Harperaudio Presents

Even if your father didn’t tell you mother that it was either “him or that gator” (“that” gator being the 5 foot long alligator living in the bathtub), you’ll still get a kick out of Homer Hickam’s upcoming novel Carrying Albert Home. Listen in as Homer tells us about his parents (who really did have the “it’s the gator or me” talk), the inspirational force of a lackluster SCUBA article, and his reptilian connection to Jed Clampett. Download the CARRYING ALBERT HOME audiobook via iTunes http://ads.harpercollins.com/hcaudiopres?isbn=9780062421173&retailer=apple or Audible http://ads.harpercollins.com/hcaudiopres?isbn=9780062421173&retailer=audible

Myths, Westerns and recipes...Oh my! Simon Toyne joins us in conversation about his new eerie book THE SEARCHER. Simon Toyne shares a BIG clue to his new book, why he writes the ending first and who the real talent in his family is (no, it's not him!). Download THE SEARCHER audiobook via iTunes http://ads.harpercollins.com/hcaudiopres?isbn=9780062395221&retailer=apple or Audible http://ads.harpercollins.com/hcaudiopres?isbn=9780062395221&retailer=audible

Karin Slaughter brings us up to speed on the sincere joys of sister-scaring, the reason there’s no sequel to Gone With the Wind, and why she’s surprised every time some friendly stranger hands her a baby.

Olympian Suzy Favor Hamilton stopped by the studio and gave us a very personal account of her very public ups and downs. Listen in as we discuss Suzy’s fascinating life – from a faux fall in the 2000 Olympics to a brief stint as a Vegas Escort – and the Bipolar disorder that was at work beneath the surface.

Listen in as we call teen novelist Julie Murphy about her new book Dumplin'. Julie breaks down gender norms, body shame, and forgiveness. We also got to hear about her childhood dreams (it's not what you'd think!), her tattoos (think books and cats), and the feeling she wishes she could bottle up and give to herself in times of need.

Ron Rash, author of Serena and the new novel Above the Waterfall, joins us by phone to talk about how all of his novels begin with a visual image, and how the image of dead trout being pulled from a river led to his most hopeful novel yet.

You asked for it, Christopher Moore answered: questions from fans about his favorite authors, thoughts on sequels and bringing back characters, how it feels to be required reading for college students, and MORE. Don’t miss the dish from the author of A Dirty Job and its sequel, Secondhand Souls, described by USA Today as a ‘fantastically bizarre new novel”. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, Chris is every bit as entertaining as his books.

Dan Halpern, publisher and President of Ecco, and winner of the 2015 Maxwell Perkins Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Field of Fiction, talks about his life’s twists and turns – stories about how his college roommate, a Hemmingway lookalike, got him interested in poetry, how Paul Bowles invited him to Morocco and asked him to start a literary magazine, and how luck, optimism and a little bit of obsessiveness played a role in his great and varied accomplishments.

Parnaz Foroutan, living the dream of becoming a published author, talks about her novel Girl From the Garden – based a tale told countless times by the family elders, of the life of two brothers in early twentieth-century Iran and a crisis of inheritance. It’s a poignant, evocative story about family sacrifice and betrayal, and the indelible legacy of the families that forge us.

Want to give the children in your life the gift that keeps on giving? Give them the gift of failure. Jessica Lahey, New York Times columnist and Atlantic Magazine contributor tells you how to teach children responsibility, organization, manners, restraint, and foresight. Lahey offers encouragement and targeted advice. It’s easier than you might think!

Listen in as we call Chris Moore to get the scoop on Secondhand Souls, the upcoming sequel to A Dirty Job. Chris makes us feel a little better about eavesdropping, tells us how reading westerns leads to writing comedy, and clues us in that clouds are the new freezers. Listen and learn! Got a question for Chris? Ask and tag it with #MoreChrisMoore on his Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/theauthorguy) or on Twitter by August 12th and listen for your answer when Chris returns to HarperAudio Presents on August 31st.

Hear Elizabeth Lowell, author of the new novel, Perfect Touch, talk about how it was her husband who encouraged her to write her first romance novel (and how she came to the name ‘Elizabeth Lowell’), her belief that you are never through learning in life, how she hope her readers feel renewed vs. ‘chewed’, and the challenge of the ‘great sagging middle’ of every novel.

Enjoy an excerpt of GO SET A WATCHMAN, written by Harper Lee and narrated by Reese Witherspoon. In this excerpt Jean Louise Finch, commonly known as Scout, and Henry (Hank) Clinton, are driving to Finch’s landing. Hank’s mention of their old friend, Dill, prompts Scout to recall events of a summer long ago.

Jill Morrow talks about her novel, Newport: “set in the 1920’s and a skillful alchemy of social satire, dark humor, and finely drawn characters.

Listen to an excerpt of The Minority Report, the short story published in 1956 and adapted into a Steven Spielberg feature film in 2002, questions the concept of free will in a society whose crime-free ideal supports incarcerating people based on the prediction of future crimes.

David Nicholl’s new novel, US, received rave reviews in People, O Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Good Housekeeping, Time, and more and is now available in paperback. Hear Nicholls tell us how he wanted to write a male character that was distinct from his leading character in his previous, very popular novel, ONE DAY, his idea of a perfect vacation, and the books he would take to a desert island. Also in this episode: an audiobook excerpt, performed by Olivier Award winning actor David Haig.

Meg Cabot on why she still feels like an outsider and what she does to diminish anxiety (it involves writing, but not the way you might think), why she’ll have an anniversary party rather than renew her wedding vows, and what Princess Mia is up to after all these years.

Hear bestselling author Susane Colasanti talk about her new book City Love, the story of sisterhood in NYC –three girls move in together for a summer of adventure, romantic love, and self-discovery. Susane tells us what a soulmate is – and isn’t, how the hope for a happy life got her through miserable years in high school, and the power of being exactly who you are.

Hear Margo Rabb, author of KISSING IN AMERICA, on why she starts each writing day by reading a poem, the importance of keeping a journal and how it’s more than OK to be a young adult writer.

In this double-interview episode we hear from the master storyteller and multiple Moth Story Slam winner, David Crabb, about his hilarious coming-of-age memoir, BAD KID. Bonus interview with Cleary Wolters, real-life former lover of Piper Kerman, the author of ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK, about her new memoir, OUT OF ORANGE.