So he went on a journey – both physically and psychically.  The journey led him to Shamanism, psychedelic drugs, Mayan culture and more – and led him to believe (to know – in his words) that these things had meaning, were real and tangible and should and could be applied to the economic and environmental challenges of today .

His journey into Shamanism and psychedelics is chronicled in his first book: BREAKING OPEN THE HEAD.  His second book 2012: THE RETURN OF QUETZALCOATL (which I was afraid to pronounce in the podcast – even though I really practiced ahead of time!) digs deep into the end of the Mayan Long Count calendar and what that really means in terms of the year 2012 and the immense change he believes is already underway.

His latest book NOTES FROM THE EDGE TIMES is a series of essays Daniel wrote since the publication of 2012.  It touches on topics from the environment to the economy to monogamy and psychic ability.

As a man of action – Daniel is not afraid to call it like he sees it.  Daniel quotes Einstein and others in the book who say “You don’t solve problems with the kind of thinking that created them” – and whether you buy into his solutions or not, you have to admit that sentiment rings true.

Interviewing Daniel was a challenge to be sure!  He’s a smart guy who backs his thinking with lots of research.  Give it a listen, then check out the books and form your own opinion.

— Dana Barrett, Podcast Host

PS – did I mention Daniel is the one of the creators of 2012: Time for Change, a documentary with stars like Sting, Ellen Page and David Lynch. It’s currently debuting in selected cities around the world.

Like this interview? Subscribe to the podcast today!

Want more of the Better World Books Podcast now? Click here to check out the rest of the great authors who stopped by or called in for a chat!

Comments or questions about the podcast? Feel free to comment here on the blog, or email me at podcast AT betterworldbooks.com.

As Tess struggles at first to be believed and then later to find the “Well Woman” the family and the town struggle to survive the difficult and complex time they live in.

The book tackles the racism and sexism of the time period as well as the immensely difficult lives of coal miners and their families.  It does all this with a grace and fluidity that make it feel like more of a classic than a debut novel.

Gin Phillips is as thoughtful in person as she is in her writing.  She came by our offices while on tour for the book and we had a great conversation about how the story came about and why she chose to tell it from multiple perspectives.   I picked up on some dualities in the book that Gin had not even realized were there but was pleased to discover.  You’ll have to give it a read and see if you saw what I did!

— Dana Barrett, Podcast Host

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Comments or questions about the podcast? Feel free to comment here on the blog, or email me at podcast AT betterworldbooks.com.

And I was not the only one.  Eric had some adoring fans in our office who were happy to get to meet him too (and unhappy with me – because I gave them no advance warning so they didn’t have their books with them to get an autograph!)

When we sat down to chat, we talked about everything from Eric’s stand-up comedy days to his summer vacation and of course we also got around to talking about his latest book, TEMPTED BY TROUBLE.

The book is the story of a couple who lose their jobs and lifestyle during the current economic crisis and who are pushed (and pulled) into some (very) bad choices out of desperation.  It’s a dark tale about good people who do bad and bad people who do worse.  The book has all the shadows and grit of a classic black and white movie up to an including the mysterious man in the fedora.  It  will keep you turning pages until the very end.

I hope you enjoy the interview – and pick up a copy of the book!  It’s a great discussion book for book clubs too.

— Dana Barrett, Podcast Host

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Comments or questions about the podcast? Feel free to comment here on the blog, or email me at podcast AT betterworldbooks.com.

Lauren, the just slightly older sister is known for her hugely popular YA books TTYL and TTFN and her new series for younger readers that starts with LUV YA BUNCHES.  And Susan, whose second book A SOFT PLACE TO LAND was recently released, is well on her way to being a favorite among book clubs and critics alike.  You may remember my earlier interview with Susan about her first book, BOUND SOUTH.

A while back, I had a chance to sit down with the sisters in their first ever joint interview and they were not shy!  We talked about what it was like growing up together and how their relationship has shaped their writing.

This was actually one of my favorite interviews to record.  It was like hanging with a couple of my girlfriends over a glass of wine.  Of course instead of wine, we had microphones, but you get the idea.  And I have to admit something else here too:  this interview has been in post-production for a long time.  Long enough for the title of Susan’s new book to actually change!  You’ll have to listen to the interview to hear what the title was originally going to be.

So, without further ado… enjoy the interview!  I know I did.

