Anna and Bob talk with Anthony Mazakas-Dong about taking the Information Technology Library Associate position in the MCLS IT Department. Emily Everett shares the ins and outs of her debut novel, All That Life Can Afford. This episode debuts "Take Two," a segment featuring a past author guest. Kelly Bennett gives a sneak peak to her newest book, Out of the Mouth of Babe: Babe Ruth on Life: Pitching, Hitting, Striking Out, and Coming Back Swinging.

Intro and Welcome

2:38 Interview with Anthony Mazakas-Dong

12:57 Programs and Services @ MCLS

16:09 Take Two with Kelly Bennett

18:11 Interview with Emily Everett

30:11 Summary and Closing 

Show Notes:

Learn more about Emily Everett at https://www.emily-everett.com/

Additional information about A Poetry Happening: Mercer Poets Read is located at https://mcl.org/call-for-poems/

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

Discover more about Out of the Mouth of Babe: Babe Ruth on Life: Pitching, Hitting, Striking Out, and Coming Back Swinging, by Kelly Bennett at https://www.kellybennett.com/

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

Anna and Bob sit down and talk libraries with Elizabeth Hess, the Youth Services Librarian at the Twin Rivers Branch.  Sarah Harman discusses the unique circumstances leading to her highly anticipated debut novel, All the Other Mothers Hate Me. "60 Seconds with Shannon," featuring Hopewell Branch staff member Shannon Tuorto, provides a quick overview of the Jeneva Rose's mystery thriller, The Perfect Divorce, the sequel to The Perfect Marriage.

Intro and Welcome

2:52 Interview with Elizabeth Hess

14:57 Programs and Services @ MCLS

18:00 Sixty Seconds with Shannon

19:24 Interview with Sarah Harman

21:21 Summary and Closing 

Show Notes:

Learn more about Sarah Harman at https://www.sarah-harman.com/

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

The Perfect Divorce, by Jeneva Rose comes on April 15, 2025. Look for it in the MCLS Catalog at https://merl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/mcl 

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

Anna and Bob chat with Chloe Peterson from the Circulation Team at the Ewing Branch. Mark Mustian discusses his newest book, The Boy with Wings, as well as the ins and outs of Word of South, a festival of literature and music, founded by Mustian in 2015. "60 Seconds with Shannon," featuring Hopewell Branch staff member Shannon Tuorto, provides a quick overview of the recently published Young Adult thriller, All Better Now, by Neal Shusterman.

Intro and Welcome

4:36 Interview with Chloe Peterson

14:05 Programs and Services @ MCLS

16:47 Sixty Seconds with Shannon

18:00 Interview with Mark Mustian

28:54 Summary and Closing

Show Notes

Learn more about Mark Mustian at https://markmustian.com/

Additional information about Word of South Festival can be found at https://wordofsouthfestival.com/

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

Check out All Better Now by Neal Shusterman in the MCLS Catalog at https://merl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/mcl

Read Chloe Peterson's blog post, "The Grammys: My Super Bowl," at https://mercercountylibrary.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-grammys-my-super-bowl.html

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

Charley Christensen from Circulation at the Hickory Corner Branch shares her journey to the library with Anna and Bob. Carly Anne West joins this episode to discuss her craft of bringing the eerie to readers of all ages, as well as to share what's in store with her upcoming installment in the The Ghosts of Nameless Island series,The Boy Who Could Fly. A new segment, "60 Seconds with Shannon" (featuring Hopewell Branch staff member Shannon Tuorto) gives listeners a glimpse into the recently published novel,Black Woods, Blue Sky, by Eowyn Ivey.

Intro and Welcome

3:11 Interview with Charley Christensen

14:33 Programs and Services @ MCLS

17:39 Sixty Seconds with Shannon

18:48 Interview with Carly Anne West

31:15 Summary and Closing 

Show Notes:

Learn more about Carly Anne West at https://carlyannewest.com/

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

Check outBlack Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey in the MCLS Catalog at https://merl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/mcl

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

Anna and Bob talk with Soniya Kim from Youth Services at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch. Jennifer Nielsen, New York Times bestselling author, joins our co-hosts to discuss her upcoming historical fiction book, One Wrong Step, as well as her experience moving her focus between fantasy novels and historical fiction...

Intro and Welcome

3:30 Interview with Soniya Kim

13:09 Programs and Services @ MCLS

15:49 Interview with Jennifer Nielsen

27:39 Summary and Closing 

Show Notes:

Learn more about Jennifer Nielsen at https://jennielsen.com Register for upcoming virtual programs and branch events, using the MCLS Event Page, located at https://events.mcl.org

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

Anna and Bob talk with Asha Chukumba from the Reference Team at the Ewing Branch. Award-winning writer and illustrator. Bruce Hale, joins our co-hosts to discuss his new series, Outer Space Mystery Pizza Club, as well as strategies to encourage the reluctant reader.

Intro and Welcome

5:25 Interview with Asha Chukumba

17:00 Programs and Services @ MCLS

19:24 Interview with Bruce Hale

33:19 Summary and Closing 

Show Notes:

Learn more about Bruce Hale at https://brucehale.com/

Information about the Card Making/Letter Writing Drive for Mercer County Meals on Wheels is available at https://mcl.org/mlk-jr-day-of-service-2025/

Details about the Winter Reading Program can be found at https://mcl.org/events/winter-reading-program/

Register for upcoming virtual programs and branch events, using the MCLS Event Page, located at https://mercercounty.libcal.com/

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

Anna and Bob talk with staff members from across the Mercer County Library System about books and movies they are looking forward to in 2025! 

Intro and Welcome

2:09 Amelia's 2025 Picks

8:46 Corina's 2025 Picks

15:33 Em's 2025 Picks

21:50: Programs and Services @ MCLS

25:58 Shannon's 2025 Picks

36:13 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Amelia's List of 2025 Titles

Corina's List of 2025 Titles

Em's List of 2025 Movies

MCLS staff member, Jamie Anderson, recently blogged, "10 Movies Releasing in 2025" at https://mercercountylibrary.blogspot.com/2024/12/10-movies-releasing-in-2025.html

Shannon's List of 2025 Titles:

Additional information about the 2025 TRASHEDArt

2024-25 Winter Reading Program information and BINGO

Register for upcoming virtual programs and branch events, using the MCLS Event Page, located at https://mercercounty.libcal.com/

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

Anna and Bob discuss some highlights from 2024, as well as meet up for a chat with editor and author, Lauren Ling Brown about her debut novel, Society of Lies.

Intro and Welcome
15:54 Programs and Services @ MCLS
20:10 Interview with Lauren Ling Brown
32:24 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Additional information about Lauren Ling Brown is available at https://laurenlingbrown.com/

A recording of "A Deep Dive in Character Development with Global Sensation Liane Moriarty" can be accessed at https://libraryc.org/mcl/56673.

Register for upcoming virtual programs and branch events, using the MCLS Event Page, located at ⁠⁠https://mercercounty.libcal.com⁠⁠

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

Anna and Bob talk with Lydia Weltmann, author of the Wingomia Guide Trilogy (and who happens to work in the library's Administration Office). Elizabeth Bass, author of over forty novels of women's fiction, romance, and mystery under her own name and the pseudonyms Liz Ireland and Liz Freeland, shares the latest from her Mrs. Claus series, Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year’s.

Intro and Welcome
2:13 Interview with Lydia Weltmann
15:15 Programs and Services @ MCLS
20:03 Interview with Elizabeth Bass
32:21 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Learn more about Lydia Weltmann's work at https://www.lrweltmann.com/

Additional information about Elizabeth Bass and her books is available at https://elizabeth-bass.com/

Register for upcoming virtual programs and branch events, using the MCLS Event Page, located at ⁠https://mercercounty.libcal.com⁠

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

Anna and Bob talk with Christina Zipp from the Circulation Team at the Robbinsville Branch. Best-selling author, Catherine Bruns joins our co-hosts to discuss her latest book in the Maple Syrup Series, In the Blink of a Pie, and all things cozy!

Intro and Welcome
3:41 Interview with Christina Zipp
14:16 Programs and Services @ MCLS
17:29 Interview with Catherine Bruns
29:49 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Learn more about Christine Bruns at https://www.catherinebruns.net

Register for upcoming virtual programs and branch events, using the MCLS Event Page, located at https://mercercounty.libcal.com

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