In Bed With Books

This week I’m joined by my friend Dr Michael Pons. He recently received his PhD in English Literature, and I was lucky enough to sit in on his dissertation defense. The question Dr Pons set to answering was “What is interactivity in storytelling?” focusing on video games. Michael and I dive into an hour long conversation connecting his findings on the limitations of interactivity to literature and television. Who are the participants involved? What is the role of the audience and the creator? What do they owe each other? Where does desire play into all of this?
This is the first part of a 2-part conversation.
You can find Michael on IG @mackerel_prawns
If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email!
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EM: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by author Lauren Kate to discuss her latest release, White Lights. Falling back into a world of angels, romance, and millennia-old feuds, Kate brings us back into the world of Fallen, after Luce and Daniel’s happily ever after to see the effects their choice had on heaven. What does heaven look like when love is suddenly on the menu for the angels?
White Lights follows Dez to Acheron, an elite film school no one’s ever heard of before, but has resources she never dreamed would be available to her. The only catch: she has to leave behind everyone she loves, and someone she might have grown to love. As she learns more about Acheron and some of her fellow students, Dez fears she’s made the wrong decision. But her connection with her mentor, Rafe, is undeniable, bringing her back to her love of filmmaking every time she questions herself.
We discussed the influences on the creation of this universe, and the decision to continue the story, with Kate referencing dreams, higher education, and apocryphal texts. Her inspiration dates back as far as 500 BC, and the feminist themes that exist then, and that we look for now. We look at some of the bigger questions that Kate is exploring in these series, like what and who love has the power to change, and how one positive choice can radiate out and effect change on a larger scale.
As a fan of Lauren Kate and her work, I truly did not have enough time to cover everything I wanted to, but for a look at how she explores the theme of love, grab White Lights now!
https://bookshop.org/a/54661/9781538776773
Learn more about Lauren Kate here:  laurenkatebooks.net
And you can find her on Instagram, Facebook, Threads and TikTok @LaurenKateBooks
If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs or shoot me an email!
Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51
Where else to find me:
IG: @inbedwithbookspod
YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod
EM: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by author Kait Ballenger, once again, as she rounds out the Original Sinner trilogy with Beautiful Redeemer. Charlotte and Lucifer have come a long way since their fake engagement in book one - now they have to contend with the apocalypse, timeless battles between angels and demons, an absent Father, and a meddling mother. As identities are revealed and powers are discovered, Charlotte and Lucifer question their worth in the battles to come. In the midst of all this, Charlotte’s connection with Death is growing but will his and Lucifer’s past get in the way of her why-choose happy ending?
It was great having Kait back on to talk about the conclusion of her Original Sinner trilogy. We start the conversation with a gentle reminder of what happened in books one and two, including some major spoilers, so listen at your own discretion if you haven’t read Original Sinner or Wicked Believer yet! After realizing that Lucifer and her were destined by forces grander than either of them could control, Charlotte begins to realize that she is more powerful than they could have anticipated. Kait talks about how she knew their story wasn’t over, the process of bringing in Death to help balance out their dynamic, and the questions that Charlotte faces when confronted with the reality that she hasn’t had nearly as much freewill as she thought. I get the scoop on upcoming books, as Kait plans to extend the universe by exploring the love stories of other seven deadly sin siblings!
You can buy Beautiful Redeemer now: https://bookshop.org/a/54661/9781662528903
You can learn more about Kait Ballenger here: www.kaitballenger.com
Art mentioned in this episode: Cabanel, Alexandre. The Fallen Angel. 1847, Musee Fabre, Montpellier, France.
If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email!
Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51
Where else to find me:
IG: @inbedwithbookspod
YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod
EM: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com

In this episode, I’m joined by author Meghan Le Fay to talk about her debut, Wings of Life, first in the Dragonbound Chronicles. Wings of Life follows Serae as she’s thrust into the land of her country’s greatest enemy, Rihtlond. As the betrothed of the dane’s son, Serae gathers intel on the Riht in hopes of securing a victory for her people. As she learns more about the people and dragons of the Riht, Serae’s allegiances become strained. Can she sell out the family she’s found for the family that refused to see the real her?
Drawing inspiration from fairytales and written history, Le Fay weaves together Viking influences with the brilliance of elemental magic and dragons. Serae, the main character, may start out with little control over her own fate but her skills are tested over and over again, proving to herself and the enemies around her that she can hold her own. The cultural and political differences that Le Fay built into Inra, Serae’s homeland, and the Riht help the main character grow in confidence, strength, and power, as the expectations set on her push her to new heights. Unlike Inra, where the right to lead is given through inheritance, the Riht tests their future leaders in ways that Serae was not prepared for. But with the weaponmaster, Wep, training her, Serae might stand a chance in the trials - assuming she doesn’t fall in love with him first.
Le Fay and I also spend time talking about her writing practice, as Wings of Life marks not only her debut, but her stepping into a career as a full time author. We discuss the influences on Serae’s story, from second-born daughter to dragonbound, as well as those influences that helped shape Le Fay into the writer she is now.

You can buy Wings of Life now: https://bookshop.org/a/54661/9781964264585
You can learn more about Meghan Le Fay here:
https://meghanlefay.com/
IG: @meghanlefay

If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email!

Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51

Where else to find me:
IG: @inbedwithbookspod
YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod
EM: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com

In this bonus episode, I’m celebrating 100 episodes of In Bed with Books!
There have been 68 books featured on the podcast, 55 if we don’t include books written by authors I've interviewed. There are so many books I loved (and just as many that I’d be happy never to think about again!), so to celebrate 100 episodes, I’ve ranked my top ten reads from the podcast.
The Rules:
It has to have been actively discussed, not just mentioned as part of a bookish chat
No books from author interviews - I’m too biased. I’ve loved talking to all of the authors
And finally, thank you to everyone that’s made one hundred episodes possible. I love to yap, but a podcast is more than just someone with a mic yapping into the void. I appreciate everyone who’s tuned in - whether you’ve been here since episode one, have stuck around through all the different iterations In Bed with Books has been through, or this is your first episode.
Thank you, and here’s to 100 more!

If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email!

Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51

Where else to find me:
IG: @inbedwithbookspod
YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod
EM: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com