Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger revolves around identical twins, Elspeth and Edie, who have a deep but complicated bond that is tested when Elspeth, a reclusive woman living in London, dies and leaves her apartment to her American nieces, Julia and Valentina. As the twins settle into Elspeth's home, they become entangled in the mysteries of her past and the supernatural presence that lingers in the apartment, particularly the ghost of Elspeth herself.

My guest this week is Valerie Adachi. Valerie is a self-proclaimed bookworm who even enjoyed reading cereal boxes 🥣as a kid, she reminisces over the tactile joy of spreading the New York Times 📰 across her kitchen table.

Adventure always seems to be around the corner for her, often appearing spontaneous but rooted in long-percolating ideas—like the decision to add a new puppy 🐶 to her already bustling pack, turning her quiet life topsy-turvy.

Beyond her love for dogs 🐕 , she thrives on live music, good food and drink shared with family and friends, and the thrill of knowing that adventure is always nearby, maybe we a cozy reading spot 📖

SPOILER ALERT! For the first episode ever, we do discuss the ending, so heads up if you plan to read the book. I do give you a heads up in the episode so you know when to stop, but if you have read it already or want to hear the ending, listen all the way through!

In This Episode

Mirror Twins

Highgate Cemetery

Earl Grey Hot Toddy

Ingredients:

1 cup water

1 Earl Grey tea bag

1-2 tablespoons honey (to taste)

1-2 ounces whiskey (such as bourbon or rye)

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

Lemon slice (for garnish)

Cinnamon stick (optional, for garnish

Directions

1. Boil the water in a small saucepan or kettle.

2. Once boiling, remove from heat and add the Earl Grey tea bag. Steep for about 3-5 minutes, depending on your preference for strength.

3. Remove the tea bag and stir in the honey until fully dissolved.

4. Add the whiskey and freshly squeezed lemon juice to the tea mixture, stirring gently to combine.

5. Pour the hot toddy into a mug or heatproof glass.

6. Garnish with a lemon slice and a cinnamon stick, if desired.

7. Serve warm and enjoy your soothing hot toddy!

Happy New Year Libration Nation! We are kicking off the year with Heartbeat by Terreece M. Clarke, a romance suspense novel in which Mike and Maya find love in the midst of danger and messiness. This is the first book in Clarke’s Courageous Love Series, and with excellent characters and diverse voices, it is a favorite of this week’s guest, Liz Bullard!

Liz Bullard is a multi-genre author, therapist, and coach known for her captivating storytelling and passion for helping creatives overcome obstacles. Her notable works include The Prophecy Series and the Lira Somers Mysteries—praised for fast-paced plots, vivid characters, and movie-like imagery. Liz’s love of reading and writing is evident in the eReads Podcast, where she celebrates the power of creativity and storytelling. When she’s not writing, coaching, or recording the podcast, she’s cooking, reading, or spending time with Preston the corgi.

Our drink this week is a Hibiscus French 75 Mocktail, using one of my favorite syrups Wild Hibiscus, which includes hibiscus flowers that make the cocktail match Heartbeat’s cover!

Ingredients

1 oz NA gin

.5 oz Wild Hibiscus syrup

.5 oz fresh lemon juice

NA Sparkling wine

Ice

Lemon twist or edible flower (for garnish)

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the gin, wild hibiscus syrup, and fresh lemon juice.

2. Fill the shaker with ice and shake well for about 15-20 seconds until the mixture is chilled.

3. Place hibiscus flower from the syrup in a champagne flute.

4. Pour mixture from shaker into flute

5. Top it off: Gently top off the drink with your choice of chilled NA sparkling wine.

In this Episode

Terreece M. Clarke’s Website

James Patterson

Janet Evanovich