Book Lover's Companion - The English Version

A podcast about books, authors, genres, readers and more.

Book Lover's Companion - The English Version is a arts podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 203 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Book Lover's Companion - The English Version, a arts show with 203 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #228

  Behind Enemy Lines: The Story of Jonathan Preston with Steve Doherty

  Aug 10, 20261h 24mS5

  Host Edith interviews retired US Air Force officer and historical fiction/children’s author Steve Doherty about his novels inspired by a WWII covert operative he interviewed in 1995 (renamed Jonathan Preston), whose missions behind Japanese lines in the China-Burma-India theater were classified for 50 years. Doherty explains how Preston and teammate George Linka worked with British intelligence and the OSS on dozens of missions across Southeast Asia, using disguises, languages, and local operatives. They discuss Doherty’s fifth novel, Crossroads, a postwar story set during Japan’s reconstruction involving war-crimes pursuits, a vengeful Japanese general turned criminal leader, and a real sacred katana used to lure him out via a kabuki play. Doherty also shares lessons on self-publishing pitfalls, active research, character development, dialogue, editing, and his children’s books promoting values, which he gives away. Find out more about Steve: https://steve-doherty-books.com Chapters 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:41 Meet Jonathan Preston 01:51 Secret Missions Revealed 06:09 Elite Spy Training 14:57 Disguises And Languages 18:01 Publishing Lessons Learned 22:38 Crossroads Prologue Research 26:27 Postwar Japan Revenge Plot 44:52 Writing Process And Origins 46:31 From Articles To Novels 50:43 Why Historical Fiction 52:55 Writing By Instinct 55:33 Making Characters Human 59:25 Dialogue And Character Bios 01:03:32 Building Foreign Characters 01:05:42 Active Research Process 01:08:01 Ten Novel Milestone 01:08:52 Children Books Mission 01:11:42 Advice For Writers 01:16:58 Editing And Working With Editors 01:19:42 Family Coauthors And Confidence 01:22:33 Where To Find The Books 01:23:43 Final Thanks And Sign Off If you like what we do, you might consider buying us a coffee. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://book-lovers-companion.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/book_companion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction.7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Feedback is always welcome: bookcompanioncontact@gmail.com Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny Video Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #227

  Victorian Secrets: Emma Woodhouse and the Art of Historical Storytelling

  Aug 3, 20261h 1mS5

  Host Edith welcomes returning guest Emma Woodhouse, a fiction and nonfiction author, to discuss two upcoming autumn releases: the historical novel "Anne Morgan: Hellish Beauty" (September) and the nonfiction "Criminal Women of Victorian London" (November). Woodhouse explains her fascination with overlooked working-class Victorian women and shares the story of Anne Morgan, a “witch” murdered in 1857 by her younger lover William Davis, including superstition after her death, burned papers, and research drawn largely from newspaper trial reports, plus a revenge legend she acknowledges as fictionalized. She outlines the novel’s interwoven timelines and her ethical approach to blending fact with invention. Woodhouse also previews her nonfiction survey of 30–40 female offenders across crime types, her research methods, and how it challenges prim-and-proper Victorian stereotypes. Find out more about Emma: https://emmawoodhousebooks.wixsite.com/ewhb Chapters 00:00 Welcome Back Emma 00:49 Life With Dogs And Ducks 02:34 Two New Books This Fall 03:08 Meet Anne Morgan 05:24 Witch Murder And Aftermath 09:46 Finding Sources And Legends 15:31 Three Timelines Explained 16:59 Ethical Historical Fiction 19:31 Anne And William Relationship 25:32 Criminal Women Of London 26:52 Researching Victorian Crimes 27:51 Mog The Fireman And More 29:07 Victorian Women Unmasked 30:15 Hidden Female Serial Killer 31:34 Street Survival Crimes 35:10 Madams and Crime Bosses 39:24 Brothel Guides and Coercion 41:02 Women Versus Men in Crime 44:45 Research Balance and Notes 48:08 Nonfiction Role Models 51:30 Victims Not Killers 54:34 Best Victorian TV Portrayals 56:50 Podcasts Talks and Academia 59:36 Farewell and Wrap Up If you like what we do, you might consider buying us a coffee. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://book-lovers-companion.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/book_companion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction.7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Feedback is always welcome: bookcompanioncontact@gmail.com Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny Video Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #226

  Historical Heroines: Behind the Scenes of Feisty Deeds Anthologies

  Jul 20, 20261h 16mS5

  Host Edith welcomes returning guest Kimberly Sullivan and fellow editors/writers Elaine, Carolyn, Christy, Kay to discuss the anthology Feisty Deeds 2: Historical Tales of Badges and Bruises. They explain eligibility and guidelines within the Women’s Fiction Writers Association historical fiction affinity group, including a 3,000-word limit, historical settings (50+ years past), fictional female protagonists, and a “Batches and Brews” theme tied to food, drink, and related dangers. The group describes selection criteria balancing story quality, variety, global and temporal range, and how they organized stories by geography. They outline a multi-round editing workflow (developmental, line, final pass, plus external proofreading), formatting challenges, research and historical authenticity debates, and the timeline from theme to publication. They note proceeds support the WFWA Scholarship Fund and the books are available in print and on major ebook platforms. Find out more about my guests here: https://kimberlysullivanauthor.com https://carolynkorsmeyer.com https://www.kaysmith-blum.com https://christymatheson.com https://elaineschroller.com Chapters: 00:00 Welcome and No Football 00:38 What Is Feisty Deeds 2 01:57 Submission Rules and Theme 03:39 Global Settings and Story Selection 08:16 Editing Assignments and Author Feedback 10:55 Three Round Editing Workflow 17:25 Timeline From Theme to Publication 24:00 How the Anthology Began 27:15 Formatting and Production Challenges 29:46 Historical Language and Research Checks 36:07 Scholarship Fund and Budgeting 37:44 Authenticity and Modern Sensibilities 40:57 Modern Values vs Past 42:08 Diversity in Historical Stories 45:09 Writing Heavy History Well 47:47 Why Short Stories Work 49:19 Women Writers and Initials 53:10 Historical Fiction Boom 56:35 Getting People to Read 59:53 Novels vs Short Stories 01:03:26 Indie Anthology Challenges 01:05:26 Collaboration and Rejections 01:11:49 Kimberly Returns and Process 01:14:07 Where to Buy and Goodbye If you like what we do, you might consider buying us a coffee. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://book-lovers-companion.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/book_companion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction.7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Feedback is always welcome: bookcompanioncontact@gmail.com Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny Video Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #225

  Inside the Editor's Mind: Literary Thrills with Jennica Dotson

  Jul 13, 202658 minS5

  Host Edith welcomes editor Jennica Dotson to discuss how she became an editor through internships and on-the-job learning, and to explain the differences between developmental editing (big-picture plot, structure, character, and worldbuilding), line editing (stylistic, line-by-line refinement, often including some copy work), and copy editing (grammar, punctuation, and typos). Jennica recommends discovery calls, approaching editors with a completed draft, letting manuscripts rest, revising before line edits, and staying open to edits while keeping authorial voice. They discuss time pressures in traditional publishing, expectations for more polished submissions, and the importance of language consistency (American vs British English). Jennica shares why she specializes in fantasy, notes trends like romantasy and misclassification issues, highlights indie publishing’s willingness to take risks, and describes how freelancers find clients through organizations and networking. She recommends “The Last Night at the Telegraph Club” by Malinda Lo. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:41 Becoming an Editor 02:57 Editing Types Explained 05:13 Offering Multiple Services 06:57 Preparing for an Edit 10:51 Handling Feedback and Revisions 13:24 Why Editing Takes Time 14:47 Traditional Publishing Pressures 17:12 American vs British English 21:59 Fantasy Niche and Specialization 26:01 Editor Challenges and Switching Off 29:47 Strange Manuscripts and Genre Talk 31:56 Holmes From Hudson 34:07 Retellings New Perspectives 34:55 Fantasy Trends Romantasy 38:02 Gender Marketing Bias 40:22 YA Themes And Limits 42:43 Indie Publishing Daring 46:17 Getting Seen Marketing 50:08 Recent Read Recommendation 53:31 Community And Editors 56:49 Wrap Up And Farewell If you like what we do, you might consider buying us a coffee. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://book-lovers-companion.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/book_companion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction.7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Feedback is always welcome: bookcompanioncontact@gmail.com Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny Video Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E

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  Episode #224

  Crafting Happiness: The Joyful Mission of Kate Hull's Books

  Jun 29, 202650 minS5

  Host Edith welcomes children’s book author Kate Hull (joining from Florida) to discuss her Share Joy brand and her self-published Amazon children’s books: Where Does Joy Live?, Where Does Peace Live, and Where Does Love Live. Hull explains how Share Joy began with fresh flower bars at corporate and charity events and grew into a mission focused on helping people find joy, peace, and love. She describes the whimsical main characters—a young version of herself and her Yorkie, Kobe—and the books’ colorful, quick, poetic format, plus a related coloring book and her website (sharemorejoy.com). Hull shares her literacy advocacy, including her own childhood reading struggles and belief that children learn differently, and discusses how the books can support busy parents and even help adults rediscover joy. They also touch on Gen X childhood nostalgia, book-to-screen adaptations, libraries, writing communities, future projects (including a space-themed book and journals), and Hull’s preference for authentic creativity over AI. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:53 Tech Connects Readers 02:50 From Politics to Books 03:17 Share Joy Origins 06:00 Where Does Joy Live 08:14 Meet Kate and Kobe 09:58 Publishing Timeline and Series 12:21 Joy Peace Love Mindset 14:30 Literacy Advocacy Story 17:56 Quick Reads and Coloring 19:41 Gen X Childhood Nostalgia 24:52 Books and Literacy Heroes 25:46 Books vs Screen Time 26:31 When Adaptations Work 28:30 Libraries and Bookmobiles 31:32 Writing Community Connections 32:26 Next Books and New Ideas 37:15 Authenticity Over AI 43:28 Creative Flow and Inspiration 46:22 Will Characters Grow Up 48:07 Find Your Joy Farewell If you like what we do, you might consider buying us a coffee. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://book-lovers-companion.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://twitter.com/book_companion ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction.7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Feedback is always welcome: bookcompanioncontact@gmail.com Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny Video Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E

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Recent guests on Book Lover's Companion - The English Version. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

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