Archive for the ‘Reads’ Category

The Best Anthony Doerr Books (Exclusive Author Interview)

Monday, September 18th, 2023

Read my interview with the author on the All The Light We Cannot See book. Discover the Anthony Doerr books in order and details on the new Netflix TV series.

The Best Anthony Doerr Books (Exclusive Author Interview)

This exclusive interview with acclaimed author Anthony Doerr delves into the captivating world of Anthony Doerr’s  Pulitzer Prize-winning All the Light We Cannot See book. 

Join me as Doerr offers unique insights into the creation of this literary masterpiece, revealing the inspirations, challenges, and emotions that brought this unforgettable tale to life.

Anthony Doerr Books

Be sure to scroll down to see the FULL LIST of books from the author, and more details on the All the Light We Cannot See movie.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

All The Light We Cannot See Summary

In this story, Marie-Laure lives with her father in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where he works as the master of its thousands of locks. 

When she is six, Marie-Laure goes blind, and her father builds a perfect miniature of their neighborhood so she can memorize it by touch and navigate her way home. 

When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris, and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure’s reclusive great-uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. 

They carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel with them.

Meanwhile, in a mining town in Germany, the orphan Werner grows up with his younger sister, enchanted by a crude radio they find. 

Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing these crucial new instruments, a talent that wins him a place at a brutal academy for Hitler Youth, then a special assignment to track the resistance. 

More and more aware of the human cost of his intelligence, Werner travels through the heart of the war and, finally, into Saint-Malo, where his story and Marie-Laure’s converge.

All the Light We Cannot See Quotes

All the Light We Cannot See Themes:

This novel was selected for an Alex Award which is given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18. 

You will find many powerful themes in this book including:

War and Its Impact: The novel vividly portrays the devastating effects of World War II on individuals, families, and communities. It poses moral dilemmas faced by characters caught amid the conflict.

Resilience and Survival: The story follows the journeys of two young protagonists, Marie-Laure and Werner, as they navigate the challenges of war. Their resilience, courage, and determination to survive against all odds highlight the strength of the human spirit.

Human Connection: Amidst the chaos of war, the novel emphasizes the importance of human connections and empathy. It explores the bonds formed between characters, emphasizing the capacity for kindness and compassion even in the darkest times.

The Power of Knowledge: The novel celebrates the transformative power of knowledge and the way it can provide solace and hope. Marie-Laure’s love for books and Werner’s expertise in radio technology are symbolic examples of the intellectual pursuits that can illuminate even the darkest paths.

Moral Choices: Throughout the story, characters are faced with moral dilemmas and choices that challenge their values and principles. These ethical quandaries reflect the complexities of human nature and the blurred lines between right and wrong during times of war.

All the Light We Cannot See Quotes

 At the time of this interview, Anthony Doerr had already been on the New York Times best-seller list for twenty weeks. He certainly doesn’t need this interview for a promotion. 

Shortly after my interview, they awarded All the Light We Cannot See the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for fiction and the 2015 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction.

Anthony Doerr All the Light We Cannot See

The Best Anthony Doerr Books (Exclusive Author Interview)

What was it like spending a decade on this book, and did you ever feel discouraged while writing it?

Oh, I was crazy with doubt almost of the time. 

You invest so many months into a single project—shelves stuffed with WWII books, three separate trips to Europe, dozens of scribbled notes, and the terror that you won’t be able to pull it all together keeps you up at night. 

I worried that if I abandoned the project, I’d let down my wife, kids, editor, and myself. 

And I never dreamed it would take so long—a quarter of my life!

The story beautifully centers around radio communication bringing unlikely individuals together. What inspired your choice to delve into radio, and did researching older radio models and their workings play a significant role in crafting this plotline?

I adored radios as a boy and often stayed up late listening to baseball games under my covers while my parents thought I was sleeping. 

But that passion had waned until ten years ago, when I took a train from Princeton, New Jersey, into New York City. 

I had just completed a novel and was searching for a new idea, and I had a notebook in my lap. 

The man in the seat in front of me was talking to someone on his cell phone about the sequel to The Matrix, I remember that very clearly, and as we approached Manhattan, sixty feet of steel and concrete started flowing above the train, his call dropped.

 And he got angry! 

He started swearing and rapping his phone with his knuckles, and after briefly worrying for my safety, I said to myself: What he’s forgetting, what we’re all forgetting, is that what he was just doing is a miracle. 

He’s using two little radios — a receiver and a transmitter — crammed into something no bigger than a deck of cards to send and receive little packets of light between hundreds of radio towers, one after the next, miles apart, each connecting to the next at the speed of light, and he’s using this magic to have a conversation about Keanu Reeves.

Because we’re habituated to it, we’ve stopped seeing the grandeur of this breathtaking act.

So I decided to write something that would help me and my reader feel that power again, to feel the strangeness and sorcery of hearing the voice of a stranger, or a distant loved one, in our heads.

That very afternoon, ten years ago, I wrote a title into my notebook: All the Light We Cannot See—a reference to all the invisible wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum (like radio waves). 

And that night, I started a piece of fiction in which a girl reads a story to a boy over the radio.

I conceived of her as blind and him as trapped in darkness, and the sound of her voice, carried by radio waves – the light we cannot see — through walls, as his salvation.

My heart went out to Werner, especially during his time in the Hitler Youth and the difficult choices he had to make for survival.

The book delves into themes of death, war, sadness, and poverty, despite the underlying hope in the story’s conclusion. Writing about this challenging period in history must have been tough.

Can you share which scene was the most challenging for you to write?

Yes, lots of the research for this novel was excruciating. 

The destruction of human beings during WWII, especially on the Eastern Front, occurred on a scale almost too large for the human brain to comprehend. 

Sometimes, the source material would send me to dark places, and I’d have to take breaks to work on other projects.

As for scenes that were hard to write, a writer faces many kinds of difficulties: technical, emotional, and syntactic. 

In terms of emotions, all the scenes involving Frederick were the most difficult because he reminds me of one of my sons.

Marie-Laure’s father’s intricate puzzles add so much beauty to your story. 

It made me wish I could find a puzzle for my kids to solve. 

How did you come up with this concept?

A friend of our family once gave me a Japanese puzzle box as a present.

 It was a wooden cube that looked like an ornate, solid block of wood. No visible doors, no knobs, no handles, no buttons.

But, as our family friend showed me if you knew what side to push in on, then various panels would start to slide down, and by manipulating all the panels in clever ways, you could eventually slide open the top and discover a hidden compartment inside.

I played with that thing for hours, showing it off to friends, examining its construction, etc., then eventually put it on a shelf and forgot about it. 

A couple of decades later, while working on this novel, the puzzle box came back to me, along with my fascination with it, and I decided to try writing a couple of scenes in which Marie-Laure’s father fashions puzzle boxes.

Which character do you identify the most within your book?

I do my best to identify with all my characters, even the bad actors—I think that’s probably part of the job description for any novelist, isn’t it?

This novel has 187 chapters beautifully segmented and sectioned for the reader in small doses. Why did you decide to structure your story this way?

