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Our January Discover and B&N Book Club picks have lots in common: both are debut novels with indelible characters and an unforgettable story,\xa0both\xa0are graduates of UT\u2019s Michener Center for Writers \u2014 think of this episode as an audio boxed set, as both authors sit down separately with Poured Over\u2019s host, Miwa Messer.

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Tracey Rose Peyton knew she was taking on a major challenge with a narrative about enslaved women in 1850\u2019s Texas \u2014 and even tossed an entire early draft \u2014 but she knew she had what she needed when she landed on the hypnotic first person plural voice for our January Discover pick, Night Wherever We Go. Tracey talks about her literary influences (including Toni Morrison, Marilynne Robinson, Julie Otsuka and Alice Walker), love of short novels, making sure to include moments of real joy in terrible times, and more.

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Our January B&N Book Club pick, The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff, is a dark comedy set in modern-day India that started as a short story \u2014 one that she put in a drawer for ten or so years. Parini talks about how she got from a short story to her novel about second chances and women breaking free of society\u2019s constraints, her favorite writers (including Zadie Smith and James McBride), the real-life inspiration behind her book\u2019s title, writing women\u2019s friendships, and more. (Join us for the B&N Book Club event in February if you\u2019re looking for spoilers on this one.)

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Featured Books (Tracey Rose Peyton):

Night Wherever We Go by Tracey Rose Peyton

The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

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Featured Books (Parini Shroff):

Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

White Teeth by Zadie Smith

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Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays with occasional Saturdays.\xa0