In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Kate Angelo, an autodidactic polymath with a remarkable story. As a child, Kate was a bookworm, dog groomer, exotic pet wrangler, horse trainer, and even a teenage pool shark. At one point, her family even owned a lion, though they quickly learned that lions don’t make great house pets! After aging out of foster care, Kate broke into tech during the height of the dot-com boom before stepping into her next chapter as a Publishers Weekly bestselling author. Alongside her husband, she champions stronger marriages through their nonprofit, Marriage Minute, and her romantic suspense novels reflect her belief that hope and healing can be found even in life’s fiercest trials. We are here today to discuss her latest novel, Girl Lost. In our conversation, Kate and I talk about the importance of learning how to have real, face-to-face conversations—especially in close relationships. We also explore:
Episode Highlights:
- Writing romantic suspense with emotionally rich, flawed characters.
- Mentorship for young people navigating tough beginnings.
- Why hard conversations are key to building healthy relationships.
- Tips for approaching those conversations with empathy and clarity.
- Why she loves the freedom of reading on her Kindle.
Kate’s perspective is full of wisdom, honesty, and encouragement. As she reminds us: “You are not broken beyond repair. A hard start doesn’t mean you can’t have a healthy future—it just takes intentional work.”
Connect with Kate:
Books and authors mentioned in the episode:
- Misery by Stephen King
- The Other Sister by Jessica R. Patch
Book Flight
- The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
- The Brands of Justice series by Lisa Phillips
- The Joy of Falling by Lindsay Harrel
The 2026 Bookish Flights Reading Challenge is here - a simple, nostalgic way to be intentional with your reading. One book per month, with options for individuals and families. Download it at https://www.bookishflights.com/read/2026readingchallenge
Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!
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