Obviously, there are infinite ways to write a novel, but for me, “plotting it out” has always sounded scary and programmatic.

 I have to compose, revise, and re-revise scenes to understand what should happen.

So my process involves a lot of trial and error. I write hundreds of paragraphs trying to figure out where the story is going, and I usually cut most of them. 

I knew early on that I wanted the two narratives to feel like two almost parallel lines that gently inclined toward each other.

The structure was a big mess for a long time.

 It probably had 250 or 300 chapters at some points.

All I knew early on — and wanted a reader to intuit – was that Marie’s and Werner’s lives would intersect.

But it took me a long time to figure out exactly how that would happen.

If you could tell anyone to read one book (other than your own), what would that book be?

Oh, gosh, my answer to this question changes all the time, but a novel I’m absolutely in love with right now is Karen Joy Fowler’s We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves

It’s about family, siblinghood, memory, storytelling, and particularly about our society’s treatment of animals.

It’s also structured in this beautiful, organic, perfect way—I hope a few of your readers will look at it!

*Editor’s Note: Read my interview with Karen Joy Fowler about “We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves” here!

Frequently Asked Questions About Anthony Doerr Books:

How do you pronounce Anthony Doerr?

Anthony Doerr’s last name sounds like “door.” For a pronunciation guide, it would look like this: Anthony Dor

What are the best Anthony Doerr books?

My favorite book by the author is All the Light We Cannot See.

This novel also is the highest-rated on GoodReads, followed closely by Cloud Cuckoo Land.

Is All The Light We Cannot See based on a true story?

All The Light We Cannot See is a work of historical fiction. 

While the characters are entirely fictional, the setting of Saint-Malo is a real place.

All the Light We Cannot See movie

When can I watch All The Light We Cannot See movie?

The book will become a Netflix TV series very soon! 

Directed by Shawn Levy, the Netflix adaptation stars Louis Hofmann, Lars Eidinger, Marion Bailey, Hugh Laurie, Aria Mia Loberti, and Mark Ruffalo.

With four hour-long episodes in total, the All the Light We Cannot See limited series will premiere on November 2, 2023, nearly a decade after the novel was published.

You can watch the riveting movie trailer here!

What are Anthony Doerr’s books in order published?

  • The Shell Collector: Stories (2001) 
  • About Grace (2004)
  • Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World (2007)
  • Memory Wall: Stories (2010)
  • All The Light We Cannot See (2014)
  • Cloud Cuckoo Land (2021)
Anthony Doerr Books

Anthony Doerr Books

Anthony Doerr is the author of six books. He won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the 2015 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction for his novel All the Light We Cannot See.

His talent extends to the world of short stories and essays, where he has claimed an impressive five O. Henry Prizes.

Anthony's work has been translated into over forty languages.

He has received recognition from the Barnes & Noble Discover Prize, the Rome Prize, the New York Public Library's Young Lions Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, an NEA Fellowship, and an Alex Award from the American Library Association.

Other esteemed honors include the National Magazine Award for Fiction, four Pushcart Prizes, three Pacific Northwest Book Awards, five Ohioana Book Awards, and the coveted 2010 Story Prize.

Discover more about all six books in this book list today.

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Love this author interview? Stream the Book Gang Podcast wherever you get podcasts. We discuss debuts, backlist, and under-the-radar book gems with your favorite authors.

Book Gang Podcast

TELL ME: What is your favorite Anthony Doerr book?

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The Best Page Turners About Motherhood to Read Now

Thursday, September 14th, 2023

These books about motherhood are the best page turners to read now. Dive into the joys, struggles, and complexities in this curated list of books about moms.

If you missed the Book Gang podcast, Adele Griffin celebrated the literary wisdom in motherhood-themed books! Adele Griffin’s debut revealed a captivating surrogacy journey and shares the characters that molded her narrative.

Listen to the full episode (the show notes are located at The Best Motherhood Lessons From Literary Characters) below and subscribe to the Book Gang podcast for more episodes like this one.

In honor of today’s topic, Adele and I share our favorite books about motherhood with this beautiful reading list celebrating mothers. 

Remember, you can find our book club member recommendations at the end of our book lists!

If you love this list, you can support my work through a one-time donation on Buy Me a Coffee or join our Patreon community for book fun all year long. The financial support helps us keep the lights on in our online space.

Best Page Turner Books About Motherhood

Browse these top page-turner books about motherhood.  This list includes book club books, thrillers, mysteries, classics, and memoirs.

ENLIGHTENING INFERTILITY BOOKS

These books document the infertility journey through fiction and include a poignant personal story that influenced today’s author.

BEST BOOK CLUB BOOKS ABOUT MOTHERS

Dive into these stories and experience the highs and lows of motherhood like never before. These are the best book club books about mothers for discussion.

PAGE TURNER THRILLERS AND MYSTERIES ABOUT MOTHERHOOD

Motherhood is complex and these books explore the darker sides of motherhood in the thriller and mystery genre.

BEST MEMOIRS ON MOTHERHOOD

These motherhood memoirs capture the joys, challenges, and complexities of this role.

CLASSIC BOOKS ABOUT MOTHERS

Celebrate the best mothers in classic literature.

Looking for more books about mothers? Fall in love with these MomAdvice Book Club recommendations:

What is your favorite book about mothers or motherhood? Let us know in the comments below what this list is missing!

The Best Motherhood Lessons from Literary Characters

Thursday, September 14th, 2023

Celebrate literary lessons found in books about mothers! Adele Griffin shares her riveting surrogacy story in her debut and how these characters shaped her.

The Best Motherhood Lessons From Literary Characters

Adele Griffin knew something had been missing from her fiction for a long time. 

Although she knew it was missing, she admits that it took her years to process and refine this motherhood journey into her adult fiction debut, The Favor

In this moving conversation, we discuss her riveting surrogacy journey and what writers have gotten wrong when writing about this deeply personal partnership. It is a profound bond that can have lifelong impacts on all parties involved, but the author’s challenge was packaging it lightly for a reader like her. 

As a seasoned author of over thirty books, she describes her unique challenges and hurdles in writing adult voices and, ultimately, the literary mothers who shaped this story, and how she viewed motherhood. 

In one of the most eclectic stacks brought to our show, we will discover surprising trivia behind some well-known classics and contemporary literature that brings modern motherhood issues to light.

The Best Page Turners About Motherhood to Read Now

Bonus Books About Mothers Book List

Today’s BONUS BOOK LIST explores The Best Page Turners About Motherhood to Read Now. This includes Adele’s fiction, nonfiction, and memoir selections. I’ve rounded out this stack with the most compelling books I’ve read on motherhood. 

And if you want to dive into Adele’s page-turning plot twists, you will love today’s bonus. Patrons get an additional  SPOILER-FILLED episode with Adele, discussing three pivotal moments in her book’s ending. 

The Favor Book by Adele Griffin

The Favor Book Synopsis

The Favor delves into the intricate world of surrogacy, weaving together the lives of two women from vastly different socioeconomic backgrounds. 

Readers meet Nora, a vintage fashion curator navigating the hidden burdens of financial debt and fertility struggles. 

Her life takes an unexpected turn when Manhattan’s socialite, Evelyn Elliot, breezes into the vintage shop she works at and enlists her as a personal assistant for high-society events.

As the two women get to know each other, Evelyn proposes an unprecedented favor—offering to be Nora’s surrogate. 

As Evelyn’s pregnancy unfolds on social media with the hashtag #compassionatesurrogate, Nora must navigate uncharted territory in this captivating novel, blending modern motherhood with a fashion-forward backdrop. 

Adele Griffin Author

Meet Adele Griffin

Adele Griffin is the author of over thirty highly acclaimed books across various genres, including Sons of Liberty and Where I Want to Be, both National Book Award finalists. 

The Favor is her adult fiction debut.

Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:

Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform!

Mentioned in this episode:

Joining the Patreon community is an affordable way to support the show and gain access to a wealth of resources, including our monthly FULLY BOOKED buzzy new release show, exclusive author interviews, music playlists, and more! 

2023 MomAdvice Fall Reading Guide

2023 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide

True Biz by Sara Novic

The Favor by Adele Griffin

Adele’s Pinterest Board

The Kingdom of Prep by Maggie Bullock

Vampire Island Series by Adele Griffin

Witch Twins Series by Adele Griffin

All of a Kind Family by Sydney Taylor

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

Meg Shaffer Interview (The Wishing Game)

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

10 Fascinating Facts About Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women

Waiting for Daisy by Peggy Orenstein

Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott

Some Assembly Required by Anne Lamott

Anne Lamott, Who Wrote the ‘Operating Instructions’ on Motherhood Tackles the Sequel

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Little Fires Everywhere Trailer

Guide to the Celeste Ng Books

Celeste Ng: The WD Interview

Hello Beautiful by Anne Napolitano

You’ll Never Guess What Anne Napolitano Was Doing When Oprah Called

The Celebrity Book Club Deep Dive Episode You Need

Shop the above (Amazon) links or through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and match 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Adele on Instagram or her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice

Join the MomAdvice Book Club

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

Buy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation)

Amazon First Reads for September (Get Your FREE Book)

Friday, September 1st, 2023

Discover the best Amazon First Reads for September and get your FREE book now. Choose from a selection of Kindle book titles- a limited-time Prime member offer.

Amazon First Reads for September (Get Your FREE Book)

Be sure to scroll all the way down to see what I picked in September.

If you crave MORE FREE books, browse the best Prime Reading Guide and access TEN FREE BOOKS through the Prime library.

Each month, Prime members can choose one Kindle eBook from a selection of new releases for free, or purchase hardcover editions at discounted prices. It’s a great way to discover exciting reads and enjoy the latest titles before they hit the shelves.

If you need to familiarize yourself with the Amazon First Reads program (previously known as Kindle First), check out this post for all the details on this Prime member perk.

Amazon First Reads

Make sure that when you add these to your cart, it shows the BUY IT NOW FOR FREE!

If it does not, you are not signed into your family’s Prime account.

To help you choose your selection, each month this post offers a brief synopsis on the books with early reviews and feedback. If you want to head straight to the landing page for these selections, head here.

September Kindle First Reads

Amazon First Reads for September (Get Your FREE Book)

Select one FREE Amazon First Reads book for September. Follow today's post's instructions to ensure your free book is activated.

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

VERDICT: WHAT I PICKED

Was this the most challenging choice of the year? Yes! The way that readers described laughing out loud at Penelope in Retrograde made it the clear winner for me. If you are a mood reader, I think there is something for EVERYONE this month.

TELL ME: What are you picking this month?

New Fall Books To Reserve For Your Book Stack

Friday, September 1st, 2023

Browse this fall reading list of the new fall books coming to shelves. From murder mystery to magical realism, this cozy autumn list has your next book to read.

There’s a certain magic to the fall reading season, isn’t there? As we welcome the fall foliage and (for many) the comforting chill in the air, it is my joy to introduce you to my carefully curated 2023 Fall Reading Guide.

This is my first fall guide, filled with my most anticipated books of the year. It offers a great starting point for shopping your local independent bookshop or supporting my local indie bookshop, Fables Books

Reese's Book Club 2023 (September)

Finally, you can discover all the upcoming Book Gang podcast guests we will welcome and the final fall book club selections for the 2023 MomAdvice Book Club.

Treat yourself to your favorite latte, open your Storygraph app, and add your favorite choices to your TBR. 

2023 Fall Reading Guide

Please Support My Small Business

If you love the guide, I would be SO GRATEFUL if you would consider making a small one-time donation through our new Buy Me a Coffee page! It will help keep the lights on at MomAdvice and fund our future author conversations.

If you are feeling generous, join my Patreon community and unlock a 26-Page Printable Fall Reading Guide along with over 200 bookish benefits, including a guide like this every month.

New Fall Books To Reserve For Your Book Stack

Catch those fall vibes with my most anticipated books of fall 2023. This book list offers mysteries, thrillers, feel-good romances, and the perfect spooky season books.

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

MYSTERY BOOKS FOR ADULTS

Engage your mind in a web of intrigue with captivating mystery books, where secrets unfold in these suspenseful page-turners.

YOUNG ADULT MYSTERY BOOK

For the young at heart, this YA mystery book is perfect for your fall stack.

BEST THRILLERS (2023)

These gripping thriller books blur the line between reality and the mind's darkest corners.

HISTORICAL FICTION BOOKS

Journey through time and immerse yourself in captivating worlds of the past with these historical fiction books that bring history to life.

LITERARY FICTION

With thought-provoking prose, these literary fiction and contemporary fiction are my top picks for your fall book stack.

BEST NEW ROMANCE BOOKS

These are the best new romance books to sweep you off your feet and tug at your heartstrings for this Fall.

YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE

These YA romances are the perfect teen romance to share with your teen or tween.

FANTASY BOOKS FOR ADULTS

Take magical adventures with these fantasy book for adult readers.

MEMOIR BOOKS

Follow personal journeys through these poignant and inspiring memoir books.

HORROR BOOKS

These are the best new horror books for spooky season.

