Libsyn Directory

Clare Leslie Hall: Broken Country

Release Date: 03/13/2025

Bookreporter Talks To

Kaira Rouda talks to Carol Fitzgerald about her latest thriller, JILL IS NOT HAPPY. Note: Kaira IS very happily married to her husband, Harley, which is something you need to know as you read this book. Kaira did get the idea for the novel when she and Harley went to Utah during the pandemic. She saw that the landscape there could lend itself to a number of terrifying moments as her characters, Jill and Jack, head off on a weekend road trip together. Jill wants time with her husband. Jack does not want to go but does so begrudgingly. Once they return home, he will leave Jill; to him, their...

Jeanine Cummins: Speak to Me of Home

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Jeanine Cummins joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her new novel, SPEAK TO ME OF HOME, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. She shares her inspiration for the book and talks about the significance of home. What does it mean to different people and to different generations? Jeanine and Carol point out that we go through life either as passengers or as those who “control the wheel of the bus.” There is a family tree in the front of the book, which is helpful in following the story — and Jeanine shows its beautiful design. Our Latest “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews: Julie Clark:...

Julie Clark: The Ghostwriter

Bookreporter Talks To

Julie Clark joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her latest thriller, THE GHOSTWRITER, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Julie shares how she approached writing this book, including how a ghostwriter tackles a subject and handles the storytelling. She also talks about her process, which includes early mornings of writing, and why she will never be a book-a-year author. Julie’s character had some unexpected challenges that derailed her career, and she explains how these obstacles upped the stakes for her. Our Latest “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews: Lori Foster: Chris Pavone: ...

Lori Foster: The Guest Cottage

Bookreporter Talks To

Lori Foster joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her latest novel, THE GUEST COTTAGE, which kicks off her Firefly Summer series. She explains how she developed the book, including the first idea that came to her, and where she sees the series headed. Fittingly, they talk about their mutual fascination with fireflies. Lori also shares information about her very successful “Reader & Author Get Together” event, and how it has grown and changed through the years. Our Latest “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews: Chris Pavone: Janet Skeslien Charles: Victoria...

Chris Pavone: The Doorman

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Chris Pavone joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss his latest thriller, THE DOORMAN, a Bookreporter Bets On selection that is being called a modern-day BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES, which is spot-on. Chris talks about the book’s setting, the Bohemia, which drew inspiration from the building where he now lives. He had long conversations with Johnny, one of the building’s doormen, and shares what their friendship brought to the story. The novel takes place over just a day, looking at the doorman and a couple of the building’s personnel, as well as the occupants of two apartments in the Bohemia....

Bookaccino Live Book Group: Beatriz Williams

Bookreporter Talks To

Beatriz Williams joined us for May’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group to discuss HUSBANDS & LOVERS, a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection that is now available in paperback. She shares her inspiration for the novel, as well as her research. Spoilers are included here as we assume that everyone has read the book. Beatriz also previews her next novel, UNDER THE STARS, which releases on July 29th (readers may recognize the setting and some of the characters), and she teases the manuscript that she is finishing for her 2026 book. And yes, she talks about her writing relationship with Karen...

Janet Skeslien Charles: The Parisian Chapter

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Janet Skeslien Charles joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss THE PARISIAN CHAPTER, an audio original novel with a multi-cast recording. Pauline Chalamet and 10 other voice actors perform. Janet talks about the structure of the story, which provides listeners with a wonderful audio experience, and how she wrote to have the script work for an audiobook. She also praises the narrators who introduce each character, making this a brilliant gateway audio for those who have never listened in the past. Our Latest “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews: Nita Prose: Katy Hays: Georgia Hunter: ...

Victoria Christopher Murray: Harlem Rhapsody

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Victoria Christopher Murray joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about HARLEM RHAPSODY, which is her first solo historical novel (she has written New York Times bestsellers with her co-author, Marie Benedict). She explains why she chose to write about the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and shares her extensive research, which included reading issues of The Crisis, the official magazine of the NAACP, and her wonderful finds of letters and other works that helped to bring this story together. Victoria speaks of admiring Jessie Redmon Fauset and her education and career success, as well as...

Bookaccino Live Book Group: Marjan Kamali

Bookreporter Talks To

Marjan Kamali joined us for April’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group to discuss THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN. This national bestseller and a 2024 Bookreporter Bets On selection is a heartfelt novel of friendship, betrayal and redemption set against three transformative decades in Tehran, Iran. Marjan talks about her inspiration for the book, which came from a childhood friendship. She also explains how she developed the storyline and fleshed it out from there. And in addition to sharing her writing process, Marjan fills us in on what she is working on now. Our Latest “Bookreporter Talks To”...

Nita Prose: The Maid's Secret

Bookreporter Talks To

Nita Prose joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about THE MAID’S SECRET, her last book featuring Molly the Maid. She shares that she did not set out to write a series, but once the first book was finished, it was clear that there was more to Molly’s story. Nita enjoyed developing a voice for Gran in this novel; in the prior installments, everything about Gran came to readers from Molly. She muses about “the egg,” which was referenced throughout the series as the nest egg, and how that had real implications in this final book. And yes, Nita reveals what’s next for her. Our Latest...

More Episodes

Clare Leslie Hall joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller, BROKEN COUNTRY, which is both a Reese’s Book Club selection and a Barnes & Noble Book Club pick, as well as a Bookreporter Bets On title.

Clare explains the early inspiration for the novel and shares that she worked on it for four years, coming back to it again and again. She discusses the layers of the story while being careful not to reveal any spoilers. The setting is such a big part of the book, as well as the characters, and she notes that the farms near her home played a role in the storytelling.

Right before this interview, Clare learned that BROKEN COUNTRY had hit the Sunday Times list (the New York Times news would come the next day), and she clearly was glowing from that!

Our Latest “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews:

Charmaine Wilkerson: https://youtu.be/jxlrtbxCAsE

Marie Benedict: https://youtu.be/-GF-3ZU4a1M

Joseph Finder: https://youtu.be/HIUUcBQeRWE

Scott Turow: https://youtu.be/tkbQ7yUU8GE

Michelle Horton: https://youtu.be/gQOWAirkZjE

Tracey Lange: https://youtu.be/HCrR8j5CqT0

Lisa Genova: https://youtu.be/Bqo8ZBE52PU

Our Latest “Bookaccino Live” Book Group Events:

Lisa Wingate: https://youtu.be/X4RKP3mT4Rc

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/nQgw214dyjs

Ariel Lawhon: https://youtu.be/rowGE3T2rfE