Drinks in the Library

Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow with Phil Hilliker

Cory Doctorow's Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom is a sci-fi novel set in a post-scarcity future where death is curable and social status is run by a reputation metric called "whuffie". The protagonist, a centenarian named Jules, lives his dream managing classic attractions at Walt Disney World. When a rival faction stages a hostile takeover and figuratively and literally "kills" his project by modernizing the Hall of Presidents, Jules goes to war to protect the park's traditional artistic purity Phillip Hilliker is a creatively restless writer and illustrator with credits spanning many fields and genres. He has contributed to role-playing games such as Shadowrun and White Wolf’s World of Darkness, written voiceover scripts for too many whiteboard explanatory videos. He is a current board member of James River Writers and has served as their membership coordinator as well. Currently he’s employed by a puzzle company to draw primarily sports-centric projects. You can find him on social media: @philhilliker Our drink this week is a Piña Colada, which as you’ll hear ties back a bit to the Magic Kingdom! Piña Colada Ingredients 2 oz white rum 2 oz pineapple juice 2 oz cream of coconut 1 cup ice Pineapple wedge and maraschino cherry, for garnish Directions Add rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and ice to a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Pour into a chilled glass. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and maraschino cherry. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

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Old Man's War by John Scalzi with Donna Barba Higuera

Old Man's War by John Scalzi follows 75-year-old John Perry, who joins the Colonial Defense Forces in exchange for a chance to explore the stars and a new, younger body. Recruited into an interstellar war, Perry discovers that the universe is far more dangerous and morally complicated than he expected. Blending sharp humor, military science fiction, and big questions about aging, identity, and sacrifice, the novel offers a fast-paced and thought-provoking adventure. Donna Barba Higuera is an award-winning author who masterfully blends folklore with her lived experiences to create captivating stories for young readers. Growing up in the dust-filled oil fields of Central California, she spent her life weaving tales that sparked her imagination. Now residing in the Pacific Northwest with her family and a lively menagerie of pets, Donna is the acclaimed author of picture books like El Cucuy Is Scared, Too! and The Yellow Handkerchief. Her middle-grade novels have garnered significant recognition: Lupe Wong Won't Dance received the Sid Fleischman Award for Humor and a Pura Belpré Honor, while her second novel, The Last Cuentista, was awarded both the John Newbery Medal and the Pura Belpré Award. The Last Cuentista was also named a Best Book of the Year by The Boston Globe, Minneapolis Star Tribune, The Wall Street Journal, and TIME. Her newest book Xolo reimagines the Aztec myth of the origin of man-and man's best friend. Tickets are on sale for the Urban Librarians Unite Gala on Wednesday October 14th - which I will be MCing in Brooklyn, NY! I hope to see you there in a night to support libraries and our staff. Man of War Cocktail Ingredients 1½ oz bourbon ½ oz orange liqueur ½ oz sweet vermouth ½ oz fresh lemon juice Orange twist, for garnish Directions Add bourbon, orange liqueur, sweet vermouth, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass. • 4. Garnish with an orange twist. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

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The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster with Rebecca N. Thompson, MD

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster is a book in which generations of readers have journeyed with Milo to the Lands Beyond in this beloved classic. Enriched by Jules Feiffer's splendid illustrations, the wit, wisdom, and wordplay of Norton Juster's offbeat fantasy are as beguiling as ever. For Milo, everything's a bore. When a tollbooth mysteriously appears in his room, he drives through only because he's got nothing better to do. But on the other side, things seem different. Rebecca N. Thompson, MD, MSc, is a family medicine and public health physician from Portland, Oregon, who specializes in women's and children's health. Throughout her career, she has sought opportunities to use written and spoken words to help build community and to make complex medical topics more accessible and more engaging for a wide range of audiences. Her critically acclaimed book, Held Together: A Shared Memoir of Motherhood, Medicine, and Imperfect Love (HarperCollins 2025), is the result of her decade-long collaboration with a remarkable group of women to share their most intimate true stories about personal relationships, professional identities, and health and healing across generations. Dr. Thompson trained at Harvard, Stanford, and Oregon Health & Science University and is always learning from her most influential teachers—her patients, colleagues, family, and friends. In her free time, she enjoys wandering through green spaces, reading in cozy nooks, playing unreasonably complicated board games, repurposing found objects, and accompanying her husband and children on all-weather adventures near and far. Our drink this week is a Capri Sun, always a good time and a great pairing for a classic children’s book. On Wednesday October 14th I will be MCing the Urban Librarians Unite Gala in Brooklyn NY, if you are in that area and would like to spend the night celebrating an organization that supports libraries, grab a ticket and join us! More info here: https://urbanlibrariansunite.org/romantasy-gala-2026/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

