Tag Archives: penguin random house

E152: Interview with Adam White, author of The Midcoast

November 20, 2024Author Interviewadam white, damariscotta, hogarth, Maine, penguin random house, the midcoasttopshelfatmerricklibrary

For this episode, we head to Damariscotta, Maine, to chat with Adam White about his stunning debut, The Midcoast. This gripping novel dives into privilege, the shadows of the American dream, and the lengths we’ll go to protect the ones we love.

I’ve been thinking about this book since it hit shelves two years ago and couldn’t be more thrilled Adam agreed to this interview! He shares the 11-year journey behind the book, its Gatsby-esque themes, and exciting news about The Midcoast being optioned by Hulu. Plus, he drops some fantastic book recommendations and teases what he’s working on next. Thank you for joining me, Adam!

Adam White recommends: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald; Netherland by Joseph O’Neill; The Lazarus Man by Richard Price; The End of Vandalism by Tom Drury.

Place your hold for The Midcoast 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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E132: Interview with Angie Kim, author of Happiness Falls

September 27, 2023Author Interviewa planned occasion, Angie Kim, happiness falls, Miracle Creek, penguin random house, Thrillertopshelfatmerricklibrary

You all remember Episode 27 when I hosted Angie Kim for her Edgar Award winning debut, Miracle Creek. Well what a thrill to host Angie once again for her best-selling, GMA book of the month club choice, Happiness Falls! For this episode we go in depth to talk about Angelman Syndrome, non-verbal communication, flipping the mystery/suspense trope, the science behind the happiness quotient and so much more. Please give a listen to this fantastic episode. Thank you Angie Kim for taking time out of your busy tour to sit down with me for this episode!

Angie Kim recommends: The Reason I Jump by KA Yoshida; Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro; In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O’Brien; Bel Canto and Tom Lake, both by Ann Patchett; Chemistry by Weike Wang.

Place you hold for Angie Kim titles here.

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Episode 128: Interview with Matthew Norman author of Charm City Rocks

July 20, 2023Author InterviewAll Together Now, baltimore, domestic fiction, domestic violets, Last Couple Standing, Matthew Norman, penguin random house, we're all damagedtopshelfatmerricklibrary

“If Daisy Jones and Emily Henry had a baby, it would be Charm City Rocks.” ~ bestselling author Colleen Oakley.

For this episode, three-time guest Matthew Norman sat down to talk about his completely charming new novel, Charm City Rocks. Matthew talks about writing a sweet novel instead of a bitter-sweet novel, writing songs into his books, making Burnt Flowers t-shirts, the city of Baltimore, and so much more.

Thank you so much Matthew Norman – what a great interview! Follow Matthew Norman on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter: @thenormannation. Place your hold here for all Matthew Norman titles.

Matthew Norman recommends: The People We Keep by Allie Larkin; Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

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E125: Interview with Erin E. Adams author of Jackal

June 8, 2023Author Interviewbantam books, Black fiction, Erin E Adams, Horror, horror debut, Jackal, johnstown, Mystery, penguin random house, Pennsylvania, suspense, Thrillertopshelfatmerricklibrary

This marvelous debut, Jackal, by author Erin E. Adams is one of those books best read with the lights on! Recommended by Gillian Flynn on the Today Show, Jackal is the story of a young Black girl who goes missing in the woods outside her rust belt town. But she isn’t the first—and she may not be the last. So when Liz Rocher goes back to this town to attend her best-friend’s wedding she gets much more than she bargained for. Filled with gorgeous prose, this hair-raising debut will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. I loved it. For this episode, we chat about Erin’s inspiration for the story, her hometown of Johnstown, PA, her love for libraries, what she’s working on next and so much more. Thank you Erin!

Erin E. Adams recommends the Fall 2023 releases of, What Kind of Mother by Clay McLeod Chapman; Nestlings by Nat Cassidy; The Black Girl Survives in this One: A YA Horror Fiction Anthology.

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E124: Interview with J. Ryan Stradal, author of Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club

May 25, 2023Author Interviewkitchens of the great midwest, midwest, Minnesota, Pamela Dorman Books, penguin random house, Saturday night at the lakeside supper club, supper clubs, the lager queen of minnesota, Viking Presstopshelfatmerricklibrary

I can’t think of a better place to be than Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club! This latest from NYT bestselling author J. Ryan Stradal, is a story of a couple from two very different restaurant families in rustic Minnesota, and the legacy of love and tragedy, of hardship and hope, that unites and divides them. I loved this book from cover to cover! We talk about character development, the structure of the book, the wonder of supper clubs and so much more. Thank you J. Ryan Stradal, I had a blast!

J. Ryan Stradal recommends They’re Going to Love You by Meg Howrey.

Follow J. Ryan Stradal on Instagram and Twitter: @jryanstradal. Reserve his books right here!

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E123: Interview with Bonnie Garmus, author of Lessons in Chemistry

May 17, 2023Author Interviewbonnie garmus, Elizabeth Zott, historical fiction, lessons in chemistry, penguin random house, Sexismtopshelfatmerricklibrary

Lessons in Chemistry, the bestselling juggernaut by Bonnie Garmus, has taken the world by storm and to say I was thrilled to host her for this episode is an understatement! For E123, we talk about the inspiration for the book, the movie treatment, why Lessons in Chemistry resonates with so many (including male readers), what’s next for Bonnie Garmus and so much more. Thank you for joining me Bonnie!

Bonnie Garmus recommends: In Memoriam by Alice Winn

Follow Bonnie on Twitter @bonniegarmus and on Instagram @bonnie_garmus_author

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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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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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