This episode brings you the latest gathering of our BFF Book Club—a monthly celebration of reading, meaningful author conversations, and book-loving community. This month, we’re joined once again by Amanda Cox, author of The Bitter End Birding Society. You might remember Amanda from Episode 95, and in this return conversation, she shares how visiting the real Bitter End, TN shaped her dual-timeline story, why her creative process doesn’t fit neatly into outlines, and how she wove themes of connection and second chances throughout her work. Amanda, a therapist-turned-novelist from Tennessee, also gives us a peek into her upcoming 2026 release, Things We Cannot Keep, and the bird-inspired titles that make up her book flight.
Episode Highlights:
- Inspiration behind The Bitter End Birding Society and its dual-timeline structure
- How visiting the real Bitter End, TN changed the story
- Writing without outlines and embracing creative flow
- Why Amanda chose to feature a bird-watching group
- The themes of hope, healing, and belonging in her novels
- Sneak peek at her upcoming release, Things We Cannot Keep (Summer 2026)
- Amanda’s bird-themed book flight selections
Connect with Amanda Cox:
Books and authors mentioned in the episode:
- Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
- The Atlas of Untold Stories by Sara Brunsvold
Book Flight
- The Hudson Collection by Jocelyn Green
- The Nature of Small Birds by Susan Finkbeiner
- When Stone Wings Fly by Karen Barnett
✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.
Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmap
Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!
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