Bookreporter Talks To

Clare Leslie Hall: https://youtu.be/j0j3_ScryJg

Paula Hawkins: https://youtu.be/nxakmJRaKaY

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Jane Harper: Last One Out Apr 23, 2026

Show notes

Jane Harper joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her sixth novel, LAST ONE OUT, which is set in Carralon Ridge, a dying rural Australian mining town that has become a shadow of its former self due to an industrial mining operation. It follows Ro Crowley as she returns annually to investigate her son Sam's disappearance on the eve of his 21st birthday five years earlier.

This is Harper's first book with a female main character after five previous novels featuring male protagonists. She explains why Ro was the perfect character to tell this story. She also talks about the three houses near where Sam disappeared, which are almost characters themselves.

Harper took a three-year break between books to avoid burnout and spend time with her young children. She returned refreshed to write this novel.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Devi S. Laskar: https://youtu.be/FR-6fGxBUS4

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/5I4q_OFCiTg

Patricia Finn: https://youtu.be/QhZagqICgU4

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/ED0LOkAarVE

Wendy Walker: https://youtu.be/y-2G5AC9heU

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/Yb_ig0leaQA

Paula McLain: https://youtu.be/vKwg0G18sCA

Belle Burden: https://youtu.be/kmlJvv037Yg

Rebecca Armitage: https://youtu.be/xVTebMX3Bg0

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Patrick Ryan: https://youtu.be/keazeWK1lto

Clare Leslie Hall: https://youtu.be/j0j3_ScryJg

Paula Hawkins: https://youtu.be/nxakmJRaKaY

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Devi S. Laskar: Midnight, At The War Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

Devi S. Laskar joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her third novel, MIDNIGHT, AT THE WAR, which is primarily set in the years after 9/11. The protagonist, Rita Das, is a journalist inspired by Christiane Amanpour and Sylvia Poggioli, who planted themselves in conflict zones for their reporting. The book explores both personal and professional challenges faced by Rita, who is running from conflicts in her own life into parts of the world where she finds herself in unknown political circumstances as she works. She has complicated relationships, including a rocky marriage, a lover, a sick mother, and difficulties with her father.

The unnamed location where Rita is stationed allows readers to focus on universal themes rather than specific geopolitical details. It provides a look at a time when journalism was much more fact-based than it is now, where the most important thing seems to be "being first" instead of "being right."

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/5I4q_OFCiTg

Patricia Finn: https://youtu.be/QhZagqICgU4

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/ED0LOkAarVE

Wendy Walker: https://youtu.be/y-2G5AC9heU

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/Yb_ig0leaQA

Paula McLain: https://youtu.be/vKwg0G18sCA

Belle Burden: https://youtu.be/kmlJvv037Yg

Rebecca Armitage: https://youtu.be/xVTebMX3Bg0

Vicky Nguyen: https://youtu.be/ssPMpaokVp8

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Patrick Ryan: https://youtu.be/keazeWK1lto

Clare Leslie Hall: https://youtu.be/j0j3_ScryJg

Paula Hawkins: https://youtu.be/nxakmJRaKaY

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Allison Pataki: It Girl Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

Allison Pataki joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her latest novel, IT GIRL, which is a USA Today bestseller and a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Allison shares that her inspiration for the book was Evelyn Nesbit, one of the Gibson Girls of the early 20th century, who became America's first self-made female celebrity and "It Girl," rising from poverty in Pittsburgh to Broadway stardom.

The story takes place during a transformative period following the Gilded Age with new technology like electricity, automobiles and cameras, and the birth of Broadway as the "Great White Way." It examines the exploitation of young women in early celebrity culture while exploring themes of survival, agency and female empowerment. Allison and Carol also talk about their mutual love of audiobooks. Carol listened to IT GIRL and appreciated Barrie Kreinik's narration.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Patricia Finn: https://youtu.be/QhZagqICgU4

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/ED0LOkAarVE

Wendy Walker: https://youtu.be/y-2G5AC9heU

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/Yb_ig0leaQA

Paula McLain: https://youtu.be/vKwg0G18sCA

Belle Burden: https://youtu.be/kmlJvv037Yg

Rebecca Armitage: https://youtu.be/xVTebMX3Bg0

Vicky Nguyen: https://youtu.be/ssPMpaokVp8

Brisa Carleton: https://youtu.be/aE2cCH4oMsk

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Patrick Ryan: https://youtu.be/keazeWK1lto

Clare Leslie Hall: https://youtu.be/j0j3_ScryJg

Paula Hawkins: https://youtu.be/nxakmJRaKaY

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

"Bookaccino Live" Book Group: Patrick Ryan Mar 27, 2026

Show notes

Patrick Ryan joined us for March's "Bookaccino Live" Book Group. We had a brilliant conversation about his debut novel, BUCKEYE, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Readers from across the country shared their questions about the plot, the characters, the cover, the audiobook --- and so much more.

