Bookable Space with Kay Smith-Blum

This episode of Bookable Space is a little different. In this episode we’re joined by Susan Stasiask. Susan reads from To Die For: The book is not yet published. Susan will be reading from the manuscript and talking to us about caring for ourselves while caring for the ones we love, the choice to shift how we define beauty, and challenging societal norms of how we care and how we choose to care. About the AuthorOur guest today is Susan Stasiak (STAY si ak), who was a 7-year, hands-on dementia caregiver for her late life partner, Chuck. Susan’s twenty years of practice to improve workplace performance as an organizational development consultant and speaker was applied to her caregiving challenges.In 2019, she launched an author platform, “Caring for the Caregiver’s Mind,” featuring articles, webinars, podcasts, and speeches, to reduce the stress of caregivers and address their mental well-being. Susan suggests that we can eliminate much of our caregiving stress if we use our minds instead of letting our minds use us.Susan is writing a book for caregivers, with the working title of- To Die For: How One Dementia Caregiver Saves Her Sanity and Finds What To Live For.About the hostYvonne Battle-Felton is an author, academic, and podcaster. Her debut, Remembered, was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the Not the Booker, and shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize. Winner of The Shirley Jackson Award, Curdle Creek is her second novel. Yvonne was a finalist in the Hurston Wright Foundation Legacy Zora Award for Fiction, has been awarded the RSL Scriptorium Award, and lives in West Yorkshire, England. She aims to create a literary community bringing readers and writers together over words. For information about Yvonne's books, events, and more vist https://www.yvonnebattlefelton.com/ or sign up to Yvonne's Substack https://yvonnebattlefelton.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Bookable Space we’re joined by Kay Smith-Blum. Kay reads to us from Tangles and talks about research, writing place, and more. It’s an interesting discussion about writing truths that might otherwise stay hidden. About the bookA love story wrapped in a mystery, this stunning Cold War home-front tale reveals the devastating costs of the birth of the nuclear age, and celebrates the quiet courage of wronged women, the fierce determination of fatherless sons, and the limitless power of the individual. TANGLES is a genre-defying must-read for our time.About the authorKay Smith-Blum, a former fashionista and Seattle School Board President, is a fan of mid-20th-century history albeit debunking its tropes as she writes. An odd dream and the recent upheaval over leaking radioactive waste tanks at the Hanford Nuclear site compelled her to write, TANGLES, named 2025 Best Historical Mystery/Suspense by the American Fiction Awards Book Fest, Best Regional Fiction/West by the Nat’l Indie Excellence Awards, Book of the Year by the Literary Global Book Awards and Best Debut Fiction by the American Writing Awards 2024. Smith-Blum, a sunrise writer, has lived in Seattle for four decades. She works out her writer’s block in her sons’ gardens and the nearest lap pool. For full bio see https://www.kaysmith-blum.comAbout the hostYvonne Battle-Felton is an author, academic, and podcaster. Her debut, Remembered, was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the Not the Booker, and shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize. Winner of The Shirley Jackson Award, Curdle Creek is her second novel. Yvonne was a finalist in the Hurston Wright Foundation Legacy Zora Award for Fiction, has been awarded the RSL Scriptorium Award, and lives in West Yorkshire, England. She aims to create a literary community bringing readers and writers together over words. For information about Yvonne's books, events, and more vist https://www.yvonnebattlefelton.com/ or sign up to Yvonne's Substack https://yvonnebattlefelton.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Bookable Space, we’re joined by Andrew K. Clark. Andrew reads from Where Dark Things Rise. It’s an engaging discussion about the stories that are ours to tell, and those that aren’t, writing inspired by readers, writing about beautiful places with ugly histories, the Southern writer’s burden of telling the truth, and more.About the BookThink Carrie meets Stranger Things in Southern Appalachia. Sixteen-year-old Mina wants to escape her Appalachian trailer park, but when her crush is hunted by a shapeshifting preacher, she must wield her secret powers to save him—and her best friend—from a twisted world of magic and exploitation.About the AuthorAndrew K. Clark is a writer from the Western North Carolina mountains. His debut novel Where Dark Things Grow was shortlisted for the Wellman Award and won an IPPY. The sequel, Where Dark Things Rise, was released by Quill & Crow in 2025. Learn more at andrewkclark.com.About the hostYvonne Battle-Felton is an author, academic, and podcaster. Her debut, Remembered, was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the Not the Booker, and shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize. Winner of The Shirley Jackson Award, Curdle Creek is her second novel. Yvonne was a finalist in the Hurston Wright Foundation Legacy Zora Award for Fiction, has been awarded the RSL Scriptorium Award, and lives in West Yorkshire, England. She aims to create a literary community bringing readers and writers together over words.For information about Yvonne's books, events, and more vist https://www.yvonnebattlefelton.com/ or sign up to Yvonne's Substack https://yvonnebattlefelton.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Bookable Space, we’re joined by Beth Dotson Brown. Beth reads from Rooted in Silence and talks about writing storms, following characters where they lead, and what mid-life makes possible for characters. It’s an engaging discussion about place, space, and more. About the Author:Beth is the author of Rooted in Sunrise, a novel about starting over after a natural disaster. She's also the author of Yes! I Am Catholic and a contributor to A Cup of Comfort for Breast Cancer Survivors. Her short stories have been published in literary magazines and aired on the BBC World Service Short Story Programme. About the Book: When a tornado blows away Ava’s home, she’s forced to rethink the second half of her life. She searches for the owner of a suitcase that landed on her lawn as she faces old regrets and fears. Ava must be courageous if she’s to assist friends suffering in the tornado’s aftermath. Rooted in Sunrise is a coming-of-age story for women at midlife that illustrates enduring hope and healing.About the host Yvonne Battle-Felton is an author, academic, and podcaster. Her debut, Remembered, was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the Not the Booker, and shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize. Winner of The Shirley Jackson Award, Curdle Creek is her second novel. Yvonne was a finalist in the Hurston Wright Foundation Legacy Zora Award for Fiction, has been awarded the RSL Scriptorium Award, and lives in West Yorkshire, England. She aims to create a literary community bringing readers and writers together over words. For information about Yvonne's books, events, and more vist https://www.yvonnebattlefelton.com/ or sign up to Yvonne's Substack https://yvonnebattlefelton.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Bookable Space we’re joined by Anna Caig. Anna reads from The Wise Witch of Orkney and answers three questions about writing place, writing history, and writing as repair. It’s an engaging discussion of research and craft.About the Author:Anna is a historical fiction author, and her debut novel is The Wise Witch of Orkney. Anna’s obsessed with the hidden voices of women and a compelling underdog story. Luckily, history offers plenty of these. She’s inspired by the glimpses into a woman’s life we get before the historical record moves onto something considered much more important.About The Wise Witch of Orkney 1593, Scotland. King James VI launches a bloody witch hunt across the length and breadth of the country. But are the women he fears most already within his court?Elspet is a spae-wife, a wise woman and healer from Orkney. Some might call her a witch. When the king's new bride, Anna of Denmark, summons her to deliver her baby and cast a binding spell over the child, Elspet is trapped between two impossible choices. She cannot refuse the queen, and she cannot be discovered by the king.About the hostYvonne Battle-Felton is an author, academic, and podcaster. Her debut, Remembered, was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the Not the Booker, and shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize. Winner of The Shirley Jackson Award, Curdle Creek is her second novel. Yvonne was a finalist in the Hurston Wright Foundation Legacy Zora Award for Fiction, has been awarded the RSL Scriptorium Award, and lives in West Yorkshire, England. She aims to create a literary community bringing readers and writers together over wordsFor information about Yvonne's books, events, and more vist https://www.yvonnebattlefelton.com/ or sign up to Yvonne's Substack https://yvonnebattlefelton.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Bookable Space we’re joined by Stella Oni. Stella reads from Deadly Sacrifice and answers three questions about writing as remembering, writing spaces, and what writing makes possible. It’s an engaging discussion of process and craft.About the Author:Stella Oni is a British-Nigerian crime writer, podcaster, public speaker and technologist. She is the author of Deadly Sacrifice and host of Talking Tech with Creatives. She is a guest lecturer for the University of Cambridge PACE and speaks on writing, technology, creativity and building a sustainable creative career. About the Book:Deadly Sacrifice introduces British-Nigerian police detective Toks Ade, investigating the ritualistic murder of a child. As the case draws her into a world of family secrets, cultural tensions and hidden loyalties, Toks must navigate both London policing and the Nigerian community around the crime to uncover the truth.About the hostYvonne Battle-Felton is an author, academic, and podcaster. Her debut, Remembered, was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the Not the Booker, and shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize. Winner of The Shirley Jackson Award, Curdle Creek is her second novel. Yvonne was a finalist in the Hurston Wright Foundation Legacy Zora Award for Fiction, has been awarded the RSL Scriptorium Award, and lives in West Yorkshire, England. She aims to create a literary community bringing readers and writers together over words. For information about Yvonne's books, events, and more vist https://www.yvonnebattlefelton.com/ or sign up to Yvonne's Substack https://yvonnebattlefelton.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Bookable Space we’re joined by Heidi Smith. Heidi reads to us from Play On: From Adversity to Advantage Through 140 Years of Women’s Soccer and talks about writing, supporting one another on and off the field, and more. About the bookIn Play On: From Adversity to Advantage Through 140 Years of Women’s Soccer, former soccer player and coach Heidi Smith spoke to countless coaches, players, sports journalists and other experts to trace the history of women’s soccer and its parallels to sociopolitical and women’s rights movements worldwide. “Sexism is pervasive; it just looks different depending on what decade you’re in,” Smith says. “Violence is common, whether it’s in 1890s England or 2010s Iran. Modern football federations have new reasons they can’t pay women’s teams, yet the common denominator fits into 1970s Mexico—the belief that women’s work is less valuable than men’s.”Women’s soccer has advanced significantly, but challenges facing today’s players have been obstacles since the game began. Play On explores that history through the lens of soccer’s “play on” rule: If a player is fouled but in an advantageous position, play can continue. On and off the field, despite chronic and outrageous fouls, women persevered to change the game and the world.About the authorHeidi Smith is a former teacher, magazine editor, soccer coach, trail crew leader, and humor columnist. Her work has appeared in South Sound Business, Educational Leadership and Connected Science Learning. She looks forward to the day she will again have dogs but for now, she borrows other peoples. To be clear, she does ask first.For information about Yvonne's books, events, and more vist https://www.yvonnebattlefelton.com/ or sign up to Yvonne's Substack https://yvonnebattlefelton.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this engaging episode of Bookable Space we’re joined by Edith Lynn Hornik-Beer reading to us from To Invest Successfully Terms You Need At Your Fingertips. Edith talks about researching the book, how (and why) the book came to be, the importance of understanding investment terms, and how we can learn from research. It’s an informative discussion about writing, research, and more.  About the bookIn your financial journey, it's essential to be prepared for the road ahead; a nest egg is important for starting a family, buying a home, retiring, or being prepared for a rainy day. Investing can help you fund your dreams, but there are many ways to go about it. Understanding the terminology can make all the difference. To Invest Successfully: Terms You Need at Your Fingertips features a wide array of financial language and defines terms with simple, clear-cut explanations. This guide covers financial subjects including stocks, money instruments, cryptocurrency, real estate, insurance, and loans, organized alphabetically so you can quickly find the terms you need. While this guide is not intended to advise you on how to invest, it can give you peace of mind by helping you understand the terms you need.About the authorEdith Lynn Hornik-Beer attended Simmons University for women. Her writing has been published both here and abroad in such papers as The New York Times, The Denver Post, Neue Zuercher Zeitung (Switzerland). She is also known for her self-help books. She has lectured among others at Chautauqua Institute, Colorado Mountain College, and Long Island University Southampton. About the hostYvonne Battle-Felton is an author, academic, and podcaster. Her debut, Remembered, was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the Not the Booker, and shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize. Winner of The Shirley Jackson Award, Curdle Creek is her second novel. Yvonne was a finalist in the Hurston Wright Foundation Legacy Zora Award for Fiction, has been awarded the RSL Scriptorium Award, and lives in West Yorkshire, England. She aims to create a literary community bringing readers and writers together over words. For information about Yvonne's books, events, and more vist https://www.yvonnebattlefelton.com/ or sign up to Yvonne's Substack https://yvonnebattlefelton.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, of Bookable Space we’re joined by P.M. Raymond. P.M. reads from Things are as They Should Be and Other Things to Die For. It’s rich discussion about writing Southern gothic, what writing New Orleans makes possible, creating fictious places, crafting a short story collection, and more. About the book:THINGS ARE AS THEY SHOULD BE and other words to die for is an interconnected Southern gothic noir journey from reconstruction New Orleans to a present-day Louisiana landscape of terror. Littered with transgressive messages and exploring the limits of greed and vengeance through the lens of race and gender, THINGS ARE AS THEY SHOULD BE unites the supernatural with human failings.Bio:P.M. Raymond is an award-winning author from New Orleans. She is a 2025 Horror2Comic Semifinalist, 2024 Sisters in Crime Eleanor Taylor Bland Award Winner, and 2024 Claymore Award and Killer Shorts Screenplay Finalist. Her work has appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Writer's Digest, Punk Noir, and Dark Yonder.Where to buy:Uncomfortably Dark HorrorBookshop.orgYour local libraryIndependent bookstores – my favorites include:Quail Ridge BooksMcIntyre BooksMalaprops Bookstore  About the HostAuthor of Remembered and Curdle Creek, Yvonne Battle-Felton is an award-winning novelist, academic, event host, and podcaster, and lives a literary life bringing people together over stories. For information about Yvonne's books, events, and more vist https://www.yvonnebattlefelton.com/ or sign up to Yvonne's Substack https://yvonnebattlefelton.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, of Bookable Space we’re joined by Scott Gould. Scott reads from Peace Like a River. It’s an engaging discussion about revising characters, returning home, knowing a place well enough to lie about it, writing process, diving into a good story, and more.  About the book: Peace Like a River, the latest novel from acclaimed Southern writer Scott Gould, weaves a lyrical and heartwarming tale of fathers, sons, and grandfathers, and the intricate bonds that define them. Sixty-something Elwin McClennon returns to his hometown in Lowcountry South Carolina— and the dying father— he fled fifteen years before. Accompanied by Thom, his odd and precocious thirteen-year-old son, Elwin embarks on a journey to reconcile with his father, and their complicated pasts, along the banks of the syrup-slow Black River. A captivating exploration of forgiveness, redemption, and the enduring bonds of family, Peace Like a River invites readers into a world where love and loss intersect with the healing power of nature and introspection.About Scott Gould: Scott Gould is the author of six books, including The Hammerhead Chronicles, winner of the Eric Hoffer Award for Fiction, and Things That Crash, Things That Fly, which won a 2022 Memoir Prize for Books. His other honors include a Next Generation Indie Book Award, an IPPY Award for Fiction, the Larry Brown Short Story Award and the S.C. Arts Commission Artist Fellowship in Prose. His work has appeared in a number of publications, including Kenyon Review, Crazyhorse, Pithead Chapel, Garden & Gun, and New Stories from the South, among others. He lives in Sans Souci, South Carolina. About the HostAuthor of Remembered and Curdle Creek, Yvonne Battle-Felton is an award-winning novelist, academic, event host, and podcaster, and lives a literary life bringing people together over stories. For information about Yvonne's books, events, and more vist https://www.yvonnebattlefelton.com/ or sign up to Yvonne's Substack https://yvonnebattlefelton.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.