Tag Archives: Texas

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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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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Episode 103: Interview with Bobby Finger debut author of The Old Place

September 19, 2022Author InterviewBobby Finger, G. P. Putnam, LGBTQ, penguin random house, Texas, The Old Place, Who? Weeklytopshelfatmerricklibrary

The Old Place by Bobby Finger is a bighearted, moving debut about a wry, retired schoolteacher whose decade-old secret threatens to come to light and send shock waves through her small Texas town and I loved every page. Emma Straub says, “I loved being…in the heads of some wonderfully tangy old Texan ladies.”

For this episode, we talk about places in our lives: new places and the old places. The people that stay and the people that go, the choices people make, the secrets they keep, and how these characters try to live with those decisions. The Old Place is book club gold, so don’t miss this incredible conversation with Bobby Finger. Thank you so much Bobby!

Bobby Finger recommends: Perish by LaToya Washington; The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty.

Follow Bobby Finger on Instagram & Twitter: @bobbyfinger and listen to his podcast, Who? Weekly right here.

Place your hold for THE OLD PLACE.

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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.

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

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Episode 98: Interview with Madeline Kay Sneed

July 5, 2022Author Interview#comingout, #madelinesneed #LGBTQ, #thegoldenseason, Contemporary Fiction, faith, family, Football, graydon house, Harlequin, Queer, rural fiction, southern fiction, Texas, West Texastopshelfatmerricklibrary

“Madeline Kay Sneed has written a Friday Night Lights for a new generation. The Golden Season is a heartfelt story of finding yourself, coming out, and coming home… A tender, bighearted exploration of family, first love, and faith, with a gorgeously evoked west Texas landscape as backdrop.” —Sarah McCraw Crow, author of The Wrong Kind of Woman. An absolutely spot-on review for this remarkable debut, a novel about love, acceptance, and the expansion of your heart.

For this episode, debut author Madeline Kay Sneed chatted with me about writing a debut novel, setting the novel in West Texas and signature cocktails. Madeline even offers to teach me how to say, “y’all” like a true Texan. A must listen, thank you SO much Madeline!

Madeline Kay Sneed recommends: Vigil Harbor by Julia Glass; The Burning Season by Allison Wisdom

Follow Madeline on Twitter: @madelinesneed and on Instagram @madzsneed

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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 63: Interview with James Wade 2021 Edition: RIVER, SING OUT

June 8, 2021Author InterviewAll Things Left Wild, Author Interview, bad guys, Blackstone Audio, Blackstone Publishing, Book Discussion, book discussions, East Texas, Friday Reads, James Wade, Mare of Easttown, Readers Advisory, River Sing Out, Staff Pick, Texas, The Thin Mantopshelfatmerricklibrary

You all remember when James Wade joined us for E42 to discuss his debut novel, All Things Left Wild.

Well, James Wade is BACK!

He’s back on Top Shelf and he’s back to talk about his new book, River Sing Out. River Sing Out is an East Texas thriller that finds young Jonah Hargrave navigating the very depths of the river bottoms in more ways than one. Hold on to you hats folks, because once again James Wade delivers some serious bad guys in River Sing Out...one in particular is known as the Thin Man and I’m getting the chills just typing his name. So check out this episode because this southern gothic kept me glued until the very last page.

Man it was great to catch up with James Wade, and we even managed to talk about Mare of Easttown, so you’ll just have to give a listen.

James Wade recommends: The Hunting Wives by May Cobb; Joe Lansdale titles especially the forthcoming Moon Lake; and Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann

Reserve your copy of River, Sing Out ; and All Things Left Wild

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