Totally Booked with Zibby — Iva-Marie Palmer, CHRISTMAS PEOPLE: A Novel

Date: December 16, 2025
Host: Zibby Owens
Guest: Iva-Marie Palmer

Episode Overview

This episode of Totally Booked with Zibby features bestselling author Iva-Marie Palmer discussing her latest novel, Christmas People. The conversation ranges from the inspiration behind the holiday-themed romantic comedy to personal stories about family, loss, and the complex emotions the holidays bring. The discussion is warm, candid, and humorous, catering both to fans of holiday stories and those seeking a deeper understanding of what makes the season so poignant.

Main Themes

• Exploring the magic and chaos of the holidays
• Balancing humor and bittersweet realities in storytelling
• The process of transitioning from writing for young readers to adults
• Coping with loss and upholding traditions
• Finding meaning in both perfect and imperfect holiday moments

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Palmer's Relationship with the Holidays

[03:07]

• Palmer admits a love-hate relationship with the holidays. She relishes the “finished state” of the season: the memories and the aftermath, but finds the actual process stressful as an adult juggling family and work.
• Quote: “I always say I want to get it done early so that I can, like, enjoy it. And that never happens. Like, I'm still... up till the minute, buying gifts or making food... I’m half Scrooge, half like, whatever is the opposite of Scrooge.” —Iva-Marie Palmer [03:31]

2. Book Summary & Inspiration

[04:45]

• Christmas People follows Jill, a self-admitted “sad sack” who reluctantly returns home for the holidays, ends up in a surreal Hallmark-style alternate reality, and is forced to be the star of her own magical Christmas movie plot.
• “She's Lady Scrooge in, like, the worst possible environment for Lady Scrooge... I call it, like, Balls Out Christmas.” —Iva-Marie Palmer [04:47]
• Palmer wanted to combine her own semi-cynical view with the over-the-top joy often depicted in holiday movies.

3. Humor, Self-Awareness, and Hallmark Movies

[06:43]

• Zibby praises the book’s self-awareness, likening Jill to a comedic film character unexpectedly thrust into a movie-like reality.
• Palmer enjoys poking fun at tropes and the perfect-but-off details of festive films: almost-famous lookalikes, too-perfect settings, and the surreal moments that make such movies charming and a little ridiculous.

4. Underlying Themes of Imperfection

[07:58]

• Discussion on the illusion of perfection: Jill’s discovery that others' lives (including a high school crush and an antagonist-turned-friend) are far from perfect was intentional.
• “How frequently all of us look at other people’s lives and assume, like... it feels just like the pictures and the perfectly staged family photographs.” —Iva-Marie Palmer [08:19]
• The book underscores that everyone believes others have it figured out, when in reality, everyone has struggles under the surface.

5. Family, Food & Messy Traditions

[09:02]

• A story about the “Messy Santa” cookies becomes a symbol for finding beauty in chaos and imperfection, both in baking and the holidays.
• “I was picturing this chaotic scene with sticky children having made, like, the most disgusting cookie you’ve ever seen...” —Iva-Marie Palmer [09:14]
• Palmer highlights how writing serendipity—earlier ideas coming full circle—creates narrative “magic” for her as an author.

6. Sneak Peek at Palmer's Next Novel

[10:39]

• Upcoming (untitled) book centers on two rival news anchors in Chicago who, after a New Year’s Eve elevator mishap, wake up as married co-anchors, forced to unravel their new reality.

7. Career Journey: YA to Adult Fiction

[11:49]

• Palmer began as a YA ghostwriter, wrote middle grade books, and now enjoys writing for adults. She discusses the differences in audience connection and her passion for rom-coms with “broadly humorous” rather than soft or overly cutesy tones.
• “There's such a big community around romance... you feel like you're really part of something.” —Iva-Marie Palmer [14:18]

8. Coping with Loss and Family Legacy

[18:54]

• Palmer reflects on losing her mother in 2012 just before the holidays, the shock of suddenly having to maintain beloved traditions, and the bittersweet process of carrying on recipes and memories for the next generation.
• “You realize, like, how important it all was to you... it really also shows me how important it is to, like, hand down memories to the next generation.” —Iva-Marie Palmer [21:20]
• Zibby shares her own family’s stories about recreating a cherished family cake, reinforcing how food, tradition, and memory are deeply intertwined during the holidays.

9. Embracing Imperfection and Meaning

[24:45]

• Palmer hopes her book doesn’t mock the holidays but instead celebrates both the silliness and profound meaning in even chaotic or “off” moments.
• “The moments that you remember aren’t necessarily the ones that you tried to orchestrate... it can be the chaos and it can be, like, the things that are a little off.” —Iva-Marie Palmer [25:31]

Notable Quotes

• “I’m half Scrooge, half like, whatever is the opposite of Scrooge.” —Iva-Marie Palmer [03:31]
• “She’s Lady Scrooge in, like, the worst possible environment for Lady Scrooge... Balls Out Christmas.” —Iva-Marie Palmer [04:47]
• “How frequently all of us look at other people’s lives and assume, like, it feels just like the pictures and the perfectly staged family photographs.” —Iva-Marie Palmer [08:19]
• “I was picturing this chaotic scene with sticky children having made, like, the most disgusting cookie you’ve ever seen...” —Iva-Marie Palmer [09:14]
• “There's such a big community around romance... you feel like you're really part of something.” —Iva-Marie Palmer [14:18]
• “You realize, like, how important it all was to you... it really also shows me how important it is to, like, hand down memories to the next generation.” —Iva-Marie Palmer [21:20]
• “The moments that you remember aren’t necessarily the ones that you tried to orchestrate... it can be the chaos and it can be, like, the things that are a little off.” —Iva-Marie Palmer [25:31]

Timestamps & Segments

• [03:07] Palmer on the adult perspective of holidays
• [04:45] Overview of Christmas People plot and inspiration
• [06:43] Main character’s self-discovery and humor in the Hallmark-movie world
• [07:58] Themes of imperfection and hidden struggles
• [09:02] The story behind “Messy Santa” cookies
• [10:39] Sneak peek at Palmer’s next book
• [11:49] Career reflections: writing for young vs. adult audiences
• [18:54] Navigating grief and upholding family traditions
• [24:45] Embracing imperfection, chaos, and finding joy in the little moments

Memorable Moments

• The “Messy Santa” Cookie Origin: Palmer recounts the chaotic joy of baking with her own children, connecting it to her character’s experience [09:14].
• Food as Memory: Both Zibby and Palmer share touching, funny stories about recreating lost family recipes and the challenge of preserving culinary family legacies [22:02–23:46].
• Jill’s Hallmark Movie Realization: Zibby laughs about how the book's main character slowly realizes she’s in a "movie" version of her life, likening the moment to a sharp-witted comedy [06:43].
• Holiday Chaos and Plumbing Mishaps: Palmer recalls a memorable (and cozy) Thanksgiving spent at the hardware store with her dad and uncle after a plumbing disaster—a story reinforcing the importance of resilience and togetherness over perfection [25:17].

Final Thoughts

Palmer and Zibby’s conversation is a celebration of the holidays' messy, emotional realities. Christmas People is positioned as a rom-com that pokes affectionate fun at both festive traditions and the expectation of perfection, while gently exploring deeper themes of loss, memory, and the enduring value of family rituals. Their discussion offers listeners laughter, warmth, and comfort—especially for those feeling both joy and sorrow this season.