Author News & Interviews

Author Talk: Kate Clifford Larson, author of Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter

Oct 9, 2015

Kate Clifford Larson is the author of three critically acclaimed biographies, each interested in revealing the life of a historic American woman and her role in shaping our national identity. In her latest book, ROSEMARY: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter, she investigates the inspiring and tragic story of Rosemary Kennedy, the spirited daughter of Joe and Rose Kennedy, whose intellectual disability was long kept secret by her powerful family --- even after a misguided medical procedure rendered her physically and mentally incapacitated. In this interview, Larson explains what drew her to Rosemary, what makes this book stand out from the multitudes of tomes written about the Kennedys, and why Rosemary’s story is still relevant --- even crucial --- today.

Author Talk: Lou Kasischke , author of After the Wind: Tragedy on Everest --- One Survivor's Story

Oct 7, 2015

On May 10, 1996, eight climbers died on Mount Everest while fighting a rogue storm in what was one of the worst tragedies in the mountain’s history. Much has been reported in the terrible event’s aftermath, but now survivor Lou Kasischke is ready to share his version of the story with the world. In AFTER THE WIND (available in paperback on October 20th), Kasischke tells the harrowing story of what went wrong that day, and how, by a miracle of love, he managed to survive.

In this interview, Kasischke explains why he waited so long to publish his story, even though he wrote it almost immediately following his experience on Everest, and how --- with it --- he hopes to honor the truth about what happened, as well as those who were lost. He also talks about why it was so important for him to preserve the authenticity of his original story and how going the independent publishing route helped him accomplish that.

Interview: Ben McPherson, author of A Line of Blood

Oct 1, 2015

Ben McPherson is a television producer, director and writer who worked for more than a decade at the BBC. His debut novel, A LINE OF BLOOD, is a thriller that also delves into the complexities of family life. When their neighbor is found dead in his apartment, Alex, his wife Millicent and their son Max are pulled into a maelstrom investigation that forces them to reexamine how they approach their relationships with each other. In this interview with The Book Report Network’s Sarah Rachel Egelman, McPherson discusses his inspiration for this crime thriller/family drama hybrid, explains the importance of the book’s setting, and reveals some of his favorite authors.

Interview: Lawrence Block, author of The Girl with the Deep Blue Eyes

Sep 24, 2015

Lawrence Block has won more awards than almost any other living mystery writer and has been named Grandmaster by the Mystery Writers of America. His latest book, THE GIRL WITH THE DEEP BLUE EYES, follows private investigator Doak Miller, a retired NYPD officer now residing in small-town Florida. Miller does small jobs for the local police force, until an encounter with a femme fatale leads to his fall from grace. In this interview conducted by Bookreporter.com's Tom Callahan, Block discusses the philosophy behind the creation of his characters; his writing process, which is very organic and largely inspiration-based; and his upcoming projects and plans --- or lack thereof.

Author Talk: Philippa Gregory, author of The Taming of the Queen

Aug 28, 2015

For fans of historical fiction, Philippa Gregory needs no introduction; THE TAMING OF THE QUEEN is the latest in a long list of bestselling novels. It tells the fascinating story of Kateryn Parr --- King Henry VIII’s sixth and final wife --- a brilliant scholar and deeply religious woman who would outlive her husband and triumph over his domestic reign of terror. In this interview, Gregory reveals how she captures historical figures and events with such precision and immediacy, and why she thinks historians haven’t given Kateryn her due. She also discusses the queen’s love of language and publishing --- a love the author herself shares --- and why it’s important to write about women who were not inactive victims of male power.