The Banderpod

Annie Beth Donahue interviews Krista Lynn Weeks about the upcoming release of The Birding Tree on Jan. 19th, 2027 (preorders open soon). Krista discusses how a hobby of birdwatching combined with rediscovering a childhood idea for a story in one of her old notebooks to make the seed of the idea for her new book. As Krista pondered her old idea, she realized it still had immense potential as a Middle Grade novel.
Nine years and several edits later, Krista sent the book to Bandersnatch Books and we loved it! We can’t wait to share it all with you in the new year. In the meantime, get to know Krista!
Mentioned in this episode:
• The Birding Tree - Krista Lynn Weeks
www.bandersnatchbooks.com/books/birding-tree
• A Storied Life - Krista Lynn’s Substack
bykristalynn.substack.com
• Krista Lynn Weeks’ Site
kristalynnweeks.com
• Jessica Linn Evans - Illustrator
• The Burgess Bird Book for Children - Thornton W. Burgess
• Flora and Ulysses - Kate DiCamillo
• Charlotte Mason Method
• Plot Grid of J.K. Rowling
• Merlin Bird ID app
Click to learn more about Bandersnatch Books!
www.bandersnatchbooks.com
Special Thanks to:
Son of Laughter for our theme song: “Cricket in a Jar.”
Evelyn Warnemuende for our artwork.
S.D.G. Morgan for audio engineering: sdgmorgan.substack.com & bammerhab.substack.com


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bandersnatchbooks.substack.com

Carolyn Clare Givens chats with Betsy Farquhar the Editor-in-Chief of Redeemed Reader, a bookish review site for all types of books. She discusses the origins and mission of Redeemed Reader, along with thoughts on various book prizes, the dangers inherent in reviewing book series before they’re done and the trickiness of navigating social media as a book person. Then Carrie shares her conspiracy theory about the Newbery Medal…
ORDER THE REDEEMED READER
Mentioned in this episode:
Redeemed Reader - www.redeemedreader.com
The Redeemed Reader - Janie Cheaney et al.
The Newbery Medal
Phoenix Award
The American Library Association
Melissa Sweet - www.melissasweet.net
Mari in the Margins - Rebecca J. Gomez
Wild Things and Castles in the Sky - Leslie Bustard et al.
Enclave Publishing - www.enclavepublishing.com
Waxwing Books - www.waxwingbooks.com
The Teacher of Nomad Land - Daniel Nayeri
Charlotte’s Web - E.B. White
The Blue Sword - Robin McKinley
The Hero & the Crown - Robin McKinley
Jen Bryant - www.jenbryant.com
Biblical Critical Theory - Christopher Watkin
Awesome Good Clean Jokes for Kids - Bob Philips
Click to learn more about Bandersnatch Books!
www.bandersnatchbooks.com
Special Thanks to:
Son of Laughter for our theme song: “Cricket in a Jar.”
Evelyn Warnemuende for our artwork.
S.D.G. Morgan for audio engineering: sdgmorgan.substack.com & bammerhab.substack.com
Lumen Sound from Pixabay


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bandersnatchbooks.substack.com

Carolyn Clare Givens chats with David Kern about all sorts of bookish topics, including but not limited to, David’s local bookstore (Goldberry Books); his publishing wing with wife, Bethany (Lumen Art); and his podcasts: Close Reads and Withywindle. Then there is also a meditation on midnight conversations with books in closed bookstores…
And of course, the most important question is asked: Cheetos or Doritos?
ORDER FROM GOLDBERRY BOOKS
Mentioned in this episode:
• The Charlatan’s Boy - Jonathan Rogers
• Lumen Art - Bethany Kern
• Withywindle Podcast
• Close Reads Podcast
• Goldberry Press
• Goldberry Books - www.goldberrybooks.com
• Lumen Curriculum - https://www.goldberrypress.com/pages/lumen
• “Christianity and the Future of the Book” by Alan Jacobs
• Winters in the World - Eleanor Parker
• From Here to You - Maile Silva
• Sam Sacks - Wall Street Journal
• The Banderpod S3:E6 - Graeme Pitman
• Byword Writing App
Click to learn more about Bandersnatch Books!
www.bandersnatchbooks.com
Special Thanks to:
Son of Laughter for our theme song: “Cricket in a Jar.”
Evelyn Warnemuende for our artwork.
S.D.G. Morgan for audio engineering: sdgmorgan.substack.com & bammerhab.substack.com
Lumen Sound from Pixabay


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bandersnatchbooks.substack.com

Rachel Donahue interviews Jonathan Rogers about the new re-release of The Charlatan’s Boy on Oct. 5th, 2026 (preorders open now)! She also discusses how his creation of the writers’ community The Habit has helped her as a writer and hundreds of others.
Along the way, Jonathan and Rachel also discuss naming alligators, feechies, dogs in tuxedos, flintknapping tomfoolery, phrenological scams, the picaresque novel, his love of small talk, disintegration vs. reintegration, writing messy by hand, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and finally who are the writers that make Jonathan Rogers want to write?
Preorder - The Charlatan’s Boy
Mentioned in this episode:
• The Charlatan’s Boy - Jonathan Rogers
• The Habit Writers Community
• The Wilderking Trilogy - Jonathan Rogers
• Joe Hox
• Flintknapping
• Warner Robins, GA

Click to learn more about Bandersnatch Books!
www.bandersnatchbooks.com
Special Thanks to:
Son of Laughter for our theme song: “Cricket in a Jar.”
Evelyn Warnemuende for our artwork.
S.D.G. Morgan for audio engineering: sdgmorgan.substack.com & bammerhab.substack.com


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bandersnatchbooks.substack.com

The Song of the Stone Tiger by Glenn McCarty has been nominated for audiobook of the year by The Selah Awards! To celebrate we’re closing out season five by sharing Glenn reading the first three chapters of the book. Enjoy!
Mentioned in this episode:
• The Selah Awards - 2026
https://www.blueridgeconference.com/2026-selah-award-finalists/
• The Song of the Stone Tiger Audiobook - Audible
https://www.amazon.com/Audible-Song-Stone-Tiger/dp/B0G1TZ74QK
• The Song of the Stone Tiger Audiobook - Spotify
• The Song of the Stone Tiger Audiobook - Hoopla
www.hoopladigital.com/audiobook/the-song-of-the-stone-tiger-glenn-mccarty/18968967
• The Song of the Stone Tiger
www.bandersnatchbooks.com/store/p/stone-tiger
Click to learn more about Bandersnatch Books!
www.bandersnatchbooks.com
Special Thanks to:
Son of Laughter for our theme song: “Cricket in a Jar.”
Evelyn Warnemuende for our artwork.
S.D.G. Morgan for audio engineering: sdgmorgan.substack.com & bammerhab.substack.com
Music by DELOSound from Pixabay


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bandersnatchbooks.substack.com