I&apos;m back after a week off but I have a  good excuse. In this episode I catch up on reading, go down a mystery rabbit hole (including the Lori Loughlin drama and why a series abruptly ended), and share a full breakdown of the Standard of Care soft launch. I also talk about a conversation I had with a longtime reader about why my books have changed, and why I&apos;m writing shorter novels on purpose...and what burnout had to do with all of it.Books mentioned:Ms. Lorraine’s Late in Life Love by Taccara MartinThese Heathens by Mia McKenzieL.A. Coroner: Thomas Noguchi and Death in Hollywood by Anne Soon ChoiMist and Malice by Rachel Howzell HallThe Mediator by Robert BaileyShould We? by Jessica TerrySunset Over Napa Valley by Monica GarnerThe Potting Shed Murder by Paula SuttonBibliotherapy in the Bronx by Emely Rumble LCSW Full transcript and show notes: authordlwhite.substack.comSupport the podcast: booksbydlwhite.com/shop | buymeacoffee.com/booksbydlwhite | booksbydlwhite.com/linkinbio <a rel="payment" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2150199/support">Support the show</a> Stay connected:Visit my website–<a href='https://Booksbydlwhite.com'>Booksbydlwhite.com</a>Join my newsletter – <a href='https://booksbydlwhite.com/newsletter'>booksbydlwhite.com/newsletter</a>Follow me on Substack–<a href='https://authordlwhite.substack.com'>Main Substack</a> | <a href='https://shortfictionbydlwhite.substack.com'>Short Fiction Substack</a>Buy books &amp; merch – <a href='https://booksbydlwhite.com/shop'>booksbydlwhite.com/shop</a>Support this show with a recurring gift at <a href='https://bookcast.buzzsprout.com/'>bookcast.buzzsprout.com</a> or Buymeacoffee.com/booksbydlwhite. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate &amp; review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And if you really liked it, tell a friend.

<description>&lt;p&gt;I&amp;apos;m back after a week off but I have a  good excuse. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode I catch up on reading, go down a mystery rabbit hole (including the Lori Loughlin drama and why a series abruptly ended), and share a full breakdown of the Standard of Care soft launch. I also talk about a conversation I had with a longtime reader about why my books have changed, and why I&amp;apos;m writing shorter novels on purpose...and what burnout had to do with all of it.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Books mentioned:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ms. Lorraine’s Late in Life Love by Taccara Martin&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;These Heathens by Mia McKenzie&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;L.A. Coroner: Thomas Noguchi and Death in Hollywood by Anne Soon Choi&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mist and Malice by Rachel Howzell Hall&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Mediator by Robert Bailey&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Should We? by Jessica Terry&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sunset Over Napa Valley by Monica Garner&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Potting Shed Murder by Paula Sutton&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bibliotherapy in the Bronx by Emely Rumble LCSW &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Full transcript and show notes: authordlwhite.substack.com&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Support the podcast: booksbydlwhite.com/shop | buymeacoffee.com/booksbydlwhite | booksbydlwhite.com/linkinbio&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;a rel="payment" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2150199/support"&gt;Support the show&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Stay connected:&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Visit my website–&lt;a href='https://Booksbydlwhite.com'&gt;Booksbydlwhite.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Join my newsletter – &lt;a href='https://booksbydlwhite.com/newsletter'&gt;booksbydlwhite.com/newsletter&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Follow me on Substack–&lt;a href='https://authordlwhite.substack.com'&gt;Main Substack&lt;/a&gt; | &lt;a href='https://shortfictionbydlwhite.substack.com'&gt;Short Fiction Substack&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Buy books &amp;amp; merch – &lt;a href='https://booksbydlwhite.com/shop'&gt;booksbydlwhite.com/shop&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Support this show with a recurring gift at &lt;a href='https://bookcast.buzzsprout.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;bookcast.buzzsprout.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt; or Buymeacoffee.com/booksbydlwhite.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;If you enjoyed this episode, please rate &amp;amp; review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And if you&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt; really&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt; liked it, tell a friend.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

I'm back after a week off but I have a  good excuse.  In this episode I catch up on reading, go down a mystery rabbit hole (including the Lori Loughlin drama and why a series abruptly ended), and share a full breakdown of the Standard of Care soft launch. I also talk about a conversation I had with a longtime reader about why my books have changed, and why I'm writing shorter novels on purpose...and what burnout had to do with all of it. Books mentioned: Ms. Lorraine’s Late in Life ...

