Author Interviews

Books

'Facing The Mountain' Tells Story Of Japanese American WWII Heroes

7:59am May 15, 2021

NPR's Scott Simon talks to writer Daniel James Brown about his new book, Facing The Mountain, which tells the story of Japanese American soldiers who fought for a country that rejected them.

Books

Author Explains Why Those 4-Letter Words Are So Satisfying To Say Out Loud

4:30pm May 14, 2021

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with linguist John McWhorter about his new book, Nine Nasty Words: English in the Gutter: Then, Now, and Forever, which looks at how profanities have evolved over centuries.

Books
Arts

Lee Mokobe: How Can We Make Sense Of Ourselves Through Poetry?

9:36am May 14, 2021

How can art be a tool to better understand ourselves and the world around us? Poet Lee Mokobe shares what it was like to grow up trans in South Africa, and how language can be a tool for change.

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The U.S. Is Headed Away From The Ideals Of Democracy, Says Author Masha Gessen

4:27pm May 13, 2021

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks to Masha Gessen, author of Surviving Autocracy, about the state of U.S. democracy, as House Republicans continue to embrace former President Trump's lies about the election.

Books
Arts

Reality TV Inspired This Poetic Look At People And The Things They Hoard

5:51am May 13, 2021

by Jeevika Verma

In her latest book of poems, artist Kate Durbin looks at modern consumerism and the way people process trauma and loss through the objects they hoard. Durbin was inspired by the A&E show Hoarders.

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Books
Arts

Novelist Francisco Goldman Revisits His Difficult Childhood In 'Monkey Boy'

1:20pm May 11, 2021

by Dave Davies

The son of a Jewish father and a Guatemalan mother, Goldman grew up mostly in working class suburbs of Boston. His new novel draws on his own experiences, including being physically abused by his dad.

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Books

Jake Tapper's 'The Devil May Dance' Is A Sequel To 'The Hellfire Club'

6:41am May 11, 2021

CNN's Jake Tapper writes fiction when he's not anchoring the news. NPR's Rachel Martin talks to Tapper about his historical thriller: The Devil May Dance.

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A Constitutional Quirk Inspired Stacey Abrams' New Thriller, 'While Justice Sleeps'

9:43am May 09, 2021

by Lulu Garcia-Navarro

Article III of the Constitution gives Supreme Court justices lifetime appointments — but doesn't cover what to do if they become incapacitated. For Abrams, that was the spark for an exciting story.

Books

Ian Manuel Discusses Incarceration At A Young Age In New Memoir

8:05am May 08, 2021

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Ian Manuel about his new memoir, My Time Will Come, about his incarceration at the age of 14 and eventual release in 2016.

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Books

Stacey Swann's New Book Is A Classic Greek Tale, Set In Texas

8:05am May 08, 2021

NPR's Scott Simon speaks to author Stacey Swann about her debut novel, Olympus Texas.