Books Connect Us

This episode, we welcome Dolen Perkins-Valdez, author of the unforgettable and deeply profound TAKE MY HAND, which won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work - Fiction. Carolina talks to Dolen about her writing and research process, the true-life inspiration behind TAKE MY HAND and the immense importance of historical fiction.  Alyssa and Carolina recap at the end, unpacking this powerful interview.

You can find Dolen at www.dolenperkinsvaldez.com | Instagram: @dolenperkinsvaldez | Twitter: @dolen

Subscribe and follow for more author interviews and book-related content: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/books-connect-us/id1059532301

Books In Today’s Show:

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/676198/take-my-hand-by-dolen-perkins-valdez/

The Days of Afrekete by Asali Solomon: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/692739/the-days-of-afrekete-by-asali-solomon/

In today’s episode, we talk to Eleanor Shearer, author of the gripping and beautiful RIVER SING ME HOME, which was a GMA Book Club Pick. Carolina chats with Eleanor about finding time for creative writing (especially within the confines of a day job), traveling to the Caribbean for her novel and unraveling the complicated tapestries of our identities, homes and families. Be sure to stick around for Carolina and Alyssa’s recap at the end.   

Subscribe and follow for more author interviews and book-related content: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/books-connect-us/id1059532301 

You can find Eleanor at https://www.eleanorshearer.com/ | Instagram: @eleanorbshearer | Twitter: @ellieshearer   

Books In Today’s Show: River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/713326/river-sing-me-home-by-eleanor-shearer/ 

Augustown by Ken Miller: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/546645/augustown-by-kei-miller/ 

The Human Origins of Beatrice Potter and Other Essential Ghosts by Soraya Palmer: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/719646/the-human-origins-of-beatrice-porter-and-other-essential-ghosts-by-soraya-palmer/ 

Subscribe and follow for more author interviews and book-related content: 

Books Connect Us: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/books-connect-us/id1059532301 

The Taste Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taste/id1393739959 

Marlon and Jake Read Dead People: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marlon-and-jake-read-dead-people/id1492163935

Today, we talk to NYT Bestselling and James Beard Award-winning author of The Korean Vegan Cookbook , Joanne Lee Molinaro. Alyssa chats with Joanne about representation, the writing and publishing process, family stories and how they seep into our writing, and much more! Be sure to stick around for Carolina and Alyssa’s recap at the end.

You can find Joanne at https://thekoreanvegan.com/

TikTok: @thekoreanvegan | Instagram @thekoreanvegan | Twitter @thekoreanvegan

Books In Today’s Show:

The Korean Vegan Cookbook by Joanne Lee Molinaro: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/609610/the-korean-vegan-cookbook-by-joanne-lee-molinaro/

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/300526/the-joy-luck-club-by-amy-tan/

BReD: Sourdough Loaves, Small Breads, and Other Plant-Based Baking

By Ed Tatton with Natasha Tatton: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704090/bred-by-ed-tatton-with-natasha-tatton/

Subscribe and follow for more author interviews and book-related content:

Books Connect Us:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/books-connect-us/id1059532301

The Taste Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taste/id1393739959

Marlon and Jake Read Dead People:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marlon-and-jake-read-dead-people/id1492163935

In today’s episode, get to know Alyssa Adler and Carolina Meurkens,  the new hosts of BOOKS CONNECT US! We chat about what’s in store for the new season, how authors portray their origin stories and have fun laughing about what books inspired us growing up (and as adults). All new season of author interviews start Wednesday, April 5!

Books In Today’s Show:
Alyssa's Favorites: 

Starring Sally J Freedman as Herself by Judy Blume: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/15148/starring-sally-j-freedman-as-herself-by-judy-blume/

Educated by Tara Westover: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/550168/educated-by-tara-westover/

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/576782/the-vanishing-half-by-brit-bennett/

Fleishman Is In Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/573460/fleishman-is-in-trouble-by-taffy-brodesser-akner/

Bras & Broomsticks by Sarah Mlynowski: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/115700/bras-and-broomsticks-by-sarah-mlynowski/

Carolina’s Favorites:

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/286551/tales-of-a-fourth-grade-nothing-by-judy-blume/

This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/289020/this-is-how-you-lose-her-by-junot-diaz/

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/289021/the-brief-wondrous-life-of-oscar-wao-by-junot-diaz/

All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/691034/all-this-could-be-different-by-sarah-thankam-mathews/

This brand new season of BOOKS CONNECT US  will keep you connected with the authors and stories that inspire you, and bring you the inside scoop on “the story behind the story”. Join hosts Alyssa Adler and Carolina Meurkens in conversation with diverse authors, as they discuss how identity impacts writing, the inspiration behind their books, and how storytelling can change the world.

New episodes drop right here starting next Monday April 3rd!

The new book EMPIRELAND is an illuminating tour through the hidden legacies and modern realities of British empire that exposes how much of the present-day United Kingdom is actually rooted in its colonial past. In accessible, witty prose, award-winning journalist and best-selling author Sathnam Sanghera traces this legacy back to its source, exposing how—in both profound and innocuous ways—imperial domination has shaped the United Kingdom we know today.  EMPIRELAND boldly makes the case that in order to understand America, we must first understand British imperialism. Now let's join author Sathnam Sanghera in conversation with his editor Lisa Lucas.

George R. R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including those of the acclaimed series A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, upon which the iconic HBO series GAME OF THRONES is based. FIRE & BLOOD is his thrilling history of the Targaryans, which is the inspiration for the new HBO series HOUSE OF THE DRAGON. On today's episode fellow author David Anthony Durham talks with George R.R. Martin about his legendary books, his thoughts on the full season of HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, and takes George through a game of Westeros-themed "Would You Rather." 

George Saunders is the author of nine books, including the novel LINCOLN IN THE BARDO, which won the Man Booker Prize, and the brand-new short story collection LIBERATION DAY. On today's episode George is in conversation with Matt Rodbard, host of the popular food culture show THE TASTE PODCAST. They discussed Chicago pizza, Santa Cruz coffee, lunch in Texas oil fields, and food of the future. It's a fun, wide-ranging discussion. You can also subscribe to THE TASTE PODCAST right on this very platform. Now enjoy Matt Rodbard in conversation with the author George Saunders.

Sarah Thankam Mathews is a recipient of fellowships from the Asian American Writers’ Workshop and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and her work has been published in Best American Short Stories. ALL THIS COULD BE DIFFERENT is her electrifying novel of a young immigrant building a life for herself—a warm, dazzling, and profound saga of queer love, friendship, work, and precarity in twenty-first century America. Now let's join Penguin's own Carolina Meurkens in conversation with Sarah Thankam Mathews.

Clancy Martin is the acclaimed author of the novel HOW TO SELL, numerous books on philosophy, and the viral essay, “I’m Still Here.” He is the survivor of more than ten suicide attempts and a recovering alcoholic. His new book HOW NOT TO KILL YOURSELF is an intimate, insightful, at times even humorous exploration of why the thought of death is so compulsive for some while demonstrating that there’s always another solution. Now let's join editor Denise Oswald in conversation with author Clancy Martin.