Back Stories

Can we tell the history of the world through its shipwrecks? In this episode of Back Stories , Elyssa from the Johnson County Public Library in Indiana is joined by David Pfeiffer from the Johnson County Museum of History to explore this concept through two books: The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson and A History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks byDavid Gibbins. Gibbins shares his adventures divin...

It's an episode no Millennial will want to miss. Elyssa and her guest Erin discuss their love for the Scholastic Books "Dear America" series , which defined their childhood. Plus, you can't mention Scholastic Books without reminiscing about school book fairs. And, yes, you can find the "Dear America" television shows on YouTube at this link .

Back Stories guest and JCPL Franklin Branch Librarian Katie discusses the memoir of Kim Michele Richardson , a bestselling, multiple-award-winning author from Kentucky. She also tells the story of Book Woman , one of the Packhorse librarians who delivered books to remote areas of the Appalachian Mountains during the Great Depression. Elyssa takes a look behind Hell’s Library trilogy. Join them as...

On this Bonus Episode of Back Stories, Elyssa talks with JCPL Director Lisa Lintner, who discusses her role with the Indiana Library Federation and their I ndiana F read om to Read initiative and their work to ensure all Hoosiers enjoy the unrestricted freedom to read and access books of all genres. Lisa highlights John Green in conversation with IN FREADOM being held on Monday, June 30, 2025, at...

In the first episode of the fourth season of Back Stories, host Elyssa Everling interviews Columbus, Indiana, author Paul Hoffman . Paul lays out his backstory on Murder In Wauwatosa: The Mysterious Death of Buddie Schumacher and the book W icked Columbus. He also shares how he became a writer, publisher and actor after growing up in Wisconsin and moving to Indiana 30 years ago.

In the final episode of season three, Elyssa and her guest Jody, JCPL’s marketing manager and sometimes podcast producer, dig into great true stories. They discuss Erik Larson, Stephen Ambrose, Timothy Egan, Melissa and others, and the Back Stories are revealed.

Are you looking for your next great read, or want to learn how to use the Johnson County Public Library better? Elyssa and her guest Erin review their latest Behind the Page session and discuss thrillers, beach reads, inspirational books, and much more. Here are the books and resources discussed in this episode. Thriller Books Bad Tourists by Caro Carver Look in the Mirror by Catherine Steadman  ...

Jesse Biggerman, Johnson County Recycling District Executive Director, discusses presidents, historians and Dr. Seuss, while Elyssa examines science fiction books, movies and more.

JCPL’s Franklin Branch Manager, Tiffany Wilson, examines the stories behind Dame Agatha Christie and shares her experience acting in and directing several of Christie’s plays. Elyssa digs into Ruth Ware, an Authors at JCPL visitor in 2023 and a self-proclaimed Agatha Christie fan. Play it now and see if they both live to the end of the podcast!

Susan Crisafulli, president of the Imagination Library of Johnson County , joins Elyssa for a behind-the-scenes look at the mission and growth of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in our county. The Imagination Library of Johnson County has mailed more than 149,000 books.

Elyssa and her guest Erin share the books, resources and other details about their latest “Behind the Page” event. Here are the resources and book titles they discussed or mentioned in this podcast. Adventure Books James by Percival Everett Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura Cozy Mysteries A Bean to Die For by Tara Lush (A Coffee Lover's Mystery #4) Peril in Pink by Sydney Leigh Nonfiction...

Elyssa and her guest, Stephanie, of JCPL's White River Branch Library, give you the backstory of Frankenstein and Dracula.

In this Back Stories bonus episode, Elyssa is joined by Erin from JCPL’s Clark Pleasant Branch. Erin provides the backstory on the Local Author Fair, which is scheduled for April 13, 2024. Forty-five authors are registered. Genres include picture books, memoirs, young adult novels, Christian self-help, gardening essays, poetry, romance, non-fiction and more.

Elyssa and Library Director Lisa Lintner provide the backstory on how the Snuggle Up with a Book Ball came to be and how it supports bringing New York Times bestselling authors to Johnson County as part of the Authors at JCPL series. You will get an inside look at this fun ”event you don’t attend,” as well as authors and some of Lisa’s favorite books.

Your host, Elyssa, takes a look at Stephen King . She notes he writes pretty much everything except for Amish romance. Elyssa’s guest is Franklin Branch Children’s Librarian Katie. Despite being a children’s librarian, she is also here to discuss horror. Although she started reading Stephen King when she was ten, she is here to give you the backstory on Grady Hendrix , the author of “How to Sell a...

Welcome to season three of “Back Stories,” Indiana’s Johnson County Public Library podcast. We kick off the season with a special episode taking you “Behind the Page” for a new year look at just-released or soon-to-be-released books. On this episode, Elyssa and her guest, Erin, look at Mitch Albom’s new book “The Little Liar,” discuss why Colleen Hoover is so popular and highlight library services...

On this special “ Behind the Page ” bonus episode of “Back Stories,” Elyssa and her guest Erin dig deep into new and upcoming books. Plus, they dive into Library services, including digital sources, ways to find your next great read and tease an upcoming Authors at JCPL visit. Resources mentioned in this podcast:   Book discussions Find Your Next Read ABC Mouse JCPL-to-Your-Door JCPL-to-Go Digital...

How can a woman balance societal expectations, responsibilities, and art? Host Elyssa Everling reveals the background of US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo , the first female, Native American to achieve the title and honor from her highly acclaimed memoirs and poetry collections like "An American Sunrise." Guest Tiffany Phillips of local bookseller Wild Geese Bookshop considers the struggle of f...

You may know of writer Kurt Vonnegut, but I promise you don’t as much about him as Elyssa’s guest Chris Lafave, Curator of the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library in downtown Indianapolis. Elyssa looks at the life of Ray Bradbury another midwestern author who wrote unique and entertaining stories. Are there a few connections between the two? Listen to find out.

Guest Amy Hamilton takes a look at the connections between Led Zeppelin and J.R.R. Tolkien. Yes, there are Lord of the Rings things in Led Zeppelin songs. She also reveals the only video you can’t find on YouTube. They may tell tales of mystery and magic but Lev Grossman, Elyssa’s focus, may be best known for writing The Magicians Trilogy: The Magicians (2009), The Magician King (2011), and The Ma...

Elyssa is joined by Elizabeth Moffett, a Jobs for America’s Graduates teacher at Whiteland Community High School. Elizabeth provides context on “Educated” by Tara Westover. A memoir of what happens when a girl grows up in a survivalist community in Idaho and doesn’t start formal education until college. Up next, Elyssa continues the memoir theme of the show by looking at “Heartland: a Memoir of Wo...

How do you connect Emily Post, Julian Fellowes, “Downton Abby,” Pierce Brosnan, the House of Lords and the HBO series “The Gilded Age”? Elyssa, and Back Stories guest host Nicole, of JCPL’s Trafalgar Branch , accomplish that and provide a few laughs along the way.

For a teenage detective, Nancy Drew has been around a long time. Erin Cataldi from the JCPL Clark Pleasant Branch Library provides a look at the history of this literary character and how she has changed over the years. Season 2 host Elyssa Everling tells the tale of the DC Comics character Lucifer created by Neil Gaiman which was turned into a TV series for ABC.

Erik Larson’s “The Devil in the White City,” tells the story of America’s first serial killer H.H. Holmes. Season 2 host Elyssa Everling covers his story. David Pfeiffer of the Johnson County Museum of History-Indiana gives the backstory on Franklin, IN native Georgiana Yoke, told in the book “A Competent Witness,” as the only woman to survive being married to Holmes.

In this episode of Back Stories Amy and Elyssa dig deeper into how fairy tales have been told in different cultural settings. Elyssa looks at the Amish Fairytales Series by author Sarah Price . Amy discusses Marissa Meyer’s retelling of famous tales.