Indie Next List Interview

Christopher Scotton, the debut author of The Secret Wisdom of the Earth, talks about what inspired him to write a novel, the real-life experiences he brought to the story, and how he learned about the people and places of the book’s setting, the Appalachian Mountains.

In an interview with Bookselling This Week, David Nicholls, author of Us, this month’s top Indie Next List Pick, sheds light on many of his influences and preferences as a writer.

In his memoir, Not My Father’s Son, actor Alan Cumming shares the details of his difficult youth and the discovery of his family’s true history. Cumming recently spoke to BTW about the decision to share his story.

Jodi Picoult, author of Leaving Time (Ballantine Books), discusses why she chose to write about elephants, how she researched their behavior, the strength of mother-daughter bonds, and the role independent booksellers have played in her career.

David Mitchell, the author of The Bone Clocks, recently spoke with Bookselling This Week about the inspiration for his latest bestseller, some of the characters readers might recognize from previous novels, and his own experience working in a bookstore.

Malcolm Brooks, author of Painted Horses, recently spoke to BTW about what inspired his interest in history and archaeology, how he views the struggle of sacred spaces versus human progress, and how his interests came together in vivid detail in his debut novel.

Erika Johansen, the author of The Queen of the Tearling, recently spoke to BTW about her inspiration for the novel, strong heroines in literature, and the importance of books in society.

Laura McBride, author of We Are Called to Rise, recently spoke to BTW about how she developed three wildly different characters, what drew her to the varied and lively setting of Las Vegas, and her love for indie bookstores.

Author Anthony Doerr recently spoke to BTW about the process of writing All The Light We Cannot See, the #1 Indie Next List Pick for May.

April’s #1 Indie Next List pick, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, hit store shelves on Tuesday. Here, Algonquin Books’ Kathy Pories provides a behind-the-scenes look at the editing process for this bookseller favorite.

The talk of the independent bookselling community, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry follows the life of a bookstore owner as he deals with the trials and tribulations of life, love, and the book business. Here, author Gabrielle Zevin discusses the inspiration for her story and how she learned so much about the inner workings of the book business without stepping behind a checkout counter.

Willy Vlautin, author The Free, talks about the struggle of daily life in our country, the qualities of strength and persistence in his characters, and the influence of music and literature on his career.

Sue Monk Kidd, the author of The Invention of Wings, discusses her research and writing processes, the challenge of entwining fact and fiction, and the importance of women finding their own voices.

Joshilyn Jackson, author of Someone Else’s Love Story, discusses the development of her newest book, the influence of indie booksellers on her writing career, and the character from her latest novel who will be making a comeback in her next  book. 

Allie Brosh, the author and illustrator of Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened (Touchstone), offers insights into her creative process as well as her motivations for sharing her personal stories.