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A Life in Men by Gina Frangello with Kathleen Schmidt

What if every relationship you've ever had left behind a version of yourself? In A Life in Men by Gina Frangello, Mary's life is forever shaped by her complicated friendship with Nix, her charismatic, free-spirit best friend, and the rift that ultimately divided them forever. Both intimate and emotionally honest, this book is a powerful novel about love, identity, grief, and the people who change us forever. As the Founder and CEO of Kathleen Schmidt Public Relations, Kathleen is a well-respected voice in book publishing with in-depth experience in all aspects of the industry, including as a publicist, literary agent, acquisitions editor, and ghostwriter. Her career encompasses 30 years of creating and directing impactful and strategic global media, marketing, and branding campaigns for politicians, A-List celebrities, athletes, and high-profile personalities. Her fast-growing Substack newsletter, Publishing Confidential, shares her wealth of inside knowledge that she hopes will help demystify the book industry. She recently announced a book deal, expanding on her knowledge and experience in the publishing industry, it will be coming out in 2027. Married with two children, she resides in New Jersey. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill with Meg Medina

In The Ogress and the Orphans, Kelly Barnhill tells the story of the struggling town of Stone-in-the-Glen, where fear and misinformation lead the townspeople to blame a kindhearted ogress for their misfortunes instead of the corrupt mayor who caused them. When a group of resourceful orphans discovers the truth, they join forces with the ogress to expose deception, restore compassion, and rebuild their fractured community. Blending fantasy with timely themes of kindness, courage, and the power of stories, the novel is a moving celebration of empathy and collective action. Meg Medina served as the 2023-2024 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. Her most recent middle-grade novel and first fantasy, Graciela in the Abyss, was a 2026 ALSC Notable Children’s Book and a CCBC Choices 2026 selection. Illustrated by Anna and Elena Balbusso, the novel was also awarded the prestigious 2026 Hamilton King Award by the Society of Illustrators. She is also the author of the Newbery Medal–winning book Merci Suárez Changes Gears, a 2018 Kirkus Prize finalist, and is followed by two more acclaimed books about the Suárez family: Merci Suárez Can’t Dance and Merci Suárez Plays It Cool. Her young adult novels include Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, which won the 2014 Pura Belpré Author Award, and was published in 2023 as a graphic novel illustrated by Mel Valentine Vargas; Burn Baby Burn, which was long-listed for the National Book Award; and The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind. She is also the author of picture books No More Señora Mimí / No más Señora Mimí, Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away / Evelyn del Rey se muda, illustrated by Sonia Sánchez, Jumpstart’s 2020 Read for the Record selection; Mango, Abuela, and Me, illustrated by Angela Dominguez, which was a Pura Belpré Author Award Honor Book; and Tía Isa Wants a Car, illustrated by Claudio Muñoz, which won the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award; and biographies for young readers She Persisted: Sonia Sotomayor and She Persisted: Pura Belpré, the latter with Marilisa Jiménez García. Meg Medina’s work examines how cultures intersect through the eyes of young people. She brings audiences stories that speak to both what is unique in Latino culture and qualities that are universal. The daughter of Cuban immigrants, she grew up in Queens, New York, and now lives in Richmond, Virginia. To celebrate Meg’s Cuban roots, our drink pairing for this was a Cuba Libre: Cuba Libre Ingredients 2 oz white rum 4 to 6 oz cola 1/2 oz fresh lime juice (about half a lime) Ice Lime wedge, for garnish Directions Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour in the rum and fresh lime juice. Top with cola and stir gently. • 4. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

