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.

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!)