All Author Q&As
- Romancing the tome: How romance writers surprised the publishing world
In “Love in the Time of Self-Publishing,” researcher Christine Larson explores the strength of Romancelandia, the community of mostly women who write romance novels.
- How to have better conversations with people across the aisle
Bob Stains has dedicated his life to helping transform conflicts, urging us to soften our “hearts of stone” and go beyond “simple stories” about others. In a Q&A, he offers tips on how to do it.
- This chef is fighting a culinary battle for Ukrainian identity
In “The Authentic Ukrainian Kitchen: Recipes from a Native Chef,” Yevhen Klopotenko celebrates the foods that separate Ukraine from Russia.
- ‘Turning off the porch lights’ to reveal nature’s hidden marvels
How often do you venture into the dark? Author Leigh Ann Henion shares her journey in ‘Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark."
- Bohemian rhapsody: Two writers celebrate Greenwich Village of the ’60s
Greenwich Village in the ’60s attracted musicians like Joan Baez. Novelist Sarah Seltzer (“The Singer Sisters”) and music journalist David Browne (“Talkin’ Greenwich Village”) chat about the Village’s enduring appeal.
- ‘Poetry is true to the human story’: An interview with Ajibola Tolase
“In life we migrate. You leave one relationship for another,” says prize-winning poet Ajibola Tolase. His debut collection, “2000 Blacks,” tackles migration and Blackness.
- For ‘The Bookshop’ author, bookstores were ‘sites of resistance’
In the 1960s and ‘70s, small bookshops provided spaces where ideas and activism could flourish. Today, while indie bookstores can be considered “endangered species,” their vitality as community gathering places is thriving.
- ‘A landless Indian’ discovers a sense of home and identity
In the memoir “Becoming Little Shell: A Landless Indian’s Journey Home,” Chris La Tray weaves together personal and tribal history.
- How France became a global basketball powerhouse
In a Q&A, author Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff explains how the basketball rivalry between France and the U.S. shaped play in both countries.
- Ann Powers was writing Joni Mitchell’s life story. She found her own.
With her new biography about Joni Mitchell, NPR music critic Ann Powers says she wanted to challenge the idea that there’s only one definitive story of a life.
- Walls haven’t stopped immigration. Is society ready to explore open borders?
Immigration policy failures led John Washington, who reports on the U.S. border, to write “The Case for Open Borders.”
- How a spirit of gentleness can lead to public service – and better politics
Public service means genuinely wanting good for others, says Michael Wear, author of “The Spirit of Our Politics.”
- Do diverse police departments use less force? She trained with cops to find out.
After a year training at police academies, sociologist Samantha J. Simon finds that it’s going to take more than diversity initiatives to change police culture.
- Doris Kearns Goodwin recalls 1960s idealism in ‘An Unfinished Love Story’
Doris Kearns Goodwin had a front-row seat to the presidency of Lyndon Johnson. Helping him write his memoirs set her on the path of becoming a presidential historian.
- Poet Natasha Trethewey delves into memory in ‘The House of Being’
Natasha Trethewey grew up in the 1960s and ’70s as a biracial child in the American South. In an interview, she talks about the gift of metaphor and about the imagery that stokes her poems.
- The case for getting and staying married, by author Brad Wilcox
Sociologist Brad Wilcox discusses his research on declining U.S. marriage rates in a Q&A about his new book, “Get Married.”
- Milton Friedman left a complex legacy, says his biographer
The conservative economist stayed true to individual choice as his standard, says biographer Jennifer Burns. He championed privatization and free markets.
- How mistrust explains all those frustrating things about US politics
U.S. politics isn’t working how it used to. The system seems brittle and unresponsive. Making a difference starts with understanding mistrust.
- What happens when achievement turns toxic – and how to fix it
College prep increases the pressure on teens to succeed. Author Jennifer Breheny Wallace offers tips for turning down the heat.
- Humans and the moon: A closer look at an evolving relationship
A science journalist offers perspective on how humans can wisely steward the new phase of lunar exploration.