Shows / Literary Notes
Literary Notes
Join the volunteers at the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library as they interview local authors about books they’ve written in the WTBBL catalog. New episodes every other Thursday! The Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL) is a free library service available to all Washington state residents who struggle to read standard print due to blindness, visual impairment, a reading disability like dyslexia, or any other condition which might impact an individual’s ability to read…
Episodes
- Literary Notes
47 | ARCHIVE: Kat Richardson | Greywalker (series), Vanished
Author and former WTBBL volunteer Kat Richardson comes back to the library to chat about the fourth book in Greywalker, her paranormal mystery series. The…
- Literary Notes
46 | ARCHIVE: R.A. Salvatore | Forgotten Realms (series)
In 2010, fantasy author R.A. Salvatore came by to discuss his series of fantasy novels taking place in the Dungeons & Dragons setting of the Forgotten Realms…
- Literary Notes
45 | Maya Prasad | Sejal Sinha (series), Sejal Sinha Battles Superstorms
Author Maya Prasad visits us to talk about her children's series Sejal Sinha, about an Indian-American girl with a big imagination and a bigger love of…
- Literary Notes
44 | Renee Patrick | Design for Dying (Lillian Frost & Edith Head series)
Renee Patrick visits our studio to discuss Design for Dying, the first book in their murder mystery series set in 1930s Hollywood. Library volunteer Kymmberly…
- Literary Notes
43 | Kit Bakke | Protest on Trial: The Seattle 7 Conspiracy
Writer, activist, and nurse Kit Bakke joined us in 2019 to discuss her book Protest on Trial: The Seattle 7 Conspiracy. It details the trial of the Seattle 7…
- Literary Notes
42 | ARCHIVE: Nora Ephron | I Remember Nothing: And Other Reflections
Journalist, author, and filmmaker Nora Ephron stopped by the WTBBL studios in 2010 to discuss her memoir I Remember Nothing: And Other Reflections. She speaks…
- Literary Notes
41 | Samantha Allen | Patricia Wants to Cuddle
Writer Samantha Allen stops by to discuss her satirical horror novel Patricia Wants to Cuddle, which follows the shooting of a Bachelor-like reality show…
- Literary Notes
40 | Katie Cross | Network (series), The Dragonmaster Trilogy
Prolific fantasy & romance writer Katie Cross joins us to discuss her many works, her writing process, and much more. She was interviewed remotely by library…
- Literary Notes
39 | Jay Rubin | The Sun Gods
Author and translator of Japanese literature Jay Rubin joins us to talk about his debut novel The Sun Gods, a sprawling tale of a son searching for his…
- Literary Notes
38 | Nathan Vass | Deciding to See: The View From Nathan's Bus
Filmmaker and bus driver Nathan Vass returns to the WTBBL studios to discuss his second book, Deciding to See: The View From Nathan's Bus. He reunites with…
- Literary Notes
37 | Nabil Ayers | My Life in the Sunshine: Searching For My Father and Discovering My Family
Drummer and independent music mogul Nabil Ayers came by our studios in 2022 to chat about his memoir My Life in the Sunshine: Searching For My Father and…
- Literary Notes
36 | Tom Fucoloro | Biking Uphill in the Rain: The Story of Seattle Behind the Handlebars
Seattle Bike Blog founder and editor Tom Fucoloro talks with WTBBL volunteer Merri Ann Osborne about his book Biking Uphill in the Rain: The Story of Seattle…
- Literary Notes
35 | ARCHIVE: Karen Tei Yamashita | I Hotel
Writer Karen Tei Yamashita stopped by our studios to talk about her book I Hotel, a novel detailing the final years of San Fransisco's I Hotel. In the early…
- Literary Notes
34 | Jesse Q. Sutanto | Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block
Novelist Jesse Q. Sutanto comes to the WTBBL studios to discuss her new novel Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block. She speaks with library volunteer Ren…
- Literary Notes
33 | Andrea Pons | Mamacita: Recipes Celebrating Life as a Mexican Immigrant in America
Creative director and food stylist Andrea Pons stops by to discuss her cookbook Mamacita: Recipes Celebrating Life as a Mexican Immigrant in America, and the…
- Literary Notes
32 | Jane Wong | Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City
Poet Jane Wong stops by the WTBBL studios to chat about her memoir, Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City. Library volunteer Amber Wang, who recorded the book for…
- Literary Notes
31 | Glen Erik Hamilton | Van Shaw (series)
Glen Erik Hamilton joins us to discuss his crime thriller series following the adventures of former criminal-in-training Van Shaw. He joins longtime WTBBL…
- Literary Notes
30 | ARCHIVE: Timothy Zahn | Star Wars: Allegiance
Sci-fi author Timothy Zahn stopped by WTBBL in 2008 to discuss his book Allegiance, a story set in between the original Star Wars film and its sequel, along…
- Literary Notes
29 | Caroline Wright | Soup Club
Children's book author, food writer, and "Seattle Soup Lady" Caroline Wright swings by to talk about her cookbook, Soup Club. WTBBL volunteer Beth Larimore…
- Literary Notes
28 | Diana Morita Cole | Sideways: Memoir of a Misfit
Writer Diana Morita Cole joins WTBBL via video call to discuss her book Sideways: Memoir of a Misfit. Born in the Minidoka Relocation Center during World War…
- Literary Notes
27 | Eden Dawn | The Seattle Book of Dates
Fashion journalist and Guinness World Record holder Eden Dawn joins us via video call to chat about The Seattle Book of Dates. Written and researched…
- Literary Notes
26 | Amy Hevron | Tiny Habitats Books (series)
Author and illustrator Amy Hevron sits down with us to talk about her Tiny Habitats books, a series of picture books that teaches kids about wildlife in…
- Literary Notes
25 | ARCHIVE: Jonathan Tropper | This is Where I Leave You
Writer Jonathan Tropper came by the WTBBL studios in 2009 to chat about his book This is Where I Leave You, about a family forced to stay under one roof after…
- Literary Notes
24 | Robert Dugoni | Tracy Crosswhite (series)
New York Times bestseller Robert Dugoni chats with WTBBL volunteer Courtney Maheras about the Tracy Crosswhite novels, a long-running crime procedural series…
- Literary Notes
23 | Ellie Belew | High Voltage Women: Breaking Barriers at Seattle City Light
Community historian Ellie Belew joins WTBBL volunteer Sara Ainsworth to talk about the first women to work at Seattle City Light and the severe challenges they…
- Literary Notes
22 | Dr. Marie Rose Wong | Building Tradition: Pan-Asian Seattle and Life in the Residential Hotels
Urban planning and Asian American history professor Dr. Marie Rose Wong stops by to talk about her book Building Tradition: Pan-Asian Seattle and Life in the…
- Literary Notes
21 | ARCHIVE: Kat Richardson | Underground (Greywalker series)
Author and former WTBBL volunteer Kat Richardson sat down with us to chat about the third book in her supernatural mystery series, Greywalker. This interview…
- Literary Notes
20 | Mary Roach | Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy
Science writer Mary Roach joins us to talk about her latest book, Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy. She discusses the advancements made in…
- Literary Notes
19 | Peter Blecha | Rock & Roll Archaeologist, Stomp & Shout: R&B and the Origins of Northwest Rock & Roll
Historian Peter Blecha joins us to talk about his books Rock & Roll Archaeologist and Stomp & Shout: R&B and the Origins of Northwest Rock & Roll. He recounts…
- Literary Notes
18 | Frederick L. Brown | The City is More Than Human: An Animal History of Seattle
Historian Frederick L. Brown discusses his book The City is More Than Human: An Animal History of Seattle with library volunteer Chris Snee. The book recounts…
- Literary Notes
17 | Michael Keen | Notes From the Trauma Party
Writer and social worker Michael Keen visits our studio to talk about Notes From the Trauma Party, a novel taking heavy inspiration from his experiences with…
- Literary Notes
16 | Russell Cahill | Tales from the Park: My Adventures as a Park Ranger, Kepa: A Hawaiian in the Wild West
