Tag Archives: berkley publishing

E158: Interview with Deanna Raybourn, author of Kills Well With Others

March 5, 2025Uncategorizedberkley publishing, deanna raybourn, killers of a certain age, kills well with others, Thriller, women spiestopshelfatmerricklibrary

A series about older women doing kick-ass things, in this case? Assassins! Four women assassins, senior in status, and in age, sharpen their knives for another bloody good adventure in Kills Well With Others by Deanna Raybourn, a riotous follow-up to the NYT bestselling sensation Killers of a Certain Age. We had such a great conversation about women of a certain age, the inspiration for this series, book res, and more. We had a “bloody” good time, thank you so much for joining me Deanna!

Deanna recommends: The work of Jesse Q. Sutanto; the work of Elle Cosimano; the work of Lauren Willig.

Place your holds here for the incredible body of work from Deanna Raybourn, including the Veronica Speedwell Mystery Series!

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E134: Interview with May Cobb, author of A Likeable Woman

December 6, 2023Author Interviewa likeable woman, berkley publishing, East Texas, May Cobb, the hunting wives, thrillers, Women's fictiontopshelfatmerricklibrary

May Day! May Day! One of the most likeable authors I know, May Cobb sat down with me for this episode to talk about her latest thriller, A Likeable Woman. Author Eliza Jane Brazier calls it, “An evocative tale filled with sultry glamour and secrets as thick as an East Texas pine forest.” May also shared ALL the info about her second book, The Hunting Wives becoming a limited series over on STARZ, and man I can hardly wait for that. And I also can’t wait for May’s 2024 release, The Hollywood Assistant. Great episode, thank you so much May!

May Cobb recommends: Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers and I’m Not Done With You Yet by Jessie Sutanto; An American Girl by Wendy Walker; Girls And Their Horses by Eliza Jane Brazier, Enemies Closer and Porn Again both by Josh Sabarra. Movies mentioned: Fatal Attraction and Unfaithful.

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E127: Interview with Hazel Gaynor author of The Last Lifeboat

July 6, 2023Author Interviewberkley publishing, children, England, hazel gaynor, historical fiction, motherhood, survival, the last lifeboat, Women, WWIItopshelfatmerricklibrary

“Emotionally riveting and beautifully told,The Last Lifeboat is an unforgettable story of survival, resolve, and the shimmering stubbornness of hope. You can count on Hazel Gaynor’s gorgeous writing to carry you away and safely bring you back.
—Susan Meissner, USA Today bestselling author of The Nature of Fragile Things

For this episode Hazel Gaynor talks about how The Last Lifeboat is different from anything she’s written before, finding the nuggets of inspiration for her novels, what she’s working on next and more. Thank you so much for joining me Hazel!

Hazel Gaynor recommends: The Paris Daughter by Kristen Harmel; Yellowface by R. F. Kuang; and Blitz Spirit: Voices of Britain Living Through Crisis, 1939-1945 by Becky Brown.

Reserve books by Hazel Gaynor 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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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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E112: Interview with Rachel Koller Croft, author of Stone Cold Fox

February 14, 2023Author Interviewberkley publishing, Contemporary Fiction, debut author, debut thriller, Katey Sagal, mother daughter relationships, penguin random house, Rachel koller croft, Stone Cold Fox, Torn Heartstopshelfatmerricklibrary

Three words for you all: STONE COLD FOX. STONE COLD FOX is a perfectly wicked debut thriller about an ambitious woman who, after a lifetime of conning alongside her mother, wants to leave her dark past behind and marry the heir to one of the country’s wealthiest families.

Writers Guild of America nominee and debut author Rachel Koller Croft sat down with me for this episode and we had a blast talking about “foxes”, writing the amazing character of Bea, her love for libraries, screenwriting and more! Rachel Koller Croft’s unputdownable debut STONE COLD FOX hits shelves on February 14. Book clubs? Start your engines!

Rachel Koller Croft recommends: The Shards by Brett Easton Ellis; Love Pamela by Pamela Anderson; She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb; Cheat Day by Liv Stratman. Don’t miss Rachel’s terrific movie: Torn Hearts starring Katey Sagal!

