Iowa author Kali White joins us on the newest edition of the DMPL Podcast. White's newest novel, The Monsters We Make, was released last month. It is set in Des Moines in the mid 1980s and is partially based on the real-life Des Moines Register paperboy disappearances of that time. You may know her from her previous works The Space Between and The Good Divide, which she wrote under the name Kali VanBaale.
White and host Aaron Gernes talk about the intense research White did for the novel to ensure its accuracy, as well as why she decided to write under a new pen name.
NOTE: Spoilers for The Monsters We Make are discussed from 9:45-25:30.
On the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast, Book Chat's Alissa joins us to discuss Magical Realism books. As Alissa says in the podcast, magical realism is "a realist fiction that blends magic into the everyday world," with deep roots Latin American literary traditions.
Dr. Richard Deming joins the DMPL Podcast today to discuss his new book, Above and Beyond Cancer.
Dr. Deming is the director at the MercyOne Cancer Center in Des Moines and the founder of Above + Beyond Cancer, an organization dedicated to elevating the lives of those impacted by cancer.
During the podcast, Dr. Deming and host Aaron Gernes chat about the journey cancer patients and their loved ones take, what it's like being an oncologist during a pandemic, and the fun writing process that Dr. Deming embarked on for this book, with assistance and support from Drake Community Press.
Today on the podcast, we welcome Iowa author Cheryl Mullenbach. Cheryl has penned several books, including her newest, Stagecoach Women, which comes out next month. The book encompasses the expansive history of women in the old west, including drivers, bandits, gunslingers, and more. During the podcast, Cheryl talks about how old newspapers inspired her love of history. She also brings up similarities between the world today and the world of the old west in terms of the challenges women face, and she reads a bit from her new book.
Cheryl will be hosting a program about Stagecoach Women at the South Side Library on Wednesday, March 25, at 6:00 PM.
Show Notes:
Iowa author Nicole Baart joins us on the DMPL Podcast today. She is the author of nine books, including her latest, You Were Always Mine. You Were Always Mine is a domestic suspense novel centered on a widow, her late husband's suspicious death, and the family she must hold together through her grief.
"A good book has to have a little bit of romance and a dead body or two," says Baart. During the podcast, she discusses how she balances being a mother of five children with being an author. She also talks about adoption (which plays a key role in You Were Always Mine) and being an adoptive parent, and she provides some insight on how anyone can write a novel in a year.
Show Notes and Links
The DMPL Podcast welcomes Natalie Benson to the show today. She will be hosting a five-week program at the Franklin Avenue Library titled A History of Modern Art. During the podcast, Benson discusses what exactly the nebulous that is modern art encompasses. She talks about well-known modern artists, such as Vincent Van Gogh and Pablo Picasso, as well as famous paintings from the time, including A Burial at Ornans, one of the first pieces that depicted the life of ordinary people and, in a sense, began the era of Modern Art.
A History of Modern Art begins on Monday, February 10, at 6:30 PM at the Franklin Avenue Library. It will continue on successive Mondays - February 17 & 24 and March 2 & 9 - at the same time. Each session will delve into a different topic or movement of modern art, such as surrealism, cubisim, and impressionism. Each session will also be self-contained, so guests should feel to attend as they are able without feeling like they missed out if they miss a week.
Today on the podcast, we welcome John Peragine to the podcast. Peragine is a writer that lives in Davenport. He's the author of 14 books, including A History of Iowa Wines: Vines on the Prairie, which was published last year.
During the podcast, Peragine tells us how German immigrants and a New York lawyer were intregral in ramping up the Iowa wine scene in the 19th century. He describes how Iowa, which was sixth in the nation in grape production in 1919, found itself bottoming out in the middle of the 20th century due to politics, agriculture, and weather, before blossoming again as a state known for hearty, sweet grapes.
Finally, Peragine discusses what it's like to be a ghostwriter. Peragine has been the pen behind more than 100 books in addition to his own published materials. He talks about the challenges he faces trying to find someone else's voice.
Librarians Carrie Anderson and Sarah Lane join the podcast today to discuss their favorite books of 2019.
Carrie's Books
Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee, by Casey Cep
Carrie's review: Harper Lee fans will love how it delves into her psyche and the history of her writing life. There's a lot of interesting history here too, such as politics of the time in Alabama, and the history of life insurance. Cep tells all of this in a very engaging way.
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep, by H.G. Parry
Carrie's review: This novel takes place in a world a lot like ours, except for one thing - certain people can bring characters out from books out into the real world. The result is a wonderful book that I recommend for bibliophiles of all types. It's full of wit and swashbuckling adventure, and it has real heart.
