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...
Moaveni, Azadeh, 1976-; Iranian American women - Biography; Iranian Americans -Biography; Iran - Social conditions - 1979-1997; Iran - Social conditions - 1997-
Azdaeh Moaveni discusses her book, “Lipstick Jihad.” She begins by sharing her experiences and memories of growing up as an Iranian in Palo Alto, California during the shadow of the Iranian hostage crisis. She then discusses her experiences...
Gilman, Susan Jane - Childhood and youth; Girls - New York (State) - New York - Biography; Young women - New York (State) - New York - Biography; New York (N.Y.) - Biography; Geneva (Switzerland) - Biography
Susan Gilman discusses her book, “Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress.” She begins by sharing that she wrote the book in the hopes of making other people feel less alone. She explains that the book explores her unconventional Upper West Side...
Molly Chappellet discusses her book, “A Vineyard Garden.” She begins by explaining that she and her husband bought a vineyard in Napa Valley, California. She discusses how she has learned to design, cook, and entertain there. She shows...
Mexican Americans - Fiction;
Santeria - Fiction;
AIDS (Disease) - Patients - Fiction;
Los Angeles (Calif.) - Fiction
Alex Abella discusses his novel, “Dead of Night.” He begins by explaining that Santeria is the fastest growing religion in the United States. He talks about how his book is based on a real medical case of a man who murdered his victims in...
Anne Rice discusses her novel, “The Vampire Lestat.” Rice begins by discussing the plot of the novel, which chronicles the life of the vampire Lestat; a character that was first introduced in Rice’s book “Interview with the Vampire.” She...
Moehringer, J. R., 1964-; Journalists - United States - Biography; Bars (Drinking establishments) - Social aspects - New York (State) - Manhasset; Manhasset (N.Y.) -Biography; Arizona - Biography; Connecticut - Biography
J.R. Moehringer discusses his book, “The Tender Bar.” He begins by discussing how growing up he found a home away from home at a local bar. He shares that when he was growing up his father, a well-known disc jockey, abandoned his mother and...
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...
Dale Peck discusses his novel, “The Law of Enclosures,” that describes his life. The book opens with two characters, Beatrice and Henry, who met in college, and are completely in love with each other. It continues on with the story of their...
Fort Ontario Emergency Refugee Shelter - Juvenile fiction; Fort Ontario Emergency Refugee Shelter - Fiction; Jewish refugees - New York (State) - Oswego - Juvenile fiction; Jews - New York (State) - Oswego - Juvenile fiction; Holocaust survivors -...
Miriam Bat-Ami discusses her book, “Two Suns in the Sky,” which explores refugees from Yugoslavia attempting to establish their new identities as Americans. The characters had to explore how to become Americans. Further, they wanted to...
Alexander, Shana;
Ager, Milton, 1893-1979;
Journalists - United States - Biography;
Musicians - United States - 20th century - Biography
Shana Alexander discusses her autobiography, “Happy Days.” She begins by explaining that she is the daughter of famous composer Milton Ager, and her mother was a screenwriter for MGM Studios. She talks about her early life and how her parents...
Interfaith marriage - United States;
Marriage - Religious aspects - Judaism;
Marriage - Religious aspects - Christianity
Paul Cowan and Rachel Cowan discuss their book, “Mixed Blessings.” They begin by explaining that they are an interfaith couple and decided to write their own wedding ceremony so they could incorporate both aspects of Judaism and Christianity. ...
Davidow, Joie;
Hemangiomas - Patients - United States - Biography;
Birthmarks - Patients - United States - Biography;
Hemangiomas - Psychological aspects;
Birthmarks - Psychological aspects
Joie Davidow discusses her autobiography, “Marked for Life.” She begins by explaining that she was born with a large birthmark on her face and has worn a mask of makeup her whole life. She talks about growing up in rural Pennsylvania, and...
City and town life - Fiction;
North Carolina - Fiction
Clyde Edgerton discusses his novel, “Where Trouble Sleeps.” He begins by explaining that his book is about a tragedy in a small rural town in North Carolina. He talks about his own life growing up in the south, and how he included many of his...
Self-actualization (Psychology);
African American women - Life skills guides;
Self-esteem in women
Dr. Christine Johnson discusses her book, “Walk the Rainbow.” She begins by explaining that her book is a response to Terry McMillan’s book, “Waiting to Exhale.” She talks about how she spoke with her students and realized that people...
David Wolstencroft discusses his novel, “Good News, Bad News.” He begins by explaining that his book is about two co-workers who think the other is a spy. He talks about the differences between espionage in Britain and in the United States. ...
Takei, George, 1937-;
Actors - United States - Biography
George Takei discusses his autobiography, “To the Stars.” He begins by explaining that he played Mr. Sulu in the original series of Star Trek. He talks about his early life growing up in Los Angeles and what it was like to live in...
Elizabeth Kendall discusses her book, “American Daughter.” She begins by explaining that she was driving her car as a teenager, and got in an accident that killed her mother. She talks about growing up in an affluent part of St. Louis,...
Young adults - Fiction;
North Carolina - Fiction;
Families - Fiction
Jill McCorkle discusses her novel, “Ferris Beach.” She begins by explaining that her book is about growing up in a small town. She talks about how young adults have to learn to discover their friends and family members. She describes her job...
