Behind the Books

From Library Shelves to Red-Rock Trails

Bob and Anna talk with with Fatma Badawy, who works part time in Circulation at the Twin Rivers Branch, to learn more about her work at the library. They also talk with author Cynthia Johnstone about her debut novel, Nomad, a story of grief, resilience, and the healing power of the natural world. 

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From Library Shelves to Red-Rock Trails

• Intro and Welcome
• 3:59 MCLS Staff Interview: Fatma Badawy
• 12:57 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 16:32 Author Interview: Cynthia Johnstone
• 29:24 Summary and Closing 

Show Notes:

Learn more about Cynthia Johnstone at https://www.cynthia-johnstone.com/

Register for upcoming virtual programs and branch events, using the MCLS Event Calendar, located at https://events.mcl.org/

Opening and closing music provided by Mykola Sosin via Pixabay  

Music between segments is provided by Dvir Silverstone via Pixabay 

Books, Bling & Bliss

Intro and Welcome

• 4:20 MCLS Staff Interview: Lauren Leibowitz, YS Librarian
• 13:42 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 17:42 Author Interview: Brittanée Nicole
• 30:00 Summary and Closing 

Show Notes:

Learn more about Brittanée Nicole at https://www.brittaneenicole.com/

View the 2026 Amateur Photo Contest winners, as well as all the entries, at https://mcl.org/events/amateur-photo-contest/ 

Listings of Halloween Program Highlights are located at https://libraryaware.com/3EGD5T (kids) and https://libraryaware.com/3EGD5S (adults)

Register for upcoming virtual programs and branch events, using the MCLS Event Calendar, located at https://events.mcl.org/

Opening and closing music provided by Skilsel via Pixabay 

Music between segments is provided via Pixabay 

Intro and Welcome

• 3:24 Catching Up with MCLS: Alana Miles
• 13:57 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 17:37 Interview with Tara Badstubner
• 29:41 Summary and Closing 

Show Notes:

Learn more about Tara Badstubner at https://www.tarabadstubner.com/

Find information about Socktober at https://mcl.org/socktober/

Register for upcoming virtual programs and branch events, using the MCLS Event Calendar, located at https://events.mcl.org/

Opening and closing music provided by Skilsel via Pixabay 

Music between segments is provided via Pixabay 

Paths We Didn't Plan

• Intro and Welcome
• 3:33 Interview with Barbara MacGuigan
• 14:42 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 17:40 Interview with Irvin Katz
• 32:21 Summary and Closing 

Show Notes:

Learn more about Rules for Reluctant Managers by Irvin Katz at https://www.purplebreezepress.com/irvin-r-katz.

Find information about the 2026 MCLS Book Festival at https://mcl.org/events/book-festival/.

Register for upcoming virtual programs and branch events, using the MCLS Event Calendar, located at https://events.mcl.org/

Opening and closing music provided by Skilsel via Pixabay; music between segments is provided via Pixabay.

Bob and Anna talk with authors Jean Kwok and Catherine Marshall-Smith about their newest books. Marshall-Smith shares insights into The Resilience of Red Thread, while Kwok discusses Dominion, the first book in The Silk and Iron trilogy. Hear from both authors about their books, their writing, and the stories and themes that inspired their work..

Stories of Strength

• Intro and Welcome 3:03
• Interview with Catherine Marshall Smith 15:41
• Programs and Services @ MCLS 19:48
• Interview with Jean Kwok 35:02
• Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Learn more about Catherine Marshall Smith at https://catherinemarshallsmith.com/.

Visit Jean Kwok's website at https://www.jeankwok.com/.

Find information about the 2026 MCLS Book Festival at https://mcl.org/events/book-festival/.

Register for upcoming virtual programs and branch events, using the MCLS Event Calendar, located at https://events.mcl.org/

Apply for an MCLS library card at https://mcl.org/catalog/library-card-application/.Opening and closing music provided by Skilsel via Pixabay; music between segments is provided via Pixabay.

Bob and Anna talk with authors Jennifer Herrera and Glenn R. Miller about their upcoming books. Herrera discusses Siren Says, while Miller shares the story behind Rough Cuts. Hear from both authors about their writing, the inspiration behind their books, and the stories they hope to share with readers.Two Worlds, Two Stories

• Intro and Welcome 5:29
• Interview with Jennifer Herrera 19:18
• Programs and Services @ MCLS 24:25
• Interview with Glenn R. Miller 39:17
• Summary and Closing 

Show Notes:

Learn more about Jennifer Herrera at https://www.jenniferherrerabooks.com/

Visit Glenn R. Miller's website at https://glenn-r-miller.com/

Register for upcoming virtual programs and branch events, using the MCLS Event Calendar, located at https://events.mcl.org/

Take advantage of two opportunities to donate blood for the 9/11 25th Anniversary Remembrance New York Blood Center Blood Drive:

• September 8 at the Robbinsville branch via https://events.mcl.org/event/17372457
• September 10 at the Hopewell branch via https://events.mcl.org/event/17331867

Find information about the 2026 Amateur Photo Contest, A Moment in Our Story, at https://mcl.org/events/amateur-photo-contest/

Opening and closing music provided by Skilsel via Pixabay; music between segments is provided via Pixabay.

Intro and Welcome

• 2:19 Kady Ambrose
• 16:33 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 21:36 "Sixty Seconds with Shannon"
• 22:48 Interview with Araminta Hall
• 38:14 Summary and Closing 

Show Notes:

Learn more about Kady Ambrose at https://kadyambrose.com/.

Register for Kady Ambrose's talk, Street Fighting in Skirts scheduled for Monday, August 17, 10:00 am the Lawrence Headquarters Branch, using the link https://events.mcl.org/event/17171290.

Visit Araminta Hall's website at https://aramintahall.com/.

Register for upcoming virtual programs and branch events, using the MCLS Event Calendar, located at https://events.mcl.org/

Find information about the 2026 Summer Reading Program, Unearth a Story, at https://mcl.org/events/summer-reading-program/

60 Seconds with Shannon features the Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman, which is available through MCLS. Search for these titles in the MCLS Catalog at merl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/mcl.

Opening and closing music provided by Skilsel via Pixabay; music between segments is provided via Pixabay.

Bob and Anna welcome Anthony Mazakas-Dong and Jessica Smith to discuss the Mercer County Library System's new social services initiative and its impact on the community. They also chat with author Monica Chenault Kilgore about her historical fiction, including Long Gone, Come Home and The Jewel of the Blues, which bring to life the stories of resilient, often-overlooked women in American history. Plus, Shannon Tuorto returns with another 60 Seconds with Shannon: What I'm Reading Wednesday book recommendations.

Stories That Support, Stories That Endure - Interview with Monica Chenault Kilgore

Intro and Welcome

5:52 Catching Up with MCLS: Social Services Program @ MCLS w/ Anthony Mazakas-Dong and Jessica Smith

21:34 Programs and Services @ MCLS

25:10 "Sixty Seconds with Shannon"

26:21 Interview with Monica Chenault Kilgore

39:43 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Learn more about Monica Chenault Kilgore at https://monicachenaultkilgore.com/

Find Resources for Social Services and connect with MCLS Social Workers at https://resources.mcl.org/social-services

Register for upcoming virtual programs and branch events, using the MCLS Event Calendar, located at https://events.mcl.org/

Find information about the 2026 Summer Reading Program, Unearth a Story, at https://mcl.org/events/summer-reading-program/

Discover the MCLS Lucky Day Collection at https://mcl.org/catalog/lucky-day-collection/

60 Seconds with Shannon - What I'm Reading Wednesday features mystery thrillers, This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum and A Good Person by Kristen King, both of which are available through MCLS. Search for these titles in the MCLS Catalog at merl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/mcl.

Opening and closing music provided by Skilsel via Pixabay; music between segments is provided via Pixabay.

Bob and Anna chat with Madeline Weeks, Reference Librarian at the Lawrence HQ Branch, about how she's incorporated board games into the library to create engaging experiences for the community. Our co-hosts also meet up with author Cynthia Gomez about her debut fantasy novel, Muñeca, exploring magical inheritance, family legacy, and finding one's place in the world.

Family Traditions and Magical Legacies - Interview with Cynthia Gomez

Intro and Welcome

5:51 Staff Interview with Madeline Weeks

16:57 Programs and Services @ MCLS

22:11 Interview with Cynthia Gomez

38:37 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Learn more about Cynthia Gomez at https://cynthiasaysboo.wordpress.com/

Register for upcoming virtual programs and branch events, using the MCLS Event Calendar, located at https://events.mcl.org/

Find information about the 2026 Summer Reading Program, Unearth a Story, at https://mcl.org/events/summer-reading-program/

Discover MCLS Conversation Groups for English Language Learning at https://mcl.org/events/english-learning-groups/

Opening and closing music provided by Skilsel via Pixabay; music between segments is provided via Pixabay.

Bob and Anna welcome Kelsey Cummins, Youth Services Librarian at the West Windsor Branch of the Mercer County Library System. Kelsey talks about her role at the library and how library staff work to meet the educational and informational needs of patrons of all ages. Later in the episode, bestselling author Laura Sims joins our hosts to discuss her latest psychological suspense novel, The Man. Laura shares the inspiration behind the story, her approach to creating tension and uncertainty, and what draws her to exploring the darker corners of human relationships.

From Storytimes to Suspense - Interview with Laura Sims

Intro and Welcome

4:25 Staff Interview with Kelsey Cummins

11:28 Programs and Services @ MCLS

15:53 Interview with Laura Sims

28:51 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Learn more about Laura Sims at https://www.laurasims.net/

Register for upcoming virtual programs and branch events, using the MCLS Event Calendar, located at https://events.mcl.org/

Find information about the 2026 Summer Reading Program, Unearth a Story, at https://mcl.org/events/summer-reading-program/

Participate in the 2026 MCLS Reading Challenge -- https://mcl.org/events/reading-challenge/

Opening and closing music provided by Skilsel via Pixabay; music between segments is provided via Pixabay.