Books Connect Us

Born in Trinidad, Ingrid Persaud won the Commonwealth Short Story Prize in 2017 and the BBC Short Story Award in 2018. Her new novel LOVE AFTER LOVE has been praised as a Best Book of the Summer by Time, The Guardian, Goop, and Lithub. In vibrant, addictive Trinidadian prose, LOVE AFTER LOVE questions who and how we love, the obligations of family, and the consequences of choices made in desperation. Let's join One World editor Nicole Counts in conversation with author Ingrid Persaud.

Riley Sager’s first novel, Final Girls, was a national and international bestseller that has been published in more than two dozen countries. In his latest novel HOME BEFORE DARK, a woman returns to the house made famous by her father’s bestselling horror memoir. Is the place really haunted by evil forces, as her father claimed? Or are there more earthbound—and dangerous—secrets hidden within its walls? Let's join Penguin editor Maya Ziv in conversation with author Riley Sager

Rob Hart has worked as a book publisher, political reporter, and author of the ASH MCKENNA crime series. His acclaimed novel THE WAREHOUSE is a near-future thriller set in a giant tech company, and shows what happens when Big Brother meets Big Business–and who will pay the ultimate price. Today Rob is in conversation with fellow author Alex Segura, who wrote the new Star Wars book POE DAMERON: FREE FALL. Join Alex Segura and Rob Hart as they discuss, among other things, just how close we might be to the dystopia of THE WAREHOUSE.

The youngest of her parents’ combined twenty-one children, Sarah Frey grew up on a struggling farm in southern Illinois, dreaming of running away to the big city. But at only seventeen, when the family farm faced inevitable foreclosure, Frey took over the farm and created her own produce company. Today, her family-operated company Frey Farms has become one of America’s largest fresh produce growers and shippers, with farmland spread across seven states. Her new book THE GROWING SEASON tells the inspiring story of how a scrappy rural childhood gave Frey the grit and resiliency to take risks that paid off in unexpected ways. Let's join author Sarah Frey in conversation with her editor Susanna Porter.

Jennie Fields is the author of THE AGE OF DESIRE and her latest novel ATOMIC LOVE. Delia Owens, author of WHERE THE CRAWDADS LIVE, raves that ATOMIC LOVE is "Riveting. A highly-charged love story that reveals the dangerous energy at the heart of every real connection." Let's join Putnam Executive Editor Tara Carlson in conversation with author Jennie Fields.

Diksha Basu is the author of THE WINDFALL and her latest novel DESTINATION WEDDING. Infused with warmth and charm, DESTINATION WEDDING grapples with the nuances of family, careers, belonging, and how we find the people who make a place feel like home. Terry McMillan raves that DESTINATION WEDDING is "A witty and romantic novel perfect for all readers." Now let's join Random House's Taylor Noel in conversation with author Diksha Basu.

Kathleen Rooney is the author of the novel LILLIAN BOXFISH TAKES A WALK, and is a founding editor of Rose Metal Press and a founding member of Poems While You Wait. Her latest novel CHER AMI AND MAJOR WHITTLESEY, which Booklist raves is "Imaginative and audacious. A celebration of animal intelligence, and tribute to altruism and courage." Let's join Penguin editor Margaux Weisman in conversation with author Kathleen Rooney.

Karen Dionne is the USA Today and #1 internationally bestselling author of the award-winning psychological suspense novel THE MARSH KING'S DAUGHTER. Her latest is THE WICKED SISTER, a startling novel of psychological suspense as two generations of sisters try to unravel their tangled relationships between nature and nurture, guilt and betrayal, love and evil. On today's episode, Putnam's Executive Editor Mark Tavani converses with author Karen Dionne about her latest book and her writing process.

Kim Johnson held leadership positions in social justice organizations as a teen. She’s now a college administrator who maintains civic engagement throughout the community while also mentoring Black student activists and leaders. Her debut novel THIS IS MY AMERICA explores racial injustice against innocent Black men who are criminally sentenced, and the families left behind to pick up the pieces. Nic Stone, bestselling author of DEAR MARTIN, raves that THIS IS MY AMERICA is "incredible and searing." Now let's join our own Caitlin Whalen in conversation with author Kim Johnson.

Lindsey Daly is a middle school social studies teacher and the author of WOULD YOU RATHER?, which is a book that allows children to confront philosophical questions such as "Would you rather kiss a fish swimming in a radioactive pond, or roll down a hill hugging a porcupine?" On today's very special episode, our producer Pat Stango talks to Lindsey about how she created the book, and together they play through some of the most intriguing WOULD YOU RATHER scenarios. This one gets very weird. Enjoy!