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Episode 94: Interview with May Cobb author of My Summer Darlings

June 2, 2022Author Interviewberkley publishing, Contemporary Fiction, East Texas, May Cobb, penguin random house, summer reading, Texas, Thrillertopshelfatmerricklibrary

“My Summer Darlings is spicy enough to make you sweat – until the suspense chills you to your core.” ~ Riley Sager, bestselling author of Survive the Night.

Named A Most Anticipated Novel of 2022 by Crime Reads, Goodreads, and more. My Summer Darlings is the story of three life-long friends and a dangerous, sexy new stranger in town which leads to a scorching summer of manipulation, obsession, and murder. Jen, Kittie, and Cynthia are three main characters in My Summer Darlings you won’t soon forget. For E94, May & I talked about how these women try to keep up appearances and keep their desires a secret. We also chat about Jake Ryan (yes that Jake Ryan), and what May is working on next. Thank you so much May!

May’s interview with the Dallas Morning News

May Cobb recommends: The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager; Watch Out For Her by Samantha Bailey; Four Aunties and a Wedding by Jesse Sutanto

Follow May Cobb on Instagram @may_cobb; on Twitter @maykcobb; and on Facebook @MayKCobb

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Episode 84 : Interview with Katy Regan author of How To Find Your Way Home

February 28, 2022Author InterviewAuthor Interview, berkley publishing, Birding, Book Discussion, book discussions, Contemporary Fiction, Friday Reads, Homeless, How to Find Your Way Home, Katy Regan, Little Big Love, mental health, migration, penguin random house, Readers Advisory, siblings, Staff Pick, swallows, swiftstopshelfatmerricklibrary

From Katy Regan, the author of Little Big Love (a huge favorite of mine) comes her latest, How to Find Your Way Home, a warm, life-affirming novel. When a sister discovers that the brother she hasn’t seen in more than a decade is homeless, she learns the true meaning of belonging when she tries to reconnect. How to Find Your Way Home is not to be missed.

I enjoyed this conversation about the book so much, thank you Katy Regan! Keep an eye-out Roger…I’ll see you soon.

Katy Regan recommends: Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave; Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers; Attic Child by Lola Jay.

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Episode 61: Interview with May Cobb!

May 21, 2021Author InterviewAuthor Interview, berkley publishing, Book Discussion, book discussions, East Texas, Friday Reads, martinis, May Cobb, penguin random house, Readers Advisory, Staff Picktopshelfatmerricklibrary

“In moving here, I thought I could become someone more wholesome, more grounded. Someone I could admire…as it turns out, you can’t outrun who you are.” ~ Sophie O’Neill, The Hunting Wives

“Margot is totally fiction, but she could be real…” ~ May Cobb

Yikes! Folks, pour yourself a martini, hold onto your hats and get ready for THE HUNTING WIVES. I sat down with the absolutely fabulous May Cobb to talk about her equally fabulous second book, THE HUNTING WIVES. This spoiler-free interview was a delight and I could have spoken with May all darn day. We talked about East Texas, the character of Sophie O’Neill, a bit about Margot, and I will say no more. This book is a knockout.

Thanks so much May Cobb for sitting down with me, I really hope you’ll visit again!

May Cobb recommends: River Sing Out by James Wade; The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean; The Girls Are All So Nice Here by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn; and Dial A For Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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Episode 24: Interview with Anissa Gray author of The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls

January 18, 2019Author InterviewAnissa Gray, Author Interview, berkley publishing, Book Discussion, Library Reads, penguin random house, Readers Advisorytopshelfatmerricklibrary

Debut author Anissa Gray sat with Top Shelf today to talk about her fabulous new book, The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls.

Set to hit shelves on Tuesday, February 19th, The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls, is the story of the four Butler siblings who have had their share of familial trials. But Althea, Viola, Lillian, and Joe are not prepared for the literal trial that will upend their lives. This moving debut will be hard to put down.

Merrick patrons place your hold here: https://tinyurl.com/Care-and-Feeding-Anissa-Gray

Follow Anissa Gray on her website: https://anissagray.com/meet-the-author/

#givealistenreadthebook

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