Episode 599 || Off the Shelf with Annie & Ashley: Fall 2026

From the Front Porch

Annie B. Jones and Ashley Sherlock engage in a seasonal conversation about their upcoming autumnal interests, ranging from literature to spo

Key takeaways

• Annie recommends 'Bad Words' by Rioghnach Robinson, describing it as an engaging novel about the publishing industry.
• Ashley discusses her reading of 'The Shampoo Effect' by Jenny Jackson, noting its setting in Massachusetts.

Main topics

• Autumnal book recommendations
• Seasonal weather and climate

Notable quotes

We are recording this in, now I won't speak for North Carolina... down here it is still Satan's breath.

Conclusion

A warm and conversational episode that provides listeners with curated

Transcript preview

Speaker 2 (0:01) Welcome to From the Front Porch, a conversational podcast about books, small business, and life in the South. Authors were the people wandering down imaginary roads, and we were the ones watching, drawing attention to the artifice. Critics could be astute, respected, but almost never were we loved. Rianach Robinson, Bad Words. I'm Annie B. Jones, owner of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in beautiful downtown Thomasville, Georgia. And this week I'm chatting autumnal off-the-shelf topics with my cousin, Ashley Sherlock. If you're craving more From the Front Porch, or if you want to listen to episodes ad-free, join us on Patreon. This year, listener favorite Hunter McClendon and I are sharing our monthly recaps of our conquering of the complete stories by Flannery O'Connor. Speaker 1 (1:09) Episodes air on the last Friday of each month, and it's never too late to start reading or listening, Speaker 2 (1:14) or to cajole friends and family into joining us too. To join Patreon, just visit patreon.com forward slash from the front porch. Three tiers are available. The $5 a month tier will give you access to those Conquer a Classic episodes, including a full back catalog of episodes and our monthly porch visit Q &A sessions. The $20 a month tier will give you those ad-free episodes of From the Front Porch, plus a deep dive into some of Flannery O'Connor's other works. We are on the cusp of announcing our 2027 Conquer a Classic selection, so now would be a great time to join in on the fun. We hope you'll join us. Speaker 1 (1:53) Now, back to the show. Hi, Ashley. Hello to you. How's it going? Welcome back. Speaker 2 (2:00) We're here to talk fall things, but I'm not going to lie to the people. We are recording this in, now I won't speak for North Carolina. You guys are doing your own thing up there, but down here it is still Satan's breath. And so I, we're going to talk about fall things, but fall does feel slightly far off for me, a South Georgia resident. How about you? Speaker 1 (2:23) If it makes you feel any better, it is 90 degrees here. on August whatever in North Carolina. But I will say I just got back from 10 days in New England and the day I left, it was 59 degrees. Speaker 2 (2:36) Yeah. I, we have friends visiting from there this week and I've got to tell you, I think they are in for a rude awakening. I'm genuinely concerned for their health. Like I, Speaker 1 (2:43) they're going Speaker 2 (2:44) to have Speaker 1 (2:44) a hard time. They, Speaker 2 (2:46) they were talking about walking Speaker 1 (2:47) around Speaker 2 (2:47) downtown and Speaker 1 (2:48) I thought, I'm not sure you're Speaker 2 (2:49) going to want to do that. Speaker 2 (2:52) And no, and that's something that they're going to have to learn on their own. Speaker 1 (2:55) Yes. He's never been south of, oh, I Speaker 2 (3:00) think Tennessee, I think. Yeah, that's right. Like, I don't think he's been south of Tennessee and I just want to be like, oh, it's a different world down here. I don't. It's so different. Speaker 1 (3:07) I was visiting friends when I was in New England and she was, one of them was talking about how hot it had been because it was like not a cold spell, but you know, it was, I guess, back to normal. And she was like, we had, we had a heat wave come through and I was like. I'm going to stop you right there. Yeah. You can't say one single word. Speaker 2 (3:25) The only way they have us beat is their air conditioning units are crap. Like Speaker 1 (3:30) they. She does. She has a window unit. Yeah. Window Speaker 2 (3:33) units. What? And Speaker 1 (3:35) also I learned that a main winter lasts from October to June. So for those reasons, I'm Speaker 2 (3:42) out. Speaker 1 (3:42) So Speaker 2 (3:42) that's Speaker 1 (3:42) out for Speaker 2 (3:42) you. Speaker 1 (3:43) Yeah. No, thank you. I Speaker 2 (3:45) don't think like as much. I talk a big talk, but that would be a very long winter. I love winter, but I Speaker 1 (3:51) would take 90 degrees. Yeah. Speaker 2 (3:53) Yeah. I don't, I don't, I'm, I Speaker 1 (3:54) am torn, but the devil, you know, probably Speaker 2 (3:57) that's two Satan references. What if it Speaker 1 (3:59) was a drinking game? Speaker 2 (4:01) That's two devil references. Sorry. Speaker 1 (4:03) Two, two minutes into this. Speaker 2 (4:05) We're doing great. So sorry. So we are going to talk about autumnal things. So I am curious. We all know, well, I know, and people maybe who have been listening for a long time know you're a summer girly. I used to be a fall girly. I don't know anymore. The bookshelf kind of has broken the things I thought I knew about myself. But what are you looking forward to for fall? How are you feeling going into the Speaker 1 (4:27) season? What's the vibe? So, okay, I do love summer. There are some swimming holes that I have not gotten to yet this season that I still hope to have time for in the coming weeks. I'm getting a little bit nervous because September is right around the corner and that does matter in North Carolina. However, I went on a walk today at a park and the tops of some trees were turning red and my heart did skip a beat and I had to be like, no, we are not. It's not time yet. I will be excited when it's time, but it is summer right now. When do you think Speaker 2 (5:02) it's time? When in your, forget temperatures, because again, North Carolina, you will get an actual fall sooner than I will. But like, when in your heart is it fall? Is it autumn? Speaker 1 (5:15) October. Okay. Speaker 2 (5:17) Jeff Zentner, do you follow him? He came to the reader retreat a couple years ago. He's an author. Speaker 1 (5:22) Yeah. But he posted the other day, and I forget he does this because I always save it because Speaker 2 (5:27) I think it's very clever. He celebrates HOTUM, H-O-T-U-M-N. Love it. And for him, that starts in August. Okay. So for me, I'm with you. Well, it will be like smack dab middle of fall to me in October. But I will begin in my heart Labor Day weekend is the, even though down here that is not at all. Labor Day doesn't mean anything like but in my heart, I will move to fall like I will decorate the house for fall. I will try to do I don't even know what that would look like, but I will try to do autumnal things like that is when it starts for me. But like I don't do my fall day of fun until October. Speaker 1 (6:08) That Labor Day weekend was my other answer. That makes sense. I accept it. I will not accept it right now. Please do not Speaker 2 (6:16) come at me Speaker 1 (6:16) with phones around the corner. No, thank you. Well, Speaker 2 (6:19) I also don't like that. And I love autumn. But no, the only the real issue is school starting. Like that. Speaker 1 (6:28) But Speaker 2 (6:28) I don't want to go into Target right now. Now, this is me as for me in my house. So like, again. Other people do you. But like, I don't want to go to Target and see Halloween stuff right now. Like, Speaker 1 (6:39) I Speaker 2 (6:39) need a minute. Give me a second. Just give me a second. But like for Keela at the bookshelf, for my sister-in-law, my sister-in-law, we were up there a few weeks ago and she gave me an Isaac Halloween PJs because she was like, it's spooky season. Because for her, spooky season starts on August 1st. And I was like, wow, you know what? And honestly, like, good for you guys. During the pandemic, I do think I started decorating for fall pretty early. But like I'm trying to be the kind of person who enjoys summer for what it is because summer lasts so long here. So like I'm trying to go to the beach. Sitting by the pool is hard to do in August. I'm not going to lie to you. It's hot. I walked outside today and I thought, oh, I can feel like my skin feels like it's on a skillet. Like I Speaker 1 (7:24) feel like I'm being cooked. I feel like an egg. Cooked by Satan? Speaker 2 (7:28) Yes. Third reference. Anyway, so, okay. Labor Speaker 1 (7:32) Day, October. What are you looking forward to? Oh, I haven't even thought about it yet. I don't know. I loved the temperatures when I was in New England. So I guess still being outside, I'll be sad to not be able to like lay in the sun because that's one of my favorite parts