Books That Make You Podcast

Ways Humans Can Write Better, in the Era of Artificial Intelligence

This episode is a follow-up to the one where we discussed how AI—or artificial intelligence—is affecting the writing and reading community.

That first episode came out just a few months ago, eons ago in terms of this technology. Yet there is something very timeless about the act of writing that we believe will never be surpassed by machines, and that is indeed the very important topic we’ll dive into deeper today: ways humans can write better.

Dave Duffy serves as the Head of The BookFest®, a free, biannual online literary event that captivates readers and writers alike.

The BookFest, in turn, is part of the Black Château Enterprises family, where Dave also helms operations for Black Château, a marketing firm specializing in authors and personality brands, as well as Books That Make You. And in case you’ve ever wondered about these brands, Dave is part of the reason they all work together so seamlessly. A data expert at heart, he uses quantitative analysis to inform strategy and promotional campaigns, and facilitates cross-functional literary experiences and event productions.

His unique skill set positions him at the intersection of technology and operations, enabling him to deliver stimulating and memorable experiences for our literary audiences. It also gives him a front-seat view of the ways large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, and image-creating software like Bing and Midjourney or Dall-E, are disrupting things at an alarming rate.

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Ready to refresh your To-Be-Read list for 2025? In this episode of Books That Make You, we explore 15 remarkable titles that will inspire, captivate, and entertain in the coming year. Whether you're into gripping dystopias like Suzanne Collins’ Sunrise on the Reaping, heartfelt memoirs like Terence Ang’s The Boy and The Man, or thrilling mysteries like Sara Winokur’s Ivory Bones, there’s something here for everyone.

For fans of the fantastical, Crossroads of Awakening Memory by M.D. House promises an epic journey, while Octavia Butler’s timeless classic Parable of the Sower offers a thought-provoking look at a dystopian future. Dive into speculative fiction with Saving KC by Grinnell “Buzz” Desjarlais, or laugh and learn with the playful Snoodles in Space: Episode 2 by Steven Joseph.

From Stephen King’s chilling Never Flinch to Kaitlyn E. Kenealy’s transformative Healing is Messy AF, these books cover an incredible range of genres and themes. Don’t miss From the Potato to Star Trek and Beyond by Chester L. Richards for a behind-the-scenes memoir, or Kaleidoscope of Secrets by Sandy Clements for a suspenseful thriller.

What will you add to your list? Find your next favorite read today!

Books That Make You Dive into Dark Poetry

October makes us want to revel in the spooky season, to think back to some of the more memorable dark poems, like Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven”. Horror poetry can spark our imagination in the best ways, invigorate our love for things going bump in the night.

Author and poet Stephanie M. Wytovich of the HWA (or, the Horror Writers Association), now celebrates a poetry showcase featuring poems from a variety of writers: the ideal read for this time of year, and beyond.

The Horror Writers Associations’ 9th Annual Poetry Showcase features the best in dark, never-before-published verse. Edited by Angela Yuriko Smith, this year's featured poets are Stephanie M. Wytovich, Geneve Flynn, and Naomi Simone Borwein, plus dozens of contributions from other talented members of the Horror Writers Association.

Stephanie M. Wytovich is an American poet, novelist, and essayist. Her work has been published in multiple magazines and anthologies, such as “Nightmare Magazine”, “Weird Tales”, “Southwest Review”, “Year's Best Hardcore Horror: Volume 2”, “The Best Horror of the Year: Volume 8”, and others.

Wytovich is the Poetry Editor for Raw Dog Screaming Press, and an adjunct at Southern New Hampshire University, Western Connecticut State University and Point Park University. She is a recipient of the 2021 Ladies of Horror Fiction Writers Grant, the Elizabeth Matchett Stover Memorial Award, and has received the Rocky Wood Memorial Scholarship for non-fiction writing.

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Books That Make You Grow In Your Career and in Life

Career coach and talent development expert Elena Agaragimova is an ongoing source of inspiration, having helped many find their voice in leadership. In a remarkable career that spans everywhere from New York to Dubai, she is also a speaker, podcaster, entrepreneur and author. In 2019, she gave a TEDx talk called “Living Your Truth.”

Elena's approach springs from the belief that true excellence in one’s career—and in leadership—is achieved through a holistic focus on not only professional growth, but personal wellbeing.

Her books, Shift and The Rough Guide to Awesome Leadership, as well as her engaging podcasts, Shift with Elena Agar and Confessions of a Career Coach, are resources for anyone eager to enhance their careers and leadership skills.

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Books That Make You Understand a Mother’s Love, and Follow a Journey of Strength and Perseverance

Christy Texeira, mother and BookFest-award-winner, has a new book, Pink Elephants, which tells the story of a family pushed to the edge as they face the reality of their daughter’s rare, life-threatening illness. The book beautifully chronicles their private moments of tenderness, as we reconcile ourselves to the fragility of childhood innocence, and the reminder that control is an illusion.

In their struggle, the Texeira family discovered the most essential ingredients in surviving great hardship—their unwavering faith, gratitude for every day, and the strength and power found within every family member.

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