Nathan Batchelor is the author of the collection The Judas Goat and Other Southern Horrors. In this episode, Nathan and Annmarie talk about unlikely midlife friendship, diving into books across genres, and how to keep both the reader and the writer surprised by the sometimes tedious work of drafting sentences. Bookstore Shout-outs: Gramercy Books – A locally-owned, independently-minded neighborhood bookstore located in the heart of Bexley, Ohio. Our philosophy at Gramercy Books is simple: we’re about inspiration and discovery, community and adventure. We connect readers and writers with books they love, and host special events and ongoing visits by authors, poets and songwriters who provoke conversation. Stop by or shop online at gramercybooksbexley.com. Loganberry Books – An independently owned and operated bookstore in the historic Larchmere neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. Loganberry features a carefully curated collection of new, used and rare books in all genres for both readers and collectors, with an inventory over 100,000 volumes. Find your next great read and shop online at loganberrrybooks.com. Titles to Explore Based on This Episode: The Judas Goat and Other Southern Horrors, by Nathan Batchelor Edgar One, written by Nathan Batchelor and performed by voice artist Kristin Holland The Heart Response, by Nathan Batchelor Hellraiser: Resurrections Vol. 0, by Clive Barker Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng White Noise, by Don DeLillo The Namesake, by Jhumpa Lahiri Here’s a scene from the 1987 film Moonstruck, one of the only movies that Nathan and Annmarie both enjoy. Follow Nathan Batchelor: Twitter/X: @NateBatchelor **Writing Workshops: If you liked this conversation and are interested in writing together, please consider the opportunities below. For women interested in an online Saturday morning writing circle, you can sign up here. For anyone looking for support writing their memoir, Annmarie is teaching a class here. For anyone looking for a month of accountability writing hours and workshops, learn more here. For women looking for a weekend beach retreat to Florida, early bird pricing is available here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices