Author Leo McKay Jr. joins Lindsay to discuss What Comes Echoing Back, his poignant new coming-of-age novel, 10 years in the making. He shares how his experiences as a teacher and father helped him to feel at home writing about teens; how he crafted a tender friendship between protagonists, Sam and Robot, amidst balancing their respective traumas; …

The dog days are NOT over. They are here. They are hot. And they are humid. So, it's only fitting Lindsay and Amanda bring you some summer lit recs straight from their own TBR lists. Both mood readers, they've got an eclectic mix of thrillers, beach (or deck) reads, non-fiction, and naturally, some East Coast must-reads including a charming fish-ou…

When memory is gone, what is left behind? Award winning author, Susan Sinnott, joins us from her home in Newfoundland to chat about her recent novel, The Remembering. The book—which Lindsay gives five enthusiastic stars—follows three generations of Newfoundland women as they navigate the triumphs and difficulties of life and explores how memory—in …

Nimbus Publishing's Managing Editor, Whitney Moran, is back with a brand new list of expert book recs. And this time, it's all about the backlist. An ode to the beautiful books that become buried in "best of" lists and TBR piles once the shiny new thing emerges on scene, Whitney shares some of her favourite backlist titles from Vagrant Press (Nimbu…

Becca Babcock joins Lindsay to give a behind the scenes glimpse into her writing process and the inspirations behind her compelling and timely new novel, Some There are Fearless. Hear how she drew inspiration from her own experiences coming-of-age in military driven Cold Lake, how she works to craft deeply human characters and immersive settings, a…

Lindsay and Amanda (Book Me's Producer) dive into one of their favourite topics, children's books. They chat about the types of books that shaped them as children and the best local picture books to add to your library today. Plus Lindsay shares her tips on how to cultivate a bookworm providing real steps you can take to instill a love of reading w…

Journalist and Photographer, Jack Scrine, joins Lindsay remotely to chat about his book HALIfolks: The Faces and Stories of Halifax, a compilation of stories and images from his popular blog/social media project of the same name. He shares his inspiration for the project, his tactics for approaching strangers and helping them to open up, the respon…

Whitney Moran, Managing Editor of Nimbus Publishing and Vagrant Press, joins Lindsay to give a peak behind the editing scenes and share a whole host of expert book recommendations. Hear her break down some of her favourite recent reads and the comparable East Coast CanLit books you don't want to sleep on. From social outcasts and renaissance Italy …

Lindsay is joined by multi-award nominated, bestselling author, Jo Treggiari, to discuss her exciting new YA thriller, Heartbreak Homes. Jo breaks down multi-perspective writing, character development that feels 'close to truth', crafting a satisfying mystery, the importance of giving Queer characters a happy ending—and more. A gripping locked-door…

Author, musician and teacher, Jennifer Britton, sits down with Lindsay to chat about her lyrical lullaby book, If You Could be Anything, illustrated by Briana Corr Scott. Jen talks about the process of creating the book, a career high moment with Stuart McLean, the value of kidlit, and that East Coast pull that whispers, “home.” Plus, hear the lull…

In this week’s episode, Lindsay's ex-work wife (settlement pending) and multi-hyphenate of the Halifax arts scene, Tara Thorne, stops by to chat about her debut book of essays, Low Road Forever. Giggles and tangents abound as they riff on essay topics both pop culture and personal. A League of Their Own, Hollywood juicing conspiracy theories, makin…

Katherine Alexandra Harvey shares the process of creating her piercing debut novel, Quiet Time, a project six years in the making. She touches on the importance of dichotomous characters, the lure of folklore, and what it was like to draw from her own journey of pain and self discovery—creating and healing in tandem—and inevitably, to let it all go…

What do Mr. Solids, arson, a dog futon, a cloven hoofed woman and bingo have in common? The Cape Breton Kardashians, Tracy and Martina, of course. The dynamic duo popped by the studio, on their way to the legion, to chat about their new book, It's Tracy & Martina, Hun. And all it took was a magnum of strawberry wine! Hold on tight, these two bar st…

