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Hi, and welcome to this episode of The Bookshop Podcast!

Step into the vibrant literary heart of Mexico with the San Miguel Writers Conference, where cultural exchange and creative inspiration meet in one of the world's most beautiful cities. Susan Page, founder and president, alongside executive director Jodi Pincus, unveil the magic behind this extraordinary gathering that transforms writers and readers alike.

This unique tricultural and bilingual event bridges the literary communities of Canada, the United States, and Mexico, creating rich connections across borders. Set against the backdrop of San Miguel de Allende—consistently voted the world's #1 city by Conde Nast Traveler—participants immerse themselves in perfectly preserved 18th-century Spanish colonial architecture while engaging with world-class authors and honing their craft.

The 2026 conference boasts an exceptional lineup of global voices: Ethiopian-American physician-author Abraham Verghese, Canadian novelist Emily St. John Mandel, Nigerian literary star Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Indigenous Mexican intellectual Yesnaya Elena Aguilar-Hill, Argentinian author Andrés Neuman, and Chinese-American writer R.F. Kuang. Beyond the keynotes, the conference offers 80 workshops across multiple genres, opportunities to pitch literary agents, discussion circles on timely topics like AI and cultural appropriation, and a dedicated "Pleasures of Reading" track for literary enthusiasts.

What truly distinguishes this gathering is its holistic approach to the literary experience—combining rigorous craft development with cultural immersion and community building. Workshops unfold in beautiful gardens, open mics create space for emerging voices, and wellness activities provide balance. Meanwhile, the conference maintains deep connections to local communities through teen writing programs and literary outreach to underserved rural areas.

Whether you're a serious writer seeking to refine your craft, a reader hungry for literary inspiration, or someone drawn to the magical energy of San Miguel, the conference offers flexible registration options to create your perfect experience. Mark your calendar for February 11-15, 2026, and join a global community of literary minds in one of the world's most enchanting destinations.

San Miguel Writers’ Conference

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In this episode, I chat with Barbara Boyle about her memoir, Pinch Me.

After decades crafting commercials and campaigns for global giants like Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson, Barbara was drawn to a completely different path. Her story begins with a magical honeymoon visit to the Piedmont region of Italy, where, gazing over terracotta rooftops with morning coffee in hand, she felt an undeniable pull: "I need to live here." That feeling—equal parts recognition and revelation—set in motion a complete life transformation.

With warmth and candor, Barbara shares the unexpected parallels between her advertising background and memoir writing, where economy of language proved invaluable. She brings us along as she and her husband purchase and renovate their dream home, describing with reverence how the centuries-old stones seem to whisper stories of previous generations. "This house has an anima, a soul," their builder told them—a sentiment that perfectly captures the profound connection Barbara feels to her adopted homeland.

But this isn't simply a rose-colored relocation story. Just as Barbara was settling into her idyllic Italian life, a breast cancer diagnosis forced the couple to temporarily return to California for treatment. Her clear-eyed perspective on facing mortality while pursuing dreams adds remarkable depth to her narrative: "It is odd when all of your worst fears become real. It is not so bad." This resilience—facing challenges with grace while never losing sight of what matters—makes her story universally resonant.

Ready to be transported to the rolling hills of Piedmont? Listen now and discover how home isn't necessarily where we begin but where our soul recognizes itself—sometimes in the most unexpected places. If you enjoy Barbara's story, please share it with others who might be dreaming of their own bold life changes.

Barbara Boyle

Pinch Me, Barbara Boyle

Dancing on my Own Two Feet, Jenn Todling

Spare, Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex

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In this episode, I chat with Lucy Yu, founder and owner of Yu & Me Books. Trained as a chemical engineer, her life took an unexpected turn during the pandemic when grief from losing a close friend led to deep reflection about her purpose. "I'm here on earth to do art and foster love," she realized, and from this epiphany, You and Me Books was born—the first female Asian American-owned bookstore in New York City's historic Manhattan Chinatown.

Yu's vision of creating a genuine community space resonated deeply in a time when people were starved for connection. The bookstore became more than just a place to buy books—it transformed into a sanctuary where diverse voices are celebrated and where customers feel so at home they comfortably take naps in the chairs.