Bookcast Episode 138: Talking to No One in a Padded Room

I&apos;m back! After a few months away, I&apos;m back in the closet with a mic, some iced coffee, and a lot to get into. In this episode I catch up on my May TBR, I talk about the 12 Lives Challenge,   about my Hallmark mystery obsession and what it has to do with writing romance, I break down the release plan for Standard of Care, and get into event season.Beverage Break: Iced coffee. It was 11 a.m.  Book Report2026 Goodreads Reading Challenge: 53 of 150 books — 35% toward goal, 4 books ahead of schedule.What I want to get read in May: <ul><li>These Heathens: A Novel — Mia McKenzie (listening on audio)</li><li>Ms. Lorraine&apos;s Late-in-Life Love — T.L. Martin | A reverse age-gap novella set in the world of The Black Wife Effect in the Cinnamon Grove neighborhood. 1 Read it in one night. Delightful — especially if you&apos;re 40+ and into romance.</li><li>L.A. Coroner: Thomas Noguchi and Death in Hollywood — Anne Soon Choi | The next 12 Lives Challenge read.</li><li>Mist and Malice (Haven #2) — Rachel Howzell Hall</li><li>The Drowning Season — Debra Webb | ALC from NetGalley. Releases approximately May 12th.</li><li>Sunset Over Napa Valley — Monica Garner | ARC that is no longer an ARC — released April 28th. Getting to it.</li></ul>The 12 Lives ChallengeHosted by Dr. Raymond Williams (<a href='https://www.instagram.com/rtwilliams16/'>@rtwilliams16</a>). The goal: read 12 biographies in 2026. The rule: biographies only! No memoirs, no autobiographies. It has to be a book about someone, written by someone else.  Join in and use the hashtag #the12liveschallenge.DL&apos;s progress — 4 of 12:<ol><li>The Smartest Guys in the Room — Bethany McLean &amp; Peter Elkind (the fall of Enron)</li><li>The Wizard of Lies — Diana B. Henriques (Bernie Madoff)</li><li>The Butler: A Witness to History — Wil Haygood</li><li>G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century — Beverly Gage</li></ol>What I&apos;m Streaming<ul><li>Garage Sale Mysteries — amateur sleuth, small town, cozy stakes, killer always gets caught</li><li>Haley Dean Mysteries</li><li>Mystery 101</li><li>Occasional free mystery movies on Hulu and YouTube</li></ul>Why it connects to writing: Romance and cozy mystery run on the same contract with the reader: the outcome is known going in. The satisfying ending is guaranteed.  The work is in stacking complications, near-misses, and tension so the reader stays engaged even when they know where it&apos;s going. That is the exact problem a romance writer solves every time they sit down.Low stakes, familiar structure, no emotional tax after months of finishing a book is  not a guilty pleasure, it is maintenance and self care. Writing &amp; Publishing UpdateCrime Writers of Color PodcastI sat down with Robert Justice on the Crime Writers of Col <a rel="payment" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2150199/support">Support the show</a> Stay connected:Visit my website–<a href='https://Booksbydlwhite.com'>Booksbydlwhite.com</a>Join my newsletter – <a href='https://booksbydlwhite.com/newsletter'>booksbydlwhite.com/newsletter</a>Follow me on Substack–<a href='https://authordlwhite.substack.com'>Main Substack</a> | <a href='https://shortfictionbydlwhite.substack.com'>Short Fiction Substack</a>Buy books &amp; merch – <a href='https://booksbydlwhite.com/shop'>booksbydlwhite.com/shop</a>Support this show with a recurring gift at <a href='https://bookcast.buzzsprout.com/'>bookcast.buzzsprout.com</a> or Buymeacoffee.com/booksbydlwhite. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate &amp; review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And if you really liked it, tell a friend.

