Professional Book Nerds

On today's episode, Adam sits down with Kacen Callender to discuss their new adult fantasy novel Queen of the Conquered. They also discuss writing for marginalized readers and helping people see themselves in stories.   This episode is sponsored by https://scandigital.com/. Use our promo code BOOKNERDS for 50% off your order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Jill and Adam dive into National Novel Writing Month, how they're approaching this monumental task, and offer up loads of books to help you get through #NaNoWriMo. Need help? We've got your back.  Below you'll find the books mentioned in this episode broken out by what you might need help with for your writing journey.   General guides for writing Writing Radar by Jack Gantos Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott On Writing by Stephen King How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method by Randy Ingermanson   On setting and changing expectations through your narrator The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie   -Figuring out your pacing-   If you're novel takes place in a short amount of time The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds   If your novel is a sweeping saga Pachinko by Min Jin Lee A Secret History of Witches by Louisa Morgan

On today's quick episode, Adam discusses why Erin Morgenstern's The Starless Sea affected him so much and why he hopes everyone reads this book about magical hidden worlds and the importance of stories.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Halloween has come and gone and so now turn our gaze to the books we plan on reading all November long. Books mentioned in this episode The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern The Witches are Coming by Lindy West The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White Little Weirds by Jenny Slate Beard Necessities by Penny Reid All-American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Courtney Sisters of Shadow and Light by Sara B. Larson The Innocents by Michael Crummey The Great Pretender by Susannah Cahalan The Book of Lost Saints by Daniel José Older The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell It's Garry Shandling's Book by Judd Apatow The Revisioners by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton Mary Toft; or, the Rabbit Queen by Dexter Palmer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Adam sits down for a live interview with Michael Connelly, creator of the legendary and wildly popular Harry Bosch series of books. His latest book, The Night Fire is out now and reconnects Bosch and Ballard and will keep you guessing until the very end.  Thank you, as always, to our home away from home, Cuyahoga County Public Library, for hosting this event in front of a sold-out crowd of 500 people! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Okay, nerds. We can't tell you how many times people have requested more nonfiction book recs. Well, here are a whole bunch of crazy stories that are completely true. Enjoy! Books mentioned in this episode The Radium Girls by Kate Moore A False Report by T. Christian & Ken Armstrong The Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty Always Look on the Bright Side of Life by Eric Idle A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan American Predator by Maureen Callahan Jesus Land by Julia Scheeres What If? by Randall Munroe Live From New York by James Andrew Miller & Tom Shales The Year of Living Biblically by A J Jacobs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Jill and Adam sit down with JoJo Moyes to discuss her brand new book, The Giver of Stars. In this live interview in front of a few hundred fellow nerds, they chat all about her research visiting Kentucky, the fascinating people she met, the intense research holes she falls down, and Jojo shares a harrowing story about a dog she rescued.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grab your blanket and a flashlight! We're reliving the books that scared us as kids. Listener beware...   Books mentioned in this episode   Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury The Legend of Sleepy Hollow The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare Bunnicula by Deborah Howe Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan Stonewords by Pam Conrad The Dark and Deadly Pool by Joan Lowery Nixon The Weekend Was Murder by Joan Lowery Nixon Remember Me by Christopher Pike The Ghost in the Big Brass Bed by Bruce Coville The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey Doll Bones by Holly Black   ERMERGERD GOOSEBUMPS Welcome to Dead House One Day at Horrorland The Cuckoo Clock of Doom The Haunted Mask The Werewolf of Fever Swamp Attack of the Jack-O-Lanterns Escape from the Carnival of Horrors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Adam and Jill sit down with Elvis Duran in front of a soldout audience to discuss his new memoir Where Do I Begin?, the future of radio, and life in general. This was such a wonderful event to be a part of and you're going to love this conversation.  Special thanks to 9.65 Kiss FM and I Heart Radio, Cleveland for access to the audio for this episode.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THESE ARE NOT HOBGOBLINS! Light yourself a black flame candle and gather ye round. We're dishing out a grabbag of scary books perfect for any type of reader. Don't worry about just grabbing one. You can take a handful!   Books mentioned in this episode: Suspicious Minds by Gwenda Bond Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky Petra's Ghost by C.S. O'Cinneide Growing Things by Paul Tremblay Teeth in the Mist by Dawn Kurtagich The Invited by Jennifer McMahon The Plague Stones by James Brogden Inspection by Josh Malerman The Monster of Elendhaven by Jennifer Giesbrecht The Woman in the Dark by Vanessa Savage A Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill Salvation Day by Kali Wallace Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Adam breaks down why His Dark Materials his essential in society for readers of all ages. He discusses the connection to spiritualism and religion and how the origins of the story can be traced to Paradise Lost.  The latest book in the Book Of Dust series The Secret Commonwealth is out this week. In this series, Philip Pullman expands on the universe and stories he created as we continue Lyra's journey.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Adam and Jill are joined by Andrea and Rachel to dish out book recommendations spooky, serious, and otherwise! Whether you want to be scared, laugh, learn something new, or be reminded how awesome you are as a parent we've got something for you in this one.   Books mentioned in this episode The Tenth Girl by Sara Faring Year of the Monkey by Patti Smith The Institute by Stephen King Monster, She Wrote by Lisa Kröger & Melanie R. Anderson It Ended Badly by Jennifer Wright My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell Three Women by Lisa Taddeo Sycamore Row by John Grisham The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones You Are a F*cking Awesome Mom by Leslie Anne Bruce The Warehouse by Rob Hart First Cosmic Velocity by Zach Powers Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte Boy Erased by Garrard Conley Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant How Not to Die Alone by Richard Roper The Secrets We Kept by Lara

On today's episode, Adam & Jill discuss the books they've been enjoying recently before Adam sits down with Nefertiti Austin to talk about her book Motherhood So White. Nefertiti's book breaks down all the misconceptions about adoption and being a single parent as an African American. This episode is sponsored by https://literatibooks.com/. Use our promo code PROBOOKNERDS for $20 off your first box of teacher-curated books and artwork for kids! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Spooky SZN y'all! We're breaking down the books we're most excited about that will be coming out in October. We've got horror books, memoirs, young adult, and yep more horror! There's something for everyone though, whether you love scary books or not. This might be our largest list yet.    Books mentioned in this episode   The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes Where Do I Begin by Elvis Duran Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher Toil & Trouble by Augusten Borroughs Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky House of Brides by Jane Cockram Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman The Library of the Unwritten by AJ Hackwith The Grace Year by Kim Liggett Home Work by Julie Andrews Janis by Holly George-Warren Me by Elton John The Beautiful Ones by Prince The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones How We Fight for Our Lives by Saeed Jones The Topeka School by Ben Lerner How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiv

On today's episode, Adam sits down with debut author Sara Faring about her new book The Tenth Girl. They discuss the setting "at the end of the world" in Patagonia, her love of dark stories with uplifting endings, and how she went from investment banking to writing a groundbreaking novel. Sara fought through a complete loss of her voice and was as charming as you could possibly imagine.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Adam sits down with musical icon Ben Folds to discuss his new memoir A Dream About Lightning Bugs. They discuss how Ben views creativity and how it is essential to foster it, his take on storytelling through his songs, and his experience creating a music video with The Fraggles. This is a must-listen for music fans everywhere and his book is a must-read! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, the great Alice Hoffman sits down with Adam to discuss her new book The World That We Knew, writing a fairy tale in the time of World War II, Jewish folklore, and creating the world of Practical Magic. This chat was inspiring and delightful and you're going to love it.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, our good buddy Brad Meltzer returns to chat about the latest installments in his Ordinary People Change the World series, I am Walt Disney and I am Marie Curie. We breakdown the essential nature of daydreaming in Walt's life, why it's important to create real-life role models for children, and how Brad shows his own kids that each day can be magical.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Adam sits down with Dan Haring and MarcyKate Connolly to discuss their wonderful middle-grade novel, The Star Shepherd. This action-packed book is loaded with wonder, falling stars, pirates, and flying robots, and incredible illustrations by Dan. They discuss is day job in visual effects and how they collaborated to bring this story to life.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Longtime listeners of the podcast will know that we adored IT Chapter One so much that we did a bonus episode all about that epic movie. With Chapter II coming out this week we thought we'd re-share our thoughts. Sorry for the PBN Classic episode... we'll have tons of new content for you next week! Hi-ya Georgie! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices