Bookreporter Talks To

Carolyn Mackler joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her first book for adults, THE WIFE APP. Carol was a huge fan of Carolyn's YA novels, including THE EARTH, MY BUTT, AND OTHER BIG ROUND THINGS; TANGLED; GUYAHOLIC; VEGAN VIRGIN VALENTINE; and LOVE AND OTHER FOUR-LETTER WORDS. Carolyn got the idea for this book talking to her mom friends about the kind of work that typically is handled by women in the family — filling out school forms, arguing with the insurance company, and so much more. In THE WIFE APP, three divorced women join forces to create an app where tasks like these are work-for-hire. Carolyn gives readers a glimpse into her very different characters and how they embrace challenges. She also talks about what's next for her.

Book discussed in this episode:

THE WIFE APP by Carolyn Mackler:

https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/the-wife-app

Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Adrienne Brodeur: https://youtu.be/6U7kf2KVtco

Lisa See: https://youtu.be/D8XYEYI60Ww

Nancy Horan: https://youtu.be/49bdiHbIUmY

Linwood Barclay: https://youtu.be/pkDG90y9FN0

Alice Elliott Dark: https://youtu.be/9AAk-lLDRbc

Kate Morton: https://youtu.be/LMjdzDRlqrg

Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo: https://youtu.be/ZWDnhSS26KI

Lisa Scottoline: https://youtu.be/8F-CDltuc3E

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/TW01NY0d7CE

William Landay: https://youtu.be/Zcok9PHuRHw

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/aZHZx2LaU4Y

William Kent Krueger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDK_Ngau8qs&t=45s

Check out our past "Bookaccino Live" Book Group events:

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

Chamaine Wilkerson: https://youtu.be/0DluxmfXGoI

Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray: https://youtu.be/rYelwWiTJbE

Janet Skeslien Charles: https://youtu.be/47Sx9DtcAkA

Miranda Cowley Heller: https://youtu.be/gVlKvApDO8M

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

Adrienne Brodeur joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her novel, LITTLE MONSTERS, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. They talk characters — and each shares her favorite — as well as the story's structure with multiple points of view. Adrienne has spent summers on the Cape for as long as she can remember, and her writing so beautifully about the place gives a clear picture of how much she loves it — and treasures time there.

After writing her memoir, WILD GAME, where her mother was a central character, Adrienne noted that the mother is absent in her novel. They talk about a particular scene that has not come up in an interview before. And yes, they discuss the title — and the cover design. Oh, and why does one ask for female lobsters when buying them? It's a brisk conversation that covers a lot of ground but gives away no spoilers.

Book discussed in this episode:

LITTLE MONSTERS by Adrienne Brodeur

https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/little-monsters-by-adrienne-brodeur

Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Lisa See: https://youtu.be/D8XYEYI60Ww

Nancy Horan: https://youtu.be/49bdiHbIUmY

Linwood Barclay: https://youtu.be/pkDG90y9FN0

Alice Elliott Dark: https://youtu.be/9AAk-lLDRbc

Kate Morton: https://youtu.be/LMjdzDRlqrg

Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo: https://youtu.be/ZWDnhSS26KI

Lisa Scottoline: https://youtu.be/8F-CDltuc3E

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/TW01NY0d7CE

William Landay: https://youtu.be/Zcok9PHuRHw

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/aZHZx2LaU4Y

William Kent Krueger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDK_Ngau8qs&t=45s

J.T. Ellison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F63lFI2nmw

Check out our past "Bookaccino Live" Book Group events:

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

Chamaine Wilkerson: https://youtu.be/0DluxmfXGoI

Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray: https://youtu.be/rYelwWiTJbE

Janet Skeslien Charles: https://youtu.be/47Sx9DtcAkA

Miranda Cowley Heller: https://youtu.be/gVlKvApDO8M

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

Lisa See joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her new novel, LADY TAN'S CIRCLE OF WOMEN, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Lisa explains how she got the idea for this book, inspired by the true story of a woman physician from 15th-century China, which was different from the one she planned to write. She later discovered that Tan Yunxian had written a book, and it had been translated into English. From there, she headed down a rabbit hole of research to ensure that her storytelling was on point. Lisa shares why she writes in the first person and how she strives to get every detail right. She also talks about how women have been viewed in China through the centuries and speaks in-depth about the marriage bed that is in the book, one that she played in as a child in the family store. And for those who want to know what she is writing next, be sure to listen to the end.

