Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Drinks in the Library

Missing You, Metropolis by Gary Jackson is a poetry collection that blends superheroes, comic book mythology, pop culture, and personal memory to explore identity, race, love, grief, and belonging. Through inventive, emotionally resonant poems, Jackson reimagines iconic characters and fictional worlds as lenses for examining real-life experiences and the complexities of growing up Black in America.

Martheaus Perkins is a teacher, editor, and hot sauce enthusiast based in Washington, D.C. He is the recipient of the Robert Creeley Memorial Award, the Voices President's Award, the GMU Rinehart Fiction Award, and the Robert Raymond Scholarship. His debut poetry collection, The Grace of Black Mothers, was published by Trio House Press in 2025.

We sipped iced tea (Gold Peak), which was a drink Martheaus often enjoyed with his grandmother. This episode was recorded at Richmond Poetry Fest 2026. Special thanks to Rosa Castellano for bringing us together and helping us coordinate recording at the event!

George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a satirical allegorical novel about a group of farm animals who overthrow their human owner in hopes of creating a society based on equality and freedom. As the pigs gradually take control, the animals discover that their revolution has replaced one form of oppression with another. Through its dark humor and memorable characters, the novel explores power, corruption, propaganda, and the dangers of political tyranny.

My guest this week is the amazing Katy Hearne-Church from Queens Podcast!

What do you get when you take two childhood friends with a passion for unexplored history and a whole lotta booze? Queens Podcast! Katy and Nathan share exciting stories of women in history. Katy and Nathan believe that the female perspective and roles are just as deserving of their time in the spotlight! Because history is more than the stories of dudes on a battlefield. Each queen is paired with a drink recipe that will totally get you in the mood to hear the fun, dramatic, juicy, and underrepresented stories of some seriously interesting ladies. Find them and listen wherever you find your podcasts!

Moscow Mule

Ingredients

• 2 oz vodka
• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
• 4 oz ginger beer
• Lime wedge, for garnish
• Ice

Directions

1. Fill a copper mug or glass with ice.
2. Add vodka and lime juice.
3. Top with ginger beer.

• 4. Stir gently and garnish with a lime wedge.

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi is about an 86-year-old Portuguese widower who arrives in a small Southern town in Georgia. He spends his year there buying local pencil portraits from a coffee shop wall and gifting them back to the people they depict. Through these quiet meetings, his deep kindness and close attention change the lives of the townspeople.

MaryCatherine Price is the Digital Streaming Executive Producer at Channel 8News in Richmond, where she also hosts a behind-the-scenes podcast called The Rundown. She’s happily married to her comic-book-loving, jambalaya-making husband Alfred. She loves reading books that wreck her, drinking iced coffees and playing fetch with her sweet pup Percy. 

An opening scene in the book depicts Theo raving about a local coffee-shop’s Espresso, so that’s what we sipped on. I am not a Barista but they turned out pretty well!

I wanted to mention a group for those of you in the Richmond Area might be interested, it’s called RVA Book Professionals and Students on Facebook, for networking with others who make the RVA bookish community happen.

The Burning Girls by CJ Tudor is a folk horror and mystery novel about Reverend Jack Brooks and her teenage daughter, Flo, who move to a remote English village seeking a fresh start. The village of Chapel Croft carries a dark history of past martyrdoms, missing teenagers, and the recent suicide of the previous vicar. As Jack investigates these intertwined tragedies, Flo begins seeing frightening apparitions of burning girls linked to the town's buried secrets.

Erin Palmer hosts a podcast called Did You Read The Book? Along with her friends, Erin dissects movie adaptations—from cinematic masterpieces to films that apparently treated the source material like a La Croix tastes; fruit flavors screaming in another room. She celebrates the rare times Hollywood gets it right, lovingly roasts the times it absolutely doesn't, and argues over whether cutting your favorite character was "necessary" or just a personal attack. Expect hot takes, behind-the-scenes trivia, and unapologetic opinions dripping with sarcasm. So grab your popcorn, dust off that novel you've been meaning to reread, and join Erin and her guests as they compare the book, the movie, and the creative decisions that keep therapists employed.

Smoked Rosemary Bourbon Sour Cocktail

Ingredients

•  2 ounces Bourbon
•  3 ounces lemonade
•  Dash bitters
•  Rosemary sprig

Directions

1. Carefully light rosemary on fire, letting burn until some of the leaves are ash. Place into a glass.
2. Combine bourbon, lemonade, and bitters in a shaker half-filled with ice and shake well.
3. Strain into glass over the smoked rosemary.

First ever Patreon-only episode is now live! Find me on Patreon.com/Drinksinthelibrary to listen to Bill’s fifth episode of the pod and hear us discuss how much we did not enjoy the drink pairing - a Dirty Shirley

Thank you for being a part of Libration Nation!

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historical narrative that chronicles the Great Migration, the decades-long exodus of nearly six million Black Americans fleeing the oppressive Jim Crow South for Northern and Western cities. Wilkerson captures the immense scale of this demographic shift through intimate, intertwined biographies of three individuals—Ida Mae Gladney, George Starling, and Robert Foster—who relocated during different eras and to different destinations. Their personal journeys of hardship, perseverance, and triumph serve as a microcosm for the millions who reshaped American culture, politics, and urban life.

My guest this week is Adriana from Bring Me Books! Adriana is the creator behind Bring Me Books, a literary platform dedicated to amplifying Black literature, nonfiction, and stories that challenge the way we think. She has built a community of more than 45,000 readers who believe that books are more than entertainment, they’re tools for liberation, critical thinking, and meaningful conversation. 

As the founder of Truth Club, her signature nonfiction book recommendation series, Adriana curates thought-provoking recommendations that encourage readers to think more critically about history, culture, politics, identity, and the world around them. She has interviewed acclaimed authors and entertainers, been featured in Fox 2 News, Sirius XM Radio and partnered with major publishers and literary organizations that center Black voices, history, and culture. 

Known for her signature blend of humor, honesty, and intellectual curiosity, Adriana has become a trusted voice in the book community, helping readers discover works that educate, challenge, and inspire.

Sun Tea

Ingredients

• 4–6 tea bags (black tea, green tea, or your favorite herbal tea)
• 1 gallon cold water
• Lemon slices, fresh mint, or fruit (optional, for serving)
• Ice
• Sweetener, such as sugar or honey (optional)

Directions

1. Place the tea bags in a clean 1-gallon glass jar or pitcher and fill with cold water.
2. Cover the container and set it in a sunny spot outdoors for 2–4 hours, depending on how strong you like your tea. Avoid steeping longer than 4 hours.
3. Remove the tea bags. Refrigerate the tea until thoroughly chilled.
4. Serve over ice with lemon, mint, or fresh fruit if desired. Sweeten to taste, stirring well until dissolved.

Note: Be very careful when brewing Sun Tea. For food safety, use clean equipment and refrigerate the tea promptly after brewing. Discard any tea that becomes cloudy, slimy, or develops an off smell.

First ever Patreon-only episode is now live! Find me on Patreon.com/Drinksinthelibrary to listen to Bill’s fifth episode of the pod and hear us discuss how much we did not enjoy this week’s drink - a Dirty Shirley!

Thank you for being a part of Libration Nation!

The Half Life by Rachel Beanland is a novel set on a remote Italian island, about a navy wife’s reckoning with power, love, and the price of staying silent in the Atomic Age. I loved this book and reached out to Rachel and her team to see if we could do a special Drinks in the Library episode, I was thrilled when she said yes!

Rachel Beanland is the author of the novels, The House Is On Fire and Florence Adler Swims Forever. Her latest novel The Half Life, is coming out July 14, 2026, which is also the date this episode is airing, so if you are listening to this - go out and get a copy now!

Our drink this week is an Aperol Spritz, there is just nothing else that says perfect Italian summer at the beach!

Aperol Spritz

Ingredients

• 3 oz Prosecco
• 2 oz Aperol
• 1 oz club soda
• Ice
• Orange slice, for garnish

Directions

1. Fill a wine glass with ice.
2. Pour in the Prosecco, followed by the Aperol.
3. Top with the club soda.
4. Gently stir to combine.
5. Garnish with an orange slice and serve immediately.

Announcing a Patreon subscribers only episode coming out this week over at Patreon.com/DrinksintheLibrary, we will be discussing Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, so if you have been thinking about joining us over there, this is the time to do it!

To support Drinks in the Library and listen to ad-free episode and additional bonus content, subscribe on Patreon

The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien is a timeless adventure novel, tells of the great quest undertaken by Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring: Gandalf the Wizard; the hobbits Merry, Pippin, and Sam; Gimli the Dwarf; Legolas the Elf; Boromir of Gondor; and a tall, mysterious stranger called Strider. Can a simple hobbit resist the corrupting power of the One Ring and succeed where great warriors have failed?

My guest this week is Salaam Bhatti, a public-interest lawyer, husband, and father of two boys, and is running as a Democrat for Congress to fight for families across Virginia’s 1st District.

Salaam is a child of immigrants who came to America to pursue the American dream. While at the Virginia Poverty Law Center, he led bipartisan efforts to expand SNAP food assistance for 25,000+ families, helped secure free school meals for tens of thousands of children, and increased cash assistance for families by historic amounts. You can find out more about him at salaamforva.com

Evenstar Elixer

Ingredients

• 2 oz tart cherry juice
• 1 oz white grape juice
• ½ oz fresh lemon juice
• ½ oz rosemary simple syrup (or honey syrup for a warmer flavor)
• 2–3 oz sparkling water
• Ice

Directions

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Add the tart cherry juice, white grape juice, lemon juice, and rosemary syrup.
3. Stir well.
4. Top with sparkling water.

• 5. Garnish with the rosemary sprig and cherries.

Charlie's life is going nowhere fast. A divorced substitute teacher living with his cat in a house his siblings want to sell, all he wants is to open a pub downtown, if only the bank will approve his loan.

Then his long-lost uncle Jake dies and leaves his supervillain business (complete with island volcano lair) to Charlie. This is the wildly fun and fast moving plot from the book Starter Villain by John Scalzi which I discuss with this week’s guest, Allie Speakmon!

Allie is a book reviewer and content creator based in the New Braunfels, Texas area. She runs @speakingof.books across Instagram, TikTok, and her website speakingof.org where she reviews mysteries, thrillers, romantasy, and contemporary fiction with honest takes and a full glass of wine. She's a project manager by day, a mom of 3 under 4 including twins, and a self-proclaimed Type C reader who reads by vibes and ignores her TBR pile. She's been in the bookstagram community for 9 years, reads 100+ books a year, and recently founded The Quarterly Bookclub in New Braunfels for busy women who love books but think monthly is too much commitment.

Villain Spritz

Ingredients

• 1½ oz vodka
• ¾ oz elderflower liqueur
• ½ oz honey syrup
• ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
• 4–5 fresh blackberries, muddled
• Prosecco or club soda, to top
• Mint sprig and fresh blackberries

Directions

1. Add the blackberries to a cocktail shaker and muddle gently.
2. Add the vodka, elderflower liqueur honey syrup, lemon juice, and ice.
3. Shake well until chilled.
4. Fill a rocks glass with fresh ice and strain the cocktail over the ice.
5. Top with a splash of Prosecco.

• 6. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a few fresh blackberries.

To support Drinks in the Library and listen to ad-free episode and additional bonus content, subscribe on Patreon

Hannah Coulter is Wendell Berry's seventh novel and his first to employ the voice of a woman character in its telling. Hannah, the now-elderly narrator, recounts the love she has for the land and for her community. She remembers each of her two husbands, and all places and community connections threatened by twentieth-century technologies.

 Lacey Keigley is a mother, writer, educator and the author of her memoir: Nevertheless: Essays on Divorce, Single Parenting & Hope in which Lacey bends her trademark wit and style to the uncommon commonalities of daily life in a new normal, flinging back the curtains and inviting readers to witness the chaos, blessings, burdens, and hilarity of her world.

At the heart of each lyrical essay is one harrowing question.

When life doesn't turn out as planned-what then?

You can find her on Facebook and on Instagram @SoEveryDay, and on substack: substack.com/@soeveryday

We sipped on a sweet tea during this episode as a tribute to Wendell Berry, his southern roots, as well as our own!

Every book has two stories: the one it tells, and the one it hides.

If you ’re enjoying our show we think you might like the Secret Life of Books — a weekly podcast by Sophie Gee and Jonty Claypole that uncovers the hidden stories behind classic books: Who made it? What were their motives, their scandals? And, above all, what secrets lie behind the iconic books you thought you knew? And if you need some reading motivation, they have a Book Club for Secret Life of Books members that offers exclusive bonus episodes, reading notes, and helpful yet hilarious comments, as they chapter by chapter. Their next Book Club read is Charles Dickens’ Bleak House! So go and check out the Secret Life of Books. The first episode in their Book Club is out now, and you can listen wherever you get your podcasts!

Transcendent Kingdom is a 2020 novel by Yaa Gyasi that follows Gifty, a Ghanaian-American neuroscience PhD candidate at Stanford, as she studies addiction and depression in mice while grappling with her family's history of trauma, addiction, and faith. The story explores the tension between science and religion, memory, and the search for meaning after her brother's opioid overdose and her mother's severe depression, all while reflecting on her upbringing in Alabama. 

Deanna Allbrittin is the main evening anchor and Development and Engagement Manager at WRIC - 8News. That means she leads station community engagement initiatives and special projects, while mentoring early-career journalists in investigative and community-centered reporting. In addition to wearing all those hats, Deanna has earned regional Murrow, Emmy and Associated Press awards. You may have also seen her moderating nationally televised debates for Virginia's closely watched U.S. Senate and gubernatorial races.

Also, Deanna hosts the podcast All About Books which is a video podcast AND we recorded this episode, so head over there if you want to see the episode as we recorded it here at my home studio in Richmond! Thank you also to videographer Nikita for help make that happen!

Sobolo Tea Recipe - Sobolo is a traditional Hibiscus tea served at Ghanaian parties and picnics. Deanna was kind enough to make and share it for us to sip during the episode. Incredible! This is her modified recipe, originally from Black Foodie

Sobolo

Ingredients

• 1 Pineapple
•  2 Large thumbs of ginger, peeled (about 1/3 cup)
•  15 Grains of selim
•  7 African nutmeg
•  2 1/2 tbsp Cloves
•  1 tbsp Black peppercorn
•  1 tsp Grains of paradise
•  1 cup Dates, pitted
•  16 cups Water
•  2 cups Hisbiscus flowers, dried (sorrel)
•  Sugar, to taste
•  White vinegar
•  2 Cinnamon sticks

DIRECTIONS (Adapted)

1: Clean the pineapple by soaking in a water and vinegar solution for 10-15 minutes. Lightly brush with a produce brush to fully clean extra dirt from the skin.

2: While the pineapple is soaking, soak the dates in warm water then drain when nice and soft.

3: Pluck several leaves from the pineapple crown and peel the pineapple. Cut it into 2-inch chunks, making sure that the core is removed.

4: In a blender, blend the pineapple fruit with the ginger and dates till smooth.

5: In a pot, add the pineapple leaves, skin, blended mixture, and spices with 10 cups of water and bring to a boil. Do not cover the pot otherwise it will splash. 

6: Once the water has come to a boil, add the hibiscus leaves/sorrel and bring the heat down to allow the mixture to steep at a rolling boil.

7: Let the mixture steep for 30-45 minutes, then turn the stove to simmer.

8: Add sugar to taste. I added ~ 1 cup of brown sugar, a quarter of a cup at a time until it was just slightly less sweet than I wanted. Allow it to continue to simmer for 5-10 additional minutes, then turn the stove off.

9: Let the mixture cool till the drink is room temperature. Then, strain the sobolo with a fine mesh strainer, pour it into a bottle and keep it in the fridge until you're ready to enjoy it!

To support Drinks in the Library and listen to ad-free episode and additional bonus content, subscribe on Patreon

Set in a totalitarian superstate, George Orwell's 1984 follows Winston Smith, an official tasked with rewriting history to align with state propaganda. Driven by a desperate yearning for truth and individuality, Winston rebels against the regime by keeping a forbidden diary and pursuing a secret love affair. Ultimately, he is captured by the Thought Police, subjected to brutal psychological torture, and brainwashed into unquestioning submission.

My guest this week is the 2025-26 President of the American Library Association, Sam Helmick! They work as a Community and Access Services Coordinator at the Iowa City Public Library. Sam has served as a member of the ALA Executive Board and as president of the Iowa Library Association. They previously served as chair-elect of the Intellectual Freedom Round Table and chair of the Iowa Governor’s Commission of Libraries. They have served on many committees within the American Library Association and have held leadership roles at multiple levels. Sam is a 2016 Emerging Leader, as well as an author, consultant, and instructor in social media marketing and graphic design.

Sam and I had this conversation over a Smokey Whiskey, which felt like some of the moments in the book, held in smokey bars and back rooms. My exact recommendation is the Bourbon & Spire Oak and Eden, forever one of my favorites!

To support Drinks in the Library and listen to ad-free episode and additional bonus content, subscribe on Patreon

Set in a world where every person’s soul exists outside their body in the form of an animal companion called a dæmon, The Golden Compass follows a brave young girl named Lyra Belacqua as she uncovers a sinister plot involving kidnapped children. Lyra journeys from the halls of Jordan College to the frozen Arctic in search of answers to her questions about power, knowledge, and free will.

Laura McAsh a writer of whimsical worlds and a creator of quirky characters. A library clerk by day, Laura is a neurodivergent nerd passionate about diversity, inclusion, and representation. Beginning her undergrad at the University of Guelph, she completed her Bachelor of General Studies (Arts and Sciences Designation) with distinction at Athabasca University. A collector of hobbies and interests, she is a lover of all animals and is always down for grabbing nachos with friends or snuggling with her cat, Dinosaur. Don’t miss her debut novel Alison’s Adventures in Time!

Our drink this week is a Hungarian Wine, a reference to a scene in the story where Lord Asriel, Lyra’s uncle is almost poisoned with Hungarian white wine. You can pick any brand you like, I went with Kiwi Cuvee Pinot Grigio.

To support Drinks in the Library and listen to ad-free episode and additional bonus content, subscribe on Patreon

In Nikesha Elise Williams’ The Seven Daughters of Dupree, it's 1995, and fourteen-year-old Tati is determined to uncover the identity of her father. But her mother, Nadia, keeps her secrets close, while her grandmother Gladys remains silent about the family's past, including why she left Land's End, Alabama, in 1953. As Tati’s search deepens, she uncovers a legacy of family secrets, where every generation of Dupree women has posed more questions than answers.

Guest

Even as she pursued degrees in Textile Technology, Organizational Leadership and finally, Adult Education, Rhonda McKnight’s love for books and desire to write stories was always in the back of her mind. She loves reading and writing stories that touch the heart of women through complex plots and interesting characters in crisis. She writes from the comfort of her South Carolina home. Don’t miss her latest books of women’s fiction Bitter & Sweet, and Writer in Residence, which you can pre-order now and will be published on September 8, 2026! You can find Rhonda on Instagram & Threads @AuthorRhondaMcKnight.

Southern Peach Sweet Tea

Ingredients

• 4 black tea bags
• 4 cups water
• 3 ripe peaches, sliced
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar
• Ice
• Fresh peach slices for garnish (optional)

Directions

1. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil 
2. Turn off the heat and add the tea bags. Let the tea steep for about 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags.
3. Add the sliced peaches and sugar to the hot tea. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
4. Let the peaches sit in the tea for about 20 minutes so the flavor comes through.
5. Pour the tea through a strainer into a large pitcher or bowl and allow to cool.
6. Fill mason jars with ice and pour in the peach sweet tea.
7. Garnish with fresh peach slices if you like, and serve cold.

In How to Save Your Own Life, Erica Jong follows novelist Isadora Wing as she grapples with fame, aging, marriage, and the search for personal freedom after the success of her earlier books. Blending sharp humor with emotional honesty, the novel explores identity, desire, and self-reinvention in the face of midlife uncertainty.

Award-winning author and creator Selene Castrovilla explores the courage, conscience, and reinvention that shape both nations and ourselves. She has written historical books for children including George Washington's Spectacular Spectacles: the glasses that saved America.She has a book for adults called Love the Ones Your With under the pen name SJ Perrault which will be coming out later this year. She also hosts a podcast Life in Jest with her best friend Pascale, which will feature me in an upcoming episode, I’m so excited! You can find out more at her website https://selenecastrovilla.com/ and also under her SJ Perrault name on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/s.j.perraultauthor

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@s.j.perraultauthor

Support Drinks In The Library by following on Patreon, for just $5 a month you will get ad-free episodes, bonus content, and support my work and the podcast!

Our drink this week needs no explanation:

The Life Saver Cocktail

Ingredients

• 3 oz dry champagne
• ½ oz triple sec
• Squeeze of fresh lemon juice

Directions

1. Pour the triple sec and fresh lemon juice into a champagne flute.
2. Top slowly with chilled dry champagne.
3. Give it a gentle stir and serve immediately.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah follows two sisters in Nazi-occupied France as they navigate love, loss, resistance, and survival during World War II. Through their very different paths, the novel explores the courage of ordinary women and the sacrifices made in the face of war.

My guest this week is Kara Infante, a mom, wife and host of the Bookish Flights Podcast At Bookish Flights, Kara Infante and her guests tell their stories through the books they love. Each episode features a book flight - three thoughtfully paired books connected by a theme, topic, or genre. Think of it like a wine flight…but for books. Kara and I are both on each other’s shows this week, so head over there to hear me talk about 3 books I love by Xochitl Gonzalez

Drink Options:

Lyre’s Classico NA Sparkling Wine

Lavender French 75

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz Empress gin 
• ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
• ½ oz lavender simple syrup
• 3 oz chilled champagne or prosecco
• Ice

Optional garnish:

• Lemon twist
• Dried culinary lavender

Directions

1. Add gin, lemon juice, and lavender simple syrup to cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake well until chilled.
3. Strain into a champagne flute or coupe.
4. Top with sparkling wine
5. Garnish with a lemon twist or a pinch of dried lavender. 

In this episode

Bookish Flight Episode with Kristin Hannah

Books by Tracy Lange

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna  Johnston

The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett

The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett

Books by Kate Quinn

Books by Marie Benedict

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens follows Pip, an orphan who rises from humble beginnings after receiving a mysterious fortune, believing it will transform him into a gentleman worthy of love. As he navigates London society, Pip becomes entangled with the eccentric Miss Havisham and her cold ward Estella, while slowly uncovering the true source of his wealth. 

Francine Prose is the author of twenty-two works of fiction, including The Vixen, Mister Monkey, the New York Times bestseller Lovers at the Chameleon Club, Paris 1932, A Changed Man, and Blue Angel, a finalist for the National Book Award. Her nonfiction includes the modern classic Reading Like a Writer and the acclaimed memoir 1974: A Personal History. A former president of PEN America and a member of both the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, she is widely regarded as one of our most insightful and versatile contemporary writers. Her latest book, Five Weeks in the Country explores a fascinating moment which Francine describes as this: “In 1857, Hans Christian Andersen visited Charles Dickens, his wife and nine children in the British countryside for five comically and heartbreakingly awkward weeks. Telling their story seemed like the perfect way to talk about writing, love, marriage, children and two brilliant authors: a public figure in crisis and a houseguest, more at home in his fairy tales than in life, who overstays his welcome.”

Valentine’s Claret Punch is our drink pairing, and is what Dickens and Anderson were drinking the night they met and led to the misunderstanding that led Anderson to believe he should visit the Dickens family for an extended stay!

In this Episode

Great Expectations - John Mills Film

Great Expectations -  1998 Version

In Sole Survivor  by Derek Hansen, Rosie Trethewey leaves her unhappy city life after inheriting a remote shack on New Zealand’s Great Barrier Island, hoping for a fresh start. There, she meets two isolated and troubled neighbors, Red O’Hara, a traumatized former prisoner of war, and Angus McLeod, a bitter retired policeman, whose lives she gradually changes. As outside forces threaten their island home, the three form an unlikely bond and learn to heal from the pain of their pasts.

My guest this week is author Heather Morris. In 2003, Heather met Lale Sokolov, whose story inspired The Tattooist of Auschwitz, now one of the 21st century’s bestselling books and adapted in 2024 as a widely acclaimed Stan Original Series. It was followed by Cilka’s Journey and Three Sisters, completing the Tattooist trilogy.

Her first contemporary novel, The Wish, was inspired by her years working in a public hospital, alongside families facing the toughest of times with love and courage. The Wish’s US publication date is May 5, 2026. Her upcoming novel, The Piano Teacher of Montparnasse, releases in October 2026, and tells the story of French Resistance fighter Andrée Levallois, who risked her life to protect one of her students during the war. Heather’s books have sold over 19 million copies worldwide.

The drink this week is one Heather enjoys on vacation, and I enjoy most days: Chardonnay! I have to note that since Heather is in Australia and I am in the US, during the actual recording of this she was enjoying her morning coffee while I sipped a cold glass of wine.

In this Episode

Books by Heather Morris

Pākehā population New Zealand

Māori People

Crowded House Band

Neil Finn

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck is a surreal love story about newlyweds Wren and Lewis, whose marriage is upended when Lewis is diagnosed with a rare condition that will slowly transform him into a great white shark. As they confront grief, change, and the limits of love, the novel uses magical realism to explore what it means to stay connected when life becomes unrecognizable.

A nonprofit leader by day, Ashley spends her free time volunteering; chasing down Richmond’s best hikes and restaurants with her friends, family, and pup; and adventuring across the globe. A recovering English major, she’ll take any excuse to turn a good read into a great conversation.

Ashley is the Executive Director of Communities in Schools Chesterfield, and on May 12th they are having their first ever Adult Spelling Bee Fundraiser! You should definitely come to raise some money for a great cause, also - I will be one of their “Celebrity Spellers” so come witness me failing horribly at spelling! 

Spelling bee tickets: https://cisofchesterfield.networkforgood.com/events/96878-cis-c-adult-spelling-bee-extravaganza

Searn more about CIS: www.cisofchesterfield.org 

Our drink this week is the Metamorphosis Cocktail, which I absolutely loved - it literally changes colors! 

Metamorphosis Cocktail

 Ingredients 

2 oz gin

1 oz butterfly pea tea (cooled)

¾ oz fresh lemon juice

½ oz Simple Syrup

Ice

Optional flair:

Edible glitter 

Black sugar or salt rim

Lemon twist or edible flower

Directions:

Brew butterfly pea tea by steeping 1–2 tsp dried flowers in ½ cup hot water for 5–7 minutes; strain and cool.

Fill a glass with ice and add 2 oz gin + 1 oz cooled butterfly pea tea.

Slowly pour in ¾ oz fresh lemon juice and watch the color change from blue to purple.

Stir in ½ oz simple syrup to taste, then garnish if desired.

In This Episode

Shadowlands Film Quote  (I could not remember who to attribute this to while we were recording)

Speculative Fiction

Culpability by Bruce Holsinger is a techno-thriller and family drama about the moral fallout of a fatal crash involving an autonomous minivan. The novel follows the Cassidy-Shaw family as they confront guilt, secrets, and the ethical questions surrounding AI after their teenage son, Charlie, is involved in the accident while the car is in self-driving mode. It explores themes of technology's impact on human relationships, corporate greed, and the complex dynamics between parents and teenagers. 

My guest this week is Barbara Ferrara. She is a librarian, mother, lifelong learner, passionate reader who loves to travel and is currently learning Spanish.

Our drink this week is an Old Fashioned, since it is the opposite of AI. I also made sure to pick a Virginian bourbon, since the author, Bruce Holsinger, lives here in Virginia! I went with the Tarnished Truth Bourbon, which is brewed in the famous Cavalier Hotel at Virginia Beach!

Old Fashioned Recipe

1 teaspoon sugar

3 dashes Angostura bitters

1 teaspoon water

2 ounces bourbon (or rye whiskey, if preferred)

Garnish: orange twist

In This Episode

Meta AI book heist

Descript 

The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger

Tickets to Live Show with Meg Medina April 18th

We All Want Impossible Things is a tender, darkly funny novel about friendship, grief, and letting go. It follows Ash as she supports her best friend Edi through the final stages of illness, capturing the small, intimate moments that define a lifelong bond. The story balances humor and heartbreak while exploring love, loss, and what it means to say goodbye.

Lindsey Goldstein is the author of Gap Year Her essays about love and parenting have appeared in The New York Times, The Chicago Story Press, Kveller, and The Sunlight Press. She lives in Irvine, CA with her husband, kids, and rescue mutt. You can find her on her website Lindseygoldsteinauthor.com and on Instagram and Threads @GoldsteinLindsey

We recorded this with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, a favorite of Lindsey’s and one I recommend for Spring! In particular I drank a glass of Leia Vinters Sauvignon Blanc. 

In This Episode

The Dinosaurs on Netflix

Crone Sandwich -Catherine Newman’s Substack

Tickets to Live Show with Meg Medina April 18th

Nature's Best Hope by Douglas W. Tallamy argues that everyday homeowners can play a critical role in reversing biodiversity loss by transforming their yards into thriving ecosystems. Tallamy explains how replacing traditional lawns with native plants supports insects, birds, and other wildlife that depend on them for survival. The book offers a hopeful, practical roadmap for collective environmental impact through small, local actions.

