Bookreporter Talks To

Amanda Eyre Ward joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her latest novel, The Lifeguards.

This novel follows a close-knit group of mothers who have raised their 15-year-old sons together. One night, their sons return from their jobs as lifeguards and share something that shakes their mothers to the core. The aftereffects of this incident could upend everything in their lives as they move through a flurry of police reports, neighborhood drama, and conflicted relationships.

Amanda talks to Carol about what inspired her to start this story: the unpleasant reality of people who lack empathy, and what their mothers must go through. They talk about themes that are a part of the book motherhood, privilege, money, longing, and family. Amanda had been one of our last interviews before we closed the office in 2020, where she talked about her former book The Jetsetters.

Book Discussed in the Episode The Lifeguards by Amanda Eyre Ward https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/the-lifeguards

More Bookreporter Talks To: The Last Affair: https://youtu.be/ywopugYjdmo The Long Weekend: https://youtu.be/vmH2hNHFH6U Sister Stardust: https://youtu.be/0JqRcvnKPro

Check out our Bookaccino Book Club live events! Lisa Scottoline: https://youtu.be/-SCBGFZeoaM Lisa See: https://youtu.be/SdfiOwpBJ2s

Sign up for the weekly Bookreporter.com newsletter here: http://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/bookreporter-weekly-newsletter-subscribe

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

Photography Credit: Greg Fitzgerald

Jane Green joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about latest novel, Sister Stardust, her first book of biographical fiction.

For years, Jane has been interested in Talitha Getty, the second wife of John Paul Getty. Sister Stardust reimagines the life of Talitha in the '60s during her time in Morocco. Talitha is a famous model and actress. She's rich, exuberant, and universally loved, embedded in a world of art and love. The story is told through the eyes of Claire, who moves from her English town to London, and she is swept up in Talitha's world. The closer they grow, the more Claire learns about the dark past of this mysterious and revered woman.

Jane talks to Carol about British history that Americans may not be familiar with, and how that tied into Talitha Getty's life. They discuss research and the challenges in fictionalizing a star's life. Jane also talks about changes in life due to social media and what that means for her next project.

Book Discussed in the Episode Sister Stardust by Jane Green https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/sister-stardust

More Bookreporter Talks To: My Darling Husband: https://youtu.be/aY8SDiyIBrU The Last Affair: https://youtu.be/ywopugYjdmo The Long Weekend: https://youtu.be/vmH2hNHFH6U

Check out our Bookaccino Book Club live events! Lisa Scottoline: https://youtu.be/-SCBGFZeoaM Lisa See: https://youtu.be/SdfiOwpBJ2s

Sign up for the weekly Bookreporter.com newsletter here: http://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/bookreporter-weekly-newsletter-subscribe

FOLLOW US Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter Website: https://www.bookreporter.com Photography Credit: Greg Fitzgerald

Gilly Macmillan talks to Carol Fitzgerald about her latest locked-room thriller, The Long Weekend.

The book begins with a group of women who travel to an isolated part of England ahead of their husbands for a week away. As soon as they arrive, a note from “E” tells them one of their husbands has already been killed. “E” is Edie, who used to be part of one of the couples who took this annual trip, but her husband died the year before. With no cell service and treacherous walk to the nearest landline, they are trapped.

Gilly talks to Carol about how she wanted to take this opportunity to write something fast and thrilling. She discusses how she found her characters through multiple drafts and how she laced the twists in. Carol said that it was a novel that reminded her of Ruth Ware in that it was both fun and terrifying. And yes, they talk about what’s next.

Book Discussed in the Episode The Long Weekend by Gilly Macmillan https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/the-long-weekend

More Bookreporter Talks To: The Violin Conspiracy: https://youtu.be/dPsKZXxHnRs My Darling Husband: https://youtu.be/aY8SDiyIBrU The Last Affair: https://youtu.be/ywopugYjdmo

Check out our Bookaccino Book Club live events! Lisa Scottoline: https://youtu.be/-SCBGFZeoaM Lisa See: https://youtu.be/SdfiOwpBJ2s

Sign up for the weekly Bookreporter.com newsletter here: http://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/bookreporter-weekly-newsletter-subscribe

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

Photography Credit: Greg Fitzgerald

Lisa See was our guest for our March “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event where we discussed her first book On Gold Mountain with readers. Lisa is known for her on-hands approach to researching and writing historical fiction. On Gold Mountain is a work of nonfiction, originally published in 1995. It is an exploration of 100 years of her family history, beginning with her great-great-grandfather's arrival in America in 1867 from China. Lisa spent years traveling and researching, diving into family stories, and carefully pulling together transcripts to write this multi-generational work.

