Datcher, Michael, 1967-; Datcher, Michael, 1967- - Childhood and youth; Poets, American - 20th century - Biography; African American families - California - Los Angeles; Fatherless families - California - Los Angeles; Journalists - United States -...
Michael Datcher discusses his book, “Raising Fences.” He begins by talking about his early life and his choice to live with his adopted family over the real family who gave him up. Martinson asks him to read a passage about his adoption and...
Terrorism - United States - Fiction;
Conspiracy - Fiction
Jess Walter discusses her novel, “The Zero.” She begins by talking about her main character who is paid to clean up at Ground Zero after the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. She discusses how America stopped remembering the violent parts of...
Franks, Thomas Edward;
Franks, Lucinda;
World War, 1939-1945 - Military intelligence - United States;
Spies - United States - Biography;
Fathers and daughters - United States
Lucinda Franks discusses her book, “My Father’s Secret War.” She begins by talking about how she was the youngest winner of a Pulitzer Prize. She discusses how she went through her father’s things one day and started finding Nazi...
Micheline Aharonian Marcom discusses her novel, “The Daydreaming Boy.” She begins by talking about why she decided to write the book from a man’s point of view during the Armenian genocide. She discusses life in Beirut in the early 1960s...
World War, 1914-1918 - Participation, African American - Fiction;
African American families - Fiction;
African American soldiers - Fiction;
African American men - Fiction;
Louisiana - Fiction;
Oklahoma - Fiction
Guy Johnson discusses his novel, “Standing at the Scratch Line.” He begins by talking about how he wanted to write about the life experience of African Americans in the early 1900s. He describes how his main character joins an all-black...
Hunt, Swanee;
Hunt, Swanee - Family;
Ambassadors - United States - Biography;
Women ambassadors - United States - Biography;
Political activists - United States - Biography;
Women - Political activity - United States;
United States - Foreign...
Swanee Hunt discusses her autobiography, “Half-Life of a Zealot.” She begins by explaining that she was the United States ambassador to Austria under the presidency of Bill Clinton. She talks about growing up in Texas and her relationship...
Kate Braverman discusses her novel, “The Incantation of Frida K.” She begins by talking about how she was able to adapt her poetry into a full-length novel. She talks about the life of artist Frida Kahlo, her marriage to fellow painter Diego...
Jewish sermons, American;
History, Modern - 20th century - Sermons
Jacob Pressman discusses his book, “Dear Friends.” He begins by explaining that he is a rabbi and this book is a compilation of his sermons from the 1930s to today. He describes how he picked his favorite sermons from the 4,000 that he has...
Leah Komaiko discusses her book, “Am I Old Yet?” She begins by talking about how she primarily writes children’s books and young adult novels, but wanted to write this book about her personal experiences with friendship. She describes how...
Munchausen syndrome by proxy - Fiction;
African American women physicians - Fiction
Darin Strauss discusses his novel, “More Than It Hurts You.” He begins by explaining that his book is about a woman who suffers from Munchausen Syndrome which causes her to harm her child to get attention. He talks about the power struggle...
Young women - Fiction;
Grandmothers - Fiction;
Despair - Fiction
Jan Goldstein discusses his novel, “All That Matters.” He begins by explaining that his book is about a young woman who is depressed and builds a relationship with her grandmother. He talks about the struggles his characters go through and...
Erika Schickel discusses her book, “You’re Not the Boss of Me.” She begins by explaining that she used to be an actress and wrote the first chapter as a performance piece. Martinson asks Schickel to read a passage from the book about being...
Mary, of Egypt, Saint - Fiction;
Duval, Jeanne - Fiction;
Women - Caribbean Area - Fiction;
Spirit possession - Fiction;
Time travel - Fiction;
Prostitutes - Fiction;
Goddesses - Fiction;
Caribbean Area - Fiction;
France - Fiction;
Egypt - Fiction
Nalo Hopkinson discusses her novel, “The Salt Roads.” She talks about how she covers several periods of history in her book including 18th century Haiti, 19th century France, and 4th century Egypt. She describes slave revolts in Haiti....
Women detectives - New York (State) - Long Island - Fiction;
Organized crime - Fiction;
Missing persons - Fiction;
Widows - Fiction;
Nassau County (N.Y.) - Fiction;
Long Island (N.Y.) - Fiction
Susan Isaacs discusses her novel, “Long Time No See.” She begins by explaining that this book is a sequel to “Compromising Positions” which follows her main character detective Judith Singer. She talks about how she wanted Judith to grow...
Young men - Fiction;
Swindlers and swindling - Fiction;
Circus performers - Fiction;
College dropouts - Fiction;
Drug addicts - Fiction;
Freak shows - Fiction;
Circus - Fiction;
Venice (Los Angeles, Calif.) - Fiction;
Boise (Idaho) - Fiction
Matthew Carnahan discusses his novel, “Serpent Girl.” He begins by explaining that he used to work for the circus, and wanted his main character to be an elephant trainer. He talks about his character’s struggle to figure out who mugged...
African American women - Fiction;
Los Angeles (Calif.) - Fiction
Yolanda Barnes discusses her novel, “When It Burned to the Ground.” She begins by explaining her book is about a street preacher who lives in a bad neighborhood. She discusses the overall themes in the book of downfall and decay. She talks...
Austin, Mike, 1910-;
Golfers - Biography - United States;
Teacher-student relationships - United States;
Swing (Golf)
Philip Reed discusses his book, “In Search of the Greatest Golf Swing: Chasing the Legend of Mike Austin, the Man Who Launched the World’s Longest Drive and Taught Me to Hit Like a Pro.” He begins by explaining that he worked with Mike...
Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790;
United States - Foreign relations - France;
France - Foreign relations - United States;
United States - Foreign relations - 1775-1783
Stacy Schiff discusses her book, “A Great Improvisation.” She begins by explaining the reasons Benjamin Franklin went to France to get support for the new American colonies. She talks about Franklin’s troubled relationship with his son, and...
Parent and adult child - Fiction; Fathers and daughters - Fiction; Middle class men - Fiction; Middle-aged men - Fiction; Suburban life - Fiction; Air pilots - Fiction; Long Island (N.Y.) - Fiction
Chang-rae Lee discusses his book, “Aloft.” He begins by explaining that his book is about middle-aged people who suddenly find themselves unhappy with their lives. Martinson asks Lee to read a passage from the book about couples who fight...
Bull Run, 1st Battle of, Va., 1861 - Fiction; Virginia - History - Civil War, 1861-1865 - Fiction
James P. Reger discusses his novel, “Baptism at Bull Run.” He begins by explaining that his book is about the Civil War, and starts with a Confederate win at Fort Sumter. He talks about how his book is historical fiction, but is based exactly...
