Episode 77: Interview with Leslie Zemeckis

December 14, 2021Author Interview2021 Favorites, Anna Bailey, Anthony Doerr, Ashley Winstead, Beneath the Stairs, Chris Whittaker, Cloud Cuckoo Land, Dark Things I Adore, Dial A For Aunties, Good Wife of Bath, In Every Mirror She's Black, In My Dreams I Hold A Knife, Jennifer Fawcett, Jesse Q. Sutanto, Karen Brooks, Kate Moore, Kerri Maher, Leslie Zemeckis, Lola Akinmade Åkerström, Nichole Perkins, Sadeqa Johnson, Sometimes I Trip On How Happy We Could Be, The Paris Bookseller, The Woman They Could Not Silence, We Begin at the End, Where the Truth Lies, Yellow Wifetopshelfatmerricklibrary

‘Tis the season to haul out your favorites of 2021! I had the pleasure of hosting writer, producer, actress and director, Leslie Zemeckis to talk about her faves of the year and boy did we have a blast talking books. Her titles below as well as the books she’s looking forward to in 2022. Thanks so much Leslie, I had a ball! You can follow @LeslieZemeckis on all social media platforms.

Leslie’s favorites: We Beg in at the End by Chris Whitaker; Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson; Where the Truth Lies by Anna Bailey; Sometimes I Trip On How Happy We Could Be by Nichole Perkins; Dark Things I Adore by Kate Lattari; The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore; In Every Mirror She’s Black by Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström; Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr; Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto; In My Dreams I Hold A Knife by Ashley Winstead.

Leslie looks forward to: The Paris Bookseller by Kerry Maher; The Good Wife of Bath by Karen Brooks; Beneath the Stairs by Jennifer Fawcett.

Click here to request all things Leslie Zemeckis: books, movies & more!

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Episode 76: Interview with Jeffery Deaver

December 3, 2021Author InterviewAmelia Sachs, Author Interview, Friday Reads, Jeffery Deaver, Lincoln Rhyme, locksmithing, Readers Advisory, Staff Pick, The Bone Collector, The Locksmith, The Midnight Lock, The Steel Kill, Thriller, thrillers, toothpastetopshelfatmerricklibrary

Jeffery Deaver, the #1 international bestselling and award winning author of over 40 books, yes that Jeffery Deaver, sat down with me and man, what at a thrill! I’ve been a fan for a looong time. We talked about his latest book The Midnight Lock, writing books that make me lose sleep at night and why Jeffery Deaver is better than toothpaste. Not sure what all that means? Give a listen!

The Midnight Lock is a roller-coaster read that takes place over just a few days’ time, features surprise after surprise and offers a fascinating look at the esoteric world of lockpicking.

Jeffery Deaver recommends: Elsewhere by Dean Koontz

Place your hold here for The Midnight Lock by Jeffery Deaver

Place your holds here for our entire Jeffery Deaver collection!

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Milestone! Episode 75: Interview with Kimmery Martin

November 19, 2021Author InterviewAuthor Interview, Book Discussion, book discussions, doctors, doctors and friends, Friday Reads, kimmery martin, medical fiction, penguin random house, Readers Advisory, Staff Picktopshelfatmerricklibrary

What a way to kick off my 75th episode: hosting author Kimmery Martin for her latest book, Doctors and Friends, and co-hosting this special episode with my pal Cindy Burnett at Thoughts from a Page podcast!

People Magazine calls Doctors and Friends a “..prescient, human and hopeful portrait of medical experts on a pandemic’s frontlines.” And I couldn’t agree more. We talked about writing the book pre-pandemic, how it changed post-pandemic, her wonderful website and so much more! Give a listen.

Kimmery Martin recommends: My Year Abroad by Chang-Rae Lee. My interview with Chang-Rae Lee can be found here!

Place your holds for these Kimmery Martin titles right here.

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E74: Interview with Naomi Krupitsky

November 16, 2021Author InterviewAuthor Interview, Book Discussion, book discussions, bqe, brooklyn, debut, debut author, family, Friday Reads, G P Putnam & Sons, historical fiction, mafia, Naomi Krupitsky, penguin random house, Readers Advisory, Staff Pick, The Familytopshelfatmerricklibrary

They say you can’t go home again but I sure did, right back to Brooklyn, NY with author Naomi Krupitsky’s debut novel The Family. Set in early 20th century Brooklyn, The Family is a captivating debut novel and coming-of-age story about the tangled fates of two best friends, Sophia and Antonia, who are both daughters of the Italian mafia. My copy of The Family is covered in sticky notes, Krupitsky’s prose is beautiful, and I can’t wait for you to read it. Thank you so much for joining me Naomi!

The Family is a November 2021 Read With Jenna Pick and a NYT Bestseller!

Naomi recommends: Matrix by Lauren Groff; and Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim

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Episode 73: Interview with Wanda M. Morris!

November 5, 2021Author InterviewAtlanta, Harper Collins, Lawyers, Lesa Holstine, Library Love Fest, Mystery, Secrets, Thriller, Wanda Morristopshelfatmerricklibrary

This buzzy debut thriller, All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris has all the things and has made all the lists! NYT best-selling author Karin Slaughter says, “All Her Little Secrets is a brilliantly nuanced but powerhouse exploration of race, the legal system, and the crushing pressure of keeping secrets. Morris brings a vibrant and welcome new voice to the thriller space.” — Karin Slaughter

In this fast-paced debut, Wanda M. Morris crafts a twisty mystery about a black lawyer who gets caught in a dangerous conspiracy after the sudden death of her boss. Perfect for fans of Attica Locke, Alyssa Cole, Harlan Coben, and Celeste Ng, with shades of How to Get Away with Murder and John Grisham’s The Firm.

