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Books Connect Us

Penguin Random House

We’re staying connected with each other and the stories and authors who inspire us. BOOKS CONNECT US brings you brand new conversations with some of your favorite authors.

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22 episodes
weekly
Avg 37 min
English

Episodes 22

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#168
September 21 · 46 min
The Storied History of Johnny Carson with Mark Malkoff | LOVE JOHNNY CARSON
Mark Malkoff discusses his book LOVE JOHNNY CARSON, sharing untold stories about the King of Late Night and his legendary TV tenure. He is joined by Pat Stango from the Penguin Random House video team.
#167
September 14 · 25 min
How Do Elise Kova & Danielle Jensen Write Unforgettable Characters?
Elise Kova (ARCANA ACADEMY) and Danielle L. Jensen (A FATE INKED IN BLOOD) walk through how they build their fantasy worlds and write unforgettable characters.
#166
September 7 · 46 min
The Magical True Story Behind RAISING HARE with Chloe Dalton
Chloe Dalton discusses her memoir RAISING HARE, sharing the magical experience of raising a wild animal and how it inspired her New York Times bestseller. She is joined by Bianca Ducasse, her book marketer from Penguin Random House.
#165
August 31 · 45 min
Sarah MacLean and Ali Hazelwood in conversation | THESE SUMMER STORMS
Join bestselling authors Sarah MacLean and Ali Hazelwood as they discuss Sarah's new novel THESE SUMMER STORMS. Learn about the inspiration behind this family saga, the challenges of writing contemporary romance, and the process of crafting a compelling "hot fixer" hero.
#164
August 24 · 25 min
TJ Alexander on Queering the Historical Romance Genre | A LADY FOR ALL SEASONS
TJ Alexander dives into A LADY FOR ALL SEASONS, their queer Regency romance with a genderfluid lead, discussing how they joyfully upend genre conventions and embrace expansive representation in a Bridgerton-obsessed world, and write with a specific queer audience in mind while welcoming a broader readership. They chat Lord Byron cameos, the flexible role of historical accuracy, and close things out with a playful round of “Gothic/Regency Heroine or ’90s Pop Song.”
#163
August 17 · 44 min
Molly Crabapple and Morgan Bassichis on the Jewish Labor Bund | HERE WHERE WE LIVE IS OUR COUNTRY
Molly Crabapple sits down with Morgan Bassichis to talk about her new book HERE WHERE WE LIVE IS OUR COUNTRY, a lively and deeply researched history of the Jewish Labor Bund. They explore how this secular socialist movement fought for dignity and equality in Eastern Europe, the central roles women played in the movement, and the importance of solidarity in the global fight against fascism.
#162
August 10 · 1 hr
Ibram X. Kendi and Heather McGhee on the world’s most dangerous conspiracy theory | CHAIN OF IDEAS
Authors Ibram X. Kendi (HOW TO BE AN ANTIRACIST) and Heather McGhee (THE SUM OF US) discuss Dr. Kendi’s new book CHAIN OF IDEAS: The Origins of Our Authoritarian Age. They break down the Great Replacement Theory, which Kendi calls the most dominant and dangerous political idea of our time; explain how authoritarians around the world are leveraging it to gain power and dismantle democracy; and offer a rubric for recognizing and fighting back against these forces.
#161
August 3 · 17 min
Terry Brooks & Delilah S. Dawson in Conversation on The Future of SHANNARA
Authors Terry Brooks and Delilah S. Dawson sit down to discuss the future of the SHANNARA series, as Brooks passes the torch to Dawson to continue his beloved world. The two longtime friends share how their collaboration works, what fans can expect, and why Dawson is the perfect person to carry on one of fantasy's most iconic legacies.
#160
July 27 · 47 min
Eddie Huang on romcoms, fame, and his new book COME UNDONE | In conversation w/ Chris Jackson
Eddie Huang is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Fresh Off the Boat. His subversively funny first novel COME UNDONE delivers a portrait of a haunted manchild and his messy search for love. Eddie sits down with his editor and publisher Chris Jackson for a frank conversation about love, relationships, growing up, the writing process, and whether romantic comedies are used to manage society.
#159
July 23 · 28 min
Matt Dinniman, author of DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL and OPERATION BOUNCE HOUSE
Dungeon Crawler Carl author, Matt Dinniman, talks about how video games influence his writing, how he got into LitRPG, the next entry in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, as well as adaptation news and his new science fiction thriller, Operation Bounce House.
#158
July 20 · 25 min
Andy Weir on the PROJECT HAIL MARY movie adaptation
