Today, we’re celebrating the 100th episode of Sarah’s Bookshelves Live with a very special Ask Me Anything episode co-hosted by Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books. Catherine turns the tables to ask me all the questions you submitted. We go behind the scenes of the podcast, talk about my reading life, and my life outside of reading. Plus, Catherine answers a few questions!

This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

Announcements

• My 2022 Rock Your Reading Tracker is now available for $14.99 or FREE if you’re a Superstars Patron! The tracker also got a big upgrade for 2022!

Highlights

• Lots of behind-the-scenes questions about the podcast.
• Sarah’s original plan for the podcast included a co-host!
• Authors Sarah was nervous to interview and those who put her at ease.
• The thing that amps up Sarah’s anxiety as she is recording.
• Most enjoyed episodes and the things Sarah hates about podcasting.
• Sarah’s current rating system — all those quarter-stars!
• Sarah talks about reading droughts and how she gets herself out of a slump.
• The fun way Sarah offloads the physical books she no longer needs.
• Sarah’s and Catherine’s pre-blog and pre-podcast lives.
• How Sarah manages her reading-life, work-life, and home-life balance.
• The job that influenced the Reading Tracker.
• Sarah’s swimming events and Sarah’s and Catherine’s current hobbies/interests.

Topic Highlights

Behind the Scenes of the Podcast [05:47]
A few of the questions answered:

• What inspired Sarah to start the podcast. [05:53]
• Sarah’s plans and preparations for podcast episodes. [10:16]
• Unexpected moments while recording the podcast episodes [14:35]
• Dream author and non-author guests [17:43]

Reading Life & History [37:37]
A few of the questions answered:

• Has Sarah always been a reader? [37:45]
• A breakdown on Sarah’s book quarter-star rating system. [38:37]
• Does Sarah automatically get Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) from publishers? [41:01]
• What did Sarah’s reading life look like before the podcast and blog, and how has it changed? [42:12]

Life Outside of Reading [50:30]
A few of the questions answered:

• What Sarah’s and Catherine’s pre-podcast lives looked like. [50:40]
• How Sarah manages balancing being a mom, wife, and a businesswoman. [53:55]
• Did Sarah always want a career related to books? [55:23]
• Sarah’s and Catherine’s non-reading hobbies. [58:18]

Books Mentioned

• Write for Your Life by Anna Quindlen (April 12, 2022) | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [18:49] 
• The Tender Bar by J. R. Moehringer | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [21:22]
• Sutton by J. R. Moehringer | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [21:33]
• Open by Andre Agassi | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [21:35]
• Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [01:00:32]

Other Links

• Podcast Episode 56: Holly Root (Literary Agent) on the Rise of Rom-Coms & Publishing in the Coronavirus Era
• Podcast Episode 26: Beck Dorey-Stein (Author of the memoir From the Corner of the Oval)
• Currently Reading Podcast | Season 4, Episode 14: An Hour to Myself – Finding Time to Read

About Catherine Gilmore

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Catherine started The Gilmore Guide to Books over 6 years ago after wrapping up a career as a corporate librarian. She loves books and reading (surprise!) and currently lives in Ann Arbor, MI.