Mariam sits down with local author Fiona Young-Brown about her newest book Secret Lexington: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure. They talk about what brought Fiona to Kentucky from the UK and her writing process while discussing a few of the places highlighted in the book. Secret Lexington is available for checkout and for purchase from your favorite bookstore or from the publisher.

Later, Mariam highlights some memoirs coming out in November, and Erin highlights just a few of the programs happening at the library this month.

On this episode of Turning the Page, Courtney Block, academic librarian and author joins us by phone to talk about her upcoming work, Inside the World's Haunted Libraries. She and Mariam discuss the inspiration for her work, and how her academic background and work as a university reference librarian informs her view into the paranormal.

In the second half of the episode, Mariam tells us about the two books that have her attention this month, I Just Wish I had Bigger Kitchen by Kate Strickler, and Silas House's new murder mystery set in Kentucky titled Dead Man Blues. Erin talks about the library's busy October, and highlights several programs happening over the month.

Mariam sits down with Teen Howl host Jessica Taylor and Teen Howler Grace Tomazic about the Teen Howl Poetry Series for Lexington’s under-21 poets. Jessica tells us about her experience in the Teen Howl program, then taking it over in recent years. Grace tells us about her recent Teen Howl experience, and reads one of her poems called “Hungover”. This poem deals with adult themes and has adult language, so listener’s discretion is advised.

Smudged: Teen Howl Anthology 2025 will be available at the library.

Later, Erin and Mariam talk about upcoming book releases and library programs in August.

In this live event recording, Mariam talks with Jennifer Longworth of Bourbon Barrel Podcasting about her career in podcasting and her new book Build a Strong Podcast: From Creation to Captivated audience. Later, Jennifer takes questions from our live audience.

Build a Strong Podcast is available for checkout from the library, and for purchase at your favorite bookstore.

As this is an archive of a live event, the episode has only been lightly edited for clarity and audio quality.

Join Mariam in conversation with Babita Shrestha, author and chef behind Plant Based Himalaya, a vegan cookbook centered on Nepali food. They talk about Babita’s upbringing in Nepal, cooking with her mother, and how her cooking style has adapted over the years and with the different places she’s lived. Plant Based Himalaya is available for checkout from the library and for purchase from your favorite bookstore.

Later, Erin and Mariam discuss upcoming books and programs they’re excited about for June.

Renowned poet and professor Nikky Finney has spent her career illuminating the Southern cultural and political heritage of Black people in ways that resonate throughout the country and world. Her ongoing legacy of poignant expression, indomitable truth, and devotion to social justice has enriched the country and world. Join us for this rare opportunity as part of the 250 LEX events to hear about her journey as a writer and becoming an award winning literary icon.

This is episode is a recording of the live event on April 9, 2025. It is presented in its entirety with only minor edits for audio quality. Some parts of the question and answer portion are quiet, but we’ve made every effort to make them louder without sacrificing audio quality.

Mariam sits down with Mariama J. Lockington, local Stonewall Honor and Schneider Family Book Award winning middle-grade and YA poet and novelist. They discuss Mariama’s experiences as a transracial adoptee, and how her lived experiences influenced her debut novel For Black Girls like Me. Mariama gives us a sneak peak of her highly anticipated fourth novel, out in October 2025, I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm, a cozy YA love story between two girls who strike a fake dating deal, until real sparks begin to fly between them. Mariama’s books are available for checkout from the library, and for purchase from your favorite bookstore.

Later, Erin and Mariam talk about two new releases Mariam enjoyed in March. They also talk about the library’s upcoming Community Read for the month of May, Happiness Falls by Angie Kim. Happiness Falls and its book kits are available for checkout now. Finally, Erin tells us about upcoming April programs at the library, including our book clubs and their book picks.

Mariam has a chat with Beth Pride, local author of the nationally celebrated Common Wealth of Kentucky project, about her newly released debut novel, Back to Blue Holly. They talk about Beth’s inspirations for the setting and the community in Blue Holly, a fictional small town in Kentucky, and the warmth of the Kentucky writing community. Back to Blue Holly is available for checkout from the library and for purchase at bethpride.com

After the interview, Erin and Mariam talk about the two upcoming March releases Mariam is most excited for, and a selection of programs at the end of March as part of Lexington’s 250Lex celebration.