Shows
Past ForwardMitchell KaplanMitchell Kaplan is best known for the creation of the Miami Book Fair International, the largest community book festival in the United States and a model for book fairs across the country.Kaplan began his working career as a high school English teacher. Two years after opening an independent bookstore, Books & Books, Kaplan, along with the Dade County Library and other independent bookstore owners, was asked by the president of the downtown Wolfson campus of the Miami-Dade College, Eduardo J. Padrón, to help put on a book fair, originally called “Books by the Bay.”In ad...
2025-03-0326 min
Cut To The Chase: Podcast Hosted by Gregg GoldfarbHow Independent Bookstores are Building Community & Promoting Banned Books in Florida | Mitchell KaplanHow are book lovers combatting censorship in Florida? What does it take to thrive as a bookstore in the digital age? Today’s guest is tackling those questions and much more! In this episode of Cut to the Chase: Podcast, Gregg chats with Mitchell Kaplan, a co-founder of Books & Books and the Miami Book Fair. Together, they explore the evolution of Miami from the turbulent days of the early 80s to its current cultural renaissance. Mitchell shares his journey from law school dropout to successful entrepreneur, opening a bookstore against the backdrop of a struggling Mi...
2025-02-0527 min
NEREJ / NYREJ PodcastMitchell Korbey of Herrick, Feinstein LLP Interview on NEREJ NYREJ PodcastSend us a textRick Kaplan Host of NEREJ/NYREJ Podcast interviews Mitchell Korbey of Herrick, Feinstein LLP. Mitchell Talks about why City of Yes is a timely piece of legislation that, if approved, will dramatically change the city's housing landscape and make a big dent in the issue of affordable housing. I think your audience would find it interesting to hear about the specifics impacts of the finalized version on the city, and how this can serve as a blueprint for similar initiatives to spur housing development. More broadly, I can also talk about how zoning c...
2024-10-2533 min
Extra Shot with Alisha Fernandez MirandaExtra Shot 205: Mitchell KaplanBook lovers unite! When Mitchell Kaplan opened Books and Books in Miami in the 1980s, the city was far from the cultural mecca it is today. He's been on the forefront of the city's evolution, founding the Miami Book Fair and growing from one shop to a statewide place to be. Mitchell (Alisha's ex-boss!) joins to chat about book bans, the Harry Potter effect and why bookstores are so hot right now.*Show Notes* Read along with Mitchell's references: The Year of Dangerous Days: Riots, Refugees and Cocaine in Miami 1980 by Nicholas Griffin
2024-01-3028 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanDani Shapiro on the Fifteen Year Journey of Signal FiresOn today’s episode of The Literary Life, Mitchell Kaplan is joined by Dani Shaprio to discuss her latest novel, Signal Fires, out now from Knopf.________________________________Subscribe now to The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever else you find your podcasts!Dani Shapiro s a best-selling novelist and memoirist and host of the podcast Family Secrets (now in its seventh season). Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Vogue, and Time. She has taught at Columbia and New York University and is the co-founder of t...
2022-11-0441 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanChristopher M. Finan: How to Battle Book Banning in Your Own CommunityOn today’s episode of The Literary Life, Mitchell Kaplan is joined by Christopher M. Finan to discuss his new book, How Free Speech Saved Democracy: The Untold History of How the First Amendment Became an Essential Tool for Securing Liberty and Social Justice, out now from Steerforth Press.________________________________Subscribe now to The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever else you find your podcasts!Christopher M. Finan has been involved in the fight against censorship for 35 years. He is executive director of the National Coalition Against Censorship and the former pr...
2022-09-1638 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanMark Kurlansky: Why Short Stories are Pure StorytellingOn today’s episode of The Literary Life, Mitchell Kaplan is joined by Mark Kurlansky to discuss his latest book, The Importance of Not Being Ernest: My Life with the Uninvited Hemingway, out now from Books & Books.Subscribe now to The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever else you find your podcasts!Mark Kurlansky is the New York Times bestselling author of Milk!, Havana, Paper, The Big Oyster, 1968, Salt, The Basque History of the World, Cod, and Salmon, among other titles. He has received the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, Bon Appétit‘s Food Writer of the...
2022-06-2452 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanSteve Almond on the Myth of ReaganismOn today’s episode of The Literary Life, Mitchell Kaplan is joined by Steve Almond to discuss his latest book, All the Secrets of the World, out now from Zando.________________________________Subscribe now to The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever else you find your podcasts!Steve Almond is the author of ten books of fiction and nonfiction, including the New York Times bestsellers Candyfreak and Against Football. He teaches Creative Writing at the Neiman Fellowship at Harvard and Wesleyan, as well as Hugo House, Grub Street, and numerous literary conferen...
2022-05-2850 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanDon Winslow Is Hopeful For the FutureOn today’s episode of The Literary Life, Mitchell Kaplan is joined by Don Winslow to discuss his latest book, City on Fire, out now from William Morrow.________________________________Subscribe now to The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever else you find your podcasts!Don Winslow is the author of twenty-two acclaimed, award-winning international bestsellers, including the New York Times bestsellers The Force and The Border, the #1 international bestseller The Cartel, The Power of the Dog, Savages, and The Winter of Frankie Machine. Savages was made into a feature film by three-time Oscar-wi...
2022-05-2039 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanWhat Kind of Bookstore Browser Are You?On today’s episode of The Literary Life, Mitchell Kaplan is joined by Jeff Deutsch to discuss his new book, In Praise of Good Bookstores, out now from Princeton University Press, from a live event at Books & Books.Subscribe now to The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever else you find your podcasts!Jeff Deutsch is the director of Chicago’s Seminary Co-op Bookstores, which in 2019 he helped incorporate as the first not-for-profit bookstore whose mission is bookselling. He lives in Chicago. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...
2022-04-2942 min
Let's Break the Silence with AngelineSeason 3, Episode 10: Developing Empathetic Education with Dana KaplanThis week Angeline is joined by Dana Kaplan. Dana Kaplan is an Early Childhood and Social-Emotional
Awareness Expert, Pioneering DEIAB in ACTION from the womb to 12th grade. (*Diversity Equity
Inclusion Access and Belonging).
Dana’s tenure in the classroom provided her the landscape to design, pilot, and launch highly
sought-after programs in both NYC and Atlanta, Georgia. With over 16 years of classroom teaching
and leadership, Developing Empathetic Education with Dana (DEED)® was founded.
Dana believes rich curiosity is the essential ing...
2022-03-2151 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanDiana Abu-Jaber on How Life Begins Each Time You Find a New PlaceOn today’s episode of The Literary Life, Mitchell Kaplan is joined by Diana Abu-Jaber to discuss her new book, Fencing With the King, out now from W.W. Norton.________________________________Subscribe now to The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever else you find your podcasts!Diana Abu-Jaber is the award-winning author of seven books of fiction and nonfiction, including Crescent and The Language of Baklava. She lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-03-1834 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanJulie Otsuka on Writing Her Most Personal StoryOn today’s episode of The Literary Life, Mitchell Kaplan talks with Julie Otsuka about her new novel, The Swimmers, out next month from Knopf.________________________________Subscribe now to The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever else you find your podcasts!Julie Otsuka was born and raised in California. She is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, and her first novel, When the Emperor Was Divine, won the 2003 Asian American Literary Award and the 2003 American Library Association’s Alex Award. Her second novel, The Buddha in the Attic, was a finalist for...
2022-02-1138 min
The Bookshop PodcastMitchell Kaplan, Owner Books & Books, Podcast Host, Co-owner Mazur KaplanSend us a textMitchell Kaplan opened the first Books & Books bookshop in 1982 in Coral Gables, Florida. Since then, Books & Books has grown to seven bookshops, two of which include restaurants.Mitchell served as president of the American Booksellers Association and received the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation.As co-founder of the Miami Book Fair in 1985, Mitchell has served as the chairperson of its Board of Directors and continues to guide the programming team at the Fair which takes place on the campus of Miami Dade College in the heart of...
2022-02-0256 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanAnjanette Delgado, Yaddyra Peralta, and Mia Leonin on the Literature of UprootednessOn today’s episode of The Literary Life, Mitchell Kaplan is joined by Anjanette Delgado, Yaddyra Peralta, and Mia Leonin to discuss their new anthology, Home in Flordia: Latinx Writers and the Literature of Uprootedness, out now from University Press of Florida.________________________________Subscribe now to The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever else you find your podcasts!Anjanette Delgado is a Puerto Rican writer and journalist based in Miami. She is the author of The Heartbreak Pill and The Clairvoyant of Calle Ocho. She has written for the New York Times “Mod...
2022-01-2845 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanBooks for Those on Your 2021 Holiday List From Mitchell Kaplan and the Books & Books TeamMitchell Kaplan has been a bookseller and has owned the independent bookstore Books & Books for almost 40 years. Enter The Literary Life where every Saturday you’ll hear candid conversations with Mitchell and his guests. If you love books, writers or are a passionate reader, this podcast is for you. Listen to this week’s episode to hear the Books & Books team talk about some of their favorite books for everyone on your holiday list. Shop the recommendations here from Mitchell, head book buyer Gaël LeLamer, children's and YA buyer Cristina Russell, and events and marketing director Cristina Nosti.
2021-11-0559 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanTananarive Due on Reinventing Black HorrorOn today’s episode of The Literary Life, Mitchell Kaplan talks to Tananarive Due about her latest novel, The Between, out now in paperback from Harper Perennial.________________________________Subscribe now to The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever else you find your podcasts!Tananarive Due is an award-winning author who teaches Black Horror and Afrofuturism at UCLA. She is an executive producer on Shudder’s groundbreaking documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror. Her books include Ghost Summer: Stories, My Soul to Keep, and The Good House. She and her late mother...
2021-10-2952 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanLauren Groff on Exploring the Many Meanings of Matrix in Her New NovelOn today’s episode of The Literary Life, Mitchell Kaplan talks to Lauren Groff about her new novel, Matrix, out now from Riverhead Books.________________________________Subscribe now to The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever else you find your podcasts!Lauren Groff is a two-time National Book Award finalist and the New York Times bestselling author of the novels The Monsters of Templeton, Arcadia, and Fates and Furies, and the short story collections Delicate Edible Birds and Florida. She has won the Story Prize and has been a finalist for the National Book...
2021-10-1536 min
Miami Lit PodcastInterview with Mitchell Kaplan founder and owner of Books and BooksJoin us in today's interview with the amazing Mitchell Kaplan. Mitchell established our favorite local bookstore, Books and Books, cofounded the Miami Book Fair, which brings together more than 300 authors, and has recently turned literary works into wonderful films.
To Mitchell: Thank you for creating an inspirational space where we can find the story at the turn of the page.
You can find out more at https://booksandbooks.com
.
You can also help support the show here: https://anchor.fm/miami-lit-podcast/support
❤ Jenny
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Hey!! New merch is...
2021-08-1044 min
Suite Run39 | Walnut Creek, CA with Tim Kaplan: Running in East Bay ParadiseWe are so happy to welcome Tim Kaplan to the Suite Run Podcast! Tim is a nine time (including Boston!) marathoner, a retired 20 year Berkeley Police Officer, and a certified personal trainer and run coach. Tim is also a Wellness consultant and stress resilience trainer, pursuing a Master's in Social Work from Boston University. Tim and his wife Jennifer (fun fact - his wife works for Cliff Bar!) have been married for 8 years and have a 6 year old son named Maxwell. Jerold and Tim went to high school together and we have a great time catching up with Tim...
2021-07-1547 min
Where Dreams Come FromMitchell Kaplan (English)From an early age, Mitchell Kaplan was afforded the freedom to go explore life and discover possibilities. For him, finding an exact focal point for his passion for a literary life came in stages. It took from being and English major in Colorado where the Beat movement was experiencing a resurgence in the 1970s to fleeing law school to settle for becoming an English teacher back in his hometown – Miami to realize what he really wanted to do was start an independent bookstore. The rest – as they say is history. As his career as an independent bookseller progressed, Kaplan also...
2021-04-1928 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanGabriel Byrne on Tracing His Memories Through Past and Present, Fact and ImaginationOn today’s episode of The Literary Life, Mitchell Kaplan talks to Gabriel Byrne about his new book, Walking with Ghosts, out now from Grove Press.________________________________This episode of The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan was recorded between Miami and Maine. Subscribe now on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever else you find your podcasts!Gabriel Byrne was born in Dublin and has starred in over 80 films for some of the cinema’s leading directors. He won a Golden Globe for his performance on HBO’s In Treatment. On Broadway he won the Outer Crit...
2021-02-121h 11The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanJill McCorkle on the Voice She Channels When It's Time to Write a RantOn this episode of The Literary Life, Jill McCorkle talks with Mitchell Kaplan about her new book, Hieroglyphics, and the role of a writer in difficult times.This episode of The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan was recorded between North Carolina and Miami. Subscribe now on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever else you find your podcasts!Jill McCorkle’s first two novels were released simultaneously when she was just out of college, and the New York Times called her “a born novelist.” Since then, she has published six novels and four collections of short stories, and her work has ap...
2020-10-2340 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanAllie Brosh: Everybody Wants to Touch Something in the VoidOn this episode of The Literary Life, Allie Brosh talks with Mitchell Kaplan about her new book, Solutions and Other Problems, and how bad things still happen to good people.________________________________This episode of The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan was recorded between Bend and Miami. Subscribe now on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever else you find your podcasts!Allie Brosh is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Hyperbole and a Half, which was named the Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Best Humor Book of the Year. Brosh has also given herself many prestigiou...
2020-10-1652 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan"It's Our Turn Now": Writers Against Trump on the Fight for DemocracyOn this episode of The Literary Life, Diane Roberts, Todd Gitlin, and Carolyn Forché talk with Mitchell Kaplan about Writers Against Trump, and how what started in response to a crisis of language became a full-fledged movement against fascism. To learn more about Writers Against Trump, go to https://www.writersagainsttrump.org/.Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Justin Alvarez, Lit Hub Radiohttps://booksandbooks.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2020-10-091h 05The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanEllis Cose on the Short Life and Curious Death of Free Speech in AmericaOn this episode of The Literary Life, Ellis Cose talks with Mitchell Kaplan about his new book, The Short Life and Curious Death of Free Speech in America, how writing the history of the American Civil Liberties Union led him to the project, and Banned Books Week.Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Justin Alvarez, Lit Hub Radiohttps://booksandbooks.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2020-10-0250 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanCarl Hiaasen on Satire as a Product of AngerOn this episode of The Literary Life, Carl Hiaasen talks with Mitchell Kaplan about his new novel, Squeeze Me, the ubiquity of Florida pythons, and getting his start writing satire during the Nixon era.Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Justin Alvarez, Lit Hub Radiohttps://booksandbooks.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2020-09-2544 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanAyad Akhtar on Why Deep Reading Really Matters (Now More Than Ever)Ayad Akhtar joins Mitchell Kaplan on this new episode of The Literary Life. Akhtar shares Homeland Elegies, “part memoir, part novel,” about an American son, his immigrant father, and their life in a post-9/11 America. Akhtar is a playwright, novelist Pulitzer Prize recipient who will serve as the next president of PEN America. Recorded in Miami and New York City.Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Justin Alvarez, Lit Hub Radiohttps://booksandbooks.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2020-09-1835 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanAlka Joshi on Reimagining Her Mother’s Past in The Henna ArtistAlka Joshi started out her life as an artist. Painting and drawing allow her to see colors, where everything is located in a scene, what people are wearing, the designs, patterns, then she “transfers them down to the paper.” On this episode, Joshi talks to Mitchell Kaplan about marrying her writing and art director past to create her first book, The Henna Artist, a loving tribute to her mother. Recorded in Miami and Monterey.Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Justin Alvarez, Lit Hub Radiohttps://booksandbooks.com/
2020-09-1132 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanEric Weiner: In Search of Life Lessons from Dead Philosophers“I look at the world as a laboratory of ideas. Despite the news, there’s good stuff happening out there as we’re speaking. And it’s that good stuff that I try to excavate in my writing,” Eric Weiner, best-selling author of The Geography of Bliss. Weiner joins Mitchell Kaplan to talk about his new travel book, The Socrates Express: In Search of Life Lessons from Dead Philosophers. Recorded in Miami and Washington, D.C.Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Justin Alvarez, Lit Hub Radiohttps://booksandbooks.com/ ...
2020-09-0436 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanDr. Michele Harper: Healing Yourself by Understanding How to Heal OthersEmergency room physician, Michele Harper, grew up in a complicated family. She went on to attend Harvard, where she met her husband. The end of her marriage brought the beginning of her self-healing. Harper shares her poignant stories from the ER with Mitchell Kaplan. Her book, The Beauty in Breaking: A Memoir. Recorded in Miami and Philadelphia.Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Justin Alvarez, Lit Hub Radiohttps://booksandbooks.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2020-08-2835 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanJohn Freeman on How “Citizenship is an active thing”“If there is ever someone whose work and life cannot be squeezed into a neat category, it’s my guest this week on The Literary Life. Critic, editor, anthologist, essayist, poet, public intellectual, John Freeman is all of these,” Mitchell Kaplan. Freeman’s books include Dictionary of the Undoing, Tales of Two Planets, and his latest poetry book, The Park. Recorded in Miami and London.Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Justin Alvarez, Lit Hub Radiohttps://booksandbooks.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon...
2020-08-2153 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanRuth Behar on How Being a Lucky Broken Girl Made Her a Best-Selling AuthorRuth Behar explores her Cuban-Jewish-American roots. Behar talks with Mitchell Kaplan about her family and her coveted hand-made books created in Cuba by poet and artist Rolando Estévez. Her new book is Letters from Cuba. Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Justin Alvarez, Lit Hub Radiohttps://booksandbooks.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2020-08-1444 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanEdwidge Danticat, on “Everything Inside,” Her Award-Winning Short-Fiction Collection, an Encore EpisodeEdwidge Danticat, the first two-time winner of The Story Prize, sat with her long-time friend Mitchell Kaplan, for a moving conversation last year. “Everything Inside” now out in paperback, has been selected by Reese Witherspoon as her Hello Sunshine book club pick for August. Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Justin Alvarez, Lit Hub Radiohttps://booksandbooks.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2020-08-0753 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanSusan Wiggs on The Power and Magic of Bookstores“I like to think of a bookstore as what a candy store is for a kid,” said Susan Wiggs. The author of more than fifty books, talks with Mitchell about how teaching led her to become an author, writing one or two books each year, and her latest, The Lost and Found Bookshop. Recorded in Miami and a lovely island off Puget Sound.Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Justin Alvarez, Lit Hub Radiohttps://booksandbooks.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...
2020-07-3128 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanNicholas Griffin on The Year of Dangerous Days: Riots, Refugees and Cocaine in Miami 1980Journalist and award-winning author, Nicholas Griffin, talks with Mitchell Kaplan about the most dangerous year in Miami’s history, 1980. From the Mariel boatlift, cocaine cowboys to the deadly riots that followed the acquittal of four police officers in the death of Arthur McDuffie, a Black, 33-year-old insurance salesman…A relevant and timely conversation recorded in Florida and the Dominican Republic.Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Justin Alvarez, Lit Hub Radiohttps://booksandbooks.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adch...
2020-07-1036 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanCurtis Sittenfeld on Why She Decided to Take on Hillary Clinton“It was a very interesting experience for me writing in the first-person. So I put on a blonde wig and a pantsuit every morning for three years…I actually mean that metaphorically,” Curtis Sittenfeld. On this episode, Curtis talks with Mitchell about RODHAM, her all too real, alternate biography of Hillary Clinton. Recorded in Minneapolis and Miami.Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Justin Alvarez, Lit Hub RadioOrder at: https://booksandbooks.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2020-06-2625 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanJames McBride on “The America that I write about when I write my books”Bum-Bum, Elephant, Hot Sausage, and Sportcoat. Just a few of the characters created by the brilliant mind of James McBride, for his latest novel, Deacon King Kong. A soulful conversation with Mitchell Kaplan, with a little jazz piano on the side, courtesy of McBride. Yes, he is also an accomplished musician. Recorded in Miami and New Jersey.Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Justin Alvarez, Lit Hub RadioA beautifulhttps://booksandbooks.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2020-06-1941 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanMegha Majumdar: Holding on to Humor During Times of OppressionWhen Megha Majumdar began writing her debut novel, A BURNING, her “question for the book was, how do people still dream, make jokes and strive, even in conditions of great oppression?” Majumdar joins Mitchell Kaplan for a deeply introspective conversation. Recorded in Miami and Brooklyn.Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Justin Alvarez, Lit Hub Radiohttps://booksandbooks.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2020-06-1227 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanRobert Kolker on Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American FamilyHidden Valley Road is journalist and author Robert Kolker’s riveting account of the Galvin family, with 12 children, six of whom were diagnosed with schizophrenia. Kolker shares their heartbreaking, yet ultimately hopeful story, with Mitchell Kaplan. Recorded in Miami and Brooklyn.Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Justin Alvarez, Lit Hub Radiohttps://booksandbooks.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2020-05-2938 min
Nigel Beale's Biblio File PodcastMitchell Kaplan on successful bookselling and turning books into filmsMiami native Mitchell Kaplan is the owner/founder of Books & Books, one of the premier independent bookstore groups in the United States, and a respected leader in the book business. Along with Eduardo J. Padrón, president of Miami-Dade College (MDC), he co-founded The Miami Book Fair (MBF), the largest event of its kind in the United States, in 1984. He hosts the Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan podcast and is a partner in the book-to-film optioning business The Mazur/Kaplan Company (greatest claim to fame? The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society). I met with Mitch in...
2020-05-2446 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanThe Ultimate Literary Bucket ListJames Mustich, book-seller, editor and writer, on his “must-read guide to must-reads.” Mustich talks with Mitchell Kaplan about curating his classic, 1,000 BOOKS TO READ BEFORE YOU DIE, and how the list continues to grow every day.Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Justin Alvarez, Lit Hub Radiohttps://booksandbooks.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2020-05-2229 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanJohn Grisham, the Best-Selling Thriller Writer in the WorldAfter practicing law for nearly 10 years, John Grisham, turned to writing, inspired by a testimony he overheard. Grisham has since sold more than 300-million books. On this episode he talks with Mitchell Kaplan about his latest murder mystery, CAMINO WINDS. Recorded virtually in Florida and Virginia. Host: Mitchell Kaplan Producer: Carmen LucasEditor: Justin Alvarez, Lit Hub Radiohttps://booksandbooks.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2020-05-1533 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanNick Flynn on What Art Can and Cannot ReflectOn this episode Nick Flynn talks with Mitchell about his new book, Stay: threads, conversations, collaborations, a mixed-media retrospective and self-portrait through's collaborations over the years, including photographer Amy Arbus, actor Robert De Niro, filmmaker Paul Weitz, and artists John Baldessari and Marilyn Minter. This is episode was livestreamed between Miami and outside New York City.Host: Mitchell Kaplan Producer: Carmen LucasEditor: Lit Hub Radiohttps://booksandbooks.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2020-04-1737 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanMark Kurlansky on His Most Important Environmental Writing Yet“The ocean is losing its ability to feed the animals that live in it. This is the scariest thing I’ve ever learned,” author and journalist Mark Kurlansky. On this episode he talks with Mitchell about the impact of climate change on food supplies and sea life. Kurlansky is currently social distancing with his family in New York City. His new book is SALMON: A Fish, the Earth, and the History of Their Common Fate. This is episode was livestreamed between Miami and New York City.Host: Mitchell Kaplan Produce...
2020-04-1028 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanDave Barry, The Literary Life’s First Guest. Just What We Need Now.We can all use some Dave Barry humor these days. Good friends Mitchell and Dave talk about the turbulent eighties Miami, his days as a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist and the time Bruce Springsteen played in Dave’s band, with Dave’s guitar. And it’s all quite humorous.Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Lithub Radiohttps://booksandbooks.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2020-04-0336 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanAlex Segura on Miami Midnight; Pete Fernandez’s Final ChapterOn this episode of The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan, novelist, comic book writer, and podcaster Alex Segura, talks about the role his mom played in his love of comics, the final chapter of the Pete Fernandez series, Star Wars and the just-released Archie Meets B-52’s. An amusing conversation with this very creative writer. Recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida.Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Lithub Radiohttps://booksandbooks.com/http://www.polisbooks.com/authors/alex-segura/ ...
2020-03-2032 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanCampaign Strategist David Plouffe on Making a Difference in the 2020 ElectionBarack Obama’s 2008 campaign mastermind, David Plouffe, shares his advice on how to defend against misinformation online, creating and spreading content, and motivating all citizens to get out and vote on November 3, 2020. His new books: A Citizen’s Guide to Beating Donald Trump and Ripples of Hope, a middle-grade nonfiction project about the United States' election process.This episode of The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan was recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida.Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Lithub Radioht...
2020-03-1327 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanAmy Fine Collins on The International Best-Dressed List: The Official GuideVanity Fair special correspondent and author, Amy Fine Collins, talks about her fascinating life as a writer, model and muse to many designers, most notably Geoffrey Beene. Her new book, The International Best-Dressed List: The Official Guide, is “the ultimate source for fashion mavens, Instagram followers and celebrity worshipers.” Much fashion history in this episode of The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan. Recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida.Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Lithub Radiohttps://booksandbooks.com/https://www.rizzoliusa.com/book...
2020-03-0631 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanGish Jen on Her Dystopian Novel, The Resisters: AutoAmerica, Surveillance and BaseballIn The Resisters, the dystopian future is all too real. Author Gish Jen talks about growing up as the daughter of Chinese immigrants, her Ivy League education, life as a writer, and how becoming an empty nester gave her the space to research and write her acclaimed novel. The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan was recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida. Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Lithub Radiohttps://booksandbooks.com/https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/611024/the-resisters-by-gish-jen/ Learn more a...
2020-02-2846 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanFlorida author Craig Pittman on How the Florida Panther Was Brought Back From Near ExtinctionCraig Pittman: “The original inhabitants of Florida regarded panthers…they thought they were the *cat of god.* The settlers were petrified of them and shot them on site. Things started to turn around in 1981, Florida school children picked the panther as our official state animal. By 1995 they were virtually extinct.” Pittman talks about his new book, Cat Tale and the unprecedented scientific experiment that succeeded in saving the panthers, with unexpected ramifications. This episode of The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan was recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida. Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer...
2020-02-2132 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanThe Female Gen Exer’s Guide Through Middle Age AngstIn Why We Can’t Sleep, one of the women interviewed by Ada Calhoun is called Florida Girl. “She basically told me my favorite quote in the whole book. She was talking about how it’s terrible, all these things you’re dealing with at this stage of life…Divorce, money stuff, health. It’s all terrible but she started to see it as “terrible fun.” And I just loved that expression.” Ada shares her fascinating life stories with Mitchell Kaplan on this episode of The Literary Life. Recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida. Host: Mitchell Ka...
2020-02-1424 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanMeet Susan Isaac’s New Heroine From Her Latest Thriller, Takes One to Know OneSusan Isaacs, author of thirteen novels, including Any Place I Hang My Hat and Compromising Positions, talks with Mitchell about how she became a writer. “I didn’t know writing was in my future until I had to look for a job,” she said. After graduating from Queens College, she “landed a job at Seventeen magazine, writing advice to the lovelorn under the name of Abigail Wood.” On this episode, she shares her thoughts on the significance of a book’s opening lines, how she crafts her stories, favorite authors, and creating Corie Geller. Recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables...
2020-02-0733 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanSlaying Goliath; Diane Ravitch's Fight to Save our Public SchoolsDiane Ravitch has been called a hero in her dedication to preserving public school education. On this episode, she talks with Mitchell about the “Disrupters,” who are funding privatization and believe schools should be run like businesses. And the “Resisters,” a powerful group of volunteer parents, teachers, students, bloggers and leaders who are fighting back to successfully keep alive their public schools. Are school voucher programs a viable solution? Ravitch shares her thoughts on this and more. Recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida.Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor...
2020-01-3141 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanArmando Lucas Correa; on how his meeting with a holocaust survivor played a key role in his new novel, The Daughter’s Tale“I finished my first novel, The German Girl, about the MS St. Louis that arrived in in Cuba in 1939 with about 900 Jewish refugees…They were rejected by Cuba, the United States, and Canada, sent back to Europe. Most of them were killed in Auschwitz. I decided to meet one of the few survivors, Judith Steel,” Armando Lucas Correa. Judith became an inspiration for The Daughter’s Tale. He talks with Mitchell about the long and winding road from Cuba, Miami, and New York, that lead him to becoming a best-selling novelist and Editor-in-Chief of People en Español. Recorded at Books...
2020-01-1047 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanBooks We Can’t Wait to Read in 2020“2020 will see many wonderful books being published. Today I‘m joined by three of the greatest readers around, who have the job of knowing just what those books are…Books & Books Head Buyer, Gael LeLamer, Cristina Russell, Head Buyer for Children’s and Young Adult Books and Cristina Nosti, Events and Marketing Manager, will talk about new books to expect as the year unfolds.” - Mitchell Kaplan, owner of Books & Books. Also, host of this podcast. Recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida.Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Li...
2020-01-0441 minThe Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanConnie Ogle; Miami Herald Writer, Book Reviewer on the Most Notable Books of 2019“I don’t remember a time that I didn’t read. There’s a legend in my family which I like to believe is true. It probably is not. But my mother, to this day, will tell you that they would put me in a crib at six-months-old with a stack of books so they could sleep late, and they could hear me turning the pages. So I like to think of myself as a prodigy…I’m sure this story is true.” - Connie Ogle. Mitchell and Connie discuss many of their most memorable books of 2019, and The Miami Herald “...
2019-12-1345 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanLes Standiford on Palm Beach, Mar-a-Lago and #FloridaMan Donald Trump“The high walls of Mar-a-Lago and other manses like it were seemingly designed to contain scandal within, as much as keep intruders out,” Les Standiford. On this episode, Standiford talks with Mitchell about his latest book, Palm Beach, Mar-a-Lago, and the Rise of America’s Xanadu. From Henry Flagler, Marjory Merriweather Post to President Trump, who acquired Mar-a-Lago for $10-million in 1985 and now declares himself a Florida resident. The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan was recorded at the Books&Books in Coral Gables, Florida.Host: Mitchell KaplanProducer: Carmen LucasEditor: Lit Hub Radio
2019-11-0838 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanJill Bialosky; Living her Dream as a Poet, Writer, Executive Editor“I wanted people to understand that poetry can be very accessible. A way for readers to find their own story in a poem, to demystify poetry.” Jill Bialosky on her memoir, “Poetry Will Save Your Life.” Mitchell and Jill talk about poetry, writing and being the executive editor at W.W. Norton & Company. She’ll also share her story on Joy Harjo, one of the early poets Bialosky took on, who is now the first Native American to be named U.S. Poet Laureate.This episode of The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan was recorded at the Coral Gabl...
2019-11-0430 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanJane Leavy on The Big Fella: Babe Ruth and the World He CreatedIn The Big Fella, “the definitive biography of Babe Ruth,” author Jane Leavy takes readers inside the life of one of baseball’s most-beloved stars. From his troubled childhood, to becoming “the first celebrity of the mass media era,” Jane shares The Babe’s colorful and touching story on this episode of The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan. Recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida.Host: Mitchell Kaplan Producer: Carmen LucasEditor: Lit Hub Radiohttps://booksandbooks.com/https://www.janeleavy.com/ Learn more about your ad...
2019-10-1838 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanMeg Cabot: How Hurricane Irma and a landline phone inspired her new bookAuthor Meg Cabot has sold more than 25-million books worldwide. Her Princess Diaries series was made into two feature films by Walt Disney Pictures, starring Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews. Her new book No Judgments takes place on “Little Bridge Island” in the Florida Keys, home to beautiful beaches, stunning sunsets, cold margaritas, and massive hurricanes. Meg talks with Mitchell about how real life inspired her story and helped save dozens of pets left behind after Hurricane Irma. This episode of The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan was recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida.Host: Mitc...
2019-10-1139 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan“Is there still Sex in the City?” Candace Bushnell answers this and more about her latest book“Every now and then, when I’d explain to some man that I wasn’t interested in going on a date and frankly I might never be interested in going on a date ever again, he would gasp, “But what about sex? as if I had just killed a kitten,” Candace Bushnell. Compared to Edith Wharton and Dorothy Parker, Bushnell is frank, funny and so revealing… Another side of Candace on this episode of The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan. Recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida.Host: Mitchell Kaplan Producer: Carmen LucasEditor: Lit...
2019-10-0432 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanInside "The Dutch House," Ann Patchett’s New NovelAnn Patchett is a storyteller of uncompromising perception. Her novels include The Patron Saint of Liars, Taft, The Magician’s Assistant, Bel Canto, Run, State of Wonder and Commonwealth. In The Dutch House, Patchett “traces acts of cruelty and kindness through three generations of a family over fifty years.” On this episode, Patchett shares “two things that happened” inspiring the various themes from The Dutch House, her road to becoming a multi-award winning author (including PEN/Faulkner Award), and life as co-owner of the independent Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee. This episode of The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan was record...
2019-09-2737 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanTalking about Banned Books Week with the ABA's David Grogan and Sydney JarrardWhat do The Great Gatsby, The Color Purple, Harry Potter, and even Captain Underpants have in common? These and other books were all banned at one point. For one week, starting on September 22nd, the American Booksellers Association (ABA) and several other sponsors, have designated “Banned Books Week,” celebrating the freedom to read without censorship.Mitchell’s guests, David Grogan, Director of Advocacy (ABA) and Sydney Jarrard, Content Director (ABA), also hosts of the Counterspeak podcast, will shine a light on the importance of keeping our freedom to read intact. This episode of The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan was re...
2019-09-2032 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanJennine Capó Crucet: Funny, wise. and proud Cuban on her personal essaysJennine Capó Crucet’s My Time Among the Whites is full of exchanges, that lay bare the ways power and money and race and class work in America in a way that’s serious but that can also be bitingly funny,” Anna North, Vox. Capó Crucet shares her American experiences growing up in Hialeah, Florida, her years as a student at the Ivy League Cornell University, her thoughts on Disney World and her new life as an associate professor (Department of English and the Institute for Ethnic Studies) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. This episode of The Literary Life with Mit...
2019-09-1348 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanEdwidge Danticat on “Everything Inside,” her anticipated collection of vividly imagined stories about community, family, and love“I have been working on these stories for a long time, some of them are more recent. I really love that in a short story you can have sort of a limited universe, there’s so much economy and so much layering. I keep working on them no matter what else I’m doing,” Edwidge Danticat. “Everything Inside” is an eight-story collection with the common themes of diaspora, love and Danticat’s birthplace, Haiti. She‘ll share how it all came together with her long-time friend, Mitchell Kaplan, on this episode of The Literary Life. Recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables...
2019-09-0653 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanAyşe Papatya Bucak on “The Trojan War Museum,” her debut story collection influenced by her beloved Turkish American heritage“I was always drawn to writing. My mom loves books, my dad loved movies. They were both big story people.” Born in Istanbul, Turkey, raised in Havertown, Pennsylvania, Papatya’s stories are an intersection between her American life and the way that “Turkishness” pops up in her life. Mitchell and Papatya talk about her influential authors, the O. Henry Award, life as a professor and more. This episode of The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan was recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida.Host: Mitchell Kaplan Producer: Carmen LucasEditor: Lit Hub Radio...
2019-08-3042 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanKarl Marlantes on “Deep River,” the first labor movements, and World War I“Deep River immerses you into the sometimes harsh world of an immigrant family … Karl Marlantes has written a masterpiece, the classic American novel.” —John Evans, Lemuria Bookstore. Marlantes, a Yale University graduate and Oxford University Rhodes Scholar, shares fascinating stories about his grandmother, “an ardent communist,” growing up in an Oregon logging town, fishing with his grandfather, serving as a Marine in Vietnam and much more. Marlantes’ Matterhorn, his acclaimed first novel, was written over the course of 30 years. This episode of The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan was recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida.Host: Mit...
2019-08-2342 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanLeonard Pitts, Jr.; From pop music critic to Pulitzer-winning columnist, on his new novel “The Last Thing You Surrender”Each week, twice a week, millions of readers seek Leonard Pitts’ insightful and passionate voice. His highly-anticipated column is syndicated in more than two-hundred newspapers across the country, including The Miami Herald. Pitts’ conversation with Mitchell reveals how he selects his stories, and sometimes, how they select him. Pitts will also talk about and read from his latest novel, The Last Thing You Surrender. This episode of The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan was recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida.Host: Mitchell Kaplan Producer: Carmen LucasEditor: Lit Hub RadioLin...
2019-08-1642 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanPablo Medina on “The Cuban Comedy,” His Poetic Homage to DissidentsPablo Medina describes “The Cuban Comedy” as a love story. “It’s about poetry and poets and how they make their way in the world. It’s about revolution, war and an homage to dissidents.” On this episode of “The Literary Life,” Medina shares how how he created his characters, with Elena as the heroine, each based on composites, and how exile, oppression and poetry play a role in their way to possible salvation. Medina started writing his novel, 14 years ago. This episode of The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan was recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida.Host: Mitch...
2019-08-0937 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanThe Art of Getting Books into Bookstores with Emily Cook Co-founder of Cursor BooksThere are more than 200,000 books being published each year. As host Mitchell Kaplan states, “One of the questions that I’m asked more than anything else as a bookseller is: how do you find out about all the books that you carry in your stores?” His guest is publishing industry expert, Emily Cook, co-founder of Cursor Marketing Services, who along with partner Richard Nash, represent “several small presses that have a very big impact.” Hear how books are selected, how they get to the bookstores, and to you, the reader. Next time you pick up a book, you just might thin...
2019-08-0239 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanPablo Cartaya, actor and waiter to award-winning middle-grade author, on his new book, "Each Tiny Spark"Mitchell’s guest, Pablo Cartaya, started his career as an actor. It’s been a winding road to becoming an author. “I’ve done every job in the restaurant business … As a waiter, I kept a small notebook in my pocket to write down story ideas,” said Cartaya. On this episode of The Literary Life, he’ll talk about how family, community, and culture all play a major role in his writing, his latest book, Each Tiny Spark, and the middle-school student whose words Cartaya will always remember. This episode of The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan was recorded at Books & Boo...
2019-07-2640 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanTypewriter Obsession; Paul Schweitzer of Gramercy Typewriters, an analog man in a digital worldMitchell’s guest, Paul Schweitzer does not own a smartphone or a computer. But, as the owner of Gramercy Typewriters in NYC, a business inherited from his father 58 years ago, he is surrounded by hundreds of typewriters. Celebrities, authors, students, young professionals call on Paul for repairs…and perhaps another addition to their collection. (Tom Hanks is on this list.) Mitchell and Paul talk about the emotional attachment people have on their machines, and more, on this episode of The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan. Recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida.Host: Mitchell Kaplan Pro...
2019-07-1935 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanMary Beth Keane on “Ask Again, Yes,” her new novel about family, love, tragedy and the power forgivenessTwo families “end up living as close neighbors in a New York city suburb, and the dads are NYPD cops,” Mary Beth Keane. “This book is really about how you deal with childhood trauma after a tragic incident…many, many years after that trauma is supposedly over.” Mary Beth shares how she developed her story, the inspiration from her own life, and if “Ask Again, Yes” will be streaming soon. This episode of The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan was recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida.Host: Mitchell Kaplan Producer: Carmen LucasEditor: Lit Hu...
2019-07-1237 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanScott Jefferey Miller, on “Management Mess,” and his 30 challenges to becoming a next level leader“The role of a leader is to model, engage and inspire people,” Scott Miller, author and executive vice president at Franklin Covey. “And that’s not for everyone. After lots of messes in my career…I wanted to author a real, relatable, raw book that brought to life a lot of my own messes in the hopes to inspire people to avoid some of theirs and move towards greater success." Join Scott, Chris McKenney, founder of independent publisher, Mango and Mitchell, for a motivating conversation on this episode of The Literary Life. Recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida.
2019-07-0537 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanJulia Phillips, on “Disappearing Earth,” her debut crime novel set in eastern RussiaGrowing up, Julia Phillips “always wanted to be a novelist.” Her interest in Russia led her to the perfect setting for her story, the naturally beautiful, remote and bleak Kamchatka Peninsula in eastern Russia. Julia shares how she created her acclaimed mystery about two missing girls from her debut novel, “Disappearing Earth.” This episode of The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan was recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida.Host: Mitchell Kaplan Producer: Carmen LucasEditor: Lit Hub Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2019-06-2834 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanKristen Arnett, on “Mostly Dead Things,” a story of grief, humor and FloridaGreetings from Florida! Sunshine state native Kristen Arnett shares her personal stories about growing up in Orlando, being a queer writer, her family dynamics and…the art of taxidermy. “Mostly Dead Things” has been described as “Arnett's vision of Florida as a creative swamp of well-meaning misfits and the sweet hopefulness of finding your way back to yourself through family.” Kristen joins Mitchell for a candid, humorous and moving conversation. And a delicious brunch from the Books & Books Café, where this episode was recorded.Host: Mitchell Kaplan Producer: Carmen LucasEditor: Lit Hub Radio...
2019-06-211h 08
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanSummer reading selections from Mitchell Kaplan and his Books & Books team“One of the great joys of book selling is the start of the summer selling season. It’s a season when readers seem to have a bit more time to catch up on the books they’ve put off from earlier in the year, where they discover the plethora of new books that seem to come out from May through August,” Mitchell Kaplan. His all-star cast of booksellers from Books & Books got together to share their own summer reading recommendations. Join Mitchell, Gaël, and the three Cristinas, for their own curated lists of summer favorites. This conversation was recorded...
2019-06-1447 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanMamta Chaudhry, on the debut of her first novel, “Haunting Paris”Mamta Chaudry arrived at the University of Florida, to begin her master’s degree program as a broadcast journalism student. “To people in Florida, Calcutta seemed so exotic, but to me Gainesville was so exotic.” Chaudhry shares her journey from her life in Calcutta, her days at the University of Florida, a career as a host in classical music radio, and meeting her husband at a communications seminar. Her first novel, “Haunting Paris,” is described as “a timeless story of love and loss, transformed when a bereaved pianist discovers a mysterious letter among her late lover’s possessions, launching her headlong in...
2019-06-0734 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanAlbert Woodfox, on “Solitary,” his story of transformation and hope“A man who would not be broken. Not by more than 40 years of solitary in Angola (the Alcatraz of the south in Louisiana) not by maddening injustice in courts, not by beatings, isolation, or loneliness.” Barry Scheck, The Innocence Project. Released after 43 years, for a crime he says he did not commit, Albert Woodfox is the longest-standing solitary confinement prisoner in the U.S. He shares his remarkable story…growing up in poverty in Louisiana, survival in prison, and how he is advocating to seek prison reform, along with his co-counsel, Carine Williams. On this compelling episode of “The Literary...
2019-05-3155 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanNana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, on “Friday Black,” his acclaimed debut book“Friday Black” has been described by Tommy Orange as “a dystopian story collection as full of violence as it is of heart.” On this episode, Adjei-Brenyah shares with Mitchell why his book is “a lot about family, trying and figuring out ways to make it.” Colson Whitehead chose Adjei-Breynah as a National Book Foundation’s “5 Under 35" honoree, 2018. Mitchell and Adjei-Brenyah enjoy an engaging conversation on growing up in a New York suburb, his job in a mall shop, his Syracuse MFA professor, George Saunders, and his exciting new works. This conversation was recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida.H...
2019-05-2427 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanSaskia Vogel, on her provocative debut novel, “Permission”Saskia Vogel shares her very interesting stories on her travels, growing up in Los Angeles, her life in Berlin, how her mother inspired her sense of adventure…Vogel’s debut novel, “Permission,” has been described as “a story about grief, loneliness and sadomasochism.” And she’s been compared to the celebrated Joan Didion. On this revealing episode of “The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan.” This conversation was recorded at the Books & Books Café in Coral Gables, Florida. Please listen, share and comment on our podcast landing page or on our social media: @BooksandBooks (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) Host: Mitchell Kapla...
2019-05-1752 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanPico Iyer, renowned travel writer and philosopher on his new book, “Autumn Light”On this episode of “The Literary Life” podcast, Mitchell’s guest is Pico Iyer. Part monk, part reveler, the British born American of Indian parents has written ten acclaimed nonfiction works, two novels, and hundreds of journalistic articles. Pico shares his personal blend of philosophy, inner quiet, thoughts on his friend, the Dalai Lama, and his new book, “Autumn Light,” a reflection on his life in Japan. This conversation was recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida. Please listen, share and comment on our podcast landing page or on our social media: @BooksandBooks (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) Host: Mitc...
2019-05-101h 00
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanNathaniel Rich on his new book, *Losing Earth*An entertaining and relevant conversation with novelist and essayist Nathaniel Rich on his latest book, "Losing Earth," the failure of our scientific and political leaders to act on climate change, and covering the biggest issues of our time. This conversation between Mitchell and Nathaniel was recorded inside The Café at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida. Host: Mitchell Kaplan Showrunner: Carmen Lucas Editor: Justin AlvarezMusic + Sound : Chaliwa Links: https://shop.booksandbooks.com/book/9780374191337https://nathanielrich.com/ Learn more about your a...
2019-05-0345 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanP. Scott Cunningham, founder of the acclaimed O, Miami Poetry Festival…April is National Poetry Month. Mitchell celebrates with P. Scott Cunningham, founder of O, Miami, one of the most significant poetry events in the country. Mitchell and Scott talk about the past, present and exciting future of poetry, as well as Scott’s new book, “Ya Te Veo.” All this while enjoying a delicious brunch from The Café at Books&Books.
Please listen, share and comment on our podcast landing page or on our social media: @BooksandBooks (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter)
Host: Mitchell Kaplan
Showrunner: Carmen Lucas
Editor: Andy Stermer
Links:
https://booksandbooks.com/
http://www.omiami.org/
2019-04-1338 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanIrvine Welsh, from “Trainspotting” to his latest book, “Dead Men’s Trousers”…Scottish author Irvine Welsh has a new book. The controversial, acclaimed writer of “Trainspotting,” which became a cult film classic, joins Mitchell on this episode of “The Literary Life” podcast. From geopolitics, economics, education, culture and being a part-time Miami resident, Irvine shares his philosophical thoughts with Mitchell. And, of course, his latest book, “Dead Men’s Trousers,” the grand finale of “Trainspotting.” A very *interesting* episode. This conversation was recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida. Please listen, share and comment on our podcast landing page or on our social media: @BooksandBooks (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter)
Host: Mitchell Kaplan
Sho...
2019-04-0646 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanDavid Thomson, film writer and on his latest book: “Sleeping with Strangers; How the Movies Shaped Desire”Author David Thomson, called by “Atlantic Monthly” as “The greatest living film critic and historian,” is Mitchell’s guest on this episode of “The Literary Life.” Thomson has written more than twenty books, including any cinephile's must-have, “The New Biographical Dictionary of Film.” He shares some of his favorite films, actors, how cinema has evolved and most of all, his latest book, Sleeping with Strangers; How the Movies Shaped Desire. This conversation was recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida. Please listen, share and comment on our podcast landing page or on our social media: @BooksandBooks (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter)
Host...
2019-03-3053 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanLisa See on her new novel, *The Island of Sea Women*Acclaimed author, Lisa See joins Mitchell for a deep, and often humorous, conversation about her Chinese-American ancestry, her mother, the writer Carolyn See, and her acclaimed books On Gold Mountain, Shanghai Girls, and her latest, The Island of Sea Women. This conversation was recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida. Please listen, share and comment on our podcast landing page or on our social media: @BooksandBooks (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter)
Host: Mitchell Kaplan
Showrunner: Carmen Lucas
Editor: Andy Stermer
Links:
https://booksandbooks.com/
https://www.lisasee.com/books-new/the-island-of-sea-women/
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2019-03-2345 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanJames Grippando, from trial lawyer to best-selling author…on his latest thriller: *The Girl in a Glass Box*On his latest podcast episode, Mitchell welcomes former trial lawyer, New York Times best-selling author and winner of the Harper-Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, “Jim” Grippando. Jim has advice for aspiring writers, talks about his own writing process, and new thriller, “The Girl in the Glass Box.” Along with dessert from The Café, Mitchell and Jim also share what they’re reading these days, on this episode of *The Literary Life.* This conversation was recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida. Please listen, share and comment on our podcast landing page or on our social media: @BooksandBooks (Facebook, Instagram a...
2019-02-2346 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanIan Rankin, Scottish crime writer, on his latest novel: “In a House of Lies”Ian Rankin, “the dean of Scottish detective fiction” and the creator of “tartan noir,” discusses his latest book, “In a House of Lies.” In conversation with David Leiwant…on this episode of “The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan.” This exciting conversation was recorded with the audience in attendance at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida. Not to be missed! Please listen, share and comment on our podcast landing page or on our social media: @BooksandBooks (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter)
Host: Mitchell Kaplan
Showrunner: Carmen Lucas
Editor: Andy Sturmer
Links:
https://booksandbooks.com/
https://www.ianrankin.net/about/
Learn more abou...
2019-02-0938 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanFruit of the Winter Institute: Mitchell discusses the buzz books for spring and summer of 2019Straight from the Winter Institute which took place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mitchell reveals and discusses some of the most talked about titles and authors. Recorded at Mitchell’s home…and when you listen to this episode, you’ll know why. Please listen, share and comment on our podcast landing page or on our social media: @BooksandBooks (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter)
Host: Mitchell Kaplan
Showrunner: Carmen Lucas
Links:
https://booksandbooks.com/
https://www.bookweb.org/
https://www.bookweb.org/wi2019/winter-institute-2019
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2019-02-0239 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanDani Shapiro…on her thought-provoking new memoir, “Inheritance”Ancestry, identity and a stunning family secret revealed. Author Dani Shapiro joins Mitchell for an extraordinary conversation about her new memoir, “Inheritance” on this new episode of The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan. Please listen, share and comment on our podcast landing page or on our social media: @BooksandBooks (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter)
Host: Mitchell Kaplan
Showrunner: Carmen Lucas
Links:
https://booksandbooks.com/
https://danishapiro.com/books/inheritance/
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2019-01-1938 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanTina Brown…author, talk-show host and legendary former editor at Vanity FairOn this episode of The Literary Life, Mitchell’s guest is Tina Brown, author of “The Diana Chronicles” and “The Vanity Fair Diaries.” Brown was also editor at “Vanity Fair,” “The New Yorker” and founding editor of “The Daily Beast.” Mitchell and Brown share an exciting conversation about her life as a media legend and so much more. Listen and share with your friends. Recorded at Miami Book Fair 2019. Follow on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: @booksandbooks.
Host: Mitchell Kaplan
Showrunner: Carmen Lucas
Editor: Andy Stermer
Links:
https://booksandbooks.com/
https://www.businessinsider.com/tina-brown-vanity-fair-daily-beast-women-in-the-world-2018-4
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/04/tina-brown-on-vanity-fa...
2018-12-2934 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanPete Souza, former White House Staff Photographer to President Barack Obama, talks about his latest best-seller, “Shade: A Tale of Two Presidents”Pete Souza, White House Staff Photographer to President Barack Obama, will be kicking off a special seven episode series titled “The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan: Recorded at the Miami Book Fair 2018.” Mitchell and Pete Souza discuss his world famous photos, his *Shade Instagram,* special moments in the Obama White House and what’s to come in American politics.
Host: Mitchell Kaplan
Showrunner: Carmen Lucas
Editor: Andy Stermer, Chaliwa Music + Sound
Links:
https://shop.booksandbooks.com/book/9780385341004
https://www.petesouza.com/content.html?page=2
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/23/books/pete-souza-shade-obama-trump.html
Pete Souza! Thanks for joining us on The Litera...
2018-11-1731 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanJeff Abbott on his latest thriller, the challenges of losing his home, and entering the world of writing for film and television.Mitchell is joined by the masterful suspense novelist, Jeff Abbott, as he talks about his early influences growing up in East Texas, his development as a writer and the challenges of bringing his books to film and television. The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan is recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida.
Host: Mitchell Kaplan
Showrunner: Carmen Lucas
Editor: Andy Stermer, Chaliwa Music + Sound
Links:
https://shop.booksandbooks.com/book/9780385341004
https://jeffabbott.com/books/
Jeff Abbott! Thanks for joining us on The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan.
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2018-11-1038 min
3 Books With Neil PasrichaChapter 16: Mitchell Kaplan on cultivating connection, Colorado quests, and creating communityDid you know the average person lives for 1,000 months? Or that the average person is awake for 1,000 minutes per day? That’s why I like the number 1,000 so much, and partly why I started my blog 1,000 Awesome Things about ten years ago. It’s why I’m on this quest with you to uncover the 1,000 most formative books in the world. And that quest is what brought me to the independent bookstore Books & Books with Mitchell Kaplan. Why did I decide to sit down with Mitchell? Because he started the en...
2018-11-071h 01
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanAll about The Miami Book FairExploring the books, authors and history of The Miami Book Fair, Mitchell is in conversation with Lissette Mendez and Marci Cancio-Bello, responsible for programming of TMBF. With over 600 authors attending, this year’s Fair takes place November 11th-18th and is celebrating its 35th anniversary.
The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan is recorded at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida.
Host: Mitchell Kaplan
Showrunner: Carmen Lucas
Editor: Andy Stermer, Chaliwa Music + Sound
Links:
https://shop.booksandbooks.com/book/9780385341004
https://www.miamibookfair.com/
Lissette Mendez and Marci Cancio-Bello! Thanks for joining us on The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan.
...
2018-11-0357 min
The Literary Life with Mitchell KaplanMichael Reynolds on Elena Ferrante, HBO, and the mission of Europa EditionsMichael Reynolds talks with Mitchell about his journey from Australia to becoming publisher of Europa Editions to bringing Elena Ferrante to bestsellerdom across the world and to HBO as a limited series.
Host: Mitchell Kaplan
Showrunner: Carmen Lucas
Editor: Andy Stermer, Chaliwa Music + Sound
Links:
https://shop.booksandbooks.com/book/9780385341004
https://www.europaeditions.com/
https://www.hbo.com/my-brilliant-friend
Michael Reynolds! Thanks for joining us on The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan.
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2018-10-2744 min