David's Book Talk Podcast

Wow, I so enjoyed talking to this author. This first book in the series, Head Cases, is so good and so interesting—I cannot wait to see the second book. Listen to our discussion about that. I now know the title of the second book, Inside Man, and I cannot wait to read it.

There’s something so compelling about this series and the quirky characters in it. Nothing like the shows on TV that are supposed to be similar—you get so much more from the book.

And HBO has the rights to this one. Will they make it? Who knows. You will hear John talk about that. Here’s to it happening. You know how Hollywood is—one day they want you, the next they move on. And why are TV shows so different from their respective books? It’s annoying, a lot.

You will love John, and his honesty about what he goes through day by day will interest you. Writing is not an easy job, though it does seem to be easier for some than for others.

John’s earlier series, which I have not read, The Good Detective series, seems to be on hold. Let John tell you about that.

Please enjoy this interview—I sure did.

The post DBT 0346: John McMahon – Head Cases appeared first on David's Book Talk.

Wow! Dean is the most prolific author I have ever interviewed! Five hundred million copies of his books? That is staggering. I am in awe. I never thought I would ever interview him, and here we are, two interviews later, and we seem like friends. What does that mean to me? You have no idea. He is an incredibly talented and smart human being.

Over 105 novels—and that doesn’t even count the novellas. He has the most active and fresh mind in the publishing business. I have read so many of his books that I’ve lost count. I used to read every one as they were published, and now I am again. Talk about intimidating, but he doesn’t act that way. He’s very kind and thoughtful.

You get a sense reading his book that he doesn’t trust many people. Why does he trust me? I have no idea, but it means the world to me. He is who he is, and he is very protective of his books and his name. And what does he have to say about his early books? Wow—wait until you hear! It’s too priceless to miss.

Koontz has been in my life for so many years, it is impossible to consider him not writing. Does he get excited writing? Let him answer that question. And does he know Stephen King? Wouldn’t you like to know? You’ll find out during the interview. Over an hour, and never boring. He is one in a million. And yes, he has sold more copies than Stephen King. Will I ever get to interview Stephen? That would be the other highlight of my career.

How many Koontz books have you read? So many are classics. Will we see films based on his books? Let him tell you. Why do I love his books so much? They are lyrical, they are clever, they make you think. And I miss Jane Hawk—talk about a fun series to read.

This interview is my touch with greatness. I will never fully recover from the excitement! What are your thoughts? Write to me. David. Enjoy!

The post DBT 0345: Dan Koontz – The Forest of Lost Souls appeared first on David's Book Talk.

Wow, my first movie director to interview! And such a smart, well-read author and human being. He is so cool, as you will see. He has been writing Sherlock Holmes tales for six books now. How is it I didn’t realize this until now?

I was nervous doing this interview at first, as you’ll hear when you listen. Sometimes you feel so inferior if you aren’t as smart as the author. But I needn’t have worried; he is super cool, and we had a great time. This book is really engrossing, especially the further you get into it.

Does everyone remember the movie Time After Time? He directed that, along with many others, and has written screenplays, too. He talks about hearing his screenplay read for the first time and getting to direct the one and only Laurence Olivier! Does it get any better than that? I hope I get to interview more directors for sure—it’s so much fun.

This book is published by Mysterious Press, Otto Penzler’s company. And he does not publish bad books! I can hardly wait for the next Sherlock Holmes to come out. I address that during the interview, and wait until you hear what he has to say!

I’ve always wanted to learn from super-intelligent men and women, and he is surely very intelligent and very no-nonsense. Do you sense that from the interview? Listen and see. Let me hear your thoughts. Enjoy this one—I sure did!

The post DBT 0344: Nicholas Meyer – Sherlock Holmes and the Telegram from Hell appeared first on David's Book Talk.

What a pleasure it is to talk to this man! This Flavia de Luce story, the 11th in the series, is, as always, wonderful. I so enjoy this unusual series of books. Wow—every one is as good as the others! What other author can you say that about? There are some, but not as many as you would hope for. When I love an author, I love an author. And Alan’s books are so cute and beautiful, each with its own colorful cover.

He is so easy to talk to, as you will see, and we have truly bonded as friends. Number 12 is coming, too! And there is other exciting news! Let Alan himself share that one. I love the font on these books, too. I hope you all love them as much as I do. They have become a publishing phenomenon to a great extent. He will tell you how many countries! I truly am impressed.

I hope we have many more years with Flavia. There has been and will never be anyone like her in the book world. Alan lives in England, but you would never know it. He comes in loud and clear. I’m so thankful the whole interview went without a hitch. Truly, I am blessed with great authors to interview. You will love him as much as I do. And you must read all 11!

And the thought that we might see her on the big screen? Oh my. That excites me to no end. Let them know you want these books! Wow. Enjoy!

The post DBT 0343: Alan Bradley – What Time the Sextons Spade Doth Rust (A Flavia De Luce Story) appeared first on David's Book Talk.

Wow! This man has led an exciting life and has met many famous entertainment celebrities. I am honored to talk to him.

This book is fascinating. You will hear about and read about his experiences with so many, including Dean Martin, Telly Savalas, Lindsay Wagner, Victoria Principal, the Brady Bunch cast, Ellen DeGeneres, Kirstie Alley, Drew Barrymore, Courteney Cox, Adam West, and many more. I could talk to him for hours and ask him about so many famous people. I’ve always been excited to learn about celebrities. He followed so many around. Did he offend any? For sure, and you will hear about only some, and you can read about many others in the book. And it’s a great book, so full of fascinating material. Did the Golden Girls, any of them, not get along? I address that. Wow, I can’t wait to talk to him again. Do you hate the National Enquirer? I guess I have at times over the years. What must it feel like to be totally scrutinized all the time? William has been through rough times, and he will tell you himself about some of them. I only regret I only had one hour.

Don’t we all wonder what celebrities are hiding? I sure do. Enjoy!

The post DBT 0342: William Keck – When You Step Upon a Crack appeared first on David's Book Talk.

Mark Billingham has been a popular British novelist for a number of years and has a substantial following in the UK. I haven’t seen him in years, and that was at Bouchercon, the yearly get-together of many mystery authors and fans, which is held in a different city every year.

Mark is very direct and interesting to talk to—hard-edged, even. He has many writer friends in the business. I had to go back and read the first book in the series, as I was so invested in this new series. The Last Dance was the first book in the series, and it is just as intriguing and fun to read. His sense of humor is something you should relate to. Declan Miller, who is the detective in the series, is not afraid to speak his mind. That’s the best part of him, I think. Do people hate him? Read on, and you will see.

I look forward to book three and to hearing from Mark himself about it. I’m hooked on this series. It was worth the call to the United Kingdom.

Enjoy!

The post DBT 0341: Mark Billingham – The Wrong Hands (A Declan Miller Novel) appeared first on David's Book Talk.

Wow, this interview was a lot of fun to do. Dean is a special guy, and talking to him felt like reliving my childhood. “Little House on the Prairie” was a staple in our house every Monday night for years. How did this show last so long? It truly embodied wonderful family values. I believe my sister related deeply to Laura Ingalls Wilder, the main character and writer of the books the show was based on.

Dean, as you will see, is a terrific person to talk to—pleasant, honest, and exactly as you’d imagine. He’s the third cast member I’ve interviewed, and it’s always a pleasure. I wish I could have met Michael Landon. What was he like to work with? Dean can tell you firsthand.

Why don’t we see more shows like this anymore? What’s amazing is that no one attempted to replicate it on another network; it was simply irreplaceable. This show was iconic and unforgettable. The heroes and villains were clearly defined, and the acting was superb across the entire cast.

I thoroughly enjoyed conducting this interview, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading it. In today’s world, we all need things to cherish, and this book was truly enjoyable. It arrived unexpectedly in my mail, but they must have known I’d want to dive into it. Please do listen and enjoy the book afterward. I didn’t get to see the pictures inside because I had an early copy, but I plan to check them out soon. I love seeing the writer’s family. Enjoy!

The post DBT 0340: Dean Butler – Prairie Man appeared first on David's Book Talk.

What a treat to interview Jon Lindstrom, author of Hollywood Hustle, who is also an actor on General Hospital, and is someone I have watched on TV for years. That voice never changes, and I would watch him on General Hospital and Port Charles for a long time. I was in withdrawal without being able to watch the show anymore. To be able to talk to him over the phone was thrilling.

This is his first thriller, and hopefully, there will be a lot more. We talk about that during the interview; hear what he has to say. And I talk about his writing a lot. To get this interview was a coup, and I hope you enjoy it. To think he is working with Genie Francis, who is married to Jonathan Frakes, is so great to me. I am a big Star Trek: Next Generation fan, as I am sure a lot of you are. Find out when he first wanted to write, how long he has been reading, and when it all started. Enjoy!

The post DBT 0339: Jon Lindstrom – Hollywood Hustle appeared first on David's Book Talk.

Wow! “The Golden Girls,” Stan Zimmerman, one of the writers, what a treat! This guy is a real treat.

I loved him instantly, as you will be able to tell during the interview. To have gotten to where he is today is amazing.

And he worked on “Roseanne,” the TV show as well. How did he survive that? Hear him tell it from his view.

What a talent this man is, and he is still going strong! And no one online knows his age! Will he tell me? Or keep it a secret? You must listen to see if he does. What is his ultimate goal? You will hear for yourself.

Stan is so great to talk to, so giving, and he can finally be honest, coming from a Hollywood that was not always accepting of personal lifestyles. Good for him! Stop the hate, please! And what is with Valerie Bertinelli? It’s a mystery that stays till today. Listen and see. I love reading the excerpts from Stan’s diaries. We can only totally imagine what he went through with the craziness on “Roseanne.” She is something else, but I am not sure what.

Please enjoy this interview; I sure did, over an hour. Wow!

The post DBT 0338: Stan Zimmerman – The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore appeared first on David's Book Talk.

It’s always nice to talk to Craig Johnson. His books are always great, and that is saying a lot.

Some series can get very old and very stale, but not this one. And he really enjoys writing his books. This is number 19, and number 20 sounds even better.

So glad to always visit with him. His personality, his laugh, and his sense of humor are always spot on. And he realizes his limitations and mistakes.

This book goes into detail about Walt Longmire’s father, and it is very interesting, to say the least.

How does a writer write so well every time? That is the big mystery, and it is not meant as a play on words.

When you live in a town of less than 50 people, that seems so remote, but Craig seems to enjoy it so much. And he writes the books so fast.

And Walt has been through so much, how does he survive? Listen to Craig explain it. I never edit these interviews, so the author does not know what I will ask about. I would love to hear how you all feel about the TV series, LONGMIRE. I will talk about it with others, but I have opinions that I keep to myself. Craig keeps in contact with the cast.

Just listen and enjoy Craig, and enjoy hearing what he says about the book. I love him to death; he and his wife Judy are really special people, and I don’t say that easily.

The post DBT 0337: The Longmire Defense – Craig Johnson appeared first on David's Book Talk.