 Leslie Eva Tayloe is an award winning children’s picture book author. She’s the author of The Attic Door, a 2024 Story Monster’s Approved Award, and a 2025 Literary Titan Gold Book Award, Save the Trees, a 2024 Moonbean Bronze Medalist for environmental issues, and Longlisted for the 2025 Green Earth Book Award, and I’m Fishing with Pop-Pop Today. Leslie also authored an article titled, Marketing Group Helps Writers (Children’s Book Insider, April 2023). She is a former analyst with the federal government, and a substitute teacher for elementary school-aged children. Leslie lives with her partner, Michael, in Virginia. When Leslie isn’t writing, she loves to fish on the Rappahannock River, read, do crafts, and take long walks with her dog, Frankie.

In this episode we both enjoyed a glass of 19 Crimes Cali Red Wine, which is a favorite of Leslie’s!

In this Episode

Invasive vs. Native Plants )Virginia)

Homegrown National Park

Fredericksburg Goat Farm

Aldo Leopold

The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wollenben

In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez follows sisters Patria, Minerva, María Teresa, and Dedé Mirabal as they defy the brutal regime of Rafael Trujillo. It’s a powerful story of courage, sisterhood, and the price of resistance.

Fran Dorsey is a mom, digital content manager, and writer who grew up loving the internet. When she’s not writing or busy with her kids and husband, she’s trying to close the rings on her Apple Watch. She’s also always ready with a book recommendation for her friends. You can find her on Instagram and Threads @FranDorsey—don’t miss her hilarious memes—and check out her Substack, Frannie Pack.

Cuba Libre Drink

Ingredients

2 ounces rum

1 lime wedge

Coca-Cola, to top

Garnish: lime wheel

Steps

Fill a highball glass with ice and add the rum.

Squeeze in the juice from 1/4 of a lime and drop in the spent peel.

Top with the Coca-Cola, then give a brief and gentle stir.

Garnish with a lime wheel.

In this Episode

The Mirabal Sisters

Hobnail Drinking Glasses - AKA the Millennial glasses

Mariposa Cocktail

Hermanas Mirabel Province

Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green

Open Book by Jessica Simpson

Style Weekly Best of Richmond - Vote!

Tickets to Live Show with Meg Medina April 18th

Gone by Michael Grant is a gripping dystopian novel in which everyone over the age of fifteen suddenly disappears from a small California town, leaving the kids to survive on their own inside a mysterious barrier. As food runs out and strange powers begin to emerge, the remaining children must confront fear, chaos, and the struggle for control in a world with no adults.

Fiona Fenn is an author of fantasy novels that put complicated “heroes” front and center. A fan of villains, redemption arcs, and intense explorations of healing in all its forms, her debut novel,

The Crack at the Heart of Everything, is a love letter to every villain who wanted to do better but never got the chance. The City that Shattered the World is the second book in the series and will be coming out in October 2026!

Drink Blackberry Survival Smash

Ingredients

2 oz bourbon or dark rum

¾ oz fresh lemon juice

½ oz honey syrup

4–5 blackberries (muddled)

2–3 mint leaves

Splash of soda water

Instructions

Muddle blackberries, mint, and honey syrup in a shaker.

Add bourbon and lemon juice with ice.

Shake well and strain into a rocks glass over ice.

Top with a splash of soda and garnish with a blackberry.

In This Episode

Sarah J. Maas

The Spoken World Podcast - Michael Grant Episode

Sweet Valley High Books

Heated Rivalry

Our Rogue Fates by Sarah Glenn Marsh

Style Weekly Best of Richmond - Vote!

Tickets to Live Show with Meg Medina April 18th

On Beauty by Zadie Smith follows two feuding families—the liberal Belseys and the conservative Kippses—whose lives collide in a New England university town, exploring themes of race, family, politics, and love through sharp satire and witty dialogue.

Kirkus Reviews calls Marriage and Other Monuments, Virginia Pye’s recently published book, “A fascinating and audacious novel of family, marriage and a society in flux.” It is a #1 Amazon bestseller in New Southern FictionVirginia’s essays have appeared in The New York Times, Literary Hub, Publisher’s Weekly, Writer’s Digest, The Rumpus, and elsewhere. She has taught writing at New York University and the University of Pennsylvania, and, most recently, at GrubStreet in Boston. Virginia is Fiction Editor of the literary journal Pangyrus and serves on the board of the Women’s National Book Association, Boston Chapter.  

Drink this week: The Zadie Smith - obvi! This recipe is from the book: Free the Tipple: Kickass Cocktails Inspired by Iconic Women - Check it out!

In this Episode

Marriage and Other Monuments by Virginia Pye

Style Weekly Best of Richmond 2026

Free the Tipple: Kickass Cocktails Inspired by Iconic Women

Tickets to Live Show with Meg Medina April 18th

Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica is a dystopian horror novel where a virus makes all animal meat poisonous, leading to the legalization and industrialization of human cannibalism! Yes, it’s quite a story by Argentine author Bazterrica, but it also does what great horror does so well, that it makes you think about parallels in our real world, and led to an amazing conversation between myself and author Ashley Peters!

Author Ashley Peters  resides in East Austin, Texas, with her partner, Danny, and their three rescue mutts—Bently, Fredrik, and Bruno. A self-declared bibliophile and lifelong storyteller, she has been crafting tales since childhood, along the way writing for various scholarships and minor publications before fully committing herself to the realm of novel creation.

When she is not writing, she can be found immersed in nature, far from the noise of the world—hiking, kayaking, savoring inventive cuisine, or enjoying a matcha latte. At home, her garden and personal library serve as sanctuaries, though she deeply appreciates the artistic and quirky spirit that defines Austin. Having traveled extensively, she credits each place and community with shaping her life in meaningful and lasting ways. While she cannot predict what lies ahead, she embraces each new chapter as an opportunity for adventure, always ready to choose a daring side quest over a mundane path.

Our drink is a very dark Blackberry Margarita, and the reason we picked it? Well, I’ll let you figure that one out 😂

Blackberry Margarita

Ingredients

2 oz silver tequila

1 oz fresh lime juice

1 oz blackberry syrup

0.5 oz grenadine

Black sugar, for rimming

Crushed ice

Fresh blackberries, for garnish

Directions

Prepare your glass. Use a lime wedge to moisten the rim of a margarita or cocktail glass. Dip the rim into a shallow plate of black sugar, rotating gently to coat evenly. Set aside.

Combine ingredients. In a cocktail shaker, add the silver tequila, fresh lime juice, blackberry syrup, and grenadine. Fill the shaker with crushed ice.

Shake thoroughly. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 15–20 seconds, until the outside of the shaker feels frosty and the drink is well chilled.

Serve. Fill the prepared glass with fresh crushed ice. Strain the mixture into the glass.

Garnish. Add a few fresh blackberries on top. Serve immediately!

In this Episode

Tickets to my Live Interview with Award Winning Author Meg Medina at the Bon Air Book Festival 

Bon Air Book Festival

Monkeypaw Productions 

Thrutopian Fiction

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is a sharp, witty exploration of love, class, and social expectation in Regency-era England, centered on the spirited Elizabeth Bennet and the enigmatic Mr. Darcy. As misunderstandings and first impressions give way to self-awareness, the novel reveals how pride and prejudice can obscure, and ultimately illuminate, the path to happiness.

Alexandra Potter always dreamed of becoming a writer. After graduating from the University of Liverpool with a degree in English Literature, she moved to London, where she worked for various magazines. A brief detour—sparked by redundancy—led her to travel to Sydney, where she secured a position at Vogue. It was during this time that a chance article about novelists under the age of thirty inspired her to finally take the leap and try her hand at writing a novel.

Her latest book, So I Met This Guy, is out now, and she will be embarking on a book tour in both the US and the UK Tickets Here!

Nothing pairs more with English sensibility than a cuppa tea, which Alex and I both enjoyed during our conversation across the pond!

In This Episode

Brontë Parsonage

Lizzy Bennett Diaries - web series

Me and Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter

Chawton House

Pride and Prejudice BBC

Pride and Prejudice (2005)

Bridget Jones Diary by Helen Fielding

2 Years of Drinks in the Library gets a special episode!

Carrie Pruett, who did the DITL Wuthering Heights Book episode with me, and I discussed the Wuthering Heights Film by director Emerald Fennell, and it was so much fun! There are spoilers so please pause if you are waiting to see it (although the book came out in 1847 so you how mad can you be at spoilers?)

The perfect drink pairing with this book is a very dark and full bodied red wine (we tried Witching Hour Red Blend) and Raspberry Dark Chocolate (we tried Ghiridelli). This is the ONLY food drink pairing for this film, I fully expect this fact to be added to the film’s Wikipedia page!

Thank you so much to Carrie for recording with me, this was a lot of fun, who knows, maybe more film reviews are in DITL’s future!

Here are a few things Carrie mentioned in the episode: 

Wuthering Heights (1939) - stars Laurence Olivier

Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights (1992) - stars Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche 

Wuthering Heights (2011) - directed by Andrea Arnold (Allison Anders misquoted in episode). 

This week’s book is The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow, the story of three sisters in 1893: Juiper, Agnes and Beatrice who are hunted by forces who will not suffer a witch to vote, they must use their magic, their wits and alliances to find a way to survive. This led to such an interesting conversation about feminism, sisterhood, science, and lots of magic with this week’s guest: Angie Hilliker!

Angie Hilliker (Ph.D.) is an Associate Professor of Biology at the University of Richmond where she teaches undergraduates about the amazing molecular machines in our cells. She also has a research lab where she works with these budding scientists to understand how our cells regulate mRNA, the molecular recipes cells use to make proteins. She is always curious about something, whether it’s something in the lab, in a book, exploring a hobby (including playing the flute and making pottery), or exploring something with her husband and son.  When she isn’t reading science papers for work, she likes to read fantasy, historical fiction and romance novels.