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Missing You, Metropolis by Gary Jackson with Martheaus Perkins

Missing You, Metropolis by Gary Jackson is a poetry collection that blends superheroes, comic book mythology, pop culture, and personal memory to explore identity, race, love, grief, and belonging. Through inventive, emotionally resonant poems, Jackson reimagines iconic characters and fictional worlds as lenses for examining real-life experiences and the complexities of growing up Black in America. Martheaus Perkins is a teacher, editor, and hot sauce enthusiast based in Washington, D.C. He is the recipient of the Robert Creeley Memorial Award, the Voices President's Award, the GMU Rinehart Fiction Award, and the Robert Raymond Scholarship. His debut poetry collection, The Grace of Black Mothers, was published by Trio House Press in 2025. We sipped iced tea (Gold Peak), which was a drink Martheaus often enjoyed with his grandmother. This episode was recorded at Richmond Poetry Fest 2026. Special thanks to Rosa Castellano for bringing us together and helping us coordinate recording at the event! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

Animal Farm by George Orwell with Katy Hearne-Church

George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a satirical allegorical novel about a group of farm animals who overthrow their human owner in hopes of creating a society based on equality and freedom. As the pigs gradually take control, the animals discover that their revolution has replaced one form of oppression with another. Through its dark humor and memorable characters, the novel explores power, corruption, propaganda, and the dangers of political tyranny. My guest this week is the amazing Katy Hearne-Church from Queens Podcast! What do you get when you take two childhood friends with a passion for unexplored history and a whole lotta booze? Queens Podcast! Katy and Nathan share exciting stories of women in history. Katy and Nathan believe that the female perspective and roles are just as deserving of their time in the spotlight! Because history is more than the stories of dudes on a battlefield. Each queen is paired with a drink recipe that will totally get you in the mood to hear the fun, dramatic, juicy, and underrepresented stories of some seriously interesting ladies. Find them and listen wherever you find your podcasts! Moscow Mule Ingredients 2 oz vodka 1/2 oz fresh lime juice 4 oz ginger beer Lime wedge, for garnish Ice Directions Fill a copper mug or glass with ice. Add vodka and lime juice. Top with ginger beer. • 4. Stir gently and garnish with a lime wedge. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi with MaryCatherine Price

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi is about an 86-year-old Portuguese widower who arrives in a small Southern town in Georgia. He spends his year there buying local pencil portraits from a coffee shop wall and gifting them back to the people they depict. Through these quiet meetings, his deep kindness and close attention change the lives of the townspeople. MaryCatherine Price is the Digital Streaming Executive Producer at Channel 8News in Richmond, where she also hosts a behind-the-scenes podcast called The Rundown. She’s happily married to her comic-book-loving, jambalaya-making husband Alfred. She loves reading books that wreck her, drinking iced coffees and playing fetch with her sweet pup Percy. An opening scene in the book depicts Theo raving about a local coffee-shop’s Espresso, so that’s what we sipped on. I am not a Barista but they turned out pretty well! I wanted to mention a group for those of you in the Richmond Area might be interested, it’s called RVA Book Professionals and Students on Facebook, for networking with others who make the RVA bookish community happen. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

