NPR Topics: Author Interviews http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1033&ft=1&f=1033 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. en Copyright 2010 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Sun, 05 Sep 2010 07:53:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Author Interviews http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1033&ft=1&f=1033 Jokes To Tell Your Parents For Rosh Hashana When Sam Hoffman and Eric Spiegelman's video of Hoffman's 60-something mother telling an off-color joke on YouTube went viral, they knew they had something special.  The success of their subsequent website, OldJewsTellingJokes.com, and their upcoming book have proved them right. Sun, 05 Sep 2010 07:53:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129611213&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129611213&ft=1&f=1033 When Sam Hoffman and Eric Spiegelman's video of Hoffman's 60-something mother telling an off-color joke on YouTube went viral, they knew they had something special.  The success of their subsequent website, OldJewsTellingJokes.com, and their upcoming book have proved them right.

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]]> 'Phantom Tollbooth' Creators Reunited By An 'Ogre' In the early 1960s, writer Norton Juster and illustrator Jules Feiffer created <em>The Phantom Tollbooth</em>, which quickly became a kid-lit classic. Now, 50 years later, the two have finally collaborated once more -- this time, on a picture book called <em>The Odious Ogre</em>. They speak to NPR's Liane Hansen about their partnership and their new project. Sat, 04 Sep 2010 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129608795&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129608795&ft=1&f=1033 In the early 1960s, writer Norton Juster and illustrator Jules Feiffer created The Phantom Tollbooth, which quickly became a kid-lit classic. Now, 50 years later, the two have finally collaborated once more -- this time, on a picture book called The Odious Ogre. They speak to NPR's Liane Hansen about their partnership and their new project.

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]]> Victory At Marathon Saved A Lot More Than A Race The story's a classic: An outnumbered band of Athenians pushes back the  mighty Persian army. But the battle of Marathon, 2,500 years ago in ancient Greece, left a legacy that extends far beyond the name of a famous race. Historian Richard Billows explores the legendary battle in his new book, <em>Marathon: How One Battle Changed Western Civilization</em>. Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:27:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129652464&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129652464&ft=1&f=1033 The story's a classic: An outnumbered band of Athenians pushes back the  mighty Persian army. But the battle of Marathon, 2,500 years ago in ancient Greece, left a legacy that extends far beyond the name of a famous race. Historian Richard Billows explores the legendary battle in his new book, Marathon: How One Battle Changed Western Civilization.

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]]> Next Week: Franzen Talks About 'Freedom' Jonathan Franzen's new novel, <em>Freedom,</em> is being called a "masterpiece of American fiction." He was recently on the cover of <em>Time</em> magazine -- the first living author on its cover in more than a decade. Next weekend, Franzen will join us to talk about <em>Freedom</em>, the story of a contemporary American family in St. Paul, Minn. Sat, 04 Sep 2010 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129653897&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129653897&ft=1&f=1033 Jonathan Franzen's new novel, Freedom, is being called a "masterpiece of American fiction." He was recently on the cover of Time magazine -- the first living author on its cover in more than a decade. Next weekend, Franzen will join us to talk about Freedom, the story of a contemporary American family in St. Paul, Minn.

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]]> Excerpt: 'Marathon: How One Battle Changed Western Civilization' Excerpt from <em>Marathon: How One Battle Changed Western Civilization</em> Sat, 04 Sep 2010 09:16:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129652077&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129652077&ft=1&f=1033 Excerpt from Marathon: How One Battle Changed Western Civilization

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]]> Memories Of War And Reading Clubs Patrick Hennessey was the youngest front-line captain in the British Army, served in Iraq and Afghanistan and earned a commendation for gallantry. Host Scott Simon speaks with Hennessey about his memoir, <em>The Junior Officers' Reading Club</em>. Sat, 04 Sep 2010 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129647726&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129647726&ft=1&f=1033 Patrick Hennessey was the youngest front-line captain in the British Army, served in Iraq and Afghanistan and earned a commendation for gallantry. Host Scott Simon speaks with Hennessey about his memoir, The Junior Officers' Reading Club.

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]]> English Lives. Tell The Grammar Police. Roy Peter Clark of the Poynter Institute says we ought to remind ourselves that language lives, breathes and learns more as it goes along. He advises professionals to write carefully, but not defensively and certainly not drably. Host Scott Simon speaks with Clark about his new book, <em>The Glamour of Grammar: A Guide to the Magic and Mystery of Practical English</em>. Sat, 04 Sep 2010 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129647730&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129647730&ft=1&f=1033 Roy Peter Clark of the Poynter Institute says we ought to remind ourselves that language lives, breathes and learns more as it goes along. He advises professionals to write carefully, but not defensively and certainly not drably. Host Scott Simon speaks with Clark about his new book, The Glamour of Grammar: A Guide to the Magic and Mystery of Practical English.

