In "About Alice," author Calvin Trillin writes about the love of his life, Alice, and how she was equally at home being a wife, mother, educator, writer, and friend. This discussion with the author took place on a 2007 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California.

In "Astonish Me," author Maggie Shipstead writes a novel about a former ballerina who gets pulled back into her complicated past when her son is revealed to be a ballet prodigy. This discussion with the author took place on a 2014 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California. Photo: maggieshipstead.com

In "Good Boy, Fergus!," author & illustrator David Shannon talks about his children's book centering around a dog named Fergus and the adventures he gets into during a "perfect doggy day." This discussion took place on a 2006 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California. Photo: nodavidshannon.com

In "Walt Whitman: Words for America," illustrator Brian Selznick talks about a children's book he illustrated about the life of Walt Whitman during the Civil War from growing up as a child to his death. The book was authored by Barbara Kerley. This discussion with illustrator Brian Selznick took place on a 2004 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California. Photo: thebrianselznick.com

In "Smash! Crash!," author Jon Scieszka writes a children's book about some trucks making their way to Trucktown and the fun they have along the route. The book was illustrated by David Shannon, Loren Long, and David Gordon. This discussion with author Jon Scieszka took place on a 2008 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California. Photo: jonscieszka.com/

In "Life, Death & Bialys: A Father/Son Baking Story," author Dylan Schaffer writes a unique memoir about how he struggled to reach closure with his dying father Flip after being estranged since he and his siblings were left alone with their mother decades earlier. This discussion with the author took place on a 2006 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California. Photo: dylanschaffer.com

In "That Old Cape Magic," author Richard Russo writes a novel about a man who grew up at Cape Cod and later made more memories as an adult there with a marriage and family. This discussion with the author took place on a 2009 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California. Photo: facebook.com/richardrussoauthor/

In "Luka and the Fire of Life," author Salman Rushdie writes a children's book that follows a twelve-year-old named Luka who embarks on a quest to find a way to wake his father from a deep sleep, encountering creatures and obstacles along the journey. This discussion with the author took place on a 2010 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California. Photo: salmanrushdie.com

In "No One You Know," author Michelle Richmond writes a novel about a woman searching for her sister's killer while discovering many secrets along the way. This second discussion with the author took place on a 2008 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California. Photo: michellerichmond.com

In "The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions," author Sister Helen Prejean poses the question on if it is morally right for governments to kill the guilty, and talks about her first-hand experiences witnessing the executions of Dobie Gillis Williams and Joseph Roger O'Dell. This second discussion with the author took place on a 2005 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California. Photo: sisterhelen.org