Bookreporter Talks To

Rachel Beanland, who we interviewed previously about FLORENCE ADLER SWIMS FOREVER, is back to talk to Carol Fitzgerald about THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE, her latest work of historical fiction. This novel reimagines what happened in the Richmond Theater Fire of 1811 through the eyes of four characters. This lively conversation includes Rachel sharing why she selected these people to represent the story and her feelings about each of them. She also explains how this story came to her --- and how she headed down the rabbit hole to research it. The pandemic precluded her writing another book, which would have required more research, so she was lucky to have this story to explore near her Richmond home. The back of the book includes some of her reference material for further reading. This would be perfect for a book group discussion.

Book discussed in this episode:

THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE by Rachel Beanland:

https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/the-house-is-on-fire

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

Allison Pataki joined Carol Fitzgerald for a "Bookaccino Live" Book Group discussion about her novel, THE MAGNIFICENT LIVES OF MARJORIE POST. Allison talked about what drew her to write about Marjorie Merriweather Post and how she decided which aspects of Marjorie’s life to share. She also explained how her work as an on-air journalist helped her as she was both researching and discussing the book. The conversation was brisk and fun, with great audience questions, and included what is next for Allison: AMERICAN MUSE, a novel that centers on the life of Margaret Fuller, whose circle included Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne (who based Hester Prynne on her), Louisa May Alcott and Edgar Allan Poe.

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

Allegra Goodman: https://youtu.be/l_Un9MvpmNQ

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

Lisa Scottoline talks to Carol Fitzgerald about her second work of historical fiction, LOYALTY. They cover a lot of ground, talking about the trip to Sicily that inspired the characters and the settings. Before heading there, Lisa had done a lot of research about Italy and the rise of the Mafia, but her travels gave her the opportunity to situate her characters and bring them to the page for readers. They also discuss the book’s structure and why it was done that way. Edoardo Ballerini narrates the audiobook, and Lisa explains why she feels he is so right for this book. Plus, she shares what the novel’s original title was and why it changed. Lisa has an interactive map, videos and commentary on her website, Scottoline.com, to enhance the reading experience and truly immerse readers in the book.

Book discussed in this episode:

LOYALTY by Lisa Scottoline:

https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/loyalty-by-lisa-scottoline

Latest “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews:

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

Allegra Goodman: https://youtu.be/l_Un9MvpmNQ

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

Sadeqa Johnson joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about THE HOUSE OF EVE, her second work of historical fiction. She explains that the inspiration for the book came from her family history. She also discusses character development and which character came to her first. Unlike her previous novel, YELLOW WIFE, she had lots of contemporary history to delve into as she was conducting her research, including foods, rituals and, yes, fashion. And then there was the statistic that between 1945 and 1973, 1.5 million women in the United States lost children to forced adoption, and what that might mean.

Book discussed in this episode:

THE HOUSE OF EVE by Sadeqa Johnson

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

Latest “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews:

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

 Allegra Goodman: https://youtu.be/l_Un9MvpmNQ

Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/cxN5wItfyP0

Clare Mackintosh: https://youtu.be/yxU_npofftw 

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

William Landay talks to Carol Fitzgerald about ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME, his first book in 11 years following his bestseller, DEFENDING JACOB. They discuss the structure of the novel, which is told in four parts, and why he chose this method of storytelling. They also delve into crime writing and what has happened to this genre both in books and on the screen. And yes, they talk about the limited series adaptation of DEFENDING JACOB on Apple TV+, which was so well done.

Book discussed in this episode:

ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME by William Landay:

https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/all-that-is-mine-i-carry-with-me

Latest “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews:

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

 Allegra Goodman: https://youtu.be/l_Un9MvpmNQ

Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/cxN5wItfyP0

Clare Mackintosh: https://youtu.be/yxU_npofftw 

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

Fiona Davis joined Carol Fitzgerald for a "Bookaccino Live" Book Group discussion about her novel, THE MAGNOLIA PALACE. Fiona talked about her inspiration to set the book at the Frick Museum. She shared some terrific photos that gave readers background on her characters and research process. She also discussed her other work, including what has drawn her to select particular buildings to feature, and the expert she speaks with before she begins a project, who she consults with along the way. She also explained how her acting career has inspired her writing. The conversation was lively and included what is next for Fiona, THE SPECTACULAR, which takes place at Radio City Music Hall.