The journey hasn't been without heartbreak. In July 2023, a devastating fire ravaged the bookstore, forcing Yu to watch helplessly as her dream literally went up in smoke. But what followed was nothing short of miraculous. A GoFundMe campaign raised over $360,000 from 6,000 individual donors, fellow bookstore owners offered their spaces, and community members rallied with practical and emotional support. This outpouring of love affirmed Yu's belief that "chasing love and art will never let you down."

You and Me Books stands today as a testament to resilience, the power of community, and the vital role that independent bookstores play as third spaces where people can gather, connect, and belong. Lucy's story reminds us that books aren't just products—they're vessels for connection that show us we're never alone in our experiences.

Yu & Me Books

Scattered Minds: The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder, Gabor Maté

Transcending Trauma: Healing Complex Ptsd with Internal Family Systems, Frank Anderson

Asymmetry, A Novel, Lisa Halliday

Grief Is the Thing with Feathers, Max Porter

Freedom Season: How 1963 Transformed America’s Civil Rights Revolution, Peniel E. Joseph

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In this episode, I chat with Danielle Teller about how her creative journey defies conventional wisdom about career paths. From Yale-trained pulmonologist studying lung disease to acclaimed novelist, her story demonstrates how life's unexpected turns might lead us exactly where we're meant to be.

"I was a huge bookworm when I was a kid, but I was too chicken to actually write," Teller says. She explains how her fears centered on financial insecurity and feeling she lacked stories to tell, until a cross-country move disrupted her academic medical career and her husband encouraged her to pursue this long-held dream.

Teller's latest novel, Forged, transports readers to America's Gilded Age through the story of Fanny, a desperate young woman navigating a Darwinian world of social stratification and ruthless capitalism. What makes this historical fiction particularly compelling is Teller's revelation that our current era mirrors that period of extreme wealth disparities and political corruption. "I think that my research reinforced my feeling that we are in a second Gilded Age," she explains, describing the disturbing parallels between past and present.

Our conversation ventures beyond the novel to explore the publishing industry's subjective nature, including how finding the right agent resembles "matchmaking." Teller's unique perspective shapes characters who defy traditional female protagonist tropes, creating women who actively forge their own destinies despite societal constraints.

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode to help more readers discover thought-provoking historical fiction that illuminates both past and present.

Forged, Danielle Teller

Orbital, Samantha Harvey

The Elements of Eloquence, Mark Forsyth

Goddess Complex, Sanjena Sathian

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In this episode, I chat with Amanda Friss, the founder of Parentheses Books, which is nestled in the heart of Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Parentheses Books is more than just a bookstore—it’s a space for community, curiosity, and connection. Since opening its doors, the shop has become a vibrant gathering place for readers of all kinds, offering a carefully curated selection of titles and a welcoming atmosphere that invites exploration.

Parentheses Books

The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore, Evan Friss

No Less Strange or Wonderful, A. Kendra Greene

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This episode is sponsored by Saturn Press!

Hey indie bookshops!

Did you know that greeting cards are a fantastic way for bookshops to boost sales? Saturn Press creates beautiful, handcrafted letterpress cards that customers love to purchase alongside books, helping bookshops grow and thrive.

As a thank you for tuning in to The Bookshop Podcast, Saturn Press is offering indie bookshops 10% off your first order! Just use the code BOOKSHOP10 at checkout and discover how adding cards to your bookshop can make a big difference to your bottom line.

Here's to supporting local bookshops, one card at a time.

https://www.saturnpress.us

In this episode, I chat with Chryss Yost, the co-editor of Gunpowder Press and a Santa Barbara Poet Laureate, and Diana Raab, MFA, PhD, memoirist, poet, workshop leader, and award-winning author of 14 books and editor of three anthologies.

Chryss and Diana are coeditors of Women In A Golden State, a collection featuring poems and micro-essays by 175 California women writers over 60. The collection examines the mythology and reality of being a woman of a certain age, especially in youth-obsessed California.

Please share episodes with friends and family, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen. Visit thebookshoppodcast.com to learn more and follow on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube at the Bookshop Podcast.

This episode is sponsored by Saturn Press: www.saturnpress.us

The Bookshop Podcast was recently voted #9 of the Best 100 Bibliophile Podcasts on Million Podcast!

