Karen Russell talks to Sam about her first novel, Swamplandia!, a family tale set at a shabby tourist attraction in the Everglades.

The author of The Memory Keeper's Daughter joins Sam on this edition of the Avid Reader to talk about her new book, The Lake of Dreams.

Sam Hankin is joined by Michael Sims, the author of "Adam's Naval," "Natural And Cultural History Of The Human Form," and "Apollo's Fire: A Day On Earth." He's the editor of "The Penguin Book of Victorian Women in Crime," a new anthology of stories featuring fearless, witty women with a knack for exposing injustice.

The Avid Reader talks to Tracy Kidder, prolific author of literary non-fiction, about his books Strength in What Remains and Mountains Beyond Mountains.

Charles Yu, author of How To Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe, talks to Sam about time travel and more.

Sam interviews Thrity Umrigar, bestselling author of THE SPACE BETWEEN US and THE WEIGHT OF HEAVEN.

Sam talks with Chris Cleave, author of LITTLE BEE and INCENDIARY.

We listen to a chapter from David Byrne's travel memoir the Bicycle Diaries.

Sam talks to Susan Weidener about memoirs, writing groups, and her book Again in a Heartbeat.

Helen Simonson, author of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, talks to Sam about her novel. It's also our book club pick for January!