Bookreporter Talks To

Victoria Christopher Murray joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about HARLEM RHAPSODY, which is her first solo historical novel (she has written New York Times bestsellers with her co-author, Marie Benedict). She explains why she chose to write about the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and shares her extensive research, which included reading issues of The Crisis, the official magazine of the NAACP, and her wonderful finds of letters and other works that helped to bring this story together.

Victoria speaks of admiring Jessie Redmon Fauset and her education and career success, as well as what happened later in her life. She is enthusiastic about how much has been achieved, as just 50 years ago, Black people had been enslaved and didn't have access to education.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/sq4T8qGV5ko

Katy Hays: https://youtu.be/mNOW8_CJ0zM

Georgia Hunter: https://youtu.be/E0zRbp6ti8g

Jeff Hobbs: https://youtu.be/Y-B_yErFlvI

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

Charmaine Wilkerson: https://youtu.be/jxlrtbxCAsE

Marie Benedict: https://youtu.be/-GF-3ZU4a1M

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Marjan Kamali: https://youtu.be/ePn3taNUHRI

Anna Quindlen: https://youtu.be/OgMczT4JlTs

Lisa Wingate: https://youtu.be/X4RKP3mT4Rc

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/nQgw214dyjs

Ariel Lawhon: https://youtu.be/rowGE3T2rfE

Amanda Peters: https://youtu.be/sWX2Mxw5fT

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/3KdG1kIfcgc

William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/IsIQJn3vYNI

Ann Napolitano: https://youtu.be/VNYNugzjVbo

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

Marjan Kamali joined us for April's "Bookaccino Live" Book Group to discuss THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN. This national bestseller and a 2024 Bookreporter Bets On selection is a heartfelt novel of friendship, betrayal and redemption set against three transformative decades in Tehran, Iran. Marjan talks about her inspiration for the book, which came from a childhood friendship. She also explains how she developed the storyline and fleshed it out from there. And in addition to sharing her writing process, Marjan fills us in on what she is working on now.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/sq4T8qGV5ko

Katy Hays: https://youtu.be/mNOW8_CJ0zM

Georgia Hunter: https://youtu.be/E0zRbp6ti8g

Jeff Hobbs: https://youtu.be/Y-B_yErFlvI

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

Charmaine Wilkerson: https://youtu.be/jxlrtbxCAsE

Marie Benedict: https://youtu.be/-GF-3ZU4a1M

Joseph Finder: https://youtu.be/HIUUcBQeRWE

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Anna Quindlen: https://youtu.be/OgMczT4JlTs

Lisa Wingate: https://youtu.be/X4RKP3mT4Rc

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/nQgw214dyjs

Ariel Lawhon: https://youtu.be/rowGE3T2rfE

Amanda Peters: https://youtu.be/sWX2Mxw5fT

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/3KdG1kIfcgc

William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/IsIQJn3vYNI

Ann Napolitano: https://youtu.be/VNYNugzjVbo

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

Nita Prose joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about THE MAID'S SECRET, her last book featuring Molly the Maid. She shares that she did not set out to write a series, but once the first book was finished, it was clear that there was more to Molly's story. Nita enjoyed developing a voice for Gran in this novel; in the prior installments, everything about Gran came to readers from Molly. She muses about "the egg," which was referenced throughout the series as the nest egg, and how that had real implications in this final book. And yes, Nita reveals what's next for her.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Katy Hays: https://youtu.be/mNOW8_CJ0zM

Georgia Hunter: https://youtu.be/E0zRbp6ti8g

Jeff Hobbs: https://youtu.be/Y-B_yErFlvI

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

Charmaine Wilkerson: https://youtu.be/jxlrtbxCAsE

Marie Benedict: https://youtu.be/-GF-3ZU4a1M

Joseph Finder: https://youtu.be/HIUUcBQeRWE

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Anna Quindlen: https://youtu.be/OgMczT4JlTs

Lisa Wingate: https://youtu.be/X4RKP3mT4Rc

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/nQgw214dyjs

Ariel Lawhon: https://youtu.be/rowGE3T2rfE

Amanda Peters: https://youtu.be/sWX2Mxw5fT

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/3KdG1kIfcgc

William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/IsIQJn3vYNI

Ann Napolitano: https://youtu.be/VNYNugzjVbo

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

Katy Hays joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her latest novel, SALTWATER, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. The book is set on the island of Capri and has the same vibes as "The White Lotus." Katy explains the origins of the novel, as well as how the story grew and why she told it from the points of view of multiple characters, alternating between "Then" and "Now." She also discusses her research on Capri and why it was the perfect place to set the novel. The audiobook has three narrators, and Katy shares why she feels they worked to best serve the book.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Georgia Hunter: https://youtu.be/E0zRbp6ti8g

