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Author Interviews NPR interviews with top authors and the NPR Book Tour, a weekly feature and podcast where leading authors read and discuss their writing. Subscribe to the RSS feed.

Author Interviews

'Eat Joy': Top Authors Serve Up Recipes That Gave Them Comfort In Dark Times

In a new book of essays, literary luminaries share stories of surviving dark times and the foods tied to those memories. Think of it as a cathartic dinner party. Meryl Rowin hide caption

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Meryl Rowin

The Salt

'Eat Joy': Top Authors Serve Up Recipes That Gave Them Comfort In Dark Times

In a new book of essays, writers such as Claire Messud and Edwidge Danticat share stories of surviving dark times and the foods entwined with those memories. Think of it as a cathartic dinner party.

Racial Unrest Of Early '90s Los Angeles Resurfaces In 'Your House Will Pay'
Patrick Jarenwattananon/NPR

Racial Unrest Of Early '90s Los Angeles Resurfaces In 'Your House Will Pay'

Steph Cha's new novel takes place in the present day, but she connects her story of Korean American and black communities in LA to the riots and injustices of nearly three decades ago.

Racial Unrest Of Early '90s Los Angeles Resurfaces In 'Your House Will Pay'

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The Satire Continues With 'The Hard Times: The First 40 Years'

Bill Conway (left) and Matt Saincome (right) collected their favorite articles from their satirical website The Hard Times for a new book. Stefan Vleming/Courtesy of the authors hide caption

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Stefan Vleming/Courtesy of the authors

The Satire Continues With 'The Hard Times: The First 40 Years'

NPR's Rachel Martin talks to Matt Saincome and Bill Conway, co-founders of the satirical punk rock news website The Hard Times, about their new book.

The Satire Continues With 'The Hard Times: The First 40 Years'

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Movies

Monster-Maker Rick Baker On 'Metamorphosis'

Monster-maker Rick Baker has won seven Academy Awards for his work in films like An American Werewolf in London and Men in Black. Metamorphosis is a new two-volume book that chronicles his work.

Monster-Maker Rick Baker On 'Metamorphosis'

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For Author Kevin Wilson, Writing Offers A Brief Reprieve From Tourette's

Kevin Wilson's previous books include The Family Fang, Perfect Little World and Baby, You're Gonna Be Mine. Leigh Anne Couch/Ecco hide caption

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Leigh Anne Couch/Ecco

Shots - Health News

For Author Kevin Wilson, Writing Offers A Brief Reprieve From Tourette's

Fresh Air

For Wilson, Tourette's syndrome means living with intrusive thoughts that flash disturbing images without warning. His novel, Nothing to See Here, was inspired by visions of spontaneous combustion.

For Author Kevin Wilson, Writing Offers A Brief Reprieve From Tourette's

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Ordinary Girls

In New Memoir 'Ordinary Girls,' Jaquira Díaz Searches For Home

Jaquira Díaz grew up in a public housing project in Puerto Rico; her father was a drug dealer and her mother was diagnosed as schizophrenic. As a child, she says, "I thought everyone lived like this."

In New Memoir 'Ordinary Girls,' Jaquira Díaz Searches For Home

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Author Elizabeth Chiles Shelburne Discusses Her Novel 'Holding On To Nothing'

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with debut novelist Elizabeth Chiles Shelburne about her new book, Holding on to Nothing.

Author Elizabeth Chiles Shelburne Discusses Her Novel 'Holding On To Nothing'

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Prince Wanted To 'Break The Mold Of The Memoir,' Says His Co-Writer

Prince performs during the 2007 Super Bowl halftime show in Miami, Fla. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images hide caption

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Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Music

Prince Wanted To 'Break The Mold Of The Memoir,' Says His Co-Writer

Fresh Air

The musician left behind an unfinished memoir when he died in 2016. Dan Piepenbring, his co-writer, recalls the moment he knew he could make The Beautiful Ones happen — even in Prince's absence.

Prince Wanted To 'Break The Mold Of The Memoir,' Says His Co-Writer

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'In Defense Of Elitism' Examines Who Is Part Of The Elite

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to journalist and author Joel Stein about his book: In Defense of Elitism, Why I'm Better Than You and You're Better Than Someone Who Didn't Buy This Book.

'In Defense Of Elitism' Examines Who Is Part Of The Elite

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Children's Book: 'Claudette's Miraculous Motown Adventure'

Claudette Robinson is known as "The First Lady of Motown." NPR's Michel Martin talks with her about her new children's book, Claudette's Miraculous Motown Adventure.

Children's Book: 'Claudette's Miraculous Motown Adventure'

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George Soros: Open Societies Are Under Threat

Financier and philanthropist George Soros attends the official opening of the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture at the German Foreign Ministry in June 2017. Sean Gallup/Getty Images hide caption

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Sean Gallup/Getty Images

George Soros: Open Societies Are Under Threat

The billionaire philanthropist and liberal champion says the wealthy and powerful in government worldwide are posing a danger to the societal freedoms of "inclusive democracies."

George Soros: Open Societies Are Under Threat

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One Day

Gene Weingarten Mines Magic From Just 'One Day'

The humorist asked three strangers to pick a random day, month and year out of a hat — December 28, 1986, as it turned out. And then he set out to document every single thing he could for that day.

Gene Weingarten Mines Magic From Just 'One Day'

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Sleep Loss, Sunscreen, And Very Little Sex In These 'Love Poems' For Parents

John Kenney says his poetry — a term he uses loosely — is poetry in the same sense that "Arby's is farm-to-table dining." His new collection is called Love Poems (for People with Children). Malte Mueller/Getty Images/fStop hide caption

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Malte Mueller/Getty Images/fStop

Sleep Loss, Sunscreen, And Very Little Sex In These 'Love Poems' For Parents

John Kenney has followed up Love Poems (for Married People) with Love Poems (for People with Children). It includes poems such as "3:32a.m. and I am sure the infant is taunting me" and "Baby wipes."

Sleep Loss, Sunscreen, And Very Little Sex In These 'Love Poems' For Parents

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