— Dana Barrett, Podcast Host

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Comments or questions about the podcast? Feel free to comment here on the blog, or email me at podcast AT betterworldbooks.com.

But one thing that does happen is that all the new found readers rush right back to the bookstore looking for everything this writer had previously written.  And that is exactly what is happening with Garth Stein.  THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN has been a smash hit and has practically made Garth a household name.  (Well, he might not be as well known as Kleenex, but he’s close.)  Anyway, the point is all of this hub-bub has brought about the re-release of Garth’s first book, RAVEN STOLE THE MOON.

As with RACING, RAVEN STOLE THE MOON examines some complex themes and emotions like the death of a child, religious and mystical beliefs and more.  The book was written in the dark ages – you know, the 90s, before cell phones were everywhere and Garth opted to keep it that way.  But you’ll have to listen to the podcast to find out what other changes he made!

Enjoy the interview!

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Want more of the Better World Books Podcast now? Click here to check out the rest of the great authors who stopped by or called in for a chat!

Comments or questions about the podcast? Feel free to comment here on the blog, or email me at podcast AT betterworldbooks.com.

— Dana Barrett, Podcast Host

This began a journey for the entire Salwen family in which they decided to sell their house and give half the sales price to a worthy cause.  And so THE POWER OF HALF was born.

Hannah and her co-author, (a.k.a. Dad) Kevin came by our offices a couple of weeks ago to chat about the book, the project, and what it means to them.  They explain that not everyone has to sell their house.  They know that’s not possible.  But they do believe there are things you could do with less of and that every little bit counts.  The idea of giving up half of something is that it’s measurable and easy to get your head around.

Who are these people, you ask?  Well, after meeting the Salwens I can tell you… they are regular people just like you and me.   Hannah is now 17 and wants to be a nurse someday.  She and her Dad are close, but they still have the normal dad/daughter stuff about being home on time, etc.

I’m sure you’ll enjoy meeting the Salwens in today’s podcast and maybe you’ll even be inspired to start a Power of Half project of your own.

Enjoy the interview!

Like this interview? Subscribe today!

Want more of the Better World Books Podcast now? Click here to check out the rest of the great authors who stopped by or called in for a chat!

Comments or questions about the podcast? Feel free to comment here on the blog, or email me at podcast AT betterworldbooks.com.

— Dana Barrett, Podcast Host

The book is the story of the lives of the Brontë sisters, whose novels have made them famous characters in history.  The novel brings to life early nineteenth century England where life for women was far different than it is today and the kind of success Charlotte and her sisters achieved was quite rare.  In fact, their books were originally published under male pseudonyms.

As the title implies, not only is the book about the sisters but about the love or loves of Charlotte’s life.  Since not much information remained about her husband, Arthur Bell Nicholls, Juliet took on the task of writing their story.

When Juliet came by our offices last month we chatted about her life and where the line between fiction and fact falls in the book.

I’m far from an expert on the Brontë sisters, though I feel like more of one now and after reading the book and I am inspired to go back and re-read JANE EYRE and WUTHERING HEIGHTS.  Maybe you will be too.  (Coincidentally, both books are available as part of our summer sale!)

Enjoy the interview!

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Want more of the Better World Books Podcast now? Click here to check out the rest of the great authors who stopped by or called in for a chat!

Comments or questions about the podcast? Feel free to comment here on the blog, or email me at podcast AT betterworldbooks.com.

— Dana Barrett, Podcast Host

Though it may look like a beach book, it’s really much more than that.  THE SWIMMING POOL is at the surface (yup – I’m punning again) about a young man who falls in love with a woman who was once his late father’s mistress.  But the book also includes an unsolved murder, postpartum depression, and a pivotal cocktail party around (you guessed it) a swimming pool.  Alas, that still doesn’t cover it entirely.  After talking with Holly in depth (ha ha ha), I’d say the book is really about the choices we make either because of or in spite of the people we care deeply about.

When Holly and I sat down to chat we hit it off right away.  It turns out we have a few things in common and got to laughing pretty easily.  You’ll appreciate Holly’s insight into her work and her totally cringe-worthy pun towards the end!

Like this interview?  Subscribe today!

Want more of the Better World Books Podcast now?  Click here to check out the rest of the great authors who stopped by or called in for a chat!

Comments or questions about the podcast?  Feel free to comment here on the blog, or email me at podcast@betterworldbooks.com.

