Meg Mitchell Moore has been one of my favorite authors since I happened upon her book, The Admissions, in a bookstore while on vacation. She writes beautifully and zeros in on her characters’ full range of emotions. The Admissions focused on one family’s desperate attempts to ensure their daughter’s acceptance to an Ivy League school, and the secrets their efforts …
Interview with Kelly Harms
Kelly Harms is the author of witty, captivating women’s fiction, including the recently released The Bright Side of Going Dark. Kelly grew up in Iowa and studied biology and violin performance at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota. After stints selling shoes and interning at the Utne Reader, she headed to New York. There, she rooted for the Mets, sang in …
Interview with author Allen Eskens
Recently, I had the pleasure of talking with Allen, a Minnesota-based author of six books that have been translated into 26 languages. The New York Times Book Review called his most recent novel, Nothing More Dangerous, “A stunning small-town mystery.” Eskens is also the recipient of numerous writing awards, including the Minnesota Book Award and the Rosebud Award from Left …
Interview with Alison Hammer, author of You and Me and Us
Alison Hammer’s debut novel, You and Me and Us, is a beautifully written and ultimately hopeful look at how people and relationships can change and grow, even in the grip of tragedy. Hammer writes with compassion and nuance, showing the myriad emotions—love and courage, as well as fear, anger, and hurt–with which Alexis, Tommy and their daughter CeCe grapple in …
Interview with Kathleen West, author of Minor Dramas & Other Catastrophes
Kathleen West’s debut novel, Minor Dramas & Other Catastrophes, was chosen as a best book by Real Simple, Newsweek, People Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, and the New York Post. I ate it up in about two days, and then didn’t want the story to end. West, a former teacher in Minneapolis, deftly shows how helicopter parenting, social media, and a win-at-all-costs …
Interview with Camille Noe Pagan, author of This Won’t End Well
I’ve known Camille for several years, and have read–and loved–all her novels. It was so fun to talk with her about her latest work, as well as her writing life. Have you always wanted to be a writer? Yes—from the moment I realized the books I was reading had been written by a person! It’s been my lifelong dream, though …
Review of “This Won’t End Well”
Author Camille Noe Pagan From the first page, I fell in love with Annie, the main character in This Won’t End Well, and rooted for her success and happiness. Neither are assured: her fiance took off for France without her. She’s not only been fired from her job, but due to a nasty non-compete, can’t even work in her chosen …
Book Review of “Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup
I’d read this about a year ago, and re-read now, as it was my choice for book club. I was just as engaged in the story as I was a year ago. The story follows the tumultuous rise and fall of Theranos and its founder, Elizabeth Holmes. Theranos promised to upend the traditional way of testing blood, by developing a …
Talking with Judi Ketteler, author of Would I Lie to You?
Can you comment on the primary catalysts behind your book and your decision to take a deep dive into the subject of honesty? I wrote Would I Lie to You? The Amazing Power of Being Honest in a World That Lies because I was starting to feel powerless in a world of lies. At the same time, I was having …