Behind the Books

Kartika Shree shares her experience at the West Windsor Branch with Anna and Bob.  Award-winning poet and novelist Diane Wald discusses her most recent novel, The Bayrose Files, as well as transitioning back and forth between poetry and fiction.  Shannon Tuorto is back with "60 Seconds with Shannon," featuring an overview of the newest release, The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds, by USA Today bestselling author, Jennifer Morgan.

Intro and Welcome
3:16 Interview with Kartika Shree

13:06 Programs and Services @ MCLS

16:41 Sixty Seconds with Shannon

17:51 Interview with Diane Wald
30:16 Summary and Closing 

Show Notes:

Anna and Bob talk with Susan Cox about her role in the Circulation Department at the Hopewell Branch. Juana Martinez-Neal discusses her experience as a picture book illustrator/writer, sharing details about illustrating the recently released, Alberto Salas Plays Paka Paka con la Papa (written by Sara Andrea Fajardo), as well as the upcoming release, A Gift of Dust (written by Martha Brockenbrough). Shannon Tuorto is back with a "60 Seconds with Shannon," featuring an overview of the picture book, Don't Trust Fish, written by Neil Sharpson and illustrated by Dan Santat.

Intro and Welcome

4:47 Interview with Susan Cox

15:02 Programs and Services @ MCLS

17:39 Sixty Seconds with Shannon

18:52 Interview with Juana Martinez-Neal

31:11 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Marwa Khurshid discusses her role at the Hightstown Memorial Library Branch with Anna and Bob.  Emmeline Duncan talks cozy mysteries with a twist -- specifically her recent release, Fatal Brouhaha from the Ground Rules series, as well as the next installment of the Halloween Bookshop series, Mayhem at a Halloween Wedding (forthcoming July 29, 2025).  Shannon Tuorto is back with a "60 Seconds with Shannon," featuring an overview of the newest release, Death of the Author, by science fiction/fantasy author, Nnedi Okorafor.

Ground Rules @ the Library

Intro and Welcome

2:54 Interview with Marwa Khurshid

11:05 Programs and Services @ MCLS

15:06 Sixty Seconds with Shannon

16:19 Interview with Emmeline Duncan

29:21 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Anna and Bob talk with Lauren Fredrick about her position in the Youth Services Department at the West Windsor Branch.  Alka Joshi shares her pathway to being a writer, as well as insight to her newly released novel, Six Days in Bombay. Shanon Tuorto is back with a "60 Seconds with Shannon," featuring an overview of the newest release, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, by horror/thriller author, Grady Hendrix.

Intro and Welcome

3:57 Interview with Lauren Fredrick

13:07 Programs and Services @ MCLS

16:55 Sixty Seconds with Shannon

18:06 Interview with Alka Joshi

34:00 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Anna and Bob talk with Anthony Mazakas-Dong about taking the Information Technology Library Associate position in the MCLS IT Department. Emily Everett shares the ins and outs of her debut novel, All That Life Can Afford. This episode debuts "Take Two," a segment featuring a past author guest. Kelly Bennett gives a sneak peak to her newest book, Out of the Mouth of Babe: Babe Ruth on Life: Pitching, Hitting, Striking Out, and Coming Back Swinging.

Intro and Welcome

2:38 Interview with Anthony Mazakas-Dong

12:57 Programs and Services @ MCLS

16:09 Take Two with Kelly Bennett

18:11 Interview with Emily Everett

30:11 Summary and Closing 

Show Notes:

Anna and Bob sit down and talk libraries with Elizabeth Hess, the Youth Services Librarian at the Twin Rivers Branch.  Sarah Harman discusses the unique circumstances leading to her highly anticipated debut novel, All the Other Mothers Hate Me. "60 Seconds with Shannon," featuring Hopewell Branch staff member Shannon Tuorto, provides a quick overview of the Jeneva Rose's mystery thriller, The Perfect Divorce, the sequel to The Perfect Marriage.

