Read with Laura Joy
The official podcast of author Laura Joy Lloyd, creator of interactive serialized fiction, where there’s always more to the story and readers influence what happens next.
Episodes
December 12, 2025 • 28 mins
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 storie...
Mark as Played
December 5, 2025 • 23 mins
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 s...
Mark as Played
November 14, 2025 • 37 mins
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:...
Mark as Played
November 7, 2025 • 36 mins
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:...
Mark as Played
October 31, 2025 • 3 mins
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.com/playlist/2YxV4U9Kl5n1TAb9prS6HI
About Virgil’s Dilemma
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 possi...
Mark as Played
October 24, 2025 • 11 mins
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 possi...
Mark as Played
October 10, 2025 • 12 mins
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 possi...
Mark as Played
September 26, 2025 • 17 mins
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 possi...
Mark as Played
September 19, 2025 • 43 mins
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.g...
Mark as Played
September 12, 2025 • 29 mins
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.g...
Mark as Played
September 5, 2025 • 22 mins
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/
Syl...
Mark as Played
August 22, 2025 • 38 mins
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 ne...
Mark as Played
August 15, 2025 • 34 mins
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 ne...
Mark as Played
August 1, 2025 • 32 mins
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/
L...
Mark as Played
July 18, 2025 • 36 mins
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 ...
Mark as Played
July 11, 2025 • 32 mins
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 ...
Mark as Played
July 3, 2025 • 2 mins
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 th...
Mark as Played
June 26, 2025 • 15 mins
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 unexp...
Mark as Played
June 19, 2025 • 16 mins
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 avoidin...
Mark as Played
June 12, 2025 • 11 mins
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 avoidin...
Mark as Played
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Betrayal Weekly is back for a brand new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack. And make sure to check out Seasons 1-4 of Betrayal, along with Betrayal Weekly Season 1.