Tag Archives: Readers Advisory

E130: Interview with James Wade, author of Beasts of the Earth



All Things Left Wild by James Wade was one of my favorite novels of the last two years, as was River, Sing Out. But neither of those novels could have prepared me for the dark and compelling vision of Beasts of the Earth.”   ~David Heska Wanbli Weiden, Spur and Anthony Award-winning author of Winter Counts

James Wade’s third book, Beasts of the Earth, is a heart-stopper, a jaw-dropper, and a prose-stunner. The characters of Harlen LeBlanc and Munday Fisher are two you won’t soon forget. There’s a reason the New York Review of Books calls James Wade an “an author of extraordinary merit.” Take a listen to this interview with three-peat guest author James Wade. Thank you so much Mr. W for joining me once again on the show! It’s always a pleasure, but it’s an even bigger pleasure reading your fabulous novels.

Reserve James Wade titles here.  Follow James Wade on Instagram at @jameswadewriter

James Wade recommends: Oleander City by Matt Bondurant; Stella Maris by Cormac McCarthy; The Passenger by Cormac McCarthy; The Last Karankawas by Kimberly Garza


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



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


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



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

Read the wonderful books by Meg Howrey here. Follow Meg Howrey on Twitter and Instagram: @meghowrey


E111: Interview with Johnny Compton, author of The Spite House



THE SPITE HOUSE by Johnny Compton has all the things and gives us all the things in this stunner by a horror master in the making. Think The Babadook meets A Head Full of Ghosts in Texas Hill Country and you have yourself one terrifying book. 

For this episode, we talk about nightmares, frights, all things THE SPITE HOUSE, and so much more. I call Johnny Compton diabolical and that is all I will say about this action packed and joyful-horror filled episode. As for the diabolical Johnny, he can come back to the podcast any time – such a blast! Don’t miss this excellent debut, THE SPITE HOUSE.

Johnny Compton recommends: Rootwork by Tracy Cross; Flowers for the Sea by Zin E. Rocklyn; and the podcast: Rumors: Dark Lore from India.  Also recommended: The House Next Door by Anne River Siddons; Burnt Offerings by Robert Marasco; The Elementals by Michael McDowell, The Golden Arm featuring Jackie Torrance; Too Much Horror Fiction by WIll Errickson.

Listen to Johnny Compton’s podcast right here! 

Follow Johnny Compton on Twitter and Instagram: @comptonwrites

 


E109: Interview with Allegra Goodman, author of SAM



“One of the most evocative and tender examinations of youth that I have ever read.” ~ Kevin Wilson, author of Nothing to See Here

Sam, the latest by Allegra Goodman knocked me sideways with how good it is. For this episode, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to sit down with Allegra Goodman herself to talk about her incredible new release. We talk about writing as a performance, establishing Sam’s voice through the years, the coming-of-age genre, and so much more. Sam is book club gold, so please don’t miss it! Thank you Allegra!

Allegra Goodman recommends: T.S. Eliot: An Imperfect Life by Lyndall Gordon; Haven by Emma Donoghue; Women Talking by Miriam Toews; This Boys Life by Tobias Wolfe; Boyhood directed by Richard Linklater; Lady Bird directed by Greta Gerwig

Click here to read Allegra Goodman’s piece in Vogue Magazine. Follow Allegra Goodman on Instagram: @allegragoodmanwriter and on Facebook: @allegragoodman

Place your hold here for all these wonderful Allegra Goodman titles.


E108: Interview with Scott Blackburn, author of It Dies With You



It Dies With You is a satisfying gut-punch of a story. Gritty and surprising, the small-town Southern mystery is populated with big characters that make this novel truly special. I can’t wait to read whatever Scott Blackburn writes next.” —Tiffany Quay Tyson, award-winning author of The Past is Never.

In Scott Blackburn’s debut, It Dies With You, protagonist Hudson takes over his dad’s salvage business after his father is murdered. But Hudson gets more than he bargains for and must join forces with two unlikely accomplices. It Dies with You is a timely story about the long shadows cast by sins of the past.

I also can’t wait to read what Scott Blackburn writes next and he talks about that and more in this episode! Scott also shared a few book recommendations to get you ready for the holiday season, and you can find those below. What a great interview, thank you so much Scott!

Scott recommends: The Past is Never by Tiffany Quay Tyson; After the Lights Go Out by John Vercher; Every Hidden Thing by Ted Flanagan; the work of William Boyle; Kill the Prince by Dan Fogarty; The Devil Himself by Peter Farris; Living the Gimmick by Bobby Matthews; In the Lonely Backwater by Valerie Nieman; Something Bad Wrong by Eryk Pruitt; Hemlock Hollow by Culley Holderfield; and The Nightmare Man by JH Markert. That ought to get y’all started!


Episode 102: Interview with Bruce Holsinger author of The Displacements



“Hypnotic.” ~ NYT

“Cinematic.” ~ USA Today

“A gripping, full-throttle page turner.” ~ Miranda Cowley Heller

The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger is an adrenaline-fueled story of lives upended and transformed by an unprecedented catastrophe. Holsinger weaves the story of a well-to-do family around a catastrophic hurricane that strips them of their privilege and exposes their humanity.

This episode we talk about how The Displacements shatters the complacency of every day life, we get into the mechanics of writing suspense, the book cover, and more. Thank you so much Bruce!

Bruce Holsinger recommends: Appleseed by Matt Bell; How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue; The Children’s Bible by Lydia Millet; How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu

Reserve the books of Bruce Holsinger here. 

Look for Bruce Holsinger on Twitter @bruceholsinger and on Instagram @bruceholsingerauthor


Episode 87: Eli Cranor author of Don’t Know Tough



You may not know tough but author Eli Cranor sure does in his debut, DON’T KNOW TOUGH, a book that S.A. Cosby calls, “…a searing and stunningly poignant study in what makes us and what breaks us and ultimately what brings us to a place of peace. Eli Cranor is that rare writer who can make you gasp, cry and cheer often in the same paragraph.” There’s not a single a lie in that review.

Sarah Weinman, of the The New York Times Book Review and true-crime writer says, “Eli Cranor’s top-shelf debut, DON’T KNOW TOUGH, is Southern noir at its finest, a cauldron of terrible choices and even more terrible outcomes . . . There is a raw ferocity to Cranor’s prose, perfectly in keeping with the novel’s examination of curdling masculinity.”  All I can say about DON’T KNOW TOUGH is, think Friday Night Lights with a much darker edge. Speaking of the edge? I was on the edge of my seat for this incredible debut. For this episode, we talk football, Arkansas, recording his own audiobook and more. Thank you Eli! 

Eli Cranor recommends: Razorblade Tears and Blacktop Wasteland both by S.A.Cosby; Shoot the Moonlight Out and all of the novels by William Boyle; The Turnout and all of the novels by Megan Abbott; all the work by Ace Atkins; The Devil Himself by Peter Farris;

     


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



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. 

     

 


Episode 83 : Interview with Jennifer Fawcett, author of BENEATH THE STAIRS



“OH MY GOD!”  That’s what author/director/actress Leslie Zemeckis says about BENEATH THE STAIRS the debut by Jennifer Fawcett. And author Wendy Walker, author of Don’t Look for Me says, “In Beneath the Stairs, Jennifer Fawcett explores the lasting impact of childhood trauma in this metaphysical story about a house with buried secrets. An enthralling debut by a gifted storyteller!”

BENEATH THE STAIRS is a story about the trauma that follows us from childhood to adulthood and returning to the beginning to reach the end. I was on the edge of my seat. Jennifer and I talked about her inspiration for the book, writing something scary in the deep woods, and how building up to writing a novel is very similar to running a marathon. Great interview – especially the part about her playwriting which was fascinating. Thank you Jennifer!

Jennifer Fawcett recommends, Catch Her When She Falls by Allison Buccola