This week we continue our genre series with a look at middle grade fiction. Guest Heather Giese joins us to talk about the beautifully written and thought-provoking books she's been reading and why people of all ages will love them. We discuss trends in this genre, concerns, and some of our favorite books both past and present.

Enjoy this podcast? Let us know! Find us on Instagram and Facebook or send an email (we respond to every one) at:

thewaywewordpodcast@gmail.com

Books mentioned in this episode:

https://readingrockbooks.bookstoreloyalty.com/collection/5139999?data=MU1wanBoaDFCUXVoWVZuenh6ZDhOb2RLM0hsYnVNZDYzTEUvZXVNZTVkcXlBc2cvcFZGNEIycm44eTBENWsvUzFBN2lFRHV2bnRDdVorYm1UNTl2R3c9PQ==

Happy holidays, everyone! Angela and Sarah are back from a Thanksgiving hiatus to catch up with a cozy chat and discuss the future of books in our every-changing world. Angela shares what's going on at the bookstore and Sarah talks about her current writing projects. We are so happy to have you all with us as we navigate the world of storytelling and its impact on the world.

We'd love to hear from you! Find us on the socials or send us an email:

thewaywewordpodcast@gmail.com

Books mentioned in this epsiode:

Orris and Timble by Kate Dicamillo

The GIver by Lois Lowry

Have you ever DNF'd a book? Most of us have. Do you ever feel guilty for not finishing a book you were excited to read? In this episode we cover why we DNF books, things we can do to avoid picking books that will end up in that category, and how reading changes in the different seasons of life. Are you missing really good reads by putting them down too soon? Sarah and Angela tell stories of books they almost dropped and are so glad they didn't. They also talk about how sometimes putting a book aside may be beneficial.

Join the discussion! We want to know what you think. Are there books you quit and are glad you did? Are there books you stuck with and can't imagine not having read? Let us know on the socials or send us an email:

thewaywewordpodcast@gmail.com

Books mentioned in this episode:

The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri

A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Bachman

Orris and Timble by Kate DiCamillo

The Abolition of Man by C. S. Lewis

It is nothing new that authors are being tagged in negative reviews, but the practice of inviting an author into a conversation where their book is criticized harshly doesn't seem to be going away. We've seen so many posts addressing this online that we wanted to sit down and have a chat about it.

Should authors be tagged in negative reviews? Should authors be tagged in any review? What is the best use of our online bookish platforms and how can we cultivate an atmosphere that allows for all voices to be heard while being considerate of others? It all comes down to ettiquette and taking the time to ask ourselves a few questions before we post.

Chime in! Tell us what you think. Have you seen this happen online? How would you handle it? Find us on Instagram and Facebook, or send us an email:

thewaywewordpodcast@gmail.com

"To read a book in college, it helps to have read a book in high school." This quote, taken from an article in The Atlantic, fuels our discussion on why modern-day college students are struggling to keep up with their college reading assignments and what this means for our communities, our society, and the future of academics.

Have you read this article? Were these findings interesting? Do you think our education system is falling short in these categories? Weigh in and give us your thoughts via email or our socials. Please rate our podcast and share it with a friend.

thewaywewordpodcast@gmail.com

New Episodes every week!

Bestselling author Daniel Willcocks joins us for a conversation about scary stories, their origins, why we love them, and how they help us navigate the world. Daniel also gives us some excellent recommendations to add to our spooky reading lists. Have you read any of the books mentioned? Let us know!

Please check out Daniel's website and follow him on social media!

https://www.danielwillcocks.com

You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, visit our webpage, or send us an email!

www.thewaywewordpodcast@gmail.com

Books and authors mentioned in this episode:

The Redemption of Morgan Bright by Chris Panatier

The Troop by Nick Cutter

The Queen by Nick Cutter

Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

The Ritual by Adam Nevill

When Winter Comes by Daniel Willcocks

Dream by Daniel Willcocks

Fear of Clowns: A Horror Anthology short story compilation

It's spooky season and we are tackling horror in our ongoing genre series. What is horror? Why do we need it? Is it for everyone? These are just a few questions we attempt to answer in this very special October episode. Horror has so many layers and can be much deeper than it appears on the surface. Join our conversation as we take a closer look at the stories and authors that often keep us up at night.

Do you read horror? What are you favorites? Let us know on the socials and send us an email. We want to hear from you!

thewaywewordpodcast@gmail.com

Books and Authors mentioned in this episode: (and a few extra we forgot to mention)

Stephen King (of course!)

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison

Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

The Walking Dead (graphic novels)

S. A. Cosby

The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum

Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones

The Spite House by Johnny Compton

R. L. Stine

Paul Tremblay

Final Girls by Riley Sager

Alma Katsu

Also check out Mother Horror's (aka Sadie Hartmann) 101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered.

Angela and Sarah discuss the benefits of both modern and classic literature and how reading develops empathy and offers valuable insight into social conversations.

What are you currently reading? We want to know. Find us on the socials or send us an email.

thewaywewordpodcast@gmail.com

Thank you for listening!