Author Interviews

'Out Of The Wreck I Rise' Supports Addiction Recovery With Literary Hero Companions

9:14am December 03, 2016

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Sara Bader and Neil Steinberg about their book, "Out Of The Wreck I Rise: A Literary Companion to Recovery," a new anthology about addiction and sobriety.

This handmade angel was given to Bonnie Mackay by a former colleague in the Bloomingdale's Home Furnishings and Fashion office. It is one of the nearly 3,000 ornaments in her collection, which she has categorized into 67 different classifications.

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On This 'Tree Of Treasures' There's No Such Thing As An Ordinary Ornament

5:44pm December 02, 2016

by NPR Staff

Bonnie Mackay has written an unusual sort of memoir: Tree of Treasures is the story of her life, told through Christmas tree ornaments. She has nearly 3,000 of them, divided into 67 classifications.

Peter and Ezra, / you made a great team. / Together you brought a snowstorm / of your dreams.

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'A Poem For Peter' Recalls One Unforgettable 'Snowy Day'

5:09am December 01, 2016

by Lynn Neary

In 1962, Peter — an African-American boy exploring his neighborhood after a snowstorm — broke the color barrier in mainstream children's publishing. A new book pays tribute to author Ezra Jack Keats.

Cleve Jones speaks outside the Supreme Court in June 2013.

LGBTQ Activist Cleve Jones: 'I'm Well Aware How Fragile Life Is'

3:14pm November 29, 2016

Jones became an activist after Harvey Milk's assassination, and he lost countless friends to the AIDS epidemic. He says, "There are some days when it is so painful that I really can barely function."

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Carrie Fisher reprised her role of Princess Leia in the 2015 film Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

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Carrie Fisher Opens Up About 'Star Wars,' The Gold Bikini And Her On-Set Affair

5:00pm November 28, 2016

In her new memoir, The Princess Diarist, Fisher looks back on playing Princess Leia when she was 19 and reflects on her romantic involvement with her older, married co-star, Harrison Ford.

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'Mayor Of Mogadishu': Symbol Of Hope Or Divisive Figure?

12:13pm November 28, 2016

Steve Inskeep talks to the BBC's Andrew Harding about his book: The Mayor of Mogadishu. It's a look at Somalia's modern history through the life story of one of its most controversial politicians.

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Julia Baird Paints A Stronger, More Likable 'Victoria The Queen'

8:39am November 27, 2016

NPR's Linda Wertheimer talks to Julia Baird about her new book "Victoria the Queen." Baird says that contrary to how she is usually remembered, Queen Victoria was a lively and dedicated ruler.

'Confessions Of A Cuban Boy' Author Taks Life As A Cuban Refugee

9:13am November 26, 2016

NPR's Scott Simon talks with Yale history professor Carlos Eire about living in the United States as a Cuban refugee. Eire is the author of "Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy."

Bittersweet liqueurs including Cynar, Jagermeister, Chartreuse and Amaro Nonino have long been popular in Italy and other parts of Europe as a digestive aid. Now, they're becoming popular on U.S. cocktail menus.

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The Favorite Drink Of Italian Grandpas Gets An American Revival

3:33pm November 25, 2016

by Ari Shapiro

Amaro is considered "grandpa's drink" and a digestive aid in its native Italy, but not stateside, where this centuries-old, bittersweet liqueur has become popular on cocktail menus.

Carrie Fisher Draws From Her Personal Journals In 'The Princess Diarist'

12:13pm November 23, 2016

Carrie Fisher is very much an open book about the crazy ups and downs in her life. The actress best known as Princess Leia in the Star Wars films has a new book on her start in show business.

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