about summer. Speaker 2 (7:48) I Speaker 1 (7:48) still feel like I'm learning how to do a North Carolina fall. Like I feel like last fall was my first real fall. I don't remember where I was in 2024. You Speaker 2 (7:59) were at the apple orchard with me, but I won't take offense. Speaker 1 (8:02) Oh, that's right. And last year, last year, let's make this a drinking game too, just across episodes. I had my appendix taken out in August. It was on bedrest through September. That's right. So I feel like that doesn't count. So I'm still just learning, learning how a real fall happens. Yeah. Especially. Yeah, where you are. Like you're still adjusting to that. Yeah. Speaker 2 (8:27) I, for one, am very much looking forward to I split season tickets to FSU games with your sister. Nice. And I was really hesitant to do that. It wasn't cheap, but it wasn't because we're splitting. It felt attainable. Speaker 1 (8:43) And Speaker 2 (8:44) that meant and honestly, I don't need season tickets because I don't have a life. where season tickets to anything makes any sense at all. I mean, I get my season tickets to TEF and even that, I think I'm going to have to miss one of the performances. Anyway. Sad. My point, I know, my point is this actually worked out great because it got me three games and I picked my three games and there's one in September, one in October, one in November. And I bought a new FSU shirt from Picked. They are not sponsoring this, but Picked, if you're listening, I love you guys and I buy a lot of stuff from you. Picked TLH, which is like this FSU vintage store. So I got a new shirt. I think I'm going to splurge. Tell me if I should do this. I think I'm going to splurge on like a nice clear purse that's made by this leather goods store in Atlanta. And so it could be my clear purse that I use for concerts. Like I've got a Mumford and Sons concert coming up this fall. Those three different games. So like, and it's made by a women's small business. Like they make the bags. Speaker 1 (9:45) Okay. I would like to see a picture of that. And also, did you know I'm going to see Mumford and Sons too? Speaker 2 (9:49) Yes. You're going, I think Speaker 1 (9:51) you're Speaker 2 (9:52) going like the week before me maybe. Yeah. Speaker 1 (9:54) Really what I want to know is if you're going to go see John Green. I can't. That's reader retreat weekend. Speaker 2 (10:02) I'm so annoyed. Thanks. Yeah, you're right. That is a big sacrifice. I am annoyed because he's coming to Gainesville. And so I was like, great, I'll go see him like Lauren Groff. Like, yeah, you could make you could maybe go see him if you stayed post reader retreat because he's coming September 29th to Gainesville. But I will be at Mumford and Sons in Birmingham. Speaker 1 (10:22) My word. Everything is overlapping. Okay. I also have other things that I'm looking forward to that I thought of. See, I knew. Okay. While you were talking. Number one, my birthday. Hello, is in October. Yes. And I'm already like- Your Jesus Speaker 2 (10:34) year. Speaker 1 (10:34) My Jesus year, 33. I hope it turns out better for me than him. And I'm starting school. So I'm going, I'm looking forward to maybe some back to school supplies. I Speaker 2 (10:45) wondered if you were going to talk about that. Yes. Like for you, this is a true- To me, this is a true autumnal experience. You're going back to Speaker 1 (10:52) school, baby. I can't believe it. I have no idea what my back-to-school supplies will be because it is a hybrid situation. So I will be doing a lot of online work, but that doesn't mean I can't get like new pens and notebooks and stuff. Yeah, you need a new notebook. I really want a new backpack because the zipper broke on my kind bag. Oh, that's sad. So if you or anybody else have any recommendations, I'm open. And then David Sedaris is coming to Greensboro. Speaker 2 (11:20) I Speaker 1 (11:20) saw that. In October. So I. Oh, you should definitely get to that. Speaker 2 (11:25) Yes. That's the thing. I like when I was looking at the calendar, I thought, OK, Mumford and Sons end of September. We've got three FSU football games, even if they're crappy. It's three games. Jordan and I get to go together. My parents are going to take care of Isaac. We might try to bring Isaac to a game. I honestly have not decided that yet. But anyway, it feels like built-in date nights. There's a couple of fall movies coming out I'm excited about. And then you just did, I feel like, Around the World in 80 