Bookwild - Reflecting on My First In Person Interview, And Getting Emosh About Bookish Communities

Episode Date: February 27, 2026

It's a solo ep today! I get into the full story of my first ever in-person author interview at Wild Geese Bookshop with Kate Alice Marshall!  I give a play by play of what was going on in my head, and share some fun facts about Kate Alice Marshall. For me, the experience ended up being a reminder of how far Bookwild has come. I reflect on the journey from starting a bookish podcast with no audience to finding a community of readers, authors, and indie bookstores who now feel like found family.   Get a copy of Kate Alice Marshall's The Girls Before Check out Wild Geese Bookshop Check Out Author Social Media PackagesCheck out the Bookwild Community on PatreonCheck Out My Stories Are My Religion SubstackGet Bookwild MerchFollow @imbookwild on InstagramOther Co-hosts On Instagram:Gare Billings @gareindeedreadsSteph Lauer @books.in.badgerlandHalley Sutton @halleysutton25Brian Watson @readingwithbrianMacKenzie Green @missusa2mba 

So because of a couple scheduling things, you just get me for this buddy episode this Friday. To be fair, one of the scheduling things is the thing that I'm going to talk about for this episode, which you've probably already read the title. And so you know that I am going to be discussing my first in-person interview. I have obviously done hundreds. I guess we are to like episode 360 something. So if half of those are author episodes, I guess I am close to the hundreds of these types of interviews where it's like you pop on camera, you meet someone for the first time and you start talking. And I mentioned that because it was funny. I was asked by Wild Geese Bookshop, who is my favorite indie bookshop in the whole world so far.

there in Franklin, Indiana for any of my Indiana listeners or anyone nearby who maybe wants to come to some really great bookish events. Because before I found out about wild geese, I would go to Chicago often. I was starting to go to Chicago often because some of my favorite authors would be there. And I was having so much fun going to actual in-person events because I'm sure we have some introverted listeners here. And while you truly are not going to really, really, really, really recharge with people, if it's the right people, it will feel like you are recharging with them. And I was just having more fun going to in-person events too. And then I found out actually one of the libraries in Indiana, they have really, really great guests too. And so I was at one of those and someone introduced me to Wild Geese. And I was like, oh my God, they're having huge authors. So the first event that I went to with them was Megan Miranda. And that was really fun.

And then it was Rachel Harrison, who she is just so fun in person. She is as fun as she manages to make the horror genre. And then, oh, I did some videos actually with Lane Fargo when she came here for her paperback release for the favorites. And then after Rachel Harrison, I got to see Eye on. Gray who wrote I Medusa. If you've been listening, you know how obsessed I am with that book. So I've just seen so many great authors with this bookshop. And I'm so grateful for them. I think it is so cool that the owner Tiffany has like managed to put Indiana on the book map. When I saw Alice Feeney, that was who I saw next. In her introduction, she talked about how she used to go to New York.

and be around publicists and publishers and like people in the industry. And she would be like, please, please consider coming to Indiana. Like we make our own fun, which made me laugh because it is kind of like that where it's like, what do we have to do here in Indiana? Well, if you love reading, you can go to some really exciting bookish events. And I am just, I admire her so much that she had a vision and that she wanted it to she wanted to put Indiana on the book map. I just admire it so much and I'm so grateful for it. And I have found what feels like my people in person. I have so many of you wonderful people I'm friends with

online. I'm so grateful for that. This has been like an example of me finally finding people who live near me who feel like my people. And that has not always been the case. And it just warms my heart to be around more readers so much. So I have just, Wild Geese has been changing my bookish life over the last year and I'm so grateful for them. And I signed up for the K. Alice Marshall event when I saw that they had it and I was very excited. And then I got an advanced listener's copy of it. And so I started listening to it and I tagged them. And I was like, oh my gosh, here's the book i was like oh my gosh i just started listening to the girls before by k alice marshall and i can't wait for the wild geese event with her and they reached out and asked if i wanted to be in

conversation with her and i was like um yes thank you so much i thought it was so cool that they reached out because as you can tell i'm just a total fan girl of them right now um and so I also did have to laugh a little bit. I have never done one in person. This was my first one in person. This was my first one with an audience. And when I realized it was going to be two kates, I was like, this kind of feels a little bit like kismet, just a little bit.

So I was so excited. I really enjoyed the book. I'm trying to make sure I don't give away any spoilers. But I do think that so many of you will love this one. it is a very atmospheric and character-driven mystery thriller. I really don't want to spoil anything, so I will just actually read this. Stranger is trapped in the dark with only her imagination and the scribbles left on the wall by long dead girls to keep her company.

Nearly out of food and water, she makes one last attempt to escape. But if the door opens at last, will it mean salvation, or will it be only the beginning of her fight to survive? Audrey Dixon, a search and rescue expert, has never stopped looking for her ex-best friend, Janie, who disappeared when they were teenagers. Janie used to love the local legend of a forest witch who saves girls from bad men, but Audrey knows now that for everyone saved, another is lost. Then Audrey stumbles upon evidence in the forest that a missing teenage girl presumed a runaway might have actually been kidnapped from land belonging to the town's most prominent family. and the evidence is linked to the legend Janie was obsessed with. As Audrey hunts for a girl, no one else is looking for.

Her fate and strangers become intertwined, and she'll have to dig through decades of secrets to reveal the biggest one of all. What happened to the girls before? It is a really beautiful cover. I'm not sure for the YouTubers. Yeah, you can kind of see that some of it is like shiny, some of it is Matt. Very, very, very cool cover. and also just a very, it's a very fun thriller.

And I really loved like the atmosphere. It's very moody. There's the whole witch part of it all, but like a witch who protects women from bad men, which like, let's be honest, that might be what witches have always been. Or maybe not. At least a large part of people who were accused of being witches were probably people who were probably people who were protecting those who needed protection. But enough of that or this episode will be very long.

The other thing that was so exciting, I just, the episode came out earlier this week. Had an episode with Susanna M. Morris who wrote Positive Obsession, which is, she calls it a cultural biography about Octavia E. Butler. And so, yeah, the subtitle is The Life in Times of Octavia E. Butler. and I was so excited because when she reached, I reached out to her to see if she wanted to do an interview because I have become obsessed with Octavia Butler. I just, I wish I could go back in time and talk to her. I'm so obsessed with her and so I was so happy that the author wanted to talk with me about it. And so I was also like, it is time to get a book trophy of this. So if you are on YouTube,

I was so happy you can see photos. of her in the physical copy. So I listened and took notes heavily from an audio book. And so I did just love getting to see these pictures and I was able to go pick this up because I am buying my trophies through them now through Wild Geese. So all of that being said, Kay Alice Marshall came to Wild Geese and I got to chat with her. So when they initially reached out and we're like, hey, do you want to do it? I was like, yes. And I was obviously very excited. And it just sounded so amazing. I was like, this is just going to be fun. I think it was a few weeks ahead of, I think it was like three weeks ago that I found out and just like wasn't thinking anything

of it. And then all of a sudden, three days before, I was all of a sudden nervous. And I was like, where is this coming from? Like I was not feeling this way. Like this is what I've done a hundred hundreds of times. I know how to talk about books obviously. And then I was like, okay, well, it is different. This is the first time that I'm doing it in front of an audience. And so I was like, it's okay. Like you also, it's also because you care, which Tiffany reminded me. I told her she's the owner. I'll keep trying to say that. So you can keep track of people. but I was telling her right before I was like, I got a little bit nervous. And I was like, but then I actually asked myself, like, so what am I scared of?

