Category Archives: Author Interview

Episode 147: Interview with Delia Pitts, author of Trouble In Queenstown

July 17, 2024Author InterviewCrime, Delia Pitts, Harlem, Minotaur Books, new jersey, private eye, ross agency mystery, Thriller, Trouble in Queenstowntopshelfatmerricklibrary

With Trouble in Queenstown, Delia Pitts introduces private investigator Vandy Myrick in a powerful mystery that blends grief, class, race, and family with thrilling results. I could not put this book down and it started with the very first sentence! We talk about the book, Delia’s short stories, her familial influences, and her terrific Ross Agency Mystery Series. That series will be on my summer reading list and I cannot wait to start it. In the meantime, check out, Trouble in Queenstown. Thank you for joining me Delia!

Delia Pitts recommends: Devil in Profile by Kimberly Giarratano; Hall of Mirrors by John Copenhaver; Blessed Water: A Sister Holiday Mystery by Margaret Douaihy; Missing White Woman by Kellye Garrett; Echo by Tracy Clark

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Episode 146: Interview with Ethan Joella, author of The Same Bright Stars

July 1, 2024Author InterviewA Little Hope, A Quiet Life, Delaware, Ethan Joella, family fiction, family life, Rehoboth, Rehoboth Beach, Same Bright Stars, Scribnertopshelfatmerricklibrary

Oh my goodness, how thrilled are we all that Ethan Joella is back with his third book,The Same Bright Stars. This uplifting and emotionally resonant novel set in a Delaware beach town, follows a local restaurant owner at a turning point in their life.The Same Bright Stars comes right at you in technicolor, and I loved every single page. We cover a lot of ground in this episode, so be sure to give it a listen. And if you haven’t already, check out our very first interview together in Episode 78!

Ethan Joella recommends: Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout; Yellowface by R.F. Kuang; Until August by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Follow Ethan Joella on Instagram: @joellawriting and place your holds for all Ethan’s books right here!

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Episode 145: Interview with Claire Lombardo, author of Same As It Ever Was

June 24, 2024Author Interviewclaire lombardo, Doubleday, family drama, penguin random house, same as it ever was, talking heads, the most fun we ever hadtopshelfatmerricklibrary

Claire Lombardo, NYT bestselling author of The Most Fun We Ever Had, returns with another brilliantly observed family drama in which the enduring, hard-won affection of a long marriage faces imminent derailment from events both past and present: Same As It Ever Was. Author Bonnie Garmus calls it, “Witty and insightful…a powerful exploration of marriage, motherhood, and self.” For this episode we talk about Claire’s brilliant character development, our shared love of music, and more! This is a perfect summer read, don’t miss it. Thank you so much for joining me, Claire!

Claire Lombardo recommends: The Rich People Have Gone Away by Regina Porter.

Place holds here for both of Claire’s terrific books!

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Episode 144: Interview with Wanda M. Morris, author of What You Leave Behind

June 14, 2024Author Interviewall her little secrets, anywhere you run, Harper Collins, southern fiction, Thriller, Wanda Morris, what you leave behind, William Morrowtopshelfatmerricklibrary

What You Leave Behind is the powerful new book by Wanda M. Morris, and I am thrilled to host her for this episode! What You Leave Behind is a haunting thriller following a lawyer who after the mysterious disappearance of a local landowner, uncovers a conspiracy that dates back to Reconstruction and still persists in half the US today. For this episode we talk about why she writes thrillers, what she’s working on next and more. We share quite a few laughs in this episode, don’t miss it. Wanda is the only author I boost on the Long Island Railroad, so go back and listen to the first episode we did to find out why this is so!

Thank you so much Wanda! Follow Wanda on IG & Threads: @wandamowrites; on Twitter: @WandaMo14; and on Facebook: @WandaMorris. Place your holds for all Wanda’s books right here.

Wanda M. Morris recommends: You Know What You Did by K.T. Nguyen; Not What She Seems by Yasmin Angoe.

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Episode 143: Interview with Henry Wise, author of Holy City

May 29, 2024Author Interviewgrove atlantic, henry wise, holy city, southern crime, southern noirtopshelfatmerricklibrary

For this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing author Henry Wise. He sat down with me to talk about his terrific southern crime debut, Holy City. We talked about his poetry, the craft of writing, his book recommendations, and more. Henry, thank you so much for joining me.

Holy City is a captivating debut about a deputy sheriff who finds himself on the outs from his sheriff’s department over his unwillingness to look the other way when an innocent man is arrested for murder.

Henry Wise recommends: Broiler by Eli Cranor; Don’t Let the Devil Ride by Ace Atkins; Smoke Kings by Jahmal Mayfield; Lilith by Eric Rickstad; The Great State of West Florida by Ken Wascom; Sanctuary by William Faulkner; Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad.

Follow Henry Wise on Instagram: @buzzbuzzbang and on Twitter (X): @henrywise05

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Episode 142: Interview with Edward Ashton, author of Mal Goes to War

April 10, 2024Author Interviewantimatter blues, artificial intelligence, Edward Ashton, Macmillan, mal goes to war, Mickey17, Mickey7, Science Fiction, techno thrillertopshelfatmerricklibrary

I was thrilled to welcome back Edward Ashton for his third visit to talk about his latest release, Mal Goes to War. Mal is a dark comedy wrapped in a techno-thriller that is a a satirical take on war, artificial intelligence, and what it really means to be human. For this episode we talk about the amazing personality of Mal, the ensemble cast, some Mickey17 movie updates (based on Mickey7), and of course, spiders. Thank you so much Ed – this was great!

Edward Ashton recommends The Children of Time series by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Click here to reserve all Ed’s books.

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Episode 141: Interview with Garrard Conley, author of All The World Beside

March 26, 2024Author Interviewbig hair, boy erased, colonial times, garrard conley, great reclamation, historical fiction, homosexuality, LGBTQ, puritan times, puritans, Religion, Riverhead Books, the world besidetopshelfatmerricklibrary

What a thrill to host Garrard Conley for this episode! Conley is the author of the bestselling memoir, Boy Erased, about his time in a church supported conversion therapy facility, which became a major motion picture. For E141, we spoke about his fiction debut, All the World Beside, an electrifying, deeply moving novel about the love story between two men in Puritan New England. We talk about this time period, small town communities, religion & sexuality, writing ensemble characters, big hair (you’ll have to listen to find out), what he’s working on next, and more. Garrard, what a pleasure – thank you so much!

Garrard Conley recommends: Exhibit by R.O. Kwon; All Fours by Miranda July; The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver; My Tender Matador by Pedro Lemebel

Follow Garrard Conley on Facebook @garrardconleyauthor; Instagram & Twitter @gayrodcon

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Episode 140: Interview with Steve Weddle, author of The County Line

March 13, 2024Author Interview1930s, American Historical Fiction, Arkansas, country hardball, heist, historical fiction, lake union, steve weddle, the county linetopshelfatmerricklibrary

Set against the unyielding backdrop of the Great Depression with an unforgettable cast of ornery characters, The County Line by Steve Weddle is a lyrical, loving celebration of community and opportunity in 1933 America. For this episode, Steve talked about outlaw camps, his deep dive into the history of the 1930s, his character development, and his “downright dazzling” debut novel, Country Hardball. He also shares some excellent book recommendations. I had such a blast, thank you so much Steve!

Steve Weddle recommends: Missing White Woman by Kellye Garrett; Little Underworld by Chris Harding Thornton; Negative Tilt by Bobby Matthews; Something Bad Wrong by Eryk Pruitt.

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Episode 139: Interview with Anders de la Motte, author of The Mountain King

February 28, 2024Author Interviewanders de la motte, seasons quartet, the mountain king, Thrillertopshelfatmerricklibrary

For this episode I was thrilled to host Anders de la Motte, one of Sweden’s most cherished crime writers, to talk about his latest American release, The Mountain King. This page-turning thriller is the first bestselling installment in his new Leo Asker series and The Mountain King is not to be missed. The son of a librarian, Anders talks all about his love of reading, being in the library during off hours, his love of Agatha Christie, his writing origin story and so much more. Thank you Anders!

Anders recommends: the work of Jo Nesbo; Long Bright River by Liz Moore; the work of Agatha Christie. Place your hold here for books by Anders de la Motte!

Follow Anders on Facebook and Instagram: @andersdelamotte

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Episode 137: Interview with Heather Levy, author of Hurt For Me

January 25, 2024Author Interviewdark romance, heather levy, hurt for me, montlake, Thriller, walking through needlestopshelfatmerricklibrary

“Titles pop into my head as I’m falling asleep.” ~ Heather Levy

What a thrill to host Heather Levy for this episode! I missed Heather for her debut Walking Through Needles and to say I was excited to host her for Hurt For Me, is an understatement! Edgar Award-nominated author Jess Lourey says, “Levy’s latest grips you by the throat from page one and never lets up. It’s a riveting, sexy, twisty mystery full of beautiful writing and characters you can’t help but care about.” And boy is that the truth about this terrific dark romance! For E137, we talk about the fabulous Hurt For Me, her debut Walking Through Needles, wine, cookies, and so much more! Loved every minute, thank you Heather!

Heather Levy recommends: Almost Surely Dead by Amina Akhtar; Safe and Slow by Laura McHugh; The Devil and Mrs. Davenport. Heather’s favorite spot to buy cookies is: Creative Cookie Corner.