Book of the Month Live

Do you think you would do well in the Wild West? Victor LaValle says he has no chance! We're talking with Victor LaValle, author of Lone Women to discuss his love for monsters, why he thinks horror is optimistic, and how parenthood changed his approach as a storyteller. Lone Women follows Adelaide Henry, a woman fleeing past sins attempting to forge a new life homesteading in 1914 Montana's harsh plains. She carries an enormous steamer trunk with her that stays locked at all times because when the trunk is open, people around her start to disappear. Get Lone Women at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Do porcelain dolls freak you out? Us too… We sat down with Kristen Loesch to talk all about her debut novel, The Last Russian Doll. She dives into the process of writing historical fiction, plus her fascination with dolls and fairy tales. The Last Russian Doll weaves one family's tragic splintering into the larger tapestry of Russia's turbulent 20th century in a dual timeline. The 1990s timeline follows Rosie after her mother dies and Rosie returning to Russia, armed with little more than her mother's strange folklore and a single key. What she uncovers is a devastating family history that spans the 1917 Revolution, the siege of Leningrad, Stalin's purges, and beyond. The 1916 timeline begins with Tonya, whose actions will set off a sweeping story that reverberates across the country. Get The Last Russian Doll at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

What's something in your home you detest, but your partner won't get rid of? Listen on to hear Jenny Jackson's answer! We sat down with Jenny Jackson to talk about her debut novel, Pineapple Street! She shared her experience going from editor to author, what inspired the book's setting, and her many celebrity run-ins in Brooklyn Heights. Pineapple Street puts Brooklyn's 1% under the microscope, exploring what happens to a trust fund deferred. Darley is the eldest daughter in a well-connected, old-money family; Sasha is from a middle-class family married into a Brooklyn Heights family; and Georgiana, the millennial conscience of the family who wants to give it all away. Get Pineapple Street at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

True or false: crows hold grudges. Emilia Hart has the answer. Today, we're talking with debut author Emilia Hart to discuss her novel, Weyward, the meaning of witchcraft, insect appreciation, and of course, everything about crows. Weyward weaves together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries. 2019: Kate fleeing London to leave her abusive partner. 1619: Altha is awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer, and as the evidence for witchcraft is set out against her, Altha knows she must maintain her freedom. 1942: Violet is trapped in her family's estate during World War II longing for the education her brother is receiving. Weyward is an enthralling novel of female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world. Get Weyward at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

If you wrote a psychological thriller about a writing retreat, would you still attend a real-life writing retreat? Julia Bartz would! Today, we're talking with author Julia Bartz to discuss her debut novel The Writing Retreat, how becoming a therapist made her a better writer, and getting in touch with her dark side to write this spooky thriller. The Writing Retreat follows Alex, a writer who is about to give up on her dreams when she receives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend an exclusive writing retreat hosted by her hero, Roza Vallo. Quickly she learns that the attendees must complete an entire novel during the next month, and that the winner will receive a seven-figure publishing deal. But when one of the writers vanishes during a snowstorm, Alex realizes that something very sinister is afoot. With the clock running out, she's desperate to discover the truth and save herself. Get The Writing Retreat at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Will writing a novel clear your skin? To what lengths will a mother go to find her family? Today, we're talking with debut author Eleanor Shearer, author of River Sing Me Home, about how the process of writing helped her reconnect with her family, the Caribbean history behind the novel, and what it means to be free. River Sing Me Home takes place the day the Emancipation Act of 1834 comes into effect; the day the king has decreed an end to slavery, but instead announces they are his apprentices. Instead of working for the king for another six years, Rachel runs and begins a desperate search for her children that were sold into slavery. This is the story of Rachel and the extraordinary lengths to which a mother will go to find her children… and her freedom. Get River Sing Me Home at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

A romantic lead with nice forearms and a rescue dog? What more could you want! We're talking to Kate Clayborn, author of Georgie, All Along, about the importance of childhood best friends, why work and identity should not always coincide, the part of high school she would and would not want to revisit, and of course, cowboys. Georgie, All Along follows longtime personal assistant Georgie Mulcahy when an unexpected upheaval sends her away from her hectic job in L.A. and back to her hometown where she finds a "friendfic" diary that she wrote as a teenager. The diary becomes her guidebook for getting started on a new path, all with the help of her unexpected roommate, Levi Fanning. As the two make their way through her wishlist, Georgie begins to realize that what she truly wants might not be in the pages of her diary after all, but right by her side. Get Georgie, All Along at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Author Jessica George discusses mother-daughter relationships, societal timelines, and playing 'Dating Red Flags' in this podcast. Her book 'Maame' follows Maddie's late bloomer journey, facing tragedy and family truths. Listen for insights on Google advice, first experiences, and unconventional life paths.

Want to learn more about the UK's very real (and very absurd) laws? Want to hear how 1940's criminals got away with stealing furs? You've come to the right place! Today, we're talking with Beezy Marsh about the naughty ladies from the Queen of Thieves, old British slang, and what draws Beezy to writing about crime. Queen of Thieves takes place in post-Blitz, 1946 London. Alice Diamond, the Queen of Thieves, rules over her all-female gang with a bejeweled fist, while her "hoisters" are expert shoplifters. Young Nell is a teenager from the slums facing a desperately uncertain future when Alice takes her under her wing. As Nell embraces the rich spoils of crime and the seedy underbelly of London, will she manage to carve out her own path to power and riches? Might she even crown herself the Queen of Thieves? Get Queen of Thieves at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

Can a dark academia author recognize the names of demons? Can she tell us what really goes on behind closed doors in a secret society? Today, we're talking with Leigh Bardugo about her experience at Yale, the way hell is portrayed in her newest novel, and why demons and failed companies have eerily similar-sounding names. Hell Bent is the epic follow-up to Ninth House. Alex Stern thinks one can just casually go to hell and bring friends back, but the journey is a lot darker and more dangerous than she realized. This attempted rescue could cost her a future at Lethe and at Yale, and if she is going to survive, she'll have to reckon with the monsters of her past and a darkness built into the university's very walls. Get Hell Bent at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com