Intro and Welcome

2:52 Interview with Elizabeth Hess

14:57 Programs and Services @ MCLS

18:00 Sixty Seconds with Shannon

19:24 Interview with Sarah Harman

21:21 Summary and Closing 

Show Notes:

Anna and Bob chat with Chloe Peterson from the Circulation Team at the Ewing Branch. Mark Mustian discusses his newest book, The Boy with Wings, as well as the ins and outs of Word of South, a festival of literature and music, founded by Mustian in 2015. "60 Seconds with Shannon," featuring Hopewell Branch staff member Shannon Tuorto, provides a quick overview of the recently published Young Adult thriller, All Better Now, by Neal Shusterman.

Intro and Welcome

4:36 Interview with Chloe Peterson

14:05 Programs and Services @ MCLS

16:47 Sixty Seconds with Shannon

18:00 Interview with Mark Mustian

28:54 Summary and Closing

Show Notes

Charley Christensen from Circulation at the Hickory Corner Branch shares her journey to the library with Anna and Bob. Carly Anne West joins this episode to discuss her craft of bringing the eerie to readers of all ages, as well as to share what's in store with her upcoming installment in the The Ghosts of Nameless Island series,The Boy Who Could Fly. A new segment, "60 Seconds with Shannon" (featuring Hopewell Branch staff member Shannon Tuorto) gives listeners a glimpse into the recently published novel,Black Woods, Blue Sky, by Eowyn Ivey.

Intro and Welcome

3:11 Interview with Charley Christensen

14:33 Programs and Services @ MCLS

17:39 Sixty Seconds with Shannon

18:48 Interview with Carly Anne West

31:15 Summary and Closing 

Show Notes:

Anna and Bob talk with Soniya Kim from Youth Services at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch. Jennifer Nielsen, New York Times bestselling author, joins our co-hosts to discuss her upcoming historical fiction book, One Wrong Step, as well as her experience moving her focus between fantasy novels and historical fiction...

Intro and Welcome

3:30 Interview with Soniya Kim

13:09 Programs and Services @ MCLS

15:49 Interview with Jennifer Nielsen

27:39 Summary and Closing 

Show Notes:

Anna and Bob talk with Asha Chukumba from the Reference Team at the Ewing Branch. Award-winning writer and illustrator. Bruce Hale, joins our co-hosts to discuss his new series, Outer Space Mystery Pizza Club, as well as strategies to encourage the reluctant reader.

Intro and Welcome

5:25 Interview with Asha Chukumba

17:00 Programs and Services @ MCLS

19:24 Interview with Bruce Hale

33:19 Summary and Closing 

Show Notes:

Anna and Bob talk with staff members from across the Mercer County Library System about books and movies they are looking forward to in 2025! 

Intro and Welcome

2:09 Amelia's 2025 Picks

8:46 Corina's 2025 Picks

15:33 Em's 2025 Picks

21:50: Programs and Services @ MCLS

25:58 Shannon's 2025 Picks

36:13 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Amelia's List of 2025 Titles

• The Seven Rings by Nora Roberts (The Brides trilogy;  scheduled for release on November 18, 2025)
• Bonded in Death by J. D. Robb (In Death series; scheduled for release on February 4, 2025)
• Atonement Sky by Nalini Singh  (The Psy/Changeling series;  scheduled for release on July 15, 2025)
• Love Forbidden by J. R Ward (The Black Dagger Brotherhood series; scheduled for release on September 9, 2025)

Corina's List of 2025 Titles

• In the Rhododendrons: A Memoir with Appearances by Virginia Woolf by Heather Christle (scheduled for release on April 15, 2025)
• The Third Reich of Dreams: The Nightmares of a Nation by Charlotte Beradt (new translation by Damion Searls; scheduled for release on April 29, 2025)
• The Stone Door by Leonora Carrington  (scheduled for release on June 17, 2025)

Em's List of 2025 Movies

Anna and Bob discuss some highlights from 2024, as well as meet up for a chat with editor and author, Lauren Ling Brown about her debut novel, Society of Lies.

Intro and Welcome
15:54 Programs and Services @ MCLS
20:10 Interview with Lauren Ling Brown
32:24 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Anna and Bob talk with Lydia Weltmann, author of the Wingomia Guide Trilogy (and who happens to work in the library's Administration Office). Elizabeth Bass, author of over forty novels of women's fiction, romance, and mystery under her own name and the pseudonyms Liz Ireland and Liz Freeland, shares the latest from her Mrs. Claus series, Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year’s.

Intro and Welcome
2:13 Interview with Lydia Weltmann
15:15 Programs and Services @ MCLS
20:03 Interview with Elizabeth Bass
32:21 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Anna and Bob talk with Christina Zipp from the Circulation Team at the Robbinsville Branch. Best-selling author, Catherine Bruns joins our co-hosts to discuss her latest book in the Maple Syrup Series, In the Blink of a Pie, and all things cozy!

Intro and Welcome
3:41 Interview with Christina Zipp
14:16 Programs and Services @ MCLS
17:29 Interview with Catherine Bruns
29:49 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Anna and Bob talk with Em Devlin from the Circulation Team at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch. Best-selling author, Juilet Grames joins our co-hosts to discuss the research and writing process involved with her latest novel, The Lost Boy of Santa Chionia.

• Intro and Welcome
• 3:28 Interview with Em Devlin
• 14:12 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 17:02 Interview with Juliet Grames
• 31:34 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Dave Troutt, from the Information Technology Department, join Bob and Anna to talk about his job as Website Administrator for MCLS.  New York Times best selling author, James Riley, discusses writing and his new, upcoming series, The Dragons Apprentice, with our co-hosts.

• Intro and Welcome
• 2:58 Interview with Dave Troutt
• 14:41 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 19:05 Interview with James Riley
• 32:48 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

In this episode, Bob and Anna interview Paula Houghton from Adult Services at the Lawrence HQ Branch, and New York Times bestselling author, Livia Blackburne.

• Intro and Welcome
• 3:07 Interview with Paula Houghton
• 12:11 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 15:35 Interview with Livia Blackburne
• 27:28 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

In this episode, Anna and Bob chat with Frank Falisi, who works on the Circulation Team at the Hopewell Branch.  Our co-hosts are also joined by award winning author, Lev AC Rosen, to discuss his most recent novel, Rough Pages, which is the third installment of the Evander Mills series.

• Intro and Welcome
• 2:48 Interview with Frank Falisi
• 13:29 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 17:35 Interview with Lev AC Rosen
• 29:50 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Rebecca Harris joins Anna and Bob for this episode to discuss her work on the Circulation Team at the Robbinsville Branch. New York Times best selling author, Kimberly McCreight shares insight about her most recent novel, Like Mother, Like Daughter, as well as her writing process.

• Intro and Welcome
• 5:15 Interview with Rebecca Harris
• 14:28 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 18:27 Interview with Kimberly McCreight
• 34:10 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna chat with Albena Tzankova, Adult Services Librarian at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch. Nisha Sharma, award-winning Young Adult and adult contemporary romance author, talks about her most recent books, The Letters We Keep (May 2024) and the third book of the If Shakespeare was an Auntie Trilogy, Marriage and Masti (August 2024).

• Intro and Welcome
• 3:44 Interview with Albena Tzankova
• 16:04 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 21:20 Interview with Nisha Sharma
• 32:22 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna share some of their favorites moments from author and staff interviews to celebrate the 100th episode of Behind the Books.

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna chat with Riley Rosenberger, an MCLS summer Intern in our Information Technology Department. Our hosts also have an insightful talk with author, activist, and attorney, Robyn Gigl about her latest book, Nothing But the Truth from the Erin McCabe Series.

• Intro and Welcome
• 5:20 Interview with Riley Rosenberger
• 16:11 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 20:05 Interview with Robyn Gigl
• 32:15 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna have an lively talk with Susan Beebe, a member of the Circulation Staff at the West Windsor.  Our hosts also chat with local author, Susan Russo Haines about her the first book in her Guardian of the Moonstones trilogy. 

• Intro and Welcome
• 3:34 Interview with Susan Beebe
• 15:21 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 17:35 Interview with Debora Russo Haines
• 29:48  Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna chat with New York Times best selling author, Mateo Askaripour, about his most recent release, This Great Hemisphere.

• Intro and Welcome
• 6:56 Interview with Mateo Askaripour
• 24:53  Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

• Intro and Welcome
• 3:03 Interview with Lauren Costantini
• 13:41 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 17:05 Interview with Tamara Berry
• 27:49 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna interview Kimberley Halen, Adult Services Librarian at Lawrence Headquarters Branch, as well as poet and author, Wendy Chen.

• Intro and Welcome
• 3:50 Interview with Kimberley Halen
• 14:45 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 17:21 Interview with Wendy Chen
• 20:24 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna interview Neil Kennedy, Adult Services Librarian at Lawrence Headquarters Branch, as well as young adult and adult thriller writer, Kit Frick.

• Intro and Welcome
• 3:46 Interview with Neil Kennedy
• 14:36 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 17:31 Interview with Kit Frick
• 30:54 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna interview Mercer County Executive Dan Benson, as well as decluttering expert and author, Dana K. White.

• Intro and Welcome
• 1:50 Interview with County Executive Dan Benson
• 14:21 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 17:04 Interview with Dana K. White
• 30:52 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna interview Matheson Westlake, Teen/Youth Services Librarian from the West Windsor Branch, as well as picture book author, Tara Lazar.

• Intro and Welcome
• 4:14 Interview with Matheson Westlake
• 16:25 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 21:45 Interview with Tara Lazar
• 35:43 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna interview Elka Frankel, Reference Librarian from the West Windsor Branch, as well as author, Ramona Ausubel.

• Intro and Welcome
• 3:18 Interview with Elka Frankel
• 14:30 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 18:33 Interview with Ramona Ausubel
• 31:34 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna interview Sharon Galbraith Ryer, Branch Manager from the Hickory Corner Branch, as well as author, Jacob Kornhauser.

• Intro and Welcome
• 2:48 Interview with Sharon Galbraith Ryer
• 12:27 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 15:57 Interview with Jacob Kornhauser
• 28:12 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna interview Minyee Mao from the Circulation Department at the Twin Rivers Branch, as well as children's book author, Natasha Tripplett.

• Intro and Welcome
• 3:08 Interview with Minyee Mao
• 15:43 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 20:44 Interview with Natasha Tripplett
• 34:14 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna interview Alana Miles from the Lawrence Headquarters Branch, as well as author Lyn Liao Butter Collins about her latest thriller, What is Mine. 

• Intro and Welcome
• 3:29 Interview with Alana Miles
• 13:38 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 16:58 Interview with Lyn Liao Butler
• 29:28 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna interview Kelly Newman from the Circulation Team at the Hopewell Branch, as well as Kathleen Collins about her debut novel, Study in Hysteria. 

• Intro and Welcome
• 3:01 Interview with Kelly Newman
• 13:50 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 18:22 Interview with Kathleen Collins
• 32:59 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna interview Edward W. Bullock, President of the Trenton Literacy Movement about his debut picture book, Warren Goes to Grandpa's , as well as long-time writer, Karen Outen about her upcoming debut novel, Dixon, Descending.

• Intro and Welcome
• 4:16 Interview with Edward W. Bullock
• 19:28 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 22:33 Interview with Karen Outen
• 35:40 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna interview Rebecca Eaton, Hollowbrook Branch Manager, as well as historical fiction author, Louise Fein, about her upcoming book, The London Bookshop Affair.

• Intro and Welcome
• 5:22 Interview with Rebecca Eaton
• 14:59 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 18:14 Interview with Louise Fein
• 34:02 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna interview Tara Nunn from Circulation at the Robbinsville branch, as well as fantasy author, Greta Kelly, about her recent release, The Queen of Days.

• Intro and Welcome
• 3:39 Interview with Tara Nunn
• 13:42 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 16:30 Interview with Greta Kelly
• 27:38 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna interview Marcia Wolf from Circulation at the Lawrence Headquarters branch, as well as picture book author, Scott Rothman, about his recent release, Basketball Town.

• Intro and Welcome
• 3:38 Interview with Marcia Wolf
• 12:42 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 16:31 Interview with Scott Rothman
• 32:24 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna interview Molly Reinero from Youth Services at the Lawrence Headquarters branch, as well as picture book author, Dianna Wilson Sirkovsky, about her recent release, Just One Pebble. One Boy's Quest to End Hunger.

• Intro and Welcome
• 3:37 Interview with Molly Reinero
• 13:51 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 17:16 Interview with Dianna Wilson Sirkovsky
• 30:27 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna interview James Dunham from Circulation at the Ewing branch, as well as award winning author, Catriona McPherson, about her upcoming release, Hop Scot, which is the sixth installment of her Last Ditch Mysteries series.

• Intro and Welcome
• 3:37 Interview with James Dunham
• 13:51 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 17:16 Interview with Catriona McPherson
• 30:27 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

In two separate interviews, Bob and Anna talk with USA Today bestselling author, Kerri Maher about her recent release, All You Have to Do Is Call, as well as award-winning journalist and best selling author, Karma Brown, about her latest book, What Wild Women Do.

• Intro and Welcome
• 3:32 Interview with Kerri Maher
• 17:56 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 20:43 Interview with Karma Brown
• 32:09 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna interview Michael Kerr from Adult Services at the West Windsor Branch, and Charise Harper, the award-winning author and illustrator of numerous children's books and series.

• Intro and Welcome
• 4:05 Interview with Michael Kerr
• 12:03 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 15:41 Interview with Charise Harper
• 27:46 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna talk with Hickory Corner staff member, Chip McAuley, who is a member of the NJLA Intellectual Freedom Subcommittee, as well as Pulitzer prize-winning science writer, Ed Yong, about his book, An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us.

• Intro and Welcome
• 5:21 Interview with Chip McAuley
• 12:20 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 15:26 Interview with Ed Yong
• 35:19 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna interview Brielle Papaccio from Youth Services at the West Windsor Branch, and Saadia Faruqi, author of the popular "Yasmin" series, about her debut middle grade graphic novel, Saving Sunshine.

• Intro and Welcome
• 1:35 Interview with Brielle Papaccio
• 13:31 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 17:15 Interview with Saadia Faruqi
• 29:57 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna interview Diana Chico from the Circulation Department at the Hightstown Memorial Library Branch, and author Roberta S. Kuriloff about her recent memoir, Framing a Life: Building the Space to be Me.

• Intro and Welcome
• 2:27 Interview with Diana Chico
• 13:06 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 17:04 Interview with Robert Kuriloff
• 28:26 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna interview Lydia Weltmann from the Administration Office at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch, and author-illustrator, Abi Cushman. 

• Intro and Welcome
• 2:58 Interview with Lydia Weltmann
• 11:08 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 14:56 Interview with Abi Cushman
• 29:17 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna interview MCLS Library Commissioner, Dennis Waters, as well as the internationally bestselling author, Shari Lapena.

• Intro and Welcome
• 4:48 Interview with Dennis Waters
• 18:40 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 21:26 Interview with Shari Lapena
• 33:49 Summary and Closing

Show Notes:

Bob and Anna interview Dana Chin from Hickory Corner's Circulation Department, as well as bestselling author, Steven Rowley.

• Intro and Welcome
• 4:26 Interview with Dana Chin
• 16:02 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 20:28 Interview with Steven Rowley
• 35:43 Summary and Closing
• Show Notes:

Bob and Anna interview Jill Long from the Acquisitions and Cataloging Department, as well as romantic comedy author, Pernille Hughes. 

• Intro and Welcome
• 3:39 Interview with Jill Long
• 15:01 Programs and Services @ MCLS
• 18:54 Interview with Pernille Hughes
• 32:57 Summary and Closing

Show Notes: