Bookreporter Talks To

Laura Dave joined us for a "Bookaccino Live" Book Group event to discuss her instant New York Times bestseller, THE FIRST TIME I SAW HIM, a Reese's Book Club pick and a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Laura shared how she came to write the sequel to THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME and what matters to her when it comes to writing and her writing process. She also talked about the screen adaptations of her books, giving readers a great deal of insight into how those are created.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Susan Patterson: https://youtu.be/jvZjwDq_dUw

Jane Harper: https://youtu.be/PTqqPXbbX8A

Devi S. Laskar: https://youtu.be/FR-6fGxBUS4

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/5I4q_OFCiTg

Patricia Finn: https://youtu.be/QhZagqICgU4

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/ED0LOkAarVE

Wendy Walker: https://youtu.be/y-2G5AC9heU

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/Yb_ig0leaQA

Paula McLain: https://youtu.be/vKwg0G18sCA

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Lisa Ridzén: https://youtu.be/dleYdLoh0bY

Patrick Ryan: https://youtu.be/keazeWK1lto

Lily King: https://youtu.be/_yo2x2ZA0B0

Allen Levi: https://youtu.be/tELDtaqsD7g

Clare Leslie Hall: https://youtu.be/j0j3_ScryJg

Paula Hawkins: https://youtu.be/nxakmJRaKaY

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

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Website: https://www.bookreporter.com

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Susan Patterson joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her latest novel, THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER BOOK CLUB, which she wrote with her husband, James Patterson. Set in Lake Como, Italy, the story revolves around four mothers and their five daughters, exploring mother-daughter relationships through a book club. Three of the mothers met at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which is Susan's alma mater. The book evolved naturally from the success and themes of their previous collaboration, THINGS I WISH I TOLD MY MOTHER. Susan and James decided to structure chapters by character point of view to make it easier for readers to follow multiple characters. Lake Como was selected because it represents one of the most beautiful places, with a perfect landscape, mountains, water and food.

Please note that some of the questions for this interview came from readers who won an advance copy of the book in a previous Bookreporter contest.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Jane Harper: https://youtu.be/PTqqPXbbX8A

Devi S. Laskar: https://youtu.be/FR-6fGxBUS4

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/5I4q_OFCiTg

Patricia Finn: https://youtu.be/QhZagqICgU4

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/ED0LOkAarVE

Wendy Walker: https://youtu.be/y-2G5AC9heU

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/Yb_ig0leaQA

Paula McLain: https://youtu.be/vKwg0G18sCA

Belle Burden: https://youtu.be/kmlJvv037Yg

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Lisa Ridzén: https://youtu.be/dleYdLoh0bY

Patrick Ryan: https://youtu.be/keazeWK1lto

Lily King: https://youtu.be/_yo2x2ZA0B0

Allen Levi: https://youtu.be/tELDtaqsD7g

Clare Leslie Hall: https://youtu.be/j0j3_ScryJg

Paula Hawkins: https://youtu.be/nxakmJRaKaY

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 Ridzén joined us from Sweden for a "Bookaccino Live" Book Group event about her internationally bestselling debut novel, WHEN THE CRANES FLY SOUTH, which also was the Swedish Book of the Year and a Bookreporter Bets On pick. This was a very special program with smart questions from our readers.

Lisa was completely engaged and brilliantly shared her inspiration for writing the book. She also talked about having a work in translation as it originally was written in Swedish and is now published in 45 countries. The enthusiasm from our attendees was clear, and there was lots of agreement on why it is a great book group selection, as well as one where the message will stay with you.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Jane Harper: https://youtu.be/PTqqPXbbX8A

Devi S. Laskar: https://youtu.be/FR-6fGxBUS4

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/5I4q_OFCiTg

Patricia Finn: https://youtu.be/QhZagqICgU4

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/ED0LOkAarVE

Wendy Walker: https://youtu.be/y-2G5AC9heU

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/Yb_ig0leaQA

Paula McLain: https://youtu.be/vKwg0G18sCA

Belle Burden: https://youtu.be/kmlJvv037Yg

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Patrick Ryan: https://youtu.be/keazeWK1lto

Lily King: https://youtu.be/_yo2x2ZA0B0

Allen Levi: https://youtu.be/tELDtaqsD7g

Clare Leslie Hall: https://youtu.be/j0j3_ScryJg

Paula Hawkins: https://youtu.be/nxakmJRaKaY

Amy Neff: https://youtu.be/lfHGY8VEyoA

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

Jane Harper joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her sixth novel, LAST ONE OUT, which is set in Carralon Ridge, a dying rural Australian mining town that has become a shadow of its former self due to an industrial mining operation. It follows Ro Crowley as she returns annually to investigate her son Sam's disappearance on the eve of his 21st birthday five years earlier.

This is Harper's first book with a female main character after five previous novels featuring male protagonists. She explains why Ro was the perfect character to tell this story. She also talks about the three houses near where Sam disappeared, which are almost characters themselves.

Harper took a three-year break between books to avoid burnout and spend time with her young children. She returned refreshed to write this novel.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Devi S. Laskar: https://youtu.be/FR-6fGxBUS4

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/5I4q_OFCiTg

Patricia Finn: https://youtu.be/QhZagqICgU4

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/ED0LOkAarVE

Wendy Walker: https://youtu.be/y-2G5AC9heU

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/Yb_ig0leaQA

Paula McLain: https://youtu.be/vKwg0G18sCA

Belle Burden: https://youtu.be/kmlJvv037Yg

Rebecca Armitage: https://youtu.be/xVTebMX3Bg0

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Patrick Ryan: https://youtu.be/keazeWK1lto

Lily King: https://youtu.be/_yo2x2ZA0B0

Allen Levi: https://youtu.be/tELDtaqsD7g

Clare Leslie Hall: https://youtu.be/j0j3_ScryJg

Paula Hawkins: https://youtu.be/nxakmJRaKaY

Amy Neff: https://youtu.be/lfHGY8VEyoA

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

Devi S. Laskar joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her third novel, MIDNIGHT, AT THE WAR, which is primarily set in the years after 9/11. The protagonist, Rita Das, is a journalist inspired by Christiane Amanpour and Sylvia Poggioli, who planted themselves in conflict zones for their reporting. The book explores both personal and professional challenges faced by Rita, who is running from conflicts in her own life into parts of the world where she finds herself in unknown political circumstances as she works. She has complicated relationships, including a rocky marriage, a lover, a sick mother, and difficulties with her father.

The unnamed location where Rita is stationed allows readers to focus on universal themes rather than specific geopolitical details. It provides a look at a time when journalism was much more fact-based than it is now, where the most important thing seems to be "being first" instead of "being right."

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/5I4q_OFCiTg

Patricia Finn: https://youtu.be/QhZagqICgU4

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/ED0LOkAarVE

Wendy Walker: https://youtu.be/y-2G5AC9heU

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/Yb_ig0leaQA

Paula McLain: https://youtu.be/vKwg0G18sCA

Belle Burden: https://youtu.be/kmlJvv037Yg

Rebecca Armitage: https://youtu.be/xVTebMX3Bg0

Vicky Nguyen: https://youtu.be/ssPMpaokVp8

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Patrick Ryan: https://youtu.be/keazeWK1lto

Lily King: https://youtu.be/_yo2x2ZA0B0

Allen Levi: https://youtu.be/tELDtaqsD7g

Clare Leslie Hall: https://youtu.be/j0j3_ScryJg

Paula Hawkins: https://youtu.be/nxakmJRaKaY

Amy Neff: https://youtu.be/lfHGY8VEyoA

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 joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her latest novel, IT GIRL, which is a USA Today bestseller and a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Allison shares that her inspiration for the book was Evelyn Nesbit, one of the Gibson Girls of the early 20th century, who became America's first self-made female celebrity and "It Girl," rising from poverty in Pittsburgh to Broadway stardom.

