Here’s something you probably didn’t learn in history class: In the days leading up to the founding of our nation, there was a conspiracy to kill George Washington. Many historians are aware of this fact, but there’s not a lot of information to support it. But that didn’t stop Brad Meltzer. When he saw the reference in a footnote by Pulitzer-prize winning historian Joseph J. Ellis, Meltzer couldn’t shake it from his mind. So he collaborated with Josh Mensch to discover the history behind that

Clemency Burton-Hill is an award-winning violinist and renowned classical musical journalist who has written a book titled Year of Wonder . Burton-Hill believes that making time for engaged listening to one piece of classical music every day will bring on a healthier and happier mindset. Through this book she has created a 366-day field guide that she hopes will blow-up classical music as an elitist genre. In this episode, KMUW’s own Lu Anne Stephens joined me conversation with Clemency Burton

In this episode of Marginalia, I spoke via Skype with author Oyinkan Braithwaite at her home in Lagos, Nigeria. That’s also the setting of her debut novel, which has a spoiler of a title: My Sister, the Serial Killer. The sisters are Korede and Ayoola. Korede is older, and takes quite seriously her responsibility to protect her younger sister, even to the point of cleaning up after Ayoola’s nasty habit of killing her boyfriends. I visited with Braithwaite just before the novel’s release. Here’s

With over 2 million books in print, Marie Lu is considered a rock star of young adult literature. Both of her Legend and Young Elites series have spent considerable time on bestsellers lists. And now Wildcard, the second book in the Warcross / Wildcard duology has been published. I recently caught up with Lu to talk about the new book, her work in gaming, and her experience immigrating to the United States. Here’s our conversation: Wildcard by Marie Lu was published by G.P. Putnam's Sons for

Author Michael Connelly introduced readers to Detective Harry Bosch in 1992 with the publication of The Black Echo . Twenty-six years and 30-plus books later, detectives from two of Connelly's series are working together for the first time in Dark Sacred Night , including the man who's been there from the beginning.

Historian Hampton Sides has written a new book about the Battle at the Chosin Reservoir, an epic clash during the Korean conflict that he calls one of the greatest military survival stories of all time. On Desperate Ground explores the many adversaries facing the First Marine Division in November of 1950: hundreds of thousands of Chinese soldiers, an arrogant Gen. Douglas MacArthur, and extreme weather conditions.

Historian Nathaniel Philbrick is not a stranger to the sea. But surprisingly, one of the main characters in his books--George Washington--was. But his prejudice against the sea, according to Philbrick, didn’t inhibit Washington’s naval genius.

Markus Zusak is the author of several books, but he’s probably best known for The Book Thief , which has sold 16 million copies worldwide, is published in 42 foreign language territories, and has spent over 500 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.

According to writer and history buff, Joe Stumpe, "early Wichita earned a wicked reputation from newspapers across Kansas thanks to a bevy of madams and murderers, bootleggers and bank robbers, con men and crooked cops."

November Road is a thriller set in November 1963, and it begins just before JFK’s assassination. When a mob lieutenant realizes that many of his associates are being eliminated one by one, he speculates not only that the murders are tied to the assassination, but also that he is next. In November Road , author Lou Berney expands on mob-related conspiracy theories surrounding Kennedy’s death. I recently sat down with Lou Berney at the KMUW studios to talk about November Roa d and more. Here's our