Latest “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews:

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/VnZ4cKwTezc

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

Allegra Goodman: https://youtu.be/l_Un9MvpmNQ

Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/cxN5wItfyP0

Clare Mackintosh: https://youtu.be/yxU_npofftw

Jamie Fiore Higgins: https://youtu.be/bz6tTCLmxlE

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

Shelley Read joins Carol Fitzgerald for a deep-dive conversation about her highly anticipated debut novel, GO AS A RIVER, and the history behind it. Carol has spent a lot of time in the Gunnison Valley of Colorado that Shelley writes about, so this book felt very personal to her. Shelley, a fifth-generation Coloradan, shares the background on how she came to write the novel --- and why it took until she was in her 50s to finish it. They also talk about Shelley’s love of the outdoors and how that found its way into so much of her prose. GO AS A RIVER is a Bookreporter Bets On selection and would be perfect for book group discussions.

Book discussed in this episode:

GO AS A RIVER by Shelley Read:

https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/go-as-a-river

 Latest “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews:

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

Allegra Goodman: https://youtu.be/l_Un9MvpmNQ

Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/cxN5wItfyP0

Clare Mackintosh: https://youtu.be/yxU_npofftw

Jamie Fiore Higgins: https://youtu.be/bz6tTCLmxlE

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

William Kent Krueger talks to Carol Fitzgerald about his novella, THE LEVEE, which is available in audio format only. He shares the history of this story, as well as the decision to produce it as an audio original. They talk about the narrator, JD Jackson, and how his performance really brought the story to life. Kent’s books are known for their strong characters, and he discusses the importance of character development. The audiobook includes an author’s note read by Kent and a preview of his next novel, THE RIVER WE REMEMBER (on sale September 5th), which he mentions in the interview.

Book discussed in this episode:

THE LEVEE: https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/the-levee-audiobook

Latest “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews:

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

Allegra Goodman: https://youtu.be/l_Un9MvpmNQ

Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/cxN5wItfyP0

Clare Mackintosh: https://youtu.be/yxU_npofftw

 Jamie Fiore Higgins: https://youtu.be/bz6tTCLmxlE

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

J.T. Ellison talks to Carol Fitzgerald about the inspiration for her new thriller, IT’S ONE OF US, as well as her personal story that made it her most emotional book to write. She shares when she learned about sperm donors, as well as what sites like 23andMe and Ancestry have meant to those who were born via donors.

Of course, as a thriller writer, she found herself headed down rabbit holes on Discord to do research. She explains why she had her protagonist, Olivia, be a home designer and answers Carol’s burning design question: What is “waterfall marble”? Olivia’s husband, Park, is a ghostwriter, and J.T. points out that his career would be over if he was outed.

J.T. discusses her writing process and what she does to work around hitting walls. She envisioned Julia Whelan as the narrator of the book. In fact, Julia’s voice was running through her head when she wrote, which makes Julia’s narration all the more special. J.T. and Carol also talk about the title and the cover --- and how, after tossing a number around, they knew this was the right one.

Book discussed in this episode:

 IT’S ONE OF US:

https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/its-one-of-us

Latest “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews:

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

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

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

Allegra Goodman: https://youtu.be/l_Un9MvpmNQ

Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/cxN5wItfyP0

Clare Mackintosh: https://youtu.be/yxU_npofftw

Jamie Fiore Higgins: https://youtu.be/bz6tTCLmxlE

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

Hank Phillippi Ryan talks to Carol Fitzgerald about her latest thriller, THE HOUSE GUEST, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. She offers insight into her characters, Alyssa and Bree, and explains how she created the cat-and-mouse game in which they find themselves.

As she wrote she upped the stakes, and they discuss how the last 25% of the book is full of one twist after another. And yes, how did she do that? Hank is a multi-Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter and also is known as a superb interviewer of mystery and thriller authors. Carol jokes that it was a challenge to interview her as she has admired her moderating many an event and panel.

They also talk about something that Hank does whenever she reads a book, a habit that readers definitely will have an opinion about.

Book discussed in this episode:

HOUSE GUEST:

https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/the-house-guest-by-hank-phillippi-ryan

Latest “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews:

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

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

Allegra Goodman: https://youtu.be/l_Un9MvpmNQ

Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/cxN5wItfyP0

Clare Mackintosh: https://youtu.be/yxU_npofftw

 Jamie Fiore Higgins: https://youtu.be/bz6tTCLmxlE

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