Author Interviews

Trump's Inauguration Sets Up Uncertain Future For Conservative Movement

4:28pm January 20, 2017

NPR's Robert Siegel talks to Sam Tanenhaus, author of The Death of Conservatism, about what Donald Trump's inauguration means for the future of the conservative movement.

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Arts

Novelist Zadie Smith On Historical Nostalgia And The Nature Of Talent

2:44pm January 20, 2017

Smith's latest book, Swing Time, tells the story of two girls who dream of being dancers, but only one has the talent to do so. Originally broadcast Nov. 21, 2016.

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How Mormon Polygamy In The 19th Century Fueled Women's Activism

1:43pm January 17, 2017

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich says that for Mormon women living in 19th century Utah, "plural marriages" were empowering in complicated ways.

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Arts

'The New Odyssey' Allows Migrants Stories To Humanize The Crisis

6:05pm January 15, 2017

The Guardian's Migration Correspondent Patrick Kingsley's book The New Odyssey follows several migrants on their journeys from war-torn countries in the Middle East and Africa to Europe.

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How To Tell A Story Through Emails

8:02am January 15, 2017

Hey Harry, Hey Matilda is a funny and sometimes icky story of twins. It's told through the twins' emails and unfolds around a lie. Author Rachel Hulin tells Lulu Garcia-Navarro about her new novel.

Books

The Author Of 'The Exorcist,' William Peter Blatty, Dies At 89

10:58am January 14, 2017

The author of the novel The Exorcist, William Peter Blatty, has died at the age of 89. Scott Simon spoke with him in 2011 about the novel — and he said he never meant for it to be so scary.

Books
Arts

A Century-Old Poet Looks Back — And Fearlessly Forward — In 'Purgatory'

8:08am January 14, 2017

by NPR Staff

Henry Morgenthau III had a long and eventful life even before he started writing poetry in his 90s. Now, at age 100, he's promoting his first poetry collection, called A Sunday in Purgatory.

Books
Arts

Veronica Roth's 'Carve The Mark' Is A Fantasy Inspired By Chronic Pain

8:08am January 14, 2017

by NPR Staff

The Divergent author's new series takes place in a world where everyone has a gift that reflects their personality. One character has what Roth describes as "a supernatural form of chronic pain."

In his new memoir, writer Greg Hens explores his relationship with cigarettes.

In 'Nicotine,' A Longtime Smoker Confronts His Old Habit

4:41pm January 13, 2017

by NPR Staff

Writer Gregor Hens doesn't smoke anymore, but he still thinks about it every day. He says he started writing his memoir as a way to deal with the longing.

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Arts

The Man Behind Lemony Snicket Talks About Writing For Kids And His Childhood Fears

1:23pm January 13, 2017

Lemony Snicket, AKA Daniel Handler, wrote the children's book series, A Series of Unfortunate Events. Handler spoke to Terry Gross in 2001 and in 2012, when he brought his accordion to the studio.

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