— Dana Barrett, Podcast Host

She shares the good, the bad and the ugly.  There were affairs, there were arguments, there was sickness and death – but there was also love and family and art and humor.  After reading  A TICKET TO THE CIRCUS, meeting Norris was like meeting someone I’ve always known.  She was unapologetic about her life choices (as she should be) not in the least bit braggy and totally brave.  She admits her health is not good (she’s living with a cancer that should’ve killed her years ago) and yet she is still living her life to the fullest. 

My favorite moment in the interview came when I asked Norris if she ever felt out of place when hanging out with people like Muhammad Ali or Fidel Castro… and she said “No.  I looked around at the other people there and I thought ‘Why not me?'”  I totally love that.  I’m going to make it my new mantra.

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

— Dana Barrett, Podcast Host

Now, I’m not usually someone who signs up for books (or movies) that are meant to make me cry, but I think I’ve actually had an epiphany here about the difference between a tear-jerker and a genuinely touching and emotional story.  Todd Johnson achieves the latter with THE SWEET BY AND BY because he didn’t set out to jerk your tears, he set out to tell a story about people who are often marginalized or ignored.  At first glance this book seems to be about aging and dying, but when you get to the heart of the matter it’s really about living and love.

Read it.  You’ll be glad you did.  But first, check out my talk with Todd, where I can barely hold back the tears!

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

— Dana Barrett, Podcast Host

Clearly that worked out.  In Hollywood, Jeffrey worked on shows like SISTERS, THE WONDER YEARS and DAWSON’S CREEK not too mention several movies.  He loved the life, but really wanted more time with his family so decided to transition to writing books.  FIREWORKS OVER TOCCOA is Jeffrey’s second book, but first novel and it is quickly becoming a national bestseller.

Jeffrey and I hit it off right away and he quickly became what I like to call an Insta-Friend.  (You know the kind of thing, where you start talking and there’s no awkwardness and you feel like you’ve already known each other for years.)   You’ll see in the interview how we get into the personal side of the writing life before we even jumped into the book.  Catch the moment in the interview where Jeffrey turns the tables on me.  FIREWORKS OVER TOCCOA is a love story and as we dug into the intensity of the relationship he asked if I believe in love at first sight.  You’ll have to listen to find out what  I said!  What would you have said to that question?  Email me at blog@betterworldbooks.com or feel free to comment here on the blog!

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

— Dana

This book has  magic wallpaper, sweet sense, mystical lights that inexplicably roam the woods at night and even a giant.  While some of the magic is there to advance the plot, some is just there for fun.

The book, like all of Sarah’s books, is also full of food.  This time it’s barbecue and cake.  Mmmm.  Cake.  And if you’re as taken with some of the cakes as I am, don’t worry, you can get the recipes on her website!

I sat down to chat with Sarah last week during her tour. We talked about the book and some of the magic in it, but one of things I thought was most amazing is that she had three completely different versions of the book before it became what it is now.  Listen to what Sarah had to say about that, about happy endings, and about Grandpa Vance, the gentle giant.

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

— Dana

P.S.  Better World Books has an awesome price on this book new!  Only $14.48 with FREE SHIPPING.  That’s over 42% off!  Get your copy now!

Hold Up the Sky is a story about 4 women relying on each other through some fairly difficult times.  It takes place during a drought in a small Georgia farming town and though not the kind of book I would normally be interested in, I was drawn in.

The characters Patricia creates have heart and though the dilemmas they face may not directly be facing us all, they do force us to question how we would behave in similar circumstances.

When Patricia and I sat down for the interview we focused on where the story comes from and some of the situations the characters found themselves in.  But we also dealt with the idea of looking deeper into “genre” fiction for the issues the book is handling.  For example, in Hold Up the Sky, Patricia humanizes US immigration through the character of Emerita.  She doesn’t have the answer for us, but she does put a human face on it.

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

— Dana

That’s kind of how I feel about Little Bee.   And whoever wrote the back cover copy clearly agrees with me.  Little Bee IS a great story – and it IS filled with well developed characters and though it is not drenched in raspberry sauce, it is indescribably good.  It unfolds in a unique way.  It plays with language.  It asks you questions and it puts you in uncomfortable positions without judging.

You will read this book.  I’m not telling you to, I just know you will.  And then you’ll want to talk about it.  So please do.  Tell everyone else to read it, but as the back cover suggests – don’t give anything away.

In the mean time, tune in to my interview the author.  Meet Chris Cleave and  learn a tad more about the book, what’s in it and why.  Then grab a copy and get to reading.

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

— Dana

So, reading a book by a friend has an interesting quality to it, as does interviewing them.  When reading, I think “Hmmm.  That living room she is describing sounds a lot like her living room” or better yet ” I think I might know who she based that character on!”.  While interviewing Wendy I struggled not to lapse into our usual chit chat about the struggles of the day – and I didn’t jump in to admit that indeed I was the friend who went ballroom dancing with her in the name of research.

But in the name of sharing, I thought you should know.  And I also think you should know that all biases of friendship aside, the books is a page turner.  You’ll want to know what happens next.  It’s a story about women and the struggles we face at various places in our lives.  It’s also a story of secrets and lies which Wendy explains in the interview. And most of all Magnolia Wednesdays contains plenty of Wendy’s trademark humor which is aimed squarely at suburbia.

Let’s face it, any book that starts with someone getting shot in the butt is bound to make you laugh and want to keep on reading.

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

— Dana

Sometimes the authors have been affected by the congestion and general purpose ickiness that is Atlanta traffic.

Sometimes the schedule is plagued by the questionable info on the various mapping websites that often will lead them to some place other than our office.

And sometimes they arrive at the right place and the right time and for some unknown reason the recording equipment will decide not to work.

Alas – on the scheduled date of my interview with Jasper Fforde, it was the airline that got in the way.  We were supposed to meet at noon that day.  He was to come to straight to our offices after getting off a flight from Miami.  But the plane broke.  Okay – I’m sure it was more technical than that, and probably less dramatic, but you get the idea.  Our poor author had to spend something like 4 hours on the tarmac while the plane fixers did their thing.

And even after all that Jasper was gracious enough to meet with me at his hotel in the 30 minutes he ended up having before his 7PM book signing event.  So I reshuffled my day, packed up my equipment and headed down to the Ritz Carlton in Buckhead.  It was worth it.

Shades of Grey is a fascinating read – and as you’ll see in the interview one that I had trouble classifying.  Is it Sci-Fi?  Is it social commentary?  Is it just good fiction?  I think yes, yes and yes.  Oh and if you love a good British accent like I do, you won’t want to miss today’s podcast.

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

THE PIANO TEACHER is Janice’s debut novel and she admittedly didn’t have too much trouble finding a publisher, but she did spend 5 years writing the book as well as several years in a graduate writing program and several years reviewing and reading books for Elle and Mirabella magazines.

As with any artist Janice wasn’t sure she could write a novel let alone get it published and she is thrilled about how well the book has been received.  And with good reason.

THE PIANO TEACHER takes place in Hong Kong during WWII and then in the period 10 years after the war.  It is a story of the glamorous seeming British ex-pat society living there at the time and how they fared when the war came to them.  The book is not only beautifully written but thought provoking and I can see why it is getting such a buzz.

Janice and I talked about the book recently when she came through Atlanta on her book tour.

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

If it wasn”t for his faith and the people who “stepped out on nothing” for him, Byron casino online doesn”t believe he would have made it to the place he is today.  When his mother was told he was “stupid” she wouldn”t accept it.  When his best friend in college noticed his limited vocabulary he stepped in to help.  And a when a professor he had never met before found him dejected an about to drop out, she believed in him.

I met Byron at the Atlanta Press Club luncheon several weeks ago as he came through town on his book tour and had the chance to chat with him about the book, his journey and his new role with our partner, the National Center for Family Literacy.

Take a minute to listen to my interview with Byron – and get your copy here on BetterWorldBooks.com where we are giving all of the proceeds from the sale of the book directly to NCFL.

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

That’s how I felt when I finished reading OUTCASTS UNITED and knew that I would have the opportunity to meet and interview author Warren St. John and help get the word out about this great book.

The book tells the story of coach Luma Mufleh the soccer team of refugee boys she founded and the town of Clarkston, Georgia that wasn’t sure they wanted them… or their families.

Once I finished reading the book, I knew it would be a perfect fit for The Better World Book Club.  And once again that perfect day stuff starting happening.  I think they call it serendipity.  When I called Warren to let him know his book had been chosen for the December 2009 read for The Better World Book Club – now going live at Whole Foods Markets in Atlanta, he let me know how perfect that was, as he had written a good bit of the book IN the Whole Foods Market at Ponce.  I think I actually got chills.

So – if you’re in the Atlanta area, you can meet Warren and get a signed copy of the book on Saturday October 17th as we kick off the book club with a celebration that will actually move between 3 of the Atlanta area Whole Foods Markets.  And if you’re not in the Atlanta area, you can still check out the interview with Warren and grab a copy of the book right here at BetterWorldBooks.com.

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

Since then I’ve gotten to know Mary Kay through various events and saw her again at the Decatur Book Festival earlier this month where I had the pleasure of introducing her and Haywood Smith at their very well attended talk.  This time Mary Kay (whose real name is Kathy) had her daughter and adorable first grand-baby in tow and was proudly introducing them around.  I guess my point is Mary Kay knows who she is and is comfortable sharing that in her work and with her fans.

In this interview about her latest novel, THE FIXER UPPER,  she openly says “I am not writing for Oprah,” but instead says she is writing to give people a laugh and some good old fashioned escapism in this crazy and often stressful world.

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

Complete with a shopping guide, recipes for cleaning products and expert opinions, this is a great resource for parents and parents to be (and would make a great baby shower gift…I’m just sayin’).

The best part about the book to me was the celebrity “Parentblog” entries that gave some great insight into how different people (we sort of feel like we already know) have been able to adopt some of these practices.  Celebs in the book include Meryl Streep, Tobey Maguire, Gwyneth Paltrow, Brooke Shields, Michelle Obama and more!

I chatted with Chris by phone and I think when you listen you’ll not only get a sense of his passion for creating a healthy world for kids, but also that he is in touch with the real world and the time and economic challenges most parents face.

I hope you enjoy the interview! Click here to check out more great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

I had the opportunity to speak to Lisa on the phone recently about her latest book, why you should consider it for book club and what the genre of literary suspense actually is.  We also tackled some of the big questions in the book like “Was love really real if it didn’t last?”, and “Does someone have to know all your secrets in order to truly know you?”.

Though this was the first Lisa Unger book I had read, it will definitely not be the last.

I hope you enjoy the interview! Click here to check out more great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

Once I got my foot out of my mouth, and the startstruck look off my face, we sat down for a great interview where we talked about Mike’s activism, his childhood, his book tour road trip – and yes, just a teensy bit about M*A*S*H.

I hope you enjoy the interview! Click here to check out more great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

The way the schedule worked out at the recent Chicago Green Festival, I was able to sit in on Greg’s lecture before I interviewed him.  It’s always great when I can do that as it gives me whole new level of understanding about an author that I don’t always get by just reading their books.  Listening to Greg Palast talk, I sort of wished I could grow up to be him.  He is fearless in both where he goes and what he says.  He takes chances many of us would never dare to – and he says what he thinks whether you like it or not.

When we sat down for the interview, we talked (and laughed) not only about some of the details of the book ARMED MADHOUSE, but also about some of Greg’s current work which you can see on the Palast Investigates DVDs.

I hope you enjoy the interview! Click here to check out more great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

This is a guy who has won an Edgar, an O. Henry, and even an Emmy for his television writing and he is as unassuming and easy to talk to as you could ever imagine. In addition to his writing, Michael is also a professor at Duke University and as I interviewed him I found myself jealous of his students. This is a guy you could really learn from.

But I digress. The book is the story of Navy pilot Annie Peregrine-Goode and her quest to find her father, the identity of her mother, and most of all herself. Built on a subtle Wizard of Oz base, the story is about love, secrets, and the mysterious bonds of families.

One of the things I loved most about THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE SKY is the detail that went into creating the lives and back stories of even the smallest characters. It’s a large cast and not one character is a cardboard cut out. Quite a feat.

So, if you’d already heard of Michael Malone — you know what I’m talking about. If you hadn’t…well, you have now. Grab a copy of the book and he’ll soon be one your favorite authors.

I hope you enjoy the interview! Click here to check out more great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

Ann came to our office on the last stop of her book tour for her latest book 3 WILLOWS, which is the beginning of a new series for her.  For fans of The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants series, have no fear, you’ll see a couple of your favs making an appearance in the Willow series and rumor has it she may come back to the Pants girls again before it’s all said and done.

Of course we talked about the new book, but we also chatted about the Sisterhood movies and her intruiging next project which sounds like it will be a bit of a departure for her.

I hope you enjoy the interview!  Click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

In addition to being an author, Laura Flanders hosts GRITtv – a daily talk show which airs online as well as on satellite, cable and public tv.  The show also airs weekly on radio and focuses on both news and arts.