Book Series (Not the First in a Series) Also Hitting Store Shelves

Bookshops & Bonedust (Prequel to Legends and Lattes) by Travis Baldree

The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman (Book 4 in the Thursday Murder Club Series)

The Brothers Hawthorne  by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (The Inheritance Games Book 4)

System Collapse by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries Book 8)

Before We Say Goodbye by Toshikazu Kawaguchi  (Before the Coffee Gets Cold Series Book 4)

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (The Empyrean Book 2)

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose (Molly the Maid Book 2)

Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score (Knockemout Book 3)

Book Gang Podcast Guests

Meet the Book Gang Guests for Fall & Winter

The Remarkable Murder Mystery That Changed Everything (Nina Simon, Author of Mother-Daughter Murder NightLISTEN NOW)

The Best Novels About Motherhood (Adele Griffin, Author of The Favor, airing on September 15th)

LGBTQ History Month- Part 1  (Jeffrey Dale Lofton, Author of Red Clay Susie, airing on September 29th )

LGBTQ History Month- Part 2  (Matt Cain, Author of The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle, airing on October 15th )

Book Gang Podcast Guests

Beautiful Lessons from a Book Club for Inmates (Jennifer Williams, Founder of the Second Chance Book Club, airing October 27th)- GIFT A BOOK TO AN INMATE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Literary Wellness with Chronic Pain: Expert Tips for Reading (Alexandra Orfanide, Creator of The Hypermobility Helpline Podcast & Osteopath, airing on November 10th)

The Best Books About Art (Antonia Angress, Author of Sirens & Muses, airing November 14th)

December 1st- 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books Announced (celebrating my 20th blog anniversary and our FIRST backlist book club year)

MomAdvice Fall Book Club (see the full list)

August Book Club: Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins Veldez  (catch up on chat)

September Book Club: True Biz by Sara Novic RSVP

September Patreon Exclusive Chat:  Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin RSVP

October Book Club: The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner RSVP

October Patreon Bonus Chat: My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix RSVP

November: Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson on November 17th

December: The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven by Nathaniel Ian Miller RSVP on December 15th

TELL ME: What book are you most excited to read this fall?

Loved the guide? We are grateful for your support through the Buy Me a Coffee page or Patreon! We can’t fund this space without you- xx

Love reading guides? Don’t miss the best 2023 books!

BROWSE THE 2023 SUMMER READING GUIDE

THE BEST DEBUT NOVELS OF 2023

The Remarkable Murder Mystery Book That Changed Everything

Friday, September 1st, 2023

Dreaming of writing a murder mystery book? Listen to the inspiring story of a mother and daughter who crafted their whodunit amidst a cancer diagnosis.

The Remarkable Murder Mystery That Changed Everything

How does a former NASA engineer make the shift to murder mystery writer?

 In this fascinating Book Gang episode, we sit down with the talented Nina Simon to uncover the remarkable journey behind her debut novel, Mother-Daughter Murder Night

When Nina’s mother battled stage 4 cancer in late 2020, it prompted her to leave her CEO position and care for her. 

Amidst the challenges, Nina and her mother found solace in their shared love for murder mysteries, leading them to write a mystery book of their own to keep them busy during their long days in the hospital room.

Today, we explore the authenticity of mother-daughter relationships portrayed in the story and the intricate balance between land conservation and community tensions depicted in her novel’s narrative. 

We also discuss the therapeutic power of creativity, courage, and resilience that emerged through the act of storytelling bonding Nina and her mother during this challenging period. 

New Fall Books to Reserve For Your Book Stack- 2023 Fall Reading Guide

Don’t miss this week’s bonus book list- 37 New Fall Books To Reserve For Your Book Stack! 

This list includes all the upcoming autumn releases, including thriller books, fantasy, contemporary fiction, romance, and young adult! 

Mother-Daughter Murder Night Book by Nina Simon

Mother-Daughter Murder Night Book Synopsis

This debut novel was selected as the Reese’s Book Club 2023 (September) pick.

Lana Rubicon, a successful businesswoman, is stranded far from home in a coastal town with her estranged daughter Beth and granddaughter Jack. 

Lana’s battle with cancer is all-consuming until the discovery of a body by her granddaughter, Jack. 

When Jack becomes the prime suspect in the ensuing murder investigation, Lana finds an unexpected purpose in clearing her granddaughter’s name. 

Determined to protect her family and assert her strength, Lana works to uncover the culprit.

Together, all three generations of women unravel a complex web of lies, racial tensions, and land disputes within the seemingly peaceful community. 

As their amateur investigation turns dangerous, the Rubicon women must overcome their differences and learn to rely on one another.

Nina Simon Author- Mother-Daughter Murder Night

Meet Nina Simon

Nina Simon has donned numerous hats throughout her journey, from being a NASA engineer and slam poet to a mystery game designer, exhibit developer, museum director, and founder of a global nonprofit. 

Her career has predominantly unfolded within the realm of museums and cultural centers, earning her recognition as a “museum visionary” by Smithsonian Magazine due to her community-centered design approach. 

As an Ashoka fellow, she established OF/BY/FOR ALL, a worldwide nonprofit that crafts digital tools empowering civic and cultural entities to embrace inclusivity, relevance, and sustainability.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Nina lives with her husband and daughter in an off-grid community in the Santa Cruz mountains. 

Mother-Daughter Murder Night is her debut novel. 

The Remarkable Murder Mystery Book That Changed Everything

Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:

Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform!

Mentioned in this episode:

Joining the Patreon community is an affordable way to support the show and gain access to a wealth of resources, including our monthly FULLY BOOKED buzzy new release show, exclusive author interviews, music playlists, and more! 

2023 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide

Mother Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Magic Lessons Podcast

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

The Kayak Connection

S. A. Cosby

Don’t Know Tough by Eli Cranor

Louise Penny

Inspector Gamache Series

Three Pines 

David Joy

Miss Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries 

Nina’s Book Tour

GET THE 2023 FALL READING GUIDE

Shop the above (Amazon) links or through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and match 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Nina on Instagram or her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice

Join the MomAdvice Book Club

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

Buy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation)

The Fiona Davis Interview You Need to Hear

Friday, August 18th, 2023

Step into the world of Radio City’s Rockettes with author, Fiona Davis. Read excerpts from her interview on The Spectacular and discover the Fiona Davis books.

The Fiona Davis Interview You Need to Hear

Join us as Fiona Davis, the acclaimed author of seven historical fiction novels, delves into her latest historical fiction book, “The Spectacular,” which immerses readers into the world of the legendary Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall in the 1950s.  

From surprising dance routines to the hidden life of the Rockettes, discover the secrets of this iconic dance troupe and how Fiona masterfully captures the essence of movement and history on the page.  

Plus, learn the inside scoop on Fiona’s new book she is writing and what iconic New York City landmark she has selected for her next book destination. 

The Fiona Davis Interview You Need to Hear

Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:

Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform! For today’s show, we have also transcribed excerpts from today’s interview for readers.

The Fiona Davis Interview You Need to Hear

Patreon Fiona Davis Bonus Episode: 

Patreon Pals can access our bonus SPOILER episode that will delve deep into The Spectacular ending. 

Fiona masterfully crafted an emotional punch that caught me off guard.

In this bonus episode, I had the privilege of asking Fiona why she chose this ending. 

We also discuss why creatives must process things on paper and what she wants readers to learn from this protagonist’s journey. 

Fiona Davis Author Photo

Excerpts From Today’s Interview and Show Notes:

What did you uncover about the Rockettes when researching them, and was there anything surprising about the routines? 

What was different about Radio City in the fifties versus now is that now it’s a concert hall showcasing comedians, award shows, and bands, but it was a movie palace back then.

They showed four movies a day, and if you bought a ticket to a movie, you also got to see the stage show.

And that included the Ballet Corps, a choral ensemble, and, of course, the Rockettes. And sometimes, they throw in a juggler!

The show was based on the theme of whatever movie it was.

So if it was a John Wayne movie, they’d wear cowboy outfits and have holsters, guns, and hats. Those days the Rockettes worked year-round.

Now it’s seasonal if you’re a Rockette, but back then, you worked year-round, did four shows a day, and would do that for three or four weeks straight, and then you’d get a week off.

The Rockettes History
BROWSE PHOTOS OF THE ROCKETTES THROUGH THE YEARS

There were 46 girls total and 36 working at any one time.

They did 600 kicks per day because every number had a kick line.

It was really incredible. And because of that, I was surprised to learn that Radio City was a city for them because they were there so much.

Rockettes Dormitory

There was a dormitory with a nurse on staff; they’d go up on the roof and play wiffle or shuffle balls. They delighted the workers in the buildings and the skyscrapers around them.

They could watch the premieres in a cafeteria and a little movie room. And so they lived there in many ways.

The other thing that surprised me about it was just the sisterhood of the Rockettes. 

I asked if there was any back-fighting or anything like that, and they said no.

They were all just so pleased to be there, especially in the fifties when a woman was either a secretary or a nurse. 

They were so happy to be independent and do what they loved on this iconic stage. 

The Spectacular by Fiona Davis

Marion doesn’t blend in. Did you hear from any of the other dancers struggled with this?

The character of Marion is based on a real-life film star named Vera-Ellen.

She was one of the youngest Rockettes ever, and she was just bigger than everyone else.

Russell Marker founded the Rockettes and was the director and choreographer until 1971; if he said he wanted it a kick shoulder high, hers would be eye height, or her arms would be more extended than anyone else’s.

He gave her a couple of weeks to get it right, and she finally quit before she was fired. And then she went on to this really successful film, film career. She was in White Christmas.

 That was very interesting because here, you have this precision dance troupe, and the whole thing is to blend.

And it made me start thinking, what is the cost of suppressing your creativity or individuality for the good of the greater whole? 

And that’s whether it’s a dance troupe, in a corporation, or a community. When do you need to speak up and stand out, and when do you need to work and cooperate?

When it comes to dance and movement, how do you capture that on the page?

It was watching them in action, and then, at one point, I watched a class where a woman named Rhonda Malkin, who was a Rockette, now teaches this class where you go if you want to try to audition. 

Fifty-nine of her students have gone on to become Rockettes, so she’s doing something right!

And so I watched her class then transcribed the steps to make it as real as possible, using her notes to the dancers. And that helped to get it right.

It’s really about doing the research as well as you can and becoming an instant expert in whatever that thing is, which I often had to do as a journalist.

And so that helped to transfer over.

The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis

Is it hard to refine your research for a reader? How do you not overwhelm the reader?

It’s so tempting!

For example, you can sit and describe a room in Radio City like the Roxy Apartment, which is this cool art deco space, and write about that space for five pages.

But for me, the plot and the character come first.

And so because of that, I know and, having written many books by now, I know to look for the gem, for that one thing.

For example,  the fact that the Roxy apartment has a 20-foot high gold-plated ceiling is enough to set the reader in that space in many ways.

It’s tough because there’s so much to share and fascinating information, and I just have to go with whatever surprises me because I know that’ll surprise the reader.

And by including that, it’s enough to anchor the reader in the period without overwhelming them with describing furniture. 

Have you selected your new book’s next New York City landmark? 

Since January, I’ve been researching and writing a book set at the Met Museum.

In fact, we even took a trip to Egypt to do some research.

It’s set at the Egyptian wing of the Met Museum from the point of view of an associate curator. 

It’s also from the point of view of an assistant at the Met Gala, at the party of the year even in the seventies!

And so these two very different people have to team up to figure out who stole an artifact.

It’s a mix of glamor and mummies, so we’ll see how it goes. 

The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis

New to Fiona Davis? Here are some answers to your most frequently asked questions!

What are the best Fiona Davis books?

My favorite book by Fiona Davis is The Spectacular. I also highly recommend The Lions of Fifth Avenue and The Masterpiece as beautiful escapes. 

Her highest-rated novel on GoodReads is her latest book, The Spectacular.

What Fiona Davis Movies Are Coming Out?

At this time, there are no movie or tv adaptations planned. 

We will update this when it happens because we know it will. 

Is it necessary to read Fiona Davis’s books in a specific order?

No, each book is a standalone story.

What are the Fiona Davis books in the order published?

Books in order:

  • The Dollhouse (2016)
  • The Address (2017)
  • The Masterpiece (2018)
  • The Chelsea Girls (2019)
  • The Lions of Fifth Avenue (2020)
  • The Magnolia Palace (2022)
  • The Spectacular (2023)

Short Stories:

  • Stories from Suffragette City (2020)-  Historical Fiction Anthology Series
  • A Wild Rose- Amazon Original Stories (2022)
Fiona Davis Books in Order

Fiona Davis Books

Fiona Davis is the New York Times bestselling author of seven historical fiction novels set in iconic New York City buildings.

She first came to New York as an actress but fell in love with writing after getting a master's degree at Columbia Journalism School. 

Her books have been translated into over twenty languages, and she's based in New York City.

Browse this list of all the Fiona Davis books.

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
The Fiona Davis Interview You Need to Hear

The Best Josh Malerman Books (Bird Box Exclusive Interview)

Tuesday, August 8th, 2023

Josh Malerman discusses the rough drafts that proceeded his debut novel, Bird Box. Get the list of his best books and stream the Netflix film and sequel.

The Best Josh Malerman Books (Bird Box Exclusive Interview)

I am so excited to share an interview with Josh Malerman, who penned Bird Box, our first horror novel featured on the site. 

As a novelist, he has won numerous Bram Stoker Awards, but you may not know he is also known for his incredible gift as a singer-songwriter for the band The High Strung too.

This book built so much buzz for many reasons you will discover through this interview, but it also has received incredible reviews from readers.

If you are good friends with me, you know that I love a good scare. Horror flicks (scary, not gory) are my jam! 

I only recently discovered that I get this from my Dad, and now anytime a good one comes out, we go and get the heck scared out of ourselves together.

Horror BOOKS, on the other hand, just haven’t captivated my attention as much until I read this gem of a book.

The more I read about the story behind his success, the more I wanted him to pull up a virtual chair at my kitchen table and share about his book with you.

Scroll down to see the FULL LIST of books from the author!

Bird Box Book Synopsis

Malerman succeeds in writing a perfectly gripping and creepy psychological sci-fi page-turner. 

In a post-apocalyptic world, creatures are lurking. We witness a woman and her two children try to flee to safety blindfolded along a river. 

If they see what is lurking, they die a horrific death inflicting pain upon themselves to stop seeing the horrors of what they have seen. 

Interweaving past (pre-creatures) and present (a post-creature world), you go on a horrific ride as Malorie tries to save herself and her children blindfolded, never knowing what lurks around every turn.

I recommend you dig into this one if you are an Alfred Hitchcock fan like me.

I just know it is a book he would have loved and wanted to create into a film. 

You will also really love it if you love classic Stephen King or if you enjoyed The Girl With All the Gifts as much as I did. 

Now grab your coffee, and let’s chat with Josh about his delightfully creepy book, Bird Box.

The Best Josh Malerman Books (Bird Box Exclusive Interview)

You are our first author joining us who has written in the Horror genre, so I am particularly thrilled to introduce Bird Box to our readers and a completely different genre that I love. 

How did you come up with this terrifying concept of Infinity, and what about it do you think terrifies your readers the most?

Strange germination: Long ago, (back before I had a personality of my own), an elementary school teacher mentioned that “a man might go mad if he were to contemplate infinity.” 

Every word of this admonition worried me, and I have a very strong memory of sitting in the carpeted hall as Mom and Dad got ready to go out… worrying that I might accidentally “contemplate” infinity. 

Many years later, I found myself with an exciting image; a mother and two children are rowing down a river blindfolded… why? What are they fleeing? 

I didn’t think about it long, the teacher’s words returned, and I had myself a book.

Hitchcock's, The Birds

One of my greatest fears is birds. It’s a deep fear because my mother terrified me of diseases if I picked up feathers, and then the fear was solidified after I watched Hitchcock’s, The Birds

I understand you let your pet finches fly around freely around you while writing this book in a pretty unique location. 

Can you tell us about that so I can have more nightmares?

I’d love to give you more nightmares! 

Yes, I had five finches, and I felt very bad about keeping them locked up, so I left the door to their cage open. 

It’s not as messy as you might imagine; you get to know their haunts and lay newspaper below. 

I was renting the third floor of a magnificent home in Detroit’s Boston-Edison (this is where Motown singers once lived; Berry Gordy had a place; Mark Twain built one of the homes for his daughter), so there were all kinds of ballroom space for the birds to fly.

With Bird Box, I woke up at 7 AM daily, got to work by about 8 AM, and wrapped it up by noon. 

The birds were really active in those hours, constant fly-bys, until they eventually landed in the story itself.

You wrote 15 novels before a publishing house picked up Bird Box

Will this novel’s success finally allow some of your other pieces of work to be published? 

Have you pursued publishing these before, or was this your first time trying to get your book out in the world?

I didn’t shop the other books for no reason other than I was completely satisfied with writing one, then moving on to the next.

Part of it was that I didn’t know what to do with a manuscript, and the other part was that I was touring with the band, writing novels in the passenger seat, and just didn’t see the rising stack of novels with desperation in my eyes.

This is not to say it was/is a hobby, it most certainly is not, but for who-knows-why I was content with knowing they existed and nothing more.

Now that Bird Box is out, I plan to release all 24 other books I’ve written—every last word. 

To me, they’re all episodes of the same show; Bird Box just felt like a promising debut after I’d met the people who could bring her to a publishing house.

This book has been compared to some of Stephen King’s classic novels, and I would dare say it feels a little like some of Hitchcock’s creepier works.

 Do you have any authors or filmmakers that have inspired you as a writer, and has this genre always intrigued you?

Oh yeah… I’ve been a horror fan all my life. And because of that, this question is very hard to answer.

 I love so many of them for so many reasons, but since you asked, I’ll tell you that I did go on an absolute Hitchcock tear after I wrote Bird Box, watched twenty or so of his movies, and really started to sink into his world.

 I loved him. I love Stephen King, too. 

Charles Beaumont. Richard Matheson. Dan Simmons. Robert McCammon. Kathe Koja. John Skipp

This list gets big fast with me, as it does with most horror lovers.

 I think we’re all very open-minded and will read just about anything that passes through the genre… because you just don’t know. 

And we’re all looking for that thrill constantly and are willing to read things that fall short of that on the way and can find exciting peaks in books that other people might think are flat.

Are you a horror movie lover, or just a reader of horror fiction? 

Can you share some of your favorite films for us to check out after we read Bird Box?

The first scary movie I saw was Twilight Zone: the Movie

Blew my mind straight up the middle—the Anthony skit, where the boy can do anything with his imagination; so good. 

The Invisible Man, the original, is crazy and features a Heath Ledger-Joker-esque villain in the title role. It’s one of my favorites. 

Hitchcock’s Rope is magic.

I read the exciting news that the film was optioned by Universal for six figures back in 2013 when it was only in the manuscript stage! 

As a writer, can you explain how that happened so early and what your involvement will be in the film?

Universal Studios optioned it, yeah.

And you know, I changed some of that manuscript before publication, but it’s made its way into the script! 

So, that’s pretty wild because the book will be different than the movie, but I may be responsible for some of those differences despite not writing the script myself.

 Crazy. 

The whole thing is nuts, really, and exciting, but I don’t want to think about it too much. 

You know what I mean? 

I want to keep my mind on the books, and if the movie gains traction, is green-lit, and starts to roll, I’ll have the biggest smile in the room.

The High Strungs

source: paste magazine

I also understand that you have quite the juggle with being a musician (in The High Strung) and a writer.

As a creative, how do you make time for both of these, particularly when on tour? 

How excited were the others in the band about this book being published?

Well, we haven’t done much touring since the book deal, and I understand that’s mostly my fault. 

I haven’t written any new songs! 

And I used to ponder this all the time; take a band like the Beatles. People adored them from the get-go, heralded as geniuses long before they actually imagined their genius works of art: their middle and later albums. 

So what happened there? Was the world right? 

Did the world predict this greatness?

Surely they didn’t suspect Sergeant Peppers after hearing “Love Me Do,” right?

So maybe their achievements have something to do with the encouragement the whole world gave them. 

Do you see? In other words, would they have written the White Album without this zany global support? I’m not sure. 

And I’m experiencing that phenomenon differently, but by the same rules: I’m focusing so much of my attention on the books, and it’s probably because many people are encouraging me to do so whether they mean to or not. 

And the songs have suffered as a result.

 I’m okay with that, but I need to check my soul (in a manner of speaking) and make sure I’m addressing both, and if I’m not addressing both, it better be for good, noble reasons.

Since you are a fast producer of words, how many books have you written since Bird Box, and what are any expectations on what you might publish next?

The next book is coming out in early 2017. 

Sounds like a long time, and it is.

 I’m working hard on fixing that scenario, and I’ll have it righted by then. 

Regarding how many books: the total is something close to 25 books now, and like I said earlier, I see them all as episodes of the same television show, my own Outer Limits, and so the way I see it, I’ve probably written the first two seasons by now.

* Editor’s Note: “Black Mad Wheel: A Novel” and “Goblin: A Novel in Six Novellas” were released in 2017!

Lastly, what is one of your all-time favorite books? 

The Howling Man(TOR 1988) Charles Beaumont. It’s got about 30 of his short stories, and for those who don’t know him… hang on tight; you’re about to feel a tidal wave of wonder wash over you.

Frequently asked questions about Josh Malerman:

What are Josh Malerman’s books in the order published?

  • Bird Box: A Novel (2014)
  • Ghastle and Yule (2014)
  • A House at the Bottom of a Lake (2016)
  • Black Mad Wheel: A Novel (2017)
  • Goblin: A Novel in Six Novellas (2017)
  • Unbury Carol (2018)
  • Inspection (2019)
  • Malorie: A Bird Box Novel (2019)
  • Pearl (2021)
  • Daphne: A Novel (2022)
  • Spin a Black Yarn: Novellas (August 15, 2023)

What are the best Josh Malerman books?

My favorite book by the author is Bird Box

The highest-rated book on GoodReads is that novel and the Bird Box sequel, Malorie

How many Bird Box Books are there? 

There are two books in the Bird Box series.

The books are Bird Box (Bird Box #1) and then the sequel, Malorie (Bird Box #2).

For context, the sequel takes place twelve years after the original story. 

At this time, there is no prequel.

Is it necessary to read Josh Malerman’s books in a specific order?

The Bird Box series should be read in order, but his books can be read as standalone novels. 

Does Josh Malerman have any movies?

The Bird Box movie starring Sandra Bullock, John Malkovich, Sarah Paulson, and Trevante Rhodes is available for streaming on Netflix. 

This movie came out in 2018, adapted from his debut novel. Be sure to read our provided interview to learn about this movie deal. 

Josh Malerman’s mind has also inspired a new film called Bird Box: Barcelona  (July 2023).

The new Netflix film,  Bird Box Barcelona,  is not a sequel but a spin-off based on the same world.

Please note Bird Box Barcelona shares the same timeline as the Bird Box movie filmed in 2018.  

This is not a prequel or sequel to the film. This movie was based on the novel’s world but is not a book adaptation. 

Can you share a Bird Box parent guide for the movie? 

This horror film is rated R. 

Common Sense Media recommends this film for ages 16+. Head to their site to find out what parents need to know

Josh Malerman Books

Josh Malerman Books

Josh Malerman is an American author of novels and short stories. Before publishing his debut novel Bird Box with ECCO/HarperCollins, he wrote fourteen novels, never purusing publishing.

The author has gained international acclaim for his chilling exploration of unseen terrors, making Malerman a prominent figure in modern horror literature. 

With a unique ability to blend suspense and psychological depth, Malerman continues to intrigue readers worldwide with his gripping narratives.

Browse this list of Josh Malerman books to find your next read.

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Love this author interview? Stream the Book Gang Podcast wherever you get podcasts. We discuss debuts, backlist, and under-the-radar book gems with your favorite authors.

Book Gang Podcast

TELL ME: What is your favorite Josh Malerman book?

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Read The Best Mary Louise Kelly Books (Interview)

Tuesday, August 8th, 2023

Mary Louise Kelly discusses her thriller in this author interview. Discover all the Mary Louise Kelly books- as she navigates NPR, writing, and motherhood.

Read The Best Mary Louise Kelly Books (Interview)

Looking for your next page-turning thriller? Mary Louise Kelly is best known for her role as an NPR correspondent on All Things Considered, but you might be surprised to discover she’s also a gifted thriller writer.

With her new book released this year, it’s so fun to revisit my favorite thriller from the author.

Let’s chat about The Bullet today!

The Bullet by Mary Louise Kelly
The Bullet by Mary Louise Kelly

The Bullet Book Synopsis

When Caroline Cashion discovers a bullet in her body that she was unaware of, it sends her life spiraling in a direction she never expected. 

The origin of that bullet and the people around her that it has affected caused this cold case to be reopened.

It also reopens the wounds of the family and friends around her.

Despite the gravity of the case and the circumstances surrounding it, the book is laced with great humor and a cast of endearing characters.

I contacted Mary Louise Kelly to see if she might like to share a little about her life as an NPR reporter and a fictional writer.   

Please read through to the end so you can see her publicly challenge her brother in this interview and discover the other books Mary Louise Kelly has written.

Mary Louise Kelly

Read The Best Mary Louise Kelly Books (Interview)

How did you craft the unique premise of your thriller, The Bullet, which revolves around a woman unexpectedly finding a bullet in her body during a routine scan?

It’s a true story! 

I was sitting on the sidelines of my son’s little league baseball game one afternoon when another mom plopped down next to me, heaved a sigh, and said, “Well, I’ve had a heck of a week.”

Long story short, she had just had a routine scan that revealed a bullet in her neck that she never knew about. 

She had no scar or clandestine past and swore she’d never been shot. 

Driving home afterward, I kept thinking, how is that even possible? I’m a reporter by training, so I dug into the medical literature, looking for examples of people who have survived gunshots to the neck or head. 

And then the novelist in me took over:  I imagined all kinds of wild scenarios, from amnesia to witness-protection programs to CIA plots. 

My protagonist discovers the bullet in her neck on page 8. 

What follows are 349 pages of pure fiction, focused on her quest to find out how on earth it got there and what on earth she’s going to do about it.

When crafting a thriller like this, what is your process for developing the storyline? 

Do you typically have the mystery solved beforehand, knowing where you’re headed, or do you build the story and motive organically as you progress through the writing?

I map out the whole thing to make sure it’s a story that can sustain 350 pages. 

But then I end up throwing out the road map as I go. 

My original outline is stuffed with plot twists that fell by the wayside, and it never mentions characters that end up playing significant roles. 

You get to know characters as you write them, and some prove more interesting than others (the nice thing about fiction is that you can kill off the ones who get on your nerves.)

One theme throughout The Bullet is that we should question how well we really know the people we love and even how well we know ourselves and what we are capable of. 

I start the book with a quote from one of my favorite writers, Robert Penn Warren. 

He writes that human beings are complicated contraptions, “not good or bad but… good and bad and the good comes out of the bad and the bad out of the good, and the devil take the hindmost.” 

Isn’t that great? 

I agree with him and tried to conceive all of my characters as complicated contraptions. 

That makes both the protagonist and the forces opposing her more interesting, and they kept surprising me as I wrote.

You have skillfully developed endearing characters with Caroline’s family in this book.

Which character did you find the most endearing?

Thank you. I have a soft spot for Beamer Beasley, the grizzled cop who helps Caroline unravel the secrets of her past. 

Writers shouldn’t admit to imagining which Hollywood star would play our characters. 

Still, Beamer is screaming to be played by Morgan Freeman, and really, wouldn’t we all want him on our side when investigating a gruesome crime? 

I also loved every scene with Madame Aubuchon. 

I could just picture her so clearly, in all her hauteur and brittleness, but also her intelligence and decency. 

As for Caroline’s family, a lot of readers have commented on how close she is to her brothers. They love and support her, even as they drive her nuts. 

I confess this sibling back-and-forth is entirely autobiographical.

My brother C.J. gets me riled up faster than anyone; you do not want to be in the room when the two of us get going on politics or feminism or the relative merits of tofu vs. steak. 

But as I note in the Acknowledgments, C.J. is also hands down the person I would want beside me in a bar brawl.

Mary Louise Kelly
Source: KPLU

How do you think your background as a reporter has helped you as a writer?

My journalism training helps enormously with dialogue because when you write for broadcast, you strive to write conversationally. 

Most of us write in complete, grammatically correct sentences because that’s how our high school teachers and college professors taught us. 

But that’s not how people talk; it takes time to unlearn it.

Writing for radio gave me a head start. 

It also instilled an instinct for storytelling. 

At NPR, we aim for the “driveway moment” – that moment when a listener has made it home, and he’s got the car in park, and he needs to get inside, but he’s listening to something so gripping he can’t turn it off. 

You want to spool out enough detail that the listener gets hooked while holding enough back that he wants to keep listening. 

That’s key to writing a good novel, although I suppose the goal shifts to creating a  “nightstand moment” – when a reader sits up turning pages, well after he knows he should have chucked the novel on his nightstand and turned out the light.

Caroline’s irritation with the reporters made me chuckle since you have worked as an NPR & BBC reporter. 

In one line, she says, “Reporters. Honestly. What an exhausting profession, to be professionally trained to be relentless.” 

Is it exhausting?

Actually, no. 

It’s exhilarating. 

There was a great line in a New Yorker profile of Samantha Power, President Obama’s ambassador to the U.N. 

The writer describes Power, a former journalist, as retaining “a reporter’s instinct for amassing facts and deploying them to extract more.” 

That’s exactly right. 

You find out one interesting thing, and it makes you want to dig and find out more. 

Get a bunch of reporters together, swapping stories about that time on deadline on the Khyber Pass, or banging on voters’ doors in Iowa, or quizzing the President in a White House press conference, and at some point, we all break into grins, and somebody says out loud what everyone is thinking:  I can’t believe we actually get paid to do this.

 Since this is your second book, did you find it easier or harder to write than your first?

This second one took less time. 

Maybe I’m getting faster, but more likely, it’s because the first time around, I was working full-time as NPR’s Pentagon correspondent. 

While writing Anonymous Sources, I kept jetting off on reporting trips to war zones, and when I was home in Washington, I was filing daily news reports from the Pentagon. 

Writing fiction was my third priority, after my day job and after being a wife and mom.

The Bullet took me 16 months, from sitting down to write Chapter One to handing in a full draft of the manuscript. 

Then come months of editing and polishing, and proofreading. 

Right now I’m ramping up again on journalism; I have dearly (insanely?) missed the daily deadlines and being engaged in the national dialogue on everything from race to politics to technology. 

I hope I’ll end up with loads of fresh ideas for my fiction; my agent fears I’ll take a decade to produce another book. But another side effect of being a reporter is that I write fast, so watch this space!

If you could tell anyone to read one book (other than your own) what would that book be?

I would tell my brother to read Birdsong, the 1993 novel by Sebastian Faulks. 

It’s about a British soldier in France during World War I, and it is the most gorgeous epic of love and war, and regrets. 

I’ve been telling my brother to read it for twenty years now, and he keeps refusing, at this point, out of sheer orneriness. 

C.J., consider yourself publicly challenged.

Mary Louise Kelly
Mary Louise Kelly, photographed for NPR, 6 September 2022, in Washington DC. Photo by Mike Morgan for NPR.

New to Mary Louise Kelly? Here are some answers to your most frequently asked questions!

Is Mary Louise Kelly still at NPR?

Mary Louise Kelly is the co-host of NPR’s acclaimed afternoon news magazine All Things Considered.

With non-stop breaking news stories and deadlines at work, she has reported as an NPR correspondent covering various global locations and even war zones. 

Her decision to leave NPR twice was influenced by her youngest son’s medical issues, realizing the importance of being present at home.

What are the best Mary Louise Kelly books?

My favorite book is, The Bullet, but I’m looking forward to reading her new parenting memoir soon.

Her highest-rated novel on GoodReads is her debut, Anonymous Sources.

Is it necessary to read Mary Louise Kelly’s books in a specific order?

No, each book is a standalone story.

What are the Mary books in the order published?

  • Anonymous Sources (2013)
  • The Bullet (2015)
  • It Goes. So. Fast.:  The Year of No Do-Overs (2023)
Read The Best Mary Louise Kelly Books (Interview)

Mary Louise Kelly Books

Mary Louise Kelly is an American broadcaster and author.

Previously, she spent a decade as a national security correspondent for NPR News and kept that focus as an anchor.

In her ongoing role, she has covered news in Russia, North Korea, Iran, Ukraine, and beyond.

Mary Louise was educated at Harvard University and the University of Cambridge in England.

A Georgia native, her first job was as a staff writer at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

She lives in Washington, D.C., and is the mom of two boys.

Browse this list of all the Mary Louise Kelly books.

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Love this author interview? Stream the Book Gang Podcast wherever you get podcasts. We discuss debuts, backlist, and under-the-radar book gems with your favorite authors.

Book Gang Podcast

TELL ME: What is your favorite Mary Louise book?

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The Best Sober Memoirs to Read Now

Friday, August 4th, 2023

Emily Lynn Paulson discusses her eye-opening memoir, Hey, Hun! Learn how rising to the top of an MLM led to her addiction and recovery in a pyramid scheme.

The Best Sober Memoirs to Read Now

Join us in this eye-opening Book Gang episode with Emily Lynn Paulson, author of Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing

Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing by Emily Lynn Paulson

What is the most Googled fact about Emily Lynn Paulson?

At the time of this recording, roughly 125 people each month, likely after reading this memoir, ask this question- what MLM was Emily Paulson in?

Today we discuss why she chose a fictitious name for her beauty brand, and what she hopes it signals to the reader.

Pulled into a high-pressure sales routine, Emily joins the #girlboss community for an MLM beauty brand. 

Rising to the top of the pyramid required Paulson never to take no for an answer. As a result, Paulson achieves millionaire status, but it costs her the expense of loved ones, her sobriety, her health, and her moral compass. 

Emily unveils the darker side of multi-level marketing companies and cult-like ideologies through her well-researched memoir.

We also discuss how her relationship with alcohol has changed since this time and the unexpected joy of being sober. 

 Emily brings her favorite books and discusses her best alcohol-free mocktails for your summer.

The Best Books About Addiction and Recovery

Today’s BONUS BOOK LIST includes the best books on addiction and recovery we’ve read for our summer series that share the magic of a sober life. 

This includes fiction, nonfiction, and memoir selections. 

Emily Lynn Paulson author of Hey, Hun

Meet Emily Lynn Paulson

Emily Lynn Paulson is an accomplished author known for her books Highlight Real: Finding Honesty and Recovery Beyond the Filtered Life and Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing.

Her impactful TEDx talks challenge parenting norms, alcohol use, and feminism.

Featured in major publications like the Today Show, Tamron Hall Show, and the New York Times, Emily resides in Central Oregon with her husband and five children. 

The Best Sober Memoirs to Read Now

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Mentioned in this episode:

Hey, Hun by Emily Lynn Paulson

De Soi Non-Alcoholic Aperitifs

Hoplark

Amy’s Favorite Copper Mugs

Between Breaths: A Memoir of Panic and Addiction by Elizabeth Vargas

Push Off From Here: Nine Essential Truths to Get You Through Sobriety by Laura McKowen

We Are the Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life by Laura McKowen

Drinking Games by Sarah Levy

Cup of Jo

It’s Not About the Wine: The Loaded Truth Behind the Mommy Wine Culture by Celeste Yvonne

The Ultimate Mom Challenge

Dry Humping: A Guide to Dating, Relating and Hooking Up Without the Booze by Tawny Lara

2023 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide

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