Episodes

In this episode, listen to Laura Joy Lloyd’s talk at the Anacortes Public Library in the spring of 2026. Want Laura to speak to your book club or other community organization? Send Laura a message through the Contact page on her website. To learn more about Wren Island novels, interactive serialized fiction, and other fun stuff, head to Laura’s website: https://www.laurajoylloyd.com/ To start influencing what happens on Wren Island, subscribe to receive Laura’s emails: https://www.laurajoylloy...

Discover Wren Island, where there’s always more to the story and YOU influence what happens next! In this episode, the author talks about the second Wren Island novel, Far From Unremarkable, and shares interactive aspects of the story. Get your copy of Far From Unremarkable: https://www.laurajoylloyd.com/ Become a Wren Islander: https://www.laurajoylloyd.com/sign-up-for-lauras-posts/ What is Far From Unremarkable about? A monumental regret. A fluttering chance for redemption. Seventy-year-o...

Children’s author Essea White joins Laura Joy Lloyd to discuss the value of cultivating childlike wonder, the thrill of reading timeless stories, the idiosyncrasies of including fictional characters in our daily lives, and more. More about Essea White: https://www.esseawhite.com/ “I Wonder” children’s book by Essea White: https://www.esseawhite.com/book/ About Laura Joy Lloyd Laura Joy Lloyd writes uplifting contemporary stories set on Pacific Northwest islands. Through an innovative style she ...

Children’s author Essea White joins Laura Joy Lloyd to discuss the value of cultivating childlike wonder, the thrill of reading timeless stories, the idiosyncrasies of including fictional characters in our daily lives, and more. More about Essea White: https://www.esseawhite.com/ Find “I Wonder” children’s book by Essea White: https://www.esseawhite.com/book/ About Laura Joy Lloyd Laura Joy Lloyd writes uplifting contemporary stories set on Pacific Northwest islands. Through an innovative style...

Holly Varni, author of the beloved Moonberry Lake series, joins Laura Joy Lloyd to discuss why older generations deserve more respect on the page, how befriending someone unlike ourself can be helpful, the beauty of letting a story unfold in its own time, why it feels like a calling to write fiction that goes against popular demand, and more. More about Holly Varni: https://www.hollyvarni.com/ Moonberry Lake books by Holly Varni: https://www.hollyvarni.com/hollys-books/ Moments from Moonberry L...

Holly Varni, author of the beloved Moonberry Lake series, joins Laura Joy Lloyd to discuss why older generations deserve more respect on the page, how befriending someone unlike ourself can be helpful, the beauty of letting a story unfold in its own time, why it feels like a calling to write fiction that goes against popular demand, and more. More about Holly Varni: https://www.hollyvarni.com/ Moonberry Lake books by Holly Varni: https://www.hollyvarni.com/hollys-books/ Moments from Moonberry L...

Laura Joy Lloyd shares a musical soundtrack that accompanies episodes of Virgil’s Dilemma. - - For more of the music that inspires Wren Island stories, check out the Wren Island Playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.

Discover Wren Island, where there’s always more to the story and YOU influence what happens next! In this episode, Laura Joy Lloyd reads from Virgil’s Dilemma, a Wren Island story-in-progress, and invites listeners to influence what happens next. What is Virgil’s Dilemma about? A woman on the verge of choosing to trust. A single dad dedicated to protecting his son. A shadow from the past creeping forward at the worst possible time. How do you influence what happens next? Answer questions in ...

Discover Wren Island, where there’s always more to the story and YOU influence what happens next! In this episode, Laura Joy Lloyd reads from Virgil’s Dilemma, a Wren Island story-in-progress, and invites listeners to influence what happens next. What is Virgil’s Dilemma about? A woman on the verge of choosing to trust. A single dad dedicated to protecting his son. A shadow from the past creeping forward at the worst possible time. How do you influence what happens next? Answer questions in ...

Discover Wren Island, where there’s always more to the story and YOU influence what happens next! In this episode, Laura Joy Lloyd reads from Virgil’s Dilemma, a Wren Island story-in-progress, and invites listeners to influence what happens next. What is Virgil’s Dilemma about? A woman on the verge of choosing to trust. A single dad dedicated to protecting his son. A shadow from the past creeping forward at the worst possible time. How do you influence what happens next? Answer questions in ...

Gardener and author Shelley S. Cramm joins Laura Joy Lloyd to discuss how planting a garden is similar to writing fiction, why rallying people to pray can make a difference, why it’s okay to love gardens but not gardening, how someone who’d never read the Bible ended up writing Bible-based devotions, and so much more. Learn more about Shelley S. Cramm: https://www.gardenindelight.com/ God’s Word for Gardeners Bible: https://www.gardenindelight.com/books/niv-gods-word-gardeners-bible-grow-faith-...

Gardener and author Shelley S. Cramm joins Laura Joy Lloyd to discuss how planting a garden is similar to writing fiction, why rallying people to pray can make a difference, why it’s okay to love gardens but not gardening, how someone who’d never read the Bible ended up writing Bible-based devotions, and so much more. Learn more about Shelley S. Cramm: https://www.gardenindelight.com/ God’s Word for Gardeners Bible: https://www.gardenindelight.com/books/niv-gods-word-gardeners-bible-grow-faith-...

Women from Highway 20 Writers join author Laura Joy Lloyd to answer the question: “What advice would you give your 50-year-old self?” Learn more about … Darlene Danner: Essea White: https://www.esseawhite.com/ Wendy S. Miller: https://www.wendysmiller.com/ Joan Rawlins Husby: https://rainsongpress.com/ Inna Chon: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14594550.Inna_Chon Marlene Anderson: https://www.focuswithmarlene.com/ Sylvia Stewart: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5138133.Sylvia...

Christy Award-winning novelist Robin W. Pearson joins Laura Joy Lloyd to discuss how it felt to win that prestigious award, her grandfather’s continuing influence in storytelling, why it’s admirable to “make way” for others, and when to be wary of spiders. Plus, Robin answers a question Laura spent a year and a half working up the courage to ask. Learn more about Robin W. Pearson: https://robinwpearson.com/ Sign up for Robin’s newsletter: https://robinwpearson.com/robins-nest/ Pre-order Robin...

Christy Award-winning novelist Robin W. Pearson joins Laura Joy Lloyd to discuss how it felt to win that prestigious award, her grandfather’s continuing influence in storytelling, why it’s admirable to “make way” for others, and when to be wary of spiders. Plus, Robin answers a question Laura spent a year and a half working up the courage to ask. Learn more about Robin W. Pearson: https://robinwpearson.com/ Sign up for Robin’s newsletter: https://robinwpearson.com/robins-nest/ Pre-order Robin...

Author Jeremiah Friedli joins Laura Joy Lloyd to discuss how losing his own father fueled a desire to write strong father figures into his stories. Why a story originally set in Iceland had to be relocated to Hawaii. Where to find the latest ice cream flavors. And so much more. Learn more about Jeremiah Friedli: https://jeremiahfriedli.com/ Learn more about Wren Island books by Laura Joy Lloyd: https://laurajoylloyd.com/books/ Learn more about interactive serialized fiction: https://laurajoyl...

Author and artist Tessa Burns joins Laura Joy Lloyd to discuss how a character “in the back of the room” became a story’s heart-wrenching focal point. What happens when an author pours themself into the story. Why bumblebees are a metaphor for life. Whether or not bloopers should be included in podcast episodes. And so much more. Discover more about Tessa Burns and her novel Candace Can-Can Cook: https://tessaburns.com/ Discover Tessa’s Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TessaBurnsCreative ...

Author and artist Tessa Burns joins Laura Joy Lloyd to discuss how a character “in the back of the room” became a story’s heart-wrenching focal point. What happens when an author pours themself into the story. Why bumblebees are a metaphor for life. Whether or not bloopers should be included in podcast episodes. And so much more. Discover more about Tessa Burns and her novel Candace Can-Can Cook: https://tessaburns.com/ Discover Tessa’s Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TessaBurnsCreative ...

Author Laura Joy Lloyd shares a musical soundtrack that accompanies episodes of Read with Laura Joy. This is episode 132, Music from Read with Laura Joy. Find the original home for this episode here: https://laurajoylloyd.com/music-from-read-with-laura-joy-rwlj132/ Email subscribers are among the FIRST to hear about new releases and opportunities to influence the current project. This is interactive serialized fiction, where there’s always more to the story and readers influence what happens ne...

Discover Wren Island, where there’s always more to the story and YOU influence what happens next! In this episode, the author talks about the newest Wren Island novel, Interesting Enough, and shares interactive aspects of the story. Get your copy of Interesting Enough: https://laurajoylloyd.com/ Become a Wren Islander: https://laurajoylloyd.com/sign-up-for-lauras-posts/ What is Interesting Enough about? Three unexpected aunts. Two last-chance dogs. One aspiring songwriter determined to becom...

Discover Wren Island, where there’s always more to the story and YOU influence what happens next! In this episode, the author reads from Wren Island with Wallace Around and shares interactive aspects of the story. What is Wren Island with Wallace Around about? After moving to a remote island, 70-year-old Wallace Bernard enjoys unguarded friendship with a charming neighbor—until he realizes she’s the woman he’s been avoiding for fifty years. How does interactive serialized fiction work? Peopl...

Discover Wren Island, where there’s always more to the story and YOU influence what happens next! In this episode, the author reads from Wren Island with Wallace Around and shares interactive aspects of the story. What is Wren Island with Wallace Around about? After moving to a remote island, 70-year-old Wallace Bernard enjoys unguarded friendship with a charming neighbor—until he realizes she’s the woman he’s been avoiding for fifty years. How does interactive serialized fiction work? Peopl...

Discover Wren Island, where there’s always more to the story and YOU influence what happens next! In this episode, the author reads from Wren Island with Wallace Around and shares interactive aspects of the story. What is Wren Island with Wallace Around about? After moving to a remote island, 70-year-old Wallace Bernard enjoys unguarded friendship with a charming neighbor—until he realizes she’s the woman he’s been avoiding for fifty years. How does interactive serialized fiction work? Peopl...

Discover Wren Island, where there’s always more to the story and YOU influence what happens next! In this episode, the author reads from Wren Island with Wallace Around and shares interactive aspects of the story. What is Wren Island with Wallace Around about? After moving to a remote island, 70-year-old Wallace Bernard enjoys unguarded friendship with a charming neighbor—until he realizes she’s the woman he’s been avoiding for fifty years. How does interactive serialized fiction work? Peopl...