The story takes place during a transformative period following the Gilded Age with new technology like electricity, automobiles and cameras, and the birth of Broadway as the "Great White Way." It examines the exploitation of young women in early celebrity culture while exploring themes of survival, agency and female empowerment. Allison and Carol also talk about their mutual love of audiobooks. Carol listened to IT GIRL and appreciated Barrie Kreinik's narration.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Patricia Finn: https://youtu.be/QhZagqICgU4

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/ED0LOkAarVE

Wendy Walker: https://youtu.be/y-2G5AC9heU

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/Yb_ig0leaQA

Paula McLain: https://youtu.be/vKwg0G18sCA

Belle Burden: https://youtu.be/kmlJvv037Yg

Rebecca Armitage: https://youtu.be/xVTebMX3Bg0

Vicky Nguyen: https://youtu.be/ssPMpaokVp8

Brisa Carleton: https://youtu.be/aE2cCH4oMsk

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Patrick Ryan: https://youtu.be/keazeWK1lto

Lily King: https://youtu.be/_yo2x2ZA0B0

Allen Levi: https://youtu.be/tELDtaqsD7g

Clare Leslie Hall: https://youtu.be/j0j3_ScryJg

Paula Hawkins: https://youtu.be/nxakmJRaKaY

Amy Neff: https://youtu.be/lfHGY8VEyoA

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

Patrick Ryan joined us for March's "Bookaccino Live" Book Group. We had a brilliant conversation about his debut novel, BUCKEYE, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Readers from across the country shared their questions about the plot, the characters, the cover, the audiobook --- and so much more.

Patrick noted that the book took six years to write and two years to edit. He discussed his inspiration for it, which included trips to see family in Ohio on summer vacations from his home in Florida. He also talked about the map he constructed of the town of Bonhomie to ensure that he had scenes set in the right places.

This interview has lots of information for those who are scheduling book group discussions.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Patricia Finn: https://youtu.be/QhZagqICgU4

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/ED0LOkAarVE

Wendy Walker: https://youtu.be/y-2G5AC9heU

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/Yb_ig0leaQA

Paula McLain: https://youtu.be/vKwg0G18sCA

Belle Burden: https://youtu.be/kmlJvv037Yg

Rebecca Armitage: https://youtu.be/xVTebMX3Bg0

Vicky Nguyen: https://youtu.be/ssPMpaokVp8

Brisa Carleton: https://youtu.be/aE2cCH4oMsk

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Lily King: https://youtu.be/_yo2x2ZA0B0

Allen Levi: https://youtu.be/tELDtaqsD7g

Clare Leslie Hall: https://youtu.be/j0j3_ScryJg

Paula Hawkins: https://youtu.be/nxakmJRaKaY

Amy Neff: https://youtu.be/lfHGY8VEyoA

J. Courtney Sullivan: https://youtu.be/fE8XHj-vV40

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

Patricia Finn joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her novel, THE GOLDEN BOY, a complex, non-linear narrative about marriage, friendship and redemption that spans multiple timelines. The book explores themes of memory, identity, exile and atonement through the lives of Stafford and Agnes, a wealthy couple who are living on Maui when readers first meet them. The novel's structure consists of three parts: marriage (a 24-hour period on Maui), friendship (non-linear memories) and found family.

This is Patricia's first novel at the age of 71, and she talks about how her background — which includes television writing, ghostwriting, corporate communications and crisis management — informs her literary approach. She notes that she used the real-life trial of Steven Truscott from 1959 to explore themes of justice and moral choices.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/ED0LOkAarVE

Wendy Walker: https://youtu.be/y-2G5AC9heU

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/Yb_ig0leaQA

Paula McLain: https://youtu.be/vKwg0G18sCA

Belle Burden: https://youtu.be/kmlJvv037Yg

Rebecca Armitage: https://youtu.be/xVTebMX3Bg0

Vicky Nguyen: https://youtu.be/ssPMpaokVp8

Brisa Carleton: https://youtu.be/aE2cCH4oMsk

Alex DeMille: https://youtu.be/EstkI7Caul8

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Lily King: https://youtu.be/_yo2x2ZA0B0