We talked primarly about the book BLUE GRIT which focuses on the Democratic party and Laura’s belief that the party has to stop pandering the middle and focus on it’s liberal base.  The Blue Gritters as she calls them.  The book cites examples from the 2004 and 2006 election cycles, but in the interview we talked about what differed in 2008 and how the Democrats were able to succeed.

We also talked about GRITtv a bit – and if you’re a budding documentary filmmaker – you won’t want to miss the part where she explains how to submit your video to be aired on her show.

I hope you enjoy the interview!  Click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

What’s great about Perkins’ books is they are written for real people like you and me who are not economists and who are not focused on this stuff on a daily basis.  Each region of the world is discussed not in mind-numbing detail but with just enough information to get you up to speed.  But what really makes the books are John’s real life experiences and observations.

I met John for the second time at the Seattle Green Festival and had the opportunity to sit down with him to talk about his work.

I hope you enjoy the interview!  Click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

And it has paid off.  His books are a unique combination of page turning mystery and well researched historical fiction.

As a book lover, I was especially excited to meet Matthew and chat about his latest book, THE LAST DICKENS when he was in Atlanta on tour recently.  I dug in to the book and got the details on what is fact and what is fiction, along with the acceptable nicknames for Matthew and a clue about what he is working on next.

And since Matthew is fond of sharing “extras” that weren’t in the book on his website, I’ll share a fun fact with you that’s not in the interview.  As a gift to himself when the manuscript was finished, Matthew bought and original Fields & Osgood (Osgood is the main character in the book) copy of The Mystery of Edwin Drood.  He had it with him.  Super cool.

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

But I was determined to meet her.  I had been reading Laura’s books since long before I ever had a bookstore or began working for Better World Books.  I just had to meet her – and share her work with you.

So, I jumped in my car with all of my equipment and drove across town to meet her.  Laura was gracious enough to wait for me and also allow me to interview her in her hotel room, since we couldn’t find another spot.

I loved the Tess Monaghan series (which starts with Baltimore Blues) mostly for the plot, if I remember correctly.  But the new book not only works  from a plot standpoint, but is incredibly well thought out with characters that are incredibly human, unique and believable.

Just so you know,LIFE SENTENCES is not about the death penalty or life in prison.  Instead the title works on many levels.  You’ll have read the book and come to your own conclusions there, or listen to the interview and get it straight from the author!

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

I mean, after all Jodi Picoult is not just any author she’s the kind of author whose books jump to #1 on the list the minute they come out.  Everyone knows who she is.  If you’ve ever walked into a bookstore or even past one in an airport, you’d recognize the cover of a Jodi Picoult book.  And now her most famous book MY SISTER’S KEEPER is about to come out as a major motion picture as well.

So yes, I was nervous because of her fame but it was more than that.  I had just finished HANDLE WITH CARE the night before at about midnight and I was fired up about the ending. Among other things, I was hoping I could politely ask why she chose to end her books  with the shocking and upsetting twists and turns she is famous for.

The book is about Willow, a child born with brittle bone disease and her mother Charlotte’s ensuing wrongful birth lawsuit.  As with all her books, HANDLE WITH CARE will keep you turning pages, caring about the characters and asking yourself what you would do if you found yourself in this situation.

We talked about the characters, the disease, the research that went into the book and yes, the shocking ending as well.   And of course I had to ask about the upcoming movie release of MY SISTER’S KEEPER (June 2009 – starring Cameron Diaz and Abigail Breslin).

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

Trust me.  You will.  Susan is a fresh new voice in Southern Literary Fiction and her debut novel is fantastic.  The characters are rich and while you do feel the story is complete at the end, you find yourself wanting to know what happens to these characters next.

The book is the story of three Southern women — a proper Atlanta matron, her rebellious teenage daughter, and their housekeeper’s young daughter and the intersection of their lives.  While Susan tackles some complex issues like religion and gender identity, she does it with humor. 

I sat down with Susan shortly after the launch party to talk about the three main characters, the Big Weaner, and to find out what the heck buttered Saltines are all about. 

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

Dr. Fisher is the chief scientific advisor for CHEMISTRY.COM and her personality type test has already been taken by millions!  She has been seen on 20/20, The Early Show on CBS and even The Colbert Report, so I was especially excited that she was able to take the time to sit down with me.

Once you read this book (and listen to the podcast!) you’ll never look at people (or more importantly, yourself) the same way.

Do you know what it means if your ring finger is longer than your pointer finger?  How ’bout who should pay for dinner and why?  (Scientifically speaking, of course).  Did you ever stop to think you might be living in the wrong place to meet your soul mate?   Wonder what Oprah’s personality type is?  How ’bout Barack Obama?

The answers to these questions and more are right in this podcast (which was really one of the most fun interviews I’ve done).  And of course even more answers and the quiz itself are in the book!

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

The book doesn’t choose a cause but gives you options whether you prefer fair trade, organic, all natural or buying local.  The other cool thing about the book is that Summer Rayne actually tried many of the products herself and tells you which are her favorites.

The book is more of a resource than the kind of thing you’ll want to sit down and read cover to cover.  Instead, you’ll want to keep it handy and have it as a reference to look at before you get your money out and start spending.

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

I was a bit nervous for the call, knowing that in addition to being a New York Times bestselling author, Stephen (I think we’re on a first name basis now) is also this uber famous and connected TV producer but truth be told, he couldn’t have been nicer or more gracious.

We talked about Stephen’s backround, and about the character of Shane Scully, his origins and where he may be headed next.   And though I know you don’t always think of action packed detective stories as being about some of the today’s most pressing issues, this one certainly is.

Both police corruption and immigration issues are focused on in the book and in the interview, Stephen talks about why he highlights these issues and what he wants the reader to take away.

A couple of days after the phone interview, I went to meet Stephen in person at his appearance at The Margaret Mitchell House.  In person, he was just as gracious as on the phone and he is a truly inspiring speaker.  If you ever have the opportunity, I urge you to go and hear him speak.

Oh – and if you’re into TV, Stephen appeared with James Patterson on the pilot episode of Castle on ABC!

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

Although their books feel completely different and are geared to completely different audiences, they share the same story; Nic’s terrifying cycle of drug addiction, recovery and relapse.

As a parent, I related to what David was going through.  These are smart, successful parents with smart and talented kids.  I’m sure, like most of us, they never thought it could happen to them.  Nic could have been my kid or yours.  That’s the scary part.

Reading Nic’s story takes you away from the headlines and the statistics and gives a face and a humanity to the addiction.  By turns I was angry at him, but then wanted to hug him and protect him just they way I know his father does.

I hope you will enjoy the interview and will get great meaning out of both of these incredible books.

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

In preparing to interview Dr. Taylor, I watched her 4 part special on Oprah’s Soul Series.  Oprah referred to Jill as not a stroke survivor but a “stroke triumphant” and she truly is.

As a Harvard trained brain scientist, Dr. Taylor was able to observe and later write about the actual experience of having a stroke and the ensuing recovery.  The book is her personal story along with the science behind stroke.  She also gives us some incredible insight into her mind, the medical profession and ways we can all work to quiet the non-stop chatter in our left brains.

I was able to chat with Dr. Taylor on the phone just a couple hours after the historic inauguration of Barack Obama.  It seemed a perfect time to talk to her about her book and her message of peace.

If you’re as fascinated with Dr. Taylor’s story as I am, of course you’ll want to listen to the podcast and you might also want to check out her famous TED talk.

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

In her first book Molly Fletcher teaches you how to apply the idea of being a 5 tool player to your job search.

I took my recording equipment to the offices of Career Sports and Entertainment to meet with Molly and talk about the book.  The offices were glamorous but Molly could not have been more down to earth.   Though the book is geared to job seekers just out of school I found that it really applies to all of us.  And in this crazy economy you can’t have too many tools or too many pieces of advice on not only how to find a job, but how to find your dream job.

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

I met Benyamin here at the Better World Books offices to chat about the book and the fact that his dad thinks Ben Stiller would be perfect for the part of Benyamin should there ever be a movie!

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

A couple weeks ago, I had the privilege of chatting on the phone with internationally acclaimed and award-winning activist Van Jones about his book The Green Collar Economy.  Van was both informative and funny – at one point comparing clean coal to having unicorns pull our cars.  I sincerely hope you enjoy listening to the interview as much as I enjoyed talking to him.  The Green Collar Economy has been endorsed by Nancy Pelosi, Tom Daschle and Al Gore and both Van and the book have been written up in both Time Magazine and The New York Times.

In addition to being an author, Jones is the founder and president of Green for All, a national organization dedicated to building an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty.  For more information on Green for All, go to www.greenforall.org.