This week in The Literary Lounge, Jennifer welcomes author Emily Stone to chat about her newest festive romance, Counting Down to You, and why she’s drawn to exploring love, loss, and hope against the backdrop of the holiday season. Emily also takes us behind the scenes of her writing life, from writing speculative romance under her real name, Becky Hunter, and fantasy as one half of Ellis Hunter, to her road to publication, creative process, and what she’s working on next.

In This Episode

• The inspiration behind Counting Down to You and its Advent calendar challenges
• Writing about friendship, grief, and finding joy after loss
• Balancing the warmth and magic of Christmas with the heavier emotions woven throughout Emily's festive romances
• Emily’s approach to romance tropes
• Why she rewrote Counting Down to You from third person to first person
• The story behind the Emily Stone pen name and writing speculative romance under her real name, Becky Hunter
• Co-writing the bestselling fantasy romance Blood Bound as one half of Ellis Hunter
• Her writing process and how she juggles writing across multiple genres
• The long road from writing her first manuscript to publishing her first novel
• How her rescue ponies and dog help her step away from the writing desk

Meet Emily Stone

Emily Stone is the author of six festive romance novels, the latest of which is Counting Down to You. Emily has lived in many places over the years, including London, Wales, Cornwall, Germany and Mozambique. She has finally settled down in Bristol, in the UK, and spends most of her free time with her two little rescue ponies and rescue dog. Emily Stone is the pen name for Becky Hunter. In addition to her Christmas novels, she writes speculative romance under her own name and is also one half of Ellis Hunter, the co-author duo behind BLOOD BOUND, a fantasy romance which was a New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller earlier this year.

Connect with Emily

@emstonewrites

@beckyhunterbooks

Purchase a copy of Counting Down to You

Books mentioned in this episode:

Always, in December by Emily Stone

One Last Gift by Emily Stone

One Moment by Becky Hunter

Over and Over by Becky Hunter

Blood Bound by Ellis Hunter

You Make My Heart Stop by Becky Hunter

A Winter Wish by Emily Stone

STAY CONNECTED

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Instagram: @theliterarylounge.co

Substack: jennifercash.substack.com

ABOUT THE HOST

Jennifer Cash is the creator and host of The Literary Lounge. A writer and lifelong reader based in North Carolina, she also shares books, bookstores, literary travel, and the writing life at @readwithjennifer.

What if some of the biggest chapters of your life are still ahead of you?

This week in The Literary Lounge, Jennifer sits down with bestselling author, podcast host, publisher, bookstore owner, and literary community builder Zibby Owens to talk about her new memoir, Between Chapters: How I Started Over, Took Some Chances, and Found the Plot. Zibby reflects on a decade of reinvention, building a life and career around books, and discovering that it’s never too late to start a new chapter.

In this episode, Jennifer and Zibby discuss:

• Reinventing yourself after 40
• How Zibby turned her lifelong love of books into a career
• Building a community of readers and authors through books
• Starting a publishing company and opening Zibby's Bookshop
• Balancing motherhood and ambition
• Finding purpose and identity as her children grow older
• Using her platform to advocate for Jewish voices
• Turning to action and community in the aftermath of the Palisades fires
• Writing candidly about body image, weight, and midlife

Meet Zibby Owens

Zibby Owens is the bestselling author and editor of six books including Blank, Bookends, Princess Charming, and On Being Jewish Now, which has spent 29 weeks on the USA Today bestseller list and inspired a stage adaptation and accompanying essay platform. She has contributed to Vogue, Oprah Daily, Good Morning America, and the Washington Post, and writes a bestselling weekly Substack. Owens hosts the award-winning podcast Totally Booked with Zibby and the weekly TV show Totally Booked with Zibby on JBS (Jewish Broadcasting Service).

A frequent speaker, moderator and broadcast guest, Owens is known for highlighting the book industry’s most anticipated new releases and emerging authors. In 2021 she founded Zibby Media with the launch of Zibby Publishing and unique year-round hosted retreats and events for book lovers. In 2023, she opened Zibby’s Bookshop, the independent bookstore in Santa Monica, CA. A graduate of Yale University and Harvard Business School, Owens, a mother of four, lives in New York and L.A. with her husband.

Connect with Zibby

www.zibbyowens.com

Follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens

Purchase a copy of Between Chapters

Listen to Totally Booked with Zibby

Books Mentioned in This Episode:

• Bookends: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Literature by Zibby Owens
• On Being Jewish Now: Reflections from Authors and Advocates edited by Zibby Owens

STAY CONNECTED

The Literary Lounge

Follow and subscribe to The Literary Lounge wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a new conversation.

