Author Interviews

Silicon Valley is less promised land, more black hole in new novel, 'Ripe'

4:40pm July 11, 2023

NPR's Juana Summers talks with writer Sarah Rose Etter about her new novel Ripe, which explores the darker sides of Silicon Valley as a woman tries to make sense of her career and growing dread.

'The Skull,' Jon Klassen's latest children's book, is darker than his previous ones

4:06pm July 10, 2023

by Julie Depenbrock

Author and illustrator Jon Klassen is best known for children's books like I Want My Hat Back and This is Not My Hat. His latest, The Skull, is an adaptation of a traditional folktale.

Books

Donovan X. Ramsey's book is a 'people's history' of the cocaine epidemic

8:01am July 09, 2023

by Ayesha Rascoe

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks to author Donovan X. Ramsey about his new book, "When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era." It tells the story of the crack cocaine epidemic.

Books

A new short story collection showcases the diversity of the Black Muslim experience

4:59pm July 08, 2023

NPR's Scott Detrow talks with author Aaliyah Bilal about her new book Temple Folk, which tells the stories of dozens of Black Muslims over the course of several decades.

Books

Caitlin Shetterly on her novel 'Pete and Alice in Maine'

7:53am July 08, 2023

by Scott Simon

The new novel "Pete and Alice in Maine" explores what happens to a strained marriage during the early days of the pandemic. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with author Caitlin Shetterly about it.

Books

Jake Tapper on his 1970s thriller 'All the Demons Are Here'

7:53am July 08, 2023

by Scott Simon

NPR's Scott Simon talks to CNN anchor and author Jake Tapper about his new thriller, "All the Demons Are Here." It's a story set in 1970s America.

Arts
Books

The creator of luxury brand Brother Vellies is fighting for justice in fashion

11:05am July 06, 2023

Shoes and accessories designed by Aurora James sell for hundreds, even thousands, of dollars. In Wildflower, James details how hard it was to get here and the imbalanced economics of high fashion.

Queue Listen Now

Books

Designer Aurora James aims to right a wrong by taking on exclusion in fashion

5:05am July 06, 2023

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with fashion designer Aurora James about her memoir Wildflower. In it, she details her winding path in the cut-throat world of high fashion.

A new short story collection showcases the diversity of the Black Muslim experience

4:26pm July 05, 2023

NPR's Scott Detrow talks with author Aaliyah Bilal about her new book Temple Folk, which tells the stories of dozens of Black Muslims over the course of several decades.

Books

New cookbook has tips for creating your own Oaxacan-inspired cookout

5:11am July 03, 2023

NPR's A Martinez speaks with Bricia Lopez about her book Asada: The Art of Mexican-Style Grilling.