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Author News & Interviews

Interview: Paul French, author of Midnight in Peking: How the Murder of a Young Englishwoman Haunted the Last Days of Old China

Apr 27, 2012

In MIDNIGHT IN PEKING, historian and China expert Paul French recounts the true story of a long-forgotten murder case in colonial Peking. When the city was on the verge of Japanese attack in 1937, a young woman was brutally murdered --- but the case went unsolved for years. In this interview, conducted by Bookreporter.com’s Joe Hartlaub, French discusses his in-depth research into Chinese history, in addition to the history of the case. He also talks about how the book has been received in China, shares his opinions on the Chinese government today as it compares to colonial government in Peking, and reveals one of his greatest influences.

Author Talk: Wanda E. Brunstetter, author of The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club

Apr 22, 2012

Wanda E. Brunstetter’s new work of fiction, THE HALF-STITCHED AMISH QUILTING CLUB, introduces readers to an Amish widow who teaches quilting classes to an unlikely group of students. In this interview, Brunstetter talks about writing novels featuring Amish characters, explains how she began working as a puppeteer and ventriloquist, and shares details of the forthcoming musical based on the book.

Author Talk: R. J. Larson, author of Prophet: Books of the Infinite, Book 1

Apr 22, 2012

PROPHET, the first installment in R. J. Larson’s Books of the Infinite series, follows Ela Roeh of Parne as she struggles to understand why her Creator, the Infinite, wants her to become His prophet --- and faces the ultimate sacrifice as she devotes herself to him. In this interview, Larson talks about her decision to pen a fantasy novel, the process of naming her characters, and what motivates her to write.

Author Talk: Deborah Copaken, author of The Red Book

Apr 13, 2012

In Deborah Copaken Kogan’s new novel, THE RED BOOK, four best friends who graduated Harvard together meet again at their 20th reunion. They’ve followed each other’s lives through the university’s red book, an annual alumni publication, but the truth about each of them will come out during the course of the weekend, and they will reconnect in ways they never expected. In this interview, Kogan shares the unique evolution of her idea to write the book. She also talks about the inspiration she drew from her personal life, and discusses her passions for photography and screenwriting.

Author Talk: Brad Meltzer, author of Heroes for My Daughter

Apr 13, 2012

Brad Meltzer takes a break from his legal thrillers to write HEROES FOR MY DAUGHTER. This follow-up to HEROES FOR MY SON is a compilation of 56 inspiring role models for his daughter --- from his mother to Ben Franklin to The Three Stooges. In this interview, Meltzer talks about how he chose the different heroes in the book. He also shares the reaction to both Heroes volumes from readers, the process of finding and including rare photographs of the heroes, and the hopes he has for his children.