Lisa talks to Carol about her quest to seek her family history and the discoveries she made along the way. Following their discussion, the conversation was opened to questions from the audience. And yes, Lisa shares a glimpse into what’s next, her new book is now slated for March 2023.

Book Discussed in the Episode ON GOLD MOUNTAIN by Lisa See https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/on-gold-mountain

More Bookreporter Talks To: The Violin Conspiracy: https://youtu.be/dPsKZXxHnRs My Darling Husband: https://youtu.be/aY8SDiyIBrU The Last Affair: https://youtu.be/ywopugYjdmo

Check out our Bookaccino Book Club live events! Jim DeFede: https://youtu.be/y2im_W_wGsw Lisa Scottoline: https://youtu.be/-SCBGFZeoaM

Sign up for the weekly Bookreporter.com newsletter here: http://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/bookreporter-weekly-newsletter-subscribe

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

Photography Credit: Greg Fitzgerald

John Searles joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about his latest novel, Her Last Affair. The book opens with the sentence, “Every marriage has its secrets," and those secrets are what drive the plot.

Skyla is a burnt-out nurse stuck with the regrets of her marriage and her late husband, Linelle is bored in her long-time marriage, and Jeremy is reminiscing on heartbreak. The book has been described as a Coen brothers picture, and that description is dead on.

John’s first idea for this book came as he traveled home to see his mom and saw a closed drive-in movie theatre. There is something iconic and mysterious about this setting. John and Carol both worked in magazines and they spend some time doing a homage to what was with magazines, and about what has changed about them. They also used to have gossipy conversations on 57th Street when they worked nearby each other, and this interview is like taking you behind the scenes for one of their dishy chats.

Book Discussed in the Episode: Her Last Affair by John Searles https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/her-last-affair

More Bookreporter Talks To: The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post: https://youtu.be/ywUPJ9_iiB8 The Violin Conspiracy: https://youtu.be/dPsKZXxHnRs My Darling Husband: https://youtu.be/aY8SDiyIBrU Check out our Bookaccino Book Club live events! Jim DeFede: https://youtu.be/y2im_W_wGsw Lisa Scottoline: https://youtu.be/-SCBGFZeoaM

Sign up for the weekly Bookreporter.com newsletter here: http://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/bookreporter-weekly-newsletter-subscribe

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

Photography Credit: Greg Fitzgerald

Kimberly Belle, the author of My Darling Husband talks to Carol Fitzgerald in our latest Bookreporter Talks To interview.

The book takes a small-scale home invasion that Jade Lasky and her two children face, and ramps it into a high octane, life and death situation. Jade’s husband, Cam, must come up with a very specific ransom. Jade questions how well she knows her husband and his supposedly successful restaurant business.

Kimberly talks about “the steak king” of Atlanta's ins and outs of the restaurant business, and how looks can deceive folks. She also talks about how she strove to create characters who would be realistic up against these odds. They chat about the Killer Author Club series that she is doing with Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda on Facebook.

Book Discussed in this Episode: My Darling Husband by Kimberly Belle https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/my-darling-husband

More Bookreporter Talks To: The Good Son: https://youtu.be/AZN6U3XCFJo The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post: https://youtu.be/ywUPJ9_iiB8 The Violin Conspiracy: https://youtu.be/dPsKZXxHnRs

Check out our Bookaccino Book Club live events! Jim DeFede: https://youtu.be/y2im_W_wGsw Lisa Scottoline: https://youtu.be/-SCBGFZeoaM

Sign up for the weekly Bookreporter.com newsletter here: http://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/bookreporter-weekly-newsletter-subscribe

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

Photography Credit: Greg Fitzgerald

Brendan Slocumb talks to Carol Fitzgerald about his much acclaimed debut novel, The Violin Conspiracy, which was a Good Morning America Book Club selection and a Bookreporter Bets On pick.

The novel follows Ray McMillian, who discovers a love of playing the violin, but is unable to afford an instrument of his own. When he takes his family heirloom violin in for repairs, it is found to be a Stradivarius and suddenly there is a lot of attention to it --- and him. Shortly before his appearance at the biggest classic music competition in the world, his violin is stolen, and Ray needs millions of dollars for ransom.

Brendan talks about how he came to write the book, which he wrote over the course of a few months. They discuss the pacing and many of the characters who mirror people from his own life. He also discusses his life as a musician and the similarities between music and writing, and the ways he uses music to influence the reader.

Book Discussed in this Episode:
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/the-violin-conspiracy

More Bookreporter Talks To:
Eternal: https://youtu.be/-SCBGFZeoaM
The Good Son: https://youtu.be/AZN6U3XCFJo
The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post: https://youtu.be/ywUPJ9_iiB8

Check out our Bookaccino Book Club live events!
Jim DeFede: https://youtu.be/y2im_W_wGsw
Lisa Scottoline: https://youtu.be/-SCBGFZeoaM

Sign up for the weekly Bookreporter.com newsletter here: http://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/bookreporter-weekly-newsletter-subscribe

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

Photography Credit: Greg Fitzgerald

Allison Pataki talks to Carol Fitzgerald about her latest historical fiction, The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection.

Marjorie created an amazing life for herself. She served as a host to presidents, accompanied her husband as an ambassador to the Soviet Union, and changed how Americans ate. The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post tells the true story of how she made the journey from small town farm girl to a world of wealth, influence, and high society.

Allison talks to Carol about discovering Marjorie’s story and the ways Marjorie balanced her societal, political, and charity efforts. And yes, they dish about her four marriages. It’s a lively conversation about a woman and a book that could make for a great book group discussion.

Book Discussed in this Episode:
The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki
https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/the-magnificent-lives-of-marjorie-post

More Bookreporter Talks To:
Black Cake: https://youtu.be/_dRi_xh11XM
Eternal: https://youtu.be/-SCBGFZeoaM
The Good Son: https://youtu.be/AZN6U3XCFJo

Check out our Bookaccino Book Club live events!
Jim DeFede: https://youtu.be/y2im_W_wGsw
Lisa Scottoline: https://youtu.be/-SCBGFZeoaM

Sign up for the weekly Bookreporter.com newsletter here: http://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/bookreporter-weekly-newsletter-subscribe

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

Photography Credit: Greg Fitzgerald

New York Times bestselling author Jacquelyn Mitchard talks to Carol Fitzgerald about her new novel, The Good Son.

Stefan was 17 when he was sent to prison for the murder of his girlfriend. Three years later, he is released and his mother watches the community turn against him, while she grapples with her own son committing such a crime.

Jacquelyn talks to Carol about the struggles characters face when up against impossible emotions, and why she wrote the book in the first person. She says she had the first two sentences from the start; Carol calls them a great “cold open.” They reminisce about The Deep End of the Ocean, which was Jacquelyn's first novel and Oprah’s first Book Club pick. This was more than 25 years ago in 1996, the same year that The Book Report Network launched.

Book Discussed in this Episode:
The Good Son by Jacquelyn Mitchard
https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/the-good-son-by-jacquelyn-mitchard/about

More Bookreporter Talks To:
The Cage: https://youtu.be/Ef9yeUqu418
Black Cake: https://youtu.be/_dRi_xh11XM
Eternal: https://youtu.be/-SCBGFZeoaM

Check out our Bookaccino Book Club live events!
William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/dX-mHWLmv5k
Jim DeFede: https://youtu.be/y2im_W_wGsw

Sign up for the weekly Bookreporter.com newsletter here:
http://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/bookreporter-weekly-newsletter-subscribe

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

Photography Credit: Greg Fitzgerald

Lisa Scottoline was our guest at the Bookaccino Live Book Club to talk about her New York Times bestselling historical fiction novel, Eternal.

Eternal is a sweeping epic set in Rome as fascism takes hold. Elisabetta's childhood best friends, Sandro and Marco, both try to win her heart. But when World War II begins and Mussolini takes on more control, everything they know about life changes. Elisabetta is faced with survival, betrayal, and heartbreak.

During this discussion, Lisa and Carol took a deep dive into the book, in which Lisa shared details about her research and inspiration. She talked about the ethical choices her characters had to face and how writing this book influenced her worldview and writing process. Readers joined the live event to ask questions of their own on camera.

--A map of the locations that are in the book, along with videos from Lisa can be found here:
https://www.scottoline.com/eternal-behind-the-book/

Eternal by Lisa Scottoline
https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/eternal-by-lisa-scottoline/about

More Bookreporter Talks To:
The Other Family: https://youtu.be/LRXLFF-Vh18
The Cage: https://youtu.be/Ef9yeUqu418
Black Cake: https://youtu.be/_dRi_xh11XM

Check out our Bookaccino Book Club live events!
William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/dX-mHWLmv5k
Jim DeFede: https://youtu.be/y2im_W_wGsw

Sign up for the weekly Bookreporter.com newsletter here: http://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/bookreporter-weekly-newsletter-subscribe

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

Photography Credit: Greg Fitzgerald