E122: Interview with Lisa Scottoline, author of Loyalty

April 20, 2023Author InterviewG. P. Putnam's and Sons, historical fiction, Italy, lemons, Lisa Scottoline, Loyalty, mafia, penguin random housetopshelfatmerricklibrary

I have no words for how amazing it was to host Lisa Scottoline for this episode! We talked about her brand new best-seller, Loyalty, a historical fiction look at the formation of the Mafia in Italy, and what it means to be loyal. We also talk food, lemon cookies, our Italian roots, Lisa’s love for libraries and so much more. Lisa Scottoline, thank you so much for joining me to talk all about Loyalty! Place your hold for Loyalty right here.

Follow Lisa Scottoline on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter: @LisaScottoline. Reserve all other Lisa Scottoline titles here.

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E121: Interview with Anissa Gray, author of Life and Other Love Songs

April 11, 2023Author InterviewAnissa Gray, Author Interview, berkley publishing, Black family, care and feeding of ravenously hungry girls, life and other love songs, motown, penguin random house, Readers Advisory, Staff Picktopshelfatmerricklibrary

Life and Other Love Songs, the gorgeous second novel from Episode 24 guest, Anissa Gray is “riveting, rhythmic, transcendent…a stellar family saga.” so says Jacqueline Woodson, NYT bestselling author of Red at the Bone.

Synopsis: A father’s sudden disappearance exposes the private fears, dreams, longings, and joys of a Black American family in the late decades of the twentieth century, in this page-turning and intimate new novel from the author of The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls. Life and Other Love Songs is filled with the lyrical prose we’ve come to expect from Anissa Gray and I was thrilled to host her for this episode. I’m such a fan; give a listen. Thank you so much Anissa!

Anissa Gray recommends: The Candy House by Elizabeth Egan

We talk about her debut novel here: E24. Follow Anissa Gray on Instagram @anissagrayauthor

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E120: Interview with Eli Cranor, author of Ozark Dogs

March 30, 2023Author InterviewArkansas, Don't Know Tough, Eli Cranor, Ozark Dogs, Ozarks, Soho Crime, southern crime, Thrillertopshelfatmerricklibrary

“A feud between Arkansas families escalates with the fury of Greek tragedy. Family loyalty, young love, honoring the dead—they’re all here, and they all go terribly wrong in Ozark Dogs.” –Kirkus

Eli Cranor joined me for Episode 87 to talk about his gripping debut, Don’t Know Tough, and for this episode he joins me to talk about his brand new book, Ozark Dogs. Once again, Eli’s book hits all the must-read lists and it’s easy to see why: in this Southern thriller, two families grapple with the aftermath of a murder in their small Arkansas town. I devoured Ozark Dogs in two days – it’s fantastic. Give a listen to our conversation. Thanks so much to Eli Cranor for joining me once again!

Eli Cranor recommends: Everybody Knows by Jordan Harper; Five Decembers by James Kestrel; The Hunt by Kelly Jo Ford; The Good Ones by Polly Stewart; The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna by Juliet Grames; How Children Succeed by Paul Tough; the works of Alex Taylor; the works of Walter Tevis

Follow Eli Cranor on Twitter: @elicranor. Reserve copies of both of Eli’s books here.

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E119: Interview with Jenny Jackson, author of Pineapple Street

March 23, 2023Author Interviewbestseller, brooklyn, debut, debut author, family drama, family fiction, family life, jenny jackson, Pamela Dorman Books, penguin random house, pineapple streettopshelfatmerricklibrary

“Full of witty and caustic observations about a privileged class of New Yorkers, Pineapple Street is a sharp and juicy satire.” So says bestselling author Nita Prose about the transporting and lush debut by Jenny Jackson, Pineapple Street.

For E119, best-selling debut author Jenny Jackson shares what it’s like to be on the other side of the editorial desk, a potential screen treatment of the book, what she’s working on next and more. Please don’t miss the audiobook of Pineapple Street performed by the amazing Marin Ireland. Thank you so much Jenny!

Jenny Jackson recommends: Games and Rituals by Katherine Heiny; Big Swiss by Jen Beagin. Follow Jenny Jackson on Instagram @jennyjacksonpineapple; on Twitter @JennyeJackson. Read Jenny’s Literary Hub piece here. Place you hold for Pineapple Street here.

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E118: Interview with Alma Katsu, author of Red London

March 20, 2023Author Interviewalma katsu, espionage, red london, red widow, the deep, the fervor, the hunger, the wehrwolf, Thrillertopshelfatmerricklibrary

“The whole reason I started to write this series was to showcase women in the intelligence field today; what they’re like and how they do their job.” ~Alma Katsu on writing the Red Widow series.

Red London is a sharp and nuanced race-against-the-clock story ripped from today’s headlines, a testament to author Alma Katsu’s thirty-five-year career in national security. It’s a rare spy novel written by an insider that feels as prescient as it is page-turning and utterly unforgettable. The thrills begin with the very first sentence.

Alma Katsu’s Lyndsey Duncan character appears in both in Red Widow and Red London. The best part is, you don’t have to read these titles in any particular order; start with either and hang on for the ride. Both books offer a fresh look at the high cost of doing business as an agent. Impossible to put down. Thank you so much for joining me Alma Katsu!

Alma Katsu recommends: The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka; Women Talking by Miriam Toews Follow Alma Katsu on Twitter & Instagram: @almakatsu. Reserve all Alma Katsu titles here!

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E117: Interview with Kristen Loesch, author of The Last Russian Doll

March 13, 2023Author Interviewberkley publishing, dual timelines, historical fiction, Kristen Loesch, penguin random house, Russia, russian history, Russian Revolution, The Last Russian Doll, The Porcelain Dolltopshelfatmerricklibrary

“With hauntingly beautiful prose, Kristen Loesch has delivered an epic, dual timeline tale that deftly transports you to the Russian revolution and the life-altering crucible that came after it. The Last Russian Doll is utterly compelling. You won’t be able to put it down.”
—Susan Meissner, bestselling author of The Nature of Fragile Things

For this episode, debut author Kristen Loesch shares the story of her childhood dream of writing an epic love story which in turn, becomes her epic novel, The Last Russian Doll. We also talk about Kristen’s inspiration for the story, her gorgeous flash fiction, what she’s working next, and so much more. I loved this interview, thank you so much Kristen!

Kristen recommends: Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu; and The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner

Follow Kristen on Instagram @kristenloeschwriter; and place your hold here for The Last Russian Doll.

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E116: Interview with Ed Ashton, author of Antimatter Blues

March 7, 2023Author Interviewantimatter blues, ed ashton, genetic engineering, Macmillan, mickey 7, Science Fiction, St. Martin's Press, the end of ordinary, three days in apriltopshelfatmerricklibrary

“I felt like there was more to be said…that’s the essence of all writing.” ~ Edward Ashton on continuing the Mickey7 series.

For Episode 82, I had the pleasure of hosting Edward Ashton to talk about Mickey7 and for this episode, we talk about the sequel, Antimatter Blues. Antimatter Blues is a thrilling follow-up to Mickey7, soon to be a major motion picture by Academy Award-winning director Bong Joon-Ho. Library Journal gave Antimatter Blues a starred review and says the book is, “a nonstop SF adventure from beginning to end.” Antimatter Blues is a direct sequel and picks up two years after the events in Mickey7 so hold on to your hats! Thanks so much for joining me once again Ed!

Ed Ashton recommends: Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky; The Ghosts of Trappist by K.B. Wagers; place your hold here for all Ed Ashton titles!

Follow Ed Ashton on Twitter @edashtonwriting; on Instagram @bucket_of_spiders

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E115: Interview with Cheryl A. Head, author of Time’s Undoing

February 27, 2023Author InterviewAlabama, Cheryl A. Head, Crime, dutton press, Mystery, Mystery Series, penguin random house, Thriller, Time's Undoingtopshelfatmerricklibrary

“Times Undoing is a harrowing yet beautiful journey into the heart of darkness that beats in the center of the American Experience. A tour de force.” —S.A. Cosby, NYT bestselling author of Razorblade Tears and Blacktop Wasteland

Totally star-struck to have interviewed Cheryl A. Head for this episode and she was kind enough to let me wax rhapsodic about all her books, especially Time’s Undoing. For E115, Cheryl explained how Time’s Undoing was inspired by her own family history, and what it was like to write in the voice of her grandfather. We also talk about her fantastic Charlie Mack Motown Mystery Series, and what Cheryl is working on next. Cheryl A. Head has some marvelous things to share on that topic, so give a listen to find out what’s next for her. Thank you so much for sharing your story in Time’s Undoing, Cheryl!

Cheryl A. Head recommends: Shutter by Ramona Emerson. Authors noted: Wanda M. Morris; Denny S. Bryce; Sadeqa Johnson.

Follow Cheryl on Twitter: @cheaddc and Instagram: @cheadwrites

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E114: Interview with Deepti Kapoor, author of Age of Vice

February 24, 2023Author Interviewage of vice, Crime, debut, deepti kapoor, delhi, family saga, india, Thrillertopshelfatmerricklibrary

Equal parts crime thriller and family saga, transporting readers from the dusty villages of Uttar Pradesh to the urban energy of New Delhi, Age of Vice, a stunner by Deepti Kapoor is an intoxicating novel of gangsters and lovers, false friendships, forbidden romance, and the consequences of corruption. It is binge-worthy entertainment at its literary best. Age of Vice has already been optioned as a series by FX with Deepti Kapoor and her husband sharing screenwriting duties as they work together on the TV pilot. Age of Vice is the first in a trilogy about the Wadia crime family and I am on the edge of my seat waiting for the second installment! What a wonderful interview, thank you so much Deepti!

Follow Deepti Kapoor on Instagram: @deeptikp

Deepti Kapoor recommends: Cremation by Rafael Chirbes; Ice by Anna Kavan; Masahisa Fukase Retrospective – Editions Xavier Barral

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E113: They’re Going to Love You by Meg Howrey

February 16, 2023Author InterviewAuthor Interview, ballet, blind sight, Book Discussion, Doubleday, family relationships, Friday Reads, greenwich village, meg howrey, Readers Advisory, Staff Pick, the cranes dance, the wanderers, they're going to love youtopshelfatmerricklibrary

“They’re Going to Love You by Meg Howrey is my idea of a perfect book. It is about art, life, death, love, and family and it is beautifully and sharply written. I cried several times while reading it, and was sorry to let it go when I was done. I cannot recommend it enough.” —Jami Attenberg, NYT bestselling author of The Middlesteins and All This Could Be Yours.

I will read anything Jami Attenberg tells me to and what I agree with wholeheartedly is that you’re all going to love They’re Going to Love You by the brilliant Meg Howrey. We talk about family bonds, family secrets, recording the audio book, what she’s working on next and so much more. I cannot thank Meg Howrey enough for joining me – it’s a wonderful interview!

Meg Howrey recommends: How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz; The Hero of this Book by Elizabeth McCracken; A Bright Ray of Darkness by Ethan Hawke