We talked about her incredible main character, Ellice Littlejohn, Wanda’s love for libraries, and what it was like being a Library Journal cover girl. This episode is action packed and to say I loved speaking with Wanda M. Morris is an understatement. Give a listen!

Wanda M. Morris recommends: Her Name is Knight by Yasmin Angoe

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Episode 72: Interview with Josh Sabarra

October 29, 2021Author InterviewAuthor Interview, Beach Read, Book Discussion, Enemies Closer, Friday Reads, Hollywood, JBS Books, Josh Sabarra, Marcee Brookes, Skinny Cowtopshelfatmerricklibrary

I had such a blast interviewing Josh Sabarra for his debut novel, Enemies Closer.

Author Lauren Fox says, “Enemies Closer is a fizzy cocktail of insider Hollywood gossip, biting, laugh-out-loud humor and a supremely likable, relatable heroine. Enemies Closer is a twisty and delightful page-turner of a novel.” –Lauren Fox, bestselling author of Days of Awe, Friends Like Us and Still Life with Husband

Josh and I talked Skinny Cow ice cream, decorative throw pillows (at least ten), and his fabulous protagonist, Marcee Brookes. #teammarcee

Josh also revealed some of his exciting new projects and all I can say is, give a listen! Thank you so much Josh.

Josh Sabarra recommends: Days of Awe by Lauren Fox; Send For Me by Lauren Fox; Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed; The Hunting Wives by May Cobb; My Summer Darlings by May Cobb (2022); Bath Haus by P. J. Vernon; Small Changes: A Rules Free Guide to Add More Plant-Based Foods, Peace and Power to Your Life by Alicia Witt

Follow Josh on Twitter & Instagram at @joshsabarra and on Facebook at @JoshSabarraAuthor

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Episode 71: Interview with Nathaniel Philbrick

September 24, 2021Author InterviewAuthor Interview, Friday Reads, George Washington, Long Island, Nathaniel Philbrick, penguin random house, Readers Advisory, Staff Pick, Viking Presstopshelfatmerricklibrary

What happened to George Washington after the Revolution? Find out in Nathaniel Philbrick’s latest bestselling book, Travels with George: In Search of George Washington and His Legacy.

Among other things, we talk about George Washington’s trip through Long Island, Philbrick’s love for libraries, and his excellent traveling companions. An absolutely delightful interview… thank you Nathaniel!

Award winning author Nathaniel Philbrick recommends, Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow

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Episode 70: Interview with Isla Morley

August 23, 2021Author InterviewAmerican Historical Fiction, Author Interview, blue people, Book Discussion, book discussions, Isla Morley, kentucky, Pegasus Books, Readers Advisory, Staff Pick, wpatopshelfatmerricklibrary

In this luminous historical fiction narrative inspired by the fascinating real case of the Blue People of Kentucky, Isla Morley probes questions of identity, love, and family in her breathtaking new novel.

In 1937, there are recesses in Appalachia no outsiders have ever explored. Two government-sponsored documentarians from Ohio, a writer and photographer are dispatched to penetrate this wilderness and record what they find for President Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration. For photographer Clay Havens, the assignment is his last chance to reboot his flagging career. So when he and his journalist partner are warned away from the remote Spooklight Holler outside of town, they set off eagerly in search of a headline story.

I was hooked from the first page, second sentence. Morley’s prose is luminous indeed and I was thrilled to host her for this episode. A must read and book club gold. Can’t thank her enough for joining me.

Isla Morley recommends, The Body by Bill Bryson; Leaving Coy’s Hill by Katherine Sherbrooke; How to Fly by Barbara Kingsolver

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Episode 69: Interview with Megan Abbott

August 19, 2021Author InterviewAuthor Interview, ballet, Book Discussion, book discussions, Friday Reads, G P Putnam & Sons, Megan Abbott, Nutcracker, penguin random house, Readers Advisory, sisters, Staff Picktopshelfatmerricklibrary

Just after being selected as the August Read with Jenna pick for her latest book, The Turnout, I was thrilled to host Megan Abbott! Abbott was waving to us from Queens when we spoke…

Taut and unnerving, The Turnout is Megan Abbott at the height of her game. With uncanny insight and hypnotic writing, it is a sharp and strange dissection of family ties and sexuality, femininity and power, and a tale that is both alarming and irresistible and I will not say another word about it, I was on the edge of my seat. Give a listen!

Megan Abbott recommends: Blacktop Wasteland and Razorblade Tears, both by S.A.Cosby; Dreamgirl by Laura Lippman; The Collective by Alison Gaylin

Place you hold for all Megan Abbott titles here.

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Episode 67: Interview with Claire Luchette

August 10, 2021Author InterviewAgatha of Little Neon, Author Interview, Book Discussion, book discussions, Claire Luchette, debut, debut author, Farrar Straus Giroux, Friday Reads, Macmillan Publishers, New Bees, Nuns, Readers Advisory, Religion, Staff Pick, Woonsockettopshelfatmerricklibrary

“Claire Luchette is so wildly talented that I would follow them anywhere. Here, it’s to Woonsocket along with four women who are searching for meaning and a sense of belonging from each other and the world beyond. The result is a novel that’s blazingly original, wry, and perfectly attuned to the oddness―and the profundity―of life.”
―Cristina Henríquez, author of The Book of Unknown Americans

What a pleasure to sit down with Claire Luchette to talk about her gorgeous debut, Agatha of Little Neon. The book offers a view into the lives of women and the choices they make. It is a novel about female friendship and devotion, the roles made available to us, and how we become ourselves. I loved this absolute gem of a book…thank you so much for joining me Claire Luchette!

Claire recommends: Afterparties by Anthony Veasna So ; Something New Under the Sun by Alexanda Kleeman

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