The Burning Girls by CJ Tudor with Erin Palmer

The Burning Girls by CJ Tudor is a folk horror and mystery novel about Reverend Jack Brooks and her teenage daughter, Flo, who move to a remote English village seeking a fresh start. The village of Chapel Croft carries a dark history of past martyrdoms, missing teenagers, and the recent suicide of the previous vicar. As Jack investigates these intertwined tragedies, Flo begins seeing frightening apparitions of burning girls linked to the town's buried secrets. Erin Palmer hosts a podcast called Did You Read The Book? Along with her friends, Erin dissects movie adaptations—from cinematic masterpieces to films that apparently treated the source material like a La Croix tastes; fruit flavors screaming in another room. She celebrates the rare times Hollywood gets it right, lovingly roasts the times it absolutely doesn't, and argues over whether cutting your favorite character was "necessary" or just a personal attack. Expect hot takes, behind-the-scenes trivia, and unapologetic opinions dripping with sarcasm. So grab your popcorn, dust off that novel you've been meaning to reread, and join Erin and her guests as they compare the book, the movie, and the creative decisions that keep therapists employed. Smoked Rosemary Bourbon Sour Cocktail Ingredients 2 ounces Bourbon 3 ounces lemonade Dash bitters Rosemary sprig Directions Carefully light rosemary on fire, letting burn until some of the leaves are ash. Place into a glass. Combine bourbon, lemonade, and bitters in a shaker half-filled with ice and shake well. Strain into glass over the smoked rosemary. First ever Patreon-only episode is now live! Find me on Patreon.com/Drinksinthelibrary to listen to Bill’s fifth episode of the pod and hear us discuss how much we did not enjoy the drink pairing - a Dirty Shirley Thank you for being a part of Libration Nation! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

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The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson with Adriana from Bring Me Books

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historical narrative that chronicles the Great Migration, the decades-long exodus of nearly six million Black Americans fleeing the oppressive Jim Crow South for Northern and Western cities. Wilkerson captures the immense scale of this demographic shift through intimate, intertwined biographies of three individuals—Ida Mae Gladney, George Starling, and Robert Foster—who relocated during different eras and to different destinations. Their personal journeys of hardship, perseverance, and triumph serve as a microcosm for the millions who reshaped American culture, politics, and urban life. My guest this week is Adriana from Bring Me Books! Adriana is the creator behind Bring Me Books, a literary platform dedicated to amplifying Black literature, nonfiction, and stories that challenge the way we think. She has built a community of more than 45,000 readers who believe that books are more than entertainment, they’re tools for liberation, critical thinking, and meaningful conversation. As the founder of Truth Club, her signature nonfiction book recommendation series, Adriana curates thought-provoking recommendations that encourage readers to think more critically about history, culture, politics, identity, and the world around them. She has interviewed acclaimed authors and entertainers, been featured in Fox 2 News, Sirius XM Radio and partnered with major publishers and literary organizations that center Black voices, history, and culture. Known for her signature blend of humor, honesty, and intellectual curiosity, Adriana has become a trusted voice in the book community, helping readers discover works that educate, challenge, and inspire. Sun Tea Ingredients 4–6 tea bags (black tea, green tea, or your favorite herbal tea) 1 gallon cold water Lemon slices, fresh mint, or fruit (optional, for serving) Ice Sweetener, such as sugar or honey (optional) Directions Place the tea bags in a clean 1-gallon glass jar or pitcher and fill with cold water. Cover the container and set it in a sunny spot outdoors for 2–4 hours, depending on how strong you like your tea. Avoid steeping longer than 4 hours. Remove the tea bags. Refrigerate the tea until thoroughly chilled. Serve over ice with lemon, mint, or fresh fruit if desired. Sweeten to taste, stirring well until dissolved. Note: Be very careful when brewing Sun Tea. For food safety, use clean equipment and refrigerate the tea promptly after brewing. Discard any tea that becomes cloudy, slimy, or develops an off smell. First ever Patreon-only episode is now live! Find me on Patreon.com/Drinksinthelibrary to listen to Bill’s fifth episode of the pod and hear us discuss how much we did not enjoy this week’s drink - a Dirty Shirley! Thank you for being a part of Libration Nation! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

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The Half Life with Rachel Beanland

