideas.You can find more about Jackson Ford at jacksonfordauthor.com, and you can get Sisters of the Lizard on May 5, 2026, from Orbit Books at your local library or your favorite book retailer.