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Authors Talking Bookish: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Donna Norman-Carbone and Hope Gibbs
At Authors Talking Bookish, our mission is to dedicate ourselves to inspiring writers and readers by providing the-road-to-publishing insights from two debut novelists who learned the hard way and discussing our love of books from the writer’s perspective.
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- 4 days ago32 min
AI and Authors: A Spectrum of Controversy
AI is changing the way authors write, but is every use of AI created equal? From researching to generating the words on the page, AI has entered nearly every stage of a writer’s life. But is using AI inherently unethical, or does the answer depend on what you’re asking it to do? In this episode of Authors Talking Bookish, we examine a spectrum of controversy surrounding the use of AI in order to help you determine where you stand. SHOW NOTES:The Spectrum of AI Adoptions: Research vs. Marketing vs. Writing vs. BrainstormingResearch (High Acceptance)Marketing & Administration (High Acceptance)A New Complication: AI as search engineDrafting & Prose (Controversial)Ethical Friction: Who owns the training material?Author vs. AI Accusations: High-Profile Book Cancellations Detecting AI UseFinal Ethical Questions: Where We StandSOURCES & LINKSWhy The Press Release Isn’t Dead, Reader Views, July 2026AI Optimization for Authors, Author Media, May 2025Anthropic Destroyed Millions of Print Books to Build its AI Models, ARS Technica, June 2025Authors Guild and Plaintiffs File Motion for Summary Judgement v. Open AI and Microsoft, The Authors Guild, September 2026$2M Crime Novel Deal Collapses Amid Questions over AI Use, Emma Loffhagen, The Guardian, July 2026A New York Times Op Ed , Andrea Bartz, March 2026The Authors Who Admit to Using AI: “I have absolutely no shame about it,” Annabel Nugent, The Independent, June 2026Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.comHope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.comIf you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you
- 2 weeks ago36 min
Perfect Homes, Imperfect Truths: Fiction Meets the Tradwife Trend
Aprons, sourdough, and perfectly curated kitchens may seem like harmless nostalgia, but behind the trad wife trend lies a cultural conversation about gender, identity, power, and the stories we tell ourselves about "the good life."The trad wife movement has evolved from an obscure online term first documented in 2016 into a highly visible social media phenomenon fueled by pandemic-era content celebrating homemaking, domesticity, vintage fashion, and family life. While some view it as a return to simplicity amid rising childcare costs and burnout, others see connections to broader debates about gender roles, politics, and the idealized images amplified by influencers and popular culture—fromThe Stepford Wives to Don't Worry Darling and Ballerina Farms.In this panel, authors Bella Ellwood-Clayton, and Elizabeth Richardson explore why the trad wife phenomenon has become such fertile ground for storytelling. Together, they'll discuss choice versus expectation, the complexities of modern relationships, social media's influence on identity, and why fiction is uniquely positioned to explore the gray areas behind one of today's most polarizing cultural trends.SHOW NOTES:The term and its originCultural ConnectionsWhy it's gained in popularity todayAuthor Panel: Bella Ellwood-Clayton and Elizabeth RichardsonQuestions for the PanelLinksBella Ellwood-Clayton’s website InstaElizabeth Richardson’s Linkshttps://elizabethrichardsonbooks.substack.com/elizabethrichardsonbooks.comFull Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.comIf you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you
- Oct 6, 202627 min
Banned, Challenged and Essential: Who Decided What We Read?
What happens when someone else dictates what is or is not allowed to be read? In this episode, we explore the history and purpose of Banned Books Week, why book challenges and censorship have become increasingly common, and why the freedom to read matters to readers, writers, educators, and communities alike. We share the books that have shaped us, discuss why so many enduring classics continue to be challenged, and highlight the authors, librarians, and organizations working to protect access to diverse stories. Whether you agree with every book or not, this conversation is a reminder that stories have the power to educate, challenge, and connect us, and why preserving that choice is worth defending.SHOW NOTES:HistoryThis YearWhy are we Bringing Attention to it?Books we support and would like to addressManifesto LibraryAuthors Against Book BansHistory:Banned Books Week takes place annually, at the end of September to the beginning of October depending upon the calendar. In 1982, it originated as a call to attention to the rise in the number of books being banned across the US by Judith Krug of the American Library Association and the Association of American PublishersThis Year:Dates: October 4–10, 2026Theme: “Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read”Focus: Raising awareness about censorship and supporting public access to diverse ideas and stories.SOURCES & LINKSAmerican Library Association https://www.ala.org/bbooks/bannedBanned Books Week https://bannedbooksweek.org/Pen America: Banned Books https://pen.org/banned-books-week/Manifesto Library https://www.service95.com/manifesto-library-launchAuthors Against Book Bans https://www.authorsagainstbookbans.com/DO NOW: Create your own awareness by educating yourself, determine what you can do to promote choice in reading and the prevention of book banning.Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.comHope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.comIf you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you
- Sep 22, 202633 min
An Interview with Author Karen E. Osborne