Bestselling author Andy Weir—and his longtime book editor Julian Pavia—break down Andy's role in the Project Hail Mary movie adaptation. They discuss the most critical things to get right, the parts Andy was nervous about, and the challenges with bringing Rocky to life.
#157
Jun 12, 2023 · 1 hr 4 min
Emily Henry, romcom Queen and author of the #1 NYT Bestseller, HAPPY PLACE
On today’s season finale we welcome the delightful Emily Henry, author of bestsellers Beach Read, Book Lovers, People We Meet on Vacation and, most recently the #1 NYT Bestselling Happy Place. Alyssa and Emily vibe out talking about romcom inspiration, fancasting, the ways art informs life (and vice versa), writing complex, imperfect love interests, and how underrated the state of Michigan is. Emily’s new book, Happy Place (available now) and is your perfect summer reading companion.
#156
Jun 5, 2023 · 33 min
Haley Jakobson, author of the astute and funny OLD ENOUGH
Happy Pride from Books Connect Us! In honor of Pride, today’s guest is Haley Jakobson, author of the astute and funny bisexual debut Old Enough, on sale June 20. Carolina chats with Haley about all things identity: finding ourselves while we’re still “hurtling towards the person we’re becoming,” utilizing language and harnessing stories to explore our many-faceted, intersectional selves, writing and using art and words to explore the stickier parts of reality.
#155
May 30, 2023 · 30 min
SUMMER READING SPECIAL! (with Carolina + Alyssa)
Join us for a super-fun, laugh-out-loud Summer Reading Picks episode! Carolina and Alyssa talk: books they love, books they can’t wait to read, horror movies, celebs they went to high school with, tips for writing, finding inspiration and reading al fresco.
#154
May 22, 2023 · 40 min
ROMANCE ROUNDTABLE! (Featuring Amanda Elliot and Kosoko Jackson)
On a very exciting episode of BOOKS CONNECT US, Carolina and Alyssa host their first Roundtable. Joined by Amanda Elliot (author of Sadie on a Plate and Best Served Hot) and Kosoko Jackson (author of I’m So Not Over You and Dash of Salt and Pepper), this roundtable’s theme is romance! We discuss: what it takes to craft romance -- from chemistry to characters, how the industry has grown to be more inclusive, and how author identity often plays out on the page. Stay tuned for the recap after!
#153
May 15, 2023 · 40 min
Chrissy King, author of THE BODY LIBERATION PROJECT
Today on the podcast, Carolina and Alyssa interview Chrissy King, author of THE BODY LIBERATION PROJECT, about the way our intersecting identities impact our body image, how and why body and beauty standards are rooted in racism and how we can overcome it all to liberate ourselves and bodies. Chrissy also tells us how she landed a book deal and how she cultivates her brand and platform.
#152
May 8, 2023 · 27 min
Szilvia Molnar, author of THE NURSERY
Today on BOOKS CONNECT US, Lisa Lucas, SVP and Publisher of Pantheon talks about motherhood and mental health with Szilvia Molnar, author of The Nursery. The two share a thought-provoking conversation about the rawness and realness of becoming a mother, and ask the question — does the world make space for new moms? Be sure to stick around for Carolina and Alyssa’s recap at the end.
#151
May 1, 2023 · 35 min
Sarah Thankam Mathews, author of All This Could Be Different
On today’s episode, we talk to National Book Award finalist Sarah Thankam Mathews about her debut novel, ALL THIS COULD BE DIFFERENT, a warm, dazzling, and profound saga of queer love, friendship, work, and precarity in twenty-first century America. Carolina talks to Sarah about the political engine that drives the book, the shared nuances of the brown queer experience, and the craft elements that bring multi-dimensional stories to life.
#150
Apr 24, 2023 · 44 min
Dani Shapiro, author of SIGNAL FIRES and INHERITANCE
This week on BOOKS CONNECT US, we welcome Dani Shapiro, author of eleven books , most recently Signal Fires, which won the National Jewish Books Award and Inheritance, which was a New York Times Bestseller. Alyssa and Dani go deep, discussing the intersection of memory and imagination while writing, the importance of self-identity and ancestry in storytelling and the ways in which family — both biological and found — can inform our writing styles and choices.
#149
Apr 17, 2023 · 37 min
Lakiesha Carr, author of the intimate AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SKIN
This episode, we welcome Lakiesha Carr and her Knopf editor, Maria Goldverg. Lakeisha is the author of AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SKIN, a profound and tender look at Black womanhood. Maria and Lakiesha discuss the intimacy required to write fiction, the importance of intergenerational connections, and the ways in which we insert ourselves into our art.

Showing 1–20 of 22 episodes