Monk, Thelonious - Influence - Fiction; Single women - Fiction; Conduct of life - Fiction
Paul Mandelbaum discusses his book, “Adriane on the Edge.” He begins by explaining that this book is a sequel to his 2004 novel, “Garrett in Wedlock.” He talks about how he draws heavily on stories that his friends have told him, and...
Jews, East European - Fiction; Immigrants in literature
Stuart Farrell Tower discusses his novel, “The Wayfarers.” He begins by explaining that the book is about a retired businessman who lives in Beverly Hills and travels to Romania to find out about the life of his father. He talks about a group...
Disease Outbreaks - Popular Works; Bioterrorism - Fiction
Paul Boor discusses his novel, “The Blood Notes of Peter Mallow.” He begins by explaining that he works in a toxic biochemical lab and decided to give his main character the same career. He talks about the decrease in funding for...
Motion picture industry - Fiction; Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.) - Fiction
Bruce Wagner discusses his novel, “Still Holding.” He begins by explaining that he grew up in Hollywood, CA and writes stories that explore the culture and heritage of the area. He describes the psychology of celebrity stalkers, look-a-likes,...
Women - Hawaii - Fiction; Leprosy - Patients - Fiction; Kalaupapa (Hawaii) - Fiction; Molokai (Hawaii) - Fiction
Alan Brennert discusses his novel, “Moloka’i.” He begins by explaining that the island of Moloka’i near Hawaii was designated as a colony for people who had leprosy. He follows the story of a young girl who has leprosy and her struggles...
Separation (Psychology) - Fiction; Fiction - Authorship - Fiction; Life change events - Fiction; Married people - Fiction; Novelists - Fiction
Richard Paul Evans discusses his novel, “A Perfect Day.” He begins by explaining the plot of the book: a New York Times bestselling author writes a book about his family and now his life is falling apart. He talks about his own experiences...
African American women - Fiction; African American businesspeople - Fiction; African American business enterprises - Fiction; Mothers and daughters - Fiction; Cosmetics industry - Fiction; Betrayal - Fiction
Bebe Moore Campbell discusses her novel, “What You Owe Me.” She explains that her book begins in 1948 when an African American woman befriends a European Jew. The two women go into a cosmetic business together until one betrays the other. ...
Inheritance and succession - Fiction; War correspondents - Fiction; Women journalists - Fiction; Single mothers - Fiction; Pregnant women - Fiction; Surgeons - Fiction; Los Angeles (Calif.) - Fiction; Sierra Leone - Fiction
Maria T. Lennon discusses her novel, “Making It Up As I Go Along.” She begins by explaining that the book is about a woman who moves from southern California to Africa. She talks about the importance of friendship between new mothers and how...
White, Blanche (Fictitious character) - Fiction; African American women - Fiction; Women detectives - Fiction; Caterers and catering - Fiction; Cooking - Fiction; Detective and mystery stories; North Carolina - Fiction
Barbara Neely discusses her novel, “Blanche Passes Go.” She begins by explaining that this is the fourth book in the series that follows her character Blanche White. She talks about how Blanche decides to move back to North Carolina from New...
Bruce Joel Rubin discusses his book, “Jacob’s Ladder.” He begins by explaining that he wrote the screenplay for the film “Jacob’s Ladder,” and wrote this book as a companion to the film. The book includes the original screenplay,...
Motion picture industry - Fiction; Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.) - Fiction
Peter Bart discusses his novel, “Dangerous Company.” He begins by explaining that he is the editor-in-chief of Variety Magazine. He says that his book is based on real people he knows in Hollywood, but that he changed their names. He talks...
Assassination - Fiction; Political corruption - Fiction; Love stories - Fiction
Edmundo Paz Soldán discusses his book, “The Matter of Desire.” He begins by explaining that he is a professor at Cornell University and talks about how he got his book translated into English from Spanish. The book is about a young man who...
Robert MacNeil discusses his novel, “The Voyage.” He says that the book is about a woman who turns down a marriage proposal in her 20s and never gets asked again. He introduces the characters and talks about how two old lovers decide to meet...
Motion picture producers and directors - Fiction; Motion picture industry - Fiction; Earthquakes - Fiction; Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.) - Fiction
Terrill Lankford discusses his novel, “Earthquake Weather.” He begins by talking about the 1994 earthquake that hit Los Angeles and how disaster can bring people together. He discusses the film industry in Hollywood and how many people just...
Apartment houses - Fiction; Rich people - Fiction; Socialites - Fiction; Upper East Side (New York, N.Y.) - Fiction; Park Avenue (New York, N.Y.) - Fiction
Carrie Karasyov discusses the novel she co-wrote with Jill Kargman called, “The Right Address.” She begins by explaining that the book is about a newly married couple who moves into the most expensive apartment complex in New York City. She...
Ariel Dorfman discusses his novel, “The Last Song of Manuel Sendero.” He begins by explaining that the book is about a baby who refuses to be born until his parents change the world and make it a better place. This baby gathers all the other...
Adult child abuse victims - Fiction; Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.) - Fiction; Los Angeles (Calif.) - Fiction; Motion picture industry - Fiction
Benjamin Stein discusses his novel, “Her Only Sin.” He begins by introducing his main character, a woman who suffered abuse as a child and can’t tell the difference between real life and movies. This woman grows up to run the largest movie...
Young women - Fiction; Victims of crimes - Fiction; Mothers and daughters - Fiction; Nurses - Fiction; New York (N.Y.) - Fiction; Philippines - Fiction
Vendela Vida discusses her novel, “And Now You Can Go.” Martinson asks Vida to read a passage from the book about a man who holds a woman at gunpoint in a park. She discusses how she had initially written a much different book, but edited out...
East Indian American women - Fiction; Mothers and daughters - Fiction; Divorced mothers - Fiction; Dreams - Fiction; California - Fiction; India - Fiction
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni discusses her novel, “Queen of Dreams.” She begins by explaining that the book is about a woman who finds out that her dead mother was a dream interpreter. She discusses the girl's close relationship with her...
Actors - Fiction; Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.) - Fiction
Ajay Sahgal discusses his novel, “Pool.” He begins by explaining how he gave the book minimal details like a screenplay, and wrote it in 3 acts. The book is about an actor who quits a movie before completion and decides to build a pool by...
