I've been having lots of fun recently listening to author podcasts. Besides some that I've found on The BookExpo America site, a recent find was
Library LoveFest, Authors Air. There is an excellent interview with Val McDermid by Virginia Stanley, Director of Library Marketing at HarperCollins. Ms. McDermid discusses her latest standalone thriller Darker Domain, a psychological thriller as well as being a historical mystery that blends fact and fiction in telling the story of the National Miners Strike. In her own words Val states that she loves how the past casts a long shadow, that things often have their roots way back in history. Darker Domain's roots lie in 1984 in the time of The National Miners Strike. Taking place in Fife, Mick Prentice disappears during the strike. Twenty-two years later his daughter, Misha, enlists the help of Detective Inspector Karen Pirie in reopening this cold case. A second story-line follows the kidnapping of Katrina and her son Adam, the daughter and grandson, respectively, of Sir Broderick Maclennan Grant, a wealthy businessman. Annabel Richmond, a freelance journalist, uncovers new evidence in this case. You wonder how these two storylines will merge, but bet they will. Besides a great deal of background about this book McDermid talks about her 3 ongoing series, where her ideas come from, family, libraries, etc. Where the interview shines is when she talks about crafting a novel, be it mystery or thriller. Any aspiring writer could learn something here. Her warm sense of humor also is evident. I've read some of Val McDermid's novels and will add Darker Domain to my summer reading list.
There are lots of other author interviews on the site. I've downloaded two others, Mary Kay Andrews and Charles Todd. If they are even half as good as the first, I'm in for a treat.
Do you have any favorite sites for author podcasts or book talking in general?