Continue the conversation by subscribing to The Literary Lounge on Substack, delivered every Sunday and featuring:

• The Guest Book (extended guest Q&A)
• The Bookshop (a featured independent bookstore)
• Recommended reads
• Literary discoveries and behind-the-scenes updates

Instagram: @theliterarylounge.co

Jennifer Cash

Host, Creator, Producer & Editor of The Literary Lounge

Instagram: @readwithjennifer

This week in The Literary Lounge, Jennifer sits down with author, career expert, and bookstore owner Fran Hauser to discuss her new book, Twenty Minutes Is the New Hour: The Ambitious Woman’s Guide to Doing Less and Achieving More.

Fran shares how women can rethink their relationship with time by recognizing the “Four P’s”—perfectionism, people-pleasing, procrastination, and padding—and challenging the idea that everything needs as much time as we give it. She and Jennifer explore creating more space for meaningful work, managing meetings, inboxes, and social media, and Fran’s weekly practice for making sure her calendar reflects her priorities.

They also step inside Bedford Books, the independent bookstore Fran opened in Bedford, New York, and discuss the community of readers and writers that has formed since it opened its doors.

In This Episode

• Why “twenty minutes is the new hour” is a mindset, not just a productivity hack
• The difference between Chronos and Kairos time
• The Four P’s stealing our time: perfectionism, people-pleasing, procrastination, and padding
• How shorter meetings, stronger boundaries, and more intentional use of email and social media can give us time back
• Fran’s lifelong dream of owning a bookstore and the story behind Bedford Books
• The surprising lesson Fran learned while opening Bedford Books in just eight weeks
• How author events, workshops, and book clubs are creating community and connection in Bedford

Meet Fran Hauser

Fran Hauser is a leading career expert and vocal champion of women in the workplace, a former President of Digital at Time Inc., and a startup investor. She is also the owner of Bedford Books in Bedford, New York, and the acclaimed author of The Myth of the Nice Girl. Her forthcoming book, Twenty Minutes Is the New Hour, will be published by Penguin Random House/Crown Currency in September 2026.

She has spoken at over 200 organizations, including Meta, Google, Unilever, BlackRock, Mastercard, and The Conference for Women. Fran’s insights have appeared in Fortune, CNBC, Fast Company, Elle, Refinery29, and Business Insider.

Fran lives outside NYC with her husband, two sons, and beloved mini Goldendoodle.

Connect with Fran

franhauser.com

Follow Fran on Instagram @fran_hauser

Bedford Books

Follow Bedford Books @bedfordbooks_

Purchase a copy of Fran’s new book: Twenty Minutes is the New Hour

Books Mentioned:

• The Myth of the Nice Girl by Fran Hauser
• Embrace the Work, Love Your Career by Fran Hauser
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
• Walk with Me New York: Holiday by Susan Kaufman

STAY CONNECTED

The Literary Lounge

Follow and subscribe to The Literary Lounge wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a new conversation.

Continue the conversation by subscribing to The Literary Lounge on Substack, delivered every Sunday and featuring:

• The Guest Book (extended guest Q&A)
• The Bookshop (a featured independent bookstore)
• Recommended reads
• Literary discoveries and behind-the-scenes updates

Instagram: @theliterarylounge.co

Jennifer Cash

Host, Creator, Producer & Editor of The Literary Lounge

Instagram: @readwithjennifer

This week in The Literary Lounge, Jennifer is joined by author Anna Johnston to discuss her new novel, When Lemons Give You Life, a charming and heartwarming story that will lift your spirits, remind you to appreciate the time you have, and leave you believing in the power of forgiveness and second chances.

Anna and Jennifer talk about writing older characters whose lives are still filled with possibility, the connection between food and memory, LGBTQ+ representation in aged care, and how Anna’s own experience working with older adults has shaped both of her novels.

This is a conversation filled with warmth and hope that will leave you thinking differently about aging. It’s also a beautiful reminder to appreciate the people we love while we still have time with them, to lead with kindness, and remain open to the second chances life can bring.

In This Episode

• The connection between food & memory
• The LGBTQ+ experience in aging & aged care
• Balancing humor with heavier themes
• Pivoting from medical school to aged care
• The importance of writing older characters
• How Anna’s grandfather inspired her debut
• Navigating imposter syndrome while writing book two

Meet Anna Johnston
Anna Johnston lives by the beach in Melbourne with her husband and daughters. She left medical school to develop an award-winning cooking program for older widowed men before following her heart into her grandfather’s nursing home, where she worked as the activities coordinator. She is the author of the international bestseller The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife.

Connect with Anna
www.annajohnstonauthor.com
Instagram @annajohnstonauthor

Books
Books mentioned in this episode:

• When Lemons Give You Life by Anna Johnston
• The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston

STAY CONNECTED

The Literary Lounge

Follow and subscribe to The Literary Lounge wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a new conversation.

