Our latest episodes…

Episode 54: Interview with Tim Young

Great conversation with our friend and children's book author, Tim Young. Ted and Lory have run into Tim at several book events over the past year and were thrilled for the opportunity to sit down and discuss his brand new book, Mac and the Millstone of Time. A talented writer, illustrator, and all around interesting and funny person, this is an episode you don't want to miss!

Episode 53: Interview with Alice McDermott

Ted interviews Alice McDermott about writing, reading, teaching, and books they have found challenging to finish. Alice is one of many talented authors that will be participating in the Annapolis Book Festival on Saturday, April 27, 2024. If you are in the area, you do not want to miss this opportunity to meet Alice and enjoy all of the fun activities planned for this bookish event. Be sure to stop by the Two Sides to the Story booth, we will be recording live from the Festival. Hope to see you there!

Episode 52: The Brainy Book Wizards

Congratulations to Brody, Andy, Drew, Josh, Brooks, Rhys, and Nathan, The Brainy Book Wizards! Hear as this 5th grade team of seven boys talk about their victory on battle night. Ted and Lory get their immediate reactions to being crowned the champs of Battle of the Books 2024 for the Finksburg Area Elementary Schools of Carroll County. Special thanks to the teachers, media specialists, students and parents at Mechanicsville, Sandymount, and Cranberry Elementary Schools. This annual event, presented by Carroll County Public Library, A Likely Story Bookstore and Carroll County Public Schools, is enjoyed by families each year and we at Two Sides are so grateful to be part of it!

Episode 51: Battle Season, Book Events, and a Baby

Ted and Lory reflect on the Battles of the Books Kickoff, and talk about preparations for the Carroll County Battle Season, Annapolis Book Festival in April and The Maryland Library Association Annual Conference in May. Ted also delivers the exciting news that he is soon to be a grandfather. Anyone paying attention to the show, knows that his first granddaughter will be surrounded by many books before and after her birth! Recordings of the Battle of the Books Kickoff Shows, including our special guest, Battle of the Books participant and member of Team Bookmasters, Jamison, located in the show notes for this episode.

Battle of the Books Kickoff: Night 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICAOBgkAbak

Battle of the Books Kickoff: Night 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6efTk1nN_LQ

Episode 50: Interview with Sarah Adler

Ted and Lory join the Friends of Carroll County Public Library for their annual meeting, featuring author Sarah Adler. Two Sides and Friends members, ask Sarah questions about here debut novel, Mrs Nash's Ashes. Learn about Sarah's journey to publication and hear about her next project, hitting your favorite local bookstores and libraries in April 2024!

Episode 49: Season Two Kickoff Part Two

Ted and Lory record in front of a live audience at Exploration Commons and take a look ahead to Season Two.

Episode 48: Season Two Kickoff Part One

Ted and Lory record in front of a live audience at Exploration Commons and take a look at the first year adventures.

Episode 47: Two Sides To The Plate

Ted and Lory join library staff members, Candace and Nancy, in the commercial kitchen at Exploration Commons, part of the Westminster Branch of the Carroll County Public Library for a cooking competition.

Episode 46: Interviews with Battle of the Books After Hours Winning Teams - A Novel Idea and This Is Your Mom’s Book Club

Ted attends the remaining two nights of the Fall 2023 Battle of the Books After Hours competitions. Listen as he interviews the winning teams, A Novel Idea at 1623 Brewing Company in Eldersburg, MD, and This Is Your Mom's Book Club at Floodzone Brewing in Union Bridge, MD. Ted and Lory both reflect on similarities and differences between the battle events in which they have competed, attended, and participated in over the past three years. Also hear about upcoming episodes in which Two Sides to the Plate, the Season Two Podcast Launch Party, Festival of Wreaths and an interview with local author, Sarah Adler are topics of discussion.

Episode 45: Two Sides Lisa

Over the course of year one of the podcast, you've learned a good bit about Two Sides Ted and Two Sides Lory. But Ted and Lory are both very confident in saying that year one wouldn't have happened and year two wouldn't be about to start without our friend, Lisa Picker. Carroll County Public Library Communications Director and an important part of the Two Sides Family, Lisa has been involved in many aspects of what Two Sides to the Story has done with the podcast over the past 12 months.

In this episode, Lory and Ted talk to Lisa about reading, book festivals, Good Book Hunting, author interviews, as well as a variety of CCPL and Two Sides events.

Episode 44: The Book People Project

Two Sides interviews Ashlynn and Claire, two amazing young women that are creating Little Free Libraries in Carroll County, MD. The Book People Project provides no cost book access to readers of all ages. A non-profit, operating under The Community Foundation of Carroll County, designs and builds these amazing book sharing boxes in their community to promote literacy.

How cool is that?

Ted and Lory talk to Ashlynn and Claire about ways that book lovers can support The Book People by donating books, building materials, or carpentry skills to their amazing projects. Listen to learn how you can help The Book People Project!

Episode 43: Writing with a Partner

There are certainly others, but here is just a quick list of writing partners - Richard Chizmar and Stephen King, James Patterson and Mike Lupica, and yes, Ted Zaleski and Lory Hierstetter. Ok well, granted some are more well known than others. Either way, here is an episode inspired by a recent local event hosted by the Carroll County Public Library and A Likely Story Bookstore, at E.W Becks in Sykesville, MD. Richard Chizmar shared with those in the audience, including Ted, the story behind his writing partnership with Stephen King. This led Lory and Ted to a conversation about their own writing projects, and the idea of including the writing side of life in Season Two of the Two Sides podcast.

If you are a writer, published author, aspiring writer, or just a fan of Chizmar, King, Patterson or Lupica, this episode is one to check out.

Episode 42: Interview with The Covergirls

Two Sides to the Story interviews the winning team from night one of the 2023 Battle of the Books After Hours competition. This annual event offered by the Carroll County Public Library and A Likely Story Bookstore is always a fun night for book lovers. Hosted at 1623 Brewing Company in Eldersburg, MD, each year gets bigger and better; and our interview with the winning team, The Covergirls, is one you don't want to miss! If you like this one, check out Episode 19 and 24 featuring other winning teams we interviewed this year.

Episode 41: The Magic Mix

Books to read, authors to interview, book festivals to attend, and good book hunting trips at indie bookstores to plan. Our great challenge at Two Sides is likely similar to yours...so many projects, so little time. Ted and Lory talk about ways to make time for a wide variety of bookish activities in your life. Also hear our discussions about other fun topics like Two Sides to the Plate, The Book People Project, and the Two Sides Season 2 Launch Party in this short but fun episode.

Episode 40: Birthdays and Bookshelf Bliss

Lory shares book and other family memories as she honors the birthday of her mom Betty, who had a tremendous impact on her love of books. Lory also talks about her Aunt Veda, also celebrating a birthday this week, and who has taught her a lot about love, family, and the importance of sisterhood.

Ted tells the story of a podcast listener inspired by the first year of the Two Sides show and is hoping to hear from other listeners about show content ideas for Season Two.