Twenty-One Truths about Love, by Matthew Dicks
Carrie's review: This book follows Daniel and Jill Mayrock. Daniel has just quit his job to open up a bookshop when they find out his wife Jill is pregnant. The book has a unique format - it's written from Dan's perspective through his lists. I loved this book. Books written in unusual formats can be gimmicky, but this one is not. It works really well for the story and it holds its own.
Sarah's Books
Bromance Book Club, by Lyssa Kay Adams
Sarah's review: This was my favorite romance book of the year. It turns the romance genre on its head without talking away any of the heartfelt sentiment you want in a romance book. This book hits you in all the feels while still being realistic and down to earth. I loved hearing men talk about wooing one's wife through communication and emotional depth.
Circe, by Madeline Miller
Sarah's review: Technically this book was published in 2018, but Madeline Miller came to Des Moines as part of AViD in 2019, so I'm counting it. I listened to the audiobook; it is riveting and beautifully narrated.
Finding Dorothy, by Elizabeth Letts
Sarah's review: This book tells of the story of Maude Gage Baum, the real-life wife of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum. Though the book is fiction, Letts weaves nonfiction elements into her writing, creating a truly unique narrative. Finding Dorothy is an engrossing narrative about a little-known woman in history.
Illustrator Claire Sedovic, of Des Moines, joins us on the podcast to talk about her journey to becoming a published illustrator. Odd Animal ABCs, was published earlier this year (the book was written by June Smalls, of Virginia). During the podcast, Sedovic talks about:
On becoming a published illustrator: "It may sound kind of archaic, but one way illustrators get themselves known is that we send out postcards."
The "odd animals" she had to research and draw: "The one that immediately comes to mind, because 'X' is obviously such a hard letter to think of things for, is xenops. It's a bird from South America, and it kind of looks like a sparrow... My favorite had to be the tree kangaroo though. It sounds like it's made up, but it looks like a teddy bear."
On her decision to quit her full-time job to focus on her illustrating: "This was something I had been passionate about for awhile, and it came to the point where there just was never going to be the 'right time' to leave that job and leap into this career. I just had to make the decision to do it, and I've never regretted that.
Today, we welcome Thaddeus Russell on the DMPL Podcast. Russell is the author of A Renegade History of the United States, a counter-history of the United States. The book examines groups of people that Russell says shaped the country without being etched into history books, including "drunkards, laggards, prostitutes, and pirates." This provocative perspective claims the country's personality has been influenced by "the Puritan work ethic" and its opposite - those that have lived on the fringes of society, ignoring that work ethic.
Russell will be at Peace Tree Brewing Company in Des Moines next Tuesday, November 19, at 7:00 pm to discuss his book and answer questions. See the podcast links below for ticket information.
Content Advisory: The conversation does involve adult topics, including sex work.
Podcast Links:
Wini Moranville joins us on the DMPL Podcast. The former longtime Datebook Diner columnist has a new cookbook out - The Little Women Cookbook. The book is a love letter to the classic novel Little Women, using scenes from the book to create recipes that are classic, yet modern. Moranville discusses her research into 19th century cooking, the challenges behind coming up with these recipes, and why the book is a great cookbook for people of all skill levels.
The DMPL Podcast welcomes author and Iowa native Greer Macallister to the podcast. Greer and host Aaron Gernes chat about her most recent novel, Woman 99, which is largely set in a woman's insane asylum in the late 19th century. The book was called "A gorgeous ode to the power of female courage" by New York Times bestselling author Kate Quinn.
Spoilers are discussed in the podcast, but a warning is given beforehand! This conversation takes place from around 15:30-20:30.
The DMPL Podcast welcomes Bill Jamerson to show this week. Jamerson, a singer-storyteller, is coming to the Franklin Avenue Library next week to present his program Dollar-A-Day Boys: A Musical Tribute to the Civilian Conservation Corps. The program will take place on Wednesday, October 23, at 6:30 PM.
David Thoreson joins host Aaron Gernes on the DMPL Podcast this week. Thoreson will be coming to the Franklin Avenue Library on Tuesday, September 24, at 6:30 PM, to discuss the changes in the Northwest Passage that have occurred due to climate change.
Thoreson has sailed more than 65,000 nautical miles across the globe, including being the only North American sailor to navigate the Northwest Passage in both directions. He is also an outstanding photographer, with two published photo books (Over the Horizon and One Island, One Ocean) documenting his travels.
Host Aaron Gernes talks with NASA Space Launch System Quality Engineer Dr. K. Renee Horton. Dr. Horton will be in Des Moines next week, July 15-17, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. She discusses what drew her to space exploration, how she overcame challenges to become a renowned member of her field, and why she enjoys traveling across the country to discuss space, science, and engineering.
It all started when she was eight years old. "I remember standing on the front lawn of our house in Ames," says Sarvinder Naberhaus. She was singing a song she had written for her neighbors. "It was called 'Round Love," she says. The lyrics included round love, square love, everywhere love love. "It was the '60s, you have to remember," she says with a laugh.
Some five decades later, Naberhaus, who lives in Ames, used her songwriting skills to create children's books. She's now the author of three published books, including Blue Sky White Stars, a book that was published in 2017 to wide acclaim. The book compares aspects of the American flag to aspects of the American experience, drawing on history and featuring striking diversity. Blue Sky White Stars was named one of the ten best children's books of the year by Time, received a Crystal Kite Award, and was honored as a Notable Children's Book by the American Library Association. Last year, it was part of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, where it was mailed for free to tens of thousands of children across the country. The paperback, bilingual version of Blue Sky White Stars was published this week.
Naberhaus' favorite analogy in the book is comparing the "well worn" face of Abraham Lincoln with a "well worn" war-torn flag. "I imagined every wrinkle on his face was a soldier that died, a decision that had to be made, a battle that was lost," she says. "They carved his face. It was a well worn face."
During the podcast, Naberhaus talks about moving with her family from India to Ames when she was four years old. She also discusses her sparse writing style, why she sometimes has to take frantic notes on her phone, and the "rules" that she broke while working with renowned illustrator Kadir Nelson on the book.
All Summer Long is now underway! Learn more about the Des Moines Public Library's summer reading program as Ms. Paige, the youth librarian at the North Side Library, joins host Aaron Gernes. Be sure to go to dmpl.org/summerreading for more information!
The 2019 AViD podcast series concludes as C.J. Chivers joins Aaron Gernes. Chivers, author of The Fighters, discusses the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and the process of gathering the stories of the soldiers highlighted in his book. Chivers will be at the Central Library for Authors Visiting in Des Moines (AViD) on Thursday, May 23, at 7:00 PM.
The 2019 AViD podcast series concludes as C.J. Chivers joins Aaron Gernes. Chivers, author of The Fighters, discusses the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and the process of gathering the stories of the soldiers highlighted in his book. Chivers will be at the Central Library for Authors Visiting in Des Moines (AViD) on Thursday, May 23, at 7:00 PM.
AViD author Madeline Miller joins special guest host Laura Rowley on the DMPL Podcast. Miller discusses her critically-acclaimed novel, Circe. She discusses recasting Circe into a feminist hero and how women were given short shrift and often demeaned in ancient storytelling. It’s a great conversation on literature and the flawed perspectives of the Greeks and others from millennia ago.
Paige and Jen talk about the 2nd annual MyDMPL Con, coming to Central Library on Sunday, May 5, from 1:00-5:00 PM. Learn more about the free family-friendly festival for all fandoms.
AViD author Chigozie Obioma joins special guest host Laura Rowley on the DMPL Podcast. The Nigerian-born author talks about his new, critically-acclaimed novel, An Orchestra of Minorities, and how he came to write such a tragic story.
Obioma will be at the Central Library on Monday, April 22, at 7:00 PM for AViD. Doors open at 6:00 PM. Learn more at dmpl.org/avid.
AViD author Laurie Frankel joins special guest host Laura Rowley on the DMPL Podcast. Frankel's most recent novel, This is How it Always Is, is the story of a family raising a transgender child. Frankel herself is the mother of a transgender girl. She and Rowley have a fun and frank discussion on the complexities of parenting, including the difference in keeping your child safe and keeping your child happy.
Frankel will be at the Central Library on Thursday, April 18, at 7:00 PM. Doors open at 6:00 PM. For more information, go to dmpl.org/avid.
On the newest DMPL Podcast, we're talking about the first ever DSM Book Festival! It takes place this Saturday, March 30, beginning at 10:00 AM at Capital Square in downtown Des Moines (400 Locust St.)
Colleen Murphy, the Events Director for the Greater Des Moines Partnership, takes us through everything that's happening. The festival includes the first AViD author of 2019, Susan Orlean. It also includes headlining authors Ted Genoways, Garth Stein, and Nnedi Okorafor. Murphy also discusses the great events and programs, including free family activities, music, drinks, and more. Des Moines Public Library Director Susan Woody is even co-hosting a program called "How to Build a Book Club and Bloody Mary from Scratch."
Authors Visiting in Des Moines (AViD) author Susan Orlean joins us on the podcast today, along with special guest host Laura Rawley. Orlean will open the 2019 AViD series as one of the DSM Book Festival's headlining authors. She will be speaking on Saturday, March 30, at 4:00 PM at Capital Square (400 Locust Street). Orlean is the author of several best-selling books, including The Orchid Thief. Last year, her book The Library Book became an international best seller. The book doubles as a love letter to libraries and a true clime exploration of the unsolved 1986 Los Angeles Public Library fire.
Discussed on the podcast:
More information:
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC