Shows
First Fifty PagesAsk Better Questions: a conversation with author Rebecca MakkaiIn this episode of The First Fifty Pages, Kelsey and Jenn discuss the author's latest literary feminist boarding school mystery, I Have Some Questions for You— a book that explores the importance of our memories and the impact of time on our own individual stories. If your present self could reckon with the past, what would you try to resolve?
2023-06-2824 minFirst Fifty PagesFollow the Clues: A Conversation with Crime Novelist Benjamin StevensonIn this episode of The First Fifty Pages, Jenn and Kelsey have a lively chat with Australian author Benjamin Stevenson about his latest book, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone. We dig into why fair play mysteries are seeing a resurgence in popularity and why Aussie crime writers are so good. Can you solve this one before the detective does?
2023-05-2642 min
First Fifty PagesLoathe to Love You: A Chat with Author Ali HazelwoodKelsey and Jenn talk with best-selling author Ali Hazelwood about her fan fiction roots, favorite romance tropes, background in academia, and the power of STEMinist love stories—where the heroines break barriers just as easily as they break hearts.
2023-02-0927 minFirst Fifty PagesSubverting Expectations: A Conversation with Author Kate ManningKelsey and Jenn talk with award-winning author Kate Manning about finding threads to the past to uncover women's stories, the courage and resilience of the women in her novels, and her new book Gilded Mountain. Romance, drama, history, and fierce women—we're all in!
2022-12-2130 minFirst Fifty PagesTextual Complexity: A Conversation with E. LockhartTextual Complexity: a conversation with E. Lockhart on heartbreak, reaching young readers, and our postmodern condition.
2022-12-1028 minFirst Fifty PagesA Hero in Trouble: An Interview with Stacy SchiffPulitzer Prize-winning author Stacy Schiff joins Jenn and Kelsey in this episode of The First Fifty Pages to discuss her revelatory new biography about one of our nation's least known but arguably most essential Founding Father, The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams.
2022-11-0830 min
First Fifty PagesHumanity and Humor: A Conversation With Marie Myung-Ok LeeListen for a discussion about how war trauma becomes part of the tapestry of the immigrant experience across generations. And--some fun insight into Korean zombie movies--you won't be disappointed!
2022-08-2539 minFirst Fifty PagesBritish Invasion: A Chat With Author Erin YoungMaking her thriller debut with The Fields, author Erin Young joins Kelsey and Jenn in this episode of The First Fifty Pages.
2022-06-2739 minFirst Fifty PagesPower and Perspective: An Interview With Author Gina SorellAuthor, actress, and brand-storyteller Gina Sorell joins Kelsey and Jenn in this episode of The First Fifty Pages. Gina talks about her latest novel, The Wise Women, and shares some thoughts on how memory, legacy, and perspective shape the stories we tell.
2022-05-1843 minFirst Fifty PagesWriting New Futures--A Conversation With Emily St. John MandelEmily St. John Mandel--the bestselling author behind the critically acclaimed novels Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel--joins Kelsey and Jenn on this episode of The First Fifty Pages. Emily talks about her love of Science Fiction, the un-romantic process of revision, and about how her latest novel, Sea of Tranquility, moves through time and space. (!) Spoiler -- the future is not a catastrophe...
2022-03-2935 minFirst Fifty PagesRead for Joy! A Conversation with Katherine CenterRead for Joy! In this episode of The First Fifty Pages, Kelsey and Jenn chat with New York Times bestselling author Katherine Center about her essay "READ FOR JOY." Katherine shares what this means to her and why it is important to trust yourself to find the stories that you most need to hear.
2022-02-2235 minFirst Fifty PagesCharacter-Driven: A Conversation With Allison LarkinIn this episode of The First Fifty Pages, internationally best-selling author Allison Larkin chats with Jenn and Kelsey about her compelling new book, The People We Keep. We explore the connection to authentic characters, dealing with rejection in the publishing business, and the 1990s as historical fiction (yes, you read that right!).
2022-02-1738 minFirst Fifty PagesNo Kittens Harmed: A Conversation with Dean KoontzInternational Bestselling Master of Suspense Dean Koontz joins Kelsey and Jenn to talk about his journey as an author, the writers who cultivated his love of reading, and his new novel, Quicksilver. Is there a memoir soon to come? After more than 50 years in the business and over 500 million books sold, we find out that Dean Koontz is still full of surprises!
2022-02-1427 minFirst Fifty PagesFinding Doors to Stranger Worlds: A Conversation with V.E. SchwabDid you loveThe Invisible Life of Addie LaRue as much as we did? In this episode of The First Fifty Pages, Kelsey and Jenn chat with author Victoria “V.E.” Schwab about her bestselling novel, opening doors for readers, and what it’s like to hang out with Neil Gaiman.
2022-01-2436 minFirst Fifty PagesLove More: A Chat With Distinguished Novelist Alice HoffmanAlice Hoffman, the spellbinding author behind bestsellers like The Marriage of Opposites and Here on Earth, joins Jenn and Kelsey in this episode of The First Fifty Pages to talk about the magic of books and her much beloved Practical Magic series' final novel, The Book of Magic.
2022-01-2126 minFirst Fifty PagesThe art of storytelling: a conversation with the iconic Julia WhelanGolden Voice audiobook narrator Julia Whelan joins Kelsey and Jenn in this episode of The First Fifty Pages to talk about her work as a storyteller, how she creates transformative moments for listeners, and how the audiobook industry is evolving. We get to talk about some of our favorite books that Julia has narrated, and we even get a tea recommendation!
2022-01-2138 minFirst Fifty PagesBears in the Kitchen: A Trek With Bestselling Author Mary RoachEveryone's favorite science writer Mary Roach joins Jenn and Kelsey in this episode of The First Fifty Pages to talk about her new book, Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law.
2022-01-0543 min2021-12-0227 min