The Honourable Don Oliver, former Canadian Senator, lawyer, outspoken social activist, farmer, musician, chef, author, teacher—and the list goes on—joins Lindsay to discuss his autobiography, A Matter of Equality. Don shares his wisdom and some stories from the book including his experiences growing up in the only Black family in Wolfville, Nova Sc…

A lovely little chat about The Lonely Little Lighthouse, a heartwarming and thought provoking new picture book from author Lana Shupe. In this episode, Lindsay and Lana connect on their shared love of lighthouses, the importance of preservation, the power of community and the limitless potential of children. PLUS Lindsay's five-year-old daughter, N…

Award winning author and photographer, Nicola Davison, joins Lindsay to chat about her beautiful new novel Decoding Dot Grey. They touch on everything from writing quirky and unique characters—including those with wings and tails—to challenging themes, the importance of morse code in the story and more. A great read—and listen—for anyone who is gro…

Lindsay sits down with Joanne Gallant to discuss her award-winning memoir, A Womb in the Shape of a Heart. The result, a raw, real, and resonant conversation between two women who, though each with their own unique journeys, are bonded in the shared experience of womanhood. Diving into the topics of miscarriage, motherhood, societal expectations, g…

Do you ever question yourself despite your accomplishments? Feel like an imposter? Well, you're in good company. In this contemplative episode, TV & Journalism powerhouse, Nancy Regan, sits down with Lindsay to chat about her forthcoming release From Showing Off to Showing Up: An Imposter's Journey From Perfect to Present, sharing her wisdom on eve…

Lindsay chats with Michelle Wamboldt, author of Birth Road, about bringing an idea to fruition; recreating the magic of historical Truro, Nova Scotia; and the woman who inspired it all. Birth Road is an evocative work of historical fiction that travels from rural Nova Scotia to Boston and back again. Told in startling vignettes and with bold, impec…

Season 8, Episode 10 Long before the phrase "gig economy" was invented, Clary Croft was living it. For more than half a century (and counting) he's made his living in music, theatre, clothing design, writing, and by sharing the archival treasures of Helen Creighton's collection of traditional songs. He told Costas Halavrezos how a charmed childhood…

S8 E9 Birds of a feather flock together, but what happens when an exotic parrot decides to hang out with capelin-gobbling puffins? Lori Doody's fanciful tale for preschoolers lets Pete the Parrot illustrate the choice between trying to fit in and accepting your true self. She tells Costas Halavrezos how her childhood and her children influenced thi…

Season 8, Episode 8 Marjorie Simmins When Marjorie Simmins set out to write about the legendary horse Somebeachsomewhere, she didn't know she'd meet so many people who'd been smitten by his calm nature, charisma, and ferocious ability to win the most prestigious races in Canada and the U.S. She told Costas Halavrezos about the deep personal bonds t…

Season 8, Episode 7 As Wendy Hebb is about to turn 60, she decides to open a sex shop in Lunenburg. Her husband Paul, who's retiring from fishing, is shocked. What will people think and say? We find out exactly, as Jane Doucet lets us eavesdrop on conversations and explore the relationships of the town's citizens. She tells Costas Halavrezos how sh…

Season 8, Episode 6 Anyone who reads "The Last Time I Saw Her" will never again make a generalization about "teenagers". Alexandra Harrington's distinctive characters both support and clash with one another after a car accident in their small community. But was it an accident? Alexandra tells Costas Halavrezos who inspired the sleuthing in her bold…

Season 8, Episode 5. Readers don't just like to read books; they like to read about books: the latest from favourite authors, profiles of up-and-comers, essays, reviews, and new titles that touch on everything from local history and outdoor life to cooking. Atlantic Books Today (sponsored by the Atlantic Publishers' Marketing Association) satisfies…

