Happy New Year from the Gilmore Guide to Books! I’m starting 2022 off a bit differently—no book review yet (but plenty to come!). I’ve been remiss about keeping everyone up-to-date about what’s happening so decided the new year was the best time for a quick, but important update. And it’s not about the fact that I’m still growing out my formerly brunette hair color. Although, it will be 2 years in March and I’m hoping to look like Miranda Priestly by this summer. 🤣
For the past two years I’ve been co-hosting preview episodes on a podcast called Sarah’s Book Shelves Live. Initially I did really well with putting links to these episodes at the end of book posts, but I slacked off in 2020 and 2021 (COVID brain). These four seasonal episodes have been a lot of fun and give me more of a chance to engage with another book lover live and reach a wider audience. Sarah is a great host and we always have fun talking about books, among other things.
The news is that the podcast and my episodes with Sarah have become successful enough that she’s expanded my role to 10+ episodes a year. Some are available for free so I’ve added a new menu at the top of the Gilmore Guide home page. Clicking on that will take you to links for the various episodes I’ve been in. I’m including past episodes because book ideas never get old!
I still love writing reviews and am going to continue to do so, but listening to reviews can make running errands, exercising, or working around the house a lot more fun. Sarah has authors and industry insiders on as well as other avid readers who have expertise in categories (like my friend Susie who is an audiobook maven). There is something for everyone.
You can find Sarah’s Book Shelves Live wherever you go for podcasts (Apple, Overcast, Audible, Spotify). It’s free so please subscribe and tell your friends.
I keep the Gilmore Guide to Books free to readers, but there are costs to maintaining it. The same is true with a podcast so Sarah also offers additional content to subscribers for a small monthly fee. Some of these episodes include me sharing even more books, new and old, that I’ve loved and even those I didn’t like—lots of honest book talk. Details and sign-up are available here.
I found you from listening to one of Sarah’s podcasts and I LOVE your reviews! So happy you will be on more podcast episodes! Cant wait to see what you will be reading this year!
Thank you so much!! I need to find a way to balance the podcast and the blog. People keep saying blogs are dead, but, I don’t know, I still get most of my recommendations from reading reviews, whether it’s in magazines or blogs.
I am glad that you still plan to blog and review books. I look forward to seeing your reviews in my inbox most Mondays.
I think I am going into the third year of light reading, already finished my first book for the year. The book was entertaining but I’m sure it won’t be remembered for long.
Thank you! I need to find the right balance, but I’m working on it. Have you given anymore thought to starting your own blog?
Congrats on the success of the podcast! I’ve enjoyed the ones that I’ve listened to and plan to listen to some more. I hope you have a wonderful reading year and life year too!
I’m excited that you will be doing more episodes with Sarah! You’re cohosting episodes are my favorite and I never miss them.
Thank you so much! It makes me very happy to know people enjoy my take on books.
Thanks for the update and all your reviews. I have gotten a lot of good recommendations from all 3 of you and am looking forward to future podcasts. I especially love your circling back episodes!
I love the circling back- even when a book didn’t work out. Predicting what will work is hard, but every book is different for each person!
You go girl, one of the best things I ever did was to go grey…or silver as I like to say!
Yes! I thought I’d feel funny walking around with 3 shades of color (or more!) in my hair, but I don’t. March will be 2 years and I may go short to get the last of the salon color out.
Nice picture Catherine and good news! Glad you will be doing more shows on the podcast! I enjoy it a lot, so fun to listen to while I’m doing chores around the house. But I also really appreciate your written reviews too … so we can’t lose those, no! Anyways I wish you much happiness doing all your expanded endeavors in 2022. Let’s keep the books rolling … Happy New Year.
I appreciate you so much! I just need to get better at balancing reading and writing. I read too much then forget what I’ve read when it comes time to write reviews. Not good!
So happy about more podcasts with Sarah! I am looking forward to the podcasts in 2022 and your blog too! I really liked your comment on one of the podcasts when you said you review books for readers. I feel exactly the same way, and I appreciate your help in finding a good book!
It’s a delicate balance because I do get books from publishers. I make it clear I won’t automatically review them, but if they stopped sending them it would be much harder (impossible) to read books in advance.