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Author News & Interviews

Interview: Mary Kay Andrews, author of Beach Town

May 21, 2015

It wouldn’t be summer without an exciting new book from the “Queen of the Summer Beach Read” herself, Mary Kay Andrews. Her latest, aptly titled BEACH TOWN, does not disappoint. When movie location scout Greer Hennessy zeroes in on a sleepy Florida panhandle town, its mayor and born-again environmentalist Eben Thibadeaux will do whatever he can to protect it --- if he can resist his growing attraction to Greer. In this interview, Mary Kay talks to The Book Report Network's Amie Taylor about the book, including insights into the setting, the characters and --- her favorite part of all --- her protagonists’ “meet cute.” She also shares what she’s working on next, which readers can expect to see --- you guessed it! --- next summer.

Interview: Charles Dubow, author of Girl in the Moonlight

May 13, 2015

Charles Dubow is the author of the acclaimed novel INDISCRETION, a founding editor of Forbes.com, and was an editor at Businessweek.com. His latest book, GIRL IN THE MOONLIGHT, is about Wylie Rose, whose all-consuming love for beautiful, elusive Cesca will forever change his life. In this interview, Dubow talks to The Book Report Network’s Alexis Burling about art and literature --- two of the arts that have been vital to his life and his identity. He also addresses the issue of being a man writing about a difficult woman, and why he hopes his readers will accept Cesca, despite her flaws. And no conversation about the arts would be complete without a list of favorite artists and authors, which Dubow graciously provides.

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.