In this Episode 

James River Writers

University of Richmond

The Sackler Family

The Poe Museum - Richmond

Ally McBeal

The Wayward Sisters:

Herbal, floral, lightly sweet, and aromatic — like walking through a moonlit herb garden. Contains three major flavor components to represent the three sisters in the novel. 

Ingredients:

2 oz Hendrick’s Midsummer Solstice Gin (Represents the youngest, but the most intense sister, James Juniper)

1 oz Bénédictine (made from 27 herbs, roots, etc.; a collaboration between a wine merchant and a chemist; represents the oldest sister Beatrice Belladonna, a scholar)

1 tsp of chai tea simple syrup (represents the middle sister, Agnes Amaranth, hard worker, steady, sometimes maternal, like a bracing cup of tea)

2 dashes of orange bitters (there is a lot of bitterness between the sisters, balances the sweetness of the simple syrup)

Orange slice (so much better than lime… this is how G&T are often served in Scotland)

Tonic water

Instructions:

To make the simple syrup, heat 1 c. water, 1 c. sugar, and 6 chai tea bags over medium. Stirring occasionally until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil and then remove from heat and let cool. Remove tea bags and store syrup in the fridge. 

Add the Gin, Bénédictine, and chai tea simple syrup to a shaker with ice. Shake well until chilled, about 15 seconds.

Strain into a glass with ice.

Add two dashes of orange bitters and squeeze in the juice from a slice of orange and drop the slice in the glass. Swirl or stir to mix. 

• 5. Top with tonic water to your preferred level and enjoy!

Hi Librarian Nation! This week we are discussing Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, the now-ubiquitous tale of Bella Swan and the vampire who just can’t quit her, Edward Cullen. This story has, of course, been widely read and adapted into famous films, and I was so happy to discuss it with this week’s guests, Christina and Lelia from fellow Richmond book podcast Burn Before Reading!

I was on Burn Before Reading last week talking about being a librarian during the Fifty Shades of Grey craze, so please go check it out (heads up that Burn Before Reading is for mature audiences only!).

Burn Before Reading Podcast is where hosts Christina Kann and Lelia Hilton in an exploration of bad writing, cringey memories, and scandalous literary history. The cringe factor of literature is as ancient as writing itself, and Burn Before Reading is here to explore it all. Every week, Christina & Lelia delve into the story of a piece of writing, a writer, a movement, or a memory to unpack the people they used to be and appreciate how far they’ve come!

O-Positive Party Punch (from Slugs on the Refrigerator Blog)

Ingredients (per glass):

3 oz. cranberry juice

2 oz.pomegranate juice

3 oz.sparkling water

Squeeze of fresh orange

Instructions:

Fill a glass with ice.

Add cranberry and pomegranate juices.

Squeeze in orange and stir.

Top with sparkling water and a thin apple slice.

In this Episode

Vote for DITL in Style Weekly’s Best of Richmond 2026

Drinks in the Library Merch!

The Butterfly Effect

Mean Girls Film

This is the Skin of a Killer, Bella!

The Byrd Theater

Books by Stephenie Meyer

Sinners Film

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by VE Schwab

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl is a whimsical children’s novel about Charlie Bucket, a kind, poor boy who wins a once-in-a-lifetime tour of the mysterious Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. Since so many know this story, Matthew and I were able to have a conversation about the book’s history and Dahl’s legacy, and about how art and our views of it change over time.

Matthew Stern is an award-winning public speaker and writer with over 40 years of professional experience. His works include the novels Amiga and The Remainders, as well as the best-selling public speaking book Mastering Table Topics. A lifelong resident of Southern California, he grew up in Reseda, graduated from California State University, Northridge, and now lives in Lake Forest. When he’s not rooting for the Dodgers and Rams, he enjoys exercising and spending time with his wife, adult children, and granddaughter. You can find him on social media platforms @MASwriter

Our drink this week is a Greek Cheek Beer, a favorite of Matthew’s from his home in California, and a reference to the gum-smacking habits of Violet Beauregaard. If you are in California definite check it out. For those of us outside of the Golden State, Sam Adams Chocolate Bock would have be a great pairing for this book.

In this Episode

Roald Dahl Revision Controversy

Wonka vs Wonka The problem with overly likable characters - Matthew Stern

This week’s book is Libby Lost & Found, by Stephanie Booth, about Libby Weeks, the reclusive author of the hit fantasy series “The Falling Children”, who faces a crisis when she is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's and struggles to complete her overdue manuscript. In desperation, she enlists the help of eleven-year-old superfan Peanut Bixton, who knows the series inside and out but has her own hidden troubles. As Libby grapples with her diagnosis, Peanut and her family work to protect and help her save herself and the series.

My guest this week is Kendall Concini-Moore. Kendall‘s greatest adventure began not on the page, but at home, as a mother. Her book Mom’s Cloud and the Beach Adventure was inspired by her own family and her struggles with depression, or her “cloud.” With empathy and playful hearts, her family encourages her to rest, reminding her that it’s okay to not be okay, because clouds don’t last forever. Complete with discussion questions and resources, this picture book gives children ages 4-8 the language to understand when someone they love is struggling, while celebrating that sometimes, simply being together is the most caring thing. You can find out more about her and her book on her website, https://cloudydaychronicles.org/, through her Substack where she shares resources: cloudydaychronicles.substack.com/ and on social media @cloudydaychronicles.

Kendall curated our drink this week:  A Black Manhattan with a coffee twist, listen to the episode to learn how this was inspired by the book and what author Stephanie Booth thought Libby’s favorite drink would be!

Ingredients

2 oz rye whiskey (or bourbon if you want it softer)

1 oz Amaro

¼ oz coffee liqueur (just a pinch—enough to deepen, not dominate)

2-3 dashes orange bitters (optional but rounds it out)

Luxardo cherry or orange twist for garnish

Directions

Add rye (or bourbon), amaro, coffee liqueur, and bitters to a mixing glass.

Fill with ice and stir vigorously for 20–30 seconds until well chilled and slightly diluted.

Strain into a chilled coupe (for up) or an old-fashioned glass over a large ice cube (for on the rocks).

Garnish with a Luxardo cherry or a long orange twist. 

In this episode

Chuck Palahniuk 

Laurie Notaro

Patrick Roth

Brandon Sanderson

Every Heart a Doorway Episode

Tweetsie Railroad

Drop Dead Generous

A Doubters Almanac Episode 

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger revolves around identical twins, Elspeth and Edie, who have a deep but complicated bond that is tested when Elspeth, a reclusive woman living in London, dies and leaves her apartment to her American nieces, Julia and Valentina. As the twins settle into Elspeth's home, they become entangled in the mysteries of her past and the supernatural presence that lingers in the apartment, particularly the ghost of Elspeth herself. 

My guest this week is Valerie Adachi. Valerie is a self-proclaimed bookworm who even enjoyed reading cereal boxes 🥣as a kid, she reminisces over the tactile joy of spreading the New York Times 📰 across her kitchen table.

Adventure always seems to be around the corner for her, often appearing spontaneous but rooted in long-percolating ideas—like the decision to add a new puppy 🐶 to her already bustling pack, turning her quiet life topsy-turvy.

Beyond her love for dogs 🐕 , she thrives on live music, good food and drink shared with family and friends, and the thrill of knowing that adventure is always nearby, maybe we a cozy reading spot 📖

SPOILER ALERT! For the first episode ever, we do discuss the ending, so heads up if you plan to read the book. I do give you a heads up in the episode so you know when to stop, but if you have read it already or want to hear the ending, listen all the way through!

In This Episode

Mirror Twins

Highgate Cemetery

Earl Grey Hot Toddy

Ingredients:

1 cup water

1 Earl Grey tea bag

1-2 tablespoons honey (to taste)

1-2 ounces whiskey (such as bourbon or rye)

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

Lemon slice (for garnish)

Cinnamon stick (optional, for garnish

Directions

1. Boil the water in a small saucepan or kettle.

2. Once boiling, remove from heat and add the Earl Grey tea bag. Steep for about 3-5 minutes, depending on your preference for strength.

3. Remove the tea bag and stir in the honey until fully dissolved.

4. Add the whiskey and freshly squeezed lemon juice to the tea mixture, stirring gently to combine.

5. Pour the hot toddy into a mug or heatproof glass.

6. Garnish with a lemon slice and a cinnamon stick, if desired.

7. Serve warm and enjoy your soothing hot toddy!

Our book this week is An Object of Beauty, a novel released in 2010 by Steve Martin, chronicles the journey of the driven and charming Lacey Yeager as she navigates the New York art scene. Starting as an intern at Sotheby's, Lacey ascends to become a prominent gallery owner, revealing her questionable methods and the fluctuating dynamics of the art market from the 1990s to the present. Narrated by her friend Daniel, the story delves into themes of art, collecting, ambition, and social ambition within the art world, all infused with Martin's characteristic wit and dry humor.

My guest this week is Amy Carleton, Ph D. She teaches in the Comparative Media Studies/Writing program at MIT and is the co-founder of Black Notes Project, a Charlotte, NC-based music festival and nonprofit, as well as the creator of Lecture Notes, a public humanities series (and now Substack!). Her research focuses on the behavioral economics of online communities and the intersection of race and digital culture. She is a recipient of the MIT Teaching With Digital Technology award, holds a graduate certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Cornell University, and was selected by the WikiEducation Foundation as a Wikipedia Black History Scholar. Find out more about Amy through her website TheAmyCarleton.com

Our Drink this week is La Marca Prosecco, which is a popular offering at art galleries and showings. So sip some along with us as we dive into the art world of the 90s and 2000s!