<description>&lt;p&gt;I&amp;apos;m back! After a few months away, I&amp;apos;m back in the closet with a mic, some iced coffee, and a lot to get into. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode I catch up on my May TBR, I talk about the 12 Lives Challenge,   about my Hallmark mystery obsession and what it has to do with writing romance, I break down the release plan for &lt;em&gt;Standard of Care&lt;/em&gt;, and get into event season.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Beverage Break: Iced coffee. It was 11 a.m.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Book Report&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;2026 Goodreads Reading Challenge:&lt;/b&gt; 53 of 150 books — 35% toward goal, 4 books ahead of schedule.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;What I want to get read in May: &lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;These Heathens: A Novel&lt;/em&gt; — Mia McKenzie (listening on audio)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Ms. Lorraine&amp;apos;s Late-in-Life Love&lt;/em&gt; — T.L. Martin | A reverse age-gap novella set in the world of &lt;em&gt;The Black Wife Effect&lt;/em&gt; in the Cinnamon Grove neighborhood. 1 Read it in one night. Delightful — especially if you&amp;apos;re 40+ and into romance.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;L.A. Coroner: Thomas Noguchi and Death in Hollywood&lt;/em&gt; — Anne Soon Choi | The next 12 Lives Challenge read.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Mist and Malice (Haven #2)&lt;/em&gt; — Rachel Howzell Hall&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Drowning Season&lt;/em&gt; — Debra Webb | ALC from NetGalley. Releases approximately May 12th.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sunset Over Napa Valley&lt;/em&gt; — Monica Garner | ARC that is no longer an ARC — released April 28th. Getting to it.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;The 12 Lives Challenge&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Hosted by Dr. Raymond Williams (&lt;a href='https://www.instagram.com/rtwilliams16/'&gt;@rtwilliams16&lt;/a&gt;). The goal: read 12 biographies in 2026. The rule: biographies only! No memoirs, no autobiographies. It has to be a book about someone, written by someone else.  Join in and use the hashtag &lt;b&gt;#the12liveschallenge&lt;/b&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;DL&amp;apos;s progress — 4 of 12:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ol&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Smartest Guys in the Room&lt;/em&gt; — Bethany McLean &amp;amp; Peter Elkind (the fall of Enron)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Wizard of Lies&lt;/em&gt; — Diana B. Henriques (Bernie Madoff)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Butler: A Witness to History&lt;/em&gt; — Wil Haygood&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century&lt;/em&gt; — Beverly Gage&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ol&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;What I&amp;apos;m Streaming&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Garage Sale Mysteries&lt;/b&gt; — amateur sleuth, small town, cozy stakes, killer always gets caught&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Haley Dean Mysteries&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Mystery 101&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Occasional free mystery movies on Hulu and YouTube&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Why it connects to writing:&lt;/b&gt; Romance and cozy mystery run on the same contract with the reader: the outcome is known going in. The satisfying ending is guaranteed.  The work is in stacking complications, near-misses, and tension so the reader stays engaged even when they know where it&amp;apos;s going. That is the exact problem a romance writer solves every time they sit down.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Low stakes, familiar structure, no emotional tax after months of finishing a book is  not a guilty pleasure, it is maintenance and self care. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Writing &amp;amp; Publishing Update&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Crime Writers of Color Podcast&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I sat down with &lt;b&gt;Robert Justice&lt;/b&gt; on the Crime Writers of Col&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;a rel="payment" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2150199/support"&gt;Support the show&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Stay connected:&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Visit my website–&lt;a href='https://Booksbydlwhite.com'&gt;Booksbydlwhite.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Join my newsletter – &lt;a href='https://booksbydlwhite.com/newsletter'&gt;booksbydlwhite.com/newsletter&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Follow me on Substack–&lt;a href='https://authordlwhite.substack.com'&gt;Main Substack&lt;/a&gt; | &lt;a href='https://shortfictionbydlwhite.substack.com'&gt;Short Fiction Substack&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Buy books &amp;amp; merch – &lt;a href='https://booksbydlwhite.com/shop'&gt;booksbydlwhite.com/shop&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Support this show with a recurring gift at &lt;a href='https://bookcast.buzzsprout.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;bookcast.buzzsprout.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt; or Buymeacoffee.com/booksbydlwhite.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;If you enjoyed this episode, please rate &amp;amp; review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And if you&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt; really&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt; liked it, tell a friend.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

I'm back! After a few months away, I'm back in the closet with a mic, some iced coffee, and a lot to get into.  In this episode I catch up on my May TBR, I talk about the 12 Lives Challenge,   about my Hallmark mystery obsession and what it has to do with writing romance, I break down the release plan for Standard of Care, and get into event season. Beverage Break: Iced coffee. It was 11 a.m.   Book Report 2026 Goodreads Reading Challenge: 53 of 150 books — 35% toward goal, 4 b...

