Welcome to Off The Shelf – your backstage pass to the book world. Each week, Morgann Book (yes, that’s her actual last name) sits down with a guest to hear the story behind the stories they write– how an author crafts a romance that feels real, the unexpected quirks that shape their writing process, and the little details of their lives that spark inspiration. New episodes drop every Thursday—grab your tbr list and listen wherever you get your podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with Victoria S. Walsh to talk about turning a lifelong dream into reality with her debut fantasy novel, The Iron Hex. From manifesting and leaving her corporate job to building a fantasy trilogy, writing meaningful representation, and why book pre-orders matter more than you think, Victoria shares the story behind her journey to becoming a published author. Plus, she teases what's next for The Iron Hex series and beyond. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro & Welcome 03:49 Dreaming of Becoming an Author 05:08 Childhood Stories & Supportive Parents 07:01 Why Competitiveness Led to YouTube 09:54 Quitting Her Corporate Job 14:21 The Story Behind The Iron Hex 16:40 Landing Her Dream Literary Agent 17:33 What The Iron Hex Is About 18:41 Planning an Entire Trilogy 20:11 Writing a Plus-Size Fantasy Heroine 23:51 The Decade-Long Yearning Romance 26:26 Memory Loss, Romance & Fantasy Tropes 27:38 The High School That Changed Everything 30:37 A Childhood Photo That Says It All 35:11 Why Pre-Ordering Books Matters So Much 41:42 Book Two, The Iron Oath & What's Next FOLLOW US: Morgann Book TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook Victoria S. Walsh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriashaz TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@victoriashaz Find her books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/pages/contributor/victoria-s-walsh?id=804750921 Find her books at Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/search?attributes.contributorId=32332325&contributorName=Victoria%20S.%20Walsh Off The Shelf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast Hosted by: Morgann Book Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with author Molly Fader, who's written more than 50 books under various pen names - including one that made its way into Suicide Squad. They talk about her latest release, Lady X, a vigilante girl gang story set in 1977 New York City that was partly sparked by Taylor Swift's "Vigilante Shit." Molly opens up about switching literary agents after 25 years, the research that shaped the book, and what keeps her chasing that "lightning strike" feeling after six decades' worth of stories. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro & Welcome 02:38 Publishing Her First Book at 25 04:05 Toronto, Harlequin & Learning the Craft 04:37 The Cowgirl Phase 06:20 From Harlequin to Single-Title Books 08:52 The Pen Name Universe 12:34 How Many Books, Really? 17:00 The Suicide Squad Mystery 22:38 Introducing Lady X 24:29 The Spark Behind the Story 27:38 Writing Female Rage & Friendship 28:27 Plotter vs. Pantser 29:52 Researching 1977 New York City 31:18 Her Writing Space, Then and Now 32:24 A New Agent, After 25 Years 34:22 Selling Lady X & Canadian Rights 34:48 What She Wants Readers to Take Away 37:01 What's Next: 1980s Nashville 37:35 The Lightning Strike Feeling FOLLOW US: Morgann Book TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook Molly Fader Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mollyfaderauthor/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@daydrinkingwithmolly Find her books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/products/lady-x Find her books at Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/search?attributes.contributorId=20010981&contributorName=Molly%20Fader Off The Shelf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast Hosted by: Morgann Book Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with bestselling Canadian author Marissa Stapley, whose novel Lucky became Reese's Book Club's first-ever Canadian pick and is now being adapted into an Apple TV+ series starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Drew Starkey, and Annette Bening. Marissa shares the heartbreaking story behind writing Lucky while caring for her mom, how Reese Witherspoon discovered the book, what it was really like keeping the Reese's Book Club secret, and why she always pictured Anya Taylor-Joy as Lucky. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro & Welcome 00:35 - Why Marissa always knew she'd be a writer 03:25 - Her first novel that never made it to shelves 04:40 - How journalism shaped her writing career 06:02 - Ranking her wildest jobs (including cemetery gardener) 09:06 - Why she writes under multiple pen names 11:06 - How co-writing a novel actually works 12:44 - TV writing vs. novel writing 14:30 - The inspiration behind Lucky 17:06 - Creating Lucky Armstrong 20:22 - Writing Lucky while caring for her mom 22:30 - Becoming Reese's first Canadian Book Club pick 25:23 - Keeping the Reese's Book Club secret 27:56 - How the Apple TV+ adaptation came together 30:40 - Manifesting Anya Taylor-Joy as Lucky 35:04 - Visiting the set of Lucky 40:11 - The biggest changes from book to TV series 42:09 - Which episode Marissa can't stop thinking about 44:04 - What to expect from the Lucky sequel FOLLOW US: Morgann Book TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook Marissa Stapley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marissastapley/ Find her books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/pages/contributor/Marissa-Stapley Find her books at Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/search?attributes.contributorId=16235074&contributorName=Marissa%20Stapley Off The Shelf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast Hosted by: Morgann Book Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with bestselling author June Hur to discuss her journey from writing Pride & Prejudice fanfiction to publishing Behind Five Willows. They chat about countless rejections, finding her voice as a writer, the inspiration behind her latest novel, Korean history, libraries, and why she chose to slow down her publishing schedule. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro & Welcome 01:14 Pride & Prejudice Started Everything 05:30 Growing Up Between Korea, Canada & the U.S. 08:23 Working at the Library & Favorite Books 10:07 15 Manuscripts, 100+ Rejections & Finding Her Voice 16:28 Why She Writes Korean Historical Fiction 18:11 Motherhood Changed Her Writing Career 21:36 Her Writing Process & Writing Korean on the Page 24:27 How Her Books Have Evolved 27:42 Where to Start Reading June Hur 28:18 Behind Five Willows Explained 31:15 Turning Pride & Prejudice Into a Romance 33:36 Book Bans, History & Why Stories Matter 35:23 Writing the Romance & Darcy Inspiration 37:03 A Love Letter to Librarians & Bookstores 39:09 What's Next for June Hur FOLLOW US: Morgann Book TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook June Hur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/junehwrites TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@junehwrites Find her books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/pages/contributor/june-hur?id=883069940 Find her books at Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/search?attributes.contributorId=20658423&contributorName=June%20Hur Off The Shelf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast Hosted by: Morgann Book Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with bestselling author Elle Kennedy, the writer behind the beloved Off Campus books. Elle shares how she knew she wanted to be an author at just six years old, what it felt like selling her first novel, and why she almost never self-published The Deal. They also dive into the biggest behind-the-scenes secrets from the Off-Campus series, including the original plans for Tucker, why Dean almost ended up with someone else, what it was like visiting the set of the TV adaptation, and more! CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro & Welcome 02:35 Wanting to be an author at six years old 05:19 Selling her first book & publishing journey 08:41 How her writing process has evolved 12:41 Why The Deal was originally self-published 15:13 Creating Garrett, Hannah & the Briar universe 17:16 The original Off-Campus series plans 18:26 Tucker almost had a very different fate 21:07 Why Dean wasn't meant for Sabrina 24:34 Favourite scenes from the series 26:44 Which Off-Campus characters were easiest to write? 27:57 Expanding the Briar universe 30:45 Off-Campus character superlatives 32:14 Bringing Off-Campus to TV 34:43 Visiting the set & meeting the cast 39:22 Hidden Easter eggs & favourite filming moments 43:50 Season 2 teases 46:03 New YA thriller & returning to suspense 50:07 Outro FOLLOW US: Morgann Book TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook Elle Kennedy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellekennedyauthor/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ellekennedyauthor Find her books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/pages/contributor/elle-kennedy?id=825593661 Find her books at Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/authors/elle-kennedy Off The Shelf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast Hosted by: Morgann Book Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with Matt Haig, bestselling author of The Midnight Library, The Midnight Train, and Reasons to Stay Alive. Matt opens up about the mental health crisis that changed the course of his life, how writing became part of his recovery, and why The Midnight Library was the most freeing book he's ever written. We also discuss the upcoming film adaptation starring Florence Pugh, the inspiration behind Nora Seed, social media, AI, creativity, and what he hopes readers take away from The Midnight Train. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction 01:16 Why Matt Reads His Own 1-Star Reviews 04:06 Why Children Are Better Readers Than Adults 06:24 Trouble at School, Neurodiversity & Finding Writing 08:28 The Breakdown That Changed Everything 11:56 How Books Helped Him Survive Depression 14:05 Recovery, Rejection & Becoming an Author 17:40 The Purpose Behind Reasons to Stay Alive 20:17 Mental Health Advocacy & Writing Fiction 27:26 Conquering His Fear of Public Speaking 33:07 The Origin of The Midnight Library 35:12 Writing Nora's Many Alternate Lives 37:50 How Nora Seed Got Her Name 38:52 The Midnight Library Movie Adaptation 40:27 Florence Pugh as Nora & Behind the Scenes 44:30 Inside The Midnight Train 46:14 What Matt Wants Readers to Take Away 49:20 The Dream of Opening a Bookstore 51:24 What's Next FOLLOW US: Morgann Book TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook Matt Haig Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattzhaig/ Find his books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/pages/contributor/matt-haig?id=811768428 Find his books at Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/authors/matt-haig Off The Shelf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast Hosted by: Morgann Book Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with bestselling author Lauren Kate to talk about the teacher who inspired her to keep writing, the 76 rejection letters she still has, and how Fallen became a global phenomenon. Plus, Lauren shares the latest on the Fallen TV series and why she returned to the world of angels with her newest novel, White Lights. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction 01:04 International Emmy & The Fallen Legacy 02:04 Ballet, Books & Growing Up Creative 04:12 The Teacher Who Changed Everything 10:12 Discovering Writing in College 13:08 76 Rejection Letters Before Success 16:11 The Call That Changed Her Life 17:52 Working at HarperCollins 19:54 The Origins of Fallen 23:14 Building Luce, Daniel & Cam 30:44 The Fallen Movie Adaptation 36:54 Bringing Fallen to Television 40:04 Inside Lauren Kate's New Fantasy, White Lights 42:53 Why She Returned to Angels After Rom-Coms 46:06 Easter Eggs, Book Two & What's Next 49:15 The Lasting Impact of Fallen Readers 50:16 Outro FOLLOW US: Morgann Book TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook Lauren Kate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenkatebooks TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenkatebooks Find her books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/pages/contributor/lauren-kate?id=889940567 Find her books at Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/series/lauren-kates-fallen-series Off The Shelf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast Hosted by: Morgann Book Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with bestselling fantasy author Kristen Ciccarelli to talk about the journey from writing stories on her dad's old laptop with no internet to creating the global romantasy phenomenon Heartless Hunter. Kristen shares the inspiration behind Rebel Witch, the surprising moment she realized Heartless Hunter was taking off around the world, why the book has two different titles, and more! CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 1:19 - The Real Story Behind Rebel Witch 2:43 - Writing Fantasy as a Kid 9:13 - Life Before Publishing 12:12 - The Writing Shed 15:00 - Kristen's Writing Process 18:18 - The Inspiration for Heartless Hunter 23:33 - Creating Rune & Gideon 29:06 - Writing the Book She Wanted to Write 31:19 - The BookTok Success of Heartless Hunter 34:10 - Heartless Hunter vs The Crimson Moth 36:02 - Writing on an AlphaSmart Neo 42:02 - The Meaning Behind the Dedication 43:18 - What's Next for the Crimson Moth World 44:13 - Vampires, Werewolves & Future Books 45:59 - Final Thoughts & What's Next FOLLOW US: Morgann Book TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook Kristen Ciccarelli Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristenciccarelli/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kristenciccarelli Find her books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/pages/contributor/kristen-ciccarelli?id=875238864 Find her books at Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/authors/kristen-ciccarelli Off The Shelf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast Hosted by: Morgann Book Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with Brooke Averick to talk about her debut novel Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It, going from teaching preschool to building a career online, and why writing a book felt more intimidating than going viral. Brooke opens up about imposter syndrome, pulling from her own experiences with anxiety, BookTok favourites, and the story behind bringing Phoebe to life. CHAPTERS: 0:30 - Introduction 1:08 - What is Brooke obsessed with right now? 2:35 - Brooke’s Teaching & Creator Career 5:25 - Brooke and Connor Make A Podcast 6:55 - Entering BookTok 14:10 - Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It 31:10 - FIRSTS Rapid Fire 