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Better World Books Podcast with Dana Barrett
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Top 10 Better World Books » Podcast Feed Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Better World Books » Podcast Feed episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Better World Books » Podcast Feed for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Better World Books » Podcast Feed episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Paging Authors Podcast: David Sheff & Nic Sheff
Better World Books » Podcast Feed
03/11/09 • 22 min
I got a hold of Beautiful Boy and Tweak less than 24 hours before I had the chance to meet and interview David Sheff and his son Nic. And what an interesting 24 hours it was. I spent that time totally immersed in their story and felt like I was seeing old friends when they arrived at the office.
Although their books feel completely different and are geared to completely different audiences, they share the same story; Nic’s terrifying cycle of drug addiction, recovery and relapse.
As a parent, I related to what David was going through. These are smart, successful parents with smart and talented kids. I’m sure, like most of us, they never thought it could happen to them. Nic could have been my kid or yours. That’s the scary part.
Reading Nic’s story takes you away from the headlines and the statistics and gives a face and a humanity to the addiction. By turns I was angry at him, but then wanted to hug him and protect him just they way I know his father does.
I hope you will enjoy the interview and will get great meaning out of both of these incredible books.
Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!
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Better World Books Podcast: Michael Malone
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07/24/09 • 0 min
Michael Malone is the best award winning, New York Times bestselling author you’ve never heard of. His latest novel, THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE SKY, is a rare combination of page turning adventure and deeply complex writing. And it should be — he spent 10 years writing it. You get the feeling when you talk to Michael that he doesn’t write for the money or the fame but because he genuinely loves to write.
This is a guy who has won an Edgar, an O. Henry, and even an Emmy for his television writing and he is as unassuming and easy to talk to as you could ever imagine. In addition to his writing, Michael is also a professor at Duke University and as I interviewed him I found myself jealous of his students. This is a guy you could really learn from.
But I digress. The book is the story of Navy pilot Annie Peregrine-Goode and her quest to find her father, the identity of her mother, and most of all herself. Built on a subtle Wizard of Oz base, the story is about love, secrets, and the mysterious bonds of families.
One of the things I loved most about THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE SKY is the detail that went into creating the lives and back stories of even the smallest characters. It’s a large cast and not one character is a cardboard cut out. Quite a feat.
So, if you’d already heard of Michael Malone — you know what I’m talking about. If you hadn’t...well, you have now. Grab a copy of the book and he’ll soon be one your favorite authors.
I hope you enjoy the interview! Click here to check out more great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

Better World Books Podcast: Patricia Sprinkle
Better World Books » Podcast Feed
03/16/10 • 18 min
Patricia Sprinkle has written almost thirty books in her writing career. Most of them are mysteries but she takes a break from all that for her latest work Hold Up the Sky.
Hold Up the Sky is a story about 4 women relying on each other through some fairly difficult times. It takes place during a drought in a small Georgia farming town and though not the kind of book I would normally be interested in, I was drawn in.
The characters Patricia creates have heart and though the dilemmas they face may not directly be facing us all, they do force us to question how we would behave in similar circumstances.
When Patricia and I sat down for the interview we focused on where the story comes from and some of the situations the characters found themselves in. But we also dealt with the idea of looking deeper into “genre” fiction for the issues the book is handling. For example, in Hold Up the Sky, Patricia humanizes US immigration through the character of Emerita. She doesn’t have the answer for us, but she does put a human face on it.
Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!
— Dana

Better World Books Podcast: Stephen J. Cannell
Better World Books » Podcast Feed
03/20/09 • 21 min
I got a chance to talk to Stephen Cannell on the phone a couple of days before his visit to Atlanta on his book tour for ON THE GRIND. It was a Saturday morning at about 9AM my time, meaning 6AM for him and he had already been up writing for several hours.
I was a bit nervous for the call, knowing that in addition to being a New York Times bestselling author, Stephen (I think we’re on a first name basis now) is also this uber famous and connected TV producer but truth be told, he couldn’t have been nicer or more gracious.
We talked about Stephen’s backround, and about the character of Shane Scully, his origins and where he may be headed next. And though I know you don’t always think of action packed detective stories as being about some of the today’s most pressing issues, this one certainly is.
Both police corruption and immigration issues are focused on in the book and in the interview, Stephen talks about why he highlights these issues and what he wants the reader to take away.
A couple of days after the phone interview, I went to meet Stephen in person at his appearance at The Margaret Mitchell House. In person, he was just as gracious as on the phone and he is a truly inspiring speaker. If you ever have the opportunity, I urge you to go and hear him speak.
Oh – and if you’re into TV, Stephen appeared with James Patterson on the pilot episode of Castle on ABC!
Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

Better World Books Podcast: Norris Church Mailer
Better World Books » Podcast Feed
05/05/10 • 19 min
Norris Church Mailer is a real person. That may seem like an odd way to start a blog post but her memoir and her life could be the stuff of great fiction. A beautiful girl, a much older famous man, his former wives, his large brood of children, a modeling career, famous friends, attendance at historical events, and the list goes on. But what makes A TICKET TO THE CIRCUS so readable is that it’s real and Norris doesn’t hold back.
She shares the good, the bad and the ugly. There were affairs, there were arguments, there was sickness and death – but there was also love and family and art and humor. After reading A TICKET TO THE CIRCUS, meeting Norris was like meeting someone I’ve always known. She was unapologetic about her life choices (as she should be) not in the least bit braggy and totally brave. She admits her health is not good (she’s living with a cancer that should’ve killed her years ago) and yet she is still living her life to the fullest.
My favorite moment in the interview came when I asked Norris if she ever felt out of place when hanging out with people like Muhammad Ali or Fidel Castro... and she said “No. I looked around at the other people there and I thought ‘Why not me?'” I totally love that. I’m going to make it my new mantra.
Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!
— Dana Barrett, Podcast Host

Better World Books Podcast: Sarah Addison Allen
Better World Books » Podcast Feed
04/05/10 • 16 min
Sarah Addison Allen’s fans expect her books to be full of magic and her latest The Girl Who Chased the Moon doesn’t disappoint.
This book has magic wallpaper, sweet sense, mystical lights that inexplicably roam the woods at night and even a giant. While some of the magic is there to advance the plot, some is just there for fun.
The book, like all of Sarah’s books, is also full of food. This time it’s barbecue and cake. Mmmm. Cake. And if you’re as taken with some of the cakes as I am, don’t worry, you can get the recipes on her website!
I sat down to chat with Sarah last week during her tour. We talked about the book and some of the magic in it, but one of things I thought was most amazing is that she had three completely different versions of the book before it became what it is now. Listen to what Sarah had to say about that, about happy endings, and about Grandpa Vance, the gentle giant.
Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!
— Dana
P.S. Better World Books has an awesome price on this book new! Only $14.48 with FREE SHIPPING. That’s over 42% off! Get your copy now!

Better World Books Podcast: Jodi Picoult
Better World Books » Podcast Feed
05/20/09 • 14 min
Jodi Picoult came by my office on a Wednesday afternoon while she was in Atlanta for her book tour. And while I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing NY Times bestselling authors before, I’m definitely not as cool as I should be and I was nervous.
I mean, after all Jodi Picoult is not just any author she’s the kind of author whose books jump to #1 on the list the minute they come out. Everyone knows who she is. If you’ve ever walked into a bookstore or even past one in an airport, you’d recognize the cover of a Jodi Picoult book. And now her most famous book MY SISTER’S KEEPER is about to come out as a major motion picture as well.
So yes, I was nervous because of her fame but it was more than that. I had just finished HANDLE WITH CARE the night before at about midnight and I was fired up about the ending. Among other things, I was hoping I could politely ask why she chose to end her books with the shocking and upsetting twists and turns she is famous for.
The book is about Willow, a child born with brittle bone disease and her mother Charlotte’s ensuing wrongful birth lawsuit. As with all her books, HANDLE WITH CARE will keep you turning pages, caring about the characters and asking yourself what you would do if you found yourself in this situation.
We talked about the characters, the disease, the research that went into the book and yes, the shocking ending as well. And of course I had to ask about the upcoming movie release of MY SISTER’S KEEPER (June 2009 – starring Cameron Diaz and Abigail Breslin).
Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

Better World Books Podcast: Chris Cleave
Better World Books » Podcast Feed
03/09/10 • 17 min
Have you ever eaten a dessert so delicious you had no words to describe it? I mean you could try; “it’s rich...delicious...so chocolatey”, or maybe “so delicate...it melts in your mouth...the perfect blend”, but really the words just don’t do it justice.
That’s kind of how I feel about Little Bee. And whoever wrote the back cover copy clearly agrees with me. Little Bee IS a great story – and it IS filled with well developed characters and though it is not drenched in raspberry sauce, it is indescribably good. It unfolds in a unique way. It plays with language. It asks you questions and it puts you in uncomfortable positions without judging.
You will read this book. I’m not telling you to, I just know you will. And then you’ll want to talk about it. So please do. Tell everyone else to read it, but as the back cover suggests – don’t give anything away.
In the mean time, tune in to my interview the author. Meet Chris Cleave and learn a tad more about the book, what’s in it and why. Then grab a copy and get to reading.
Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!
— Dana

Better World Books Podcast: Wendy Wax
Better World Books » Podcast Feed
03/03/10 • 20 min
I met Wendy Wax, author of Magnolia Wednesdays and The Accidental Bestseller several years ago through work and we became friends. Good friends. The kind of friends that know each others families and drink wine together whenever possible.
So, reading a book by a friend has an interesting quality to it, as does interviewing them. When reading, I think “Hmmm. That living room she is describing sounds a lot like her living room” or better yet ” I think I might know who she based that character on!”. While interviewing Wendy I struggled not to lapse into our usual chit chat about the struggles of the day – and I didn’t jump in to admit that indeed I was the friend who went ballroom dancing with her in the name of research.
But in the name of sharing, I thought you should know. And I also think you should know that all biases of friendship aside, the books is a page turner. You’ll want to know what happens next. It’s a story about women and the struggles we face at various places in our lives. It’s also a story of secrets and lies which Wendy explains in the interview. And most of all Magnolia Wednesdays contains plenty of Wendy’s trademark humor which is aimed squarely at suburbia.
Let’s face it, any book that starts with someone getting shot in the butt is bound to make you laugh and want to keep on reading.
Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!
— Dana

Better World Books Podcast: Matthew Pearl
Better World Books » Podcast Feed
06/12/09 • 0 min
Matthew Pearl barely looks old enough to have written one book, let alone three incredibly well researched national and international bestsellers. But he has...and he got some impressive degrees while doing it. A graduate of Harvard University and Yale Law School, Matthew actually started writing his first novel, THE DANTE CLUB while he was still in school. While most of us were rolling over and happily skipping our 8 o’clock classes, Matthew Pearl was writing.
And it has paid off. His books are a unique combination of page turning mystery and well researched historical fiction.
As a book lover, I was especially excited to meet Matthew and chat about his latest book, THE LAST DICKENS when he was in Atlanta on tour recently. I dug in to the book and got the details on what is fact and what is fiction, along with the acceptable nicknames for Matthew and a clue about what he is working on next.
And since Matthew is fond of sharing “extras” that weren’t in the book on his website, I’ll share a fun fact with you that’s not in the interview. As a gift to himself when the manuscript was finished, Matthew bought and original Fields & Osgood (Osgood is the main character in the book) copy of The Mystery of Edwin Drood. He had it with him. Super cool.
Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!
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FAQ
How many episodes does Better World Books » Podcast Feed have?
Better World Books » Podcast Feed currently has 38 episodes available.
What topics does Better World Books » Podcast Feed cover?
The podcast is about News, Literature, Society & Culture, Novels, Writing, Humor, Podcasts, Books, Arts and Authors.
What is the most popular episode on Better World Books » Podcast Feed?
The episode title 'Paging Authors Podcast: David Sheff & Nic Sheff' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Better World Books » Podcast Feed?
The average episode length on Better World Books » Podcast Feed is 14 minutes.
How often are episodes of Better World Books » Podcast Feed released?
Episodes of Better World Books » Podcast Feed are typically released every 10 days, 17 hours.
When was the first episode of Better World Books » Podcast Feed?
The first episode of Better World Books » Podcast Feed was released on Jan 23, 2009.
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