Book of the Month Live

Rivers, legends, and sisters: Patti Callahan Henry's new novel is all of her favorite things in one! We're sitting down to discuss The Secret Book of Flora Lea , fairy tales, and the historic moments that inspired her new book. We also play a game called "The Cost is Correct: Rare Book Edition." The Secret Book of Flora Lea follows two sisters in 1939 England, where Hazel and Flora are seeking she...

Prepare to shed a couple tears for this moving, inspirational story about a death doula learning not to fear living. We sat down with debut author Mikki Bramer, author of The Collected Regrets of Clover , to discuss her profound thoughts on death, grief, and last words.  What's the point of giving someone a beautiful death if you can't give yourself a beautiful life? After Clover's beloved grandfa...

Love a locked-door mystery? Megan Miranda joins us on Virtual Book Tour to discuss her new book, The Only Survivors , luck versus fate, and the washed-up phone that inspired the novel. Plus, we make Megan choose once and for all which is worse: being an adult or going back to high school.  The Only Survivors : Seven hours in the past. Seven days in the present. Seven survivors remain. A decade ago...

Should you be friends with your ex? Genevieve Wheeler joins us on Virtual Book Tour to talk about her new book Adelaide , the importance of good friends, and sneaky tips for snagging a British boyfriend. For Adelaide Williams, an American living in London, meeting Rory Hughes was like a lightning bolt out of the blue: this charming Englishman was The One she wasn't looking for. Adelaide is a raw,...

Where will you be in 27 years? We talk with debut novelist, Michelle Min Sterling, about her new book Camp Zero , the pros and cons of technology, and how she avoided smartphones for most of her life.  In the far north of Canada sits Camp Zero, an American building project hiding many secrets. Desperate to help her climate-displaced Korean immigrant mother, Rose agrees to travel to Camp Zero and s...

Mad Libs, pan roms, and SNL! We talk with Curtis Sittenfeld all about how a pandemic hobby inspired her new book, Romantic Comedy ! Plus, we play a hilarious game of Mad Libs, discuss the inner workings of SNL, and ponder the idea of seasonal love. In Romantic Comedy , Sally Milz is a sketch writer for "The Night Owls," the late-night live comedy show that airs each Saturday. With a couple of hear...

Calling all pop culture fans! This episode of Virtual Book Tour is for you! We chat with Kirthana Ramisetti about her new book, A dvika and the Hollywood Wives , dating red flags, and navigating friendships and relationships. In Advika and the Hollywood Wives , Advika Srinivasan considers herself a failed screenwriter. To pay the bills and to keep her mind off of the recent death of her twin siste...

Murder, attempted murder, and more murder. We have a whirlwind conversation with Sally Hepworth! We discuss The Soulmate (a March pick!), how she infuses empathy into her stories, and her penchant for writing about dysfunctional family relationships. The Soulmate follows Gabe and Pippa in their dream home in a sleepy coastal town set on a tall cliff that has become a popular spot for people to end...

A Prohibition-era family drama with a fierce female lead? What could be better! We sat down with Jeannette Walls to discuss her new book, Hang the Moon , gender roles within families, the 18th Amendment, and so much more!  Hang the Moon follows Sally Kincaid, the daughter of the biggest man in a small town - the charismatic Duke Kincaid. Determined to reclaim her place in the family, Sally confron...

Would you attend a séance? Do you believe in ghosts? Listen in to hear what Sarah Penner has to say! We sat down with Sarah Penner to discuss her second novel, The London Séance Society . She shares why she likes to create rebellious female characters, what she learned from attending a séance, and if she believes in ghosts.  In 1973 Paris, The London Séance Society follows Vaudeline D'Allaire, an...

Do you think you would do well in the Wild West? Victor LaValle says he has no chance! We're talking with Victor LaValle, author of Lone Women to discuss his love for monsters, why he thinks horror is optimistic, and how parenthood changed his approach as a storyteller. Lone Women follows Adelaide Henry, a woman fleeing past sins attempting to forge a new life homesteading in 1914 Montana's harsh...

Do porcelain dolls freak you out? Us too… We sat down with Kristen Loesch to talk all about her debut novel, The Last Russian Doll . She dives into the process of writing historical fiction, plus her fascination with dolls and fairy tales. The Last Russian Doll weaves one family's tragic splintering into the larger tapestry of Russia's turbulent 20th century in a dual timeline. The 1990s timeline...

What's something in your home you detest, but your partner won't get rid of? Listen on to hear Jenny Jackson's answer! We sat down with Jenny Jackson to talk about her debut novel, Pineapple Street ! She shared her experience going from editor to author, what inspired the book's setting, and her many celebrity run-ins in Brooklyn Heights. Pineapple Street puts Brooklyn's 1% under the microscope, e...

True or false: crows hold grudges. Emilia Hart has the answer. Today, we're talking with debut author Emilia Hart to discuss her novel, Weyward , the meaning of witchcraft, insect appreciation, and of course, everything about crows. Weyward weaves together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries. 2019: Kate fleeing London to leave her abusive partner. 1619: Altha is awaiting...

If you wrote a psychological thriller about a writing retreat, would you still attend a real-life writing retreat? Julia Bartz would! Today, we're talking with author Julia Bartz to discuss her debut novel The Writing Retreat , how becoming a therapist made her a better writer, and getting in touch with her dark side to write this spooky thriller. The Writing Retreat follows Alex, a writer who is...

Will writing a novel clear your skin? To what lengths will a mother go to find her family? Today, we're talking with debut author Eleanor Shearer, author of River Sing Me Home , about how the process of writing helped her reconnect with her family, the Caribbean history behind the novel, and what it means to be free.  River Sing Me Home takes place the day the Emancipation Act of 1834 comes into e...

A romantic lead with nice forearms and a rescue dog? What more could you want! We're talking to Kate Clayborn, author of Georgie, All Along , about the importance of childhood best friends, why work and identity should not always coincide, the part of high school she would and would not want to revisit, and of course, cowboys.  Georgie, All Along follows longtime personal assistant Georgie Mulcahy...

True or false: Google is a reliable source for dating advice. Today, we're talking with Jessica George, author of Maame , about Googling embarrassing questions, mother-daughter relationships, and ignoring societal timelines. We also play a game of "Dating Red Flags." Maame follows Maddie, a young British woman who is stuck in a dead-end job and spends most of her time caring for her father. When h...

Want to learn more about the UK's very real (and very absurd) laws? Want to hear how 1940's criminals got away with stealing furs? You've come to the right place! Today, we're talking with Beezy Marsh about the naughty ladies from the Queen of Thieves , old British slang, and what draws Beezy to writing about crime. Queen of Thieves takes place in post-Blitz, 1946 London. Alice Diamond, the Queen...

Can a dark academia author recognize the names of demons? Can she tell us what really goes on behind closed doors in a secret society? Today, we're talking with Leigh Bardugo about her experience at Yale, the way hell is portrayed in her newest novel, and why demons and failed companies have eerily similar-sounding names.  Hell Bent is the epic follow-up to Ninth House . Alex Stern thinks one can...

After her own meet cute happened online, Lauren Kung Jessen decided she wanted to write about the world of online dating, but with a Chinese twist. Today, we talk with Lauren about her debut book, Lunar Love , how to make a meet cute out of any situation, and why (or why not) rooster signs make good podcast hosts. Lunar Love tells the love story between the unlikely pair: Olivia Huang Christenson...

What book do you get when you combine inspiration from Cory and Topanga's relationship on Boy Meets World , the pressures of fame, and a story of second chances? You get Kayla Olson's new romance novel, The Reunion . Today, we talk about why the pandemic sparked Kayla's interest in writing romance, what it means to have thick and thin skin as a creative, and where Jerrod would be if he'd modeled a...

She may have focused on writing her novel instead of paying attention in class, but it certainly paid off. Today, we sit down with Kate Alice Marshall to talk about her newest novel, What Lies in the Woods . She shares what would be the creepiest things to find in the woods, the difference between writing YA and adult fiction, and how her childhood inspired the whimsical game in the book.  What Li...

Age really does matter when writing a book. Deepti Kapoor says that if she had written Age of Vice in her 20's, it would be completely different. Today, Deepti tells us all about the complicated cast of characters in her novel, her life as a journalist living and partying in New Delhi in the early aughts, and what it means to make broccoli-flavored ice cream.  Age of Vice opens with a deadly car c...