Bookreporter Talks To

Ariel Lawhon joined us for a "Bookaccino Live" Book Group discussion of THE FROZEN RIVER, which was a "Good Morning America" Book Club pick and an NPR Book of the Year when it was published in hardcover last December. It is now available in paperback and is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Our reviewer Pamela Kramer has this to say about the book, and it is so dead-on: "A book club would have myriad topics to discuss after reading this thoughtful novel about a time when the health care of women was often better left entirely to women themselves."

Ariel talks about Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife, and the diary that Martha kept for almost 30 years that informed so much of Ariel's writing. She points out that the voice of the book was not always first person, but the title never changed, and it took time to figure out exactly what would find its way into the story. While not biographical, the details are period correct. Some of the storytelling had to be compressed into the timeline of a single year, 1789, which is why THE FROZEN RIVER is fiction.

And yes, Ariel reveals what she is writing now, and when we can hope to see it.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Sharon Virts: https://youtu.be/uXd5BHo2I1I

Paula Hawkins: https://youtu.be/1zF2MEJlito

Susan Rieger: https://youtu.be/hl-ypqwZwfw

Jean Hanff Korelitz: https://youtu.be/EI-7XRrRWDI

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/1730g7zxRIc

Chris Whitaker: https://youtu.be/5pQQbuIA1GM

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Amanda Peters: https://youtu.be/sWX2Mxw5fTI

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

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Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Carol Fitzgerald talks to Sharon Virts about her latest historical mystery, THE GRAYS OF TRUTH. This Bookreporter Bets On selection was inspired by true events involving one of Baltimore's most powerful families. Sharon discusses why the Reconstruction era is such a poignant time in American history. She also explains the challenges of creating Jane, her protagonist, and the Edgar Allan Poe quotes that lead off sections of the book. In addition to giving us hints about what is next for her, Sharon talks about the work of the Selma Farm Foundation, as well as the large online book club that she hosts.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Paula Hawkins: https://youtu.be/1zF2MEJlito

Susan Rieger: https://youtu.be/hl-ypqwZwfw

Jean Hanff Korelitz: https://youtu.be/EI-7XRrRWDI

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/1730g7zxRIc

Chris Whitaker: https://youtu.be/5pQQbuIA1GM

T.J. Newman: https://youtu.be/DOfl2RAdcB8

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Amanda Peters: https://youtu.be/sWX2Mxw5fTI

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

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Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Paula Hawkins joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her latest novel, THE BLUE HOUR, which is November's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick and a Bookreporter Bets On selection. She discusses her inspiration for the book's setting, which she had when she was on vacation, as well as her love of art. The characters and the way they move in and out of each other's lives is key to the storylines, and she explains how their roles changed as the book went on. Paula also shares where the title came from and what she loves about the cover.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Susan Rieger: https://youtu.be/hl-ypqwZwfw

Jean Hanff Korelitz: https://youtu.be/EI-7XRrRWDI

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/1730g7zxRIc

Chris Whitaker: https://youtu.be/5pQQbuIA1GM

T.J. Newman: https://youtu.be/DOfl2RAdcB8

Dawn Tripp: https://youtu.be/OgaYC7kSlok

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Amanda Peters: https://youtu.be/sWX2Mxw5fTI

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

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Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Amanda Peters joined us for October's "Bookaccino Live" Book Group to discuss THE BERRY PICKERS, which was the 2023 Barnes & Noble Discover Prize winner and was awarded the 2024 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction. It also was a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Amanda talks about her inspiration for the novel, which involved a trip to Maine with her father to show her where his family who was part of the Mi'kmaq tribe came from. She shares that the story was first written in only one voice and explains when she made the decision to change that. The audience questions flew fast and furious.

Amanda also told us that her collection of short stories, WAITING FOR THE LONG NIGHT MOON, will be out in the US on February 11th. You can read more about the book here: https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/waiting-for-the-long-night-moon-stories. Also, you can watch or listen to the interview done with Amanda when THE BERRY PICKERS first came out here: https://tbrnetwork.com/podcasts/bookreporter-talks-to/bookreporter-talks-to-amanda-peters/.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Susan Rieger: https://youtu.be/hl-ypqwZwfw

Jean Hanff Korelitz: https://youtu.be/EI-7XRrRWDI

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/1730g7zxRIc

Chris Whitaker: https://youtu.be/5pQQbuIA1GM

T.J. Newman: https://youtu.be/DOfl2RAdcB8

Dawn Tripp: https://youtu.be/OgaYC7kSlok

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

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

Lisa See: https://youtu.be/GV3G-szlWHU

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Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Susan Rieger joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her latest novel, LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. She shares what drove her to write this book and why it is structured as a mystery, with the feel of literary Russian nesting dolls. Susan also reveals which was her favorite character to write and discusses the use of genealogy, as well as DNA. And she talks about what it was like to start writing fiction late in life.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Jean Hanff Korelitz: https://youtu.be/EI-7XRrRWDI

