Sley House Presents

Best-selling author Olivie Blake visits to talk about her latest book, Dreamland, now available from Tor Books. She talks about writing difficult characters, about the importance of reading deeply and interrogatively, and how the unlikable characters serve important function in telling stories and examining real-world issues.You can find more from Olivie Blake at www.olivieblake.com and you can get the book from your local library or your favorite book retailer.

Listenership Discretion Warning: This episode contains frank discussion about difficult topics, including reference to assault and self-harm. Please listen responsibly and with discretion.Author Kailee Pedersen returns to talk about her latest novel The Minimalist, available now in the U.S. from St. Martin's Press. She talks about the place of dark art in our conversations, about mania and about her love of classical music, and about the necessity of showcasing difficult topics in art and literature. You can find more from Kailee Pedersen at kaileepedersen.com and you can get a copy of The Minimalist at your local library or favorite book retailer.

Author Liam Higginson joins the show to talk about his novel The Hill in the Dark Grove, available on August 11 from Hogarth. He talks about the book's origins in folk story, about the way it digs into history and politics, about how it reflects on love and pride, and a lot more.You can find Liam Higginson on Instagram @signaturehiggs, and you can get the book today at your favorite library or book retailer.

Author and podcaster Isabelle Spotts joins the show to talk about her debut novel Saint Delilah, available August 11 from Berkley publishing. She talks all about becoming an outspoken feminist, about how her book tackles issues of autonomy and violence against women, and much more.You can find Isabelle Spotts at her website, www.isabellespotts.com, and you can get the book at your local library or your favorite book retailer.

Author Darby Bozeman visits the show to talk about her debut novel Summer's Never Over, a summer camp thriller available now from Berkley. She talks about her experience with summer camps, about the process of growing up and the meaning of summer as a season of growth, about friendships and relationships, and a lot more.You can find Darby Bozeman on Instagram @darbyboze, and you can get Summer's Never Over today from your local library or your favorite book retailer.

Award-winning author Meg Eden Kuyatt visits to talk about her middle grade horror novel, The Girl in the Walls, available now from Scholastic Press. She talks about neurodivergence in her art, about building emotional intelligence, her love for Fire Emblem, and more.You can find more about Meg Eden Kuyatt at www.megedenbooks.com, and you can get The Girl in the Walls and her other novels at your local library or your favorite book retailer.

Best-selling author Steven Banbury joins the show to talk about his series of Pumpkin Princess novels, available now from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. He talks about writing middle grade fiction, about the importance of escapism to him in fiction, and about how we find and demonstrate love to one another.You can find more about Steven Banbury at www.stevenbanbury.com, and you can get The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night and The Pumpkin Princess and the Buried Castle today from your local library or favorite book retailer. (They are the best books in the world, this is not up for debate).

Author Jesse Aragon visits to talk about her debut novel, The Demon Star, available on July 28, 2026 from DAW Books. She talks about science fantasy as a genre, about the complex questions of faith and power she explores in the book, and more.You can find more about Jesse Aragon at her website, www.authorjessearagon.com, and you can get The Demon Star at your local library or your favorite book retailer.