When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, bestselling authors Jenna Blum and Caroline Leavitt created A Mighty Blaze, a social media organization of volunteer writers and creatives who love books, bookstores, writing, and storytelling and who work to highlight these essential parts of culture during COVID-19 and beyond.
Since April 2020, I’ve co-hosted and produced a weekly online show called Authors Love Bookstores to help promote independent bookstores across the US and Canada. Along with my co-host Joe Moldover, we feature conversations between bestselling and award-winning authors (Judy Blume! Lily King! Curtis Sittenfeld! And so many others!) and the independent bookstore they admire. Our show broadcasts on Wednesdays at 4 PM ET on A Mighty Blaze’s Facebook and YouTube channels. You can watch all of our interviews here. Links to the show I’ve hosted can be found below.
Also, from time to time, I host other programs for A Mighty Blaze, including: a special presentation on parenting and creativity, a baking show, and a Friday Frontliner Interview with bestselling author Susan Orlean.
- What is Authors Love Bookstores?
- 50 Episodes: Happy Indie Bookstore Day 2021!
- Holiday Show 2020
- Holiday Show 2021
Listen to my Authors Love Bookstores interviews on A Mighty Blaze’s podcast: Judy Blume, Jenny Lawson, and Curtis Sittenfeld.
Watch my Authors Love Bookstores interviews:
Katie Guiterrez & The Twig – June 15, 2022
Katie Runde & Sidekick Coffee and Books – June 1, 2022
Caroline Wright & Book Larder – May 18, 2022
Kimberly Brock & E Shaver Booksellers – May 11, 2022
Rachel Barenbaum & Trident Booksellers – April 13, 2022
Edwin Hill & BookPeople – March 30, 2022
Jessica Strawser & Joseph-Beth Booksellers – March 23, 2022
Heather Webb & Bank Square Books – March 9, 2022
Weina Dai Randel – February 16, 2022
Antoine Wilson & Diesel Bookstore – February 2, 2022
Deesha Philyaw & City Books – January 19, 2022
Sarah McCraw Crow & Gibson’s Bookstore – December 1, 2021
Kate McIntyre & Bedlam Book Cafe – November 17, 2021
Leesa Cross-Smith & Carmichael’s – September 15, 2021
Elizabeth Ames & Harvard Book Store – August 25, 2021
Laura Hankin & East City Bookshop – August 11, 2021
Curtis Sittenfeld & Prairie Lights Books – August 4, 2021
Katie Crouch, Still North Books & Blue Bicycle Books – July 21, 2021
Sarah Smarsh, Danny Caine & Raven Book Store – July 14, 2021
Saumya Dave, Emma Straub & Books Are Magic – July 7, 2021
Donna Freitas & Savoy Bookshop – June 30, 2021
Alex George & Skylark Bookshop – June 16, 2021
Thien-Kim Lam & Love’s Sweet Arrow: A Romance Bookstore – June 9, 2021
Katherine A. Sherbrooke & Semicolon Bookstore and Gallery – May 12, 2021
Gina Frangello & Women and Children First Bookstore – April 7, 2021
Kate Baer & The Midtown Scholar Bookstore – March 24, 2021
Amity Gaige & Odyssey Bookshop – March 17, 2021
Danielle Trussoni & Boswell Book Company – February 10, 2021
Ann Napolitano & Community Bookstore – February 3, 2021
Caroline Leavitt & Harriett’s Bookshop – January 27, 2021
Louise Miller & Buttonwood Books and Toys – January 13, 2021
Chris Bohjalian, Phoenix Books, & The Vermont Bookshop – January 6, 2021
Kathy L. Murphy & Main Street Reads – December 9, 2020
Karen Thompson Walker & Powell’s Books – November 18, 2020
Kate Hope Day & Grass Roots Books and Music – October 21, 2020
Kate Racculia & Reads and Company – October 7, 2020
Sonali Dev & Anderson’s Bookshop – September 30, 2020
Jenny Lawson & Nowhere Bookshop – September 23, 2020
Steph Cha & Chevalier’s Books – September 2, 2020
Lee Smith & Compass Rose Books – August 26, 2020
Margaret Wilkerson Sexton & A Great Good Place for Books – August 12, 2020
Uzma Jalaluddin & The Ripped Bodice – August 5, 2020
Susan Wiggs & Liberty Bay Books – July 29, 2020
Judy Blume & Books and Books at the Studio in Key West – July 15, 2020
Lily King & Print: A Bookstore – July 8, 2020
Rebecca Makkai & Madison Street Books – July 1, 2020
Julia Glass, Three Lives Bookstore, & California Independent Booksellers Alliance – July 1, 2020
Carter Sickels & Downbound Books – June 17, 2020
Marjan Kamali & Belmont Books – June 10, 2020
Jenna Blum & An Unlikely Story – May 27, 2020
Ann Patchett & Parnassus Books – May 27, 2020
Marisa de los Santos & Hockessin BookShelf – May 13, 2020
Janet Fitch & Skylight Books – April 29, 2020 (Our first show!)
