Back Stories

Elyssa and her guest Erin share the books, resources and other details about their latest “Behind the Page” event. Here are the resources and book titles they discussed or mentioned in this podcast.

Adventure Books

Cozy Mysteries

Nonfiction Books

Paranormal Books

RomCom Books

Books that People Shared

Resources Talked About

Elyssa and her guest, Stephanie, of JCPL's White River Branch Library, give you the backstory of Frankenstein and Dracula.

In this Back Stories bonus episode, Elyssa is joined by Erin from JCPL’s Clark Pleasant Branch. Erin provides the backstory on the Local Author Fair, which is scheduled for April 13, 2024. Forty-five authors are registered. Genres include picture books, memoirs, young adult novels, Christian self-help, gardening essays, poetry, romance, non-fiction and more.

Elyssa and Library Director Lisa Lintner provide the backstory on how the Snuggle Up with a Book Ball came to be and how it supports bringing New York Times bestselling authors to Johnson County as part of the Authors at JCPL series.

You will get an inside look at this fun ”event you don’t attend,” as well as authors and some of Lisa’s favorite books.

Your host, Elyssa, takes a look at Stephen King. She notes he writes pretty much everything except for Amish romance.

Elyssa’s guest is Franklin Branch Children’s Librarian Katie. Despite being a children’s librarian, she is also here to discuss horror. Although she started reading Stephen King when she was ten, she is here to give you the backstory on Grady Hendrix, the author of “How to Sell a Haunted House” and many other horror novels. Katie says, “There is such a playfulness” to his books.

Welcome to season three of “Back Stories,” Indiana’s Johnson County Public Library podcast. We kick off the season with a special episode taking you “Behind the Page” for a new year look at just-released or soon-to-be-released books. On this episode, Elyssa and her guest, Erin, look at Mitch Albom’s new book “The Little Liar,” discuss why Colleen Hoover is so popular and highlight library services and other things that will help you on

On this special “Behind the Page” bonus episode of “Back Stories,” Elyssa and her guest Erin dig deep into new and upcoming books. Plus, they dive into Library services, including digital sources, ways to find your next great read and tease an upcoming Authors at JCPL visit.

Resources mentioned in this podcast: 

How can a woman balance societal expectations, responsibilities, and art? Host Elyssa Everling reveals the background of US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, the first female, Native American to achieve the title and honor from her highly acclaimed memoirs and poetry collections like "An American Sunrise."

Guest Tiffany Phillips of local bookseller Wild Geese Bookshop considers the struggle of female artists and motherhood represented in Julie Phillips' "The Baby on the Fire Escape." Listen to learn about the ultimate success of renowned female authors and artists.

Back Stories is a production of the Johnson County Public Library-Indiana.

You may know of writer Kurt Vonnegut, but I promise you don’t as much about him as Elyssa’s guest Chris Lafave, Curator of the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library in downtown Indianapolis. Elyssa looks at the life of Ray Bradbury another midwestern author who wrote unique and entertaining stories. Are there a few connections between the two? Listen to find out.

Guest Amy Hamilton takes a look at the connections between Led Zeppelin and J.R.R. Tolkien. Yes, there are Lord of the Rings things in Led Zeppelin songs. She also reveals the only video you can’t find on YouTube.

They may tell tales of mystery and magic but Lev Grossman, Elyssa’s focus, may be best known for writing The Magicians Trilogy: The Magicians(2009), The Magician King (2011), and The Magician's Land (2014). She digs into his back stories and finds connections with Amy’s topic.

When you are done listening come back here and play this game that lets you guess if the word is the name of an antidepressant or a Tolkien character. Play here.