Bookish Flights: Books, Author Interviews & Must-Read Recommendations - Books That Rocked Her World: The Original Romance Novels for Sasha Peyton Smith (E136)

Books That Rocked Her World: The Original Romance Novels for Sasha Peyton Smith (E136)

03/12/25 • 38 min

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Bookish Flights: Books, Author Interviews & Must-Read Recommendations

In today’s episode I am chatting with Sasha Peyton Smith. Sasha is the New York Times best-selling author of fantasy novels for young adults including The Witch Haven and The Rose Bargain. Her work has been translated into more than a dozen languages world-wide. She lives in a 100-year-old house in the mountains of Utah, with her husband and (allegedly) two ghosts, though she has yet to see them.

This episode was as much fun to record as it was to read The Rose Bargain. What you’ll find in today’s episode - About Sasha. Her childhood, she started her career in biology and is now a full-time writer. Tips for new writers, difference in writing her first series to writing The Rose Bargain. Her book flight includes books that have rocked her world and shaped her as a reader and a writer.

Episode Highlights:

Sasha’s childhood and how she found her way to writing
Transitioning from a career in biology to becoming a full-time author
Advice for new and aspiring writers
The differences between writing her debut series and The Rose Bargain
Sasha’s book flight and the books that have influenced her the most

This episode was just as fun to record as it was to read The Rose Bargain! Tune in now.

Connect with Sasha Peyton Smith:

Show Notes

Some links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

Cold Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
Emily Wilde series by Heather Fawcett

Book Flight

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Marrying Winterbourne by Lisa Kleypas
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Ready for a monthly literary adventure? We now have the BFF Book Club. Join us each month to explore a new book. After reading, connect with fellow book lovers and meet the author in a live interview! Can’t make it live? Don’t worry—we’ll send you the recording. You can find all our upcoming book club selections HERE.

Support the show

Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

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Episode Highlights:

Sasha’s childhood and how she found her way to writing
Transitioning from a career in biology to becoming a full-time author
Advice for new and aspiring writers
The differences between writing her debut series and The Rose Bargain
Sasha’s book flight and the books that have influenced her the most

This episode was just as fun to record as it was to read The Rose Bargain! Tune in now.

Connect with Sasha Peyton Smith:

Show Notes

Some links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

Cold Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
Emily Wilde series by Heather Fawcett

Book Flight

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Marrying Winterbourne by Lisa Kleypas
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Support the show

Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

Previous Episode

Love, Loss and the Power of Grace in Storytelling with Melody Carlson (E135)

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In today’s episode, I sit down with award-winning author Melody Carlson, whose prolific career includes over 250 books with more than 7.5 million copies sold. Best known for her beloved Christmas novellas, young adult fiction, and contemporary romances, Melody’s latest novel, Welcome to the Honey B&B, explores themes of family, second chances, and the power of community—all in the face of dementia.

This conversation is especially personal, as Melody shares her own experience of losing her husband to Frontal Temporal Dementia (FTD), a rare and early-onset form of the disease. We discuss how book serendipity plays a role in her writing journey, how faith and storytelling intersect, and the ways humor and classic films have helped her navigate grief.

Melody also offers heartfelt advice for caregivers and widows, drawing from her own journey with loss and healing. Plus, she gives us a sneak peek into her upcoming novel, All Booked Up, and shares her current TBR picks in a special book flight segment.

Key Highlights:

📖 The Inspiration Behind Welcome to the Honey B&B – A personal journey through dementia and family resilience.
💡 The Role of Faith and Book Serendipity – How the right books and writing projects come into our lives at the perfect time.
🎥 Healing Through Humor and Classic Films – Finding joy in tough times.
❤️ Advice for Caregivers and Widows – Lessons learned from love, loss, and resilience.
📚 Melody’s Book Flight – A glimpse into her TBR and what’s next in her writing journey.

Connect with Melody Carlson:

Books and authors mentioned:

Caring for Carol by Caring by Caring for Me by Andrew P. Mauro, Sr.
The Glass Lake by Maeve Binchy
The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher
Elizabeth Berg books
L.M. Montgomery books
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
A Man Called Peter by Catherine Marshall
Christy by Catherine Marshall

Book Flight

A Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas
The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barrett

Support the show

Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

Next Episode

Words That Move Us: Poetry, Language, and Literature with Patricia Lezama (E137)

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Today, I am chatting with Patricia Lezama, a writer and storyteller living in a teacher’s body. Patricia holds a BA in Education and an MA in Literature. She has worked as a Project Manager in education and IT in both public and private sectors in Colombia. Currently, she teaches Spanish in Southern California while continuing her journey as a writer and poet.

📚 Children’s Language Development
📖 The Power of Poetry
✍️ Writing in Community
🌎 Spanish Literature – Patricia’s book flight features a mix of classic and contemporary Spanish authors.

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