Professional Book Nerds

On today's episode, Adam interviews Jon Scieszka and Steven-Weinberg about their new children's book series ASTRONUTS! They chat about creating this unique and incredible story together while Adam asks about working with family (Jon is Steven's father-in-law). Adam then has to ask about The Stinky Cheese Man and The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The end of the year means it's time to look back on the best books of 2019! As a bonus, we also share our selections for the best books of the entire decade!   Books mentioned in this episode:   The 10 Best Books of 2019 The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman The Grace Year by Kim Liggett The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead Trust Exercise by Susan Choi The Lady from the Black Lagoon by Mallory O'Meara Three Women by Lisa Taddeo   The 10 Best Books of the Decade Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi This is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza Ready Player One by Ernest Cline Pachinko by Min Jin Lee The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaima

We're excited to share our brand new 2020 reading challenge! In this episode, we explain each of the following challenges in depth. Be sure to subscribe to hear upcoming episodes loaded with recommendations.  You can find the form to fill out at professionalbooknerds.com or on our pinned tweet over at @ProBookNerds on Twitter. Be sure to share your progress using the hashtag #PBNread2020 The Professional Book Nerds 2020 Reading Challenge Book translated from a language other than your own   Book written by an LGBTQ+ author   A collection of short stories or an anthology   A graphic novel   Read two books on the same subject, 1 fiction & 1 nonfiction   A microhistory   A book you haven't read since high school   A self-published book   A book with Nontraditional formatting Book featuring a cat or dog First book of a series A book published between 2000 & 2010 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We brought our good friend Robin Whitten from Audiofile Magazine on to run through their (and our) selections for the best audiobooks of 2019. Take a listen! The Best Audiobooks of 2019 Akin by Emma Donoghue, narrated by Jason Culp   Full Throttle by Joe Hill, narrated by Zachary Quinto, Wil Wheaton, Kate Mulgrew, Neil Gaiman, Ashleigh Cummings, Joe Hill, Laysla De Oliveira, Nate Corddry, Connor Jessup, Stephen Lang, and George Guidall.   The British Are Coming by Rick Atkinson, Narrated by George Newbern   The First Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer, Narrated by Scott Brick   Charlotte's Web by E. B. White, Narrated by Meryl Streep   The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman, Narrated by Michael Sheen   Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid   The Aye-Aye and I by Gerald Durrell, narrated by Rupert Degas   A Dream About Lightning Bugs by Ben Folds   Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir   Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey, Narrated by Xe Sands   Run Away by Harlan C

On today's episode, Adam is joined by bestselling author Katharine McGee! They chat about her transitioning from Science Fiction to writing romantic comedies with her new, phenomenal book American Royals. They also discuss Katharine's love of intricate period piece shows, share thoughts on His Dark Materials, and, of course, chat about Les Mis.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is not an understatement to say that Steve Potash is the reason we are able to do this podcast. Steve is the founder and creator of Rakuten OverDrive as well as one of the main reasons digital library reading is such a prevalent part of our lives. Each day, we come to work at the OverDrive office excitement to help create a world enlightened by reading and it all starts with Steve's energy and passion. But OverDrive has been around much longer than you likely realize and it didn't start with libraries. On today's episode, Steve joins us to discuss the humble origins of this incredible company we get to call home.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Adam interviews Maaza Mengiste about her new novel, The Shadow King. This book tells the story of Mussolini's 1935 invasion of Ethiopia and how it changed lives forever on both sides. Maaza shares the incredible true story of her ancestor who fought for her right to join the Ethiopian army to defend her home, the paths her research led her down, and so much more.    This episode is sponsored by https://literatibooks.com/. Use our promo code PROBOOKNERDS for $20 off your first box of teacher-curated books and beautiful artwork for kids! These unique gifts also feature some amazing holiday themes this month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Adam interviews Kate Racculia, author of the award-winning Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts. They chat about Edgar Allan Poe, Kate's many exceptional past jobs, her experience working in a library and so much more wonderful nerdery. Take a listen!   This episode is sponsored by https://literatibooks.com/. Use our promo code PROBOOKNERDS for $20 off your first box of teacher-curated books and beautiful artwork for kids! These unique gifts also feature some amazing holiday themes this month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Adam and Jill sit down with local authors Barbara and Teeba Furat Marlowe. Their book, A Brave Face, tells the incredible true story of how two families from halfway around the world became forever connected, turning a tragedy into a heartwarming story of perseverance, faith, and hope.  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

Jill is here with the biggest books of December the Professional Book Nerds can't wait to read! Children of Virtue and Vengence by Tomi Adeyemi Good Girls Lie by JT Ellison Dead Astronauts by Jeff VanderMeer Meg & Jo by Virginia Kantra Disney's Land by Richard Snow The Dead Girl's Club by Damien Angelica Walters The Book of Science and Antiquities by Thomas Keneally The Sacrament by Olaf Olaffson Reverie by Ryan La Sala The Measure of our Lives by Toni Morrison     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is a splendidly fun conversation with Ben Aaronovitch, author of the wildly popular Rivers of London series! We nerd out about writing, London, Mythology, police procedurals and so much more. This episode is sponsored by https://literatibooks.com/. Use our promo code PROBOOKNERDS for $20 off your first box of teacher-curated books and beautiful artwork for kids! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who is ready to return to Elfhame? This week, the final book in Holly Black's wildly popular "Folk of the Air" series, The Queen of Nothing, came out and Holly stopped by to chat! Adam and Holly get into the creation of the world of Elfhame, the relationship between Jude and Cardan, and so much more. This is a must listen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is all about the books we've been reading lately but we also dive into some truly crazy true-life murder stories involving authors and embrace our final form... A Pagemaster Podcast. Books mentioned in this episode You Will Know Me by Megan Abbot Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo Dare Me by Megan Abbott The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White Give Me Your Hand by Megan Abbott The Library of the Unwritten by A. J. Hackwith Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel Criminal by Karin Slaughter Running with Sherman by Christopher McDougall The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter Perfect Little Children by Sophie Hannah Sunnyside Plaza by Scott Simon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Surprise! Adam went down to Atlanta for a day to record a bonus episode with Big Library Read authors Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal! They chat with a bunch of incredible students from DeKalb Early College Academy about the creation and importance of I'm Not Dying With You Tonight. Visit https://biglibraryread.com/ to join our global discussion of this incredible book!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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