Summer Reads! (2022)

Jennifer and Erin discuss upcoming and current book releases perfect for reading over the summer. They also talk about big program highlights for June and July 2023.

Jennifer and Erin talk about poetry well after National Poetry Month. They discuss their different exposures to poetry growing up, memorizing and reciting Annabel Lee in grade school, and give some recommendations for their favorite poems.

Savannah Sipple-McGraw joins us again to read from her work WWJD and Other Poems, which explores what it is to be a queer woman in Appalachia and is rooted in its culture and in her body.

Danni Quintos read selections from her work Two Brown Dots when she joined us last December. Two Brown Dots explores what it means to be a racially ambiguous, multiethnic, Asian American woman growing up in Kentucky.

Both sets of poems deal with sometimes heavy emotions around identity and self, so please take care of yourself. The poems are individually chaptered if you need to skip one.

Jennifer interviews Hannah Allen, local Lexington artist specializing in quilts, and Erin and Jennifer host a special segment for Women's History Month. Hannah recently completed an artist in residency for the Department of Finance of Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. She and Jennifer discuss her artistic background and her work with Lexington Public Library in the Makerspace at Eastside Branch. 

Erin and Jennifer talk with librarians Juniper, Cecilee and Brooke about the “Girls Who” teen program celebrating non-traditional careers for women and gender minorities during Women’s History Month. As part of the Girls Who program, Juniper, Brooke and Cecilee flip the script and interview Jennifer and Erin about podcasting.

The "Girls Who Podcast" segment references the following study: Werner JL, Lewiss RE, Pensa G, McGregor AJ. Women in Podcasting: We Should Tune In. Perm J. 2020 Sep;24:1-3. doi: 10.7812/TPP/19.241. PMID: 33482933; PMCID: PMC7849288 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7849288/

Jennifer interviews local indie author Tyeshia Sturgis, also known as T.L Sturgis, about her decade-long career in writing, her approaches to writing in different genres, and her passion for mentoring new writers. Tyeshia also discusses how to become an indie author, and what a typical writing day looks like for her. Tyeshia’s works can be found on her website, www.tyeshiasturgis.com.

Jennifer talks with local poet Danni Quintos about her work and latest book release Two Brown Dots. They discuss her writing style for her poetry and her knitting. In Behind the Scenes, Erin hears from librarians Jennie and Mary about LPL After School. Danni closes the podcast with a reading from Two Brown Dots. Two Brown Dots is available for checkout from the library.

Learn More about LPL After School.

Jennifer welcomes back Lynn Hightower to discuss more about her book, The Enlightenment Project and her own experiences with the supernatural. Lynn closes the podcast with a reading from The Enlightenment Project. The Enlightenment Project is available for check out, and is now out in paperback.

The song "Something Scary is Behind Us" by Paweł Feszczuk is used under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Jennifer talks with local author Kaitlyn Hill about her debut YA novel “Love from Scratch” and her journey in publishing. Kaitlyn’s book is available for checkout from the library and for purchase wherever books and audiobooks are sold. On Behind the Scenes, Erin talks with Amanda Wheeler and Bryan Klausing about the library’s experiential learning spaces (the Digital Studio, the Kloiber Foundation STEAM Lab, and the Eastside Makerspace) and programs. 

Jennifer sits down with local poet, essayist and educator Savannah Sipple about her writing and career. They discuss Savannah’s inspirations, her favorite courses to teach in higher education, what she’s reading and what releases she’s looking forward to this year. Savannah’s poetry collection is available for checkout from the library and for purchase on her website. In Behind the Scenes, Erin talks with Lori Davis, Workforce Development Manager, about the Library’s workforce development programming and philosophy. 

Jennifer and Erin have combed through the summer’s most anticipated releases lists, and discuss the ones they’re looking forward to the most. Erin interviews Doug Tattershall about the library’s gallery spaces. 

Jennifer interviews best-selling thriller author Lynn Hightower about her new release The Enlightenment Project.  Erin interviews Kelli Parmley about the library’s summer programming.