The Reading Life

This week on The Reading Life: Susan talks with Keith O’Brien, author of a page-turner of a group biography,“Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History,” and Brad Richard talks about terrific new developments in the South Louisiana Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Here’s what’s on tap in the literary life this week: Amy Bonnaffons signs “The Wrong Heaven,” Monday, August 6, at 6 p.m. at Garden District Book Shop. Vicki Salloum signs her novel, “Waiting for You

This week on The Reading Life: Susan talks with Amy Bonnaffons, whose marvelous debut story collection is “The Wrong Heaven.” Imagine getting a personal phone call from Barack Obama -- what would you ask him? We’ll also hear from Gillian Rodger, author of “Just One of the Boys: Female-to-Male Cross-Dressing on the American Variety Stage.” New Orleans was a big stop on the variety circuit -- remember the Mardi Gras tale of chanteuse Lydia Thompson. Here’s what’s on tap in the literary life this

This week on The Reading Life: Susan talks with historian Blain Roberts, co-author, with her husband Ethan Kytle, of “Denmark Vesey’s Garden: Slavery and Memory in the Cradle of the Confederacy.” Who owns history in Charleston, SC? Roberts talks bout historical quandaries in memorialization and the whitewashing of slavery --in landmarks, monuments, museums, tours for tourists. And there's a surprising detour into musical territory as well. Here’s what’s on tap in the literary life this week: Kim

This week on The Reading Life: Susan talks with Louis Maistros, author of “The Sound of Building Coffins,” who has just published a revised, expanded version of this book. Poet Melinda Palacio talks about what went into her most recent collection, “Bird Forgiveness.” Audio extra: Melinda Palacio read's poem, How to Wash a Duck from “Bird Forgiveness” July 15 calendar Here’s what’s on tap in the literary life this week: Lexi Ostrow signs “ A Heavenly Kind of Love ,” Sunday, July 15, at 2 at

Susan Larson continues our discussion of food books with Judy Walker about cocktail guides.

This week on The Reading Life: Susan Larson talks with novelist Kent Wascom, whose third novel in the Woolsack saga is “The New Inheritors.” We’ll also hear from Heather Veneziano, one of the editors and contributors to "Gateway to New Orleans, Bayou St. John, 1708-2018,” a gorgeous history/architectural survey of one of the city's most beloved neighborhoods. Here’s what’s on tap in the literary life this week: Kent Wascom discusses and signs "The New Inheritors," Tuesday, July 10, at 6 p.m. at

Susan Larson sits down with Judy Walker to discuss food scholarship and memoirs.

This week on The Reading Life: Kim Vaz-Deville , editor of "Walking Raddy: The Baby Dolls of New Orleans," a glorious celebration of the women's masking and marching tradition. Vaz-Deville is also the author of "The Baby Dolls: Breaking the Race and Gender Barriers of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Tradition." She is professor of education and associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Xavier University of Louisiana. And we'll hear some special audio of producer George Ingmire's interview

Susan Larson sits down with Judy Walker to discuss cookbooks, part two of four. Some of the classics come from chefs and food experts: The New Orleans Cookbook , by Rima and Richard Collin My New Orleans: The Cookbook, by John Besh The Dooky Chase Cookbook , of course, accompanied by Leah Chase’s autobiography, And Still I Cook Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Louisiana Cooking , by Paul Prudhomme Emeril’s New Orleans Cooking , by Emeril Lagasse Crescent City Cooking , by Susan Spicer Tujague’s Cookbook:

This week on The Reading Life: Susan talks with Robert Fieseler, author of “Tinderbox: The Untold Story of the Up Stairs Lounge Fire and the Rise of Gay Liberation," and short story writer Nick White, author of “Sweet & Low.” Here’s what’s on tap in the literary life this week: Hannah Pittard discusses and signs her new novel, “Visible Empire,” Tuesday, June 26 at 6 p.m. at Garden District Book Shop. Omer Bartov discusses “Anatomy of a Genocide: The Live and Death of a Town called Buczacz,”