Bookcast Episode 137: The Mic Was Right Where I Left It

Why get dressed when Sunday is pajama-shaped? That’s all I have to say about that. In Episode 136 of The Bookcast, I’m talking through my January reading, checking in on the book that is BOOKING, and sharing a few updates and thoughts that came up along the way. It’s a quiet, at-home episode, recorded without much planning and very much in the spirit of a monthly check-in.Books Mentioned in Episode 136Am Reading: <ul><li>Nobody Heard a Thing — Angela Henry</li><li>Mr. and Mrs. Taylor: A Toxic Love Story — Shea Sanders</li></ul>January Reads<ul><li>Kin — Tayari Jones</li><li>No One Knew — Kendra Elliott</li><li>Champagne Taste on a Bad Boy Budget — Zuri Day</li><li>Behind These Four Walls — Yasmin Angoe</li><li>Seven Daughters of Dupree — Nikisha Elise Williams</li><li>The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust — Diana B. Henriques</li><li>The Smartest Guys in the Room — Bethany McLean &amp; Peter Elkind</li><li>Groove — Bernice L. McFadden</li><li>If I Ruled the World — Janelle Williams (Amy DuBois Barnett)</li><li>The Wilderness — Angela Flournoy</li><li>Inside Man — John McMahon</li><li>In Black and White — Nia Forrester</li><li>Her Cold Justice — Robert Dugoni</li><li>The Fire That Burns — Kay Sine</li><li>Before the Streetlights Come On — Ashley Antoinette</li><li>Sundown Girls — L.S. Stratton</li><li>Yours Forever — Farrah Rochon</li><li>I Don’t Wish You Well — Jumata Emill</li></ul>Upcoming Appearances <ul><li>Black Romance Book Fest — Atlanta — May (pre-orders open on Beventi)</li><li>Wine with Writers — Baltimore — June (Preorders coming soon!) </li></ul> <a rel="payment" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2150199/support">Support the show</a> Stay connected:Visit my website–<a href='https://Booksbydlwhite.com'>Booksbydlwhite.com</a>Join my newsletter – <a href='https://booksbydlwhite.com/newsletter'>booksbydlwhite.com/newsletter</a>Follow me on Substack–<a href='https://authordlwhite.substack.com'>Main Substack</a> | <a href='https://shortfictionbydlwhite.substack.com'>Short Fiction Substack</a>Buy books &amp; merch – <a href='https://booksbydlwhite.com/shop'>booksbydlwhite.com/shop</a>Support this show with a recurring gift at <a href='https://bookcast.buzzsprout.com/'>bookcast.buzzsprout.com</a> or Buymeacoffee.com/booksbydlwhite. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate &amp; review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And if you really liked it, tell a friend.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Why get dressed when Sunday is pajama-shaped? That’s all I have to say about that. &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In Episode 136 of &lt;em&gt;The Bookcast&lt;/em&gt;, I’m talking through my January reading, checking in on the book that is BOOKING, and sharing a few updates and thoughts that came up along the way. It’s a quiet, at-home episode, recorded without much planning and very much in the spirit of a monthly check-in.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Books Mentioned in Episode 136&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Am Reading: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Nobody Heard a Thing — Angela Henry&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Mr. and Mrs. Taylor: A Toxic Love Story — Shea Sanders&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;January Reads&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Kin — Tayari Jones&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;No One Knew — Kendra Elliott&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Champagne Taste on a Bad Boy Budget — Zuri Day&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Behind These Four Walls — Yasmin Angoe&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Seven Daughters of Dupree — Nikisha Elise Williams&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust — Diana B. Henriques&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The Smartest Guys in the Room — Bethany McLean &amp;amp; Peter Elkind&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Groove — Bernice L. McFadden&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;If I Ruled the World — Janelle Williams (Amy DuBois Barnett)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The Wilderness — Angela Flournoy&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Inside Man — John McMahon&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;In Black and White — Nia Forrester&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Her Cold Justice — Robert Dugoni&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The Fire That Burns — Kay Sine&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Before the Streetlights Come On — Ashley Antoinette&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Sundown Girls — L.S. Stratton&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Yours Forever — Farrah Rochon&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;I Don’t Wish You Well — Jumata Emill&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Upcoming Appearances &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Black Romance Book Fest — Atlanta — May (pre-orders open on Beventi)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Wine with Writers — Baltimore — June (Preorders coming soon!) &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;a rel="payment" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2150199/support"&gt;Support the show&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Stay connected:&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Visit my website–&lt;a href='https://Booksbydlwhite.com'&gt;Booksbydlwhite.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Join my newsletter – &lt;a href='https://booksbydlwhite.com/newsletter'&gt;booksbydlwhite.com/newsletter&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Follow me on Substack–&lt;a href='https://authordlwhite.substack.com'&gt;Main Substack&lt;/a&gt; | &lt;a href='https://shortfictionbydlwhite.substack.com'&gt;Short Fiction Substack&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Buy books &amp;amp; merch – &lt;a href='https://booksbydlwhite.com/shop'&gt;booksbydlwhite.com/shop&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Support this show with a recurring gift at &lt;a href='https://bookcast.buzzsprout.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;bookcast.buzzsprout.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt; or Buymeacoffee.com/booksbydlwhite.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;If you enjoyed this episode, please rate &amp;amp; review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And if you&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt; really&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt; liked it, tell a friend.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Why get dressed when Sunday is pajama-shaped? That’s all I have to say about that.  In Episode 136 of The Bookcast, I’m talking through my January reading, checking in on the book that is BOOKING, and sharing a few updates and thoughts that came up along the way. It’s a quiet, at-home episode, recorded without much planning and very much in the spirit of a monthly check-in. Books Mentioned in Episode 136 Am Reading:  Nobody Heard a Thing — Angela HenryMr. and Mrs. Taylor: A Toxic Lo...

