Elena Meets the Author

In this episode of Elena Meets the Author , I interview the wonderful novelist Amy Poeppel about her latest book, Far and Away , a comedic tale of two families from Dallas and Berlin embarking on a chaotic house swap. Amy shares the inspiration behind her book, drawn from her own experiences living in these cities, and we dive into the complexities of writing a multi-layered story. She discusses t...

In this episode of Elena Meets the Author, I interview Dutch author Yael Van Der Wouden about her debut novel, 'The Safekeep', which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. We delve into the novel's complex themes, including post-war Dutch society, familial relationships, and the nuances of loathing and desire. Yael shares insights into her writing process, the inspiration behind her work, and her e...

In this episode of Elena Meets the Author , I sit down with the brilliant and beloved romance novelist Annabel Monaghan to talk about her upcoming book, It’s a Love Story , which hits shelves on May 27th. We dive into her creative process and the inspiration behind her central characters—Jane Jackson, a former child TV star trying to find her footing in Hollywood, and Dan Finnegan, her arrogant (b...

In this episode of 'Elena Meets The Author,' Elena Bowes sits down with Lauren Willig, the New York Times bestselling author of over 25 works of historical fiction. They dive into Willig's latest book, 'The Girl from Greenwich Street,' an enthralling courtroom drama set during America's first recorded murder trial in 1799. Willig shares her intricate journey from law to writing, her fascinating re...

In this episode, Elena interviews Lynda Cohen Loigman about her latest book, 'The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern,' which has made it to Elena's rolling top 10 books. They discuss the novel's dual timeline, set in a 1920s Brooklyn pharmacy and a 1980s Florida retirement home, its themes of second chances and the magic of youth. Lynda reads an excerpt from the book and shares her inspiration, drawn fr...

In this episode, I chat with the wonderful Joselin Linder, author of 'The Family Gene', about her family's unique genetic history and its profound impact. Joselin shares harrowing and hopeful personal stories, discussing the challenges of genetic diseases and the breakthroughs made by a Harvard geneticist. We delve into her writing career, her role as a writing coach, and her latest project, the s...

In today's episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Neroli, the author of the thrilling debut novel 'The Perfumer's Secret'. Set in the scenic region of Grasse, where the Mediterranean meets the Alps, this book is a love letter to French culture, tradition, and the art of perfume-making. We discussed the book's central theme of multifaceted truths through its dynamic plot and sublime setting....

In this episode, I chat with the beloved and prolific novelist Elinor Lipman about her latest book, Every Tom, Dick, and Harry. This humorous story follows Emma Lewis as she navigates taking over her parents' struggling estate sale business. Elinor shares insights into her writing process, overcoming writer's block, and finding inspiration from everyday experiences like estate sales. We also dive...

In this episode of 'Elena Meets the Author,' Elena interviews Rochelle Weinstein, a bestselling author known for her emotionally charged women's fiction novels. Rochelle discusses her new book, 'We Are Made of Stars,' set in an idyllic inn in North Carolina and featuring a host of complex characters. She shares her journey from secretive journal writer to published author, the inspirations behind...

In today’s episode, I sat down with Anastasia Rubis—who goes by Stacy—to dive into her debut novel, Oriana . In the book, Stacy chronicles the life of pioneering Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci, whose fearless interviews with world leaders like Henry Kissinger, Gaddafi, and Golda Meir made her a trailblazer in journalism. I loved hearing Stacy read a compelling excerpt that perfectly captures Fa...

In this episode, Elena interviews Michael Cecchi Azzolina, a seasoned New York City restaurant veteran with a career spanning 40 years at top Manhattan establishments. Michael discusses his experiences from the book 'Your Table is Ready,' which offers a gritty, behind-the-scenes look at the restaurant industry during the 1980s Wall Street era. From touching stories about surviving the AIDS crisis...

In this episode, Elena interviews Stephen Bruno, the author of 'Building Material: The Memoir of a Park Avenue Doorman’. In this coming of age story, Stephen talks about how getting the doorman job helped break his downward spiral from gifted academic kid in the Bronx to selling chicken wings at a fast-food restaurant in the midwest. He also opens up about the upstairs downstairs shenanigans at an...

In this episode, Rufi discusses her novel 'Margo's Got Money Troubles' and shares insights into her writing process, inspiration, and research. The novel delves into the world of a single mother who turns to OnlyFans to support her child, exploring themes like unemployment, sex work, and the complexities of human nature. Rufi also addresses societal judgments and the interweaving of tragedy and co...

In this episode, Elena interviews author Alison Espach about her novel 'The Wedding People.' Alison talks about why she wrote the book, her own struggles with grief and how both in real life and fiction, humor can shift things, make the apocalyptic seem a little less, well, apocalyptic. The main character Phoebe is grappling with suicidal thoughts. She goes to a luxurious hotel by the ocean in New...

In this episode, Elena interviews writer Kate Feiffer about her latest novel, 'Morning Pages'. The conversation covers Kate's diverse career, her talented family background, and the central themes of her book, including its focus on a playwright dealing with writer's block, family responsibilities, and professional challenges. Kate explains the inspiration behind the novel, its narrative style usi...

In this episode of Elena Meets the Author, Elena interviews bestselling author Dawn Tripp about her historical fiction novel 'Jackie,' which offers a nuanced portrait of Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. Through insights from Dawn's extensive research and reflections, the discussion reveals Jackie's intellectual depth, passion for literature, and complex relationships, particularly with JFK. The epi...

In this episode, Elena is joined by Jillian Lavender, co-founder of the London and New York Meditation Centers, to discuss her book 'Why Meditate? Because it works' and the enduring relevance of meditation. Jillian shares her journey into meditation and becoming a Vedic meditation teacher. She debunks common myths about meditation, emphasizing that it's not about stopping thoughts but embracing pr...

In this episode Elena meets Ann Leary, the New York Times bestselling author of four novels and a memoir. One of her novels  The Good House  was made into a film with Sigourney Weaver and Kevin Kline. An article Ann wrote for the NY Times Modern Love column called  Rallying to Keep the Game Alive   was adapted for Prime Video’s Modern Love  TV series featuring Tina Fey and John Slattery. A longer...

In this episode I talk to New York author Lea Carpenter about her third novel,   Ilium.  Like John Le Carré and Graham Greene, Lea, a lecturer at Columbia Law School,  is a master of the literary spy novel. Ilium takes place from London to Mallorca to Cap Ferret in southwestern France. Its style is spare, keeping the reader always guessing. Ilium is also a love story about a young British woman wh...

In this episode of 'Elena Meets the Author,' host Elena Bowes interviews renowned food writer and author Ruth Reichl about her latest book, 'The Paris Novel.' Our discussion spans Ruth's deep connection with Paris, her storied career as a food critic, and her journey in writing both fiction and memoirs. Ruth shares anecdotes about her childhood experiences with food, the evolution of the American...

In this episode, Elena Bowes talks to acclaimed author Beatriz Williams about her latest work of historical fiction, Husbands & Lovers. Two stories, post-war Cairo and modern-day New England are intertwined by two women and the choices they make.  Love, sacrifice, heartbreak and redemption all play a role in this poignant parallel story. In 1951 Hannah, a Hungarian refugee lives in Cairo in a joyl...

In this episode I talk to the engaging London-based Clare Pooley about her latest novel, How to Age Disgracefully. This is Clare’s 4th book, her first was a brave and honest memoir called The Sober Diaries about the year Clare gave up drinking. It was an extension of her hugely successful blog, Mummy Was a Secret Drinker. Clare has given up that addiction for another much healthier one, writing. H...

In today’s episode I talk to Annabel Monaghan about her latest funny, romantic page-turner, Summer Romance , which came out in the US a few weeks ago and is available in the UK on July 4th. Summer Romance is already an instant USA Today and Washington Post bestseller. We discuss all sorts of topics from the profound - how people we loved and lost live inside us, or are ‘as close as your breath’ to...

In today's episode, I sit down with Aussie author and game designer Holly Gramazio to delve into the creative process and inspiration behind Holly's best-selling book, The Husbands . Imagine a world where you could swap husbands without any emotional or financial cost. Intriguing. On May 28th, I’ll have been married to a man I call Stretch for three years. And while I wouldn’t want to send Stretch...

I caught up with British author Elizabeth Fremantle to learn more about her latest gripping novel Disobedient … the types of heroines Fremantle is attracted to why the talented Baroque artist Artemisia Gentileschi was a feminist before her time, and why the subject matter is so personal for Fremantle. Plus a whole lot more. I hope you enjoy the show. Get full access to Elena Meets the Author at el...