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]]> Eat Your Way Down I-95, And Other Stops To Make In their seven-year love affair with Interstate 95, Stan Posner and Sandra Phillips-Posner have found the best Polish sausage, Berger cookies and a battleship you can spend the night on. Sat, 04 Sep 2010 04:19:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129635773&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129635773&ft=1&f=1033 In their seven-year love affair with Interstate 95, Stan Posner and Sandra Phillips-Posner have found the best Polish sausage, Berger cookies and a battleship you can spend the night on.

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]]> Agassi Visits U.S. Open, Signs Copies Of 'Open' It's the first week of the U-S Open. Former tennis star Andre Agassi talks to Steve Inskeep about great tennis rivalries and his book <em>Open: An Autobiography,</em> and how it's been received by his family. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129620923&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129620923&ft=1&f=1033 It's the first week of the U-S Open. Former tennis star Andre Agassi talks to Steve Inskeep about great tennis rivalries and his book Open: An Autobiography, and how it's been received by his family.

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]]> Blair's Key To Success: 'Skills Of Persuasion' Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is out with a memoir called <em>A Journey: My Political Life.</em> Steve Inskeep asks him to relate one story about a quality Blair realized he had in common with the late Princess Diana -- one that had a hand in his own political success. Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129595927&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129595927&ft=1&f=1033 Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is out with a memoir called A Journey: My Political Life. Steve Inskeep asks him to relate one story about a quality Blair realized he had in common with the late Princess Diana -- one that had a hand in his own political success.

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]]> Tony Blair On War, Globalization And 'My Political Life' The former prime minister of the United Kingdom's memoir, <em>My Life: A Political Journey,</em> is on sale in the U.S. Blair spoke to Steve Inskeep about Iraq, globalization and his political career. Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/09/01/129580726/tony-blair-a-journey-my-political-life-interview-morning-edition-memoir?ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/09/01/129580726/tony-blair-a-journey-my-political-life-interview-morning-edition-memoir?ft=1&f=1033 The former prime minister of the United Kingdom's memoir, My Life: A Political Journey, is on sale in the U.S. Blair spoke to Steve Inskeep about Iraq, globalization and his political career.

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]]> To Speak, Perchance To 'Dream In Chinese' From when <em>not</em> to say thank you, to an embarrassing run-in at a Shanghai Taco Bell, Deborah Fallows recounts her tumultuous journey through the Chinese language in her new book, <em>Dreaming in Chinese: Mandarin Lessons in Life, Love, and Language.</em> Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:05:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129552512&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129552512&ft=1&f=1033 From when not to say thank you, to an embarrassing run-in at a Shanghai Taco Bell, Deborah Fallows recounts her tumultuous journey through the Chinese language in her new book, Dreaming in Chinese: Mandarin Lessons in Life, Love, and Language.

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]]> Paretsky's PI Uncovers Murder In Chicago Sara Paretsky's latest novel, <em>Body Work,</em> takes her heroine into the world of cutting-edge performance art, PTSD and the mob. It's the 14th installment of Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski crime thriller series, which she started writing more than 20 years ago. Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129555599&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129555599&ft=1&f=1033 Sara Paretsky's latest novel, Body Work, takes her heroine into the world of cutting-edge performance art, PTSD and the mob. It's the 14th installment of Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski crime thriller series, which she started writing more than 20 years ago.

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]]> Excerpt: "The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival" An excerpt from "The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival" Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:53:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129552818&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129552818&ft=1&f=1033 An excerpt from "The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival"

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]]> These Roller Skating Women Get 'Down And Derby' Alex Cohen may be a public radio reporter by day, but by night she goes by her roller derby name -- Axles of Evil. Cohen has joined forces with fellow L.A. Derby Doll Jennifer "Kasey Bomber" Barbee to write <em>Down and Derby,</em> an insider's guide to a rough-and-tumble sport. Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129536182&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129536182&ft=1&f=1033 Alex Cohen may be a public radio reporter by day, but by night she goes by her roller derby name -- Axles of Evil. Cohen has joined forces with fellow L.A. Derby Doll Jennifer "Kasey Bomber" Barbee to write Down and Derby, an insider's guide to a rough-and-tumble sport.

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