Bookreporter Talks To

Wendy Wax joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her latest novel, The Break-Up Book Club, a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Wendy is known for writing character-driven novels; she jokes during the interview that there are times she wishes she could skip plot and conflict and just write characters.

The Break-Up Book Club is a briskly-paced story about a group of very different people that come together to share their love of reading and discuss books at a bookstore. There's the sports agent and single mother, the empty nester, the fiancé dealing with her high school sweetheart's cold feet, and the woman caught up in both husband and mother-in-law drama. During their book group discussions, they each share personal experiences and come to support one another. “What happens at book club stays at book club.”

Wendy talks to Carol about her personal journey writing this book, and how she struggled during the editing process with one particular character. She talks about what makes a book enjoyable, as well as what it means for people to love different things in fiction and how that can be brought to the conversation in book clubs. Anyone in a book group will enjoy getting to know members of The Break-Up Book Club.

Discussed in This Episode:

The Break-Up Book Club by Wendy Wax

More Bookreporter Talks To:
The Last Green Valley: https://youtu.be/jrZQAZ_rChQ
The Last Thing He Told Me: https://youtu.be/mK0ISnXjbhY
The Plot: https://youtu.be/OV_ORMNT8W0

Check out our other videos:
Bookaccino Book Club with Kim Michele Richardson: https://youtu.be/Y5R70-w0AVg
Bookaccino Book Club with William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/dX-mHWLmv5k

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

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Jean Hanff Korelitz joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her New York Times bestselling novel, The Plot, which also is a Bookreporter Bets On selection.

In The Plot, Jacob Finch Bonner is a novelist whose first book saw some success. Since then, his career has been floundering. He teaches at a third-rate writing workshop when he comes across a terrific plot for a novel from one of his arrogant students. Later, he learns that this student has died without writing the book he presented during that class. Jake takes that plot and writes “Crib,” which becomes a massive hit. Just after he's risen to stardom, Jake receives an email that reads, "You are a thief."

Jean and Carol talk about the subject of who owns ideas, plagiarism, and how Jean created her story within the story. They discuss the film adaptations of Jean’s books --- You Should Have Known, which aired on HBO in adaptation as "The Undoing," starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, and Admission, adapted in 2013, starring Tina Fey and Lily Tomlin. They also talk about Jean’s very successful “Book the Writer” author book club series.

Discussed in this episode:

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/the-plot

Book The Writer for book groups: http://www.bookthewriter.com/

More Bookreporter Talks To:
The Good Sister: https://youtu.be/iPQHB7ZpsTw
The Last Green Valley: https://youtu.be/jrZQAZ_rChQ
The Last Thing He Told Me: https://youtu.be/mK0ISnXjbhY

Check out our other videos:
Bookaccino Book Club with Kim Michele Richardson: https://youtu.be/Y5R70-w0AVg
Bookaccino Book Club with William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/dX-mHWLmv5k

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

Laura Dave joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her first domestic suspense novel, The Last Thing He Told Me, which was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller, and is a Reese Witherspoon Book Pick and a Bookreporter Bets On selection. The idea for this book is one that Laura had for a while; she started writing notes for it back in 2012, even as she was writing other books. This includes Eight Hundred Grapes, which Carol jokes that she thinks of whenever she opens a bottle of wine.

In The Last Thing He Told Me, Hannah Hall learns that her husband of one year has disappeared. Before he goes missing, he's able to get a note to her that reads, "Protect her." Hannah knows that he wants her to protect his daughter Bailey, her stepdaughter who wants nothing to do with her. As Hannah attempts to find Owen, she realizes that her husband isn't who he said he is. Hannah and Bailey must team up and go on the road to uncover what he was really up to, learning about each other along the way.

In addition to discussing her inspiration for the book, Laura talks about the screenplay that she and her husband are writing to adapt. This is an adaptation of Hello Sunshine for Apple TV, which will star Julia Roberts. And they also talk about their mutual love of cooking!

Book discussed in this episode:

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

More Bookreporter Talks To:
Eternal: https://youtu.be/aigaunUSXAo
The Good Sister: https://youtu.be/iPQHB7ZpsTw
The Last Green Valley: https://youtu.be/jrZQAZ_rChQ

Check out our other videos:
Bookaccino Book Club with Kim Michele Richardson: https://youtu.be/Y5R70-w0AVg Bookaccino
Book Club with William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/dX-mHWLmv5k

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

Robert Kolker, the New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Valley Road, was our May “Bookaccino Live” Book Club guest.

Hidden Valley Road, which is now available in paperback, follows the true story of the Galvin family, which was upended by acute schizophrenia in the 1960's and 1970's. At that time, the family hid any suspicion of their abnormal lives, but under the curtain was a history of psychological breakdowns, sudden violence, and abuse. In their conversation, Robert discusses in depth his research and writing process and also highlights the reception his book received from the Galvin siblings. He shares what has been developing to treat this illness.

With this opportunity to have a live book group discussion with readers who already had read the book, Kolker dove deep into the narrative without the fear of spoiling anything. Stay tuned to hear the great questions from our readers, and know that if you've already read Hidden Valley Road, there's plenty of background you will take away from this interview.

More Bookreporter Talks To:
Eternal: https://youtu.be/aigaunUSXAo
The Good Sister: https://youtu.be/iPQHB7ZpsTw
The Last Green Valley: https://youtu.be/jrZQAZ_rChQ

Check out our other videos:
Bookaccino Book Club with Kim Michele Richardson: https://youtu.be/Y5R70-w0AVg
Bookaccino Book Club with William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/dX-mHWLmv5k

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

Pam Jenoff joins us to talk about her latest New York Times bestseller, THE WOMAN WITH THE BLUE STAR.

Inspired by true events, THE WOMAN WITH THE BLUE STAR tells the story of Sadie Gault, a young woman who takes refuge with her family in the sewers beneath the Krakow Ghetto as Nazis begin to ship Jews to the camps in the middle of WWII. While walking one day Ella, a young Polish girl, spies Sadie beneath the sewer grate and they strike up a conversation. Horrified by their situation, Ella offers to bring them food and supplies, which puts herself at risk. As the war worsens, so does the risk to their lives, and at each day there are challenges for both of them.

Pam talks to Carol about how she found the kernel of this story, and how her experiences living in Poland shaped her thoughts on the narrative. She also shares how she views her place in speaking on that history. Their conversation covers a lot of ground about the unexpected consequences of war.

Before she began writing, she had experience in foreign service, stationed in Poland for a couple of years, and several years as an attorney. She continues to teach law school while she writes, and many of her experiences from these other parts of her life have found their way into her stories.

More Bookreporter Talks To:
Eternal: https://youtu.be/aigaunUSXAo
The Good Sister: https://youtu.be/iPQHB7ZpsTw
The Last Green Valley: https://youtu.be/jrZQAZ_rChQ

Check out our other videos:
Bookaccino Book Club with Kim Michele Richardson: https://youtu.be/Y5R70-w0AVg
Bookaccino Book Club with William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/dX-mHWLmv5k

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

Mark Sullivan joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about his new historical thriller, THE LAST GREEN VALLEY. Many readers know Mark from his last historical novel, BENEATH A SCARLET SKY, which was a mega-bestseller. THE LAST GREEN VALLEY book is eagerly anticipated.

THE LAST GREEN VALLEY here opens in the Ukraine, where the Martel family is offered two options: wait for Stalin to arrive, or run with the Nazis who will protect them. Neither is a great choice, but they choose the latter. As Ethnic Germans, they begin a trek to get as far west as they can. The family, which includes Emil and Adeline Martel and their two young boys, first travel with a wagon and two horses, and later they pull a cart with their belongings.

Mark talks about how he came upon their story in Bozeman, his current hometown, and how it ticked all the boxes about a story that he would want to write. He shares stories about his research trip to the Ukraine with the two Martel brothers, who are now in their late seventies and eighties. Mark talks about pacing and what he learned from years of co-writing with James Patterson. And he shares a bit about what his next book is going to be about. Mark’s passion for his work comes through in both his writing – and in talking about his books.

It’s a conversation that you will not want to miss!

Books discussed in this episode:

THE LAST GREEN VALLEY by Mark Sullivan

More Bookreporter Talks To: Gabriela Garcia: https://youtu.be/ikz9EjESdY0

Lisa Scottoline: https://youtu.be/aigaunUSXAo

Sally Hepworth: https://youtu.be/iPQHB7ZpsTw

Check out our other videos:

Bookaccino Book Club with Kim Michele Richardson: https://youtu.be/Y5R70-w0AVg
Bookaccino Book Club with William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/dX-mHWLmv5k

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

Kim Michele Richardson , the New York Times bestselling author of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, was our April “Bookaccino Live” Book Club guest. Kim Michele is a Kentuckian, who is proud to share her Kentucky heritage and that of those before her.

Inspired by both the true stories of the "blue people" of Kentucky, and the WPA’s Pack Horse Librarian Project, Kim Michele created the character of Cussy Mary Carter, a true Blue, who travels the hills of rural Kentucky bringing reading material to people who otherwise would not have access to them. While Cussy brings the joy of books to the hill folks of the Appalachia, she repeatedly confronts prejudice, which is often violent, because of her blue skin. Kim Michele also explains more about the blood disorder methemoglobinemia, which causes the appearance of blue-tinged skin.

With this opportunity to have a live book group discussion, Kim Michele dove deep into the book without the fear of spoiling anything. Stay tuned to hear the great questions from our readers, and know that if you've already read The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, there's plenty of background you will take away from this interview.

Books discussed in this episode:

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

Here are further suggestions from Kim Michele Richardson:

The Woodsman's Daughter by Gwyn Hyman Rubio
The Dollmaker by Harriette Simpson Arnow
Collected Works of Effie Walker Smith
The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis

More Bookreporter Talks To:

Gabriela Garcia: https://youtu.be/ikz9EjESdY0

Lisa Scottoline: https://youtu.be/aigaunUSXAo

Sally Hepworth: https://youtu.be/iPQHB7ZpsTw

Check out our other videos:

Bookaccino Book Club with William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/dX-mHWLmv5k

Bookaccino Book Club with Jeanine Cummins: https://youtu.be/yY-yhIXjMYM

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

Sally Hepworth, the New York Times bestselling author of The Good Sister, joins Carol Fitzgerald from Australia to talk about her latest domestic thriller, which also is a Bookreporter Bets On selection.

In The Good Sister, there are twin sisters --- Fern and Rose. Fern, who has behavior issues which allude to being on the autism spectrum, always has relied upon her twin, Rose. When Fern discovers that Rose cannot get pregnant, Fern decides to pay Rose back for everything she's done for her by bearing her a child. This means finding the right man, one who won't disrupt her calculated routine. In her attempts, Fern stirs up things in the past that may have been better left hidden. The tagline on the cover hints to the sinister nature of what will go on --- “everyone has a dark side.”

In their conversation, Sally talks to Carol about her inspiration for this novel, its lovely dedication, and her adventures with her own family during lockdown in Melbourne, many of which were hilariously documented on Instagram. They also talk about Sally’s writing process and what’s next for her. This is the second time that Carol has interviewed Sally, and this conversation was just as much fun as their last one about THE MOTHER-IN-LAW.

Books discussed in this episode:

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/the-good-sister-by-sally-hepworth

More Bookreporter Talks To:

Nadia Hashimi: https://youtu.be/sKz6KwjjFsw

Gabriela Garcia: https://youtu.be/ikz9EjESdY0

Lisa Scottoline: https://youtu.be/aigaunUSXAo

Check out our other videos:

Bookaccino Book Club with William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/dX-mHWLmv5k

Bookaccino Book Club with Jeanine Cummins: https://youtu.be/yY-yhIXjMYM

Best Books of 2020: https://youtu.be/Q_N6r_l1-Ss

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

Lisa Scottoline, the #1 bestselling author of 33 novels, joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her first work of historical fiction, ETERNAL, a sweeping historical epic inspired by true events. Lisa shares the inspiration for ETERNAL, which was four decades in the making. The seeds of it were sown during a class she took at the University of Pennsylvania. The class was taught by Philip Roth, and the fictional works of Primo Levi were part of the curriculum. She was drawn to write about the rise of Fascism and Mussolini in Italy and how the invasion of the Nazis put the lives of Italian Jews in jeopardy.

Told through the eyes of three childhood friends -- Elisabetta, Marco, and Sandro -- the book makes the story of heartbreak, betrayal, and loss a personal one.

Lisa shares details of her research for the book, including a trip to Italy where she created the videos that she has shared with readers on her website. It’s a riveting conversation about the book she feels she was destined to write.

Book discussed in this episode:

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

Check out our other videos:

Bookaccino Book Club with William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/dX-mHWLmv5k

Bookaccino Book Club with Jeanine Cummins: https://youtu.be/yY-yhIXjMYM

Best Books of 2020: https://youtu.be/Q_N6r_l1-Ss

More Bookreporter Talks To: Alexandra Andrews: https://youtu.be/OU6ZKkWfq2c

Nadia Hashimi: https://youtu.be/sKz6KwjjFsw

Gabriela Garcia: https://youtu.be/ikz9EjESdY0

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

Gabriela Garcia, whose short fiction and poetry has appeared in Best American Poetry and other collections, joins Carol to discuss her first novel, OF WOMEN AND SALT, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection.
OF WOMEN AND SALT looks at the lives of two families of women, from the days of the cigar factories in the nineteenth century Cuba to modern day Miami, with a look also at migrant detention centers sheltering people coming from Mexico. The voices of these women are intertwined in such a way that their history is woven for the reader. We see how actions of today come as reactions for what happened in the past. The perspective of the book shifts from woman to woman in each chapter, but is brought together brilliantly at the end.
Gabriela shares her personal journey to write this novel, including her process to begin a longform story. She discusses many of the timely cultural topics that are looked at in her prose, as well as how she worked to blend the women’s voices together.

Book discussed in this episode:

OF WOMEN AND SALT by Gabriela Garcia https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/of-women-and-salt/about

Check out our other videos:

Bookaccino Book Club with William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/dX-mHWLmv5k

Bookaccino Book Club with Jeanine Cummins: https://youtu.be/yY-yhIXjMYM

Best Books of 2020: https://youtu.be/Q_N6r_l1-Ss

More Bookreporter Talks To: Chris Whittaker: https://youtu.be/Jvv8-e6SqsA

Alexandra Andrews: https://youtu.be/OU6ZKkWfq2c

Nadia Hashimi: https://youtu.be/sKz6KwjjFsw

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