Season 8, Episode 4 Marilla Cuthbert isn't the most likable character in the "Anne of Green Gables" books. Readers may have wondered what made her such a cold and disapproving person. In her novel, "Marilla Before Anne", Louise Michalos answers that question by introducing us to a teenaged Marilla - a high-spirited, passionate young woman in early …

Season 8, Episode 3. The forest is where things burrow and slither and nest, where lichens with little red hats stand on mossy logs, and perfume-sweet wildflowers grow beside neighbours that stink. At a time when it's never been so important to get outside, writer/illustrator Sarah Grindler's "Forest Magic: A Guidebook for LIttle Woodland Explorers…

Season 8, Episode 2 Emma Weaver has personal motives for choosing her M.A. thesis topic. She divides her time between poring over mute archival records and trying to find members of the notorious Gaugin family who'll talk to her. They were rounded up by authorities at their remote settlement in the 1990s, and Emma needs to interview people who were…

Season 8, Episode 1. A phantom crew rows eternally through the Atlantic fog. A light moves from room to room in an abandoned house. A dark presence pins you to your bed at night. Charis Cotter's "Screech: Ghost Stories from Old Newfoundland" will not only give you goosebumps, but also insights into daily (and nightly) life in rural homes where the …

Season 7, Episode 9 Socrates was famously quoted as saying, "The unexamined life is not worth living". Lesley Choyce believes that regular examination of his life is worth writing about, especially as aging challenges his ideals, illusions, and sense of priorities. He spoke with Costas Halavrezos about the insights, joys, and absurdities he's noted…

"It's Our Time" is a book that grew out of a public slur against African Nova Scotians who live in a cluster of communities known as The Preston Township. That insult made Rev. Dr. Joyce Ross resolve to publicise the deeper story of resilient Black men and women who fled slavery and wars in the U.S. and Jamaica, and then overcame more obstacles in …

They say you should never meet your heroes because they'll disappoint you (or leave you tongue-tied). Heather Stemp learned that her Aunt Ginny actually met the world-famous aviator Amelia Earhart when she landed in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland in the 1930s. From that single fact, Heather has created a series of books blending history and fiction. S…

Season 7, Episode 6 "Headfirst is the most delicious way to go down a tree". That's typical of the intriguing clues in "So Imagine Me: Nature Riddles in Poetry" by Lynn Davies. The answers (and some misleading clues) are embedded in Chrissie Park-MacNeil's colourful illustrations for each poem. Lynn tells host Costas Halavrezos how everything from …

Nearly every coastal nation has folkloric beings who are part human, part sea creature. In "The Mermaid Handbook", Taylor Widrig brings us profiles of mermaids and other mer-people from around the world (including Minnow, the Mi'kmaq mermaid). But she also tells host Costas Halavrezos how young people can adopt the "mermaid way of life" - everythin…

Season 7, Episode 4 In our hyper-connected world, what could be more exotic than a hermit - a person deliberately disengaged from people and technology? When Danny and his friend Ben discover one living in the forest near town, it sets in motion the discovery of a different way of life, family secrets, and information that leads to a dramatic turna…

Season 7, Episode 3 Eli Cooper has worked himself into a deep, middle-aged rut. A night editor at a newspaper, he has no life partner, and lives in the family home with his father, whose dementia is worsening. Then in one day, he loses both his job and his father. When Eli's successful sister books him on a trip to Cuba to escape these twin jolts, …

Season 7, Episode 2 Do we really need wise-cracking giraffes in skirts to grab the attention of a child? Jeffrey Domm's story of ravens and wolves inventing "Wild Pond Hockey" in their natural habitat, along with his vivid photo-realism illustrations, combine to create a book that will become a favourite - and have kids taking a new look at creatur…