And I was like, oh, I'm scared of like saying something stupid. And I was like, that's what you're scared of? Like, I have never judged an interviewer who like got tied up on something or whatever. And I was like, this is silly. And let's be honest, a wound, me being so nervous about not being. stupid. So I was able to shake it off most of the time, but even when I was telling her, she was like, it just means that you care, though. Like, that's good that you care about how it goes. And I was like, you're right. That's a, that's a good point. So I got to talk with Kate a little bit

beforehand. And it did make me, like, laugh a little bit because there's like a kind of like an atrium area where a lot of people get there early because the way they do their book events, they also have, like there's a food truck. So a lot of friends like come together. and like get there an hour early and get food and get cocktails and like hang out and have dinner together for the first hour, which I also think is such a cool approach. And so she came in and she was like, I just have to pull her to the side. Like they weren't allowed in until 530. But it's because she's the interviewer and she was like, we just don't want it to be like she starts having a conversation with the author for the first time ever. And it's just like, hey. And it made me giggle.

And I didn't over explain myself in the moment. But that's what this podcast is for for me to over explain and yop about all the things I yapp too much about. It made me laugh because that is what it feels like doing video episodes with new people. Obviously, there are some authors who come on a lot who have been on multiple times. And those, I'm like, oh, okay, these are my friends. I know how to talk to them. I've probably been talking to them throughout the year. But anytime it is a completely new author for me, you can believe 100,000 million percent. I'm still getting nervous before it. Not the kind of nervous that's like, oh my God, I absolutely can't do it. But you just, you don't know if you're going to get rapport with these people. You don't know if they're going to have a lot to

say because like that's the other thing. Sometimes I read a book and I'm like, there's so much to talk about with this book. I'm probably going to talk to this person for a while. And then that's not what happens. And then other times I'll be like, I don't know. I hope I can find enough to talk about this, about this book. And then I'll end up talking to the person forever. So you just, you can't predict it. Like you just absolutely can't predict it at all. So actually, that's how I feel every time that I go into an interview with a new person. I'm like, hey. And try. And try to like give them like details and then I'm like okay we're going to record but it is it is a little bit intimidating sorry this is going to be the hiccup episode you guys know that I can't control them for whatever reason sometimes it can just be so intimidating and you're like I know I want to talk to this person but I have no clue how it's going to go in in most cases five or 10 minutes into it maybe probably not even 10 probably like five minutes into it I'm like okay okay I got this

this is working for me. But that wasn't the case. I did get to talk to Kate Marshall a little bit before. She is very cool. If I could include our conversation, I would, but they are asked not to record those conversations. So yeah, so I would share, but I can't totally, but it was fun. She was signing all the books. I'm sure like once you've signed enough books, it's just kind of like a normal thing but for me it was like the first time watching someone just signed so many books that was pretty fun for me because of course it was uh i am that kind of bookish and so yeah we were just kind of hanging and then all of a sudden it was time okay and now for a play by play since you know it was time tiffany was so sweet she was like you can kind of talk this amount

here are the audience questions and like yeah like when you're done you're done and i was just like I kept thinking they were going to tell me like, you need to do this and this and this and this and I was like, damn, they just trust me. And I was like saying that to Tyler. I was like, they just like thought I could believe I could do it. And he was like, they've listened to you have conversations with other authors, Kate. And I was like, okay, you are right. This is kind of the same thing. But the venue that they were at, they have a couple different venues they do stuff at. There's a theater for like 600-ish people. And then they, they, they There are a couple, like, wineries or farms. It's very common in Indiana for, like, a huge barn on a farm type location to be used as a venue for, like, weddings, book clubs, author events, all of that. So it's a really cool venue. I really do enjoy the venue. I felt like I was walking forever. Like, she gave me this beautiful, wonderful, nice introduction.