Jeff Hobbs: https://youtu.be/Y-B_yErFlvI

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

Charmaine Wilkerson: https://youtu.be/jxlrtbxCAsE

Marie Benedict: https://youtu.be/-GF-3ZU4a1M

Joseph Finder: https://youtu.be/HIUUcBQeRWE

Scott Turow: https://youtu.be/tkbQ7yUU8GE

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Anna Quindlen: https://youtu.be/OgMczT4JlTs

Lisa Wingate: https://youtu.be/X4RKP3mT4Rc

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/nQgw214dyjs

Ariel Lawhon: https://youtu.be/rowGE3T2rfE

Amanda Peters: https://youtu.be/sWX2Mxw5fT

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/3KdG1kIfcgc

William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/IsIQJn3vYNI

Ann Napolitano: https://youtu.be/VNYNugzjVbo

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

Georgia Hunter, author of the New York Times bestseller WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES, joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her latest novel, ONE GOOD THING. Georgia explains why she chose to set the book in Italy and the research trip that she took there with her mother, which was such a special time for her. She and Carol discuss what it must be like to live in a world where at any moment someone might be a friend or an enemy, and how a journey without a destination that you thought would be safe would be such a difficult one. Georgia also shares why she loves talking to students about her work. And yes, there is conversation about the Hulu series "We Were the Lucky Ones" and her presence as that was filmed.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Jeff Hobbs: https://youtu.be/Y-B_yErFlvI

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

Charmaine Wilkerson: https://youtu.be/jxlrtbxCAsE

Marie Benedict: https://youtu.be/-GF-3ZU4a1M

Joseph Finder: https://youtu.be/HIUUcBQeRWE

Scott Turow: https://youtu.be/tkbQ7yUU8GE

Michelle Horton: https://youtu.be/gQOWAirkZjE

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Anna Quindlen: https://youtu.be/OgMczT4JlTs

Lisa Wingate: https://youtu.be/X4RKP3mT4Rc

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/nQgw214dyjs

Ariel Lawhon: https://youtu.be/rowGE3T2rfE

Amanda Peters: https://youtu.be/sWX2Mxw5fT

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/3KdG1kIfcgc

William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/IsIQJn3vYNI

Ann Napolitano: https://youtu.be/VNYNugzjVbo

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

Anna Quindlen joined us for March's "Bookaccino Live" Book Group to discuss AFTER ANNIE, a New York Times bestseller that is now available in paperback. The novel is told from the perspectives of three characters following Annie's sudden death, and Anna explains why she felt this was the most effective way to tell the story. Anna talks about Annie's oldest child, Ali, and how she copes with the reality of her mother's passing. She also offers insight into the structure of the novel, which is divided by seasons, and what she hopes readers will take away from Annie's story. We were excited to find out that Anna's next book is scheduled to release in 2026, and she gives us a sneak peek at the plot.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Jeff Hobbs: https://youtu.be/Y-B_yErFlvI

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

Charmaine Wilkerson: https://youtu.be/jxlrtbxCAsE

Marie Benedict: https://youtu.be/-GF-3ZU4a1M

Joseph Finder: https://youtu.be/HIUUcBQeRWE

Scott Turow: https://youtu.be/tkbQ7yUU8GE

Michelle Horton: https://youtu.be/gQOWAirkZjE

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Lisa Wingate: https://youtu.be/X4RKP3mT4Rc

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/nQgw214dyjs

Ariel Lawhon: https://youtu.be/rowGE3T2rfE

Amanda Peters: https://youtu.be/sWX2Mxw5fT

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/3KdG1kIfcgc

William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/IsIQJn3vYNI

Ann Napolitano: https://youtu.be/VNYNugzjVbo

Kate Morton: https://youtu.be/P8nwLRTAaFg

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

Jeff Hobbs has been on Carol Fitzgerald's radar since she first interviewed him 11 years ago at a pre-publication event for THE SHORT AND TRAGIC LIFE OF ROBERT PEACE. So, she was happy to catch up with him about his latest work, SEEKING SHELTER: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection.

Jeff explains how he approached the book and why he wrote it through the eyes of three characters: Evelyn, Wendi, and Evelyn's teenage son, Orlando. He discusses writing it as reconstructive journalism and why he felt that would be most effective. Jeff and Carol talk about the issue of homelessness, as well as home instability and how the recent L.A. fires have impacted this crisis even more.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

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

Charmaine Wilkerson: https://youtu.be/jxlrtbxCAsE

Marie Benedict: https://youtu.be/-GF-3ZU4a1M

Joseph Finder: https://youtu.be/HIUUcBQeRWE

Scott Turow: https://youtu.be/tkbQ7yUU8GE

Michelle Horton: https://youtu.be/gQOWAirkZjE

Tracey Lange: https://youtu.be/HCrR8j5CqT0

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Lisa Wingate: https://youtu.be/X4RKP3mT4Rc

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/nQgw214dyjs

Ariel Lawhon: https://youtu.be/rowGE3T2rfE

Amanda Peters: https://youtu.be/sWX2Mxw5fT

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/3KdG1kIfcgc

William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/IsIQJn3vYNI

Ann Napolitano: https://youtu.be/VNYNugzjVbo

Kate Morton: https://youtu.be/P8nwLRTAaFg

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

Clare Leslie Hall joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller, BROKEN COUNTRY, which is both a Reese's Book Club selection and a Barnes & Noble Book Club pick, as well as a Bookreporter Bets On title.

Clare explains the early inspiration for the novel and shares that she worked on it for four years, coming back to it again and again. She discusses the layers of the story while being careful not to reveal any spoilers. The setting is such a big part of the book, as well as the characters, and she notes that the farms near her home played a role in the storytelling.

Right before this interview, Clare learned that BROKEN COUNTRY had hit the Sunday Times list (the New York Times news would come the next day), and she clearly was glowing from that!

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Charmaine Wilkerson: https://youtu.be/jxlrtbxCAsE

Marie Benedict: https://youtu.be/-GF-3ZU4a1M

Joseph Finder: https://youtu.be/HIUUcBQeRWE

Scott Turow: https://youtu.be/tkbQ7yUU8GE

Michelle Horton: https://youtu.be/gQOWAirkZjE

Tracey Lange: https://youtu.be/HCrR8j5CqT0

Lisa Genova: https://youtu.be/Bqo8ZBE52PU

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Lisa Wingate: https://youtu.be/X4RKP3mT4Rc

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/nQgw214dyjs

Ariel Lawhon: https://youtu.be/rowGE3T2rfE

Amanda Peters: https://youtu.be/sWX2Mxw5fT

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/3KdG1kIfcgc

William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/IsIQJn3vYNI

Ann Napolitano: https://youtu.be/VNYNugzjVbo

Kate Morton: https://youtu.be/P8nwLRTAaFg

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

Charmaine Wilkerson talks to Carol Fitzgerald about her latest novel, GOOD DIRT, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. She explains how the character of Ebby Freeman came to her, and from there the idea of the clay jar that has been in the family for generations. Charmaine shares the research she conducted about the work of slaves in the South who created pottery with clay, tracing how an item like this could have made its way from the South to Connecticut with slaves who worked on sailing vessels. And she muses that what happened to Ebby would have implications on the rest of her life. As she did in her New York Times bestseller, BLACK CAKE, Charmaine invites readers to look at traditions and ideas that they may not have heard about previously while at the same time telling the story of a family.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Marie Benedict: https://youtu.be/-GF-3ZU4a1M

Joseph Finder: https://youtu.be/HIUUcBQeRWE

Scott Turow: https://youtu.be/tkbQ7yUU8GE

Michelle Horton: https://youtu.be/gQOWAirkZjE

Tracey Lange: https://youtu.be/HCrR8j5CqT0

Lisa Genova: https://youtu.be/Bqo8ZBE52PU

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

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Lisa Wingate: https://youtu.be/X4RKP3mT4Rc

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/nQgw214dyjs

Ariel Lawhon: https://youtu.be/rowGE3T2rfE

Amanda Peters: https://youtu.be/sWX2Mxw5fT

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/3KdG1kIfcgc

William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/IsIQJn3vYNI

Ann Napolitano: https://youtu.be/VNYNugzjVbo

Kate Morton: https://youtu.be/P8nwLRTAaFg

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 Wingate joined us for February's "Bookaccino Live" Book Group to discuss SHELTERWOOD, a Bookreporter Bets On selection that is now available in paperback. She explains what sparked the idea for her novel and why she chose to set it in two time periods: 1909 and 1990. We also learn about the research she did into the "elf children," the Dawes Act and the formidable Kate Barnard, as well as the life of forest rangers who work in national parks. Lisa believes that listening to stories from our past matter --- and she shares how her work has inspired readers to reach out to find their own connections.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Marie Benedict: https://youtu.be/-GF-3ZU4a1M

Joseph Finder: https://youtu.be/HIUUcBQeRWE

Scott Turow: https://youtu.be/tkbQ7yUU8GE

Michelle Horton: https://youtu.be/gQOWAirkZjE

Tracey Lange: https://youtu.be/HCrR8j5CqT0

Lisa Genova: https://youtu.be/Bqo8ZBE52PU

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

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/nQgw214dyjs

Ariel Lawhon: https://youtu.be/rowGE3T2rfE

Amanda Peters: https://youtu.be/sWX2Mxw5fT

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/3KdG1kIfcgc

William Kent Krueger: https://youtu.be/IsIQJn3vYNI

Ann Napolitano: https://youtu.be/VNYNugzjVbo

Kate Morton: https://youtu.be/P8nwLRTAaFg

Shelby Van Pelt: https://youtu.be/V2RbvnDn_rs

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