Bookcast Episode 136: Sunday is Pajama-shaped

In this episode, I share a reading update, a quick TV check-in, and an overview of the first project I’m pre-working for 2026.Book Report I’m currently 7 books into my 150-book reading goal for the year. Most of my reading this week was in audio.Books discussed:<ul><li>Champagne Taste on a Bad Boy Budget by Zuri Day</li><li>Behind These Four Walls by Yasmin Angoe</li><li>The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust by Diana B. Henriques</li><li>The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy</li><li>Groove by Bernice McFadden (writing as Geneva Holliday)</li><li>Kin by Tayari Jones</li></ul>I also mention the upcoming literary event featuring Tayari Jones in conversation with Pearl Cleage.TV Watchlist<ul><li>The Pitt (Season 2)</li><li>Will Trent</li><li>Currently stacking episodes of Elsbeth, Matlock, Reasonable Doubt, and Landman</li></ul>Writing Update I begin pre-work on my next novel, a medical romance centered on the consequences of a critical operating room incident and how systems, responsibility, and personal relationships collide.Find the full transcript, extended show notes, and links at <a href='https:// booksbydlwhite.com/bookcast135'> booksbydlwhite.com/bookcast135</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2150199/support">Support the show</a> Stay connected:Visit my website–<a href='https://Booksbydlwhite.com'>Booksbydlwhite.com</a>Join my newsletter – <a href='https://booksbydlwhite.com/newsletter'>booksbydlwhite.com/newsletter</a>Follow me on Substack–<a href='https://authordlwhite.substack.com'>Main Substack</a> | <a href='https://shortfictionbydlwhite.substack.com'>Short Fiction Substack</a>Buy books &amp; merch – <a href='https://booksbydlwhite.com/shop'>booksbydlwhite.com/shop</a>Support this show with a recurring gift at <a href='https://bookcast.buzzsprout.com/'>bookcast.buzzsprout.com</a> or Buymeacoffee.com/booksbydlwhite. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate &amp; review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And if you really liked it, tell a friend.

<description>&lt;p&gt;In this episode, I share a reading update, a quick TV check-in, and an overview of the first project I’m pre-working for 2026.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Book Report&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt; I’m currently 7 books into my 150-book reading goal for the year. Most of my reading this week was in audio.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Books discussed:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Champagne Taste on a Bad Boy Budget&lt;/em&gt; by Zuri Day&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Behind These Four Walls&lt;/em&gt; by Yasmin Angoe&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust&lt;/em&gt; by Diana B. Henriques&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Wilderness&lt;/em&gt; by Angela Flournoy&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Groove&lt;/em&gt; by Bernice McFadden (writing as Geneva Holliday)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Kin&lt;/em&gt; by Tayari Jones&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;I also mention the upcoming literary event featuring Tayari Jones in conversation with Pearl Cleage.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;TV Watchlist&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Pitt&lt;/em&gt; (Season 2)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Will Trent&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Currently stacking episodes of &lt;em&gt;Elsbeth&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Matlock&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Reasonable Doubt&lt;/em&gt;, and &lt;em&gt;Landman&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Writing Update&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt; I begin pre-work on my next novel, a medical romance centered on the consequences of a critical operating room incident and how systems, responsibility, and personal relationships collide.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Find the full transcript, extended show notes, and links at&lt;br/&gt;&lt;a href='https:// booksbydlwhite.com/bookcast135'&gt; &lt;b&gt;booksbydlwhite.com/bookcast135&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;a rel="payment" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2150199/support"&gt;Support the show&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Stay connected:&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Visit my website–&lt;a href='https://Booksbydlwhite.com'&gt;Booksbydlwhite.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Join my newsletter – &lt;a href='https://booksbydlwhite.com/newsletter'&gt;booksbydlwhite.com/newsletter&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Follow me on Substack–&lt;a href='https://authordlwhite.substack.com'&gt;Main Substack&lt;/a&gt; | &lt;a href='https://shortfictionbydlwhite.substack.com'&gt;Short Fiction Substack&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Buy books &amp;amp; merch – &lt;a href='https://booksbydlwhite.com/shop'&gt;booksbydlwhite.com/shop&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Support this show with a recurring gift at &lt;a href='https://bookcast.buzzsprout.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;bookcast.buzzsprout.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt; or Buymeacoffee.com/booksbydlwhite.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;If you enjoyed this episode, please rate &amp;amp; review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And if you&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt; really&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt; liked it, tell a friend.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

In this episode, I share a reading update, a quick TV check-in, and an overview of the first project I’m pre-working for 2026. Book Report  I’m currently 7 books into my 150-book reading goal for the year. Most of my reading this week was in audio. Books discussed: Champagne Taste on a Bad Boy Budget by Zuri DayBehind These Four Walls by Yasmin AngoeThe Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust by Diana B. HenriquesThe Wilderness by Angela FlournoyGroove by Bernice McFadden (writin...

Bookcast Episode 135: You Betta (Pre)Work

Welcome back to The Bookcast. I’m DL White, and this episode is an easy, unstructured start to Season 7!  I’m talking through how I approach a new year, what I’ve been reading, what I want to write, and how I’m easing into 2026 without forcing goals before I’m ready.Books mentioned in this episode: <ul><li>Kin — Tayari Jones (ebook, ARC)</li><li>No One Knew — Kendra Elliott (audiobook, ALC)</li><li>Champagne Taste on a Bad Boy Budget — Zuri Day (audiobook, recent release)</li></ul>Books by DL White referenced<ul><li>Calculated Risk (now wide; ebook, print, and audio)</li><li>The Never List</li><li>Missing Persons</li><li>Hey Lover</li><li>Elysium</li><li>The Pearl</li></ul>Shorts &amp; Fanfiction<ul><li>A Misadventure in Cloudcroft, New Mexico</li><li>Questions and Answers (coming up on Substack sook)</li></ul>Writing Plans for 2026<ul><li>The goal is two &amp; a possible.</li><li>My first project of the year is in planning, anticipated to be ready before Black Romance Book Fest in May, which means drafting now and editing by late March.</li><li>I’m using 20K in Five Days (Jan 21–25) to get a strong foundation in place.</li><li>Continue producing shorter works to increase reader discovery </li><li>Writing new characters makes me more energized right now than forcing long-stalled series work.</li></ul>Everything else is light and in-flux. My year really begins in March, so I&apos;m ramping slowly. Strap in for the ride!  <a rel="payment" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2150199/support">Support the show</a> Stay connected:Visit my website–<a href='https://Booksbydlwhite.com'>Booksbydlwhite.com</a>Join my newsletter – <a href='https://booksbydlwhite.com/newsletter'>booksbydlwhite.com/newsletter</a>Follow me on Substack–<a href='https://authordlwhite.substack.com'>Main Substack</a> | <a href='https://shortfictionbydlwhite.substack.com'>Short Fiction Substack</a>Buy books &amp; merch – <a href='https://booksbydlwhite.com/shop'>booksbydlwhite.com/shop</a>Support this show with a recurring gift at <a href='https://bookcast.buzzsprout.com/'>bookcast.buzzsprout.com</a> or Buymeacoffee.com/booksbydlwhite. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate &amp; review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And if you really liked it, tell a friend.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Welcome back to &lt;em&gt;The Bookcast&lt;/em&gt;. I’m DL White, and this episode is an easy, unstructured start to Season 7!  I’m talking through how I approach a new year, what I’ve been reading, what I want to write, and how I’m easing into 2026 without forcing goals before I’m ready.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Books mentioned in this episode: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Kin&lt;/em&gt; — Tayari Jones (ebook, ARC)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;No One Knew&lt;/em&gt; — Kendra Elliott (audiobook, ALC)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Champagne Taste on a Bad Boy Budget&lt;/em&gt; — Zuri Day (audiobook, recent release)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Books by DL White referenced&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Calculated Risk&lt;/em&gt; (now wide; ebook, print, and audio)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Never List&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Missing Persons&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Hey Lover&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Elysium&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Pearl&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Shorts &amp;amp; Fanfiction&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;A Misadventure in Cloudcroft, New Mexico&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Questions and Answers (coming up on Substack sook)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Writing Plans for 2026&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;The goal is &lt;b&gt;two &amp;amp; a possible&lt;/b&gt;.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;My first project of the year is in planning, anticipated to be ready before &lt;b&gt;Black Romance Book Fest in May&lt;/b&gt;, which means drafting now and editing by late March.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;I’m using &lt;b&gt;20K in Five Days (Jan 21–25)&lt;/b&gt; to get a strong foundation in place.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Continue producing shorter works to increase reader discovery &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Writing new characters makes me more energized right now than forcing long-stalled series work.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;Everything else is light and in-flux. My year really begins in March, so I&amp;apos;m ramping slowly. Strap in for the ride! &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;a rel="payment" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2150199/support"&gt;Support the show&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Stay connected:&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Visit my website–&lt;a href='https://Booksbydlwhite.com'&gt;Booksbydlwhite.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Join my newsletter – &lt;a href='https://booksbydlwhite.com/newsletter'&gt;booksbydlwhite.com/newsletter&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Follow me on Substack–&lt;a href='https://authordlwhite.substack.com'&gt;Main Substack&lt;/a&gt; | &lt;a href='https://shortfictionbydlwhite.substack.com'&gt;Short Fiction Substack&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Buy books &amp;amp; merch – &lt;a href='https://booksbydlwhite.com/shop'&gt;booksbydlwhite.com/shop&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Support this show with a recurring gift at &lt;a href='https://bookcast.buzzsprout.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;bookcast.buzzsprout.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt; or Buymeacoffee.com/booksbydlwhite.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;If you enjoyed this episode, please rate &amp;amp; review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And if you&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt; really&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt; liked it, tell a friend.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Welcome back to The Bookcast. I’m DL White, and this episode is an easy, unstructured start to Season 7!  I’m talking through how I approach a new year, what I’ve been reading, what I want to write, and how I’m easing into 2026 without forcing goals before I’m ready. Books mentioned in this episode:  Kin — Tayari Jones (ebook, ARC)No One Knew — Kendra Elliott (audiobook, ALC)Champagne Taste on a Bad Boy Budget — Zuri Day (audiobook, recent release)Books by DL White referenced Calcul...

Bookcast Episode 134:  Ima Letchu Finish...

The Bookcast by DL White is my platform for sharing short fiction and updates on life as a self published author of contemporary fiction.&nbsp; &nbsp;

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