Mixing Magic with Tough Topics: A Journey through Words and War with Author Eli Gardner (E98)

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Eli Gardner is an award-winning author of 7 books. She is a military veteran with over a dozen deployments to the Middle East. The time spent overseas and the beauty she finds in misunderstood places and topics, inspires much of her writing. She writes in the genres of historical fiction, fairytale retellings, cozy magical realism, comedy and poetry. She has a budding horse rescue, with 7 saved in the last 2 years from kill pens and names all the horses after authors. Book profits fund rescue operations as well as 25% being donated to a rotating list of mostly veteran-related 501c3s.

Episode Highlights:

• Story Share: A cross-over episode with Jacqui Just Chatters podcast, where Eli’s book Hookah Smoke and Hellfire: Poems from War is discussed.
• Military Life: Eli shares insights from her multiple deployments and how she’s built a community through her experiences.
• Horse Rescue: The inspiring story behind founding her horse rescue and how childhood dreams can evolve into meaningful ventures.
• Writing Journey: Eli reflects on her writing process, what she’s learned about herself through her work and the genres she loves to explore. She writes about tough topics, but makes them accessible to all.
• Book Flight: Eli’s curated selection of historical fiction with a touch of magical realism, inspiring her literary style.

Connect with Eli Gardner:

• Instagram
• Facebook

Purchase Eli’s books

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
• Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
• You Can Farm by Joel Salatin

Book Flight

• Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
• Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
• 1000 Nights: Death’s Love Letter to Afghanistan by Eli Gardner

Dessert Pairing

• The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media

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Ready for a monthly literary adventure? We now have the BFF Book Club. Join us each month to explore a new book. After reading, connect with fellow book lovers and meet the author in a live interview! Can’t make it live? Don’t worry—we’ll send you the recording. You can find all our upcoming book club selections HERE.

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1. Mixing Magic with Tough Topics: A Journey through Words and War with Author Eli Gardner (E98) (00:00:00)

2. Story Share feature Jacqui Just Chatters on Hookah Smoke and Hellfire: Poems from War (00:01:51)

3. About Eli - military life and forming a community (00:02:44)

4. Eli's horse rescue and childhood dreams (00:06:44)

5. Writing Life (00:11:32)

6. The gift of writing (00:19:07)

7. Book Flight (00:28:24)

8. Current writing project (00:39:33)