Books Connect Us: Recent Episodes
Penguin Random House
As we stay indoors during uncertain times, we’re staying connected with each other and the stories and authors who inspire us. BOOKS CONNECT US brings you brand new conversations with some of your favorite authors.
Authors Ibram X. Kendi (HOW TO BE AN ANTIRACIST) and Heather McGhee (THE SUM OF US) discuss Dr. Kendi’s new book CHAIN OF IDEAS: The Origins of Our Authoritarian Age. They break down the Great Replacement Theory, which Kendi calls the most dominant and dangerous political idea of our time; explain how authoritarians around the world are leveraging it to gain power and dismantle democracy; and offer a rubric for recognizing and fighting back against these forces.
CHAIN OF IDEAS: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/778233/chain-of-ideas-by-ibram-x-kendi/
THE SUM OF US: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/564989/the-sum-of-us-by-heather-mcghee/
Authors Terry Brooks and Delilah S. Dawson sit down to discuss the future of the SHANNARA series, as Brooks passes the torch to Dawson to continue his beloved world. The two longtime friends share how their collaboration works, what fans can expect, and why Dawson is the perfect person to carry on one of fantasy's most iconic legacies.
Delilah S. Dawson: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2136430/delilah-s-dawson/
Terry Brooks: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/3394/terry-brooks/
Eddie Huang is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Fresh Off the Boat. His subversively funny first novel COME UNDONE delivers a portrait of a haunted manchild and his messy search for love. Eddie sits down with his editor and publisher Chris Jackson for a frank conversation about love, relationships, growing up, the writing process, and whether romantic comedies are used to manage society.
COME UNDONE: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/555046/come-undone-by-eddie-huang/
Dungeon Crawler Carl author, Matt Dinniman, talks about how video games influence his writing, how he got into LitRPG, the next entry in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, as well as adaptation news and his new science fiction thriller, Operation Bounce House.
Matt Dinniman: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2309250/matt-dinniman/
Bestselling author Andy Weir—and his longtime book editor Julian Pavia—break down Andy's role in the Project Hail Mary movie adaptation. They discuss the most critical things to get right, the parts Andy was nervous about, and the challenges with bringing Rocky to life.
Project Hail Mary: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/828207/project-hail-mary-deluxe-edition-by-andy-weir/
On today’s season finale we welcome the delightful Emily Henry, author of bestsellers Beach Read, Book Lovers, People We Meet on Vacation and, most recently the #1 NYT Bestselling Happy Place. Alyssa and Emily vibe out talking about romcom inspiration, fancasting, the ways art informs life (and vice versa), writing complex, imperfect love interests, and how underrated the state of Michigan is. Emily’s new book, Happy Place (available now) and is your perfect summer reading companion.
You can find Emily at www.emilyhenrybooks.com | Instagram: @emilyhenrywrites | Newsletter: https://emilyhenry.substack.com/
You can read Emily’s Vulture profile here: https://www.vulture.com/article/emily-henry-romance-novel-profile.html
Thank you for joining us this season! We’ll be back soon with more episodes soon.
BOOKS/AUTHORS MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:
Happy Place by Emily Henry: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704944/happy-place-by-emily-henry/
Beach Read by Emily Henry: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/608898/beach-read-by-emily-henry/
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/608899/people-we-meet-on-vacation-by-emily-henry/
Book Lovers by Emily Henry: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/670293/book-lovers-by-emily-henry/
Jasmine Guillory novels: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2149662/jasmine-guillory/
Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/577211/daisy-jones-and-the-six-tv-tie-in-edition-by-taylor-jenkins-reid/
The Daydreams by Laura Hankins: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/691125/the-daydreams-by-laura-hankin/
Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler
Subscribe and Listen!
Books Connect Us: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/books-connect-us/id1059532301
The Taste Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taste/id1393739959
Marlon and Jake Read Dead People: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marlon-and-jake-read-dead-people/id1492163935
Criminal Types: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/criminal-types/id1681638565
Happy Pride from Books Connect Us! In honor of Pride, today’s guest is Haley Jakobson, author of the astute and funny bi-sexual debut Old Enough, on sale June 6. Carolina chats with Haley about all things identity: finding ourselves while we’re still “hurtling towards the person we’re becoming,” utilizing language and harnessing stories to explore our many-faceted, intersectional selves, writing and using art and words to explore the stickier parts of reality.
You can find Haley at www.haleyjakobson.com Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @haleyjakobson
BOOKS MENTIONED IN TODAY'S EPISODE:
Old Enough by Haley Jakobson: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/719001/old-enough-by-haley-jakobson/
Marlena by Julie Buntin Yolk, Permanent Record and Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
Luster by Raven Leilani Sirens
Muses by Antonia Angress: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/690759/sirens-and-muses-by-antonia-angress/
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/690750/tomorrow-and-tomorrow-and-tomorrow-by-gabrielle-zevin/
Big Swiss by Jen Beagin
Carolina and Alyssa discuss their Summer Reading tips, tricks and favorites in this very special episode! Which Beach Reads are they excited about for Summer 2023? Find out!
Subscribe and Listen!
Books Connect Us: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/books-connect-us/id1059532301
The Taste Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taste/id1393739959
Marlon and Jake Read Dead People: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marlon-and-jake-read-dead-people/id1492163935
Criminal Types: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/criminal-types/id1681638565
On a very exciting episode of BOOKS CONNECT US, Carolina and Alyssa host their first Roundtable. Joined by Amanda Elliot (author of Sadie on a Plate and Best Served Hot) and Kosoko Jackson (author of I’m So Not Over You and Dash of Salt and Pepper), this roundtable’s theme is romance! We discuss: what it takes to craft romance -- from chemistry to characters, how the industry has grown to be more inclusive, and how author identity often plays out on the page. Stay tuned for the recap after!
You can find Amanda at www.amandapanitch.com Instagram and Twitter: @amandapanitch
You can find Kosoko at www.kosokojackson.com Instagram and Twitter: @kosokojackson
BOOKS (and authors) MENTIONED IN TODAYS EPISODE:
Books by Amanda: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2243903/amanda-elliot
Books by Kosoko: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2241956/kosoko-jackson/
Well Met by Jen DeLuca: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/606854/well-met-by-jen-deluca/
Beverly Jenkins
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Red, White and Royal Blue bu Casey McQuiston
Emily Henry: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/306512/emily-henry/
Rainbow High by Alex Sanchez Meredith Schorr Jean Meltzer
Rachel Lynn Solomon
Stone Cold Fox by Rachel Koller Croft: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/711068/stone-cold-fox-by-rachel-koller-croft/
EXe’s and O’s — Amy Lea — https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/673410/exes-and-os-by-amy-lea/
The Manor House Governess by CA Castle — https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/730683/the-manor-house-governess-by-c-a-castle/
The Neighbor Favor by Kristine Forest: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/708466/the-neighbor-favor-by-kristina-forest/
Subscribe and Listen!
Books Connect Us: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/books-connect-us/id1059532301
The Taste Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taste/id1393739959
Marlon and Jake Read Dead People: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marlon-and-jake-read-dead-people/id1492163935
Criminal Types: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/criminal-types/id1681638565
Today on the podcast, Carolina and Alyssa interview Chrissy King, author of THE BODY LIBERATION PROJECT, about the way our intersecting identities impact our body image, how and why body and beauty standards are rooted in racism and how we can overcome it all to liberate ourselves and bodies. Chrissy also tells us how she landed a book deal and how she cultivates her brand and platform.
You can find Chrissy at www.chrissyking.com | Instagram, TikTok and Twitter: @iamchrissyking
Books Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
The Body Liberation Project: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704696/the-body-liberation-project-by-chrissy-king/
Fearing the Black Body by Dr. Sabrina Strings Me and white Supremacy by Layla Saad
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/690750/tomorrow-and-tomorrow-and-tomorrow-by-gabrielle-zevin/
It’s Always Been Ours by Jessica Wilson
Books Connect Us: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/books-connect-us/id1059532301
The Taste Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taste/id1393739959
Marlon and Jake Read Dead People: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marlon-and-jake-read-dead-people/id1492163935
Striking and emotive, The Nursery documents the slow process of staggering back towards the simple pleasures of life and reentering the world after post-partum depression.
Sarah Thankam Mathews is a recipient of fellowships from the Asian American Writers’ Workshop and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and her work has been published in Best American Short Stories. ALL THIS COULD BE DIFFERENT is her electrifying novel of a young immigrant building a life for herself—a warm, dazzling, and profound saga of queer love, friendship, work, and precarity in twenty-first century America. Now let's join Penguin's own Carolina Meurkens in conversation with Sarah Thankam Mathews.
This week on BOOKS CONNECT US, we welcome Dani Shapiro, author of eleven books , most recently Signal Fires, which won the National Jewish Books Award and Inheritance, which was a New York Times Bestseller. Alyssa and Dani go deep, discussing the intersection of memory and imagination while writing, the importance of self-identity and ancestry in storytelling and the ways in which family — both biological and found — can inform our writing styles and choices.
You can find all of Dani’s books at DaniShapiro.com | Instagram: @daniwriter | Twitter: DaniJShapiro
Books mentioned in today’s episode: Inheritance by Dani Shapiro: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/554262/inheritance-by-dani-shapiro/
Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/706864/signal-fires-by-dani-shapiro/
In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/SLT/in-search-of-lost-time
Praying with Jane Eyre by Vanessa Zoltan: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/623433/praying-with-jane-eyre-by-vanessa-zoltan/
Fellowship point by Alice Elliot Dark Monogamy by Sue Miller
This episode, we welcome Lakiesha Carr and her Knopf editor, Maria Goldverg. Lakeisha is the author of AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SKIN, a profound and tender look at Black womanhood. Maria and Lakiesha discuss the intimacy required to write fiction, the importance of intergenerational connections, and the ways in which we insert ourselves into our art. You can find Lakeisha at www.lakieshacarr.com
Subscribe and follow for more author interviews and book-related content: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/books-connect-us/id1059532301
An Autobiography of Skin by Lakiesha Carr: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/696553/an-autobiography-of-skin-by-lakiesha-carr/
Books by Gayle Jones: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/61474/gayl-jones
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/117662/the-bluest-eye-by-toni-morrison/
Dolen Perkins-Valdez is the New York Times bestselling author of WENCH and BALM. Her new book TAKE MY HAND is inspired by true events that rocked the nation. It's a searing and compassionate new novel about a Black nurse in post-segregation Alabama who blows the whistle on a terrible injustice done to her patients.
In today’s episode, we talk to Eleanor Shearer, author of the gripping and beautiful RIVER SING ME HOME, which was a GMA Book Club Pick. Carolina chats with Eleanor about finding time for creative writing (especially within the confines of a day job), traveling to the Caribbean for her novel and unraveling the complicated tapestries of our identities, homes and families. Be sure to stick around for Carolina and Alyssa’s recap at the end.
Subscribe and follow for more author interviews and book-related content: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/books-connect-us/id1059532301
You can find Eleanor at https://www.eleanorshearer.com/ | Instagram: @eleanorbshearer | Twitter: @ellieshearer
Books In Today’s Show: River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/713326/river-sing-me-home-by-eleanor-shearer/
Augustown by Ken Miller: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/546645/augustown-by-kei-miller/
The Human Origins of Beatrice Potter and Other Essential Ghosts by Soraya Palmer: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/719646/the-human-origins-of-beatrice-porter-and-other-essential-ghosts-by-soraya-palmer/
Subscribe and follow for more author interviews and book-related content:
Books Connect Us: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/books-connect-us/id1059532301
The Taste Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taste/id1393739959
Marlon and Jake Read Dead People: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marlon-and-jake-read-dead-people/id1492163935
Today, we talk to NYT Bestselling and James Beard Award-winning author of The Korean Vegan Cookbook , Joanne Lee Molinaro. Alyssa chats with Joanne about representation, the writing and publishing process, family stories and how they seep into our writing, and much more! Be sure to stick around for Carolina and Alyssa’s recap at the end.
You can find Joanne at https://thekoreanvegan.com/
TikTok: @thekoreanvegan | Instagram @thekoreanvegan | Twitter @thekoreanvegan
Books In Today’s Show:
The Korean Vegan Cookbook by Joanne Lee Molinaro: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/609610/the-korean-vegan-cookbook-by-joanne-lee-molinaro/
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/300526/the-joy-luck-club-by-amy-tan/
BReD: Sourdough Loaves, Small Breads, and Other Plant-Based Baking
By Ed Tatton with Natasha Tatton: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704090/bred-by-ed-tatton-with-natasha-tatton/
Subscribe and follow for more author interviews and book-related content:
Books Connect Us:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/books-connect-us/id1059532301
The Taste Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taste/id1393739959
Marlon and Jake Read Dead People:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marlon-and-jake-read-dead-people/id1492163935
In today’s episode, get to know Alyssa Adler and Carolina Meurkens, the new hosts of BOOKS CONNECT US! We chat about what’s in store for the new season, how authors portray their origin stories and have fun laughing about what books inspired us growing up (and as adults). All new season of author interviews start Wednesday, April 5!
Books In Today’s Show:
Alyssa's Favorites:
Starring Sally J Freedman as Herself by Judy Blume: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/15148/starring-sally-j-freedman-as-herself-by-judy-blume/
Educated by Tara Westover: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/550168/educated-by-tara-westover/
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/576782/the-vanishing-half-by-brit-bennett/
Fleishman Is In Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/573460/fleishman-is-in-trouble-by-taffy-brodesser-akner/
Bras & Broomsticks by Sarah Mlynowski: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/115700/bras-and-broomsticks-by-sarah-mlynowski/
Carolina’s Favorites:
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/286551/tales-of-a-fourth-grade-nothing-by-judy-blume/
This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/289020/this-is-how-you-lose-her-by-junot-diaz/
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/289021/the-brief-wondrous-life-of-oscar-wao-by-junot-diaz/
All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/691034/all-this-could-be-different-by-sarah-thankam-mathews/
This brand new season of BOOKS CONNECT US will keep you connected with the authors and stories that inspire you, and bring you the inside scoop on “the story behind the story”. Join hosts Alyssa Adler and Carolina Meurkens in conversation with diverse authors, as they discuss how identity impacts writing, the inspiration behind their books, and how storytelling can change the world.
New episodes drop right here starting next Monday April 3rd!
The new book EMPIRELAND is an illuminating tour through the hidden legacies and modern realities of British empire that exposes how much of the present-day United Kingdom is actually rooted in its colonial past. In accessible, witty prose, award-winning journalist and best-selling author Sathnam Sanghera traces this legacy back to its source, exposing how—in both profound and innocuous ways—imperial domination has shaped the United Kingdom we know today. EMPIRELAND boldly makes the case that in order to understand America, we must first understand British imperialism. Now let's join author Sathnam Sanghera in conversation with his editor Lisa Lucas.
George R. R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including those of the acclaimed series A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, upon which the iconic HBO series GAME OF THRONES is based. FIRE & BLOOD is his thrilling history of the Targaryans, which is the inspiration for the new HBO series HOUSE OF THE DRAGON. On today's episode fellow author David Anthony Durham talks with George R.R. Martin about his legendary books, his thoughts on the full season of HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, and takes George through a game of Westeros-themed "Would You Rather."
George Saunders is the author of nine books, including the novel LINCOLN IN THE BARDO, which won the Man Booker Prize, and the brand-new short story collection LIBERATION DAY. On today's episode George is in conversation with Matt Rodbard, host of the popular food culture show THE TASTE PODCAST. They discussed Chicago pizza, Santa Cruz coffee, lunch in Texas oil fields, and food of the future. It's a fun, wide-ranging discussion. You can also subscribe to THE TASTE PODCAST right on this very platform. Now enjoy Matt Rodbard in conversation with the author George Saunders.
Sarah Thankam Mathews is a recipient of fellowships from the Asian American Writers’ Workshop and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and her work has been published in Best American Short Stories. ALL THIS COULD BE DIFFERENT is her electrifying novel of a young immigrant building a life for herself—a warm, dazzling, and profound saga of queer love, friendship, work, and precarity in twenty-first century America. Now let's join Penguin's own Carolina Meurkens in conversation with Sarah Thankam Mathews.
Clancy Martin is the acclaimed author of the novel HOW TO SELL, numerous books on philosophy, and the viral essay, “I’m Still Here.” He is the survivor of more than ten suicide attempts and a recovering alcoholic. His new book HOW NOT TO KILL YOURSELF is an intimate, insightful, at times even humorous exploration of why the thought of death is so compulsive for some while demonstrating that there’s always another solution. Now let's join editor Denise Oswald in conversation with author Clancy Martin.
Ali Hazelwood is the New York Times bestselling author of THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS, as well as the writer of peer-reviewed articles about brain science, in which no one makes out and the ever-after is not always happy. Her new romance novel LOVE ON THE BRAIN revolves around a scientist who is forced to work on a project with her nemesis—with explosive results.
Here's Erin Leafe, co-host of the romance podcast LEARNING THE TROPES, in conversation with author Ali Hazelwood.
Susan Elia MacNeal is the New York Times bestselling author of the MAGGIE HOPE mysteries. In her new thriller MOTHER DAUGHTER TRAITOR SPY, a mother and daughter find the courage to go undercover after stumbling upon a Nazi cell in Los Angeles during the early days of World War II. Inspired by the real mother-daughter spy duo who foiled Nazi plots, this is a powerful portrait of family, duty, deception, and what it means to have courage in the face of terror. Now let's join editor Jenny Chen in conversation with author Susan Elia MacNeal.
Laura Warrell's work has appeared in HuffPost, The Rumpus, and the Los Angeles Review of Books, among other publications. SWEET, SOFT, PLENTY RHYTHM is her provocative debut novel about the perennial temptations of dangerous love, told by the women who love Circus Palmer—trumpet player and old-school ladies’ man—as they ultimately discover the power of their own voices. Now let's join editor Deb Garrison in conversation with author Laura Warrell.
Laura Warrell's work has appeared in HuffPost, The Rumpus, and the Los Angeles Review of Books, among other publications. SWEET, SOFT, PLENTY RHYTHM is her provocative debut novel about the perennial temptations of dangerous love, told by the women who love Circus Palmer—trumpet player and old-school ladies’ man—as they ultimately discover the power of their own voices. Now let's join editor Deb Garrison in conversation with author Laura Warrell.
Laurie R. King is the award-winning, bestselling author of seventeen Mary Russell mysteries and many other novels. In the new novel BACK TO THE GARDEN, a fifty-year-old cold case involving California royalty comes back to life—with potentially fatal consequences. This gripping tale involves hidden secrets, serial killer The Highwayman, and an inspector with her work cut out for her. Now let's join editor Hilary Teeman in conversation with author Laurie R. King.
Ava Glass is a pseudonym for an internationally bestselling author who has sold over two and a half million copies worldwide. Ava's new novel ALIAS EMMA is a breakneck, race-against-the-clock thriller, in which a British spy has twelve hours to deliver her asset across London, after Russia hacks the city’s security cameras. Can she make it without being spotted . . . or killed? Now let's join editor Anne Speyer in conversation with author Ava Glass.
Gabrielle Zevin is the New York Times and internationally best-selling author of several critically acclaimed novels, including THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY and YOUNG JANE YOUNG. Her exhilarating new novel TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW is about two friends—often in love, but never lovers— who come together as creative partners in the world of video game design, where success brings them fame, joy, tragedy, duplicity, and a kind of immortality. Now let's join editor Jennifer Jackson in conversation with author Gabrielle Zevin.
As the legendary director of classic sitcoms such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, Will & Grace, Frasier, and Friends—and the co-creator of Cheers—James Burrows has spent five decades making America laugh. His new book DIRECTED BY JAMES BURROWS is an insightful and nostalgic memoir that offers a bounty of behind-the-scenes moments from our favorite shows, peeling away the layers behind how a successful sitcom comes together. In today's very special episode, Pat Stango talks to James about his experiences on these legendary shows, how Ted Danson was the perfect center of a cast, and what it was like the day Andy Kaufman's alter ego visited the set of Taxi. Now let's join author and TV icon James Burrows in conversation.
Grace Li is a Chinese American writer who is currently attending medical school at Stanford University. Her debut novel PORTRAIT OF A THIEF is a lush, lyrical heist novel inspired by the true story of Chinese art vanishing from Western museums. Described as "Ocean’s Eleven meets The Farewell", it's a story about diaspora, the colonization of art, and the complexity of the Chinese American identity. Now let's join the author in conversation with her editor Amber Oliver.
Cleyvis Natera was born in the Dominican Republic, migrated to the United States at ten years old, and grew up in New York City. Her exhilarating debut novel NERUDA ON THE PARK follows members of a Dominican family in New York City who take radically different paths when faced with encroaching gentrification. The book is a beautifully layered portrait of family, friendship, and ambition. Now let's join the author in conversation with her editor Chelcee Johns.
Vanessa Hua is a columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle and the author of the novel A RIVER OF STARS and a story collection, DECEIT AND OTHER POSSIBILITIES. Her new novel FORBIDDEN CITY is an epic yet intimate portrayal of one of the world’s most powerful and least understood leaders during an extraordinarily turbulent period in modern Chinese history. This harrowing journey toward truth and disillusionment raises questions about power, manipulation, and belief, as seen through the eyes of a passionate teenage girl. Now let's join Vanessa in conversation with her editor Susanna Porter.
Fiona Davis is the New York Times bestselling author of several novels, including THE DOLLHOUSE, THE ADDRESS, THE MASTERPIECE, and THE CHELSEA GIRLS. Her latest is THE MAGNOLIA PALACE, a tantalizing novel about the secrets, betrayal, and murder within one of New York City’s most impressive Gilded Age mansions. Today Fiona is in conversation with Xavier Salomon, the Deputy Director and Peter Jay Sharp Chief Curator at The Frick in New York City.
Heather McGhee is an expert in economic and social policy, and now chairs the board of Color of Change, the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. Her new book THE SUM OF US offers a powerful exploration of inequality and the lesson that generations of Americans have failed to learn: Racism has a cost for everyone—not just for people of color. But in unlikely places of worship and work, McGhee finds proof of what she calls the Solidarity Dividend: the benefits we gain when people come together across race to accomplish what we simply can’t do on our own. Now let's join Heather Mcghee in conversation with her editor Chris Jackson.
Adriana Trigiani is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty books, including THE SHOEMAKER'S WIFE. Among her screen credits, Trigiani wrote and directed the major motion picture adaptation of her debut novel, BIG STONE GAP. Her latest work is THE GOOD LEFT UNDONE, a lush, immersive novel about three generations of Tuscan artisans with one remarkable secret. Epic in scope and resplendent with the glorious themes of identity and belonging, THE GOOD LEFT UNDONE unfolds in breathtaking turns. Now let's join author Adriana Trigiani in conversation with her editor Maya Ziv.
Dr. Benjamin Gilmer is a former neurobiologist turned rural family practitioner, Dr. Gilmer has lectured across the country about medical ethics, rural health, and the intersection of medicine and criminal justice reform. His new book THE OTHER DR. GILMER is a powerful true story about a shocking crime and a mysterious illness that will forever change your notions of how we punish and how we heal—an expansion on one of the most popular This American Life episodes of all time. Now let's join Dr. Gilmer in conversation with his editor Emily Hartley about the mystery of what could make a caring doctor commit a brutal murder.
Kai Harris is a writer and educator from Detroit, Michigan, who uses her voice to uplift the Black community through realistic fiction centered on the Black experience. Her new book WHAT THE FIREFLIES KNEW is a coming-of-age novel told by an almost-eleven-year-old girl, as she and her sister try to make sense of their new life with their estranged grandfather in the wake of their father’s death and their mother’s disappearance. The story reveals that heartbreaking but necessary component of growing up–the realization that loved ones can be flawed. Now let's join Kai Harris in conversation with her editor Amber Oliver.
Sarah Polley is an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter, director, and actor whose films include AWAY FROM HER and TAKE THIS WALTZ. In her new essay collection RUN TOWARDS THE DANGER, Polley contemplates stories from her own life ranging from stage fright to high-risk childbirth to endangerment and more. In this extraordinary book, Polley explores what it is to live in one’s body, in a constant state of becoming, learning, and changing. Margaret Atwood is the author of more than fifty books of fiction, poetry, critical essays, and graphic novels. Her award-winning work includes THE HANDMAID'S TALE, CAT'S EYE, and ALIAS GRACE. In her new essay collection BURNING QUESTIONS, Atwood offers her funny, erudite, endlessly curious, and uncannily prescient take on everything from debt and tech to the climate crisis and freedom and the importance of how to define granola. Join us now for this fascinating conversation between authors Sarah Polley and Margaret Atwood.
Judd Apatow is one of the most important comic minds of his generation. He directed the films THE 40-YEAR OLD VIRGIN, KNOCKED UP, and TRAINWRECK. His producing credits include Superbad, Bridesmaids, Freaks and Geeks, and The Ben Stiller Show. He is the author of the interview collections SICK IN THE HEAD and SICKER IN THE HEAD, in which Apatow sits down with comedy legends such as David Letterman, Whoopi Goldberg, and Will Ferrell, as well as new stars such as John Mulaney, Bowen Yang, Amber Ruffin, Pete Davidson, and others. Let's join Pat Stango for a conversation with Judd Apatow that covers his career, his books, and his reflections on a life devoted to comedy.
Arthur C. Brooks is the author of the instant bestseller FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH, which is a roadmap for finding purpose, meaning, and success as we age. Drawing on social science, philosophy, biography, theology, and eastern wisdom—as well as dozens of interviews with everyday men and women—Brooks shows us that true life success is well within our reach. Gretchen Rubin is the author of many books, including the blockbusters OUTER ORDER, INNER CALM; THE FOUR TENDENCIES; and THE HAPPINESS PROJECT. In this special episode, Arthur C. Brooks and Gretchen Rubin have an in-depth conversation about aging, productivity, and how to set yourself up for happiness throughout life.
Diana Gabaldon is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the wildly popular OUTLANDER novels, the basis for the hit Starz series. In her latest novel GO TELL THE BEES THAT I AM GONE the year is 1779, and Claire and Jamie are at last reunited with their daughter Brianna—but the American Revolution threatens to tear them apart. On today’s episode, Diana Gabaldon talks with ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY’s Maureen Lee Lenker about her career, her writing process, and all things Outlander.
As the global pandemic began in March 2020, Todd Doughty knew he needed to do something to help him stay connected to the everyday joys of daily life. So he wrote down a list of things that make him happy. LITTLE PIECES OF HOPE pulls together the best of Doughty’s lists along with essays, musings, prompts, quotes, and playlists that offer solace, connection, and a daily touchstone of joy in a difficult world. A beautiful keepsake full of gorgeous illustrations, LITTLE PIECES OF HOPE is brimming with the pleasures of life, inspiring readers to look for and celebrate the good things that surround us. Now let's join author Todd Doughty in conversation with his editor Meg Leder.
Adam J. Kurtz is a designer, artist, and speaker. His previous books, PICK ME UP and THINGS ARE WHAT YOU MAKE OF THEM, have been published in more than a dozen languages. His latest book YOU ARE HERE FOR NOW is an honest and relatable guide to figuring out where you’re headed—and feeling okay in the meantime. This candid collection of essays and artwork is full of reflections, encouragement, and insights on the theme of personal transformation—realistic perspectives to help you move from “staying alive” to nurturing and celebrating the person you know you really are. Now let's join Adam in conversation with his friend and editor Marian Lizzi.
Jeffrey Kluger is editor at large for Time magazine and the author or coauthor of twelve books, including APOLLO 13. He has written more than forty cover stories for Time on topics ranging from space to human behavior to climate to medicine. He consulted on and appeared in the Tom Hanks movie APOLLO 13. His new novel HOLDOUT is a thrilling tale about what happens when evil forces are going unchecked on Earth, and a principled astronaut makes a spilt-second decision to seek justice in the only place she knows how—the International Space Station. Now let's join editor Stephen Morrow in conversation with author Jeffrey Kluger.
David Bell is the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of novels such as THE REQUEST, LAYOVER, and SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER. In his latest thriller KILL ALL YOUR DARLINGS, a student disappears and is presumed dead, and her professor passes off her manuscript as his own—only to find out it implicates him in an unsolved murder. This is a suspenseful, provocative novel about the sexual harassment that still runs rampant in academia—and the lengths those in power will go to cover it up. Now let's join editor Danielle Perez in conversation with author David Bell.
Zibby Owens is the creator and host of the award-winning podcast Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books. Zibby, named “NYC’s Most Powerful Book-fluencer” by New York Magazine’s Vulture, conducts warm, inquisitive conversations with authors, making her show a top literary podcast as selected by Oprah.com in 2019 and 2020. In her quarantine anthology MOMS DON'T HAVE TIME TO, Zibby has compiled beautiful, original essays by dozens of bestselling and acclaimed authors speaking to the ever-increasing demands on our time. Now let's join Pat Stango in conversation with podcaster and author Zibby Owens.
EMMA BRODIE has worked in book publishing for a decade, most recently as an executive editor at Little, Brown’s Voracious imprint. Her debut novel SONGS IN URSA MAJOR is a transporting love story of music, stardom, heartbreak, and a gifted young singer-songwriter who must find her own voice. The book pulses with romantic longing and asks the question so many female artists must face: What are we willing to sacrifice for our dreams? Now let's join book editor Jennifer Jackson in conversation with author Emma Brodie.
Patrick Radden Keefe is the author of the New York Times bestseller SAY NOTHING which received the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, and was selected as one of the ten best books of 2019 by The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, and others. His latest book EMPIRE OF PAIN is a grand, devastating portrait of three generations of the Sackler family, famed for their philanthropy, whose fortune was built by Valium and whose reputation was destroyed by OxyContin. It is a portrait of the excesses of America’s second Gilded Age and a relentless investigation of the naked greed and indifference to human suffering that built one of the world’s great fortunes. Now let's join Amy Brinker in conversation with author Patrick Radden Keefe.
MY TIME WILL COME is the inspiring story of activist and poet Ian Manuel, who at the age of fourteen was sentenced to life in prison. He survived eighteen years in solitary confinement—through his own determination and dedication to art—until he was freed as part of an incredible crusade by the Equal Justice Initiative. Full of unexpected twists and turns as it describes a struggle for redemption, MY TIME WILL COME shows the human capacity to transcend adversity through determination and art. Now let's join editor Erroll McDonald in conversation with author Ian Manuel.
Elizabeth Letts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE EIGHTY-DOLLAR CHAMPION and THE PERFECT HORSE. Her latest book THE RIDE OF HER LIFE tells the triumphant true story of a woman who rode her horse across America in the 1950s, fulfilling her dying wish to see the Pacific Ocean. In a decade when car ownership nearly tripled, when television’s influence was expanding fast, when homeowners began locking their doors, Annie and her four-footed companions inspired an outpouring of neighborliness in a rapidly changing world. Now let's join Elizabeth Letts in conversation with fellow author Melanie Benjamin.
The New York Times has called Paul Rudnick “one of our preeminent humorists.” As a screenwriter and playwright his work ranges from ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES to JEFFREY, and his books include SOCIAL DISEASE and I'LL TAKE IT. His latest novel is PLAYING THE PALACE, a hilarious romantic comedy about a lonely American event planner who starts dating the gay Prince of Wales, and the royal uproar that ensues. It’s a match made on Valentine’s Day and in tabloid heaven. Now let's join Erin Leafe, and author Paul Rudnick in conversation.
Andy Weir is the author of the best-selling novels ARTEMIS and THE MARTIAN, upon which the blockbuster Matt Damon film was based. In his latest novel PROJECT HAIL MARY, the protagonist is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the Earth itself will perish. Except that right now, he can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it. Now let's join our own Abbe Wright in conversation with Andy Weir.
Laura Hankin is a comedian, musician, and author of HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT. Her latest novel is A SPECIAL PLACE FOR WOMEN, which takes a comedic look at an exclusive, women-only social club where the elite tastemakers of NYC meet. The deeper our protagonist gets into this new world—where billionaire “girlbosses” mingle with occult-obsessed Bohemians—the more she learns that bad things happen to those who dare to question the club’s motives—or giggle at its outlandish rituals. Now let's join Pat Stango in conversation with Laura Hankin.
Lorenzo Carcaterra is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of SLEEPERS and a former writer/producer for Law & Order. In his new memoir THREE DREAMERS Lorenzo offers a heartfelt homage to the women who taught him courage, kindness, and the power of storytelling: his mother, his grandmother, and his late wife. Let's join editor Anne Speyer in conversation with author Lorenzo Carcaterra.
Michelle Zauner is best known as a singer and guitarist who creates dreamy, shoegaze-inspired indie pop under the name Japanese Breakfast. CRYING IN H MART is her unflinching, powerful memoir about growing up Korean American, losing her mother, and forging her own identity. Vivacious and plainspoken, lyrical and honest, Zauner’s voice is as radiantly alive on the page as it is onstage. Now let's join editor Jordan Pavlin in conversation with Michelle Zauner.
Jesse Q Sutanto grew up shuttling back and forth between Indonesia, Singapore, and Oxford, and considers all three places her home. When she’s not writing, she’s gaming with her husband, or making a mess in the kitchen with her two daughters. Her new romantic comedy novel DIAL A FOR AUNTIES asks the question: What happens when you mix one accidental murder with two-thousand wedding guests, and then toss in a possible curse on three generations of an immigrant Chinese-Indonesian family? You get 4 meddling Asian aunties coming to the rescue! Now let's join Penguin editor Cindy Hwang in conversation with author Jesse Sutanto.
Joshua Chaplinsky is the author on KANYE WEST: REANIMATOR and the short story collection WHISPERS IN THE EAR OF A DREAMING APE. His new novel THE PARADOX TWINS features estranged twin brothers who reunite at their father’s funeral to discover they no longer look alike. The result is an experimental, sci-fi ghost story about the scariest, most unknowable quantity there is—family. Let's join Clayton Gumbert in conversation with Joshua Chaplinsky.
Rebecca Makkai is the Chicago-based author of the novels THE HUNDRED-YEAR HOUSE and THE BORROWER. Her latest book THE GREAT BELIEVERS is a dazzling novel of friendship and redemption in the face of tragedy and loss, set in 1980s Chicago and contemporary Paris. It was a Pulitzer Prize Finalist and a New York Times Top Ten Book of the Year. Now let's join our own Abbe Wright in conversation with author Rebecca Makkai.
Firoozeh Dumas is the acclaimed author of FUNNY IN FARSI, which was a finalist for the Thurber Prize for American Humor. In her memoir LAUGHING WITHOUT AN ACCENT she shares stories both tender and humorous on being a citizen of the world, on her well-meaning family, and on amusing cultural conundrums. Malaka Gharib is an artist, journalist, and writer. Her graphic memoir I WAS THEIR AMERICAN DREAM is at once a coming-of-age story and a reminder of the thousands of immigrants who come to America in search for a better life for themselves and their children. Now let's join these two authors in conversation with one another.
Melanie Benjamin is the New York Times bestselling author of THE AVIATOR'S WIFE, AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MRS. TOM THUMB, and ALICE I HAVE BEEN. Her latest novel THE CHILDREN'S BLIZZARD is a story of courage on the prairie, inspired by the devastating storm that struck the Great Plains in 1888, threatening the lives of hundreds of immigrant homesteaders, especially schoolchildren. This is a story of courage, of children forced to grow up too soon, tied to the land because of their parents’ choices. Now let's join Abbe Wright in conversation with author Melanie Benjamin.
Jen Spyra is a comedy writer and performer who has worked as a staff writer on THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT and headed the video department for THE ONION. In her uproarious short story collection BIG TIME, Jen takes a culture that seems almost beyond parody and holds it up to a funhouse mirror, immersing the reader in a world of prehistoric influencers, woodland creatures plagued by millennial neuroses, and an all-out birthday bash determined to be the most lavish celebration of all time, by any means necessary. Now let's join Pat Stango in conversation with author Jen Spyra.
Don Bentley spent a decade as an Army Apache helicopter pilot, and while deployed in Afghanistan was awarded the Bronze Star and the Air Medal with “V” device for valor. He is the author of novels such as THE OUTSIDE MAN and WITHOUT SANCTION, and the new Jack Ryan Jr. thriller TOM CLANCY TARGET ACQUIRED. In the book Jack helps a woman and her young son, and finds himself the target of trained killers. Alone and outgunned, Jack will have to use his skills to protect the life of a child.
In THE OUTSIDE MAN the fight for freedom has sent Matt Drake to some of the world’s most dangerous spots. This time the war is coming to his front door.
Now let's join editor Tom Colgan in conversation with author Don Bentley.
Charles Yu has been nominated for two Writers Guild of America Awards for his work on the HBO series, WESTWORLD. He is also the author of four books, including INTERIOR CHINATOWN, winner of the 2020 National Book Award. INTERIOR CHINATOWN is a deeply personal novel about race, pop culture, immigration, assimilation, and escaping the roles we are forced to play. Now let's join Amy Brinker in conversation with Charles Yu.
Karen McManus is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of ONE OF US IS LYING, and its sequel ONE OF US IS NEXT. In her novel THE COUSINS, a rich and mysterious grandmother reveals a family's dark secrets. Now let's join Abbe Wright in conversation with author Karen McManus as part of the READ IT FORWARD BOOK CLUB.
Check out the new book club journal from Read It Forward! BOOK CLUB: A JOURNAL acknowledges the wide range of interests and reading habits within book clubs, with recommendations organized in a way to help readers discover new voices from all kinds of backgrounds. Never again will you have to search far and wide to find your next great read!
Dr. Edward Hallowell is a board-certified child and adult psychiatrist, a world-renowned keynote speaker, and the New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty books, including DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION, which sparked a revolution in our understanding of ADHD. he is now the co-author of the new book ADHD 2.0, which draws on the latest science to provide both parents and adults with ADHD a plan for minimizing the downside and maximizing the benefits of ADHD at any age. On this episode book editor Marnie Cochran talks to Dr. Hallowell about the book, and new strategies and lifestyle hacks for thriving with ADHD.
Catherine Cohen is a comedy sensation who hosts the very popular podcast Seek Treatment. She has been featured in The New York Times and Vogue, and has appeared in the Netflix film The Lovebirds and HBO's High Maintenance. She is now the author of the comedic poetry collection GOD I FEEL MODERN TONIGHT. A Dorothy Parker for our time, a Starbucks philosopher with no primary-care doctor, Catherine will say all the outrageous things we think but never say out loud ourselves. Join our own Pat Stango as he talks to Catherine about comedy, dating, and the misery of podcasting.
Lisa Scottoline is the New York Times-bestselling author and Edgar Award-winning author of thirty-two novels. Her latest, ETERNAL, is a sweeping and shattering epic of historical fiction fueled by shocking true events— the tale of a love triangle that unfolds in the heart of Rome. Lisa has also co-authored nine best-selling essay collections with her daughter Francesca Serritella, who has just released her debut novel GHOSTS OF HARVARD, which has been described as part mystery, part ghost story, part psychological thriller. Today this mother-daughter author team have a fun discussion about their books and whether writing runs in the family.
BOOKS CONNECT US is going on a little break. But we'll be back later in January with all new episodes. We're lining up lots of great authors for Season 2 of the podcast, and we look forward to connecting with you then. Take care, and we'll be back soon! Happy Holidays!
Stefanie Caponi (she/her) is an intuitive writer and illustrator. She has been reading tarot for more than 20 years and established her business as a professional tarot reader after creating her first tarot deck, The Moon Void Tarot. Her new book GUIDED TAROT is an essential guide to reading tarot cards seamlessly–with confidence and ease. Each of us holds gifts deep within and, with tarot, we have the power to unlock those gifts and make transformative discoveries. Now let's join Pat Stango and author Stefanie Caponi as they discuss her book and the world of tarot.
Alicia Garza is an organizer, political strategist, and cheeseburger enthusiast. She is the principal at the Black Futures Lab, and co-creator of #BlackLivesMatter and the Black Lives Matter Global Network. Her book THE PURPOSE OF POWER is an essential guide to building transformative movements to address the challenges of our time. This is the story of one woman’s lessons through years of bringing people together to create change. Now let's join Taylor Noel in conversation with author Alicia Garza.
On today's show we have a conversation between authors Vincent Toro and Willie Perdomo. Vincent Toro’s new poetry collection TERTULIA examines immigration, economics, colonialism and race via the sublime imagery of music, visual art, and history. Willie Perdomo is a prize-winning poet, whose new collection THE CRAZY BUNCH chronicles a weekend in the life of a group of friends coming of age in East Harlem at the dawn of the hip-hop era. Now let's join these authors as they discuss their backgrounds, inspirations, and the power of poetry.
Gabriela Herstik is the author of INNER WITCH and BEWITCHING THE ELEMENTS. In her new inspirational journal and spellbook EMBODY YOUR MAGICK will help readers embrace their inner witch, no matter where they are on their spiritual journey. The book offers up powerful meditations and rituals, space for notes and spells, and information on lunar practices, color magick, sacred herbs, tarot suits, and more. Now let's join Penguin Senior Editor Nina Shield in conversation with author Gabriela Herstik.
Toni Jensen teaches in the MFA programs at the University of Arkansas and the Institute of American Indian Arts, and she is a 2020 recipient of a Creative Writing Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Her new book CARRY is a powerful, poetic memoir about what it means to exist as an Indigenous woman in America, told in snapshots of the author’s encounters with gun violence. In CARRY, Jensen maps her personal experience onto the historical, exploring how history is lived in the body and redefining the language we use to speak about violence in America. Now let's join Taylor Noel in conversation with author Toni Jensen.
Sophie Kinsella is the author of the bestselling SHOPAHOLIC series as well as the novels CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET, THE UNDOMESTIC GODDESS, and many more. Her latest is LOVE YOUR LIFE, an utterly delightful novel about a woman who ditches her dating app for a writer’s retreat in Italy—only to find that real love comes with its own filters. Let's join Madison Dettlinger in conversation with author Sophie Kinsella.
Andrew Child is the author of thrillers such as TOO CLOSE TO HOME and INVISIBLE. Andrew is now embarking on his highest profile work yet, teaming up with his brother Lee Child to co-write the newest entry in the incredibly popular Jack Reacher series, entitled THE SENTINEL. In THE SENTINEL, Jack Reacher finds himself battling bad guys in the murderous world of cybercrime. Let's join Pat Stango as he talks to Andrew Child about working with his world famous older brother, and what it's like to write one of literature's most enduring heroes.
Trung Le Nguyen, also known as Trungles, is a comic book artist and illustrator working out of Minnesota. He is particularly fond of fairy tales, kids’ cartoons, and rom-coms of all stripes. His debut graphic novel THE MAGIC FISH is a beautifully illustrated story that follows a young boy as he tries to navigate life through fairytales, and shows us how we are all connected. Now let's join Caitlin Whalen in conversation with Trung Le Nguyen.
Kali Fajardo-Anstine is a National Book Award Finalist and the author of SABRINA & CORINA, a moving narrative of unrelenting feminine power and an exploration of the universal experiences of abandonment, heritage, and an eternal sense of home. This magnetic story collection breathes life into her Latina characters of indigenous ancestry and the land they inhabit in the American West. Now let's join Taylor Noel in conversation with Kali Fajardo-Anstine.
Born in Peru and raised in Chile, Isabel Allende is the author of a number of bestselling and critically acclaimed books, including THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS, OF LOVE AND SHADOWS, EVA LUNA, and IN THE MIDST OF WINTER. Her books have been translated into more than forty-two languages and have sold more than seventy-four million copies worldwide. Her latest is A LONG PETAL OF THE SEA, an epic novel spanning decades and crossing continents follows two young people as they flee the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War in search of a place to call home. Now let's join literary agent Johanna Castillo and Random House Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Hershey in conversation with author Isabel Allende.
As a screenwriter, Natasha Diaz has been a quarterfinalist in the Austin Film Festival and a finalist for both the NALIP Diverse Women in Media Fellowship and the Sundance Episodic Story Lab. Her personal essays have been published in the Establishment and the Huffington Post. COLOR ME IN is her powerful debut coming-of-age novel about the meaning of friendship, the joyful beginnings of romance, and the racism and religious intolerance that can both strain a family to the breaking point and strengthen its bonds. Let's join Caitlin Whalen in conversation with author Natasha Diaz.
Jose Pimienta was raised in Mexicali, Baja California, and now resides in Los Angeles, CA where he works on comics and storyboards for animation and film. SUNCATCHER is his debut author/illustrator graphic novel. A story filled with music, passion, supernatural secrets, and family, SUNCATCHER brings to life a contemporary story of life in Mexicali with a supernatural twist and a lot of music. Now let's join Senior Editor Whitney Leopard in conversation with Jose Pimienta.
Karen McManus is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of ONE OF US IS LYING, its sequel ONE OF US IS NEXT, and TWO CAN KEEP A SECRET. In her new novel THE COUSINS, estranged family members travel to an island to meet their rich and reclusive grandmother. The longer they stay, the more they realize how mysterious–and dark–their family’s past is. Now let's join Caitlin Whalen in conversation with author Karen McManus.
The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry is the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, and the first African-American to lead the denomination. A noted advocate for human rights and author of several books, Bishop Curry is recognized as one of the most popular preachers in the English language. In his latest book LOVE IS THE WAY, Bishop Curry leads readers to discover the gifts they need in order to live the way of love: deep reservoirs of hope and resilience, simple wisdom, the discipline of nonviolence, and unshakable regard for human dignity. Now let's join Penguin's Senior Editor Nina Shield in conversation with Bishop Michael Curry.
Ambi Kavanagh is a Reiki master, astrologer, sound healer, life coach, and host of the podcast "Alchemy with Ambi." With a unique focus on using astrological cycles and the seasons as a form of coaching, she considers herself a modern-day alchemist who serves as a catalyst for positive change in people’s lives. Her book CHAKRAS AND SELF-CARE is an inspiring journey through the energetic centers of the body with meditation, rituals, and daily self-care. Now let's join Pat Stango in conversation with author Ambi Kavanagh.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed speculative novels GODS OF JADE AND SHADOW, and the crime novel UNTAMED SHORE. Her new novel MEXICAN GOTHIC is a terrifying twist on classic gothic horror set in glamorous 1950s Mexico. Now let's join Tricia Narwani, the editorial director at Del Rey, in conversation with author Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
Brit Bennett is the author of the New York Times best seller THE MOTHERS. Her latest work is THE VANISHING HALF, a stunning new novel about twin sisters, inseparable as children, who ultimately choose to live in two very different worlds—one black and one white. Weaving together multiple strands and generations of this family, Brit Bennett produces a story that is at once riveting, emotional, and a brilliant exploration of the American history of passing. Let's now join Riverhead Marketing Director Ashley Sutton in conversation with author Brit Bennett.
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Janice Kaplan is the author or coauthor of fourteen books, including the New York Times bestsellers THE GRATITUDE DIARIES and I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN. In her latest book THE GENIUS OF WOMEN, Janice asks the question why do 90 percent of Americans believe that geniuses are almost always men? She explores the powerful forces that have rigged the system—and celebrates the women geniuses, past and present, who have triumphed anyway. Now let's join author Janice Kaplan in conversation with her editor Jill Schwartzman.
Wendy Benchley is a marine and environmental conservation advocate, and former councilwoman from New Jersey. Her husband Peter Benchley was the famed author of JAWS, the classic suspense novel of shark versus man, which was made into the blockbuster Steven Spielberg movie. The Jaws phenomenon changed popular culture and continues to inspire a growing interest in sharks and the oceans today. Today Wendy Benchley joins our producer Pat Stango to discuss the legacy of JAWS, how its story still resonates in the events of today, and why ocean conservation is something she still fights for.
Rory Power is the New York Times best-selling author of WILDER GIRLS. In her latest thriller BURN YOUR BODIES DOWN, a young woman is haunted by her family's past. The book has been called a deliriously creepy tale that will keep your nightmares up at night. Now let's join our own Caitlin Whalen in conversation with author Rory Power.
Kate Reed Petty is an essayist, filmmaker, and co-author of the middle-grade graphic novel CHASMA KNIGHTS. Her debut novel TRUE STORY is part psychological thriller, part fever dream, and part timely comment on sexual assault, power, and the very nature of truth. Ingeniously constructed and full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the final pages, it marks the debut of a singular and daring new voice in fiction. Now let's join author Kate Reed Petty in conversation with her editor Lindsey Schwoeri.
Dr. Gina Senarighi is an author, teacher, sexuality counselor, and certified relationship coach. She’s been supporting clean fights and dirty sex in happy, healthy relationships as an educator, coach, consultant, and couples therapist for over 10 years. In LOVE MORE, FIGHT LESS she has authored a relationship workbook for couples who want to learn new skills and build a solid foundation for working through conflicts, and move forward in ways that strengthen their bonds. Let's join our producer Pat Stango in conversation with Dr. Gina Senarighi.
Born in Trinidad, Ingrid Persaud won the Commonwealth Short Story Prize in 2017 and the BBC Short Story Award in 2018. Her new novel LOVE AFTER LOVE has been praised as a Best Book of the Summer by Time, The Guardian, Goop, and Lithub. In vibrant, addictive Trinidadian prose, LOVE AFTER LOVE questions who and how we love, the obligations of family, and the consequences of choices made in desperation. Let's join One World editor Nicole Counts in conversation with author Ingrid Persaud.
Riley Sager’s first novel, Final Girls, was a national and international bestseller that has been published in more than two dozen countries. In his latest novel HOME BEFORE DARK, a woman returns to the house made famous by her father’s bestselling horror memoir. Is the place really haunted by evil forces, as her father claimed? Or are there more earthbound—and dangerous—secrets hidden within its walls? Let's join Penguin editor Maya Ziv in conversation with author Riley Sager
Rob Hart has worked as a book publisher, political reporter, and author of the ASH MCKENNA crime series. His acclaimed novel THE WAREHOUSE is a near-future thriller set in a giant tech company, and shows what happens when Big Brother meets Big Business–and who will pay the ultimate price. Today Rob is in conversation with fellow author Alex Segura, who wrote the new Star Wars book POE DAMERON: FREE FALL. Join Alex Segura and Rob Hart as they discuss, among other things, just how close we might be to the dystopia of THE WAREHOUSE.
The youngest of her parents’ combined twenty-one children, Sarah Frey grew up on a struggling farm in southern Illinois, dreaming of running away to the big city. But at only seventeen, when the family farm faced inevitable foreclosure, Frey took over the farm and created her own produce company. Today, her family-operated company Frey Farms has become one of America’s largest fresh produce growers and shippers, with farmland spread across seven states. Her new book THE GROWING SEASON tells the inspiring story of how a scrappy rural childhood gave Frey the grit and resiliency to take risks that paid off in unexpected ways. Let's join author Sarah Frey in conversation with her editor Susanna Porter.
Jennie Fields is the author of THE AGE OF DESIRE and her latest novel ATOMIC LOVE. Delia Owens, author of WHERE THE CRAWDADS LIVE, raves that ATOMIC LOVE is "Riveting. A highly-charged love story that reveals the dangerous energy at the heart of every real connection." Let's join Putnam Executive Editor Tara Carlson in conversation with author Jennie Fields.
Diksha Basu is the author of THE WINDFALL and her latest novel DESTINATION WEDDING. Infused with warmth and charm, DESTINATION WEDDING grapples with the nuances of family, careers, belonging, and how we find the people who make a place feel like home. Terry McMillan raves that DESTINATION WEDDING is "A witty and romantic novel perfect for all readers." Now let's join Random House's Taylor Noel in conversation with author Diksha Basu.
Kathleen Rooney is the author of the novel LILLIAN BOXFISH TAKES A WALK, and is a founding editor of Rose Metal Press and a founding member of Poems While You Wait. Her latest novel CHER AMI AND MAJOR WHITTLESEY, which Booklist raves is "Imaginative and audacious. A celebration of animal intelligence, and tribute to altruism and courage." Let's join Penguin editor Margaux Weisman in conversation with author Kathleen Rooney.
Karen Dionne is the USA Today and #1 internationally bestselling author of the award-winning psychological suspense novel THE MARSH KING'S DAUGHTER. Her latest is THE WICKED SISTER, a startling novel of psychological suspense as two generations of sisters try to unravel their tangled relationships between nature and nurture, guilt and betrayal, love and evil. On today's episode, Putnam's Executive Editor Mark Tavani converses with author Karen Dionne about her latest book and her writing process.
Kim Johnson held leadership positions in social justice organizations as a teen. She’s now a college administrator who maintains civic engagement throughout the community while also mentoring Black student activists and leaders. Her debut novel THIS IS MY AMERICA explores racial injustice against innocent Black men who are criminally sentenced, and the families left behind to pick up the pieces. Nic Stone, bestselling author of DEAR MARTIN, raves that THIS IS MY AMERICA is "incredible and searing." Now let's join our own Caitlin Whalen in conversation with author Kim Johnson.
Lindsey Daly is a middle school social studies teacher and the author of WOULD YOU RATHER?, which is a book that allows children to confront philosophical questions such as "Would you rather kiss a fish swimming in a radioactive pond, or roll down a hill hugging a porcupine?" On today's very special episode, our producer Pat Stango talks to Lindsey about how she created the book, and together they play through some of the most intriguing WOULD YOU RATHER scenarios. This one gets very weird. Enjoy!
Christine Feehan is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Carpathian series, the GhostWalker series, the Leopard series, the Shadow Riders series, and the Sea Haven novels, including the Drake Sisters series and the Sisters of the Heart series. Her latest book DESOLATION ROAD is a thrilling romance novel set within a motorcycle club, and in her upcoming passionate novel DARK SONG two Carpathians find hope in the bond that ties their souls. Let's join Berkley's Editorial Director Cindy Hwang in conversation with author Christine Feehan.
Wes Moore is the CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, one of the largest antipoverty organizations in the country. He is the author of the bestsellers THE OTHER WES MOORE and THE WORK, and his latest book FIVE DAYS is an illuminating portrait of Baltimore in the aftermath of the death of Freddie Gray. This account of five days in the life of a city on the edge is told through eight characters on the front lines of the uprising that overtook Baltimore and riveted the world. Now let's join Chris Jackson, the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of One World, in conversation with author Wes Moore.
Kate Stayman-London is a novelist, screenwriter, and political strategist. She served as lead digital writer for Hillary Rodham Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and has written for notable figures ranging from President Obama to Cher. In her delightful, razor-sharp debut novel ONE TO WATCH, a plus-size bachelorette brings a fresh look to a reality dating show. Let's join editor Emma Caruso in conversation with author Kate Stayman-London.
Josh Malerman is a New York Times bestselling author and one of two singer/ songwriters for the rock band The High Strung. His debut novel, BIRDBOX, is the inspiration for the hit Netflix film starring Sandra Bullock. His latest MALORIE is a thrilling sequel to BIRDBOX, in which our hero has a harrowing choice to make: to live by the rules of survival that have served her so well, or to venture into the darkness and reach for hope once more. Now let's join editor Tricia Narwani in conversation with author Josh Malerman.
This interview appears courtesy of our sister podcast DEL REYDIO. If you're a fan of sci-fi/fantasy, please check out DEL REYDIO.
On this special episode we're celebrating poetry with an all-star panel. Enjoy readings from Fatimah Asghar (author of IF THEY COME FOR US), Billy Collins (author of WHALE DAY), Olivia Gatwood (author of LIFE OF THE PARTY), Nate Marshall (author of FINNA), Jana Prikryl (author of NO MATTER), Jenny Zhang (author of SOUR HEART), and moderator Samantha Leach, who is the Culture Editor at Bustle. This event was produced by Random House and Bustle for National Poetry Month. And now please enjoy an episode filled with some of our favorite poets.
Megha Majumdar was born and raised in Kolkata, India, and moved to the United States to attend college at Harvard University, where she was a Traub Scholar. In her debut novel A BURNING she writes with dazzling assurance at a breakneck pace on complex themes such as class, fate, corruption, justice, and what it feels like to face profound obstacles and yet nurture big dreams in a country spinning toward extremism. Let's join Megha Majumdar in conversation with her editor Jordan Pavlin.
Today's guest is Simran Jeet Singh, author of FAUJA SINGH KEEPS GOING. This beautifully illustrated picture book tells the true story of Fauja Singh, who broke world records to become the first one hundred-year-old to run a marathon. The book shares valuable lessons on the source of his grit, determination to overcome obstacles, and commitment to positive representation of the Sikh community. Now let's join Namrata Tripathi, the VP and Publisher of Kokila, in conversation with author Simran Jeet Singh.
Today's guest is Andrea Bartz, a Brooklyn-based journalist and author of the suspense thrillers THE LOST NIGHT and THE HERD. Oprah Magazine raves that “Andrea Bartz breathes new life into the psychological thriller by setting her novels in bitingly modern settings. Her first book, THE LOST NIGHT, is set in Williamsburg’s party scene. THE HERD is a biting satire of a women’s workspace like the Wing, and the darkness that may lurk behind that perfectly coiffed sitting room.” Let's join Random House's Taylor Noel in conversation with author Andrea Bartz.
Today's guest is Ruth Reichl, the bestselling author of MY KITCHEN YEAR, DELICIOUS, and her latest memoir SAVE ME THE PLUMS which chronicles her groundbreaking tenure as editor in chief of Gourmet. Complete with recipes, SAVE ME THE PLUMS is a personal journey of a woman coming to terms with being in charge and making a mark, following a passion and holding on to her dreams—even when she ends up in a place she never expected to be.
Now let's join Random House's Taylor Noel in conversation with author Ruth Reichl.
SAVE ME THE PLUMS:
“Poignant and hilarious . . . simply delicious . . . Each serving of magazine folklore is worth savoring. In fact, Reichl’s story is juicier than a Peter Luger porterhouse. Dig in.”—The New York Times Book Review
“In this smart, touching, and dishy memoir . . . Ruth Reichl recalls her years at the helm of Gourmet magazine with clear eyes, a sense of humor, and some very appealing recipes.”—Town & Country
“If you haven’t picked up food writing queen Ruth Reichl’s new book, Save Me the Plums, I highly recommend you fix that problem. . . . Reichl is in top form and ready to dish, with every chapter seeming like a dedicated behind-the-scenes documentary on its own.”—Soleil Ho, San Francisco Chronicle
Today's guest is Lauren Ho, author of the debut novel LAST TANG STANDING. This funny romance has been described as CRAZY RICH ASIANS meets BRIDGET JONES' DIARY, and is about the pursuit of happiness, surviving one’s thirties intact, and opening oneself up to love. This story asks the question: In the endless tug-of-war between pleasing others and pleasing herself, is there room for everyone to win? In this interview which also aired on the romance novel podcast LEARNING THE TROPES, Erin Leafe talks to Lauren Ho about her life, her writing, and everything romance.
Today we have a conversation between authors J. Kelly Hoey and Maxie McCoy. J. KELLY HOEY is a writer, investor, connector, networking expert, and author of the book BUILD YOUR DREAM NETWORK. In both the book and her podcast of the same name, Hoey presents innovative strategies for forming strong relationships—the genuine, mutually beneficial, long-lasting kind—using all of the social tools at your disposal.
Maxie McCoy is a writer and speaker obsessed with giving women the tools they need to believe in themselves. Her book YOU'RE NOT LOST is the manifesto for a generation of women who don’t have the self-confidence to trust their instincts and go for it.
Let's join J. Kelly Hoey and Maxie McCoy as they discuss networking, business, and just how to maximize your own potential.
On today's show we have a conversation between Matthew Riemer and Leighton Brown, authors of WE ARE EVERYWHERE: PROTEST, POWER, AND PRIDE IN THE HISTORY OF QUEER LIBERATION. This book is a a rich and sweeping photographic history of the Queer Liberation Movement from the creators and curators of the massively popular Instagram account @lgbt_history, and traces queer activism from its roots in late-nineteenth-century Europe–long before the pivotal Stonewall Riots of 1969–to the gender warriors leading the charge today. The New York Times calls WE ARE EVERYWHERE “An impassioned photographic tour of an ever-changing, increasingly vocal and insistently resilient LGBTQ community and culture, from nineteenth century ideology to contemporary conversations around intersectionality.”
Please join Matthew and Leighton for a fascinating conversation about LGBTQ history, intersectionality, and activism.
On today's show Max Brooks, the author of World War Z, The Zombie Survival Guide, and Minecraft: The Island, talks with his editor Sarah Peed about his writing process, survival, and his newest book, DEVOLUTION. Part survival narrative, part bloody horror tale, and part scientific journey into the boundaries between truth and fiction, DEVOLUTION is a Bigfoot story as only Max Brooks could chronicle it.
This interview originally premiered on Del Reydio---that's D-E-L R-E-Y-D-I-O, the dedicated podcast for Random House's Del Rey imprint. Del Rey is one of the world's foremost publishers of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, as well as media and pop culture titles. And now, here's our conversation with Max Brooks.
On today's show we have author Chanel Cleeton, the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA. Her latest book LAST TRAIN TO KEY WEST is about three women in 1925 whose lives are forever changed when one of the most powerful hurricanes in history barrels toward the Florida Keys. OprahMag.com says "Cleeton’s beach reads are often lit by the sun of places like Florida and Cuba, and her latest doesn’t disappoint." Now let's join internationally renowned book blogger Vilma Iris Gonzalez in conversation with Chanel Cleeton.
Today's guest is Dustin Lance Black: an author, filmmaker and social activist known for writing the Academy Award–winning screenplay of the Harvey Milk biopic MILK, and for his part in overturning California’s discriminatory Proposition 8. His heartfelt, deeply personal memoir MAMA'S BOY explores how a mother and son built bridges across great cultural divides—and how our stories hold the power to heal. Now please join book editor Anna Kaufman in conversation with Dustin Lance Black.
Praise for MAMA'S BOY:
Mama’s Boy is a beautifully written, utterly compelling account of growing up poor and gay with a thrice married, physically disabled, deeply religious Mormon mother, and the imprint this irrepressible woman made on the character of Dustin Lance Black. Their extraordinary bond left me exhilarated—it actually gave me hope for the future of the republic, which is no mean feat, given the dark mood of our current moment.”
—Jon Krakauer, author of Missoula and Under the Banner of Heaven
“A fast read with witty observations, and all the emotions to go along. . . . [A] testament to the powerful impact a good parent has on children. . . . Black and Mama’s Boy show just how far the unlikeliest of children can go with pure, unabashed grit.”
—San Francisco Chronicle
“A fascinating and poignant combination of memoir and family history. . . . Both personal and universal. . . . The most emotional moments come as Black finds himself in personal encounters with those who might be considered obviously antagonistic to his world, including leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and more conservative members of his own family. . . . Finding common ground is indeed the powerful throughline in Mama’s Boy.”
—Salt Lake City Weekly
On today's show we have authors Nic Stone and Jodi Picoult discussing topics such as white fragility, the differences in expectations for black women and white women, the problematic nature of colorblindness, and what to do to be a better white advocate. Nic Stone is the critically acclaimed and New York Times bestselling author of DEAR MARTIN, CLEAN GETAWAY and her latest DEAR JUSTYCE.
Jodi Picoult is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five novels, including SMALL GREAT THINGS and THE BOOK OF TWO WAYS.
This originally aired on Nic Stone's Instagram channel, as part of a series of conversations that she is having about race.
Other books discussed in this episode include WHITE FRAGILITY by Robin DiAngelo and HOW TO BE AN ANTIRACIST by Ibram X. Kendi.
Today's episode is a discussion between authors Abbi Waxman and Kristan Higgins. Abbi Waxman is the USA Today bestselling author of OTHER PEOPLE'S HOUSES, THE GARDEN OF SMALL BEGINNINGS, and her latest I WAS TOLD IT WOULD GET EASIER, which follows mother-daughter duo Jessica and Emily Burnstein as their carefully mapped-out college tour devolve into a series of off-roading misadventures.
Kristan Higgins is the New York Times bestselling author of nearly twenty novels, including LIFE AND OTHER INCONVENIENCES and her latest ALWAYS THE LAST TO KNOW, which examines a family at the breaking point in all its messy, difficult, wonderful complexity. Let's join Abbi Waxman and Kristan Higgins in conversation.
Today we have a conversation between authors Roselle Lim and Soniah Kamal. Roselle Lim is a Filipino Chinese writer who came to Canada from the Philippines as a young teen, and penned the novels Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune, and her latest "Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop". Book Riot says that "similar to the sweet fabulist-romcom style of Lim’s debut, this new book follows a young woman’s culinary and magical adventures.”
Soniah Kamal’s debut novel, An Isolated Incident, was a finalist for the Townsend Prize for Fiction. Her new book UNMARRIAGEABLE is a charming update on Jane Austen’s beloved PRIDE AND PREDJUDICE, and an exhilarating exploration of love, marriage, class, and sisterhood.
Here are Soniah Kamal and Roselle Lim in conversation with Penguin Random House's Senior Campaigns Director Christine Hung.
Praise for VANESSA YU'S MAGICAL PARIS TEA SHOP:
“…similar to the sweet fabulist-romcom style of Lim’s debut, this new book follows a young woman’s culinary and magical adventures.”-BookRiot
Praise for UNMARRIAGEABLE:
“Thoroughly charming.”—New York Post
“[A] funny, sometimes romantic, often thought-provoking glimpse into Pakistani culture, one which adroitly illustrates the double standards women face when navigating sex, love, and marriage. This is a must-read for devout Austenites.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Elizabeth Gilbert is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Big Magic, Eat Pray Love, and several other internationally bestselling books of fiction and nonfiction. Her latest entitled CITY OF GIRLS is a unique love story set in the New York City theater world during the 1940s. A novel of glamour, sex, and adventure, it's about a young woman discovering that you don’t have to be a good girl to be a good person. Here is our own Amy Brinker in conversation with Elizabeth Gilbert.
Praise for CITY OF GIRLS:
“A spellbinding novel about love, freedom, and finding your own happiness.”
– PopSugar
“Intimate and richly sensual, razzle-dazzle with a hint of danger.”
–USA Today
“Pairs well with a cocktail…or two.”
–TheSkimm
Today's guest is Jonathan Karl, the Chief White House Correspondent for ABC News and president of the White House Correspondents' Association. Over his long and award-winning career, he has reported from the White House under four presidents and more than a dozen press secretaries and has covered every major beat in Washington. His New York Times bestselling book is FRONT ROW AT THE TRUMP SHOW, which is an account like no other from the White House reporter who has known President Donald Trump for more than 25 years.
Joining him is Allison Dobson, who is President of the Penguin Publishing Group and oversees Penguin’s adult publishing business in the U.S. Prior to her time in publishing, Allison spent several years on Capitol Hill and on political campaigns. And now let's join Allison Dobson in conversation with author Jonathan Karl.
Included in this episode is an excerpt from the audiobook, courtesy of Penguin Random House Audio.
Praise for FRONT ROW AT THE TRUMP SHOW:
“No reporter has covered Donald Trump longer and with more energy than Jonathan Karl. It pays off in his account of what he calls the Trump Show with some startling scoops. What did the president scrawl across the rejected resignation letter from his attorney general? He tells us.”—Susan Page, Washington Bureau chief, USA TODAY
“Jon Karl is fierce, fearless and fair. From cub reporter at the NY Post to Chief WH Correspondent for ABC News, he’s covered Donald Trump—and the White House—for a generation. He knows the man, and the office. Front Row at the Trump Show takes us inside the daily challenge of truthful reporting on the Trump WH, revealing what’s at stake with vivid detail and deep insights.”—George Stephanopoulos
“Jonathan Karl is a straight shooting, fair minded, and hardworking professional so it’s no surprise he’s produced a book historians will relish. It’s about good old fashioned news getting—about the process and the rules and how it works. Overlaying it is this most amazing moment in American political history. Underlying it is a story about waking up each morning and trying against the odds to find out what’s true.”—Peggy Noonan, The Wall Street Journal
Curtis Sittenfeld is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Prep, American Wife, Sisterland, and Eligible. Her latest is the much anticipated RODHAM, a novel that imagines a deeply compelling what-might-have-been: What if Hillary Rodham hadn’t married Bill Clinton? Brilliantly weaving a riveting fictional tale into actual historical events, RODHAM delivers an uncannily astute and witty story for our times. So now let's join READ IT FORWARD's Abbe Wright in conversation with Curtis Sittenfeld.
This episode is brought to you by the new podcast THE ADAPTABLES from Read It Forward.
Today's guest is Nic Stone, the critically acclaimed and New York Times bestselling author of titles such as DEAR MARTIN, JACKPOT, CLEAN GETAWAY and her latest DEAR JUSTYCE. Angie Thomas, author of THE HATE U GIVE, called Dear Martin "a must-read", while THE FAULT IN OUR STARS author John Green described it as "Powerful and wrenching." Here's Nic Stone in conversation with her friend, Random House Digital Director Elizabeth Ward.
About DEAR JUSTYCE:
The stunning sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller Dear Martin. Incarcerated teen Quan writes letters to Justyce about his experiences in the American juvenile justice system. Perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and Angie Thomas.
Praise for DEAR MARTIN:
“Vivid and powerful.” -Booklist, Starred Review
“A visceral portrait of a young man reckoning with the ugly, persistent violence of social injustice.” -Publishers Weekly
“Powerful, wrenching.” –JOHN GREEN, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Turtles All the Way Down
“Raw and gripping.” –JASON REYNOLDS, New York Times bestselling coauthor of All American Boys
Today's guest is USA Today bestselling author and native New Yorker Kwana Jackson. Aside from her career as an author, Kwana is also a longtime advocate of diversity and equality in the romance genre, and a successful clothing designer who spent a decade creating women's sportswear for various fashion houses. Her novel REAL MEN KNIT is a heartfelt romance that takes place in a beloved Harlem knitting shop, and Booklist raved that "“Jackson crafts a cute friends-to-lovers romance with a diverse cast of characters that emphasizes the importance of community and found family." So here's Erin Leafe (of the romance podcast LEARNING THE TROPES) in conversation with author Kwana Jackson.
Praise for REAL MEN KNIT:
“If you’re looking for an easy charmer, this is the novel for you.”—Shondaland
"A big-hearted, warm, funny story of community, family and unexpected romance, Real Men Knit is an absolute winner. Kwana Jackson never fails to give me exactly what I want in a book: a messy family, characters who fight for what they want, believable and delicious romance, and a setting that’s as much a part of the story as the people in it.”—Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author
“Such a fantastic read, complete with an emotion-filled romance, and a cast of characters I’m so looking forward to seeing again.”—Nalini Singh, New York Times bestselling author
“I loved every word of Real Men Knit. It’s a sweet and satisfying slow-burn of a romance about what knits us together as family, friends, and lovers. I can’t wait for the next installment of the Old Knitting Gang!”—Lyssa Kay Adams
Frances Cha's novel IF I HAD YOUR FACE is a riveting debut set in contemporary Seoul, Korea, about four young women making their way in a world defined by impossible standards of beauty, after-hours room salons catering to wealthy men, ruthless social hierarchies, and K-pop mania. Here she is in conversation with Random House's Taylor Noel.
Praise for IF I HAD YOUR FACE:
"If I Had Your Face isn’t just a good book—it’s a book we need, badly. . . . The vivid characters at the novel’s core make for a compelling read, and in a time of such global division, hopefully a uniting one. . . . If you read one book this month, make it If I Had Your Face.”—InStyle
“Magnificent . . . With unblinking focus, [Cha] confronts some of the darkest consequences of contemporary gender inequity.”—Booklist (starred review)
“Searing . . . Essential reading in what Jia Tolentino memorably called the age of Instagram face.”—Vogue (UK)
Today's discussion is between Laura Huang, author of EDGE: TURNING ADVERSITY INTO ADVANTAGE, and Arlan Hamilton, author of IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME. Laura gets Arlan to discuss her personal journey from sleeping on the floor of the San Francisco airport to now being an important force of change within the venture capitalism business. Arlan shares her hard won wisdom as a black, gay woman who broke into the boys’ club of Silicon Valley, and provides an empowering guide to finding your voice, working your way into any room you want to be in, and achieving your own dreams. Here's Lura Huang in conversation with Arlan Hamilton.
Praise for IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME:
“A hero’s tale of what’s possible when we unlock our potential, continue the search for knowledge, and draw on our lived experiences to guide us through the darkest moments.”—Stacey Abrams
"Hamilton’s story speaks to all the would-be entrepreneurs and dreamers out there. She brings a unique perspective that has enabled her to see opportunities that others cannot. Her message is simple: Those of us who are different can rule the business world, and no one can stop us.”—Mark Cuban
Praise for EDGE:
“Edge is fun to read, beautifully written and resonant—a worthy addition to every entrepreneur’s toolbox. Laura Huang is a powerful new voice for those that seek to make a ruckus.”
—Seth Godin, author of This Is Marketing
“We’re all looking for an edge. But where does it come from? In this insightful and accessible book, Laura Huang provides the answers. Be authentic and distinct. Provide value to others. And turn adversity into advantage. Packed with fascinating stories and counterintuitive principles, Edge is a must read for anyone seeking to stand out from the crowd.”
—Daniel H. Pink, author of When, Drive, and To Sell Is Human
Today's guest is Adam Resnick, an Emmy Award winner who has written on Late Night with David Letterman, The Larry Sanders Show, HBO's Divorce, and who co-created the cult favorites CABIN BOY and GET A LIFE. As an author Resnick penned the darkly comedic essay collection WILL NOT ATTEND, which Rolling Stone called "An anti-social work of art" and the Chicago Tribune praised as "A biting, darkly hilarious collection of personal essays that begs to be read aloud." Here's Adam Resnick in conversation with Penguin Random House Video Director Pat Stango.
Praise for Will Not Attend
“Writing a collection of short stories is a very difficult thing to do. These Adam Resnick stories are great. You read one and think, that was so well done maybe I’ll read another. You think, the next one can’t be as good, and it’s even better. I hope you read this book. It’s funny, smart and thoughtful; and it’s funny, smart and thoughtful. I loved it. I think you will as well. Did I mention I loved it? Happy reading.”—Dave Letterman
“Having worked with Adam Resnick many years ago, I can easily recall he was a little nuts, but I completely forgot he was this talented and funny. Damn, this book is good.”—Jon Stewart
“Adam Resnick is one of the funniest writers I’ve ever known, and he proves it big-time in this acid-swaddled memoir. You will laugh reading this book, I swear to Christ Almighty. Adam comes by his misanthropy honestly and bravely—and his continued existence is a tribute to the soul-nourishing qualities of an unrelenting, unforgiving, and hilarious outlook. I will be reading this again and again for the rest of my life like it’s the goddamn bible.”—Bob Odenkirk
“In the ideal film adaptation of Will Not Attend, second-grader Adam Resnick would be played by a four-foot-tall, fully adult homunculus Resnick, animated by a precocious despair, disdainful of cultural idiocy, and wearing the ever-present scowl of the perpetually put-upon. Undoubtedly, the child Resnick is father of the man Resnick. This is a very funny book, and I would pay decent money to see the movie version, or even to play it in the form of an extremely sad video game.”—Charlie Kaufman
On today's show we have the acerbic R. Eric Thomas, a senior staff writer at Elle.com and author of the funny and touching essay collection HERE FOR IT: HOW TO SAVE YOUR SOUL IN AMERICA, which none other than Lin Manuel-Miranda called "Sedaris-level, laugh-out-loud funny." Among many other topics, Eric discusses the ridiculous nature of pop culture in the age of quarantine. Here's R. Eric Thomas in conversation with Read It Forward senior editor Abbe Wright.
About HERE FOR IT
In essays by turns hysterical and heartfelt, Thomas reexamines what it means to be an “other” through the lens of his own life experience. He explores the two worlds of his childhood: the barren urban landscape where his parents’ house was an anomalous bright spot, and the Eden-like school they sent him to in white suburbia. Here for It will resonate deeply and joyfully with everyone who has ever felt pushed to the margins, struggled with self-acceptance, or wished to shine more brightly in a dark world. Stay here for it—the future may surprise you.
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The Thurber Prize-winning author John Kenney (the novel TALK TO ME and the collection LOVE POEMS FOR MARRIED PEOPLE) brings us the lighter side of being trapped inside for weeks on end. John and his editor Sally Kim discuss, among other things, what it means to be "pants drunk" during a pandemic in this fun conversation.
ABOUT LOVE POEMS FOR ANXIOUS PEOPLE
With the same brilliant wit and hilarious realism that made Love Poems for Married People and Love Poems for People with Children such hits, John Kenney is back with a brand new collection of poems, this time taking on one of the most common feelings in our day-and-age: anxiety. Kenney covers it all, from awkward social interactions and insomnia to nervous ticks and writing and rewriting that email.
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Emma Straub is the author of the new novel ALL ADULTS HERE and proprietor of BOOKS ARE MAGIC in Brooklyn, NY. Today she discusses what it's like being an author and bookstore owner, and the unique challenges that both of those pose today. In conversation with our own Amy Brinker, Emma lets us know what she's reading, how she's preparing for the launch of her latest book, and which books are inspiring her right now.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In All Adults Here, Emma Straub’s unique alchemy of wisdom, humor, and insight come together in a deeply satisfying story about adult siblings, aging parents, high school boyfriends, middle school mean girls, the lifelong effects of birth order, and all the other things that follow us into adulthood, whether we like them to or not.
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Go behind the scenes of TV's The Office with Andy Greene, author of THE OFFICE: THE UNTOLD STORY. In conversation with fellow author Rob Sheffield (LOVE IS A MIX TAPE), Andy discusses his extensive oral history of the most popular sitcom of the 2000s. They share inside information about the show's development, how Bob Odenkirk almost won the role of Michael Scott, and why The Office still endures as one of the most watched shows today.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In his brand-new oral history, The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s, Greene will take readers behind the scenes of their favorite moments and characters. Greene gives us the true inside story behind the entire show, from its origins on the BBC through its impressive nine-season run in America, with in-depth research and exclusive interviews.
If you enjoy this podcast and would like to help it reach more listeners, feel free to leave us a 5-star review.
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Celeste Headlee is an award-winning journalist and the author of DO NOTHING. In this conversation with her book editor Michele Eniclerico, Celeste gives practical advice on how we can manage our work-life balances while working from home, and how to keep social media from overtaking our lives. She also discusses her book DO NOTHING, which illuminates a new path ahead, seeking to institute a global shift in our thinking so we can stop sabotaging our well-being, put work aside, and start living instead of doing.
DO NOTHING by Celeste Headlee
Pulling together threads from history, neuroscience, social science, and even paleontology, Headlee examines long-held assumptions about time use, idleness, hard work, and even our ultimate goals. Her research reveals that the habits we cling to are doing us harm; they developed recently in human history, which means they are habits that can, and must, be broken. It’s time to reverse the trend that’s making us all sadder, sicker, and less productive, and return to a way of life that allows us to thrive.
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Erik Larson— bestselling author of THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY and DEAD WAKE— discusses his latest, THE SPLENDID AND THE VILE. The book covers a year in the life of Winston Churchill at the height of World War 2. Erik talks about the leadership qualities of Churchill, how the citizens handled the threat of constant bombing, and whether bravery can be passed along. He also compares the situation we're currently facing with that of London during the bombings, and how the government leadership of that time differs from ours today.
Join Erik Larson in conversation with Abbe Wright (READ IT FORWARD's Senior Editor)
THE SPLENDID AND THE VILE by Erik Larson
The author of The Devil in the White City and Dead Wake delivers a fresh and compelling portrait of Winston Churchill and London during the Blitz.
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Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of the bestselling novel DAISY JONES AND THE SIX, joins us to discuss how she's balancing parenting a toddler and working on her new book during these trying times. In conversation with her friend Natasha Minoso (social media manager for Penguin Random House), Taylor talks about her current reading recommendations (romance! Nora Ephron!), how book culture is adapting to face the moment, and how she's adjusting her own typically Type-A expectations.
If you enjoy this podcast and would like to help it reach more listeners, feel free to leave us a 5-star review.
Taylor's DAISY JONES AND THE SIX is a gripping novel about the whirlwind rise of an iconic 1970s rock group and their beautiful lead singer, revealing the mystery behind their infamous breakup.
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Welcome to Books Connect Us from Penguin Random House. This is a brand new podcast about staying connected with each other, and the stories and authors who inspire us.
In these lively interviews your favorite authors will discuss their own books, provide recommendations for what they’re reading and watching, and help put into context some of the issues we are all currently facing.
Upcoming guests include Taylor Jenkins Reid (DAISY JONES AND THE SIX), Celeste Headlee (DO NOTHING), Erik Larson (THE SPLENDID AND THE VILE), and more.
The first episode premieres this Monday April 6 with Taylor Jenkins Reid, so feel free to subscribe right now. We are excited to share these conversations with you and remind everyone that even in these troubled times, BOOKS CONNECT US.
For more information on our authors please visit PenguinRandomHouse.com
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Read it Forward editors Abbe and Emma discuss going from no money to new money in THE WINDFALL by Diksha Basu and Abbe Wright interviews the author.
Abbe Wright interviews LGBTQ activist and author Jennifer Finney Boylan about her new novel, LONG BLACK VEIL, a thriller about the price of secrecy.
We speak to author Amor Towles about his latest work of historical fiction A Gentleman in Moscow.