Books Connect Us

Books Connect Us

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Books Connect Us episodes

  • How Do Elise Kova & Danielle Jensen Write Unforgettable Characters?

    Elise Kova (ARCANA ACADEMY) and Danielle L. Jensen (A FATE INKED IN BLOOD) walk through how they build their fantasy worlds and write unforgettable characters. 

    About ARCANA ACADEMY:

    Clara Graysword has survived the underworld of Eclipse City through thievery, luck, and a whole lot of illegal magic. After a job gone awry, Clara is sentenced to a lifetime in prison for inking tarot cards—a rare power reserved for practitioners at the elite Arcana Academy. Just when it seems her luck has run dry, the academy’s enigmatic headmaster, Prince Kaelis, offers her an escape—for a price. Kaelis believes that Clara is the perfect tool to help him steal a tarot card from the king and use it to re-create an all-powerful card long lost to time. In order to conceal her identity and keep her close, Kaelis brings Clara to Arcana Academy, introducing her as the newest first-year student and his bride-to-be. Thrust into a world of arcane magic and royal intrigue, where one misstep will send her back to prison or worse, Clara finds that the prince she swore to hate may not be what he seems. But can she risk giving him power over the world—and her heart? Or will she take it for herself? 

    About A FATE INKED IN BLOOD 

    Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husband’s back. Freya’s dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the region’s jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son, Bjorn. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret: She possesses a drop of a goddess’s blood, which makes her a shield maiden with magic capable of repelling any attack. It was foretold such a magic would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath the one who controls the shield maiden’s fate. Believing he’s destined to rule Skaland as king, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders Bjorn to protect her from their enemies. Desperate to prove her strength, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods. The greatest test of all, however, may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If Freya succumbs to her lust for the charming and fierce warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect.

    26 min
  • The Magical True Story Behind RAISING HARE with Chloe Dalton

    Chloe Dalton discusses her memoir RAISING HARE, sharing the magical experience of raising a wild animal and how it inspired her New York Times bestseller. She is joined by Bianca Ducasse, her book marketer from Penguin Random House. 

    Read the book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/761910/raising-hare-by-chloe-dalton/

     

     

    47 min
  • Sarah MacLean and Ali Hazelwood in conversation | THESE SUMMER STORMS

    Join bestselling authors Sarah MacLean and Ali Hazelwood as they discuss Sarah's new novel THESE SUMMER STORMS. Learn about the inspiration behind this family saga, the challenges of writing contemporary romance, and the process of crafting a compelling "hot fixer" hero.

    THESE SUMMER STORMS by Sarah MacLean: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/768403/these-summer-storms-by-sarah-maclean/

    PROBLEMATIC SUMMER ROMANCE by Ali Hazelwood: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/800620/problematic-summer-romance-by-ali-hazelwood/

    46 min
  • TJ Alexander on Queering the Historical Romance Genre | A LADY FOR ALL SEASONS

    TJ Alexander dives into A LADY FOR ALL SEASONS, their queer Regency romance with a genderfluid lead, discussing how they joyfully upend genre conventions and embrace expansive representation in a Bridgerton-obsessed world, and write with a specific queer audience in mind while welcoming a broader readership. They chat Lord Byron cameos, the flexible role of historical accuracy, and close things out with a playful round of “Gothic/Regency Heroine or ’90s Pop Song.”

    The book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/783127/a-lady-for-all-seasons-by-tj-alexander/

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    26 min
  • Molly Crabapple and Morgan Bassichis on the Jewish Labor Bund | HERE WHERE WE LIVE IS OUR COUNTRY

    Molly Crabapple sits down with Morgan Bassichis to talk about her new book HERE WHERE WE LIVE IS OUR COUNTRY, a lively and deeply researched history of the Jewish Labor Bund. They explore how this secular socialist movement fought for dignity and equality in Eastern Europe, the central roles women played in the movement, and the importance of solidarity in the global fight against fascism.

    The Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/646320/here-where-we-live-is-our-country-by-molly-crabapple/

     

     

    45 min
  • Ibram X. Kendi and Heather McGhee on the world’s most dangerous conspiracy theory | CHAIN OF IDEAS

    Authors Ibram X. Kendi (HOW TO BE AN ANTIRACIST) and Heather McGhee (THE SUM OF US) discuss Dr. Kendi’s new book CHAIN OF IDEAS: The Origins of Our Authoritarian Age. They break down the Great Replacement Theory, which Kendi calls the most dominant and dangerous political idea of our time; explain how authoritarians around the world are leveraging it to gain power and dismantle democracy; and offer a rubric for recognizing and fighting back against these forces.

    CHAIN OF IDEAS: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/778233/chain-of-ideas-by-ibram-x-kendi/

    THE SUM OF US: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/564989/the-sum-of-us-by-heather-mcghee/

     

     

    1 hr 1 min
  • Terry Brooks & Delilah S. Dawson in Conversation on The Future of SHANNARA

    Authors Terry Brooks and Delilah S. Dawson sit down to discuss the future of the SHANNARA series, as Brooks passes the torch to Dawson to continue his beloved world. The two longtime friends share how their collaboration works, what fans can expect, and why Dawson is the perfect person to carry on one of fantasy's most iconic legacies.

    Delilah S. Dawson: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2136430/delilah-s-dawson/

    Terry Brooks: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/3394/terry-brooks/

    18 min
  • Eddie Huang on romcoms, fame, and his new book COME UNDONE | In conversation w/ Chris Jackson

    Eddie Huang is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Fresh Off the Boat. His subversively funny first novel COME UNDONE delivers a portrait of a haunted manchild and his messy search for love. Eddie sits down with his editor and publisher Chris Jackson for a frank conversation about love, relationships, growing up, the writing process, and whether romantic comedies are used to manage society.

    COME UNDONE: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/555046/come-undone-by-eddie-huang/

     

     

    48 min
  • Matt Dinniman, author of DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL and OPERATION BOUNCE HOUSE

    Dungeon Crawler Carl author, Matt Dinniman, talks about how video games influence his writing, how he got into LitRPG, the next entry in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, as well as adaptation news and his new science fiction thriller, Operation Bounce House. 

    Matt Dinniman: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2309250/matt-dinniman/

     

    29 min

About Books Connect Us

From the publisher's feed

We’re staying connected with each other and the stories and authors who inspire us. BOOKS CONNECT US brings you brand new conversations with some of your favorite authors.