In this Episode

Ways of Seeing by John Berger

Born Standing Up by Steve Martin

Davidson college

Exit Through the Gift Shop Documentary

Isabella Stewart Garden Museum Theft

The Mint Museum 

Boston Museum of Fine Arts

Bechtler Museum of Modern Art 

Harvey B. Gantt Center

Institute of Contemporary Art

Your Brain on Art by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross

Novant Health Art Initiative

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel

Unfinished: The Role of the Artist in the Age of Artificial Intelligence by Lucas Cantor Santiago

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

Random Family: Love, Drugs, Trouble, and Coming of Age in the Bronx by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc 

Brookline Booksmith

RJ Julia Bookstore

Happy New Year Libration Nation! We are kicking off the year with Heartbeat by Terreece M. Clarke, a romance suspense novel in which Mike and Maya find love in the midst of danger and messiness.  This is the first book in Clarke’s Courageous Love Series, and with excellent characters and diverse voices, it is a favorite of this week’s guest, Liz Bullard!

Liz Bullard is a multi-genre author, therapist, and coach known for her captivating storytelling and passion for helping creatives overcome obstacles. Her notable works include The Prophecy Series and the Lira Somers Mysteries—praised for fast-paced plots, vivid characters, and movie-like imagery. Liz’s love of reading and writing is evident in the eReads Podcast, where she celebrates the power of creativity and storytelling. When she’s not writing, coaching, or recording the podcast, she’s cooking, reading, or spending time with Preston the corgi.

Our drink this week is a Hibiscus French 75 Mocktail, using one of my favorite syrups Wild Hibiscus, which includes hibiscus flowers that make the cocktail match Heartbeat’s cover!

Ingredients

1 oz NA gin

.5 oz Wild Hibiscus syrup

.5 oz fresh lemon juice

NA Sparkling wine

Ice

Lemon twist or edible flower (for garnish)

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the gin, wild hibiscus syrup, and fresh lemon juice.

2. Fill the shaker with ice and shake well for about 15-20 seconds until the mixture is chilled.

3. Place hibiscus flower from the syrup in a champagne flute.

4. Pour mixture from shaker into flute

5. Top it off: Gently top off the drink with your choice of chilled NA sparkling wine.

In this Episode

Terreece M. Clarke’s Website

James Patterson

Janet Evanovich

Hello Libration Nation! This week I am joined by Nick George, a poet and educator, to discuss This Is The Honey an anthology of poems edited by Kwame Alexander. We talked about Nick’s journey with poetry, the significance of diverse voices in poetic anthologies, and the importance of seeing yourself reflected in stories. We read and analyze poems from the anthology, including works by Mahogany L. Brown and Jabari Asim. This is the last episode of 2025 as I’m taking a little break to relax and spend time with my family. Looking forward to some great episodes coming out in 2026!

Nicholas Steven George (or, Nick George the Poet) is a poet, educator, DJ and facilitator. He has performed at venues such as TedXCharlottesville, American Psychology Association Annual Convention, University of Lynchburg & Opera Roanoke. In performing his original work, he has opened for renowned poets like Jasmine Mans, Levi the Poet, Alysia Harris, Black Ice & Joshua Bennett. His work dwells at the intersection of culture, identity and spirituality. He has been writing, performing, and teaching for more than two decades. Nick’s award-winning work has been featured in a variety of industries and highlighted on platforms on the local and nationwide scale, ranging from private group facilitation and workshops, 1 on 1 coaching, and virtual/in-person performances. Find him on his website or on social media.

Moscow Mule

2 oz vodka

1 oz fresh lime juice

4 oz ginger beer

Fresh mint leaves (about 8-10)

Lime wedge (for garnish)

Ice

Copper mug (traditional)

In the bottom of a copper mug, add the fresh mint leaves. Gently muddle them with a muddler or the back of a spoon to release their oils.

Fill the mug with ice cubes.

Pour the vodka and fresh lime juice over the ice.

Top off with ginger beer, stirring gently to combine all ingredients.

Garnish with a lime wedge and a sprig of fresh mint.

Enjoy your refreshing Moscow Mule!

In this Episode

Drinks in the Library Merch

Sonya Sanchez

Langston Hughes

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

Amiri Baraka Black Art

Hello libration nation! This week's book is The Gunslinger by Stephen King a dark twisted fantasy novel and the first book in King’s The Dark Tower series. It follows the journey of Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger, as he traverses a desolate and mysterious landscape in pursuit of the enigmatic Man in Black. The story blends elements of fantasy, horror, and Western, exploring themes of destiny, obsession, and the nature of good and evil, as Roland confronts both external foes and his own inner demons on his quest to reach the Dark Tower, the nexus of all universes.

Guest

Bill Blume was determined to be a writer from a young age, often taking the lead in crafting adventures during childhood games in South Carolina. After graduating from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Broadcast Journalism, he worked as a TV news producer before transitioning to a dispatcher role for Henrico County Police in 2001. In Richmond, he and his wife became active in the local writing community, contributing to James River Writers, where he served on the board and continues to engage with fellow writers and industry professionals.He is the author of several books, and has an upcoming novel, To Hell and Back coming out January 20th, 2026.

Our drink this week was a Dark & Stormy, the perfect dark and spicy drink to pair with an anti-hero like Roland Deschain.

In This Episode

Sh*tty First Draft - Anne Lamott

George Lucas Star Wars changes

Original Gunslinger vs. Revised Edition

Shiver by Maggie Steifvater

James River Writers

Books by Stephen King

Battle of the Planets Series

Malinda Lo Books

NK Jemison Books

Erin Bowman Books

West of Apocalypse by Bill Blume

Richmond SPCA

Richmond Animal League

Sarah Glenn Marsh 

This week’s book is Kindred  by Octavia Butler, a time-traveling story about Dana, who goes back in time to ensure the survival of her ancestors: an enslaved woman named Alice and her enslaver, Rufus. This complicated yet entrancing narrative is multifaceted, and my guest this week, Alethea McCollin, and I had a great conversation about the ways Butler challenges her readers to think about the implications of our actions and how they shape the future.

Alethea McCollin is a multifaceted artist as a playwright, director, producer, actor, and founder of Orange Stilettos Productions, llc, known for her award-winning production of The Stilettos Monologues at the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival. She has produced various works, including her play Renaming Shaim at Theatre Row, New York City, and directed her first short film, The Next Great Writer, showcased at the Virginia Screenwriters Forum. Additionally, Alethea serves as Executive Secretary on the Board of Directors of James River Writers and is an English instructor at Virginia State University.

Our drink this week is one of Alethea’s favorite’s: Blackberry Citrus Tea, which is perfect for sitting by the fire curling up with a good book!

In this Episode

Drinks in the Library Merch

Kindred by Octavia Butler

James River Writers

Virginia State UniversityBooks by Toni Morrison

Books by Gabrielle García Márquez

Books by Isabel Allende

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, an American Slave by Frederick Douglas

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

Happy Thanksgiving! I’m taking the week to relax with family. Please enjoy the re-airing of this recording, which originally aired December 17, 2024.

Hello Libration Nation! This week we are discussing the classic series Animorphsby K.A. Applegate. Animorphs is a collection of 54 middle-grade books in which five young adults are gifted the power to morph into animals. It was a bit of a cult phenomenon when it was originally published in the late '90s and has recently seen a resurgence online.

My guest is Fiona Fenn. Fiona is an author of fantasy novels that put complicated “heroes” front and center. A fan of villains, redemption arcs, and intense explorations of healing in all its forms, her debut novel, The Crack at the Heart of Everything, is a love letter to every villain who wanted to do better but never got the chance.

I so enjoyed this conversation with Fiona, talking about the Animorphs series and her love for it, as well as her experience writing and publishing her first novel and everything that goes into this process.

Our drink this week is a Flying Saucer, as the Animorphs series begins with the kids meeting an alien who has flown to Earth

Flying Saucer Recipe (from Bevvy.com)

INGREDIENTS

1 oz Amaretto Di Saronno liqueur

1 oz Kahlua coffee liqueur

3 oz cream

3 oz ice

Combine in blender until smooth and creamy, serve with cinnamon stick for garnish!

In this Episode

Fiona Fenn’s Website

Buy The Crack at the Heart of Everything by Fiona Fenn

Michael Grant Gone series

Tiny Fox Press

Animorphs Aloud

Queer Liberation Library

KA Applegate Website

Free Animorphs PDFs

Fiona Fenn’s Substack

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary is a charming romantic comedy about two strangers, Tiffy and Leon, who share a London flat but have never met, communicating only through notes. As they navigate their unconventional living arrangement, they gradually develop a deep connection that leads to unexpected romance.

My guest this week is the hilarious Ashley Jones, who dreams of owning a stationery store and recapping reality TV for a living (dream big), all while aiming to finally shoot a T-shirt gun, an ambition she’s pursued for over a decade. Ashley is one of my favorite people I follow on social media, and I hope you follow her there too! You can find Ashley on Instagram @AshleyJonesy, Threads @AshleyJonesy, on TikTok @ohashleyjonesy and NOW on her just launched substack Yap Time: The Newsletter you read before a nap.

I had such a great time chatting with Ashley, we share so many of the same passions (Bravo shows, Taylor Swift, Pop Culture in general) that we frequently got off topic and I had to cut a good portion of the show, which I will be calling “The Lost Episode”, which will not be released and will become part of the lore of the show until fans clamor for me to release it 10 years from now, a la “All Too Well” 10 minute version, which is a Taylor reference and I promise that’s the last one, at least for the podcast intro!

Together we delve into the plot of The Flatshare , focusing on the characters' humanity and the book's feel-good nature. Ashley reflects on how the book changed her perspective on reading for enjoyment. We also talked about the value of empathy, dealing with insecurities, and the joy of following passions, ending the conversation with a nod to Ashley’s love for Sonic's Coke Zero and styrofoam cups.

In This Episode

Kelce Bowl (Super Bowl LVII)

Not Gonna Lie (Kylie Kelce’s Podcast - my #1 rival!)

