Today is the final day of 2019, and I imagine you’re growing tired of “best of” lists. Best of the year. Best of the decade. But aren’t these lists important? I mean, how can one be expected to grow without reflection and resolution? When I look back at my 2019 reading life, I see that I read 62 books, probably abandoned even more, listened to 13 audio books, analyzed more poetry than I’ve ever read before in my life, and interviewed 35 authors for Marginalia . I recently sat down with Suzanne

Author Ruta Sepetys is often referred to as the seeker of lost stories. She has written four works of historical fiction published in over sixty countries and forty languages. Her latest, The Fountains of Silence , is set in 1957 Madrid and explores Spain living under the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco. Sepetys is considered a “crossover” novelist because her books are read by both students and adults worldwide. I caught up with her recently to visit about the book and about writing

Even if you’ve been reading books for young readers in the United States for a number of years, chances are you still are not aware of Andy Griffiths. But he is considered by many the most popular and one of the best-selling author for young readers in Australia.

Randall Munroe is the creator of the website xkcd.com and the author of the books What If? , Thing Explainer , and his latest, How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems .

When most readers hear the name Tracy Chevalier, they correctly remember her as the author of Girl with a Pearl Earring , which was her second of eleven published novels. Her latest is titled A Single Thread, which explores a group of women who, after World War I, were charged with embroidering cushions and kneelers for Winchester Cathedral.

Short story collections can be difficult to discuss in one sitting, but that doesn’t stop me from trying. Luckily, with his new collection, author Ben Nickol linked together some of the stories through characters and circumstances. Ben stopped by the KMUW studios recently to visit with me about the collection, Sun River .

If you've been listening to Marginalia for a while, you've probably heard my next guest before.

Kate Williams is a self-described '90s kid. If you don’t believe her, a look at the pop culture references sprinkled throughout her new YA book, The Babysitters Coven , might convince you.

Throughout her three collections of poetry and one work of fiction, author Jeanine Hathaway often weaves themes of faith into her writing. Her new collection of poems, Long After Lauds , is no exception.

My guest this episode is a voice you've probably heard before, especially if you've been listening to Marginalia for a while. Brock Clarke just released his 8th work of fiction, Who Are You, Calvin Bledsoe?, and he visited with me about it the day before publication.