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Interview: Raymond Khoury, author of The Last Templar

Apr 28, 2006

Amidst the current popularity of religious-themed fiction, two novels ---THE LAST TEMPLAR and THE TEMPLAR LEGACY --- have both become international bestsellers. The authors of these two books, Raymond Khoury and Steve Berry, spoke with Bookreporter.com's Carol Fitzgerald, Joe Hartlaub and Wiley Saichek about the appeal of speculative history novels, as well as the sheer coincidence of simultaneously writing and publishing thrillers on similar topics. They also discuss the challenges of researching and accurately portraying the past, and share their thoughts on Dan Brown's recent court case.

Interview: Steve Berry, author of The Templar Legacy

Apr 28, 2006

Amidst the current popularity of religious-themed fiction, two novels ---THE LAST TEMPLAR and THE TEMPLAR LEGACY --- have both become international bestsellers. The authors of these two books, Raymond Khoury and Steve Berry, spoke with Bookreporter.com's Carol Fitzgerald, Joe Hartlaub and Wiley Saichek about the appeal of speculative history novels, as well as the sheer coincidence of simultaneously writing and publishing thrillers on similar topics. They also discuss the challenges of researching and accurately portraying the past, and share their thoughts on Dan Brown's recent court case.

What do you think is the appeal of THE DA VINCI CODE? Why did so many people read it?

April 28, 2006

Interview: Naomi Hirahara, author of Snakeskin Shamisen

Apr 28, 2006

April 28, 2006

Bookreporter.com's Senior Writer Joe Hartlaub interviewed Naomi Hirahara, author of several nonfiction titles about the Japanese American experience and a fictional mystery series starring Mas Arai. Hirahara discusses the inspiration for the series's latest installment, SNAKESKIN SHAMISEN, as well as its main character's possible real-life counterparts. She also compares and contrasts writing fiction and nonfiction, and reveals what she has in store for her protagonist.

Interview: Kelley Armstrong, author of Broken

Apr 28, 2006

April 28, 2006

Kelley Armstrong has penned six novels in the paranormal suspense series The Otherworld, including her latest release, BROKEN. In this interview with Bookreporter.com's contributing writer Steve Hubbard, Armstrong characterizes her protagonist as the embodiment of the struggle between a person's dual natures, and describes the loose plotting process employed with each installment of the series. She also explains why her books are so difficult to categorize and sheds light on why they are told from multiple narrators.

April 28, 2006

I am writing this note on Thursday night. I just got in from the Edgar Awards dinner where the coveted Edgar Allan Poe Awards were given out. The best novel award went to Jess Walter's CITIZEN VINCE while Theresa Schwegel's OFFICER DOWN won best first novel by an American author. It was a fun evening that followed a terrific day yesterday at an all-day mystery symposium. Right now I am writing in between racing around to pack for my L.A. Book Fair trip. I have my clothes in a pile, which I will sort and get into a suitcase. What's getting me stumped is what to take to read. The way I see it, I will have about six hours on a plane on each flight.

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April 21, 2006

The first week back from vacation takes on a rhythm all its own. This week as I was shaking the sand from my toes I found myself plunging right back into work. When it gets crazy busy like this, I find that reading a few pages of a book can definitely sort me out. Right now I am reading PRAYERS FOR THE ASSASSIN by Robert Ferrigno. It's not light reading, but rather a thought-provoking thriller that takes place in 2040. Somehow though when I have reached for this book this week, I have felt myself calming down. It's like checking in with these characters is something stable as everything else swirls around. While I did not have much reading time this week, I did find that these little escapes have been lovely. Any of you do this when life is hectic?

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April 14, 2006

I am writing this afternoon from the deck at the house we are renting on the Outer Banks. It's been a wonderful week weather-wise, thus I have the "laptop on the deck" scenario completely under control. I love Wi-Fi when it works seamlessly like this. I have tap tap tapped out notes from the deck, the patio and the "tiki bar." I kid you not. This house has a tiki bar. Our house is on the 18th fairway. I have become the spotter for many an errant ball these past days. I hear clink on the rocks and know shortly a golfer will find his way through the trees and I will point to where the ball is. It's my version of vacation multi-tasking.

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Interview: Harley Jane Kozak, author of Dating Is Murder

Apr 14, 2006

April 14, 2006

Harley Jane Kozak --- perhaps best known for her acting roles in films such as Arachnophobia, Necessary Roughness, Parenthood and All I Want for Christmas --- is the author of the award-winning comic mystery DATING DEAD MEN and its acclaimed sequel, DATING IS MURDER. Bookreporter.com's Carol Fitzgerald and contributing writer Andi Shechter interviewed Kozak about the initial inspiration behind her protagonist, Wollie Shelley, and the ways in which her background as an actor has aided her writing. She also discusses the blog she has with three other authors and shares details concerning Wollie's next adventure.

Interview: Laurie Graff, author of Looking for Mr. Goodfrog

Apr 14, 2006

April 14, 2006

Laurie Graff captured the lighter side of bad dates in her acclaimed Chick Lit novel, YOU HAVE TO KISS A LOT OF FROGS. She recently spoke with Bookreporter.com's Jennifer Krieger about her newly released sequel, LOOKING FOR MR. GOODFROG, and describes how she drew experiences from her rocky love life --- along with those of her friends --- to write this book. She also ponders the influence of fairy tales on young girls, as well as the status of women in today's society.