Bookshelf / The Big Read / Novel Encounters / First Person / Facts & Non-Fiction / Writer’s Room / Read & Recommended / At Home Bookshelf>Ann-Marie MacDonald’s Novel “Fayne” is a Sweeping Tale About a Family Dynasty, Dark Secrets and Identity In a Q&A, the bestselling Canadian author talks about her fascination with the 19th century, why her main character is intersex and how her writing has changed.>Jeffrey Archer Draws Inspiration From His Friendship With Lady Diana for His Latest Thriller In a Q&A about "Next in Line," the British author talks about working on charity auctions with Di and which Royal Family member approved of the book.>How “The Marriage Portrait” Was Inspired by a Poem About a Renaissance Painting of a Noblewoman In a Q&A with "Hamnet" author Maggie O'Farrell, she talks about reading Robert Browning, underpainting and how little is known about the life and death of Lucrezia de' Medici>A Women’s Networking Group Veers into Cult Territory in “Please Join Us” The 14th novel from Montreal-based author Catherine McKenzie imagines nefarious working women who take on "the boys club" with terrifying consequences.>Gill Paul takes on Dorothy Parker’s Bridge Club in Prohibition-era New York In "The Manhattan Girls," the London-based writer imagines the lives of four brilliant women who bonded over cards, whiskey and fraught romances>Damien Lewis Searched Second World War Archives to Uncover Josephine Baker’s Secret Past as an Allied Spy In "Agent Josephine," he details how the American burlesque star, who found fame in Paris, snuck French intelligence reports written in invisible ink past Nazi checkpoints>In “Reputation,” Sarah Vaughan Explores How Far a Mother Will Go to Protect Her Children In a Q&A with the London author, she talks about turning 40, leaving her journalism job and taking inspiration from the news headlines >Tilar J. Mazzeo tells the story of three women who preserved a crucial part of Nazi history in “Sisters in Resistance” In an excerpt, she explains how those who risked their lives to rescue the infamous Ciano Diaries also saved themselves>Tsering Yangzom Lama’s Debut Novel Gives an Eloquent Voice to the Tibetan Diaspora “We Measure the Earth with Our Bodies” traces the intergenerational effects of displacement and trauma on refugees who fled the Chinese occupation of their land>A Grandmother’s Job Inspires a Story About Asylums That Denied Motherhood to Fertile Women In "The Foundling," Ann Leary explores the moral conundrum behind eugenics practised by psychiatrists in the 1920s at an American "home for the feeble-minded">Newfoundland writer Lisa Moore’s latest novel explores the antidote to violence "This is How We Love" explores blood relations, chosen families and how trauma reverberates through the generations>YA Author Kirsten Miller Leaves Puberty Behind in a Novel About Menopausal Witches In a Q&A about "The Change," the U.S. writer talks about the Long Island killer who inspired her story, seeing ghosts and dispelling myths about women in midlife>Eric Reguly Gets to Know His Late Father by Writing a Book About the Famed Canadian War Correspondent In "Ghosts of War," the Globe and Mail journalist travels to Vietnam in an effort to reconcile Robert Reguly's globe-trotting career with his family life >Crime Writer Don Winslow Tackles the Mob, with a Classic Twist "City on Fire" starts a new trilogy from the author, who was inspired by Homer's "Iliad" to create a modern-day gangster story set in 80s Rhode Island>“Shuggie Bain” Author Douglas Stuart Returns to Glasgow with “Young Mungo,” a Story About First Love, Toxic Masculinity and Motherless Sons The story about a working-class boy struggling with his sexuality was inspired by Stuart’s coming-of-age as a young gay man in the 80s >Jennifer Egan, Who Loathes Genre Labels, On How ‘A Visit from the Goon Squad’ Led to ‘The Candy House’ In a Q&A with the Pulitzer Prize winner, the New York author equates an imaginary memory platform called "Own Your Unconscious" to Facebook>Margaret Atwood Talks About Her New Essay Collection “Burning Questions,” the Climate Crisis and Aging Susan Swan talks to Margaret Atwood about 'Burning Questions,' a new collection that surfaces past and present convictions.>Chris Jones Explains Why Creativity Can’t Be Measured in “The Eye Test” Data never tell the whole story, despite our dependence on numbers to explain everything from sports to weather>Why Jessamine Chan’s “Intense Anxiety” About Motherhood Makes Her Debut Novel So Chilling In "The School for Good Mothers," the Chicago author imagines an alternative present where mom shaming is government business>Will Aitken Recounts the Champagne-fuelled Lunch That Launched a Luxury Cruise Ship Satire The Montreal author's farcical novel about high-end travel, "The Swells," takes a hilariously dark turn when class war breaks out on the opulent Emerald Tranquility >ABC News foreign correspondent Hilary Brown writes about war zones, ‘Reporter’s Atonement’ and life in a flak jacket In her memoir 'War Tourist,' the Canadian-born TV journalist Hilary Brown covers her ground-breaking career as a female war correspondent, meeting her late husband and finding love again in her seventies>Corey Mintz Explains Why Restaurants Are So Expensive and Diners Should Pay More In 'The Next Supper,' the Winnipeg food journalist shows how the pandemic disrupted the restaurant industry, why you should care and what you can do about it >Myriam Chancy channels Haitian stories and spirits into her novel about the 2010 earthquake In her eighth book, 'What Storm, What Thunder,' the Haitian-born, Canadian-raised academic explains why it was time to write about the catastrophic natural disaster>Comedian Rick Mercer On His New Memoir “Talking to Canadians” and the Moment That Changed His Life The Newfoundland actor and comedian, famous for his 90-second rants, is an introvert and very private person who won't even say what kind of car he drives>How Ancient Greek Texts Inspired Anthony Doerr’s Latest Opus, “Cloud Cuckoo Land” The U.S. author explains why he uses stories-within-stories in his novels, and how he channeled all his preoccupations and anxieties into his latest book>Comedian Ron James Explores a Life on the Road and his Maritime Upbringing in “All Over the Map” In this Q&A about his memoir, James talks about his interest in Nova Scotia history and live-streaming shows from his living room>Kathleen Winter on Her New Novel “Undersong,” and Finding – and Losing – Paradise The Quebec author compares the paradises of the first Industrial Revolution, particularly that of her novel's characters, William and Mary Wordsworth, with our search for peace during the pandemic>Katherine Ashenburg’s New Novel Confronts the Consequences, and Truth, of Second Acts In "Her Turn," the Toronto writer spectacularly blows up the life of her protagonist – a divorced, 48-year-old newspaper editor – to get to the heart of forgiveness>Nadia Hashimi’s Novels Illuminate Afghanistan’s Dark Chapters With Courageous Women The Afghan American author, who connects past and present in 'Sparks Like Stars,' writes about trauma as the U.S. withdraws troops from her homeland>Maria Mutch, Interrupted: How the Pandemic Changed the Solitary Life of a Writer The Canadian author of 'Molly Falls to Earth' reflects on impermanence and the mystery, and sometimes terror, of everyday existence>Janet Skelsien Charles on the Canadian Connection Behind her Historical Novel ‘The Paris Library’ In this essay, the writer, who splits her time between Paris and Montana, recounts the real-life events that inspired the book>Anna Porter Layers on the Intrigue in Her Second Art-World Thriller ‘Deceptions’ Art expert Helena Marsh and her wannabe lover, ex-Budapest policeman Attila Feher, are back and chasing more bad guys in a mystery set in motion by a painting>Why the Canadian Shield is the Bedrock of Mary Lawson’s Books All of the acclaimed author’s novels – including her latest, A Town Called Solace – are set in northern Ontario, because nostalgia for ‘back home’ makes her writing come alive>Jane Boon Gives Capitalism and the Patriarchy a Spanking in Her Debut Novel ‘Edge Play’ The industrial engineer's book draws on her '90s friendship with a professional dominatrix and creates a world where sex workers have more ethics and business acumen than the architects of the financial crisis>Robert Rotenberg on His New Thriller ‘Downfall’ and Homelessness The Toronto criminal lawyer draws on 30 years experience defending everyone from the super rich to the super poor to write about the deep roots of economic disparity>Jack Wang on publishing his first book, We Two Alone, at 48 The Canadian author thought he would set the literary world on fire in his twenties. Here's what it took to get his first book published.>Alexander McCall Smith on Elephants, Writing and Civility The Scottish author found real-life inspiration for the 21st instalment in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series through a sanctuary for orphaned pachyderms in his beloved Botswana>Margaret Atwood Discusses Her New Poetry Collection, Dearly Atwood sits down with Zoomer to talk poetry, the moment she knew she wanted to be a writer and her advice to those who find poetry intimidating.>B.C. Author Annabel Lyon on Her New Novel Consent The genesis of her thriller comes from Dostoevsky, McQueen and Bauby>Margaret Atwood, Linwood Barclay and Other Authors on Writing Your First Novel >Leanne Betasamosake Simpson Explores the Impact of Colonialism in ‘Noopiming: The Cure for White Ladies’ >Colson Whitehead on The Nickel Boys, Zombies and Star Wars The author talks about his writing process, how being Black shaped his life and being a “weirdo”>Barbara Amiel’s Tell-All Memoir Friends and Enemies is heavy on the latter, with a list of those who have slighted Amiel and BlackTAKE ME TOEVERYTHINGZOOMER.COM
