Bookreporter Talks To

Hank Phillippi Ryan joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her latest thriller, ONE WRONG WORD, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. The idea for this book came from something that happened to Hank when she was 19. She talks about crafting the characters and how she tries to keep readers on top of the action by introducing the characters as chapter titles where they are speaking. Hank always writes organically without an outline; both the characters and the action come to her as she writes. She points to various details in the book and explains why it matters that they are presented as they are. And she talks about crisis management, which seems to be at the heart of many news situations today.

Carol would love Arden Ward to be an ongoing series character. And when you watch, you will find out which New York Times bestselling author would like to see the same thing! That is not what is next for Hank, but she tells us what is coming up in her 16th book, which will be out next year. Hank also comments on the interviews that she does with authors and why she loves doing them.

Book discussed in this episode:

ONE WRONG WORD by Hank Phillippi Ryan: https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/one-wrong-word

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/RAA3xm1_z_o

Amanda Peters: https://youtu.be/WDDpUmWZEkY

Katherine Faulkner: https://youtu.be/TtPCMj-aYwQ

Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/r1Ls304DNuQ

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/SlDtz3pIX2g

Gilly Macmillan: https://youtu.be/69IZt7IN2m4

Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/Qwb4YxxQIPU

Douglas Brunt: https://youtu.be/IDCvXA0uTtQ

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Lisa See: https://youtu.be/GV3G-szlWHU

Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/Qwb4YxxQIPU

Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan: https://youtu.be/A4t2w8dat7c

Alice Elliott Dark: https://youtu.be/4fgncFSfeM0

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/fD82fbLJ1Pg

Kristin Hannah: https://youtu.be/p4dVHdVZC3I

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/7HmJlMd0V1A

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/DT-XR5ue_5Q

Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/f_Ev0KN8z2M

Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/

FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter

Website: https://www.bookreporter.com

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

For our first "Bookaccino Live" Book Group of 2024, Lisa See talks about her most recent book, LADY TAN'S CIRCLE OF WOMEN, with Carol Fitzgerald. She explains how she came to discover Tan Yunxian, a female physician from 15th-century China, and why she decided to write a novel based on her extraordinary life.

Two readers, Debbie and Michelle, appeared on camera to ask Lisa about her interest in ancient Chinese medicine and the role of women in it, as well as how a new book idea comes to her. Michelle learned that Lisa's mother, Carolyn See, wrote a book called MAKING A LITERARY LIFE and was curious to know if Lisa followed her mother's writing advice.

We also fielded some fabulous questions from the audience that touched on a number of additional topics, including the book's gorgeous cover and Lisa's lovely necklaces, which an eagle-eyed reader noticed she wears to all of her events. Our attendees hailed from 37 states and Canada, which we were thrilled to see!

Book discussed in this episode:

LADY TAN'S CIRCLE OF WOMEN by Lisa See: https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/lady-tans-circle-of-women

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/RAA3xm1_z_o

Amanda Peters: https://youtu.be/WDDpUmWZEkY

Katherine Faulkner: https://youtu.be/TtPCMj-aYwQ

Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/r1Ls304DNuQ

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/SlDtz3pIX2g

Gilly Macmillan: https://youtu.be/69IZt7IN2m4

Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/Qwb4YxxQIPU

Douglas Brunt: https://youtu.be/IDCvXA0uTtQ

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/Qwb4YxxQIPU

Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan: https://youtu.be/A4t2w8dat7c

Alice Elliott Dark: https://youtu.be/4fgncFSfeM0

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/fD82fbLJ1Pg

Kristin Hannah: https://youtu.be/p4dVHdVZC3I

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/7HmJlMd0V1A

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/DT-XR5ue_5Q

Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/f_Ev0KN8z2M

Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/

FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter

Website: https://www.bookreporter.com

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Ashley Elston joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her instant New York Times bestseller, FIRST LIE WINS, which is Reese's Book Club pick for January and a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Ashley shares how she came to write this book and why the time was right for her to work on it. She explains what she learned about storytelling from the decade she spent as a wedding photographer, as well as her time writing YA novels, where readers keep authors on their toes.

Ashley wrote the start of the book, and it looks much like what people are reading now. She discusses how the backstories came about, including one that was added quite late in the process. Carol reads an early paragraph that points out the significance of the title. Plus, Ashley reveals what she knows about the status of the Hulu series adaptation of the book and fills us in on the script that she has read.

Book discussed in this episode:

FIRST LIE WINS by Ashley Elston: https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/first-lie-wins

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Amanda Peters: https://youtu.be/WDDpUmWZEkY

Katherine Faulkner: https://youtu.be/TtPCMj-aYwQ

Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/r1Ls304DNuQ

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/SlDtz3pIX2g

Gilly Macmillan: https://youtu.be/69IZt7IN2m4

Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/Qwb4YxxQIPU

Douglas Brunt: https://youtu.be/IDCvXA0uTtQ

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/Qwb4YxxQIPU

Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan: https://youtu.be/A4t2w8dat7c

Alice Elliott Dark: https://youtu.be/4fgncFSfeM0

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/fD82fbLJ1Pg

Kristin Hannah: https://youtu.be/p4dVHdVZC3I

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/7HmJlMd0V1A

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/DT-XR5ue_5Q

Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/f_Ev0KN8z2M

Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/

FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter

Website: https://www.bookreporter.com

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Amanda Peters joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her breakout hit debut novel, THE BERRY PICKERS, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Amanda, who is a mixed-race of Mi'kmaq and European ancestry, was born and raised in Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia. She explains how a trip with her father to Maine to see the actual site of the blueberry picking that is depicted in the book spurred the story. As he walked her through the fields and showed her the cabin where he and his family had lived during picking season, the story came to her.

Amanda had the opening line very quickly, and from there she wrote the book over a period of four years. For a long time, it was just in the voice of Joe, but she later saw that to have Norma's story told would bring something else to the novel. She shares how writing THE BERRY PICKERS has brought her closer to her Mi'kmaq roots and her very pleasant surprise at how the book has resonated so well with American readers. Plus, she discusses what she is working on now and offers a look ahead beyond that.

Book discussed in this episode:

THE BERRY PICKERS by Amanda Peters https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/the-berry-pickers

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Katherine Faulkner: https://youtu.be/TtPCMj-aYwQ

Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/r1Ls304DNuQ

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/SlDtz3pIX2g

Gilly Macmillan: https://youtu.be/69IZt7IN2m4

Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/Qwb4YxxQIPU

Douglas Brunt: https://youtu.be/IDCvXA0uTtQ

Tess Gerritsen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s885KBtDOsY

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/Qwb4YxxQIPU

Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan: https://youtu.be/A4t2w8dat7c

Alice Elliott Dark: https://youtu.be/4fgncFSfeM0

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/fD82fbLJ1Pg

Kristin Hannah: https://youtu.be/p4dVHdVZC3I

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/7HmJlMd0V1A

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/DT-XR5ue_5Q

Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/f_Ev0KN8z2M

Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/

FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter

Website: https://www.bookreporter.com

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Katherine Faulkner talks to Carol Fitzgerald about her latest domestic thriller, THE OTHER MOTHERS, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection (as was her previous book, GREENWICH PARK). They talk about her protagonist Tash, who, like Katherine, was a full-time journalist; she is on the prowl for a great story to jumpstart her freelance career.

Tash learns about the unsolved murder of a nanny, whose charge was the daughter of one of the cool and sophisticated group of mothers who Tash has met at her son Finn's school. Katherine shares how she wrote this book and what works for her as she develops a story. And they allude to the many twists that make THE OTHER MOTHERS a compulsive read.

Books discussed in this episode:

THE OTHER MOTHERS by Katherine Faulkner

GREENWICH PARK by Katherine Faulkner

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/r1Ls304DNuQ

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/SlDtz3pIX2g

Gilly Macmillan: https://youtu.be/69IZt7IN2m4

Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/Qwb4YxxQIPU

Douglas Brunt: https://youtu.be/IDCvXA0uTtQ

Tess Gerritsen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s885KBtDOsY

Jessica Knoll: https://youtu.be/Tbfe3JckjhI

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/Qwb4YxxQIPU

Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan: https://youtu.be/A4t2w8dat7c

Alice Elliott Dark: https://youtu.be/4fgncFSfeM0

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/fD82fbLJ1Pg

Kristin Hannah: https://youtu.be/p4dVHdVZC3I

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/7HmJlMd0V1A

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/DT-XR5ue_5Q

Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/f_Ev0KN8z2M

Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/

FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter

Website: https://www.bookreporter.com

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Carol Fitzgerald shares commentary about her 44 Bookreporter Bets On selections from 2023. These are books that she is betting Bookreporter readers will love! Podcast interviews are available for the asterisked authors.

Carol's Three Top Titles of 2023

Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See * Homecoming by Kate Morton * The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger *

Fiction Go As a River by Shelley Read * Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok * Yellowface by R.F. Kuang The Museum of Failures by Thrity Umrigar * The Better Half by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans * Things I Wish I Told My Mother by Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo, with James Patterson * The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews Historical Fiction Loyalty by Lisa Scottoline * The House of Lincoln by Nancy Horan * The House is on Fire by Rachel Beanland * The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict The House of Eve for Sadeqa Johnson * The Spectacular by Fiona Davis * Absolution by by Alice McDermott

Mysteries

The Mystery Guest: A Maid Novel by Nita Prose * Evergreen: A Japantown Mystery by Naomi Hirahara * Veil of Doubt by Sharon Virts * Happiness Falls by Angie Kim * Thrillers

Everyone Here is Lying by Shari Lapena * The Lie Maker by Linwood Barclay * All That is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay * The Whispers by Ashley Audrain * The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda Drowning: The Rescue of Flight 1421 by T.J. Newman Beware the Woman by Megan Abbott The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange * Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen * Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent * The Block Party by Jamie Day (text only on Bookreporter) Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur * Her, Too by Bonnie Kistler * Reef Road by Deborah Goodrich Royce * The Manor House by Gilly Macmillan * The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen * Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll * Exiles by Jane Harper * The House Guest by Hank Phillippi Ryan * The Other Mothers by Katherine Faulkner

Memoir Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education by Stephanie Land

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/r1Ls304DNuQ

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/SlDtz3pIX2g

Gilly Macmillan: https://youtu.be/69IZt7IN2m4

Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/Qwb4YxxQIPU

Douglas Brunt: https://youtu.be/IDCvXA0uTtQ

Tess Gerritsen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s885KBtDOsY

Jessica Knoll: https://youtu.be/Tbfe3JckjhI

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/Qwb4YxxQIPU

Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan: https://youtu.be/A4t2w8dat7c

Alice Elliott Dark: https://youtu.be/4fgncFSfeM0

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/fD82fbLJ1Pg

Kristin Hannah: https://youtu.be/p4dVHdVZC3I

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/7HmJlMd0V1A

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/DT-XR5ue_5Q

Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/f_Ev0KN8z2M

Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/

FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter

Website: https://www.bookreporter.com

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Nita Prose joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about THE MYSTERY GUEST, which is a follow-up to THE MAID. Like her first book, her latest is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Nita shares the challenges of writing a second novel featuring the same character and how she worked to be sure that the story here was as strong as what she delivered in THE MAID. She explains what this book reveals about her character Molly's background while still moving the story forward. There also is discussion about including a mystery writer and his fans in the novel. While Nita has been the Editorial Director at Simon & Schuster Canada, she talks about why she chose to step down from this position to be a full-time writer.

Books discussed in this episode:

THE MYSTERY GUEST by Nita Prose: https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/the-mystery-guest-a-maid-novel

THE MAID by Nita Prose: https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/the-maid

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/SlDtz3pIX2g

Gilly Macmillan: https://youtu.be/69IZt7IN2m4

Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/Qwb4YxxQIPU

Douglas Brunt: https://youtu.be/IDCvXA0uTtQ

Tess Gerritsen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s885KBtDOsY

Jessica Knoll: https://youtu.be/Tbfe3JckjhI

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan: https://youtu.be/A4t2w8dat7c

Alice Elliott Dark: https://youtu.be/4fgncFSfeM0

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/fD82fbLJ1Pg

Kristin Hannah: https://youtu.be/p4dVHdVZC3I

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/7HmJlMd0V1A

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/DT-XR5ue_5Q

Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/f_Ev0KN8z2M

Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/

FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter

Website: https://www.bookreporter.com

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Fiona Davis joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss THE SPECTACULAR, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Radio City Music Hall is the latest iconic New York City building that Fiona explores. This time, she layers in an additional element as she unearths a story about a habitual bomber who terrorized the city for a more than a decade, targeting well-known locations. A Rockette reached out to Fiona with the idea for the book, and she researched it from there. Adding the bomber pegged the book as a thriller, and Fiona discusses how she approached working to keep the action advancing. She also talks about her upcoming Audible original and the subject of her 2025 novel.

Book discussed in this episode:

THE SPECTACULAR by Fiona Davis

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Gilly Macmillan: https://youtu.be/69IZt7IN2m4

Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/Qwb4YxxQIPU

Douglas Brunt: https://youtu.be/IDCvXA0uTtQ

Tess Gerritsen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s885KBtDOsY

Jessica Knoll: https://youtu.be/Tbfe3JckjhI

Sharon Virts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3apzsRDXCI

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan: https://youtu.be/A4t2w8dat7c

Alice Elliott Dark: https://youtu.be/4fgncFSfeM0

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/fD82fbLJ1Pg

Kristin Hannah: https://youtu.be/p4dVHdVZC3I

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/7HmJlMd0V1A

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/DT-XR5ue_5Q

Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/f_Ev0KN8z2M

Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/

FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter

Website: https://www.bookreporter.com

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Gilly Macmillan joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her latest thriller, THE MANOR HOUSE. The premise is a fun one as a couple wins the lottery, and they set out to spend their winnings wisely. They first build a beautiful glass house with all the bells and whistles that one might want. It's just brilliant. But mere pages into the book, one of them is found dead in the swimming pool. What happened? Was it foul play, or was it an accident?

This is a book with so many twists and turns, and Gilly had lots of fun writing them. Plus, all that tech talk as the house performs as planned (or does not) just adds to the intrigue. Carol and Gilly talk about yoga for a bit. Also, Gilly shares that there is one question that Carol brings up that no one else has asked her about. And it just might surprise you!

Book discussed in this episode:

THE MANOR HOUSE by Gilly Macmillan

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/Qwb4YxxQIPU

Douglas Brunt: https://youtu.be/IDCvXA0uTtQ

Tess Gerritsen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s885KBtDOsY

Jessica Knoll: https://youtu.be/Tbfe3JckjhI

Sharon Virts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3apzsRDXCI

William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/Msr6r9J_-PY

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan: https://youtu.be/A4t2w8dat7c

Alice Elliott Dark: https://youtu.be/4fgncFSfeM0

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/fD82fbLJ1Pg

Kristin Hannah: https://youtu.be/p4dVHdVZC3I

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/7HmJlMd0V1A

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/DT-XR5ue_5Q

Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/f_Ev0KN8z2M

Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/

FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter

Website: https://www.bookreporter.com

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Carol Fitzgerald and Tom Donadio talk to eight Bookreporter reviewers about their top three books of 2023. Narrowing their selections down to just three was a challenge for all of them!

You can see the books that they discussed, along with their covers, here: https://www.bookreporter.com/sites/default/files/Bookaccino_Live_Special_Event_Bookreporter_Reviewers_Share_Their_Favorite_Books_of_2023.pdf

The order in which they appear: Norah Piehl, Harvey Freedenberg, Rebecca Munro, Pamela Kramer, Ray Palen, Eileen Zimmerman Nicol, Kate Ayers and Stuart Shiffman. A list of all of our reviewers' Best of 2023 will be available on December 15th on Bookreporter.com.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Douglas Brunt: https://youtu.be/IDCvXA0uTtQ

Tess Gerritsen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s885KBtDOsY

Jessica Knoll: https://youtu.be/Tbfe3JckjhI

Sharon Virts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3apzsRDXCI

William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/Msr6r9J_-PY

Jean Kwok: https://youtu.be/zi5aAQBvX6g

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Dani Shapiro: https://www.youtube.com/Qwb4YxxQIPU

Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan: https://youtu.be/A4t2w8dat7c

Alice Elliott Dark: https://youtu.be/4fgncFSfeM0

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/fD82fbLJ1Pg

Kristin Hannah: https://youtu.be/p4dVHdVZC3I

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/7HmJlMd0V1A

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/DT-XR5ue_5Q

Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/f_Ev0KN8z2M

Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/

FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter

Website: https://www.bookreporter.com

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions