Jennifer Caloyeras – Books Are My People
Jennifer Caloyeras is the host of Books Are My People, a podcast for the growing number of readers who listen to literary discussion and entertainment. When I first tuned in, the introductory jazz music pleasantly surprised me, followed by the expressive voice behind the mic. I quickly discovered that Jennifer has a knack for podcasting that she undoubtedly enjoys. The Q&A is a snapshot of how and why she does it.
Along with her other interests and jobs is writing books. Yes, Jennifer Caloyeras is an author! (Titles and links are in the Q&A.)
Thank you, Jennifer, for sending your painting for my postcard collection. Is there no end to your talents!? I love green, and I love nature.
~Anita~
About Books Are My People
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What were your thoughts that led to beginning the podcast and your podcast name?
I have a t-shirt that says, \”I like books more than people.\” Which is only how I feel on certain days. Most days, I like people better. But I used that as inspiration for the title of my podcast. My friend Rachel actually came up with the name.
Date of first episode:
July 29th, 2019
Schedule of episodes:
Every 2 weeks. On occasion, when I\’ve really read a lot, I\’ve added some episodes, but on each episode I recommend five books. Which means I\’ve probably read between 8-10 books to get to the five that I love the most.
Episode format:
I start out with a quick catch up on my life. Then I move to Bookish News, a round up of what\’s happening in the world of books and publishing. Sometimes author news or book to screen news and then I move to the recommendations.
Are you the sole interviewer of your quests? Do you have a team of people who work behind the scenes?
Books Are My People is all me! I took a music production course at UCLA a few years back and used a lot of what I learned there to produce this podcast. I love talking about and recommending books to people, so that part comes quite naturally.
How do you choose your guests?
I reach out to writer friends and acquaintances. Sometimes publishers or authors reach out to me and see if they\’re a good match for the show. As long as someone is enthusiastic about books, then they are welcome to get in touch with me.
Are all of your guests authors? If not, what are some of the occupations, projects, products, or hobbies of non-author guests?
So far, most of my guests have been authors. The one exception is my dad, he\’s a screenwriter and playwright. But I have some non-authors coming on the show in 2021 that I\’m really excited about, including a few artists and a rep who works for Bookshop.org.
Is the conversation with your guest about their latest book, or does it vary?
If an author visits, we usually talk about their latest book (it\’s important that they promote their work!) as well as the writing process in general. I know that I love hearing different writers talk about their creative process. I also like to hear what they are working on next.
Do your episodes include all genres? What genre has been discussed mostly?
I like to read in almost every genre; fiction: including contemporary, historical, speculative, short stories, literary, commercial, thriller and mystery. I dabble in fantasy. I think maybe romance is the one genre that I don\’t read a lot of. I also love non-fiction that explores a focused topic: eels, the digestive tract, Russian oligarchies, for example. Any sort of deep dive nonfiction book is very appealing to me. But contemporary and literary fiction are the two genres I cover the most on my podcast.
A good interview is when:
…a guest comes prepared to speak enthusiastically about their favorite books!
What type of interview is most challenging?
My interviews are short and sweet, so there\’s not much that\’s challenging. The show doesn\’t typically go over thirty minutes, so the hardest part is editing it down to that length, especially when someone comes on who is wonderfully enthusiastic with their answers.
Recording location, and typically, where is your guest?
I record in my home office. My guest is usually visible over Skype, unless they just want to do a phone interview.
What equipment and software/app do you use and does your guest have to have special equipment?
I can usually work around any situation. I record using GarageBand and I have a Yeti mic. I record over Skype using a plug-in that splits the conversation into two tracks, so it makes editing a bit easier. The first few shows were recorded without this function and you can really hear the difference.
What generation are you in?
I am part of the Generation X, born in 1976.
Is podcasting your “day job?” If not, what is your work?
Podcasting is just for fun. I have a few day jobs. I am an author (I\’ve published two young adult novels, including Strays and a short fiction collection titled Unruly Creatures.) I teach creative writing at UCLA Extension\’s Writers\’ Program and I also work as a manuscript editor; writers give me their novels-in-progress to edit and I offer developmental feedback.
Do you have other bookish interests and accomplishments or do public speaking?
In addition to the above, I also write a vast number of book reviews, so I do a lot of reading for those as well. When not in a pandemic, I talk about different aspects of writing at libraries and through different writing organizations including Children\’s Book Writers of Los Angeles.
Does Books Are My People have a product line?
I am a small company of one, so no product line. But I\’ll send you a pretty awesome bookmark if you send me an email with your U.S. mailing address!
Sponsors?
I am just starting to link up with sponsors, so stay tuned!
Any advice for wanna-be bookish podcasters?
Listen to a variety of podcasts and take note of what you like as well as what you don\’t like. Then, make it your own!