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Author News & Interviews

Interview: Sarah Vaughan, author of The Art of Baking Blind

May 8, 2015

After 11 years working at the Guardian as a news reporter, health correspondent and political correspondent, Sarah Vaughan started freelancing and working on her first novel. THE ART OF BAKING BLIND is a delicious and heartfelt debut, in which five amateur bakers compete in a baking competition only to discover that the recipe for happiness may not be so easy to follow. In this interview with The Book Report Network's Norah Piehl, Vaughan reveals why she chose to set her novel at a cooking competition and some suggested further reading for inspired amateur bakers. She also admits that cooking for her is “a way of creating order out of chaos” and that food in families is never simply about nutrition. 

Interview: Lisa Genova, author of Inside the O'Briens

Apr 8, 2015

Earlier this year, Lisa Genova proudly watched Julianne Moore win an Academy Award for playing the lead in the big screen adaptation of her New York Times bestselling novel, STILL ALICE. Her latest book, INSIDE THE O’BRIENS, sheds light on another disease --- Huntington’s --- and the heartbreaking effect it has on one family. She has a background in neuroscience and is known for her masterful handling of the human aspects of illness. In this interview with Bookreporter.com’s Norah Piehl, Genova talks about what initially inspired her to write from the perspective of the patient and how she is able to achieve such poignantly empathetic narratives (hint: tons of first-person research!). 

Interview: Annabel Smith, author of Whiskey and Charlie

Apr 8, 2015

Australian author Annabel Smith’s latest novel, WHISKEY AND CHARLIE, is about Charlie Ferns, who learns that his estranged twin brother Whiskey has been in a terrible accident. Although they barely have spoken in years, Charlie can’t help but wonder: Who is he without Whiskey? In this interview with Bookreporter.com’s Alexis Burling, Smith discusses how --- with seemingly fluid ease --- she gets into the heads of her characters, as well as how the things we internalize as kids can continue to affect us as adults. She also explains “Six Degrees of Separation” and “Writers Ask Writers” --- two monthly features on her blog that celebrate writing, great books and community.

Interview: Holly Brown, author of Don't Try To Find Me

Apr 8, 2015

Holly Brown is a practicing marriage and family therapist, in addition to being a recent debut author. Her first book, DON’T TRY TO FIND ME (now available in paperback), is a gripping psychological thriller about one family's search for their missing daughter and the very public campaign that will expose their darkest secrets. In this interview with The Book Report Network’s Alexis Burling, Brown discusses her decision to place the mother-daughter relationship at the center of her story (a move that is somewhat atypical for the genre) and how her writing is informed by her work as a therapist. She also talks about runaways, reinvention, and why she believes nobody is ever truly beyond redemption.

Interview: Linda Goodnight, author of The Memory House: A Honey Ridge Novel

Apr 2, 2015

If Linda Goodnight had a theme song, it would start, "Well I was born in a small town..." Growing up in Prague, Oklahoma, she dabbled in poetry, made up stories in her head, and read every book she could get her hands on --- including GONE WITH THE WIND, which she credits with jumpstarting her own writing (or rewriting) career. THE MEMORY HOUSE is the first installment in her Honey Ridge series; set in the small town of Honey Ridge, Tennessee, it’s a tale of tender love and a house that’s rich with secrets and brimming with sweet possibilities. In this interview with The Book Report Network’s Bronwyn Miller, Goodnight opens up about the real-life tragedy that inspired her to write THE MEMORY HOUSE and how writing it helped her deal with her own recent loss. She also shares great advice for young authors, as well as generous insight into what she’s working on next.