Award-winning author Karen E. Osborne joins Authors Talking Bookish for a conversation about writing suspense and social-issue fiction, creating complex female characters, and exploring family, power, and moral choice through story. Karen shares insights into her novels, including Getting It Right, Justice for Emerson, True Grace, Reckonings, and Tangled Lies, as well as her journey as a writer and her experience hosting the weekly author-interview podcast What Are You Reading? What Are You Writing? Join us for a thoughtful conversation about storytelling, the writing life, and creating fiction that both entertains and makes us think.SHOW NOTES:BiographyCurrent NovelsOn the Author’s Journey and Writing LifeHost to HostRoad to PublicationRapid Fire QuestionsTangled Lies (2021) – A murder mystery thriller centered on complex family dynamics.Reckonings (2022) – An award-winning indie drama focusing on moral choices and corporate power.True Grace (2023) – A historical fiction family saga set during the Harlem Renaissance.Justice for Emerson (2025) – A dual-timeline mystery that won Best Mystery of the Year.Getting It Right October 15, 2026SOURCES & LINKSPre-Order Getting It Right: A Psychological Thriller Email: WriterKarenEOsborne@gmail.comWebsite: https://www.kareneosborne.com/Video Podcast: https://www.kareneosborne.com/blog-1Facebook: (20+) Karen E Osborne, Author | FacebookYouTube: Karen E. Osborne - YouTubeInstagram: InstagramLinkedIn: Karen E. Osborne | LinkedInBook Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/karen-e-osborneFull Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.comHope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.comIf you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you
- Sep 8, 202637 min
The Emotional Arc of a Writer: Beyond Writing a Novel (Part 2)
You've finished the book—now what? In Part 2 of our Emotional Arc of a Writer series, we dive into the often-overlooked emotional challenges that come after typing "The End." From sharing your work and facing rejection, to navigating publication, marketing, and the realities of building a long-term writing career, every milestone brings new opportunities and unexpected emotions. We'll discuss the surprises, setbacks, and successes that shape writers beyond the page and offer practical advice for approaching each stage with confidence and resilience.Part II: Beyond Writing a Novel (continued from Episode 78)Show Notes:Stages 6-10:Sharing Your WorkQuerying or PublishingPublicationMarketing Your Work and YourselfThe Long-term Writing LifePersonal Emotional SurprisesSOURCES & LINKS:“Caring for your mental health as a writer,” The JED Foundation. PDF https://assets.ctfassets.net/“Writers and Mental Health: Breaking the Stigma,” Atmosphere Press.Fearless Writing, William Kenower, Writer’s Digest BooksBefore and After the Book Deal, Courtney Maum, CatapultDO NOW: Identify where you are in your post-writing journey & choose one or more of the actionable solutions that resonate most with you.Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.comHope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.comIf you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you
- Aug 25, 202627 min
The Emotional Arc of a Writer: Writing Stages (Part 1)
Writing a novel isn't just a craft journey, it's an emotional one. From the excitement of a new idea to the vulnerability of sharing your work and the uncertainty of publication, every milestone brings both triumphs and challenges. In this episode, the first of a two-part series, we'll explore the emotional benchmarks most writers encounter during the stages of writing a novel and offer practical strategies for navigating them with resilience and confidence. Part I: Stages of WritingShow Notes:Personal AssumptionsStages 1-5:The SparkThe First DraftThe Mid-draft SlumpFinishing the DraftRevisionPersonal ApplicationSOURCES & LINKS“Caring for your mental health as a writer,” The JED Foundation. PDF https://assets.ctfassets.net/“Writers and Mental Health: Breaking the Stigma,” Atmosphere Press.Fearless Writing, William Kenower, Writer’s Digest BooksBefore and After the Book Deal, Courtney Maum, CatapultDO NOW: Identify where you are in your writing & choose one or more of the actionable solutions that resonate most with your own journey.Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.comHope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.comIf you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you
- Aug 11, 202631 min
An Interview with Author Maggie Giles
What if one of the biggest obstacles to writing compelling fiction became your greatest creative strength? In this episode, we sit down with thriller author Maggie Giles to explore her unconventional path to becoming a suspense writer, why thrillers came more naturally than romance, and how years of experimenting across genres helped her discover her unique voice. Maggie also shares how she balances a full-time career with writing—and offers a fascinating look at creating immersive stories while living with aphantasia, a condition that prevents her from forming mental images. Whether you're searching for your writing voice, struggling to make time for your craft, or curious about the many ways creativity works, this conversation is packed with inspiration and practical insights you won't want to miss.SHOW NOTES:BioWriting ProcessBooksWriting LifeRapid-Fire QuestionsSOURCES & LINKSWebsite: https://maggiegiles.com/Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.comHope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.comIf you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you
- Jul 28, 202626 min
Planting Seeds in Your Writing: Making Every Detail Count
The most satisfying stories don't come from surprises that appear out of nowhere; they come from details that were there all along. In this episode, we'll explore how writers can strategically plant information, objects, emotions, and clues early in a story that later bloom into meaningful revelations, twists, and character growth. Readers love being surprised, but they love it even more when the surprise feels earned. Let us teach you how to make every detail count.SHOW NOTES:What does planting seeds mean?Types of seeds a writer can plantThe rule of set-up and payoffWhere writers get it wrongRevision tip: read backwardsDO NOW:For examples of effective seed-planting and a writer’s exercise, download our FREE Planting Seeds companion to this episode from our website @ https://www.authorstalkingbookish.comFull Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.comHope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.comIf you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you
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About Authors Talking Bookish
At Authors Talking Bookish, our mission is to dedicate ourselves to inspiring writers and readers by providing the-road-to-publishing insights from two debut novelists who learned the hard way and discussing our love of books from the writer’s perspective.
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