Writer and former National Park ranger Russell Cahill sits down with WTBBL volunteer Howard Lazzarini to discuss his memoir, two works of fiction, and the life…
- Literary Notes
15 | ARCHIVE: Jamie Ford | Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
In 2009, author Jamie Ford stopped by our studios to discuss his debut novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. It tells the story of a Chinese-American…
- Literary Notes
14 | Jennifer Ott | Waterway: The Story of Seattle's Locks and Ship Canal
Historian Jennifer Ott joins us to chat about Seattle's drastic 19th century transformation that she writes about in Waterway: The Story of Seattle's Locks and…
- Literary Notes
13 | Eva Walker & Jacob Uitti | The Sound of Seattle: 101 Songs That Shaped A City
The Sound of Seattle: 101 Songs That Shaped a City is a look into the rich, storied history of the Pacific Northwest's music scene. It was written by musician…
- Literary Notes
12 | Jessica Gigot | A Little Bit of Land
Jessica Gigot is a poet, writer, and farmer who spends most of her days on her sheep farm in the Skagit Valley. She wrote about her experiences with farm life…
- Literary Notes
11 | Nathan Vass | The Lines That Make Us: Stories From Nathan's Bus
Writer, filmmaker, and King County Metro bus driver Nathan Vass has collected stories about the riders he meets along bus routs 7 and 49 in his book The Lines…
- Literary Notes
10 | E.J. Koh | The Magical Language of Others & The Liberators
Poet, novelist, screenwriter, and translator E.J. Koh reunites with her former roommate and current WTBBL volunteer Yoon Park to discuss her memoir, The…
- Literary Notes
9 | Anna Zivarts | When Driving is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency
Disability advocate Anna Zivarts has a conversation with WTBBL volunteer Betsy Haddox about her book When Driving is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car…
- Literary Notes
8 | ARCHIVE: Daniel Levitin | The World in Six Songs: How the Musical Brain Created Human Nature
Musician, record producer, and neuroscientist Daniel Levitin dropped by our studios back in 2008 to talk about his book The World in Six Songs: How the Musical…
- Literary Notes
7 | Syren Nagakyrie | The Disabled Hiker's Guide to Western Washington and Oregon
Disabilty activist, community organizer, and writer Syren Nagakyrie visits the WTBBL studios to discuss their book, The Disabled Hiker's Guide to Western…
- Literary Notes
6 | Paula Becker | A House on Stilts & A Little Book of Self-Care for Those Who Grieve
Writer and historian Paula Becker sits down with WTBBL volunteer Courtney Hudak to talk about two books about grief. A House on Stilts: Mothering in the Age of…
- Literary Notes
5 | Lauren J.A. Bear | Medusa's Sisters
Author and educator Lauren J.A. Bear comes by the studios of Washington Talking Book & Braille Library to discuss her first novel, Medusa's sisters. She sits…
- Literary Notes
4 | Tom J. Phillips | High Point: The Inside Story of Seattle’s First Green Mixed-Income Neighborhood
Washington Talking Book & Braille Library volunteer Rick Sipe sits down with urban planner Tom J. Phillips to talk about his work in developing High Point, a…
- Literary Notes
3 | ARCHIVE: Michio Kaku | Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel
Micho Kaku visited the studios of the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library in June 2008 to talk about his book "Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific…
- Literary Notes
2 | Blaine Harden | Murder at the Mission: A Frontier Killing, Its Legacy of Lies, and the Taking of the American West
Washington Talking Book & Braille Library volunteer Rachel Glass interviews journalist Blaine Harden about his book Murder at the Mission: A Frontier Killing…
- Literary Notes
1 | Mike Gastineau | Fear No Man: Don James, the '91 Huskies, and the Seven-Year Quest for a National Football Championship
Washington Talking Book & Braille Library volunteer Bob Carlson interviews Seattle sportscasting legend Mike Gastineau about his book Fear No Man: Don James…