Plans Are Booked

This week we're excited to have debut author Carla Vass join us for a discussion about being a library kid, the unlikely path from English Literature major to Goldman Sachs, the 15-year journey from first idea to publication, imposter syndrome as a writer, the cringe of self-promotion on social media, and so much more. Carla shares with us how her love of storytelling started with writing plays in elementary school, how an unusual vacation birthed the idea for her book, the similarities between querying and pitching venture capitalists, the vibes that inspired The Rally's cover art, her hopes for a screen adaptation, what it's really like being on a book tour, and the unlikely place she's finding connection with readers. Carla also shares a list of the top books she has read so far this year. For the full list of titles we mentioned this episode, please join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at [email protected]. 

We have a special episode for you this week where we round up the best books we've read recently. Steph tells us about Sunrise by Tea Obreht, which is set in Wyoming. She details the setting of the Old West and talks about the tension of an unreliable narrator. She also recommends Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros, which reunites us with our favorite characters from the Fourth Wing series (with spredges to boot!). Molly reviews Forever Never by Lucy Score, a deeply layered romance that blends second chance with family drama and a little bit of attempted murder. She also gives her first impression of Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings, which begins with a banger of an opening sentence. In our catch up this week, Steph tells us about helping to clean out her childhood home, and Molly relives her epic food tour at the Big E Fair in Springfield, MA. To follow along with all of our book recommendations, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at [email protected]. 

This week we are delighted to welcome debut author J.K. MacLaren for a conversation about the resurgence of sports romance, F1 super fandom, the appeal of enemies to lovers, and so much more. J.K. shares how her love of books started at the Scholastic Book Fair, how the pandemic lockdown turned her on to Drive to Survive, the nod to Romeo + Juliet with her character names, her love of puns, and why she actually roots for the third act break up. She also tells us about her writing journey on Wattpad, her querying process, her wishes for a screen adaptation, and the book she's reading right now that she can't put down. You can find her romance, Full Throttle, anywhere books are sold. To check out all the titles we mentioned during the discussion, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at [email protected]. 

This week we're flying high chatting about a romance book we absolutely adored. We talk about the power of writing what you know, how complicated family relationships deepen a plot, the authenticity of the main character's body image issues, how books wind up with multiple covers, and our hopes for the casting of this screen adaptation. In our catch up this week, Molly shares about her first trip to Golden Figs Books and opens a blind date book on air, and Steph updates us on her writing and editing quest, including a few rounds of procrastination baking. In what we're reading this week, Molly finally picks up The Wedding People by Alison Espach, and Steph introduces us to two books: 72 Hours of You by Darianne Schramm and Bones by K.L. Speer. To follow along with all of our book picks, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at [email protected]. 

This week we're discussing the newest thriller from an author we can't resist. We talk about unreliable narrators, the main character's struggle with self-worth, Knoll's biting writing and obsession with revenge, how the ending exploded our brains and left us with many unanswered questions, and our hope for this story to be adapted for the screen. In our catch up this week, Kaitlin recaps her trip to New York City and Molly details every delicious morsel at the friends & family event for the Hawksmoor Boston. In what we're reading this week, Molly finishes The Rally by debut author Carla Vass, and Kaitlin is reading two books - False Witness by Karin Slaughter and Love Song by Elle Kennedy. To follow along with all of our book recommendations, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at [email protected].