and talked about my podcast. And then all of a sudden we were walking. And I was like, I have never walked with people clapping. And that was, that was actually like the only part where I remained mostly a little bit nervous still where I was like, I feel like I've been walking forever. And I have never walked to applause. So that was actually the thing that was like the most new for me, basically and then I sat down and started asking questions and it was fantastic it was so much fun she had some really cool stories she hand writes when she first gets an idea I think I can tell you this I would assume I can tell you this this isn't the recording of it but like when she kind of has an idea she does a bunch of handwriting she says she has like calligraphy pins and everything and like talks to herself about the book for a while and then goes into drafting,

which I was like, it's so fascinating how different authors have so many different routines. So yeah, it's so cool hearing those little details and she writes books quickly. She writes them so quickly. I was asking her before it. I was asking her a little bit about her process beforehand because I just can't stop myself. I was like, I know I'm going to be asking you questions here soon, but can I ask you some too? And she just, she can write a draft so quickly. And she also said, like, her favorite part of writing is the revising. So she just wants to get done with the drafting as quickly as she possibly can, which made a lot of sense to me.

I'm not going to lie. but one of the craziest things that she mentioned what lies in the woods which I have somewhere which I think was her breakout into adult mystery thrillers. She's written YA as well but she wrote that one in five weeks her draft she was just like between projects and wrote it in five weeks I was shocked and that's the one that like I've heard a lot of

non-thriller readers have even read that one so I was just I was blown away I was like girl you were made to write like clearly she was meant to write so that was yeah that was like another conversation that we were having kind of beforehand but then it was like truly even Tyler said because he went to take pictures um he was like it really was just like hearing you on a podcast and I was like yeah you're right that is what it was and so I did kind of get into a good flow with her. There was one point where I was listening to her so much that like I didn't prep my next question. I couldn't think of the question.

And, you know, I literally just said, oh, I forgot what my next question was. And then said the next question. My whole body flushed. I was like hot. And my cheeks got red. and I was blushing and I was like, Kate, it is okay. But I think with podcasting, it's so easy to cut those out where like it was very different having so many people looking at me and waiting for me to continue the conversation

and me not having a question. But, you know, I survived, obviously. And it was so much fun. And you always learn about yourself in those situations. like I'm still blushing when I just forget something, which is not, you know, like a really big deal. Listen to me fighting for reassurance. That's the OCD with the reassurance seeking. But yeah, I still got a little nervous.

But like the other thing that it reminded me, even like when I was being introduced and Tiffany was talking about how I'd had a podcast since 2021, I was like, I really have had a podcast since 2021. And so I was even in my feels a little bit at one point where I was like, like all of these opportunities that are happening now are because I started so many years ago when I had like zero audience, when nobody on Bookstagram knew that I read. And I can't remember if I've really told this story here that often. But I've always been a really big reader. but I was just never running into people like in real life who were also readers. Especially when I only read thrillers, I definitely wasn't running into people who were reading thrillers voraciously. So I just wasn't having any conversations about books.

And so like kind of the full extent of having a conversation about it was going to like good reads reviews and like seeing stuff. But then my husband and I, we have. help people with content creation. And so I got to a point where I was like, I have the equipment, like, why not start a bookish podcast? And I remember I reached out to six authors thinking, because I didn't know. I was like, will people even respond? And I reached out to six authors. And four of them said yes. And I was like, well, I guess I'm starting a podcast. And that's just been the beginning of it. And so it's fascinating because this was all making me kind of reflect on building book wild where I'm like, I really did make something out of nothing. And it's one of the

most joyful things in my life now. And I have made closer friends than I've ever had previously in my life. And that means a lot to me. And when I started, I wasn't even thinking about the fact that community would happen. I wanted to talk to authors. I wanted to talk with other readers. It didn't like hit me that I would also be building a community of people. And that was like a really, really beautiful realization I had when we started having like multiple co-hosts. So I mean, Gare's talked about it. But for anyone who's new and listening, Gare and I were like, he was like the only reader I would have on episodes every Friday. for a while and then he ran into some really frustrating health complications that he's talked about

but i also feel weird talking about people's health stuff so you can go look at his page if you want to see it and so he needed to take a break which i totally understood and as you know i can yap solo so i was thinking i might even still do that but i realized i had talked with more and more people more and so step came on some episodes and hallie came on some episodes and my friend brian did a couple episodes and now McKinsey is doing episodes with us too and I just I'm so incredibly grateful for not like just the book wild community I'm not even like containing it to me but the bookish community at large that I've been able to engage with and the friendships I've made because of it it just it really does mean so much to me I know I keep saying it so I'll stop

for a little bit. But I do earnestly mean that. And so when I was there and like seeing these people like all excited about books, it also reminds me of when I started my sub stack, I thought I was going to have more time to write blogs. And that has not necessarily been the case. And it doesn't mean that it won't moving forward. But what I started it, when I started it was because I'd seen someone on TikTok talking about how when you lose your religion, sometimes that means there are gaps in what religion filled for you. So from an evolutionary perspective, religion provides a way to process death, community, ways to experience awe and transcendent moments, rituals, and ways to interact with your subconscious and conscious selves.

And when I saw that, it dawned on me that reading and books in general provide that for me. Now, I had someone to ask recently, are you an atheist? Are you agnostic? I don't know. What I do know is I want to stay curious. And I gain wisdom from all kinds of religions, philosophies, and even just ways different people approach life. So I don't know that I'm atheist. I don't know that I'm agnostic. I don't know what I think about in afterlife. I know I love Jesus as an activist. So there's that. It's been a wild year for me, as the long-term listeners know. I am a pastor's kid who deconstructed after I got away from that house. I also lived in a house that was abusive, even when all of it wasn't religious abuse.

It was abuse in general. And so once I got away from that, I deconstructed. And I probably did consider myself an atheist for, I don't know, a few months. It's so scary when you start to deconstruct. It's so terrifying. You feel like the things you've been taught me, and if I even ask questions, oh my god i'm going to go straight to hell and that freaks me out so much but then i started kind of realizing like if it's that fear keeping me from asking questions i don't think that

feels very spiritual to me so i i don't know what i would call myself but we jokingly have said that ever since i read john fougal saying separation of church and hate and then went on to interview him. We've been joking around that in 2025, things got so rough that I had to come to Jesus moment. And I crack myself up every time I say it. So you guys are just going to have to hear it every now and then because I'm that kind of a person. But all of that to say, I, in leaving the church that I grew up in, I feel like I also have like filled these like evolutionary needs of community. I have friends. I have I have friends that I'm actually friends with. I meet friends at bookish events. I get to be around people who I think a lot of readers are

empathetic and that's really important for me. So I found a community of mostly empathetic people ways to experience awe and transcendent moments. Like I still was even having that moment last night sitting there like looking at all the people there for a book event like it makes me so happy and like even seeing like some of the some of the guys who are there who were even asking questions I'm like I needed this I need to be seeing more men who love reading so like even that on transcendent moments to see men that passionate about reading I say that with all the love in the world for the men who are readers. And I think you know what I mean. Rituals, it's like I read every day. I pretty much read myself to sleep because I'm just no matter how good the book is, I will be

falling asleep. I can't stay awake. And ways to interact with your subconscious and conscious selves. That happens a lot for me when I'm reading so much so that sometimes I'm reading something and my conscious self is like, oh, that reminds me of something. And I'm like, oh, cool. It's kind of nice to see that someone else went through something like this or had to figure out feelings like this. And then maybe a couple weeks later, my subconscious is like, hey, that still kind of hurts. Maybe we should look at this.

And I'm like, damn it, I don't want to. And my subconscious is like, yeah, it's still back here. Might be something to look at. And I'm like, okay. So I feel like books even give me that, the whole. the way to interact with my subconscious and my conscious selves. I mean, when I started therapy, that's what I was like asking her all the time. What can I read? What can I read? What can I read? What can I read? What can I be doing in between the weeks? Um, toxic parents was, I think it's just called

toxic parents was the first book I read. And then there's a book about the narcissistic mother wound. And then there was a book about perfection. Like she was so able to give me information that I needed. So even back then, it was books that were grounding me and helping me interact with myself, not just the pre-programmed kid I still was at 18. So books have always, it's always been that for me. It has always been there for me. It was helping me understand myself back when I was in therapy. and it continues to help me understand myself.