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/1730g7zxRIc

Chris Whitaker: https://youtu.be/5pQQbuIA1GM

T.J. Newman: https://youtu.be/DOfl2RAdcB8

Dawn Tripp: https://youtu.be/OgaYC7kSlok

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

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

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

Lisa See: https://youtu.be/GV3G-szlWHU

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Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Jean Hanff Korelitz joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her latest book, THE SEQUEL, the appropriately titled follow-up to THE PLOT. In it, Anna, the widow of Jacob Finch Bonner, is enjoying the riches of being a literary widow and has written a debut novel called THE AFTERWORD. But, ah, Anna has a secret to hide. Jean shares the fun she had layering wry humor into the book, as well as how she satirizes the publishing industry in juicy detail. Yes, there is film news talk, as well as what's next for Jean.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

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

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/1730g7zxRIc

Chris Whitaker: https://youtu.be/5pQQbuIA1GM

T.J. Newman: https://youtu.be/DOfl2RAdcB8

Dawn Tripp: https://youtu.be/OgaYC7kSlok

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

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

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

Lisa See: https://youtu.be/GV3G-szlWHU

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Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Shelley Read was our guest for September's "Bookaccino Live" Book Group. As this was a book group-style program, we did talk spoilers. Four audience members joined us to ask her questions, all of which looked at GO AS A RIVER from different angles. Shelley shared her inspiration for the book and how she created her characters. She talked about prejudice and how it influenced her work. As a fifth-generation Coloradan, she explained how that history in her family gave her a perspective on her writing. The conversation was insightful, and readers clearly were passionate about this book.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/1730g7zxRIc

Chris Whitaker: https://youtu.be/5pQQbuIA1GM

T.J. Newman: https://youtu.be/DOfl2RAdcB8

Dawn Tripp: https://youtu.be/OgaYC7kSlok

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

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

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

Lisa See: https://youtu.be/GV3G-szlWHU

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

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Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Laura Dave talks to Carol Fitzgerald about her latest novel, THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. At the heart of this story is a secret that has been hidden for years — one that may have caused the death of Liam Noone, a successful hotel magnate. Nora, his daughter from one of his marriages, is convinced by Sam, his son from another marriage, to join together to see if his death was accidental or something more sinister.

Laura talks about Liam's unique hotel properties and what inspired them, and how research finds its way into her writing. She also shares her writing schedule and how she manages her day, as well as the song she had on repeat as she wrote, which is something she always does.

This is Laura's second thriller. Her first, THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME, was adapted by Laura and her husband for Apple TV+. She talks about future screenwriting projects, as well as the book that readers can look forward to next year.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Chris Whitaker: https://youtu.be/5pQQbuIA1GM

T.J. Newman: https://youtu.be/DOfl2RAdcB8

Dawn Tripp: https://youtu.be/OgaYC7kSlok

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

Beatriz Williams: https://youtu.be/vGnD2jPxdVY

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

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

Lisa See: https://youtu.be/GV3G-szlWHU

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Website: https://www.bookreporter.com

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Chris Whitaker joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about his New York Times bestseller, ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Chris explains how he developed the book by spending a year writing just dialogue to get a feel for his characters, Patch and Saint. Once he had a good grasp of their voices, he could write around that. Chris went through trauma in his youth that overshadowed his life, and it fueled his writing here. He shares how he researches the locations that he uses in his novels and talks about the joy of having Edoardo Ballerini as a narrator for the audiobook. And yes, he addresses the book's 261 chapters that are just one to three pages long.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

T.J. Newman: https://youtu.be/DOfl2RAdcB8

Dawn Tripp: https://youtu.be/OgaYC7kSlok

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

Beatriz Williams: https://youtu.be/vGnD2jPxdVY

Caro Carver: https://youtu.be/a4cg_dIeXHo

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

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

Lisa See: https://youtu.be/GV3G-szlWHU

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

T.J. Newman joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about WORST CASE SCENARIO, her third thriller to be a Bookreporter Bets On selection (following FALLING and DROWNING). T.J. shares how she came up with the idea for this book and the research that was required (including a detail that Carol saw to be totally plausible). She discusses her character development and why she feels Joe Morton is the perfect narrator for the audiobook. We also hear about T.J.'s close relationship with her agent and how they work together.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Dawn Tripp: https://youtu.be/OgaYC7kSlok

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

Beatriz Williams: https://youtu.be/vGnD2jPxdVY

Caro Carver: https://youtu.be/a4cg_dIeXHo

Marjan Kamali: https://youtu.be/2HjUlEOdVNg

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

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

Lisa See: https://youtu.be/GV3G-szlWHU

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

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Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions