The Book Report

An Hour-Long Radio Show about Books

Produced by: Windows a bookshop
Written by: Pat Grant & Elisabeth Grant-Gibson
On-Air Hosts: Pat Grant & Elisabeth Grant-Gibson
Air Time: Wednesday Mornings, 8:00-9:00
Station: KMLB 1440 AM (Talk Radio, Monroe)
Start Date: May 17, 2006

The Book Report is a one-hour books show which began broadcasting on Wednesday, May 17, 2006. It runs from 8:00-9:00 am CST each Wednesday in Monroe, Louisiana, and at various times in other markets. The show is streamed live at www.thebookreport.net. It is also podcast and archived on the website. The show features the latest Book Buzz, including new books being released and updates on the best-seller lists from independent bookstores. Author interviews, readings, poems, beginnings of great fiction and non-fiction, book technology news, upcoming author appearances and much more are featured weekly. Look for updates on The Book Report Page and www.thebookreport.net.

Upcoming Shows

Past Shows

May 7, 2008 - A FANCY PAIR - We interview the author and illustrator of the popular Fancy Nancy series of picture books--Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser.

April 30, 2008 - A CONVERSATION WITH LEIF ENGER - We interview Leif Enger, author of Peace Like a River and his latest, So Brave, Young, and Handsome. 

April 23, 2008 - SOUTHERN FLAVOR - We interview Bobby Cole, author of The Dummy Line, and Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, author of Suck Your Stomach In & Put Some Color On!

April 16, 2008 - FOR THE BIRDS - We interview two authors of non-fiction books that feature birds: Michael K. Steinberg, Stalking the Ghost Bird: The Elusive Ivory-Billed Woodpecker in Louisiana; Danny Heitman, A Summer of Birds: John James Audubon at Oakley House.   

April 9, 2008 - A CONVERSATION WITH SUSAN WITTIG ALBERT - We interview Susan Wittig Albert, author of more than 30 books, including 16 China Bayles mysteries, 4 Beatrix Potter mysteries, 12 Edwardian and Victorian mysteries with her husband Bill Albert (written under the name Robin Paige), and several books of non-fiction. 

April 2, 2008 - NOVELS FOR YOUNG READERS - We interview two award-winning authors of books for children and teens: Kimberly Willis Holt, author of Piper Reed, Navy Brat and many others, and Linda Sue Park, author of Keeping Score.

March 26, 2008 - SPRING FICTION - We interview Shirley Abbott, author of The Future of Love, and Hillary Jordan, author of Mudbound.

March 19, 2008 - TRAINING - We interview two journalists who have both written non-fiction books: Amy Sutherland, What Shamu Taught Me About Life, Love, and Marriage, and Kate Torgovnik, CHEER!

March 12, 2008 - FROM MAINE TO BANANAS - We interview Josh Wolk, author of Cabin Pressure, and Dan Koeppel, author of Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World.

March 5, 2008 - YOUNG VOICES - We interview two authors of young adult books: Meg Cabot, author of Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls, and Alan Gratz, author of Samurai Shortstop, and Something Rotten.

February 27, 2008 - MORE MEMORIES - We interview Gary Moore, author of the biography Playing with the Enemy, and Jon Provost, author of Timmy's in the Well, a memoir.

February 20, 2008 - THE CIVIL WAR - We interview two historians with books about the Civil War: Terrence Winschel, author of Triumph and Defeat, and Gary Joiner, author of Mr. Lincoln's Brown Water Navy.

February 13, 2008 - A CONVERSATION WITH GERALDINE BROOKS - We interview Geraldine Brooks, author of March, Year of Wonders, Nine Parts of Desire, and her latest, People of the Book.

February 6, 2008 - LIVING HISTORY - We interview Tim Raglin, author of The Curse of Catunkhamun, and Susan Campbell Bartoletti, author of The Boy Who Dared.

January 30, 2008 - CAROLINA FICTION - We interview two North Carolina authors: Pamela Duncan, author of The Big Beautiful, and Lynn York, author of The Sweet Life.

January 23, 2008 - LOUISIANA HAYRIDE - We interview Diane Diekmen, author of Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron Young Story, and Joey Kent, co-author of Elvis: The Louisiana Hayride Years, 1954-56.

January 16, 2008 - TIARAS & BOOKS - We interview Kathy Patrick, author of The Pulpwood Queens' Tiara-Wearing, Book-Sharing Guide to Life.

January 9, 2008 - MEMOIRS HERE AND THERE - We interview Susan Hanf, author of My Lemon Orchard, and Julia Scheeres, author of Jesus Land.

December 12, 2007 - HOLIDAY SHOW I - We'll be interviewing Edie Hand, author of The Last Christmas Ride, and Mary Kay Andrews, author of Blue Christmas.

December 5, 2007 - PLAYING WITH PAPER - We interview Robert Sabuda, author of numerous pop-up children's books including the new Winter in White: A Mini Pop-Up Treat and The Chronicles of Narnia Pop Up Book.

November 28, 2007 - ENCORE NARRATIVE HISTORY - This week we listen to an encore performance of two great interviews from January 2007. Both books are now available in paperback.

November 21, 2007 - BASKTEBALL & HOLIDAYS - We interview Baylor basketball coach, winner of the NCAA Women's Championship as both player and coach, about her new book Won't Back Down.

November 14, 2007 - A CONVERSATION WITH JENNIFER ANNE MOSES - We interview Jennifer Anne Moses author of Bagels and Grits: A Jew on the Bayou.

November 7, 2007 - YOUNG ADULT FICTION - We interview Linda Sue Park, one of the ten authors of Click, Arthur Levine, the editor of the book Click, and Christopher Paul Curtis, author of Elijah of Buxton.

October 31, 2007 - LOUISIANA FICTION - We'll be interviewing Peter Melman, author of Landsman, a historical novel set in New Orleans during the Civil War, and Ken Wells, the bestselling author of Crawfish Mountain, a novel about corruption in Louisiana.

October 24, 2007 - FALL FICTION - This week we look at some of the new fiction out this fall. Our guests are Peter Meinke, author of Unheard Music, and John Hart, author of Down River.

October 17, 2007 - A SENSE OF PLACE - We interview Betsy Carter, author of Swim to Me, and Harry Hunsicker, author of Crosshairs.

October 10, 2007 - AUTUMN POTPOURRI 2007 - We interview Ted Kerasote about his new book Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog, and Rosemary Poole-Carter with her new book Women of Magdalene.

October 3, 2007 - LIFE HAPPENS - We'll talk to Pam Munoz Ryan, author of Paint the Wind, and Jordan Sonnenblick, author of Zen and the Art of Faking It.

September 26, 2007 - LITERATURE AND POLITICS - We interview Valerie Martin about her new book Trespass, and we also talk to Elise Blackwell about her new book Grub.

September 19, 2007 - HUMAN RIGHTS IN LOUISIANA - We interview Cleo Scott Brown, author of Witness to the Truth, and Robert Sharenow, author of My Mother, the Cheerleader.

September 12, 2007 - FINDING THE WAY - We talk to two authors of non-fiction books that deal with life-changing events: Kate Braestrup, author of Here If You Need Me, and Ann Fessler, author of The Girls Who Went Away.

September 5, 2007 - SMALL TOWNS, BIG DREAMS - Jacques Couvillion, author of Chicken Dance, and Deborah Wiles, author of The Aurora County All-Stars

August 29, 2007 - FALL FOOTBALL REVIEW - We interview John Ed Bradley, author of It Never Rains in Tiger Stadium, and Neal Thompson, author of Hurricane Season: A Coach, His Team, and Their Triumph in the Time of Katrina

August 22, 2007 - GREAT BOOKS - Betsy Burton, author of The King's English: Adventures of an Independent Bookseller, joins us on the show once again this week, as well as author Deirdre McNamer, Red Rover, and we discuss all kinds of simply great books.

August 15, 2007 - CELEBRATING INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORES - Our guests will be Lewis Buzbee, author of The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop, and Betsy Burton, author of The King's English: Adventures of an Independent Bookseller.

August 8, 2007 - HURRICANE KATRINA IN FACT AND FICTION - We'll be interviewing Melody Golding, author of Katrina: Mississippi Women Remember, and James Lee Burke, author of his new book The Tin Roof Blowdown.

August 1, 2007 - A PACT WITH THE UNIVERSE - We interview Polly Horvath, author of the new book Corps of the Bare-Boned Plane, and we offer up a challenge--try doing this book with your book group. Even if it is a young adult novel, there is plenty to talk about--enough to keep you going for hours.

July 25, 2007 - COMING OF AGE IN FICTION - We talk about good crossover books for both adults and young adults, and we interview Melodie Bowsher, author of My Lost and Found Life, and Jim Lynch, author of The Highest Tide.

July 18, 2007 - MID-SUMMER MEMOIRS - We talk about the art of memoir as we interview Carolyn Jourdan, author of Heart in the Right Place.

July 11, 2007 - ART FICTION - We'll talk to Susan Vreeland, author of several novels and collections of stories, including Girl in Hyacinth Blue and her new novel Luncheon of the Boating Party, about the new genre of fiction which takes inspiration from a work of art or artist.

July 4, 2007 - SOUTHERN WOODS & WATERS - Our guests are Timothy Weeks, author of Ol' Middler Saves the Day, a children's book about Hurricane Katrina from the fish's point of view, and Watt Key, author of Alabama Moon, the story of a boy raised by his father out in the woods who must survive on his own.

June 27, 2007 - SUMMER POTPOURRI - We interview Karen Essex, author of Leonardo's Swans, a historical fiction novel set in 15th century Italy. We also interview Sandy Tolan, author of The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East, a non-fiction book that looks at the human side of the conflict in the MIddle East.

June 20, 2007 - BOOK GROUPS AND SUMMER READS - We're discussing book groups and how to find one or form one. We'll also discuss great book choices for any group, and we interview Diana Loevy, author of The Book Club Companion: A Comprehensive Guide to the Reading Group Experience.

June 13, 2007 - A SALUTE TO ALGONQUIN BOOKS OF CHAPEL HILL - We pay tribute to Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, one of the great independent publishers out there bringing quality fiction and non-fiction into the hands of readers. We also interview Robert Goolrick, author of The End of the World As We Know It, and Robert Olmstead, author of Coal Black Horse.

June 6, 2007 - MAIN STREET BOOKS - We interview Nancy Pearl, a beloved librarian and reader whose new book is Book Crush: For Kids and Teens, Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Interest, and Ann M. Martin, author of The Baby-Sitters Club series and the new Main Street series.

May 30, 2007 - FINE FICTION - Once again, we'll interview Elise Blackwell, author of Hunger and The Unnatural History of Cypress Parish which is set in Louisiana during the 1927 flood.

May 23, 2007 - BOOK GROUP BOOKS - We'll interview Susanne Pari, author of The Fortune Catcher, and Debra Dean, author of The Madonnas of Leningrad.

May 16, 2007 - JUSTICE FOR ALL - We'll talk to Nathan Englander about his new novel The Ministry of Special Cases. His first book, For the Relief of Unbearable Urges, was a collection of stories.

May 9, 2007 - WATER IN LOUISIANA - We'll interview Elise Blackwell, author of Hunger and the new novel The Unnatural History of Cypress Parish which is set in Louisiana during the 1927 Flood.

May 2, 2007 - A CONVERSATION WITH DANIEL PINKWATER - We'll spend both interview segments talking to Daniel Pinkwater, an extraordinary author of books for children and teens. He is also a regular children's book critic on Weekend Edition with Scott Simon.

April 25, 2007 - SOUTHERN WEDDINGS - Gayden Metcalfe will join us to talk about her new book Somebody's Going to Die If Lilly Beth Doesn't Catch That Bouquet: The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Wedding. Her previous book, Being Dead Is No Excuse: The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral, continues to be a best seller across the South. We also interview Tara Guerard, owner of Soiree in Charleston and author of Southern Weddings.

April 18, 2007 - CREOLE CULTURE - John Lawrence, Director of Programs at the Historic New Orleans Collection, talks about the new book Creole Houses: Traditional Homes in Old Louisiana. The photographs are by Steve Gross and Sue Daley; Lawrence wrote the text. We also speak with Peter Patout; his New Orleans cottage is featured in the book.

April 11, 2007 - A CONVERSATION WITH MAXINE KUMIN - We interview Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Maxine Kumin, author of Jack and Other New Poems plus many more.

April 4, 2007 - CELEBRATING CHILDREN'S POETRY - We have a wonderful show for the first week of National Poetry Month. We interview Joyce Sidman, author of 8 books of poetry for children, and Jack Prelutsky, the Children's Poet Laureate of the United States and author and editor of dozens of books.

March 21, 2007 - SOUTHERN COOKING - You'll be starving after you hear our interviews with Donald Barickman, owner of three restaurants in Charleston-- Magnolias, Blossom Cafe, and Cypress Low Country Grille--and author of the cookbook Magnolias, and Matt Lee and Ted Lee, authors of The Lee Bros. Cookbook and owners of the awesome website www.boiledpeanuts.com.

February 28, 2007 - WOMEN'S HISTORY - We interview historians Laurie Stoff (They Fought for the Motherland: Russia's Women Soldiers in World War I and the Revolution) and Nikki Brown (Private Politics and Public Voices: Black Women's Activism from World War I to the New Deal). Stoff is Assistant Professor of History at Louisiana Tech; Brown is Chair of the History Department at Grambling State University.

February 21, 2007 - SOUTHERN MYSTERIES - We interview mystery writers Barbara Colley, Scrub-a-Dub-Dead, and Harry Hunsicker, The Next Time You Die.

February 7, 2007 - REALITY AND FANTASY - We interview Newbery winner Susan Patron, author of The Higher of Lucky, and Matthew Hoeye, author of the Hermux Tantamoq series.

January 31, 2007 - LOUISIANA GHOSTS - Our guests are Deborah LeBlanc, author of A House Divided, and Will Clarke, author of The Worthy.

January 24, 2007 - SWEET AND SWEETER - Our first guest is David Magee, author of Moon Pie: Biography of an Out-of-This-World Snack and the forthcoming The South Is Round. Our second guest is Her Royal Highness Jill Conner Browne, THE Sweet Potato Queen. She'll be with us to discuss her new book, The Sweet Potato Queens' First Big-Ass Novel: Stuff We Didn't Actually Do, But Could Have, and May Yet. Be ready for anything on this one.

January 17, 2007 - STRANGER THAN FICTION - Non-fiction writers extraordinaire Erik Larson & Nathaniel Philbrick are our guests. Larson's book Isaac's Storm tells the story of the devastating Galveston flood of 1900. He followed that with The Devil in the White City, about a serial killer at the Chicago World's Fair. His new book is Thunderstruck, the interwoven story of a mysterious murderer and the rise of technology in America. Philbrick won the National Book Award for Non-Fiction in 2000 for In the Heart of the Sea. His new book is Mayflower.

January 10, 2007 - THE STRUGGLE - We'll talk to Frank S Joseph about his book To Love Mercy, a novel set during the 50s in Chicago. It's the story of a black kid and a Jewish kid who, despite their parents' fears and mistrust of each other, manage to create a kind of friendship. We'll also remember Tillie Olson, writer, activist, champion of literacy, who is perhaps best known for her powerful short story "I Stand Here Ironing."

January 3, 2007 - MARDI GRAS BEGINS - We interview Kathy Z Price, author of The Bourbon Street Musicians, a wonderful jazz re-telling of the old German folktale The Bremen Town Musicians, and Chuck Galey, illustrator of Jazz Cats, as well as SantaSaurus and Rock 'n' Roll Dogs.

For info contact Pat or Elisabeth at (318) 547-4964.