Turn The Page – Episode 289a

Episode two hundred eighty nine – part one

Parisa Akhbari’s JUST ANOTHER EPIC LOVE POEM tells a touching queer teen love story with gorgeous poetry and stunning poetry. Jenn talked to Parisa about crafting Mitra and Bea’s tender and moving romance.

Parisa Akhbari (@authorparisa) is a mental health therapist and writer from Seattle, Washington. Her debut YA novel, Just Another Epic Love Poem, follows two queer best friends in Catholic school as they fall in love through the pages of a never-ending poem they’ve been writing back and forth for five years. When not writing or therapizing, Parisa can be found trying to replicate her grandmother’s drool-worthy Persian recipes, riding ferries around the Puget Sound, and dancing around the kitchen with her wife and dogs. Sign up for her newsletter for a monthly dose of fun arts and culture finds with a spotlight on marginalized creators.

Turn The Page – Episode 289d

Episode two hundred eighty nine – part four

Two years ago Tim McGregor stopped by to talk about WASPS IN THE ICE CREAM, one of Jenn’s fave books of 2022. This year he’s back to talk about EYNHALLOW, a gorgeous and haunting re-telling of Frankenstein from a unique point of view.

Turn The Page – Episode 288a

Episode two hundred eighty eight – part one

Dr. Hannah Durkin’s THE SURVIVORS OF THE CLOTILDA is a groundbreaking and moving history of the Clotilda, the last slave ship to land on American soil in July 1860. Dr. Durkin tells the story of its 110 survivors, some of whom lived well into the twentieth century.

Turn The Page – Episode 288b

Episode two hundred eighty eight – part two

Sam Kyung Woo stopped by to talk about SMALL GODS OF CALAMITY, a beautiful supernatural noir about magic, found family, and the harried life of Seoul’s only spirit detective.

Turn The Page – Episode 288c

Episode two hundred eighty eight – part three

We welcome back Carola Lovering for BYE, BABY – a book that traces the history of a toxic friendship. Stacey and Jessikah discuss how this book touches on some sensitive topics, and Carola talks about the pivot from writing about romantic breakups to friend break ups – as well as how music influences her stories.

Turn The Page – Episode 288d

Episode two hundred eighty eight – part four

Dr. Hasan Merali stopped by to talk about SLEEP WELL, TAKE RISKS, SQUISH THE PEAS: SECRETS FROM THE SCIENCE OF TODDLERS FOR A HAPPIER, MORE SUCCESSFUL WAY OF LIFE.

Enter here by the 15th for a chance at a free copy! https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/enter_choose_address/383658-sleep-well-take-risks-squish-the-peas-secrets-from-the-science-of-tod

Turn The Page – Episode 287d

Episode two hundred eighty seven – part five



Lucy Sullivan’s BARKING is a breathtaking and moving graphic novel about grief, depression, and the challenges of navigating the mental health systems on which we rely. Lucy stopped by to chat about writing the book’s protagonist Alix and her journey.

Turn The Page – Episode 287c

Episode two hundred eighty seven – part four

Author Melodie Edwards chats about ONCE PERSUADED TWICE SHY – her charming retelling of Jane Austen’s PERSUASION, featuring some small town antics, witty banter, and a runaway goose! And of course a classic second chance love story.

Turn The Page – Episode 287b

Episode two hundred eighty seven – part three

Premee Mohamed’s THE BUTCHER OF THE FOREST is an eerie fantasy that expertly weaves together the conventions of the fairy tale and cosmic horror to create something entirely new and terrifying. Premee stopped by to chat about its protagonist, Veris, and the dangers of the deep, dark forest.

Turn The Page – Episode 287a

Episode two hundred eighty seven – part one

Friend of the show Mike Chen returns to discuss the trade paperback collection of his graphic novel STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE– THE DOG OF WAR. Fellow Trekkie Jenn nerds out with Mike about corgis, the Borg, and “borgis.”