Heather Gudenkauf wraps up the AViD lecture series on Tuesday, May 30 at the Central Library. Gudenkauf, who lives in Dubuque, will be celebrating the release of her newest novel, Not a Sound. Gudenkauf is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of seven novels, including One Breath Away, The Weight of Silence, and These Things Hidden. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in elementary education, has spent her career working with students of all ages, and continues to work in education as a Title I Reading Coordinator in Dubuque, Iowa.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Host Aaron Gernes is joined in the studio by DMPL librarian Carla Tibboel. Carla discusses All Things Irish. Books mentioned in this episode include The Case of the Missing Books, Road to McCarthy: Around the World in Search of Ireland, Brooklyn, and Real Irish Food. For links to each of these books in our catalog visit this book list.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Special guest host Laura Rowley interviews famed and award-winning author Nathan Hill! Hill is the author of the best-selling novel The Nix. His debut novel, The Nix was recognized as one of 2016’s best books by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Newsday, Library Journal, and Entertainment Weekly, among others. A native Iowan, Hill received a BA in English and Journalism at the University of Iowa before attaining his MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Hill has taught writing at Florida Gulf Coast University and is an Associate Professor of English at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. He currently resides in Naples, Florida. Hill will be at the Central Library as part of the 2017 AViD series on Thursday, May 11 at 7:00 PM.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Special guest host Mike Draper interviews bestselling author Jon Ronson! Ronson is a Welsh nonfiction author, documentary maker, and screenwriter. He’s written ten books, including the best-sellers So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed, The Psychopath Test, and The Men Who Stare at Goats. Ronson regularly contributes to The Guardian and BBC Radio 4, where his series Jon Ronson On... has been shortlisted for the Sony Award four times. In the United States, Jon is a regular contributor to This American Life, GQ, The New York Times Book Review, and has appeared at TED and on The Daily Show. Ronson will be at Sheslow Auditorium on the Drake University campus as part of the 2017 AViD series on Wednesday, April 12 at 7:00 PM.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Special guest host Laura Rowley interviews famed and award-winning author Eloisa James! James is the New York Times bestselling author of 27 romance novels. She has been nominated for a RITA – the highest award in romance fiction – several times, and she won her first RITA in 2003. James graduated from Harvard and received post-graduate degrees from Oxford University and Yale University. In addition to being an author, James is a Shakespeare professor at Fordham University. James will be at the Central Library as part of the 2017 AViD series on Tuesday, March 21 at 7:00 PM.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Host Aaron Gernes is joined in the studio by DMPL librarian Sarah Lane! Sarah really upped the creativity with her picks, and chose eight genre bending romances to talk about (genre bending is when a work has elements of two or more genres). Books mentioned in this episode include Food: A Love Story, Never Let Me Go, and Dark Matter. For links to each of these books in our catalog visit this collection. For more information about the library, great free events, and more visit our home online at dmpl.org.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Host Aaron Gernes speaks with award-winning author Michelle Hoover! Hoover is the author of two novels, including Bottomland, the 2017 All Iowa Reads title. Hoover is currently the Fannie Hurst Writer-in-Residence at Brandeis University in Boston, where she teaches advanced fiction workshops and works with students on honors and thesis projects. Hoover is the co-founder and head of the GrubStreet Novel Incubator program in Boston. Hoover will be at the Central Library as the first author in the 2017 AViD series on Tuesday, March 7 at 7:00 PM.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Host Aaron Gernes chats with DMPL librarian Stephanie Fruhling! Stephanie came to the studio armed with fantastic reading recommendations to check out while keeping warm indoors this winter (preferably with a warm beverage and some PJ's, if you ask this podcast crew). Books mentioned in this episode include The City Baker's Guide to Country Living, Just One Damned Thing After Another, and Soul of an Octopus: a Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness. For links to each of these books in our catalog visit this collection.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Host Aaron Gernes chats with our very own librarian Cat Bierling! Cat stopped by the podcast studio with some great reading recommendations for this time of year. For everyone from Science Fiction lovers and History Buffs to Romance lovers and fans of children's books, Cat has an excellent recommendation. For a full list of books mentioned in this episode, visit dmpl.org.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Host Aaron Gernes interviews Dr. Ed Epperly, nationally recognized expert historian of the Villisca Ax Murders. The brutal slaying of eight people that occurred on June 10, 1912 shocked the town of Villisca, IA and launched a years long investigation. To this day, the case remains unsolved. Dr. Epperly has been investigating the history of these events since 1955, when he was a UNI student doing a report on Iowa history. Dr. Epperly will be at the Franklin Avenue library on Tuesday, October 25 at 6:30 PM to share his research and answer questions. As part of the event there will be a screening of the short documentary Axman about Epperly and his obsession with this case.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Special guest host Mary Lee Woods interviews Susan Elizabeth Phillips! Phillips is the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of dozens of books, and a five-time recipient of the RITA, the premier award given by the Romance Writers of America. Phillips talks about First Star I See Tonight the eighth book in her popular Chicago Stars series, her writing habits, and her love of travel. She will be at a special event at Franklin Avenue Library on Tuesday, September 13 at 6:30 PM. For more information about the library and upcoming events visit dmpl.org.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Special host Laura Rowley interviews Jenny Lawson! Lawson is the bestselling author of Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things. In her book, Lawson explores her lifelong battle with depression and anxiety in the hysterical style she’s famous for. Lawson also wrote a memoir, Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, which became a #1 New York Times bestseller. Her blog, thebloggess.com, has been nominated for multiple awards and has been recognized by Forbes and The Huffington Post. Lawson was also a contributor to the “Good Mom/Bad Mom” blog for the Houston Chronicle. Lawson will be at Des Moines University as part of this year's AViD (Authors Visiting in Des Moines) events on Thursday, July 7 at 7:00 PM. Visit dmpl.org for more information about AViD and the library.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Host Aaron Gernes interviews two authors who will be in Des Moines for the Wonder of Words Festival, June 18-19, 2016! Charlotte Rogan is the author of the New York Times Best Seller The Lifeboat and novel Now and Again. Charlotte will be on the Main Stage, Saturday the 19th at 3:00 PM. Summer Miller is the author of New Prairie Kitchen, a new cookbook that profiles 25 of the most exciting and groundbreaking chefs, farmers, and producers of artisanal goods from the all over the Midwest. Miller will be on the Main Stage, also on Saturday, at 10:30 AM. Visit wonderofwordsfest.com for more information about the festival.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Special host Laura Rowley interviews award winning journalist James Edward Mills. Mills’ book The Adventure Gap chronicles the first all-African American summit attempt on Denali, the highest mountain in North America. Mills uses that mission to explore why minority populations are less likely to seek recreation and adventure in the wilderness and what can be done to bridge that gap. Mills will be at the Forest Avenue Library as part of this year's AViD (Authors Visiting in Des Moines) events on Saturday, June 4 at 3:00 PM. Visit dmpl.org for more information about AViD and the library.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Summer is right around the corner and the Des Moines Public Library Summer Reading Program is starting soon! Patti Graham, an educator from Lovejoy Elementary in Des Moines, and the library's own Miss Michelle from the South Side library, stop by to talk to host Aaron Gernes about this year's Summer Reading program, how Summer Slide affects students, and the importance of reading over the summer. Summer Reading sign up starts on June 1 at all open branches of the Des Moines Public Library. Visit dmpl.org for more info, and to sign up online starting June 1!
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Special host Laura Rowley interviews award winning author Pamela Smith Hill. Hill is the author of Laura Ingalls Wilder: A Writer's Life and, most recently, the editor of the bestselling autobiography Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Hill will be at the Roosevelt High School auditorium as part of this year's AViD (Authors Visiting in Des Moines) events on Wednesday, May 11, at 7:00 PM. Visit dmpl.org for more information about AViD and the library.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Special host Mike Woody interviews bestselling author David Morrell about his latest novel Inspector of the Dead, the second instalment of the Thomas De Quincey Mystery trilogy.They also talk about his first novel First Blood, which served as the foundation for the Rambo movie series, and Morrell's time as a professor at the University of Iowa. Morrell will be visiting the Central Library as part of this year's AViD (Author's Visiting in Des Moines) events on Friday, April 29 at 7 PM. Visit dmpl.org for more information about AViD and the library.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Special host Laura Rowley interviews #1 bestselling author Jacquelyn Mitchard about the book that made her famous, The Deep End of the Ocean, her new book Two If By Sea, and her extraordinary life. Mitchard will be at the Central Library as part of this year's AViD (Authors Visiting in Des Moines) events on Wednesday, April 6 at 7 PM. Visit dmpl.org for more information about AViD and the library.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Meet the storm chasers! KCCI Meteorologist Jason Sydejko and Iowa Storm Chasing Network president Zach Sharpe share some incredible stories about chasing storms across the country. Come see Jason and Zach (and their pictures and videos) Wednesday, March 16 at 2:30 PM at the South Side Library. For more information about the Storm Chasing 101 event visit the event page here.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-N
Special host Laura Rowley interviews author Christina Baker Kline about her #1 New York Times bestselling novel Orphan Train and her life as a writer. Christina will be at the Central Library as part of this year's AViD (Authors Visiting in Des Moines) events on Monday, March 14 at 7 PM. Visit dmpl.org for more information about AViD and the library.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-N
Special host Laura Rowley interviews bestselling author Karen Abbott about her book Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy. Abbott is the first author joining us for this year's AViD (Authors Visiting in Des Moines) events. Come see Abbott at the Central Library on Tuesday, March 1 at 7:00 PM. Visit dmpl.org for more information about AViD and the library.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC