Jim Foster: Conversations On The Coast

In "Perfidia," author James Ellroy writes a historical novel and the first volume of his second L.A. Quartet series, set in Los Angeles in 1941 that follows the story of several very different people who come together to investigate the murder of a Japanese family as America is at the brink of World War II. This discussion with the author took place on a 2014 episode of "Conversations On The Coast...

In "The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions," author Sister Helen Prejean talks about her first-hand experiences witnessing the execution of Dobie Gillis Williams in 1999 and Joseph Roger O'Dell in 1997, how poor people are primarily affected by wrongful executions, and why the execution of Michael Morales was postponed indefinitely in 2006 and led to a moratorium on c...

In "Dorchester Terrace: A Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Novel," the late author Anne Perry writes the next novel in a series in which Thomas Pitt is now the head of Britain's Special Branch, and follows the story of him and his wife trying to get information from two women in order to prevent an international catastrophe. This conversation took place on a 2012 episode of "Conversations On The Coast wi...

In "Her Wild Oats," the late author Kathi Kamen Goldmark writes a novel about two people at very different points in their lives who develop an unlikely friendship, a thirteen-year-old boy who plays the harmonica, and a young woman who recently discovered her husband was having an affair. In this discussion, the late author's husband Sam Barry talks about her life and how they completed the book a...

In "And the Dark Sacred Night," author Julia Glass writes a novel about a man's quest to find his biological father and what he discovered along the journey about himself and the world. This discussion took place on a 2014 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California. Photo: Robert Costa.

In this episode, Jim Foster shares his thoughts on the publishing scandal surrounding James Frey's memoir "A Million Little Pieces" and why a memoir by Heather King entitled "Parched" is more meaningful surrounding the subject of alcoholism and addiction, especially considering the fact that many things written as personal experiences in Frey's memoir were later found to be exaggerated or complete...

In "The Hilliker Curse: My Pursuit of Women," author James Ellroy writes an illustrative memoir starting with his childhood disrupted by great loss, his later pursuit of women, and a new relationship that may have helped him become a better man. This discussion took place on a 2010 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California.

In "Sour Puss: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery," author Rita Mae Brown writes the 14th book in a series where a cat by the name of Sneaky Pie Brown leads the hunt for a killer, this time in a return visit to a small Virgina town called Crozet. This discussion took place on a 2006 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California.

In "So Totally Emily Ebers," author Lisa Yee writes the 3rd book in The Millicent Min Trilogy series and introduces Millie's best friend, Emily Ebers, and her move to California with her mom after her parents' divorce. This discussion took place on a 2007 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California. Photo: Robert Costa.

In "Love and Other Impossible Pursuits," author Ayelet Waldman writes a novel about a woman and Harvard Law grad who struggles to connect with her stepson, discovering the meaning of family in the process. This discussion with the author took place on a 2006 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California. Photo: ayeletwaldman.com

In "About Alice," author Calvin Trillin writes about the love of his life, Alice, and how she was equally at home being a wife, mother, educator, writer, and friend. This discussion with the author took place on a 2007 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California.

In "Astonish Me," author Maggie Shipstead writes a novel about a former ballerina who gets pulled back into her complicated past when her son is revealed to be a ballet prodigy. This discussion with the author took place on a 2014 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California. Photo: maggieshipstead.com

In "Good Boy, Fergus!," author & illustrator David Shannon talks about his children's book centering around a dog named Fergus and the adventures he gets into during a "perfect doggy day." This discussion took place on a 2006 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California. Photo: nodavidshannon.com

In "Walt Whitman: Words for America," illustrator Brian Selznick talks about a children's book he illustrated about the life of Walt Whitman during the Civil War from growing up as a child to his death. The book was authored by Barbara Kerley. This discussion with illustrator Brian Selznick took place on a 2004 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, C...

In "Smash! Crash!," author Jon Scieszka writes a children's book about some trucks making their way to Trucktown and the fun they have along the route. The book was illustrated by David Shannon, Loren Long, and David Gordon. This discussion with author Jon Scieszka took place on a 2008 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California. Photo: jonscies...

In "Life, Death & Bialys: A Father/Son Baking Story," author Dylan Schaffer writes a unique memoir about how he struggled to reach closure with his dying father Flip after being estranged since he and his siblings were left alone with their mother decades earlier. This discussion with the author took place on a 2006 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Fra...

In "That Old Cape Magic," author Richard Russo writes a novel about a man who grew up at Cape Cod and later made more memories as an adult there with a marriage and family. This discussion with the author took place on a 2009 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California. Photo: facebook.com/richardrussoauthor/

In "Luka and the Fire of Life," author Salman Rushdie writes a children's book that follows a twelve-year-old named Luka who embarks on a quest to find a way to wake his father from a deep sleep, encountering creatures and obstacles along the journey. This discussion with the author took place on a 2010 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, Californi...

In "No One You Know," author Michelle Richmond writes a novel about a woman searching for her sister's killer while discovering many secrets along the way. This second discussion with the author took place on a 2008 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California. Photo: michellerichmond.com

In "The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions," author Sister Helen Prejean poses the question on if it is morally right for governments to kill the guilty, and talks about her first-hand experiences witnessing the executions of Dobie Gillis Williams and Joseph Roger O'Dell. This second discussion with the author took place on a 2005 episode of "Conversations On The Coas...

In "Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War," author Nathaniel Philbrick writes about how Native Americans and English Americans co-existed in a process of give and take during the early settlement years after the Pilgrims arrived in New England, but decades later found themselves in the middle of a deadly war. This second discussion with the author about the book took place on a 2007 ep...

In "Buckingham Palace Gardens," author Anne Perry writes another novel in the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series, in which Thomas Pitt of the Special Services must solve the murder of a young woman in order to save his career and the monarchy. This discussion with the author took place on a 2008 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California. Photo:...

In "Good Prose: The Art of Nonfiction," co-author Tracy Kidder presents a book that teaches how to write nonfiction, including narratives, essays, and memoirs, and also delves into how to find a story and make a living as a writer. The book is co-written by the late Richard Todd. This discussion with the author took place on a 2013 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originatin...

In "Long Man," author Amy Greene writes a novel set in 1936 about a young mother desperate to make sure her daughter inherits the family's land held for generations in an Appalachian Tennessee town, just as the Tennessee Valley Authority plans to dam the nearby river and flood the town to bring electricity and jobs the area. This discussion with the author took place on a 2014 episode of "Conversa...

In "The Cookbook Collector," author Allegra Goodman writes a novel about two young women sisters making their way in the world with very different views about what life and love can be, set in Silicon Valley during the dot com bust. This discussion with the author took place on a 2010 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California. Photo Credit: al...