Gunpowder Press

Diana Raab

Chryss Yost

Women In A Golden State, Coedited by Chryss Yost and Diana Raab

AFLAME, Pico Iyer

The Moon Shall Not Give Her Light, David Starkey

Reading Like a Writer, Francine Prose

The Book of Delights, Ross Gay

Rumi

The Book of Alchemy, Suleika Jaouad

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In this episode, I chat with Paddy Screech, a co-owner of Word on the Water. Paddy shares the story of London's famous floating bookshop, housed in a 1920s Dutch barge moored along Regent's Canal in King's Cross, London.

Paddy takes us from his early days as a literature-loving boy in an agricultural school to his unlikely friendship with a "trampy-looking man with a fabulous mad collie cross dog" that would change his life forever. When these two bibliophiles partnered with a French boat owner, they created something extraordinary—a floating bookshop that would navigate London's canals, facing bureaucratic battles and financial uncertainty before becoming a cultural institution.

Far from witnessing decline, Word on the Water reveals a renaissance in independent bookselling, especially among younger readers seeking authentic connections in our digital world. Paddy shares fascinating insights about curating a tiny space that often sells as many books as major chains, the profound impact of the pandemic on reading habits, and how a floating bookshop became a vital community hub in an often isolating urban landscape.

The conversation explores the legacy of co-founder Jonathan Privett, whose daughter now continues his meticulous curation philosophy, shaped by his own extraordinary life experiences. You'll hear about their transition from secondhand to new books, life aboard a narrowboat, and the unexpected political intervention that saved them from closure.

This episode offers both inspiration and practical wisdom about building a community around literature. Follow us on social media, subscribe wherever you listen, and share this episode with fellow bibliophiles who believe in the transformative power of books.

Word on the Water

The Little Prince, Antoine De Saint Exupéry

Wind, Sand And Stars, Antoine De Saint Exupéry

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Mandy Jackson-Beverly
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This episode is sponsored by Saturn Press!

Hey indie bookshops!

Did you know that greeting cards are a fantastic way for bookshops to boost sales? Saturn Press creates beautiful, handcrafted letterpress cards that customers love to purchase alongside books, helping bookshops grow and thrive.

As a thank you for tuning in to The Bookshop Podcast, Saturn Press is offering indie bookshops 10% off your first order! Just use the code BOOKSHOP10 at checkout and discover how adding cards to your bookshop can make a big difference to your bottom line.

Here's to supporting local bookshops, one card at a time.

https://www.saturnpress.us

In this episode, I chat with Baker Rogers and Mattilyn Kortney, co-owners of Queer Have Books in Columbia, South Carolina.

Nestled in Columbia's historic Arcade Mall, this cozy 680-square-foot sanctuary defines queer not just as gender and sexual identity but as active resistance against all forms of discrimination. The shelves hold carefully curated collections addressing LGBTQ+ experiences alongside works on anti-racism, feminism, and social justice, creating a space where intersectionality isn't just acknowledged but celebrated.

What makes Queer Haven remarkable is how it thrives despite challenging political circumstances. While South Carolina faces potential legislation that could lead to widespread book bans, the shop has leaned into controversy by prominently featuring banned titles. "We have people come in here every day saying 'I've got to get this before it's sold out,'" Baker shares, noting the irony that censorship attempts have actually boosted interest in these books.

Beyond retail, Queer Haven functions as a vibrant community center. In its first year as a brick-and-mortar location, it hosted an impressive 160 events, ranging from book clubs and writing workshops to drag story hours and queer comedy nights.

In a world increasingly dominated by algorithm-driven recommendations and instant delivery, Queer Haven Books represents something profoundly different: human connection, thoughtful curation, and a physical space where marginalized voices are centered rather than silenced. It's not just about selling books—it's about creating community one page at a time.

This episode is brought to you by Saturn Press. Indie Bookshop owners, click here to receive 10% off your first order: www.saturnpress.us

Queer Haven Books

TJ Klune Books

Farrel Covington and the Limits of Style, Paul Rudnick

TJ Klune episode on The Bookshop Podcast

TJ Klune episode on The Bookshop Podcast

Paul Rudnick episode on The Bookshop Podcast

The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore, Evan Friss

Pen America Book Bans

The Life Impossible, Matt Haig

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Mandy Jackson-Beverly
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