Libby Lost and Found by Stephanie Booth with Kendall Concini-Moore

This week’s book is Libby Lost & Found, by Stephanie Booth, about Libby Weeks, the reclusive author of the hit fantasy series “The Falling Children”, who faces a crisis when she is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's and struggles to complete her overdue manuscript. In desperation, she enlists the help of eleven-year-old superfan Peanut Bixton, who knows the series inside and out but has her own hidden troubles. As Libby grapples with her diagnosis, Peanut and her family work to protect and help her save herself and the series.

My guest this week is Kendall Concini-Moore. Kendall‘s greatest adventure began not on the page, but at home, as a mother. Her book Mom’s Cloud and the Beach Adventure was inspired by her own family and her struggles with depression, or her “cloud.” With empathy and playful hearts, her family encourages her to rest, reminding her that it’s okay to not be okay, because clouds don’t last forever. Complete with discussion questions and resources, this picture book gives children ages 4-8 the language to understand when someone they love is struggling, while celebrating that sometimes, simply being together is the most caring thing. You can find out more about her and her book on her website, https://cloudydaychronicles.org/, through her Substack where she shares resources: cloudydaychronicles.substack.com/ and on social media @cloudydaychronicles.

Kendall curated our drink this week: A Black Manhattan with a coffee twist, listen to the episode to learn how this was inspired by the book and what author Stephanie Booth thought Libby’s favorite drink would be!

Ingredients

2 oz rye whiskey (or bourbon if you want it softer)

1 oz Amaro

¼ oz coffee liqueur (just a pinch—enough to deepen, not dominate)

2-3 dashes orange bitters (optional but rounds it out)

Luxardo cherry or orange twist for garnish

Directions

Add rye (or bourbon), amaro, coffee liqueur, and bitters to a mixing glass.

Fill with ice and stir vigorously for 20–30 seconds until well chilled and slightly diluted.

Strain into a chilled coupe (for up) or an old-fashioned glass over a large ice cube (for on the rocks).

Garnish with a Luxardo cherry or a long orange twist.

In this episode