Book discussed in this episode: 

LADY TAN'S CIRCLE OF WOMEN by Lisa See:

https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/lady-tans-circle-of-women

Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Nancy Horan: https://youtu.be/49bdiHbIUmY

Linwood Barclay: https://youtu.be/pkDG90y9FN0

Alice Elliott Dark: https://youtu.be/9AAk-lLDRbc

Kate Morton: https://youtu.be/LMjdzDRlqrg

Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo: https://youtu.be/ZWDnhSS26KI

Lisa Scottoline: https://youtu.be/8F-CDltuc3E

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/TW01NY0d7CE

William Landay: https://youtu.be/Zcok9PHuRHw

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/aZHZx2LaU4Y

William Kent Krueger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDK_Ngau8qs&t=45s

J.T. Ellison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F63lFI2nmw

Check out our past "Bookaccino Live" Book Group events:

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

Chamaine Wilkerson: https://youtu.be/0DluxmfXGoI

 Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray: https://youtu.be/rYelwWiTJbE

Janet Skeslien Charles: https://youtu.be/47Sx9DtcAkA

Miranda Cowley Heller: https://youtu.be/gVlKvApDO8M

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

Nancy Horan joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her latest work of historical fiction, THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN. Nancy was born in Springfield, Illinois, and always was intrigued by Lincoln and his legacy there. In 2014, she started her research on Lincoln and what the city might have been like during his time. The resulting book is told through the eyes of a fictitious character named Ana Ferreira, who works for the Lincolns.

 Ana emigrated from Madeira, Portugal, to Springfield by way of Trinidad, which would be a typical journey for a young woman of her time. She befriends a young African American woman named Cal. Through Cal’s eyes, she sees the Underground Railroad as it heads through Springfield, where slaves are shepherded to freedom. Spanning decades from 1851 to 1909, the book tells the story of great change in the country. THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN, like Nancy’s debut novel, LOVING FRANK, is a Bookreporter Bets On selection.

Book discussed in this episode: 

https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/the-house-of-lincoln

Latest “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews:

Linwood Barclay: https://youtu.be/pkDG90y9FN0

Alice Elliott Dark: https://youtu.be/9AAk-lLDRbc

Kate Morton: https://youtu.be/LMjdzDRlqrg

Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo: https://youtu.be/ZWDnhSS26KI

Lisa Scottoline: https://youtu.be/8F-CDltuc3E

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/TW01NY0d7CE

William Landay: https://youtu.be/Zcok9PHuRHw

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/aZHZx2LaU4Y

William Kent Krueger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDK_Ngau8qs&t=45s

J.T. Ellison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F63lFI2nmw

Hank Phillippi Ryan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMZjJCtKUU4

Check out our past “Bookaccino Live” Book Group events:

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

Chamaine Wilkerson: https://youtu.be/0DluxmfXGoI

 Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray: https://youtu.be/rYelwWiTJbE

Janet Skeslien Charles: https://youtu.be/47Sx9DtcAkA

Miranda Cowley Heller: https://youtu.be/gVlKvApDO8M

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

Laura Dave joined us for a "Bookaccino Live" Book Group event to discuss her New York Times bestselling novel, THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME. Laura had the idea for this book for a while, and she wrote it from different perspectives before finding the first-person story told by Hannah that we read. She talks about how she needs time to settle in with her characters and her plot, and then turns to what serves the book most. She also shares some of the research that she did about houseboat life, as well as the scenes set in Texas. And, to the delight of our readers, she previews what’s next.

Latest “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews:

Linwood Barclay: https://youtu.be/pkDG90y9FN0

Alice Elliott Dark: https://youtu.be/9AAk-lLDRbc

Kate Morton: https://youtu.be/LMjdzDRlqrg

Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo: https://youtu.be/ZWDnhSS26KI

Lisa Scottoline: https://youtu.be/8F-CDltuc3E

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/TW01NY0d7CE

William Landay: https://youtu.be/Zcok9PHuRHw

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/aZHZx2LaU4Y

William Kent Krueger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDK_Ngau8qs&t=45s

J.T. Ellison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F63lFI2nmw

Check out our past “Bookaccino Live” Book Group events:

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

Chamaine Wilkerson: https://youtu.be/0DluxmfXGoI

 Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray: https://youtu.be/rYelwWiTJbE

Janet Skeslien Charles: https://youtu.be/47Sx9DtcAkA

Miranda Cowley Heller: https://youtu.be/gVlKvApDO8M

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

Linwood Barclay joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about his latest thriller, THE LIE MAKER. They delve into its theme of witness protection --- and the protagonist Jack’s quest to find his father, who entered the WITSEC program years ago. They talk about witness protection and the interesting role with which Jack is presented. Linwood’s love of cars once again finds its way into this story. He also shares something that he has had in his desk for over 50 years and what it means to him. Carol thinks this is his best book, as does Bookreporter reviewer Ray Palen. The pages fly by, and the ending comes at you full barrel.

Book discussed in this episode: 

THE LIE MAKER by Linwood Barclay:

https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/the-lie-maker

Latest “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews:

Alice Elliott Dark: https://youtu.be/9AAk-lLDRbc

Kate Morton: https://youtu.be/LMjdzDRlqrg

Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo: https://youtu.be/ZWDnhSS26KI

Lisa Scottoline: https://youtu.be/8F-CDltuc3E

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/TW01NY0d7CE

William Landay: https://youtu.be/Zcok9PHuRHw

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/aZHZx2LaU4Y

William Kent Krueger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDK_Ngau8qs&t=45s

J.T. Ellison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F63lFI2nmw

Hank Phillippi Ryan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMZjJCtKUU4

Check out our past “Bookaccino Live” Book Group events:

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

Chamaine Wilkerson: https://youtu.be/0DluxmfXGoI

 Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray: https://youtu.be/rYelwWiTJbE

Janet Skeslien Charles: https://youtu.be/47Sx9DtcAkA

Miranda Cowley Heller: https://youtu.be/gVlKvApDO8M

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

Alice Elliott Dark talks to Carol Fitzgerald about the writing of her book, FELLOWSHIP POINT, which took 20 years to complete. It was one of Carol’s favorite books of 2022, and she read it more slowly than usual, enjoying both the story and the brilliant use of language.

Alice shares how the characters evolved and how one had a central role until she saw the story was headed in a different direction. The development of the friendship between Agnes and Polly was one that felt very natural to her, with its ebbs and flows. And the secrets that they kept from each other only enhanced them as characters. The plot has at its core a piece of land that has been held by family members for centuries, and what should happen to it as this generation passes. Agnes wants it to be held by a land trust, but can that prevail?

Alice also talked about her current project, where she is picking up with the characters who readers came to know in her story, “In the Gloaming,” which first appeared in The New Yorker in 1993. It inspired two memorable film adaptations. The discussion was brisk, and from it listeners will come to see why Alice is so beloved --- and why we want the next book in less than 20 years.

Book discussed in this episode: 

FELLOWSHIP POINT by Alice Elliott Dark:

https://www.bookreporter.com/features/bookreportercom-bets-on/fellowship-point

Latest “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews:

Kate Morton: https://youtu.be/LMjdzDRlqrg

Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo: https://youtu.be/ZWDnhSS26KI

Lisa Scottoline: https://youtu.be/8F-CDltuc3E

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/TW01NY0d7CE

William Landay: https://youtu.be/Zcok9PHuRHw

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/aZHZx2LaU4Y

William Kent Krueger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDK_Ngau8qs&t=45s

J.T. Ellison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F63lFI2nmw

Hank Phillippi Ryan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMZjJCtKUU4

Jane Harper: https://youtu.be/-N2EWgHeeEU

Check out our past “Bookaccino Live” Book Group events:

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

Chamaine Wilkerson: https://youtu.be/0DluxmfXGoI

 Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray: https://youtu.be/rYelwWiTJbE

Janet Skeslien Charles: https://youtu.be/47Sx9DtcAkA

Miranda Cowley Heller: https://youtu.be/gVlKvApDO8M

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

Kate Morton joined Carol Fitzgerald from Australia to talk about her latest New York Times bestseller, HOMECOMING, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. During the early days of the pandemic, Kate headed to Australia with her family for what was to be an Easter visit. As they realized that their time there was going to be longer than planned, Kate put aside a manuscript that she was working on. Inspired by the Australian landscape and the idea of her own homecoming, she began this book. In this interview, Kate shares how the story evolved. Beautiful homes, places and landscapes draw her eye (as witnessed on her Instagram page). From there, the characters and plot take shape.

There is also a book within the book here --- a true crime book that sparks the characters to learn more. Carol forgot to ask Kate if she wrote this true crime story first, so Carol circled back to her in email. She replied: “I made notes for Daniel Miller’s book in its entirety and knew from the start that it would have two basic parts: the Turner family’s activities on the last day of their lives, and the investigation afterwards. In concept, I thought the second part would be longer than it was. But as I progressed, I realized that I didn’t need to show the investigation via Daniel Miller, because Jess’ research provided so much of the necessary information. I wrote the first part, covering the Turner family’s final day, in one fell swoop; the rest I wrote as it appears in the book.” Carol and Kate cover a lot of ground in their conversation. HOMECOMING is worth the five-year wait since Kate’s last book, THE CLOCKMAKER’S DAUGHTER.

Book discussed in this episode: 

HOMECOMING by Kate Morton:

https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/homecoming-by-kate-morton

Latest “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews:

Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo: https://youtu.be/ZWDnhSS26KI

Lisa Scottoline: https://youtu.be/8F-CDltuc3E

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/TW01NY0d7CE

William Landay: https://youtu.be/Zcok9PHuRHw

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/aZHZx2LaU4Y

William Kent Krueger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDK_Ngau8qs&t=45s

J.T. Ellison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F63lFI2nmw

Hank Phillippi Ryan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMZjJCtKUU4

Jane Harper: https://youtu.be/-N2EWgHeeEU

Deborah Goodrich Royce: https://youtu.be/0DluxmfXGoI

Check out our past “Bookaccino Live” Book Group events:

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

Chamaine Wilkerson: https://youtu.be/0DluxmfXGoI

 Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray: https://youtu.be/rYelwWiTJbE

Janet Skeslien Charles: https://youtu.be/47Sx9DtcAkA

Miranda Cowley Heller: https://youtu.be/gVlKvApDO8M

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

Kristin Hannah joined Carol Fitzgerald for a “Bookaccino Live” Book Group discussion of her novel, THE FOUR WINDS. Kristin shared her research process, which consists of a year of reading everything she can get her hands on about her chosen topic --- including memoirs --- to give her insight into the time period. She talked about discovering that Elsa was her protagonist, not her daughter Loreda, and how that meant abandoning hundreds of pages of writing. And she revealed the very interesting way that she came up with the title of the book. Readers chimed in on and off camera with terrific questions that made for a robust discussion.

Latest “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews:

Lisa Scottoline: https://youtu.be/8F-CDltuc3E

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/TW01NY0d7CE

William Landay: https://youtu.be/Zcok9PHuRHw

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/aZHZx2LaU4Y

William Kent Krueger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDK_Ngau8qs&t=45s

J.T. Ellison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F63lFI2nmw

Hank Phillippi Ryan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMZjJCtKUU4

Jane Harper: https://youtu.be/-N2EWgHeeEU

Deborah Goodrich Royce: https://youtu.be/0DluxmfXGoI

Check out our past “Bookaccino Live” Book Group events:

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

Chamaine Wilkerson: https://youtu.be/0DluxmfXGoI

Joyce Maynard: https://youtu.be/atXP9_gxGU8

 Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray: https://youtu.be/rYelwWiTJbE

Janet Skeslien Charles: https://youtu.be/47Sx9DtcAkA

Miranda Cowley Heller: https://youtu.be/gVlKvApDO8M

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

Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo join Carol Fitzgerald to talk about their novel, THINGS I WISH I TOLD MY MOTHER. Both of them enjoyed life with their mothers, who lived well into their 90s. So they decided to write a fictional title about a mother and daughter duo. In the book, Laurie works in advertising and loves new experiences. Her mom is the famous “Dr. Liz,” an elegant perfectionist who is renowned and receives great praise wherever she goes. They embark on a trip to Paris and Norway (the latter is where Liz grew up). The Susans explained where the idea came from, how they worked together, and what they infused from their own adventure in Norway into the story. A number of Bookreporter readers read an advance copy of the book, and many of their comments (they loved it) are shared throughout the conversation, making it a tad different from other interviews that we have done.

Book discussed in this episode: 

THINGS I WISH I TOLD MY MOTHER by Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo:

https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/things-i-wish-i-told-my-mother

Latest “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews:

Lisa Scottoline: https://youtu.be/8F-CDltuc3E

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/TW01NY0d7CE

William Landay: https://youtu.be/Zcok9PHuRHw

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/aZHZx2LaU4Y

William Kent Krueger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDK_Ngau8qs&t=45s

J.T. Ellison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F63lFI2nmw

Hank Phillippi Ryan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMZjJCtKUU4

Jane Harper: https://youtu.be/-N2EWgHeeEU

Deborah Goodrich Royce: https://youtu.be/0DluxmfXGoI

Check out our past “Bookaccino Live” Book Group events:

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

Chamaine Wilkerson: https://youtu.be/0DluxmfXGoI

Joyce Maynard: https://youtu.be/atXP9_gxGU8

 Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray: https://youtu.be/rYelwWiTJbE

Janet Skeslien Charles: https://youtu.be/47Sx9DtcAkA

Miranda Cowley Heller: https://youtu.be/gVlKvApDO8M

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