Top Shelf at the Merrick Library

What happened to George Washington after the Revolution? Find out in Nathaniel Philbrick’s latest bestselling book, Travels with George: In Search of George Washington and His Legacy. Among other things, we talk about George Washington’s trip through Long Island, Philbrick’s love for libraries, and his excellent traveling companions. An absolutely delightful interview… thank you Nathaniel! … Continue reading Episode 71: Interview with Nathaniel Philbrick →

In this luminous historical fiction narrative inspired by the fascinating real case of the Blue People of Kentucky, Isla Morley probes questions of identity, love, and family in her breathtaking new novel. In 1937, there are recesses in Appalachia no outsiders have ever explored. Two government-sponsored documentarians from Ohio, a writer and photographer are dispatched … Continue reading Episode 70: Interview with Isla Morley →

Just after being selected as the August Read with Jenna pick for her latest book, The Turnout, I was thrilled to host Megan Abbott! Abbott was waving to us from Queens when we spoke… Taut and unnerving, The Turnout is Megan Abbott at the height of her game. With uncanny insight and hypnotic writing, it … Continue reading Episode 69: Interview with Megan Abbott →

“Claire Luchette is so wildly talented that I would follow them anywhere. Here, it’s to Woonsocket along with four women who are searching for meaning and a sense of belonging from each other and the world beyond. The result is a novel that’s blazingly original, wry, and perfectly attuned to the oddness―and the profundity―of life.” … Continue reading Episode 67: Interview with Claire Luchette →

Author Julia Claiborne Johnson, the bestselling author of Better Luck Next Time, and our guest on Top Shelf E56, says this about A STAR IS BORED by Byron Lane: “I didn’t go into this expecting a love story, but the one here between a Hollywood assistant and his famous, hilarious and deeply lonely boss came … Continue reading Episode 66: Interview with Byron Lane →

Welcome back to our E35 guest, Matthew Norman. Matthew Norman was here previously to talk about his third book, Last Couple Standing. For this episode, we talk about his latest publication, All Together Now. Please feel free to sing right along with that title! All Together Now is about a reclusive billionaire who invites his … Continue reading Episode 65: Interview with Matthew Norman, 2021 Edition! →

What is “normal”? Who defines “normal”? Laurie Frankel asks these questions in all of her books, most notably for One Two Three, a book that had me absolutely riveted. We sat down to talk about the book, how humans define “normal” and so much more. I love the voices of these triplet sisters trying to … Continue reading Episode 64: Interview with Laurie Frankel for ONE TWO THREE →

You all remember when James Wade joined us for E42 to discuss his debut novel, All Things Left Wild. Well, James Wade is BACK! He’s back on Top Shelf and he’s back to talk about his new book, River Sing Out. River Sing Out is an East Texas thriller that finds young Jonah Hargrave navigating … Continue reading Episode 63: Interview with James Wade 2021 Edition: RIVER, SING OUT →

Get your beach towels and picnic blankets ready because Steven Rowley has given us a perfect summer read. I am over the moon to have had the chance to sit down with him for his third book, The Guncle! Rowley tackles modern-day family issues with love and humor and this book is not to be … Continue reading Episode 62: Interview with Steven Rowley →

“In moving here, I thought I could become someone more wholesome, more grounded. Someone I could admire…as it turns out, you can’t outrun who you are.” ~ Sophie O’Neill, The Hunting Wives “Margot is totally fiction, but she could be real…” ~ May Cobb Yikes! Folks, pour yourself a martini, hold onto your hats and … Continue reading Episode 61: Interview with May Cobb! →

Katherine A. Sherbrooke sat down with me for our 60th episode to talk about, Leaving Coy’s Hill, an unforgettable story about the triumphs and travails of a woman unwilling to play by the rules, based on the the remarkable life of pioneering feminist and abolitionist Lucy Stone. Lucy Stone was news to me until the … Continue reading Episode 60: Interview with Katherine A. Sherbrooke →

A “terrific, harrowing, true-crime account of an elusive serial killer who preyed upon gay men in the 1990s.” ~ New York Times (Editor’s Pick) It was great to sit down with author, Elon Green to talk about about his true-crime bestseller, Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York … Continue reading Episode 59: Interview with Elon Green →

Talk about thrillers! Flynn Berry’s debut, Under the Harrow, won the 2017 Edgar award for best first novel. That book and Berry’s follow up, A Double Life, were both NYT Editors’ Choices. Berry’s latest, Northern Spy, takes readers to Northern Island on a journey you won’t soon forget. It’s a heart-pounding story of the contemporary … Continue reading Episode 58: Interview with Flynn Berry →

Oh my gosh, Jess Montgomery can come back any old time she wants. We talked about the third book in her Kinship series, The Stills. Here is the series in order: The Widows, The Hallows, The Stills, but the beauty of these books is that you don’t have to read them in order. Family, friendship, … Continue reading Episode 57: Interview with Jess Montgomery for The Stills →

Hold on to your hat folks, this fabulous and wonderful interview with Julia Claiborne Johnson is not to be missed! Gosh, we talked about the real-life inspiration for Better Luck Next time, the writing process, her debut, Be Frank With Me, friends, family, and more. We really had a blast speaking with each other and … Continue reading Episode 56: Interview with Julia Clairbone Johnson →

What a pleasure to sit down with best-selling author Chris Whitaker to discuss the book that is taking the reading world by storm, We Begin at the End. Chris Whitaker’s debut novel, Tall Oaks, a striking blend of tragedy and offbeat humor, was awarded the U.K. Crime Writers’ Association New Blood Dagger Award in 2017. He … Continue reading Episode 55: Interview with Chris Whitaker →

“Feminist and thrilling, this novel centers around a precocious, brilliant character named June. I happily followed June into deep space, but I would have followed her anywhere. What a wonderful story—I highly recommend this novel.” —Ann Napolitano, bestselling author of Dear Edward Do I have your attention with that review for the fabulous In the … Continue reading Episode 54: Interview with author Kate Hope Day →

“How had I only just learned that happiness and fulfillment were entirely distinct things?” ~The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner That’s only one of the many gems in this fascinating debut by Sarah Penner, and I simply cannot thank her enough for joining me. I was transported to 18th century England to a time where … Continue reading Episode 53 : Interview with author Sarah Penner →

“Reading a novel is an act of empathy because you are choosing to give over your world view to somebody else’s world view.” ~ Julie Carrick Dalton What an incredible conversation with the equally incredible Julie Carrick Dalton. We could have spoken for hours about so many different things, but most important? Her terrific debut, … Continue reading Episode 52: Interview with author Julie Carrick Dalton →

“But at some point, we’re all extra hungry, aren’t we, if not necessarily for grub.” ~ Tiller Bardmon Yes, this is just one of the many gems in Chang-rae Lee’s latest, MY YEAR ABROAD. I cannot thank him enough for getting up so early to talk with me about this incredible new book, and the … Continue reading Episode 51: Interview with author Chang-rae Lee →