Orpheus by Sara Bareilles

Styrofoam cups outlawed in Virginia

Sonic Drive In

Beth O’Leary’s Website

Books by Beth O’Leary

Brett Goldstein

The Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano follows a witty, overworked single mom and novelist who accidentally becomes entangled in real-life crime while trying to meet her writing deadlines. Blending humor, suspense, and heart, the series delivers a fast-paced mix of murder, motherhood, and unexpected friendship.

A little bit about this week's (returning) guest, Mair Downing.

Mair transitioned into real estate from a Fortune 200 company because she wanted a career where she could make a real difference in people’s lives. Whether working with buyers, sellers, or investors—helping clients right-size or find that perfect river getaway—she believes in the energy that comes from realizing goals are within reach. And with Mair’s guidance, they are.

FREE TIME

When Mair isn’t showing homes or preparing listings, she’s cheering on her teen daughters in their various activities—soccer, volleyball, and basketball—or snuggling with her Havanese, Odie (and, of course, her husband, too!). She loves to travel, enjoy great food, and soak in all that life has to offer. Check up her "What's Up Wednesday series on Instagram: @obsessedwithhomes 

For quiet moments, she finds peace sitting on a dock, watching the water glimmer with a good book. Favorite right now: Black Phone by Joe Hill

Death by Chocolate Cocktail - we recorded this episode on Día De Los Muertos, also as the book titles and story contents often involve a little murder, we knew we needed a “deadly” cocktail!

Servings: 1

Ingredients

¾ oz vodka 

¾ oz Bailey’s Irish Cream 

¾ oz dark crème de cacao 

¼ cup chocolate ice cream

½ cup ice

Chocolate shavings, for garnish

Instructions

Combine the vodka, Bailey’s, dark crème de cacao, chocolate ice cream, and ice in a blender.

Blend until smooth.

Pour into a chilled wine glass.

Garnish with chocolate shavings and enjoy!

In this Episode

DITL Merch is now out! Please considering one of these adorable items to support the show.

Barbara Streisand films Funny Girl and What’s Up Doc

Drawing Hands by MC Escher

Black Phone by Joe Hill

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Pushcart Prize

O. Henry Award

I’m so excited to share the audio from my very first live recording, held on October 28 at M.M.LaFleur Georgetown. I had the pleasure of interviewing Ally Kirkpatrick, owner of Old Town Books, about The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating a story that deeply influenced her decision to open her bookstore.

A huge thank you to M.M.LaFleur and their wonderful Georgetown staff for being so kind, supportive, and making this event possible, and to Ally for being such a generous guest and collaborator.

Since we recorded in an open space, I made a few audio adjustments to smooth out background noise. While it sounds crisp and clear overall, you might notice a few spots that move a bit quickly as I balanced the levels.

Book

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey is a quiet, meditative memoir that finds wonder in the smallest details of life. As the bedridden author observes a snail living beside her, she discovers unexpected lessons about resilience, curiosity, and the beauty of slowing down.

Guest

Ally Kirkpatrick, an Alexandria native, founded Old Town Books in 2018 to create space for her love of reading, writing, and community. She also loves her family, shop dog Scout, and gardening. Ally’s current picks include happy-ending thrillers, journalist-written nonfiction, reimagined history, and beautiful gardening books. Recently her debut essay Gnawing was featured in Roxane Gays’s The Audacity, learn more about her writing at allykirkpatrick.com.

Drink 

For our drink this week we had two options, the first was “The MM Spritz”, a white wine spritzer named in honor of our lovely host, MM LaFleur Georgetown. The second was a NA option, Herb & Orchid dealconized wine alternative, which was so tasty, and the connection to nature paired perfectly with the book.

In this Episode

Community Bookstore Brooklyn NY

Elisabeth Tova Bailey’s website - where you can listen to a snail eating 

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott - check out the DITL episode on this book!

The Governeses by Anne Serre

Gnawing by Ally Kirkpatrick on Roxane Gay’s The Audacity

Ally Kirkpatrick’s YouTube

The John Burroughs Medal

Fabled Ice Cream 

These Truths by Jill Lepore

Books by Lindsey Chervinsky, presidential historian

You Never Forget Your First by Alexis Coe

Carrie by Stephen King tells the story of a shy, bullied teenager who endures relentless cruelty at school and terrifying abuse at home from her fanatically religious mother. When Carrie discovers her telekinetic powers, years of repression and pain erupt in a devastating act of vengeance on prom night.

Guest

Nathan Lawrie-Buchholz is a special education teacher who loves books that make him afraid to turn off the lights. Nathan has frightened his friends and family with scary stories written in the margins of school notebooks since he was young. Profane Beasts is his debut novel. Nathan’s experience as a teacher inspires him to write about professionals who make a living separating their emotional needs from the people they serve. Nathan writes about the anxiety of walking that line between being professionally empathetic and dangerously involved that all social workers must navigate. Nathan lives in Henrico, Virginia with his wife Haley, their rescue pittie mix Ziti, and their internet famous cat Marston. He can be found searching independent bookstores for old paperbacks or investigating exciting places to eat in the Richmond area. You can find him on Instagram Goodreads or on his website

Our drink this week is a Bloody Mary, of course as a homage to the moment Carrie had enough. I use Zing Zang to make my Bloody Mary’s, to some this is a controversial choice, but I’m sorry, I know what I like!

Bloody Mary Recipe

3 parts Zing Zang® Bloody Mary Mix

1 part your favorite vodka

Directions

Pour over ice and stir

Add a squeeze of lime

Garnish with celery, olives, hot sauce, bacon, anything you like really!

In this Episode

Blair Witch Project Marketing Campaign

On Writing by Stephen King

All 4 Carrie Movies Ranked

Cuckoo by  Gretchen Felker Martin 

Books by Eric LaRocca

Books by T. Kingfisher

Bunny by Mona Awad

Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

Whickerman Film

World War Z by Max Brooks

The Great Dismal Swamp

Cajun Queen Tour New Orleans

Abi’s Books and Brews

Hello, Libration Nation! This week, I'm doing something a bit different and sharing 15 books that I loved in 2025! This format is a departure from the regular show, but I wanted to highlight some personal favorites that haven't made it onto the show yet. If you want to give feedback on this or for future episodes, reach out to me at drinkspod@gmail.com.

This week’s drink is a fabulous rosé from none other than the Duchess of Sussex herself, Meghan Markle! I’ll also be sharing a tasting video on Instagram, so stay tuned!

No show notes this week—I really want you to listen to the episode in full, so I won’t be listing the books just yet. But don’t worry, I’ll share that list closer to the holiday season!

And if you haven’t registered yet, don’t miss my live event on Tuesday, October 28 at M.M.LaFleur Georgetown! I’ll be interviewing Ally Kirkpatrick, owner of Old Town Books, and it’s going to be a delightful and fun evening!

Date: Tuesday, October 28

Time: 6-8 PM

Location: M.M.LaFleur, 1344 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC

What to expect:

- Drinks & light bites before & after the recording

- Shop M.M.LaFleur’s cozy fall collection at 15% off

- Browse our in-store library curated by Old Town Books

RSVP & more details: https://luma.com/hbsnu98y

Enjoy the episode!

In Surrender by Bono, the iconic frontman of U2, shares a deeply personal memoir that explores his life’s journey through music, activism, and spirituality. With candid reflections and heartfelt anecdotes, he invites readers into the experiences that shaped both his artistry and his commitment to making a difference in the world.

Heidi K. Brown is a former lawyer, a law professor, a writer, a novice boxer, a passionate U2 fan, a proud introvert, and a feisty solo traveler. She is the author of three books about well-being and healthy performance for law students, lawyers, and other members of the legal profession: The Introverted Lawyer,Untangling Fear in Lawyering, and The Flourishing Lawyer. Heidi is an internationally recognized public speaker on topics of self-empowerment, authenticity, and self-discovery. Heidi launched her debut travel memoir, The Map I Draw: A Memoir of Travel as a Passport to Self, in June 2025. You can find more at https://heidikristinbrown.com and  her substack Heidiography.

Our drink this week is Irish Whiskey, specifically  Writer’s Tears if you can get it! If you are in the United States you can order it through Reserve Bar.

In this Episode

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Joshua_Tree

Is U2 the longest running band on the planet?

Ali Hewson - Chernobyl International

The Creative Act by Rick Rubin

The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp

Steven Pressfield Books

Heidi’s Keynote at University of Richmond Law School Graduation

Joshua Tree Bar Manhattan (sadly now closed!)

In Solito, a memoir by poet Javier Zamora recounts his harrowing and heartfelt journey as a nine-year-old traveling alone from El Salvador to the United States to reunite with his parents. Through vivid detail and deep emotion, he captures the fear, hope, and resilience of migration through a child’s eyes.

Donna McCarthy is a retired high school special education teacher who’s been happily retired for seven years. She volunteers as a Friend of the Newburgh Free Library and leads a book club for fellow retired teachers. Donna loves spending time with her grandson, she’s a proud bi-coastal grandma often traveling to visit him in California from her home in New York, and she never passes up a chance to travel, whether it’s exploring somewhere new in the U.S. or heading abroad. Also, she is my aunt!

Our drink this week is Horchata, a drink well known in Central America and one that Javier drinks in the book. A classic rice drink, I linked below a recipe from El Salvador, but you can also try it by using this mix or purchasing one at your local Pollo Campero!

Horchata Salvadoreña

4oz morro seed

2oz peanuts

2 oz de sesame seeds

1 tbsp of coaca powder

1 oz pumpkin seed

1 oz cinammon 

1/4 tbsp Vanilla or to taste

2 oz dried corn

2 oz rice

Sugar to taste

1 - 1 1/2 gallons of Water - this can be subbed with any milk you'd like or split.

In this Episode

American Dirt by Jeanne Cummins

Salvadorean Civil War

Coyote (Colloquial for human smuggler)

Javier Zamora’s Website

Second Attempt Crossing Poem

Unaccompanied by Javier Zamora

Welcome back to Drinks in the Library! Today, we're exploring the delightful and charming world of Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. This romantic comedy takes us on a whirlwind journey through love, politics, and the complexities of identity as we follow the unexpected romance between Alex Claremont-Diaz, the First Son of the United States, and Prince Henry of Wales.

My guest this week is Katharine Herndon, who lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband, two boys, and a hound dog named Lola. She used to teach (English, of course), but the homework got to her, so she decided to take up nonprofit work instead (insert laughter). Currently the Executive Director of James River Writers, she is an enthusiastic advocate for the RVA literary community and can be found at nearly all JRW events. In her free time she kills plants, burns things more than she cooks, knits very sporadically, and is still looking for some form of tolerable exercise. 

Our drink this week was a nod to our friends across the pond: 

The New G&T (Gin and Earl Grey Tea)

2 ounce Earl Grey Tea

2 ounce Gin

1 ounce Maple Syrup

3/4 ounce Lemon Juice

Fresh Mint or Dried Rose Petals for garnish, optional

In a rocks glass add ice and set aside. In your cocktail shaker, combine all ingredients, except for the garnish. Fill the shaker with ice and put the cap on. Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds, or until the shaker is extremely cold.

Strain cocktail into your prepared rocks glass and garnish with mint or rose petals, if using. Serve immediately.

In This Episode

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones

In A Jam by Kate Canterbury

American Royals by Catherine McGee

Red White and Royal Blue Film

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

The Horse Whisperer Film

Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret Film

Jim Dale Actor & Audiobook Narrator

I Kissed Shara Wheelerby Casey McQuiston

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

James River Writers Thursday Night Writes

Hello Libration Nation! Our book this week is Catwings a whimsical and heartwarming tale by beloved author Ursula K. Le Guin. The story follows four ordinary kittens born with an extraordinary gift—they have wings. As they set out to find a safe place in the world, the kittens discover both the beauty and challenges of being different. With gentle language and charming illustrations, Catwings is a modern classic that captures the magic of imagination, the courage of leaving home, and the comfort of finding where you belong.

My guest this week is the amazing Dr. Julia Skinner, she is a food writer whose work includes the award-winning book Our Fermented Lives. She is the founder of The Culinary Curiosity School, and also runs Root, a food-focused community and consulting organization offering classes, consulting on creative projects, a weekly newsletter, and more. She's also the founder of Roots and Branches, where she coaches other writers to help them find their voice and share their most important work with the world. 

She is also a nature lover, a teacher, and a traveler who firmly believes in finding, and sharing, the magic of everyday life. She has a PhD in Library & Information Science, and lives between Atlanta, GA and Cork, Ireland. 

As a special treat for Libration Nation: use the code DRINKSPOD to for 30% off anything at both The Culinary Curiosity School and Roots and Branches (Thank you Julia!)

You can follow her work in her newsletter, or find her on social:

@bookishjulia (writing)

@rootkitchens (food)

@yourrootsandbranches (coaching)

@culinary.curiosity.school (culinary courses)

For our drink we have two options:

Simple Cat Lovers' Cocktail

 This is basically a Kentucky mule, with an added herbal garnish and/or herbal syrup (depending on your preference) in place of lime.

 Stir together 1 - 1 1/2 c ginger beer to 1 shot bourbon

Add herbal syrup (below) to taste (optional)

Garnish with fresh lemon balm, basil, or mint: lightly crush or roll before adding to the cocktail for maximum flavor

Herbal syrup (makes about 1 quart): Combine 2 c sugar to 2 c water with a pinch of salt in a medium saucepan. Add 1-2 c packed fresh herbs, depending how strong you'd like it (like basil, mint, lemon balm, or mountain mint). Simmer on M/L for 10-15 minutes or until aromatic and flavorful. Cool and store in the fridge in an airtight container.

Catwings Cocktail (tailor made by Julia!)

 This cocktail has a few steps, but I promise they're worth it: And you can batch out the syrup and tea by doubling or tripling the recipe to make these for a group or to keep the ingredients on hand in the fridge (where they'll last a week). The tea can be nice on its own, and any leftover syrup is perfect for adding to coffee or other beverages or drizzling on desserts.

 For a non-alcoholic version, swap in your favorite NA gin, or try this sea buckthorn-based NA spirit.

  Makes 4 cocktails

 For the herbal tea:

(Note: you may not have all these dried herbs available. If not, just use 1/4-1/2 tsp catnip and 1 tsp chamomile. Or, just a chamomile tea bag). 

·         1/4 tsp dried catnip

·         1/4 tsp dried chamomile flower

·         1/4 tsp Angelica root

·         1/4 tsp elecampene

 Steep the herbs in 3/4 c hot water for 10-12 minutes. Strain and cool completely.

 For the lemon balm syrup: 

(Note: You can play with other herbs you like here too, catnip, mountain mint, and/or basil might be fun choices depending on your tastes and what’s available). 

·         1 packed cup fresh lemon balm leaves

·         1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar

·         2/3 c water

·         pinch salt

·         1 c sugar

 Heat all ingredients together over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Simmer for 10-15 minutes or until fragrant and flavorful.

 Remove from heat, then cool completely and strain. 

 For the cocktail

 ·         Divide the herbal tea across 4 rocks glasses (add ice, if desired)

·         Add 1 shot gin to each glass

·         Add 1 shot of syrup to each glass and stir

·         Top with sparkling wine or soda water to taste.

·         Garnish with fresh lemon balm, if desired.

In this Episode

Steering the Craft by Ursula Le Guin

Welcome back Libration Nation! Today, I’m excited to share one of my recent favorites: Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson. This delightful tale is a blend of humor, adventure, and sweetness, following a young woman on a perilous quest to save the man she loves. As we embrace the cozy vibes of autumn, I thought it was the perfect time to dive into this enchanting fantasy.

Joining me today is my husband, Bill, making his fourth appearance on Drinks in the Library. As always, we have a great time riffing and cracking each other up!

Tress loves a salty tea, so I wanted to go with a salty drink and went with a Salted Caramel Coffee Martini, for a non-alcoholic option a Salted Caramel Latte would be perfect!

Salted Caramel Coffee Martini

1 oz Bailey's Salted Caramel Cream

1.5 oz. Vanilla Vodka

1-2 oz. Coffee or Espresso

Ice

Whipped Cream, Salt, or caramel syrup (optional)

Pour Bailey's, vodka, and coffee into a shaker over ice. Shake and pour into chilled martini glass

• 2. Garnish with cream, salt, and chocolate syrup and enjoy!

NA Option - A cold Brew Salted Caramel Latte would be perfect!

In this Episode

Mistborn Episode

Brandon Sanderson - The Economics of Books and Entertainment

The Princess Bride Film

The Princess Bride  by William Goldman

Reese Witherspoon Woman of the Year Speech

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Gin & Tonics

Tress of the Emerald Sea Premium Hardcover

The Substance Film

Brandon Sanderson Kickstarter

Books by T. Kingfisher

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh tells the poignant story of Victoria Jones, a young woman who uses the Victorian tradition of flower symbolism to communicate her emotions and navigate her troubled past. As she learns to reconcile her experiences through the meanings of various flowers, she embarks on a journey of healing and self-discovery that intertwines love, loss, and the power of community and relationships.

My guest this week is Mary Green, a florist, wife, dog-mom, plant lover, and also my next door neighbor. Mary loves live music, spending time with friends and family, and books with dark twists and turns. She is a florist at Strawberry Fields Flowers & Finds, where she is able to share her horticulture knowledge and passion for all things plants!

Hibiscus Paloma Mocktail

1 grapefruit wedge

½ oz fresh lime juice

3 oz NA tequila (I used Ritual Tequila)

¼ cup club soda

1 tsp Hibiscus Simple Syrup (I used Wild Hibiscus, found at Total Wine)

2 oz fresh grapefruit juice

kosher salt for garnish

Directions

Pour kosher salt on a small plate. Rub the rim of a highball glass with a grapefruit and dip the rim of glass in salt.

In a glass, combine grapefruit juice, lime juice, and hibiscus simple syrup. Stir in tequila, add ice, and top with club soda. Garnish.

In This Episode

The Complete Language of FlowersbyS. Theresa Dietz 

.5 Bottle Shop

Hello Libration Nation! This week, we are diving into the captivating world of "The Murderbot Diaries," a remarkable series by Martha Wells. Follow the journey of an anxious, self-aware rogue security android, known as Murderbot, as it navigates a galaxy filled with humans and complex emotions. 

My guest this week is Hayley DeRoche, also known as SadBeige, They are a public librarian, activist and meme creator, known for being the content creator behind the "Werner Herzog's sad beige clothes for sad beige children" series. Her funny memes and sarcastic reels have garnered a following of 450,000 on Instagram, where she goes by the handle @officialsadbeige. You can also follow their substack Weird, But Okay. Their book A Field Guide for Sad Beige Parents will be coming out Spring 2026.

Hayley has a collection of shirts and sweatshirts that are so cute and funny AND support public libraries - check them out! Also, 20% of the proceeds from sales of this collection go to support the Women’s Prison Book Project, which supports incarcerated Women, Trans, and Non-Binary people in the U.S. - because everyone deserves the right to read books they enjoy.

Sanctuary Moon Cocktail

2 oz. Herbal Gin (St George’s Terroir)

0.5 oz Lemon Juice

0.5 oz Simple Syrup

4 oz Soda Water

Lemon for garnish (optional)

Pour gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a shaker over ice. Shake and pour into highball glass over ice

Add soda water and mix gently with a spoon. 

Garnish with lemon and enjoy!

In this Episode

The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells

Far From the Tree by Andrew Solomon

Five Laws of Library Science by SR Ranganathan

Murderbot TV Show on Apple

Grizzly Man Documentary by Werner Herzog

Weird, But Okay - Hayley’s Substack

Women’s Prison Book Project