Allen Levi: https://youtu.be/tELDtaqsD7g

Clare Leslie Hall: https://youtu.be/j0j3_ScryJg

Paula Hawkins: https://youtu.be/nxakmJRaKaY

Amy Neff: https://youtu.be/lfHGY8VEyoA

J. Courtney Sullivan: https://youtu.be/fE8XHj-vV40

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

Lily King joined us for February's "Bookaccino Live" Book Group to discuss her most recent novel, HEART THE LOVER, which is an instant New York Times bestseller and a Bookreporter Bets On selection.

Eight readers joined us on camera to ask Lily questions about the plot and its various twists (spoilers ARE included), as well as character development, her writing process, the book's title and cover, and much more. Other members of the audience, who submitted their questions via Zoom's Q&A feature, were curious to know about Lily's involvement with the production of the audiobook (which is narrated by Rebecca Lowman) and what she's most proud of about HEART THE LOVER.

Lily is currently on vacation, so we really appreciate her taking the time to join us. Carol and Tom loved the lively conversation and the enthusiasm that our readers continue to show for this book.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/ED0LOkAarVE

Wendy Walker: https://youtu.be/y-2G5AC9heU

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/Yb_ig0leaQA

Paula McLain: https://youtu.be/vKwg0G18sCA

Belle Burden: https://youtu.be/kmlJvv037Yg

Rebecca Armitage: https://youtu.be/xVTebMX3Bg0

Vicky Nguyen: https://youtu.be/ssPMpaokVp8

Brisa Carleton: https://youtu.be/aE2cCH4oMsk

Alex DeMille: https://youtu.be/EstkI7Caul8

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Allen Levi: https://youtu.be/tELDtaqsD7g

Clare Leslie Hall: https://youtu.be/j0j3_ScryJg

Paula Hawkins: https://youtu.be/nxakmJRaKaY

Amy Neff: https://youtu.be/lfHGY8VEyoA

J. Courtney Sullivan: https://youtu.be/fE8XHj-vV40

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/hv68HE3tjLU

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 discuss her latest novel, KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN. Like her earlier two works of historical fiction, it is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Sadeqa shares that she found a piece about the Brown Babies when she was doing research for THE HOUSE OF EVE. The story was calling to her, but she put it aside to finish that book.

She learned more about the Brown Babies and Mabel Grammer, the inspiration for her character Ethel Gathers, in both Ebony and Jet magazines. Bringing these children from Germany to the United States brought lots of press; there is even a documentary called Brown Babies: The Mischlingskinder Story.

Sadeqa talks about crafting the three different characters the way that she did and the challenge of parsing their stories together. She also expresses her love of the audiobook, which features three voice actors --- Ariel Blake, Karen Chilton and Adam Lazarre-White --- the latter of whom she came to admire when he narrated S. A. Cosby's work.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Wendy Walker: https://youtu.be/y-2G5AC9heU

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/Yb_ig0leaQA

Paula McLain: https://youtu.be/vKwg0G18sCA

Belle Burden: https://youtu.be/kmlJvv037Yg

Rebecca Armitage: https://youtu.be/xVTebMX3Bg0

Vicky Nguyen: https://youtu.be/ssPMpaokVp8

Brisa Carleton: https://youtu.be/aE2cCH4oMsk

Alex DeMille: https://youtu.be/EstkI7Caul8

Lily King: https://youtu.be/ir_IaUnaru4

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Allen Levi: https://youtu.be/tELDtaqsD7g

Clare Leslie Hall: https://youtu.be/j0j3_ScryJg

Paula Hawkins: https://youtu.be/nxakmJRaKaY

Amy Neff: https://youtu.be/lfHGY8VEyoA

J. Courtney Sullivan: https://youtu.be/fE8XHj-vV40

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/hv68HE3tjLU

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