Totally Booked with Zibby — Julie Dore, THE GALLAGHER PLACE: A Novel

Episode Date: December 2, 2025
Host: Zibby Owens
Guest: Julie Dore

Episode Overview

This episode features a lively and insightful conversation with debut novelist Julie Dore, author of The Gallagher Place, a murder mystery set in the Hudson Valley, upstate New York. Zibby and Julie explore the themes of family secrets, memory, the dynamics of small towns, the intensity of girlhood friendships, and the winding road to getting published. They also discuss Julie’s personal journey from Starbucks barista to English teacher to published author, the writing and revision process, and the book’s critical reception.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Book’s Premise and Themes

[03:25] Julie Dore:

• The Gallagher Place is a murder mystery focused on family dynamics and secrets.
• Main character Marlo is haunted by her best friend’s disappearance at 16.
• The plot unfolds when a body is discovered on her family’s land, prompting her to question her memories and relationships.
• Quote: “It’s about reexamining your own memories.” – Julie Dore (03:25)

2. From Barista to Novelist

[04:28] Julie Dore:

• Julie always wanted to be a writer; after college, worked in sales before switching to part-time at Starbucks to pursue writing.
• The process was gradual: writing and revising privately, getting feedback from coworkers, eventually securing an agent.
• Quote: “I like to joke. I got my PhD in Starbucks... The revision process actually took longer than the writing process.” – Julie Dore (04:28, 07:44)

3. Writing Habits & Discipline

[05:57] Julie Dore:

• Worked the early shift at Starbucks (starting at 4:30am), then wrote in the afternoons despite fatigue.
• Forced herself to write something every day.
• The original idea centered around a family finding a body; everything else evolved during revisions.

4. The “Dead Body” Trope & Hudson Valley Setting

[08:00] Julie Dore:

• The idea of discovering a body came from Julie’s active childhood imagination and her experiences growing up, not personal experience.
• Childhood fear and the natural, isolated setting of the Hudson Valley inspired the book’s atmosphere.
• Quote: “I really always believed I was about to find a dead body. My brothers used to make fun of me…” – Julie Dore (08:00)
• The small-town setting amplifies secrecy and interconnected community dynamics.
• Quote: “In a small town or rural setting... everyone knows everyone. So there are a lot of ways to get information to characters…” – Julie Dore (09:22)

5. Female Friendship & Loss

[11:33] Julie Dore:

• Explores the complexity and intensity of girlhood friendships: love, envy, and the abrupt, unfinished end due to the friend’s disappearance.
• Quote: “There’s something that’s very intimate and very complex about girlhood dynamics, especially... 10, 11, 12, and then into teenage years.” – Julie Dore (11:33)
• Marlo’s yearning for closure and resulting stunted emotional growth is a central theme.

6. Coping, Secrets & Memory

[18:48] Podcast Host & Julie Dore:

• Marlo struggles with maladaptive coping mechanisms—specifically, secretive drinking.
• Secrecy is portrayed as both thrilling and corrosive, a recurring motif throughout the book and the characters’ lives.
• Quote: “The secrecy of it is what makes it so intense… Because it’s not just how much she’s drinking, it’s how she goes through a lot of ways to keep it secret.” – Julie Dore (19:14)
• The book delves into how hidden truths and distorted memories impact relationships and personal growth.
• Quote: “The dark side of memory... sometimes you are never truly going to know what really happened because all you have is a memory that’s been altered.” — Julie Dore (29:26)

7. Family, Siblings & Changing Relationships

[21:52] Julie Dore:

• Sibling relationships are examined through the lens of Julie’s own experience as a middle child among three brothers.
• Family roles and expectations are central, especially as they intersect with childhood and adulthood.
• Quote: “For a long time I defined myself based on... the role I played in the group because... it was just a group of us. It was basically a friend group.” – Julie Dore (21:52)
• Chronicles how trauma and secrets disrupt the “delicate infrastructure” of families.

8. Realism in Portrayal of Hudson Valley & Farm Families

[24:08] Julie Dore:

• Neighboring farm families and the changes in the upstate New York agricultural community are depicted—reflecting on loss, endurance, and nostalgia.
• The “Gallaghers” are inspired by Julie’s family and her observations growing up.
• Quote: “I remember one of my editors... said, it feels like they’re the last of their kind. And I really loved the way he put that, and I wanted to give an homage to that almost.” – Julie Dore (25:37)

9. Publishing Journey & Reception

[25:42] Podcast Host:

• The novel received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and was named Library Reads Top Pick of December 2025.
• Julie is thrilled and hopes readers appreciate the page-turner quality while escaping into a different world.
• Quote: “I did want this to be a page turner. That’s always how I pictured it. I wanted people to stay up late at night reading it.” – Julie Dore (26:09)

10. What’s Next for Julie

[27:44] Julie Dore:

• Currently working on a second mystery set over a wedding weekend, focusing on the tensions of friend groups and life transitions in the late 20s.

11. Most Resonant Themes and Takeaways

[29:26] Julie Dore:

• Key message: the elusiveness of truth, the unreliability of memory, and the profound consequences of secrets.
• Readers are encouraged to reflect on the blurry line between facts and personal narrative.

12. Julie’s Other Life: Teaching English

[31:07] Julie Dore:

• Julie teaches 8th grade English in Brooklyn; she enjoys discussing books and writing with her students (who, she jokes, are a “tough crowd”).

13. Advice for Aspiring Writers (and Students)

[31:54] Julie Dore:

• Use short sentences.
• “Steal from other writers”—read widely and dissect styles you admire to improve your own writing.
• Quote: “You can put style into it. You can have a humorous tone, you can have a more introspective tone.” — Julie Dore (32:13)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “I was always making up scenarios... My brothers used to sort of sleep outside and stuff and I couldn’t even do that. I was too scared to camp.” – Julie Dore (08:00)
• On sibling dynamics: “It was just a group of us. It was basically a friend group.” – Julie Dore (21:52)
• “I really think of memory when I think of it. And I think of the dark side of memory...” – Julie Dore (29:26)
• On revisiting Starbucks: “I have trouble going back in because I instantly start thinking, someone needs to wipe down that counter... It’s just almost like an allergic reaction.” – Julie Dore (30:18)
• On teaching: “Not the advice I thought—plagiarize... You can put style into it. You can have a humorous tone, you can have a more introspective tone.” – Julie Dore (32:13)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Book and Main Character Introduction: 03:25–04:15
• Becoming a Writer & Starbucks Years: 04:28–07:44
• Hudson Valley Setting & Small Town Dynamics: 08:00–10:10
• Girlhood Friendship & Loss: 11:33–13:03
• Coping Mechanisms and Secrets: 18:08–20:23
• Siblings and Family Dynamics: 21:52–23:40
• Portrayal of Farmers and Upstate NY: 24:08–25:37
• Accolades & Reception: 25:42–26:47
• Julie’s Next Book Project: 27:44–28:46
• Key Themes & Takeaway: 29:26–29:53
• Advice to Aspiring Authors & Teaching: 31:07–32:50

Tone & Style

The episode’s tone is friendly, open, and engaging, with Zibby and Julie sharing laughs and honest reflections. Julie’s humility and thoughtfulness shine through, particularly as she discusses both her writing craft and real-life connections to her work. There’s a playful, confessional quality, especially around secrets, sibling relationships, and the quirks of growing up in a tight-knit community.

Final Thought

Julie Dore’s appearance on Totally Booked offers a candid look at the complexities behind writing a layered, emotionally resonant mystery and the personal history that fuels storytelling. The Gallagher Place promises to be both a page-turner and an exploration of how the past—real or reimagined—shapes who we become.