In this episode of Book Banter with Rayna, we talk with Aaron Reynolds, the creator of Effin’ Birds, the wildly funny and delightfully irreverent comic that blends vintage illustrations with modern-day snark. We dive into the origins of his foul-mouthed feathered phenomenon, how he turns frustration into hilarity, and why swearing birds have struck such a chord with readers.

-

Aaron Reynolds is a Webby Award–winning humorist, aprofessional speaker, and the man behind the Effin’ Birds and Swear Trek social media accounts. When he’s not on Twitter, you can find him producing a series of podcasts and at ComicCons dressed as George Lucas. He has been a baseball writer, a fine art printer, and a mall Santa Claus photographer. Aaron was raised in Mississauga, Canada, a suburb where they cut down all the trees and named the streets after them. He currently splits his time between Toronto and Ottawa.

-

Get your copy of Effin' Birds: A Field Guide to Identification - https://bookshop.org/a/106612/9781984856289

-

Book Banter is a laid-back conversational interview with authors, illustrators, creators and other bookish folks.

-

Subscribe to Book Banter with Rayna wherever you get your podcasts. Watch new content on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@Book_Banter

In this episode of Book Banter with Rayna, we talk with author Bethany Mangle about her witty and heartfelt YA novels. We explore how she balances humor with emotional depth, the relatable teen experiences that inspire her stories, and the way she writes strong, complicated characters finding their way. Plus, she shares what draws her to writing about family, friendship, and the chaos of growing up.

-

Bethany Mangle is the author of the Prepped, All the Right Reasons, and Conditions of a Heart. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys spoiling her dogs, playing video games, and spending time with her unbearably nerdy husband. She moves too much to put a location in her bio ever again. Visit her at BethanyMangle.com.

-

Purchase Bethany's books here: https://bookshop.org/lists/book-banter-guests

-

Book Banter is a laid-back conversational interview with authors, illustrators, creators and other bookish folks.

-

Subscribe to Book Banter with Rayna wherever you get your podcasts. Watch new content on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@Book_Banter

In this episode of Book Banter with Rayna, we talk with author Rien Fertel about his rich and reflective writing on Southern history and culture. We dive into the personal threads that run through his work, how he brings forgotten stories and voices to the forefront, and what it means to write about place with both reverence and critique.

-

Rien Fertel is the author of four works of nonfiction. He writes about literature for a variety of publications, including the New Orleans Times-Picayune/Louisiana Advocate, where he is the biweekly book critic. He has held a variety of academic positions, most recently as a Visiting Professor of History at Tulane University.

-

Purchase Rien's books here: https://bookshop.org/lists/book-banter-guests

-

Book Banter is a laid-back conversational interview with authors, illustrators, creators and other bookish folks.

-

Subscribe to Book Banter with Rayna wherever you get your podcasts. Watch new content on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@Book_Banter