The Half Life by Rachel Beanland is a novel set on a remote Italian island, about a navy wife’s reckoning with power, love, and the price of staying silent in the Atomic Age. I loved this book and reached out to Rachel and her team to see if we could do a special Drinks in the Library episode, I was thrilled when she said yes! Rachel Beanland is the author of the novels, The House Is On Fire and Florence Adler Swims Forever. Her latest novel The Half Life, is coming out July 14, 2026, which is also the date this episode is airing, so if you are listening to this - go out and get a copy now! Our drink this week is an Aperol Spritz, there is just nothing else that says perfect Italian summer at the beach! Aperol Spritz Ingredients 3 oz Prosecco 2 oz Aperol 1 oz club soda Ice Orange slice, for garnish Directions Fill a wine glass with ice. Pour in the Prosecco, followed by the Aperol. Top with the club soda. Gently stir to combine. Garnish with an orange slice and serve immediately. Announcing a Patreon subscribers only episode coming out this week over at Patreon.com/DrinksintheLibrary, we will be discussing Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, so if you have been thinking about joining us over there, this is the time to do it! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

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The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien with Salaam Bhatti

To support Drinks in the Library and listen to ad-free episode and additional bonus content, subscribe on Patreon The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien is a timeless adventure novel, tells of the great quest undertaken by Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring: Gandalf the Wizard; the hobbits Merry, Pippin, and Sam; Gimli the Dwarf; Legolas the Elf; Boromir of Gondor; and a tall, mysterious stranger called Strider. Can a simple hobbit resist the corrupting power of the One Ring and succeed where great warriors have failed? My guest this week is Salaam Bhatti, a public-interest lawyer, husband, and father of two boys, and is running as a Democrat for Congress to fight for families across Virginia’s 1st District. Salaam is a child of immigrants who came to America to pursue the American dream. While at the Virginia Poverty Law Center, he led bipartisan efforts to expand SNAP food assistance for 25,000+ families, helped secure free school meals for tens of thousands of children, and increased cash assistance for families by historic amounts. You can find out more about him at salaamforva.com Evenstar Elixer Ingredients 2 oz tart cherry juice 1 oz white grape juice ½ oz fresh lemon juice ½ oz rosemary simple syrup (or honey syrup for a warmer flavor) 2–3 oz sparkling water Ice Directions Fill a glass with ice. Add the tart cherry juice, white grape juice, lemon juice, and rosemary syrup. Stir well. Top with sparkling water. • 5. Garnish with the rosemary sprig and cherries. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

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Starter Villain by John Scalzi with Allie Speakmon

Charlie's life is going nowhere fast. A divorced substitute teacher living with his cat in a house his siblings want to sell, all he wants is to open a pub downtown, if only the bank will approve his loan. Then his long-lost uncle Jake dies and leaves his supervillain business (complete with island volcano lair) to Charlie. This is the wildly fun and fast moving plot from the book Starter Villain by John Scalzi which I discuss with this week’s guest, Allie Speakmon! Allie is a book reviewer and content creator based in the New Braunfels, Texas area. She runs @speakingof.books across Instagram, TikTok, and her website speakingof.org where she reviews mysteries, thrillers, romantasy, and contemporary fiction with honest takes and a full glass of wine. She's a project manager by day, a mom of 3 under 4 including twins, and a self-proclaimed Type C reader who reads by vibes and ignores her TBR pile. She's been in the bookstagram community for 9 years, reads 100+ books a year, and recently founded The Quarterly Bookclub in New Braunfels for busy women who love books but think monthly is too much commitment. Villain Spritz Ingredients 1½ oz vodka ¾ oz elderflower liqueur ½ oz honey syrup ¾ oz fresh lemon juice 4–5 fresh blackberries, muddled Prosecco or club soda, to top Mint sprig and fresh blackberries Directions Add the blackberries to a cocktail shaker and muddle gently. Add the vodka, elderflower liqueur honey syrup, lemon juice, and ice. Shake well until chilled. Fill a rocks glass with fresh ice and strain the cocktail over the ice. Top with a splash of Prosecco. • 6. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a few fresh blackberries. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

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Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry with Lacey Keigley

To support Drinks in the Library and listen to ad-free episode and additional bonus content, subscribe on Patreon Hannah Coulter is Wendell Berry's seventh novel and his first to employ the voice of a woman character in its telling. Hannah, the now-elderly narrator, recounts the love she has for the land and for her community. She remembers each of her two husbands, and all places and community connections threatened by twentieth-century technologies. Lacey Keigley is a mother, writer, educator and the author of her memoir: Nevertheless: Essays on Divorce, Single Parenting & Hope in which Lacey bends her trademark wit and style to the uncommon commonalities of daily life in a new normal, flinging back the curtains and inviting readers to witness the chaos, blessings, burdens, and hilarity of her world. At the heart of each lyrical essay is one harrowing question. When life doesn't turn out as planned-what then? You can find her on Facebook and on Instagram @SoEveryDay, and on substack: substack.com/@soeveryday We sipped on a sweet tea during this episode as a tribute to Wendell Berry, his southern roots, as well as our own! Every book has two stories: the one it tells, and the one it hides. If you ’re enjoying our show we think you might like the Secret Life of Books — a weekly podcast by Sophie Gee and Jonty Claypole that uncovers the hidden stories behind classic books: Who made it? What were their motives, their scandals? And, above all, what secrets lie behind the iconic books you thought you knew? And if you need some reading motivation, they have a Book Club for Secret Life of Books members that offers exclusive bonus episodes, reading notes, and helpful yet hilarious comments, as they chapter by chapter. Their next Book Club read is Charles Dickens’ Bleak House! So go and check out the Secret Life of Books. The first episode in their Book Club is out now, and you can listen wherever you get your podcasts! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

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Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi with Deanna Allbrittin

Transcendent Kingdom is a 2020 novel by Yaa Gyasi that follows Gifty, a Ghanaian-American neuroscience PhD candidate at Stanford, as she studies addiction and depression in mice while grappling with her family's history of trauma, addiction, and faith. The story explores the tension between science and religion, memory, and the search for meaning after her brother's opioid overdose and her mother's severe depression, all while reflecting on her upbringing in Alabama. Deanna Allbrittin is the main evening anchor and Development and Engagement Manager at WRIC - 8News. That means she leads station community engagement initiatives and special projects, while mentoring early-career journalists in investigative and community-centered reporting. In addition to wearing all those hats, Deanna has earned regional Murrow, Emmy and Associated Press awards. You may have also seen her moderating nationally televised debates for Virginia's closely watched U.S. Senate and gubernatorial races. Also, Deanna hosts the podcast All About Books which is a video podcast AND we recorded this episode, so head over there if you want to see the episode as we recorded it here at my home studio in Richmond! Thank you also to videographer Nikita for help make that happen! Sobolo Tea Recipe - Sobolo is a traditional Hibiscus tea served at Ghanaian parties and picnics. Deanna was kind enough to make and share it for us to sip during the episode. Incredible! This is her modified recipe, originally from Black Foodie Sobolo Ingredients 1 Pineapple 2 Large thumbs of ginger, peeled (about 1/3 cup) 15 Grains of selim 7 African nutmeg 2 1/2 tbsp Cloves 1 tbsp Black peppercorn 1 tsp Grains of paradise 1 cup Dates, pitted 16 cups Water 2 cups Hisbiscus flowers, dried (sorrel) Sugar, to taste White vinegar 2 Cinnamon sticks DIRECTIONS (Adapted) 1: Clean the pineapple by soaking in a water and vinegar solution for 10-15 minutes. Lightly brush with a produce brush to fully clean extra dirt from the skin. 2: While the pineapple is soaking, soak the dates in warm water then drain when nice and soft. 3: Pluck several leaves from the pineapple crown and peel the pineapple. Cut it into 2-inch chunks, making sure that the core is removed. 4: In a blender, blend the pineapple fruit with the ginger and dates till smooth. 5: In a pot, add the pineapple leaves, skin, blended mixture, and spices with 10 cups of water and bring to a boil. Do not cover the pot otherwise it will splash. 6: Once the water has come to a boil, add the hibiscus leaves/sorrel and bring the heat down to allow the mixture to steep at a rolling boil. 7: Let the mixture steep for 30-45 minutes, then turn the stove to simmer. 8: Add sugar to taste. I added ~ 1 cup of brown sugar, a quarter of a cup at a time until it was just slightly less sweet than I wanted. Allow it to continue to simmer for 5-10 additional minutes, then turn the stove off. 9: Let the mixture cool till the drink is room temperature. Then, strain the sobolo with a fine mesh strainer, pour it into a bottle and keep it in the fridge until you're ready to enjoy it! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

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1984 by George Orwell with Sam Helmick, President of the American Library Association 2026

To support Drinks in the Library and listen to ad-free episode and additional bonus content, subscribe on Patreon Set in a totalitarian superstate, George Orwell's 1984 follows Winston Smith, an official tasked with rewriting history to align with state propaganda. Driven by a desperate yearning for truth and individuality, Winston rebels against the regime by keeping a forbidden diary and pursuing a secret love affair. Ultimately, he is captured by the Thought Police, subjected to brutal psychological torture, and brainwashed into unquestioning submission. My guest this week is the 2025-26 President of the American Library Association, Sam Helmick! They work as a Community and Access Services Coordinator at the Iowa City Public Library. Sam has served as a member of the ALA Executive Board and as president of the Iowa Library Association. They previously served as chair-elect of the Intellectual Freedom Round Table and chair of the Iowa Governor’s Commission of Libraries. They have served on many committees within the American Library Association and have held leadership roles at multiple levels. Sam is a 2016 Emerging Leader, as well as an author, consultant, and instructor in social media marketing and graphic design. Sam and I had this conversation over a Smokey Whiskey, which felt like some of the moments in the book, held in smokey bars and back rooms. My exact recommendation is the Bourbon & Spire Oak and Eden, forever one of my favorites! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman with Laura McAsh

To support Drinks in the Library and listen to ad-free episode and additional bonus content, subscribe on Patreon Set in a world where every person’s soul exists outside their body in the form of an animal companion called a dæmon, The Golden Compass follows a brave young girl named Lyra Belacqua as she uncovers a sinister plot involving kidnapped children. Lyra journeys from the halls of Jordan College to the frozen Arctic in search of answers to her questions about power, knowledge, and free will. Laura McAsh a writer of whimsical worlds and a creator of quirky characters. A library clerk by day, Laura is a neurodivergent nerd passionate about diversity, inclusion, and representation. Beginning her undergrad at the University of Guelph, she completed her Bachelor of General Studies (Arts and Sciences Designation) with distinction at Athabasca University. A collector of hobbies and interests, she is a lover of all animals and is always down for grabbing nachos with friends or snuggling with her cat, Dinosaur. Don’t miss her debut novel Alison’s Adventures in Time! Our drink this week is a Hungarian Wine, a reference to a scene in the story where Lord Asriel, Lyra’s uncle is almost poisoned with Hungarian white wine. You can pick any brand you like, I went with Kiwi Cuvee Pinot Grigio. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