Patrick noted that the book took six years to write and two years to edit. He discussed his inspiration for it, which included trips to see family in Ohio on summer vacations from his home in Florida. He also talked about the map he constructed of the town of Bonhomie to ensure that he had scenes set in the right places.

This interview has lots of information for those who are scheduling book group discussions.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Patricia Finn: https://youtu.be/QhZagqICgU4

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/ED0LOkAarVE

Wendy Walker: https://youtu.be/y-2G5AC9heU

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/Yb_ig0leaQA

Paula McLain: https://youtu.be/vKwg0G18sCA

Belle Burden: https://youtu.be/kmlJvv037Yg

Rebecca Armitage: https://youtu.be/xVTebMX3Bg0

Vicky Nguyen: https://youtu.be/ssPMpaokVp8

Brisa Carleton: https://youtu.be/aE2cCH4oMsk

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Clare Leslie Hall: https://youtu.be/j0j3_ScryJg

Paula Hawkins: https://youtu.be/nxakmJRaKaY

J. Courtney Sullivan: https://youtu.be/fE8XHj-vV40

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Patricia Finn: The Golden Boy Mar 12, 2026

Show notes

Patricia Finn joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her novel, THE GOLDEN BOY, a complex, non-linear narrative about marriage, friendship and redemption that spans multiple timelines. The book explores themes of memory, identity, exile and atonement through the lives of Stafford and Agnes, a wealthy couple who are living on Maui when readers first meet them. The novel's structure consists of three parts: marriage (a 24-hour period on Maui), friendship (non-linear memories) and found family.

This is Patricia's first novel at the age of 71, and she talks about how her background — which includes television writing, ghostwriting, corporate communications and crisis management — informs her literary approach. She notes that she used the real-life trial of Steven Truscott from 1959 to explore themes of justice and moral choices.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/ED0LOkAarVE

Wendy Walker: https://youtu.be/y-2G5AC9heU

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/Yb_ig0leaQA

Paula McLain: https://youtu.be/vKwg0G18sCA

Belle Burden: https://youtu.be/kmlJvv037Yg

Rebecca Armitage: https://youtu.be/xVTebMX3Bg0

Vicky Nguyen: https://youtu.be/ssPMpaokVp8

Brisa Carleton: https://youtu.be/aE2cCH4oMsk

Alex DeMille: https://youtu.be/EstkI7Caul8

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Clare Leslie Hall: https://youtu.be/j0j3_ScryJg

Paula Hawkins: https://youtu.be/nxakmJRaKaY

J. Courtney Sullivan: https://youtu.be/fE8XHj-vV40

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

"Bookaccino Live" Book Group: Lily King Feb 27, 2026

Show notes

Lily King joined us for February's "Bookaccino Live" Book Group to discuss her most recent novel, HEART THE LOVER, which is an instant New York Times bestseller and a Bookreporter Bets On selection.

Eight readers joined us on camera to ask Lily questions about the plot and its various twists (spoilers ARE included), as well as character development, her writing process, the book's title and cover, and much more. Other members of the audience, who submitted their questions via Zoom's Q&A feature, were curious to know about Lily's involvement with the production of the audiobook (which is narrated by Rebecca Lowman) and what she's most proud of about HEART THE LOVER.

Lily is currently on vacation, so we really appreciate her taking the time to join us. Carol and Tom loved the lively conversation and the enthusiasm that our readers continue to show for this book.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/ED0LOkAarVE

Wendy Walker: https://youtu.be/y-2G5AC9heU

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/Yb_ig0leaQA

Paula McLain: https://youtu.be/vKwg0G18sCA

Belle Burden: https://youtu.be/kmlJvv037Yg

Rebecca Armitage: https://youtu.be/xVTebMX3Bg0

Vicky Nguyen: https://youtu.be/ssPMpaokVp8

Brisa Carleton: https://youtu.be/aE2cCH4oMsk

Alex DeMille: https://youtu.be/EstkI7Caul8

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Clare Leslie Hall: https://youtu.be/j0j3_ScryJg

Paula Hawkins: https://youtu.be/nxakmJRaKaY

J. Courtney Sullivan: https://youtu.be/fE8XHj-vV40

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/hv68HE3tjLU

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Sadeqa Johnson: Keeper of Lost Children Feb 20, 2026

Show notes

Sadeqa Johnson joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her latest novel, KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN. Like her earlier two works of historical fiction, it is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Sadeqa shares that she found a piece about the Brown Babies when she was doing research for THE HOUSE OF EVE. The story was calling to her, but she put it aside to finish that book.

She learned more about the Brown Babies and Mabel Grammer, the inspiration for her character Ethel Gathers, in both Ebony and Jet magazines. Bringing these children from Germany to the United States brought lots of press; there is even a documentary called Brown Babies: The Mischlingskinder Story.

Sadeqa talks about crafting the three different characters the way that she did and the challenge of parsing their stories together. She also expresses her love of the audiobook, which features three voice actors --- Ariel Blake, Karen Chilton and Adam Lazarre-White --- the latter of whom she came to admire when he narrated S. A. Cosby's work.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Wendy Walker: https://youtu.be/y-2G5AC9heU

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/Yb_ig0leaQA

Paula McLain: https://youtu.be/vKwg0G18sCA

Belle Burden: https://youtu.be/kmlJvv037Yg

Rebecca Armitage: https://youtu.be/xVTebMX3Bg0

Vicky Nguyen: https://youtu.be/ssPMpaokVp8

Brisa Carleton: https://youtu.be/aE2cCH4oMsk

Alex DeMille: https://youtu.be/EstkI7Caul8

Lily King: https://youtu.be/ir_IaUnaru4

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Clare Leslie Hall: https://youtu.be/j0j3_ScryJg

Paula Hawkins: https://youtu.be/nxakmJRaKaY

J. Courtney Sullivan: https://youtu.be/fE8XHj-vV40

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/hv68HE3tjLU

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Wendy Walker: Blade Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

Wendy Walker joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her new thriller, BLADE, a Bookreporter Bets On selection that is set in the world of competitive figure skating. The novel, which draws from Wendy's personal experience as a competitive figure skater (she trained in Colorado from ages 13 to 16), features alternating timelines that follow attorney Ana Robbins, who returns to her former skating facility to defend a young skater accused of murder.

Wendy talks about the book's themes of isolation, the pressure on young athletes, and the psychological impact of competitive sports. The dual-timeline structure allows readers to see connections between past and present events. And with the Winter Olympics airing, she touches on the importance of nailing the triple axel.

Wendy has expanded her career to include producing audio originals. She shares how creating audio content differs from writing novels, including being able to rewrite lines during recording sessions, and various writing techniques, such as minimizing dialogue tags.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/Yb_ig0leaQA

Paula McLain: https://youtu.be/vKwg0G18sCA

Belle Burden: https://youtu.be/kmlJvv037Yg

Rebecca Armitage: https://youtu.be/xVTebMX3Bg0

Vicky Nguyen: https://youtu.be/ssPMpaokVp8

Brisa Carleton: https://youtu.be/aE2cCH4oMsk

Alex DeMille: https://youtu.be/EstkI7Caul8

Lily King: https://youtu.be/ir_IaUnaru4

Virginia Evans: https://youtu.be/6FtYT5KRW2Q

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Clare Leslie Hall: https://youtu.be/j0j3_ScryJg

Paula Hawkins: https://youtu.be/nxakmJRaKaY

J. Courtney Sullivan: https://youtu.be/fE8XHj-vV40

Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/hv68HE3tjLU

Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Ashley Elston: Anatomy of an Alibi Feb 06, 2026

Show notes

Ashley Elston joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her New York Times bestseller, ANATOMY OF AN ALIBI, which also is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Ashley reveals that she rewrote the book three times, changing structure, timeline and point of view. She shares the character she began with, and how the others evolved, as well as what stayed the same from the very start.

Ashley was thinking about the Murdaugh family murders and how technology can help with an alibi as much as it can hurt it. She confirms that she is under contract for a new book and updates us on what is happening with the film/TV development deal for her 2024 novel, FIRST LIE WINS.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Paula McLain: https://youtu.be/vKwg0G18sCA

Belle Burden: https://youtu.be/kmlJvv037Yg

Rebecca Armitage: https://youtu.be/xVTebMX3Bg0

Vicky Nguyen: https://youtu.be/ssPMpaokVp8

Brisa Carleton: https://youtu.be/aE2cCH4oMsk

Alex DeMille: https://youtu.be/EstkI7Caul8

Lily King: https://youtu.be/ir_IaUnaru4

Virginia Evans: https://youtu.be/6FtYT5KRW2Q

Hank Phillippi Ryan: https://youtu.be/7O3gIC1IJN4

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events: