Following in the footsteps of eight previous series where thought leaders responded to questions on my blog over the last several years (starting with the most recent) in my #OlympicsLeadershipSeries2026, #FallBacktoReadingSeries2025, #SpringLeadershipSeries2025, #HolidayLeadershipSeries (2024), #PostElectionSeries (2024), #OlympicsLeadershipSeries (2024), #SpringLeadershipSeries (2024), and #FallBacktoReadingSeries (2023), I'm thrilled to announce my 9th series!
For the Fall season through December, I will welcome a dozen thought leaders to share their insights about reading, books, personal branding, and leadership. The #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 will begin on Monday, September 28th, and will continue each Monday through October, November, and December with a final post on December 14th. The series recap will appear on December 20th.
Some of the most inspiring posts that have appeared on my blog over the years have been the ones that were part of my various series. So, to get ready for this series (as I've done in the past), I'll introduce the five questions for the series plus MY RESPONSES.
However, before we begin, I'd like to share my two favorite quotes about reading to set the stage:
"If you give a person a book, you give him the world." ~New York Times bestselling author Kristin Harmel (from her historical novel, "The Paris Daughter")
"For you unlock magic that is hidden within, and opening the cover is how you begin. Oh, all the worlds and the places you'll see; when you hold a book, you hold the key." ~Caroline Derlatka
And now, let's begin.
QUESTION: What was the last book (fiction or non-fiction) you read? What stood out as memorable, and would you recommend it?
DEBBIE LASKEY: While I read "The Lion Women of Tehran" by Marjan Kamali during the summer, I will never forget it and highly recommend it. A work of historical fiction, the themes centered around friendship, family, courage, and the fight for women's equality. In order to avoid any spoilers, I'm going to include two quotes about the book.
Fehmida Zakeer wrote, "At the heart of the narrative is the concept of "shir zan or lion women," women who fight in every way possible to create better lives for themselves despite the obstacles. This concept comes through in the stories of not only the main characters but also their mothers and friends - strong women from all sections of society who have had to fight battles and carve out acceptable spaces of life for themselves, sometimes making great personal sacrifices to ensure a better life for their children."
And from Readers with Wrinkles, "The Lion Women of Tehran reminds us that some friendships shape us so profoundly that they echo across decades, continents, and even betrayals. It's a story about becoming the women we're meant to be, even when history itself seems determined to stop us."
Lastly, Kamali eloquently summarized the importance of historical fiction in an interview about this book, "History shows us what happened, but fiction shows us HOW what happened makes people feel."
QUESTION: Which book (fiction or non-fiction) is on the top of your to-be-read pile (or first in your digital reader), and why?
DEBBIE LASKEY: There are two on top of my pile by two talented storytellers: "Meet Me in Paris" by Kristin Harmel and "The Parisian Heist" by Jo Piazza. Both include the city of Paris as a central theme of their stories, and since I've read and enjoyed several books by both authors, whenever they announce new books, their new books quickly move to the top of my to-be-read pile!
I agree with this explanation from Gilliam Writers Group, "Paris continues to enchant and inspire. The city's combination of modernity and tradition allows authors to weave narratives that feel both timeless and current."
QUESTION: With all the streaming services available, many works of fiction are now adapted into films or TV series. During the last year, have you watched a film or TV show and been impressed and/or inspired by the adaptation? (If you haven't watched any adaptations, are you looking forward to any currently in the planning or production phases?)
DEBBIE LASKEY: During the last year, I watched two film adaptations that for the most part reflected the original books: "Remarkably Bright Creatures" by Shelby Van Pelt and "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" by Maria Semple. I also watched two TV series that did not live up to the quality of the original books: "Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus and "The Last Thing He Told Me" by Laura Dave. The "Reacher" TV series adaptation of Lee Child's books of the same name are excellent interpretations of the books due to the casting and quality of storytelling. Also, after reading and enjoying "The Correspondent" by Virginia Evans, I heard that it would be adapted into a film adaptation starring Jane Fonda in the main role of Sybil Van Antwerp; and after reading and enjoying the geo-political thriller "Cold Zero" by Brad Thor, I heard that a film adaptation is underway.
QUESTION: If you're a fan of the TED LASSO series on Apple TV, have you watched the new season (that returned on August 5th)? If yes, what stands out about Ted's leadership lessons or leadership style from the new season? Alternatively, if you're not a fan of the show or have not yet watched it, is there another CURRENT TV show that showcases inspiring leadership?
DEBBIE LASKEY: While I'm a fan of the "Ted Lasso" series, the fourth season has not yet concluded. So, I'll mention "THE PITT," which stands out not only among other medical dramas ("Grey's Anatomy," "Chicago Med," and "Doc,") but also dramas in other categories currently on television.
Two leadership lessons that appear consistently throughout all episodes include the following:
(1) BE OPEN TO LEARNING: As senior attending physician of a busy emergency department, Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch, is at the top of the medical leadership ladder but also genuinely listens to his residents, nurses, and other staff. He sets an example for others to follow, and viewers watch as the people he has mentored take his leadership lessons with them as they continue in their careers.
(2) BE A TEAM PLAYER: Dr. Robby encourages teamwork in his emergency department. Shelby Stewart-Soldan described this leadership lesson best: "The residents, interns and attending physicians will often start on a case together, usually two to three of them at a time, depending on the severity of the case. Two heads are better than one, and working together as a team can help bounce ideas back and forth."
QUESTION: Which author (either from history or currently writing) would you choose to have dinner with, and what would you discuss?
DEBBIE LASKEY: No surprise...I would enjoy an evening spent with Kristin Harmel in Paris. Since many of her historical fiction books take place in Paris or elsewhere in France, we'd definitely dine at the Jules Verne restaurant on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. I would ask what first attracted her to the genre of historical fiction, what her favorite books were as a child, what types of books she currently reads, what her writing process is - and, of course, what she plans to write next. I highly recommend that you check out her books!
As a reminder, my #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 will appear on my blog every Monday beginning September 28th and will continue throughout the Fall ending on December 14th. A series recap will appear on December 20th. See you next Monday, and happy reading!
SHARE THIS: If you give a person a book, you give him the world. ~@KristinHarmel #HistoricalFiction #ReadingOpensMinds #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog
SHARE THIS: A bibliophile is a lover of books, while a lectiophile is a lover of reading. The distinction is due to the object versus the activity. #FunFact #ReadingIsMySuperPower #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog
Image Credit: Mariana Serdynska/Shutterstock via Portland Monthly.
Check out some related posts:
Read a Q&A with Marjan Kamali, author of "The Lion Women of Tehran"
https://lexobserver.org/2024/08/14/qa-with-marjan-kamali-author-of-the-lion-women-of-tehran/
Read a review of "The Lion Women of Tehran"
https://www.newarab.com/features/saffron-love-and-sisterhood-lion-women-tehran
Read "The Leadership Lessons Hidden in Medical Dramas"
https://www.indianahosa.org/single-post/the-leadership-lessons-hidden-in-medical-dramas
Read "Paris in Fiction: Romantic, Gritty, and Timeless"
https://www.gilliamwritersgroup.com/blog/paris-in-fiction-romantic-gritty-and-timeless
Read Highlights of My #FallBacktoReadingSeries2025 (December 21, 2025):
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2025/12/highlights-of-fallbacktoreadingseries20.html
Read Highlights of My #FallBacktoReadingSeries2023 (January 31, 2024):
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/01/highlights-of-my-fallbacktoreadingseries.html
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