The Seven Daughters of Dupree by Nikesha Elise Williams with Rhonda McKnight

To support Drinks in the Library and listen to ad-free episode and additional bonus content, subscribe on Patreon In Nikesha Elise Williams’ The Seven Daughters of Dupree, it's 1995, and fourteen-year-old Tati is determined to uncover the identity of her father. But her mother, Nadia, keeps her secrets close, while her grandmother Gladys remains silent about the family's past, including why she left Land's End, Alabama, in 1953. As Tati’s search deepens, she uncovers a legacy of family secrets, where every generation of Dupree women has posed more questions than answers. Guest Even as she pursued degrees in Textile Technology, Organizational Leadership and finally, Adult Education, Rhonda McKnight’s love for books and desire to write stories was always in the back of her mind. She loves reading and writing stories that touch the heart of women through complex plots and interesting characters in crisis. She writes from the comfort of her South Carolina home. Don’t miss her latest books of women’s fiction Bitter & Sweet, and Writer in Residence, which you can pre-order now and will be published on September 8, 2026! You can find Rhonda on Instagram & Threads @AuthorRhondaMcKnight. Southern Peach Sweet Tea Ingredients 4 black tea bags 4 cups water 3 ripe peaches, sliced 1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar Ice Fresh peach slices for garnish (optional) Directions Bring 4 cups of water to a boil Turn off the heat and add the tea bags. Let the tea steep for about 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags. Add the sliced peaches and sugar to the hot tea. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Let the peaches sit in the tea for about 20 minutes so the flavor comes through. Pour the tea through a strainer into a large pitcher or bowl and allow to cool. Fill mason jars with ice and pour in the peach sweet tea. Garnish with fresh peach slices if you like, and serve cold. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

How to Save Your Own Life by Erica Jong with Selene Castrovilla

In How to Save Your Own Life, Erica Jong follows novelist Isadora Wing as she grapples with fame, aging, marriage, and the search for personal freedom after the success of her earlier books. Blending sharp humor with emotional honesty, the novel explores identity, desire, and self-reinvention in the face of midlife uncertainty. Award-winning author and creator Selene Castrovilla explores the courage, conscience, and reinvention that shape both nations and ourselves. She has written historical books for children including George Washington's Spectacular Spectacles: the glasses that saved America.She has a book for adults called Love the Ones Your With under the pen name SJ Perrault which will be coming out later this year. She also hosts a podcast Life in Jest with her best friend Pascale, which will feature me in an upcoming episode, I’m so excited! You can find out more at her website https://selenecastrovilla.com/ and also under her SJ Perrault name on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/s.j.perraultauthor TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@s.j.perraultauthor Support Drinks In The Library by following on Patreon, for just $5 a month you will get ad-free episodes, bonus content, and support my work and the podcast! Our drink this week needs no explanation: The Life Saver Cocktail Ingredients 3 oz dry champagne ½ oz triple sec Squeeze of fresh lemon juice Directions Pour the triple sec and fresh lemon juice into a champagne flute. Top slowly with chilled dry champagne. Give it a gentle stir and serve immediately. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah with Kara Infante

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah follows two sisters in Nazi-occupied France as they navigate love, loss, resistance, and survival during World War II. Through their very different paths, the novel explores the courage of ordinary women and the sacrifices made in the face of war. My guest this week is Kara Infante, a mom, wife and host of the Bookish Flights Podcast At Bookish Flights, Kara Infante and her guests tell their stories through the books they love. Each episode features a book flight - three thoughtfully paired books connected by a theme, topic, or genre. Think of it like a wine flight…but for books. Kara and I are both on each other’s shows this week, so head over there to hear me talk about 3 books I love by Xochitl Gonzalez Drink Options: Lyre’s Classico NA Sparkling Wine Lavender French 75 Ingredients 1 ½ oz Empress gin ¾ oz fresh lemon juice ½ oz lavender simple syrup 3 oz chilled champagne or prosecco Ice Optional garnish: Lemon twist Dried culinary lavender Directions Add gin, lemon juice, and lavender simple syrup to cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well until chilled. Strain into a champagne flute or coupe. Top with sparkling wine Garnish with a lemon twist or a pinch of dried lavender. In this episode Bookish Flight Episode with Kristin Hannah Books by Tracy Lange The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett Books by Kate Quinn Books by Marie Benedict Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations