Book Nook: Recent Episodes
Vick Mickunas
Listen to the Book Nook with Vick Mickunas for intimate conversations about books with the writers who create them.
This work of fiction is based upon real events that took place during the five years between 1916 and 1921.
We live in a society that is awash in communications, much of it misdirected. We are engulfed: emails, texts, advertising, billboards, and every other variety of communication in a visual and audio assault that is endless. In this sea of blather how do we get our messages through to the intended recipients? Well, that's definitely a question that millions of people are pondering every day.
A sitting Montgomery County, Ohio, judge speaks out about injustices in our court system.
One of the greatest exploration feats ever was the first circumnavigation of the globe.
Have you been accused of splitting hairs? That is nothing compared to the follicles being severed in this bizarre story collection.
They bought a house in Sicily for only one euro. It was a bit more than they bargained for.
This history of chimney sweeping in the United States was written by a guy I have known since high school.
A veteran Time Magazine reporter's first book was a biography of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
Wally Lamb was one of the hottest authors on the planet when he made his first appearance on the program.
Unveil author interview tales and indulge in Block's incredible storytelling. A must-read for mystery enthusiasts.
Brendan Slocumb wedded his passion for music with a love for detective stories while imagining this dynamic novel.
Frank Bill has written a gritty fictional homage to his father who served in the Vietnam War.
Martha Moody made her first appearance on the program for her debut novel, which became a best seller.
David Jacob Kramer's book "Heads Together" tells the story of the Underground Press Syndicate, a network of underground newspapers that flourished in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
This history of feminism in the "heartland" is really the history of the feminist movement in the Dayton area a half century ago.
April is National Poetry Month. We began the month with poetry and we are ending it the same way.
Did you know about the woman who became a Pope during the Middle Ages? I didn't think so, please check out this interview.
Rachel Eve Moulton returned to her hometown of Yellow Springs, Ohio and the program to record an in-person interview while she was back.
An author transforms his family history into a compelling multi-generational fictional saga.
In 1995, it took almost ten minutes for a crippled commuter flight to finally come to ground. Plenty of time for those on board to ponder their fates.
Podcast intro: Looking back a few centuries at the phenomenal story of porcelain and how it was so treasured then that they once called it "white gold."
A poetry collection that has sprung forth from the annual Solstice poetry readings at Glen Helen in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
Terry Brooks came out to Yellow Springs 26 years ago to talk about his best-selling Shannara books.
Remembering the biographer Donald Spoto who died in February. The author of 29 books, this was his only appearance on the program.
If I had to compile a list of favorite guests to interview this author would be very high on my list.
Remembering the late Harold Bloom who was once called "probably the most famous literary critic in the English-speaking world."
We are taking the Book Nook on the road for an event at Edison State Community College in Piqua, Ohio on Wednesday, April 19.
Some politicians like to talk about how their states should secede because these politicians disagree with the U.S. government. In Cathy Haustein's 'Unstable States" series one state, Iowa, has done exactly that.
Vick Mickunas' first interview with the Irish writer Nuala O'Faolain was truly memorable.
Tiffany McDaniel returned to the program to discuss the novel she has based upon the stories of some actual unsolved murders of women in Ohio.
21 years ago Silas House made his first appearance on the program to talk about Clay's Quilt, his first novel. He's back again to tell us about his latest, Lark Ascending.
Merging one man's wonderful music and autobiographical fiction into a special radio program.
Prolific horror writer Stephen Graham Jones returned to the show to discuss the second book in his Indian Lake trilogy.
This new essay collection contains humor and pathos and medical digressions. Also, pranks with pizzas.
Reading books is a voyage of discovery. Every week I endeavor to discover something new to me.
Astrea Taylor returned to the program to talk about her fifth book whichshe co-wrote with Jason Mankey.
The Sherlock Holmes detective novels written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle have spawned new generations of books that continue to feature that intrepid sleuth.
Twenty-one years ago an eminent historian published a biography of General George Patton then popped into the Book Nook to discuss it.
Charles Cumming returned to the show to talk about the first two books in his new series of espionage novels.
What do you get when you mash up a fantasy novel with a detective yarn? Well, in the hands of Robert Freeman Wexler you'll end up with The Silverberg Business.
Anna Badkhen recently made her fourth appearance on the program. She's become one of my favorite writers and guests.
In 1968, a famous monk tried to hide out in Alaska. That really happened. Almost everything else in this rollicking historical thriller was made up by John Straley.
Mick Herron has to be the leading espionage novelist on the planet and he actually visited the Book Nook!
When Ann Hagedorn was growing up in Oakwood she had no idea that a Soviet spy had once been stealing atomic secrets in her community during WWII + BONUS SEGMENT: Remembering author Thomas Cahill.
Talking baseball in the Book Nook with Tyler Kepner, the lead baseball writer for the New York Times.
A Springfield High School student finds self-empowerment through DIY furniture building.
Jannie Bui Brown and James W. Brown IV visited WYSO and guided Book Nook host Vick Mickunas along his spiritual path with his first ever tarot card reading!
The second installment in this crime series set in Dayton could leave some readers wondering if evidence of alien visitors was hidden away at Wright Patterson Air Force Base.
The essayist and artist Arwen Donahue has written and illustrated a truly magical memoir.
Robert Crais returned to the show to talk about his latest Elvis Cole/Joe Pike novel. Crais is #2 on my list for the most appearances on the program.
A long-time Dayton Daily News editor reconstructed his family history. There's heartbreak here and also inspiration.
Columbus native Hanif Abdurraqib is a poet, essayist, music critic, and please forgive the use of this term; social media influencer.
Music historian Deke Dickerson's biography of the music legend Merle Travis. Travis made his first record in Dayton while performing under an assumed name.
Lawrence Block has published over 200 books. He is now in his eighties and his output has been greatly reduced. Even so, he is still full of surprises. A few years ago he told me that he had probably published his final novel. Then he wrote "Dead Girl Blues." I assumed that would definitely be it though, that he was finished with novels. Fortunately I was wrong, Lawrence just put out yet another fine novel, "The Burglar Who Met Fredric Brown." Over the years I have interviewed him five times. During this conversation he offered up a tantalizing hint, thathe is working on something. He would not say what. I cannot wait to find out what it is.
Hap Cawood was for many years the editor of the editorial pages for the Dayton Daily News. Hap is the author of the novel "The Miler." His daughter Shuly is a prolific writer. Shuly writes poetry, prose, fiction, non-fiction, essays, short stories, and memoir. Over the years that I have hosted the program I have interviewed fathers and daughters but never at the same time. For example, James Lee Burke has made many appearances on the show. His daughter Alafair Burke has too. I would love to interview them together. I doubt that will ever happen though. When I had the chance to have Hap and Shuly together in the studio I knew that it could be something special. I surprised them when I suggested that perhaps they might want to interview one another. I did not give them any advance warning about my plans. Even so, they still agreed to do it. So that's what we did!
Last year Vick Mickunas received an email from the author Ralph Keyes. He's known Ralph for over 25 years. And Ralph has written many superb books. He went to Antioch College and lived in Yellow Springs for decades. Now Ralph lives in Portland. He e-mailed Vick to tell him about a book he thought he'd might want to cover. It was a picture book for children; "Watercress" by Andrea Wang.
During the 1930's the city of Cleveland was a scary place because a serial killer was on the loose. A man named Eliot Ness was running the Cleveland police department and he was trying to solve this series of gruesome murders. It wasn't easy. In fact, it was impossible. True crime is very popular these days. This account of those horrific crimes gaveme nightmares.
Twenty years ago Vick Mickunas interviewed John Talliaferro, author of Great White Fathers: The True Story of Gutzon Borglum and His Obsessive Quest to Create the Mt. Rushmore National Monument.
Vick Mickunas welcomes Alan Maimon to the program to speak about his book, Twilight in Hazard-an Appalachian Reckoning.
Vick Mickunas remembers Barbara Ehrenreich made two appearances on the program. She passed away on September 1, 2022.
Vick Mickunas speaks with author Barbara Fleming Ph.D. about her book, Desperately Searching for Higher Education Among the Ruins of the Great Society.
Vick Mickunas welcomes author James M. Scott to speak about his book Black Snow: Curtis LeMay, the Firebombing of Tokyo, and the Road to the Atomic Bomb.
Author Kathi Reed returns to the program to speak with Vick Mickunas about the third novel in her Annie Fillmore mystery series, Trouble in Wonderland.
Vick Mickunas shares his 2003 interview with author Daniel Silva. Plus, a bonus segment with Donald Ray Pollock from 2008.
Vick Mickunas shares excerpts from his cherished interviews with the late Norah Vincent.
Author Alice Feiring returned to the program to talk to Vick Mickunas about her new memoir, To Fall in Love, Drink This.
Vick Mickunas talks about the book Amy Among the Serial Killers with its author, Jincy Willett.
Vick Mickunas speaks with B.G. Arnold about her novel, Bone Deep Bonds, a book focussing on the legacy of sexual abuse.
Vick Mickunas spoke with George Dawes Green on the program to discuss his latest novel, The Kingdoms of Savannah.
In 2002, Vick Mickunas spoke to Seth Shulman about his biography of Glenn Hammond Curtiss, a lesser known early aviator and peer of The Wright brothers.
Vick Mickunas speaks with author Linda Castillo about her latest addition to the Kate Burkholder series, The Hidden One.
Vick Mickunas shares fond memories from a interview he did with author Stuart Woods in 2002.
Vick Mickunas shares his recent review of 'Things We Do In the Dark' by Jennifer Hillier.
Vick Mikunas interviews comedian, former mayor of Hillsboro, Ohio and author Drew Hastings about his book "Chasing Drew Hastings."
Back in 2009. Vick Mickunas spoke with screenwriter for HBO's The Wire and novelist, George Pelecanos.
Vick Mickunas speaks with returning guest Scott Geisel about his second Jackson Flint mystery set in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
Amid recent political controversies surrounding Donald Trump, Vick Mickunas thought it would be appropriate to highlight a past interview with John W. Dean, the author of 'The Nixon Defense: What He Knew and When He Knew It'. BONUS SEGMENT: Vick Mickunas fondly remembers cowboy poet Baxter Black.
Vick Mickunas interviews Meredith Doench and she explains what drew her to writing horror novels.
Vick Micknuas welcomes back the author of 'Queen of the West: The Life and Times of Dale Evans,' Theresa Kaminski.
In 2013, Vick Mickunas recorded an episode reflecting on his friendship with long-time Yellow Springs resident Ken Bode.
One of the first whistleblowers regarding climate change, Bill McKibben, returns to the show after 20 years.
Listen to Vick Mickunas' 2022 interview with author Leah Garrett for the paperback release of X Troop: The Secret Jewish Commandos Who Helped Defeat the Nazis
Vick Mickunas takes us back 20 years ago to when he spoke with Liane Ellison Norman. Plus, a bonus segment feat. Lyanda Lynn Haupt.
Vick Mickunas takes us back to 2003 to when he interviewed author Elizabeth Berg about her novel.
Vick Mickunas speaks with a Moth director and one of the co-authors of this book, Jenifer Hixson.
Vick Mickunas speaks with author Don Winslow about his latest book that's part of a new trilogy.
Vick Mickunas interviews returning guest Ben Miller to talk about a book written by Dorothy James that he edited; Full of Hunger and Full of Bread. The World of Jura Soyfer 1912-1939.
Vick Mickunas speaks with author Shareen Brysac about her book Resisting Hitler: Mildred Harnack and the Red Orchestra.
Vick Mickunas has his first in-studio interview since the beginning of the pandemic with author Rebecca Rine.
We take you back to a conversation between Vick Mickunas and the late Robert Fogarty who was a professor at Antioch College and editor of the Antioch Review.
Brian Alexander returns to the Book Nook for a continued discussion of "The Hospital: Life, Death, and Dollars in a Small American Town" with Vick Mickunas
Vick Mickunas speaks with Sara Gran about her recent book, The Book of the Most Precious Substance. She published the book on her own literary imprint Dreamland Books.
In 2003, Vick Mickunas interviewed author David Fullmer about the release of his first published novel, Chasing the Devil's Tail: A Mystery of Storyville, New Orleans.
Listen to this older interview between Vick Mickunas and Mark Twain scholar, Hamlin Hill.
Almost two decades have passed since comedian Brendan O'Carroll came to WYSO for an interview with Vick Mickunas.
Vick Mickunas speaks with author Alafair Burke who returned to WYSO to discuss her latest work Find Me.
Best-selling author Connie May Fowler stopped by WYSO 20 years ago for an interview with Vick Mickunas. She was on a book tour promoting her memoir "When Katie Wakes."
Vick Mickunas shares an interview from two decades ago he had with author Rosalind Miles.
Vick Mickunas reaches into the vault for an interview from 20 years ago with humorist Cynthia Heimel's only interview with WYSO.
Have you ever heard of Clement Vallandigham? If you are a Southwest Ohio native you probably should have at least recognized his name. But you didn't, did you?
Vick Mickunas' 2003 interview with Clay McLeod Chapman for his first novel,"Miss Corpus."