Days, except it was just New England. But we are going in October. to Connecticut to visit Athena Books. I hope I'm pronouncing that correctly. And so if you're listening and you live in and around Greenwich, Connecticut, which is very close to New York, I've done a lot. I figured out a lot about New England geography in the last couple of weeks. But Jordan and I are going to come and we're going to make a little trip of that. Not too long because, again, want to be cognizant of the baby we have made, but the baby that now exists. But we are going to come. We're going to do a book event. Oh my gosh. And I forgot to tell you this. And then do you know Erin Carlson? She's the author of I'll Have What She's Having, which was a book about Nora Ephron. Okay. And she wrote a book about, oh my gosh, There's No Crying in Baseball. What is the name of that movie? There's No Crying in Baseball. People Speaker 1 (12:44) are yelling it. They're yelling it at me. What is it called? It's a movie. There's Speaker 2 (12:49) No Crying in Baseball. Tom Hanks. Speaker 1 (12:51) Oh no. Great. There's no crying. League of their own. Oh my God. League of Speaker 2 (12:57) their own. Don't worry, everybody. We got it. That's literally what I need. Speaker 1 (13:02) Our actual fantasy football league. Speaker 2 (13:04) Literally what we named fantasy football. Anyway, a league of their own. The fantasy league is called a league of her own. Big difference. Anyway, Erin Carlson is doing a class on Zoom about Nora Ephron, and she's invited me to be her guest speaker in October. And there's another guest that I will tell you about off air because I'm actually not sure Erin announced it. But I want you to know, I mean, and. It's not, nobody freak out. It's not Meg Ryan, but Speaker 1 (13:32) it is, Speaker 2 (13:33) it is so close. And so I like, meaning there is a connection to the movie and she will be on screen. And I, it's not the ghost of Nora either. Nobody panic. But anyway, so I'm going to be doing that too. So I've got two really cool things in October, like from an author perspective, like I get to go to Connecticut and kind of hopefully meet with a new round of readers of Ordinary Time. And then. I cannot believe that all these years, I read Erin Carlson's book years ago. And so the fact that she reached out to me, like I, it's the night before the Athena books event. And I was like, I'll do it for my hotel room. I'll do whatever it takes. I'll do whatever it takes, baby. Speaker 1 (14:13) So anyway, so we Speaker 2 (14:15) do have travel is important to me and travel in this new season of life has been challenging and like making the time for it. And then traveling with a baby is different from traveling without a baby. So I am, I mean, I hope I'm not setting myself up. I hope my hopes aren't too high, but I'm very much looking forward to, I think, three nights up in Connecticut when the leaves should be pretty primo. Pretty people. So do you have travel plans? I know you're going to see Mumford. Mumford will Speaker 1 (14:45) be in Virginia. Then read a retreat. Then I don't know because school. Hello. Right. Speaker 2 (14:55) Well, hello. Listen, you're right. And that is the most important thing on your list. And it is fun. I think you're going to have a great time. Speaker 1 (15:01) It'll be good. That's partly why I did so much traveling this summer because I'm expecting to not Speaker 2 (15:05) have a lot of Speaker 1 (15:06) time starting in Speaker 2 (15:07) September. But Speaker 1 (15:08) I still don't think I've ever been to New York in the fall. And I don't know that this is the year for that. But yeah, I don't know any travel plans. I can't get, there's probably some in my calendar, but I was going to ask if you were going to go to New York Speaker 2 (15:22) while you were in Speaker 1 (15:22) Connecticut. And then maybe Speaker 2 (15:23) I haven't Speaker 1 (15:24) scoot on up there. I haven't decided. I Speaker 2 (15:27) haven't decided. Like it's a quick train ride. It's a quick train ride. So I haven't decided if we're going to try to do New York. Cause I also in all my years have never been to New York in the fall. And I would love to change that. And we had a great time in New York in May, in May, but never forget it rained the entire time I was there. From the moment we landed to the moment we left. This is what I mean. We've had some real travel snafus in this season. Not snafus. They're regular travel issues that would happen to anyone. But when