Author News & Interviews

Author Talk: Rupert Thomson, author of Katherine Carlyle

Nov 12, 2015

Rupert Thomson is the author of 10 acclaimed novels --- including THE INSULT, which was selected by David Bowie as one of his 100 Must-Read Books of All Time --- and one boldly honest memoir. His latest book, KATHERINE CARLYLE, is the story of a young woman who, unmoored by the death of her mother, abandons the set course of her life and goes on a mysterious journey to the ends of the world. In this interview, Thomson reveals how thinking beyond “genre” has contributed to the success of his work and why he feels compelled to live his books as he writes them (although his strategies vary from draft to draft). He also discusses what inspired the unique circumstances of his protagonist’s conception via IVF (in vitro fertilization) and how he understands her story on a deeply personal level.

Interview: Gregory Maguire, author of After Alice

Oct 28, 2015

Gregory Maguire is no stranger to rewriting classic children’s fairy tales for adults. His first try was an overwhelming success; WICKED --- a vividly realized revisionist take on L. Frank Baum’s THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ --- was adapted into one of the most popular Broadway shows of all time. Now he returns with AFTER ALICE, a magical new twist on ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND, which was recently published to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s beloved classic. In this interview with The Book Report Network’s Bronwyn Miller, Maguire discusses what interests him about rewriting children’s stories and how he chooses his subject matter. He also talks about the importance of books in children’s lives --- a subject he is deeply passionate about --- and how he’s careful to avoid a fistfight with Harper Lee.

Author Talk: Geraldine Brooks, author of The Secret Chord

Oct 22, 2015

Geraldine Brooks is the author of five novels, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning MARCH, and two acclaimed works of nonfiction. Her latest book, THE SECRET CHORD, provides context for arguably the most fascinating and romantic man in the Bible: King David. Here she revisits some of the best-known episodes of David’s life, vividly reimagining him through the eyes of those who love him or fear him most. In this interview, Brooks discusses why she’s compelled to write about people whose faith defined their lives. She also opens up about the challenges of defamiliarizing such recognizable biblical characters and what David’s story can teach readers today.

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.