36:30 - Book Cover Design 39:55 - Brooke’s Favourite Books 46:00 - What’s Next? FOLLOW US: Morgann Book TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook Brooke Averick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brookeaverick/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ladyefron Find her books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/products/phoebe-bermans-gonna-lose-it Find her books at Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Brooke%20Averick%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall Off The Shelf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast Hosted by: Morgann Book Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with Haley-Grace McCormick to talk about the journey behind her debut novel The Enemy of Time . Haley-Grace opens up about living with dyslexia and ADHD, going viral on TikTok after one unexpected video, and how heartbreak shaped some of the book’s most emotional moments. Plus, we get into fantasy romance, hidden easter eggs, designing her own cover, The Vampire Diaries hot takes, and what she’s writing next. CHAPTERS: 0:30 - Introduction 2:45 - Haley-Grace Growing Up 6:30 - What People Misunderstand About Dyslexia 10:58 - Content Creator Life 19:30 - The Enemy of Time 36:50 - The Book Cover Design 41:30 - The Vampire Diaries 47:27 - What’s Next? FOLLOW US: Morgann Book TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook Haley-Grace McCormick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haleygracemccormick/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@haleygracemccormick Find her books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/pages/contributor/haley-grace-mccormick?id=855748417 Find her books at Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-enemy-of-time-haley-grace-mccormick/1147688428 Off The Shelf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast Hosted by: Morgann Book Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with Louisa Levy, the creator and showrunner behind Off Campus. From adapting one of BookTok’s biggest romance series to casting Hannah and Garrett, Louisa breaks down the real process of bringing Off Campus to the screen. We talk chemistry reads, the pressure of adapting such a beloved fandom, why the “spice” was so important to keep in the show, and how the writers built a series designed to keep you clicking “next episode.” Plus, Louisa teases what fans can expect from Season 2. CHAPTERS: 0:30 - Introduction 2:05 - Louisa’s Early Career 8:00 - Signing on to Off Campus 11:40 - Non-negotiables In The Adaptation 19:15 - What Louisa Changed From The Books 23:35 - Elle Kennedy’s Role 24:50 - SPOILERS! 30:05 - Importance of the First Scene 33:50 - Casting 38:53 - Louisa’s Role in Creating The Show 47:50 - The Future of Off Campus 48:10 - SPOILERS! FOLLOW US: Morgann Book TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook Off Campus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offcampusonprime/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offcampusonprime Find Off Campus books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/search?q=off-campus&lgcykwrd=off-campus Find Off Campus books at Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/series/off-campus-series/_/N-2xy6 Off The Shelf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast Hosted by: Morgann Book Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with romance author Kandi Steiner. She opens up about writing A Love Letter to Whiskey in just 9 weeks during one of the hardest times in her life, and how that book went on to change everything. Plus, we dive into her newest release Love Overboard, how a second date conversation turned into a full-blown novel, and why this story feels like you’re watching reality TV unfold in real time. CHAPTERS: 0:30 - Introduction 1:00 - Pole Fitness 3:00 - Kandi’s First Writing Job 6:00 - Writing Her First Book & The Start of Her Career 11:05 - A Day in the Life of Kandi 12:35 - A Love Letter to Whiskey 23:00 - Love Overboard 38:30 - Actors Acting Out Scenes from the Book 41:22 - What’s Next? FOLLOW US: Morgann Book TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook Kandi Steiner Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kandisteiner TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorkandisteiner Find her books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/kandi-steiner/ Find her books at Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Kandi%20Steiner%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall Off The Shelf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast Hosted by: Morgann Book Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with Jessica Cunsolo to talk about her journey from writing anonymously on Wattpad to becoming a published author. From gaining millions of reads in real time to balancing law school and a book deal, Jessica shares how it all started. Plus, we dive into her latest novel The Blind Date Agreement, her evolving writing process, and more! CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 1:41 - How Jessica Started Writing on Wattpad 6:08 - Writing Anonymously 7:30 - Writing as a Job vs a Hobby 9:10 - She’s With Me 10:58 - Blind Date Segment 15:20 - The Blind Date Agreement 21:25 - Jessica is an Artist 23:00 - What Jessica is Writing Next FOLLOW US: Morgann Book TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook Jessica Cunsolo: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesscunsolo/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jess.cunsolo Find her books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/search?q=jessica%20cunsolo%20books&z=1 Find her books at Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Jessica%20Cunsolo%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall Off The Shelf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast Hosted by: Morgann Book Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with Indigo romance buyer Kaitlynd Carmichael to break down what actually makes a romance book blow up. From BookTok’s influence to spotting trends before they hit, Kaitlynd shares how books go from shelf to sold out. They also dive into the rise of dark romance, slow burns, and why emotional love stories might be the next big trend, plus favourite reads and what to pick up if you’re new to romance. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 1:00 - What Does a Romance Buyer at Indigo Do? 4:55 - Behind The Scenes at Indigo When A Book Gets Popular 9:40 - How Has Heated Rivalry Impacted Romance as a Whole? 12:30 - How Much Does BookTok Influence What Sells? 16:10 - How Has Romance Changed Over The Last 10 Years? 18:42 - Romance Trends 30:35 - Kaitlynd’s Top Books of 2025 36:00 - Indigo’s Book Boyfriend List 38:30 - Kaitlynd’s Writing Journey 40:25 - Most Exciting Upcoming Release FOLLOW US: Morgann Book TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook Off The Shelf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast Hosted by: Morgann Book Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with Joey Kidney to talk about turning 30, becoming a dad, and what it means to grow up in public. They get into Joey’s early days on YouTube, how creating content became an outlet during some of his hardest years, and why connection still matters more to him than numbers. Plus, Joey opens up about writing Just Remember, his evolving relationship with reading, and why people don’t want to be fixed - they just want to feel seen. Then, they answer listener questions on breakups, adult friendships, feeling behind in life, and figuring things out as you go. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 1:20 - Turning 30 2:30 - The Start of Joey’s Content Career 13:25 - Joey Has Questions For Morgann 15:30 - Joey’s Journey with Reading 20:30 - Joey’s Writing a New Book 24:30 - Writing Vows 28:55 - What Is Joey a Fan Of Right Now? 33:00 - Just Remember 41:11 - Joey Gives Advice 56:25 - What’s Next? FOLLOW US: Morgann Book TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook Joey Kidney: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeykidney/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joeykidney YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/Joeykidney Find his books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/joey-kidney/ Find his books at Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/just-remember-joey-kidney/1146888859 Off The Shelf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast Hosted by: Morgann Book Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with Leanne Toshiko Simpson to talk about her novel Never Been Better and the deeply personal journey behind it. From living with bipolar disorder to navigating creativity, teaching, and storytelling, Leanne shares what it really looks like to build a life and career while managing mental health. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 2:15 - Teaching Creative Writing at U of T 6:00 - What Leanne Does Day to Day 10:25 - Being Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder 11:55 - What Do Books Get Wrong About Mental Health? 17:22 - Favourite Mental Health Romances 21:25 - Never Been Better 32:10 - Writing The Ending of Never Been Better 34:55 - CBC Canada Reads 36:55 - What’s Next FOLLOW US: Morgann Book TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook Leanne Toshiko Simpson: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leannetoshiko/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leannetoshikowrites Find her books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/leanne-toshiko-simpson/ Find her book at Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/never-been-better-leanne-toshiko-simpson/1143604639 Pebbles and Company: https://www.pebblescompany.com/ Off The Shelf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast Hosted by: Morgann Book Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with content creator Simona Stallone to talk about all things BookTok, reading habits, and building a real-life book community. From overhyped books and underrated favourites to fanfiction, audiobook speeds, and “reading based on vibes,” they get honest about what they’re actually reaching for lately. Plus, Simona shares how Book Girls Toronto turned into a space where readers can show up, connect, and make friends through books. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 1:10 - 1 Year Anniversary of Off The Shelf 2:10 - Overhyped and Underhyped Booktok Books 7:05 - What Simona is Reading Right Now 13:10 - The Book Girls Toronto 24:35 - Rachel Reid Showing Up at Heated Rivalry Trivia 28:35 - 24 Hour Read-A-Thon 32:25 - Out of Shape Olympics FOLLOW US: Morgann Book TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook Simona Stallone: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotherstallone/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theotherstallonedaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theotherstallone Off The Shelf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast Hosted by: Morgann Book Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with BookTok creator Cassie to talk about her journey from posting her first TikTok to building a dedicated reading community online. They also dive into Cassie’s reader personality: her love of romantasy, favourite tropes like second-chance romance, and auto-buy authors including Abby Jimenez and Mariana Zapata. Plus, the two play Buy It, Borrow It or Skip It featuring viral BookTok titles like Fourth Wing, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Throne of Glass, and more. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 1:20 - Starting Out On TikTok 4:00 - Rapid Fire Reader Questions 5:30 - Buy It, Borrow It, or Skip It 36:50 - Read It, Watch It or Miss It 50:00 - What Are You Reading and Watching Next? FOLLOW US: Morgann Book TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook CassiesBookTok: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassiesbookss/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cassiesbooktok YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cassiesbooks Off The Shelf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast Hosted by: Morgann Book Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Off The Shelf , Morgann sits down with award-winning audiobook narrator Ray Porter , best known for narrating Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary . With more than 500 audiobooks under his belt, Ray shares how he approaches storytelling, creates distinct character voices, and what it was like bringing Project Hail Mary to life. They also talk about the emotional impact of the book, the science behind the story, and the upcoming film adaptation starring Ryan Gosling. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 1:00 - Acting to Narrating Audiobooks 2:10 - Process From First Audiobook to Now 3:55 - How He Got Project Hail Mary 4:55 - Creating The Characters 8:05 - Hardest Thing to Narrate in PHM 10:00 - Do You Take Away The Same Thing as Readers? 11:35 - What to Listen to After Project Hail Mary 12:13 - Ryan Gosling FOLLOW US: Morgann Book TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook Ray Porter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.ray.porter/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@therealrayporter Off The Shelf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast Hosted by: Morgann Book Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with editor turned author Emily Ohanjanians to talk about her leap from shaping stories to writing her own. Emily shares what life as an editor taught her about storytelling, how her debut character Ana first came to her, and the moment she finally decided to chase the idea that became The Book Tour. They chat about drafting versus editing, writing bold women who take up space, and the support system that helped Emily bring her first novel into the world. She also drops her top book recs and gives us a glimpse of what she’s working on next. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 1:45 - A Day In The Life of an Editor 5:35 - What Are You Reading Right Now? 6:15 - What’s A Common Mistake You See Authors Make? 7:10 - How Did You Decide To Write Your Own Novel? 9:15 - How Did Your Degree in Literature & Linguistics Shape Your Career? 11:20 - The Book Tour 12:50 - What Inspired The Characters? 19:10 - Explaining The Acknowledgements 26:45 - Book Recommendations 37:10 - 2026 Reading List 39:00 - What’s Next? FOLLOW US: Morgann Book TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook Emily Ohanjanians Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emily.ohanjanians/ Find her books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/the-book-tour-a-novel/9781039013407.html Find her book at Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-book-tour-emily-ohanjanians/1147531644 Off The Shelf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast Hosted by: Morgann Book Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