Season 7, Episode 1 You can't please everyone. That's what three frog musicians discover when they pedal into the woods to play an impromptu concert for their furred and feathered friends. The grouse, though, can't stand the racket or the animals who like it! Then, a terrible storm provides an opportunity for a change of heart. Kate Inglis's "A Gre…

Season 6, Episode 9. Would you like an insider's view of how radio, TV, and the movies evolved in the 20th century? Then follow the career of Austin Willis. Starting with theatre and early radio in Halifax, he moved to Toronto as a staff announcer with CBC Radio (just in time to announce the start of World War II). Soon, Austin was hosting Victory …

Season 6, Episode 8 Carol Bruneau Maud Lewis enjoys nearly mythological status in Canada. With no formal training, she created some of the most recognizable images in 20th-century Canadian art. But her gnomic appearance and few recorded words leave us with more questions than answers. Carol Bruneau has dared to write in Maud's voice and describe a …

Season 6, Episode 7 By the end of "The Dirty Thirties", Saint John, New Brunswick was reeling from The Great Depression, and the world was inching closer to another war. But a fascinating group of painters, writers, and artisans who'd traveled and studied abroad found inspiration in this unlikely time and place to create great art. Mark Blagrave se…

Season 6, Episode 6 After decades in Montreal, Brenda Jones returned to PEI to retire. She learned how important the landscape of her youth was to her well-being. In "Medicinal Herbs of Eastern Canada: A Pictorial Manual", the award-winning illustrator of children's books turns her attention and artistic skills to wild plants - the nearly-lost know…

Season 6, Episode 5 If you aspire to be something - say, an entrepreneur - it's good to study people who excel at it. Donald Savoie's latest book, "Thanks For The Business", introduces us to the region's most conspicuously successful entrepreneurs - K.C. Irving and his son Arthur, the driving forces behind the growth of Irving Oil. As Atlantic Cana…

Season 6, Episode 4 No matter how much you think you know about Canada, you'll find brand new gems of knowledge in Elizabeth F. Hill's, "All 'Bout Canada: A Compendium of Canadiana" (with art by Alex MacAskill). It's a book for all seasons that will sharpen your appreciation of Canadian characters, places, incidents, achievements, wildlife, inventi…

Season 6, Episode 3 Real life can deliver more danger, action, courage, heroes, and villains than a thousand online games. Award-winning author Joanne Schwartz's "Fight On!" covers a brief era in Cape Breton's history which provides all those elements for young readers. It was a 25-year period when matters of life and death mobilized men, women, an…

Season 6, Episode 2 The dynamics between two siblings who are close in age can be wonderful. But such natural developments as the arrival of puberty and the first steps towards independence from the family can break the bond between the elder and a younger child. A sense of betrayal of that bond can lead to issues which last for decades. In her int…

Season 6, Episode 1 What's the best way to tell people the history of a place? Through the lives of prominent citizens? Battles for control? Its economic ups and downs? Joan Dawson's approach grants us an instantly relatable point of entry. "Nova Scotia's Historic Harbours: The Seaports that Shaped the Province" leads us around a coastline brimming…

Season 5, Episode 9. Winnie has enjoyed an idyllic childhood in the Annapolis Valley, cycling around country roads and tubing down the Gaspereau River with her three best friends, who happen to be boys. But in a pivotal summer, Caleb, a newcomer from Vancouver, inserts himself into the group and undermines every vestige of their innocence. As Winni…

Season 5, Episode 8 After 15 years in a psychiatric hospital, Elizabeth has been pronounced "well" and released to a group home. With no memory of what led to her institutionalisation, she sets out to find the significance of names and words in her notebook. Through first-person accounts by Elizabeth and her family, Laura Best has crafted a grippin…

Season 5, Episode 7 An idyllic childhood with her mum and grandparents in Yarmouth. A sudden, one-way relocation to Halifax with her mother. For Annaka, the 10-year gap fills her with longing and questions. But an equally sudden return for her grandfather's funeral provides a chance to seek answers - with the help of two friends: her old pal Tia an…