Mitali Perkins has always thought of herself as an outsider writing for outsiders. And yet she has a remarkable gift for inviting people in. She has two new books out: Hope in the Valley is a middle-grade novel. Holy Night and Little Star is a picture book for Christmas.

Mitali Perkins has always thought of herself as an outsider writing for outsiders. And yet she has a remarkable gift for inviting people in. She has two new books out: <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/hope-in-the-valley-mitali-perkins/18643154?ean=9780374388515">Hope in the Valley</a> is a middle-grade novel. <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/holy-night-and-little-star-a-story-for-christmas-mitali-perkins/19574165?ean=9780593578049">Holy Night and Little Star</a> is a picture book for Christmas.

Conversations with writers about writing, hosted by Jonathan Rogers.

The Habit

The Habit Podcast

Mitali Perkins likes being on the margins.

Jennifer Trafton’s new book is If Only We Could See: Reimagining Creativity, Compassion, and Calling Through the Extraordinary Life of Lilias Trotter. An historian, a visual artist, and a novelist, Jennifer is uniquely qualified to tell this story. In this episode, Jennifer and Jonathan Rogers talk about the remarkable life of artist and missionary Lilias Trotter. They also talk about the empathetic imagination, the value of seeing what is actually in front of you, and the role of humility in seeing clearly.

Jennifer Trafton&rsquo;s new book is If <a href="https://store.rabbitroom.com/products/if-only-we-could-see?_pos=1&amp;_sid=d1835e1bc&amp;_ss=r">Only We Could See: Reimagining Creativity, Compassion, and Calling Through the Extraordinary Life of Lilias Trotter.</a> An historian, a visual artist, and a novelist, Jennifer is uniquely qualified to tell this story. In this episode, Jennifer and Jonathan Rogers talk about the remarkable life of artist and missionary Lilias Trotter. They also talk about the empathetic imagination, the value of seeing what is actually in front of you, and the role of humility in seeing clearly.

Jennifer Trafton on Lilias Trotter

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/d699cc26-51ff-4875-9bdb-aa4e006494dd/clips/9b8af77a-d526-4de7-a926-b42b00114d94/transcript

Leslie Bustard did a lot of thinking, teaching, and writing about what God made women to be–as distinct from what women can and can’t do. She was working on a book on this topic when she died in 2023. In the last months of Leslie’s earthly life, writer and editor Théa Rosenburg came alongside to help Leslie get the book over the finish line. As it happened, Théa had to finish the work without Leslie. The book, called Strong Allies, released in 2026. Jonathan Rogers sat down with Théa at the Square Halo Conference in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and recorded the following conversation before a live audience.

Leslie Bustard did a lot of thinking, teaching, and writing about what God made women to be&ndash;as distinct from what women can and can&rsquo;t do. She was working on a book on this topic when she died in 2023. In the last months of Leslie&rsquo;s earthly life, writer and editor Th&eacute;a Rosenburg came alongside to help Leslie get the book over the finish line. As it happened, Th&eacute;a had to finish the work without Leslie. The book, called <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/strong-allies-creating-cultivating-restoring-leslie-anne-bustard/150f5da0629e2cff?ean=9781941106440&amp;next=t">Strong Allies</a>, released in 2026. Jonathan Rogers sat down with Th&eacute;a at the Square Halo Conference in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and recorded the following conversation before a live audience.

Théa Rosenburg and Leslie Bustard Were Strong Allies

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/d699cc26-51ff-4875-9bdb-aa4e006494dd/clips/6845c4da-d009-451c-a4d9-b42400bf05c0/transcript

Jamie Quatro is the author of Two Step Devil, a southern Gothic novel very much in the tradition of Flannery O’Connor. The Booklist review of Two-Step Devil describes it as "Brilliantly paced and exquisitely detailed, this striking novel takes on such weighty themes as faith, humanity, and frailty without a touch of melodrama . . . A spectacular masterpiece.” Bookpage called Quatro "a saint of Southern discomfort. Jamie Quatro and Jonathan Rogers recorded this conversation in front of a live audience at the Illuminate Conference near Chattanooga.

Jamie Quatro is the author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/two-step-devil-jamie-quatro/72c9f831f2b61a99?ean=9780802165428&amp;next=t">Two Step Devil,</a> a southern Gothic novel very much in the tradition of Flannery O&rsquo;Connor. The Booklist review of Two-Step Devil describes it as "Brilliantly paced and exquisitely detailed, this striking novel takes on such weighty themes as faith, humanity, and frailty without a touch of melodrama . . . A spectacular masterpiece.&rdquo; Bookpage called Quatro "a saint of Southern discomfort. Jamie Quatro and Jonathan Rogers recorded this conversation in front of a live audience at the Illuminate Conference near Chattanooga.

Jamie Quatro's Two-Step Devil

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/d699cc26-51ff-4875-9bdb-aa4e006494dd/clips/2154d76e-7bb5-41c7-973e-b41d013f7e96/transcript

Mitali Perkins likes being on the margins.

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