And so I was having one of those, like, spiritual moments there sitting there, getting to talk with her, getting to see these other people. And like Emily and Kara who put on these, who help coordinate these events, you can see how passionate they are about it. And thank you to you too as well. I know these events wouldn't be happening without you guys spearheading them and just making them as great as they are.

and Tiffany for creating this bookshop and having a vision and for going to New York and being like, I swear we can be fun in Indiana. I'm so grateful for you guys. The community of it all means so much to me for multiple reasons. And I really was having a spiritual moment, just seeing us all there together. And for the people who talk about how church isn't always a building or church isn't always a always the building with a cross. Sometimes it's another location. I resonate with that. And I've been having very profound spiritual moments in churches that are not the traditional churches that you think of.

And it does mean a lot to me. And I'm really not trying to cry. Because really, if I do think about it, it's like, this is all things that have saved me. And I mean, a lot to me and I'm just happy to be a part of it. I'm so happy that they asked me to even do it. It's always a good experience to learn like, oh, I still get a little nervous about this because it's like I do want to do other events as well in the future. And so it was good to get one under my belt with such a loving little bookshop. I love you all there. They have a podcast called Fill Your Cup. And so if any of you guys are like,

I really need another bookish podcast in my life. I will link it in the show notes. I've listened to the episodes. I really do enjoy their episodes. We have some books in common. Some got added to my TBR. As you all know, you can't be a reader without that happening. Like anytime you're hearing someone else talk passionately about a book.

So I'm just so great. for them. It was such a wonderful experience. And like to sound maybe preachy, but I don't think it is. I just, I wanted to also point out there was a time 10 years ago when I was really struggling to understand the fact that I was diagnosed with schizoid disorder. And it has a lot to do with being very self-isolating and not putting yourself out there and being a little bit scared of friendships, of people, not knowing what to do. It was definitely intertwined with my C-P-T-S-D that sometimes makes me feel like I just want to fawn all day and not go anywhere. But I was struggling with it so much. And I remember feeling like, I am just an introvert. Like,

is this really a diagnosis? And truly the podcast helped kind of drag me out of that where I was like, no, I just needed to find the right people. I think I've mentioned maybe before, now you're just getting some personal insights. I don't know if this is what you were wanting, but my mom was the histrionic parent. And my dad was the, I don't know, I'm scared of her too, parent. And for the first part of my, from like 18, 19, 20, 21, getting away from the house. I was so scared of women, which is probably funny for you to hear now because it could not be more opposite, but that was my experience was my mom was more outwardly scary than my dad.

And then I learned some things there where I'm like, oh, I'm scared of men and women. And then I learned, oh, this is my past. I don't have to be scared of one or the other completely. But where I'm really going with that is now I've met women who are the, people who ground me and make me feel safe and see me. And that was a really healing experience because I used to be so scared of them. And now I'm actually technically more scared of men by and large, but in the way that all women are. Like, you get what I'm saying. So I do think like even sitting there in front of an audience getting to do that, I was having moments where I was like,

there was a time that I didn't think I was going to be able to get past schizoid and it freaked me out. Therapy is very scary at the beginning. Anyone who's done it knows that you have your moments of like they did this to me and it's like yes and I'm sorry that they did that to you and that was wrong. And then there's the moment that's like, and now what are you going to do about it? But in those first few months, it's so scary because you're finding out these wounds that you have. And I had a lot. I had a lot of different things to work through. And it can be so overwhelming.

There's like the anger at the people who raised you that way. And then there's the like, what is actually me and what is a wound and what is just programming they put on me? And so it was really scary. where I was like, maybe I'm just not meant to be social. Like, maybe this is just part of who I am. It's very difficult to try to parse all of that out. And I'm so grateful that I kept learning. I was not thinking I was going to cry.

I'm so grateful that I kept learning and started putting myself in situations that scared me a little bit because I trusted the people around me who are saying, like, you can get there. and it will be worth it. And so sometimes when I'm getting to talk with authors in any arena, but especially ones where I'm in person with people, and I'm enjoying it,

I just become really, really grateful that I didn't stay where I started out as an adult. And I'm so grateful that reading has always mattered so much to me. I was like, I don't like to talk about it because I don't, I actually don't love. like sounding like I'm like, I am so smart. But like I read all of the Laurie Ingalls Wilder chapter books before I went to kindergarten and everyone was like, wow, she's like a reading genius.

It just didn't even mean anything to me because even back then it was like no matter how scared I was at home and no matter what was going on, I could escape into a book. And so for me it wasn't like, oh, I'm really. really young in reading, I was like, this is my thing. This is the thing bringing me joy. So reading has always been there for me, even when I was really little, and even when what I was allowed to read was really restricted. It was always there for me. And in adulthood, it has remained something that is always there for me and something that calms me down so quickly. And so it means so much to me now that on top of all of that, it's also made me friends and introduced me to communities where I feel safe.

And I know it can sound really exaggerated for like a white girl talking about feeling safe. I'm hardly the person in the most danger in the world right now. but I'm just so grateful that I found my bookish people and it means a lot. And having said all that, I feel like there's plenty of readers who are introverted. And if you just want to stay home and read your books or listen to them, please do. Please do. I am not pushing anyone out of their house ever. But I just did want to mention that you might meet a lot of other somewhat introverted people who really love stories, who really exercise their empathy muscle and are reading a lot of different things.

And so you can have community with them. You can have community with books they recommend to you. You can find groups of friends. You can find bookshops that feel like found family. Found family will always get me. I'm not surprised that that came back there. I'm also reading Ken by Tyari Jones right now, which is all about two girls who've only ever wanted to experience family, real family.

So I'm also reading something that's pushing all of this up, right? now. Found family is powerful whether you have a great or okay relationship with your family. I sometimes some people are like, well, I do have a good family. No, you can have found family too. Found family means it's people who feel like family, feel like what family should be, even though they're not your family. And found family is so powerful. And I just, I just, just encourage people, even if you're introverted, to either, you know, interact with the community, the bookish community on like Bookstagram, or maybe find an indie bookshop near you because it is really fun to talk with booksellers. I just want everyone to know that there's a lot of found

family that can be found in books. And some of you might be like, Kate, I'm not struggling there. Why are you telling me this? I don't know. I wasn't expecting to cry. So I'm not entirely sure why I'm telling you this, but it was a really, really, really, really wonderful night. I really, really, really love Wild Geese Book Shop. You all are amazing. And then to the listeners, I am going to have them on the podcast. We're going to get the details sorted out. Everyone's busy.

But we're going to get some details sorted out so that we can do that because I want to hear about how Miss Tiffany from Indiana, grew such a great bookish presence. I told her, I was like, girl, you put Indiana on the bookish map. And she was like, I'm trying. I was like, no, you did it. So I really want to hear her story. And then I also want to hear from all of the wonderful booksellers there because I've heard them on the podcast as well. And they all kind of have like their own specialties within it. And I think you guys would love them as much as I do. So there will definitely be some wild geese episodes here in the future. I feel if I keep talking, I'm just going to keep getting more and more emotional about how much I love books and indie bookstores and churches that are not church building. So I think that's the wrap up.

Obviously, if you have any questions that I did not cover, you can DM me. You can go to the Patreon. That link is everywhere you would think it is. You can comment on this episode. But yeah, if you had any other questions, shoot them my way. But otherwise, thank you guys for being a part of why I even got to do this. Because without some of this audience, I don't think I would be as visible for doing something like that. So thank you all for listening.

Thank you all for being a part of the Book Wild community. and I hope everyone, whether they have good family or not, is always accumulating some found family.