Ann Patchett & Emma Straub

Elin Hilderbrand (0:01)

Hi, book lovers. This is Elin Hilderbrand, best-selling author of over 30 books, including Swan Song and The Five-Star Weekend. We're back for season four.

Tim Ehrenberg (0:09)

That's right. And this is Tim Ehrenberg, creator of Tim Talks Books. And you're listening to season four of Books Beach & Beyond, presented by N Magazine.

Elin Hilderbrand (0:17)

We're so excited to be bringing you another fabulous season where we'll be talking about the wonderful world of books with guests from best-selling authors to publishing industry insiders, to book influencers, and much more.

Tim Ehrenberg (0:29)

Because there's nothing Ellen and I love more than chatting about books. And our favorite question to ask each other is, What are you reading? But as our listeners know, we go even further here on this show, exploring the craft of writing, the process of book publishing, and that wonderful connection a reader has with their favorite author or cherished book.

Elin Hilderbrand (0:46)

But before we head into our episode, we want to take this opportunity to thank our incredible premier sponsors, Nantucket Book Partners, Book of the Month, and Little, Brown.

Tim Ehrenberg (0:56)

Without their generous support, we wouldn't be able to bring you these fascinating conversations with some of the most dynamic leaders from the book world. So thank you.

Elin Hilderbrand (1:04)

And now, on to the show.

Tim Ehrenberg (1:08)

Hi, Elin.

Elin Hilderbrand (1:09)

Hi, Tim.

Tim Ehrenberg (1:10)

I can't believe it's season four.

Elin Hilderbrand (1:11)

I know. That's crazy.

Tim Ehrenberg (1:14)

Does it seem like four seasons to you?

Elin Hilderbrand (1:15)

I mean, it will at the end. I can't believe it. It was...

Tim Ehrenberg (1:21)

I can't believe it either.

Elin Hilderbrand (1:22)

It's gone really fast.

Tim Ehrenberg (1:23)

We have just spoken to... I mean, it's blown my mind, our guests.

Elin Hilderbrand (1:28)

No, I would say, oh, there's no one left to interview, except we have such an amazing line up this year.

Tim Ehrenberg (1:31)

Yes, we do. We do.

Elin Hilderbrand (1:33)

Okay.

Tim Ehrenberg (1:33)

How has your year been?

Elin Hilderbrand (1:35)

It's been a pretty quiet winter. I went to Miami and hung out with my daughter for five weeks. And then I went to say, John, as usual, one exciting thing that's sort of been keeping me busy is that The Five-Star Weekend is coming out on July 9th from Peacock. Oh, incredible. And I am co-hosting the companion podcast for that. And so I flew to Los Angeles, did a week interviewing there and I'm going to New York next week.

Tim Ehrenberg (2:00)

That's incredible. How do we watch it? Just on all the time?

Elin Hilderbrand (2:02)

It'll be, yep, it'll come on after the show. It'll say to watch after each episode, there'll be a companion podcast that is corresponding.

Tim Ehrenberg (2:09)

And you've watched the whole show, right?

Elin Hilderbrand (2:11)

I've seen the whole thing.

Tim Ehrenberg (2:12)

And?

Elin Hilderbrand (2:13)

I mean, it's so good.

It's so, first of all, it's aesthetically the most beautiful show you will ever see. Set on Nantucket. Anybody who loves Nantucket, including our producer, to see Nantucket on the screen correctly, authentically, it makes you well up with tears because you're like, that is where I live.

Tim Ehrenberg (2:32)

Yeah.

Elin Hilderbrand (2:33)

It is so beautifully shot. And anyone who's ever been to Nantucket or who wants to come will absolutely love it. And then the, you know, the show itself is just used very closely to the book, has the most amazing cast, Jennifer Garner, Darcy Carden, Chloe Sevigny, Regina Hall, Gemma Chan, Timothy Olyphant, the list goes on. Wow.

Tim Ehrenberg (2:54)

It's going to be so good. And your readers deserve to see Nantucket on the screen like you write about it, because obviously there's such a heart that you bring to each one of your books that you'll see that on there. And Five-Star Weekend is just one of my favorites of yours. And I think of so many people.

Elin Hilderbrand (3:08)

They did a very, very, very good job.

Tim Ehrenberg (3:10)

We can't wait.

Elin Hilderbrand (3:12)

What about your ear?

Tim Ehrenberg (3:13)

I am in the middle of a house renovation.

Elin Hilderbrand (3:15)

Yes, you are.

Tim Ehrenberg (3:16)

And you did not warn me how hellish of house renovations are.

Elin Hilderbrand (3:20)

I know I did. You know I did.

Tim Ehrenberg (3:22)

Now, did you, were you able to let go a lot more than I am? Because I think I'm there like three times a day saying, what about this? What about that?

Elin Hilderbrand (3:29)