Tag Archives: Staff Pick

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

August 24, 2023Author InterviewAll Things Left Wild, Author Interview, beasts of the earth, Blackstone Audio, Blackstone Publishing, East Texas, Friday Reads, James Wade, Readers Advisory, River Sing Out, Staff Pick, Texastopshelfatmerricklibrary

“A ll Things Lef t 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

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E129: Interview with James McBride, author of The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

August 10, 2023Author Interviewdeacon king kong, heaven and earth grocery store, james mcbride, miracle at st. anna, national book award, Riverhead Books, Staff Pick, the color of watertopshelfatmerricklibrary

What an episode! I had the pleasure of hosting James McBride, the award-winning author, musician, and screenwriter to talk about his latest book, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. His landmark memoir, The Color of Water, has sold millions of copies and is considered an American classic. His debut novel, Miracle at St. Anna, was turned into a 2008 film by Oscar-winning writer/director Spike Lee, with a script written by McBride. His 2013 novel, The Good Lord Bird, about American abolitionist John Brown, won the National Book Award for Fiction and was a Showtime limited series, starring Ethan Hawke.

Yes, that James McBride, and he joined me on this episode to talk about his new book, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, the price of secrets, the choices we make as people, and the power of community. Thank you so much James McBride!

Place your hold for all James McBride 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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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

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

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

January 30, 2023Author InterviewAuthor Interview, candy man, debut, debut author, degener, East Texas, Friday Reads, haunted house, hill country, Horror, horror debut, johnny compton, Readers Advisory, Staff Pick, Texas, the spite house, Tor Nightfiretopshelfatmerricklibrary

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

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E109: Interview with Allegra Goodman, author of SAM

December 29, 2022Author InterviewAllegra Goodman, Author Interview, Book Discussion, coming of age, Dial Press, Friday Reads, Intuition, Kaaterskill Falls, Paradise Park, Readers Advisory, Sam, Staff Pick, The Chalk Artist, The Cookbook Collector, The Family Markowitz, The Other Side of the Islandtopshelfatmerricklibrary

“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.

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

December 9, 2022Author InterviewAuthor Interview, crooked land books, debut, debut author, Friday Reads, it dies with you, Readers Advisory, scott blackburn, southern crime, southern fiction, Staff Picktopshelfatmerricklibrary

“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!

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Episode 106: Interview with Gary Goldstein, author of The Mother I Never Had

November 3, 2022Author InterviewAuthor Interview, California, domestic fiction, fresno, gary goldstein, hadleigh house, Staff Pick, the last birthday party, the mother i never hadtopshelfatmerricklibrary

“Nate’s morning began like any other. So how could he possibly know that well before the day was over his life would never be the same?” ~The Mother I Never Had by Gary Goldstein.

Hook set! I loved talking with former Long Island native Gary Goldstein about his latest book, The Mother I Never Had featuring protagonist Nate Cronin. When Nick discovers that his father kept a life-changing secret from him, he has the daunting task of reevaluating everything he thought he knew about his own life. Gary details Nate’s journey of self-discovery in such sensitive and comprehensive ways, I couldn’t put the book down. As bestselling author Iris Rainer Dart says, “There are so many surprises and joys in this beautiful, human, well-told, emotionally rich story, that you won’t want it to end.” And how could you possibly disagree with the bestselling author of Beaches?

Gary and I could have spoken for hours, and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to host him for this episode. Don’t miss this book and don’t miss Gary’s debut, The Last Birthday Party. Both are perfect for book discussions!

Gary Goldstein recommends: Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan; The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles; Oh WIlliam! by Elizabeth Strout; The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin

Click here for Gary’s interview with Marilyn Simon Rothstein

Don’t miss Gary Goldstein’s latest Hallmark Channel production: Lights, Camera, Christmas!

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Episode 105: Interview with author Louise Kennedy for her debut novel, Trespasses

October 26, 2022Author Interviewbook discussions, historical fiction, Louise Kennedy, Northern Ireland, penguin random house, Riverhead Books, Staff Pick, The Troublestopshelfatmerricklibrary

I had the absolute pleasure of hosting author Louise Kennedy for her debut novel, Trespasses. Set in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, Trespasses is a shattering novel about a young woman caught between allegiance to community and a dangerous passion.

We talk about the inspiration for Trespasses, a possible movie treatment, her award-winning short stories, and yes, her glorious orange cake. Thank you so much for joining me Louise, I loved every minute!

Luisa Smith of Book Passage says that Trespasses is, “the knockout debut of the fall season – a gritty depiction of Northern Ireland during the period known as The Troubles. Kennedy does a masterful job of bringing this period to life.” Do not miss this book!

Louise Kennedy recommends: My Fourth Time, We Drowned: Seeking Refuge on the World’s Deadliest Migration Routeby Sally Hayden; These Days by Lucy Caldwell (has not yet been published in the US).

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Episode 102: Interview with Bruce Holsinger author of The Displacements

August 8, 2022Author InterviewAuthor Interview, Book Discussion, Bruce Holsinger, Contemporary Fiction, Florida, Hurricanes, penguin random house, Readers Advisory, Riverhead Books, Staff Pick, Texastopshelfatmerricklibrary

“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.