Continue the conversation by subscribing to The Literary Lounge on Substack, delivered every Sunday and featuring:

• The Guest Book (extended guest Q&A)
• The Bookshop (a featured independent bookstore)
• Recommended reads
• Literary discoveries and behind-the-scenes updates

Instagram: @theliterarylounge.co

Jennifer Cash

Host, Creator, Producer & Editor of The Literary Lounge

Instagram: @readwithjennifer

This week in The Literary Lounge, Jennifer is joined by bestselling author Nina Simon to talk about her new novel, My Sister Is Going to Kill Me, a warmhearted whodunnit about two sisters whose annual trip takes them rafting through the Grand Canyon—with a murderer in their midst.

Nina and Jennifer discuss writing complicated family relationships, finding inspiration in the natural world, and balancing murder with plenty of heart and humor. Nina also shares how she builds and plots a mystery and opens up about her unexpected path to publishing—from writing a novel simply to make her mother smile to becoming a bestselling author with her debut, Mother-Daughter Murder Night, a Reese’s Book Club pick.

This episode is for mystery lovers and is full of writing advice and craft techniques for crafting a page-turning whodunnit that keeps readers guessing.

In This Episode

• Why Nina is drawn to writing strong women, wild places, and dead bodies
• Writing the love, tension, and complexity within family relationships
• The Grand Canyon: an ideal setting for murder
• Plotting whodunnits that keep readers guessing
• Writing without expectations
• Navigating the publishing journey

Meet Nina Simon
Nina Simon writes crime fiction about strong women. She is the New York Times-bestselling author of Mother-Daughter Murder Night. This big-hearted whodunnit was a Reese's Book Club pick, an Anthony Award winner, and a "best of 2023" selection for Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CrimeReads, and Library Journal. Her second whodunit, My Sister Is Going to Kill Me, is out on August 18, 2026 from William Morrow Books.

Before turning to fiction, Nina wore many hats: NASA engineer, slam poet, game designer, museum director, and nonprofit CEO. Her work on community participation in museums, libraries, parks, and theaters has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, NPR, and the TEDx stage. Nina lives off-the-grid in the Santa Cruz Mountains and enjoys weird adventures in wild places.

Connect with Nina

Website

Instagram: @ninaksimon

Books & Authors Mentioned

• My Sister Is Going to Kill Me by Nina Simon
• Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon
• Sue Grafton
• Janet Evanovich
• Faye Kellerman

STAY CONNECTED

The Literary Lounge

Follow and subscribe to The Literary Lounge wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a new conversation.

Continue the conversation by subscribing to The Literary Lounge on Substack, delivered every Sunday and featuring:

• The Guest Book (extended guest Q&A)
• The Bookshop (a featured independent bookstore)
• Recommended reads
• Literary discoveries and behind-the-scenes updates

Instagram: @theliterarylounge.co

Jennifer Cash

Host, Creator, Producer & Editor of The Literary Lounge

Instagram: @readwithjennifer

What happens to our family stories if no one carries them forward?

This week in The Literary Lounge, Jennifer welcomes author Sharon Kurtzman to discuss her debut novel, The Lost Baker of Vienna, a work of historical fiction inspired by the experiences of her mother, aunt, and grandmother after surviving the Holocaust.

Jennifer and Sharon talk about preserving family stories before they’re lost, the lesser-known realities Jewish survivors faced after World War II, and how baking became a symbol of memory, resilience, and hope within the novel. Sharon also shares her remarkable 20-year journey to publication and why she believes the unpublished manuscripts that came before The Lost Baker of Vienna were all leading her to the story she was ultimately meant to tell.

In This Episode

• The true story that inspired The Lost Baker of Vienna
• Honoring the past through storytelling
• The aftermath of war and a lesser-known history
• Why preserving family stories matters
• Baking as a connection to memory and heritage
• Sharon's remarkable 20-year journey to publication

Meet Sharon Kurtzman

Sharon Kurtzman’s debut historical novel, The Lost Baker of Vienna, was published in August 2025 by Pamela Dorman Books/Viking and was inspired by the World War II and postwar experiences of her family. Her novel was a Book of the Month Add-on pick for August 2025, and it will be published in six languages and in over a dozen countries. Prior to becoming an author, Sharon has been an audience research analyst, television ad salesperson, publicist, food writer, the official escort to Danger Mouse at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and a judge at a Chicken Soup Cook-off. Sharon earned her MFA in Fiction from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and her undergraduate degree from Syracuse University. She lives in North Carolina with her husband; they have two adult children.

Connect with Sharon

sharonkurtzman.com

Instagram @sharonkurtzman

Facebook

Substack

Purchase a copy of The Lost Baker of Vienna

STAY CONNECTED

The Literary Lounge

Follow and subscribe to The Literary Lounge wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a new conversation.

Continue the conversation by subscribing to The Literary Lounge on Substack, delivered every Sunday and featuring:

• The Guest Book (extended guest Q&A)
• The Bookshop (a featured independent bookstore)
• Recommended reads
• Literary discoveries and behind-the-scenes updates

Instagram: @theliterarylounge.co

Jennifer Cash

Host, Creator, Producer & Editor of The Literary Lounge

Instagram: @readwithjennifer