Podcast Summary: Totally Booked with Zibby

Guest: Brisa Carleton

Episode: Last Call at the Savoy

Date: November 26, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Zibby Owens interviews Brisa Carleton about her debut novel, Last Call at the Savoy. The conversation journeys through the inspiration behind the book, the real-life historical figures that influenced the story, themes of sibling dynamics and personal growth, Brisa's multifaceted career in Broadway and philanthropy, her book-themed vodka company, and practical advice for aspiring writers. The episode is lively, personal, and peppered with both literary and mixology insights.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Story and Its Origins

[04:27]

• Brisa describes Last Call at the Savoy as centered on Cinnamon, a New York party girl, who travels to London to support her pregnant sister on bed rest at the Savoy Hotel.
• While at the famous American Bar, Cinnamon learns about Ada Coleman, the first celebrity female mixologist from 1903, who was almost erased from history.
• Quote, Brisa Carleton (04:27):

  "There was a little footnote in the cocktail menu about Ada Coleman, this bartender from 1903... I started Googling it, looking her up, and there was almost nothing. There's one surviving photo of her, and there's just little footnotes about her everywhere."

2. Themes of Sibling Relationships and Personal Growth

[06:06–08:12]

• The sisters, Cinnamon and Rosemary, cope with the loss of their parents; Rosemary takes on a parental role while Cinnamon loses herself in partying.
• A pivotal moment comes when Cinnamon realizes her sister truly needs her support—prompting her to mature.
• Fashion is a lighter thread, offering a bonding point between the sisters beyond grief.
• Quote, Brisa Carleton (08:12):

  "It never occurred to her that her sister would even think she'd be reliable. And that means a lot to her."

3. Romance and the Savoy’s History

[09:10–11:39]

• Cinnamon meets Kit, an attractive historian researching the Savoy. Their flirtation serves as a mechanism to unearth the hotel's secrets and explore overlooked histories—especially Ada Coleman's.
• The book explores the idea of history as defined not only by what's recorded but also by who gets left out.
• Quote, Brisa Carleton (11:18):

  "Maybe it's not what's written, it's the holes... It's where she's been left out. And, you know, that blows [Kit's] mind."

4. Brisa’s Background: Theater, Monaco, and Martinis

[12:01–14:44, 18:06–21:05]

• Brisa was a theater kid from the Pacific Northwest, who became a Broadway producer (Hamilton, Moulin Rouge, Beautiful).
• Her strategy for breaking into producing centered on building relationships at Sardis, a legendary theater bar, often over a martini.
• Quote, Brisa Carleton (14:19):

  "By showing up and sort of being at the party all the time, I was able to build those relationships really quickly."

• Later, she ran the Princess Grace Foundation in Monaco, supporting the arts, especially during the COVID shutdowns. The experience inspired her to start writing fiction as a creative escape.

5. Entrepreneurship: Literati Spirits

[21:05–22:09]

• Inspired during COVID, Brisa founded Literati Spirits—a premium vodka brand for book lovers.
• Her motivation: combine her love of books and cocktails, seeing it as a “fun creative outlet”—a business with a win-win outcome.

6. Becoming a Writer: The Novelry and the Publishing Path

[22:09–24:42]

• Brisa took a 90-day online writing course ("The Novelry"), which structured her creative process.
• Her first novel got her agented (though not published); her second, Last Call at the Savoy, quickly landed a Big Five deal.

7. Writing Advice and Process

[28:09–29:28]

• Brisa credits her reading habit for her ability to write and emphasizes discipline: writing an hour a day.
• Quote, Brisa Carleton (28:24):

  "Anybody who's a reader, and... can do the discipline part, can get their book to a point that it can be publishable."

• She encourages readers and aspiring writers to stick to the process, even when it becomes challenging and less immediately gratifying.

8. Next Project & Adaptations

[26:04–27:43]

• Upcoming book: centers on champagne, set in the Champagne region of France, weaving in themes of family roots and the labor behind moments of joy.
• Discussion about possibly adapting Last Call at the Savoy for stage—Brisa is enthusiastic but open to collaborators.

9. Signature Cocktails & Mantras

[29:29–30:48]

• Brisa’s martini preferences are seasonal—creative and rooted in cocktail history (currently “the hanky panky,” an Ada Coleman creation).
• Zibby’s favorites: champagne, Aperol spritz in summer, tequila on the rocks, and her mantra:

  "Never turn down a glass of champagne." (30:36)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Zibby Owens on Brisa’s journey:

  "That's amazing. Well, I love the whole packaging and literary characters and Jane Eyre, the whole. I mean, just so cool." (21:59)

• Brisa Carleton on breaking into producing:

  "Martinis were really a key part of my career development and to being a Broadway producer." (14:19)

• On Ada Coleman's erasure:

  "There wasn't really anything written about her. And it's like, okay, but we know she worked there for 25 years... it doesn't take a lot to connect the dots that she was part of all of that." (10:00–11:39)

• Brisa on writing and reading:

  "The best training for being a writer is being a reader." (25:21)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [04:27] Book’s premise and Ada Coleman inspiration
• [06:06] Sibling relationships and Cinnamon’s growth
• [09:10] Introduction of Kit, the historian/love interest
• [12:01] Brisa’s background, theater and career ascent
• [18:20] Monaco, Princess Grace Foundation, and writing inspiration
• [21:05] Founding Literati Spirits
• [22:09] The Novelry and building a writing habit
• [26:04] Preview of next book, adaptation discussion
• [28:09] Writing advice for aspiring authors
• [29:29] Favorite martinis and signature drinks

Tone & Style

The conversation is witty, warm, and informal. Both Zibby and Brisa lean into humorous asides—about martinis as networking tools, the sexiness of historians, and the relatable struggle of exercising versus writing. The episode remains engaging and aspirational for book lovers, aspiring writers, and anyone interested in how passion for storytelling can infuse entrepreneurial ventures.

Final Thoughts

This episode offers more than book promotion; it’s a spirited (pun intended) look at channeling diverse experiences—whether in theater, philanthropy, or business—into storytelling. Brisa Carleton’s journey shows how personal curiosity and deliberate discipline can revive forgotten voices from history and blend creative pursuits in unexpected, joyful ways.