On today's episode, Adam and Jill travel to Chicago to speak with Colson Whitehead about his #1 New York Times bestselling and Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Underground Railroad. Their conversation covered how this book came to be, how he views his book in relation to the incredible success it has achieved, race relations throughout American history and a dive into the music Colson listens to while writing. In addition to winning the 2017 Pulitzer Prize, the Underground Railroad was also sel...
Jul 13, 2017•32 min
In today's episode, Adam and Jill sit down with bestselling and award winning author Jonathan Safran Foer. Well known for his immensely popular novels Extremely Loud and Incredible Close and Everything is Illuminated, Jonathan published his latest hit, Here I am, in 2016. During their chat, Jonathan discussed how he takes on the craft of writing, how he traveled to Eastern Europe to research his first novel and his thoughts on being considered one of the defining writers on contemporary Jewish l...
Jul 10, 2017•39 min
It's our monthly episode of forthcoming books we can't wait to read! ::Insert Kermit Arms:: Like every month, Jill and Adam break down some of the books coming out this month that they can't wait to read. So get your TBR lists ready! Books Mentioned in This Episode The Breakdown by BA Paris Behind Closed Doors by BA Paris Because You Hate To Love Me by Ameriie The Many Lives of Catwoman by Tim Hanley Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond The Last Magician by Lisa ...
Jul 06, 2017•36 min
On this week's author interview episode we feature Greg Iles, the #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of the Natchez Burning series. Greg talks about his experiences as a writer of the South and the importance of dealing head on with the past and the real life situations that inspired his series. Say Hello! Find OverDrive on Facebook at OverDriveforLibraries and Twitter at @ProBookNerds. Email us directly at professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com Music "Buddy" provided royalty free from www.bensou...
Jul 03, 2017•33 min
Last weekend, Adam and Jill were in Chicago for the American Library Association. Along with getting to meet some of our library partners, podcast listeners, publishing company friends, they also got to interview some incredible authors and Jill, at least, got to do some sightseeing in the Windy City. Books mentioned in this episode The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead Evicted by Matthew Desmond This Is What a Librarian Looks Like by Kyle Cassidy Carnegie's Maid by Marie Benedict The Add...
Jun 29, 2017•33 min
This episode is presented by Libby, the new app from OverDrive that's the fastest and easiest way to enjoy your next great digital read. Today's episode is an interview Adam did with Doree Shafrir. Doree has worked at Buzzfeed and Gawker Media, amongst other sites and her new debut novel STARTUP is now available. During their chat, Adam and Doree go into her book, working at Buzzfeed, having a podcast of her own with her husband Matt Mira and what she's excited about in the tech industry. Take a...
Jun 26, 2017•43 min
Today's episode is presented by Libby, the new app from OverDrive that's the fastest and easiest way to enjoy your next great digital read. Our episode today is a very special conversation as Jill and Adam sat down with two librarians who were integral in the creation of OverDrive. Both these women have decades of experience working as libraries and now they offer their services consulting IN OUR OFFICES. They have worked closely with OverDrive's CEO, Steve Potash, over the years and have helped...
Jun 22, 2017•53 min
On today's episode, Adam & Jill are joined by Kyle Cassidy, author of This is What a Librarian Looks Like. The trio celebrate this week's American Librarian Association annual meetings by discussing all the amazing library stories Kyle has in his book. In This is What a Librarian Looks Like, Kyle not only shares hundreds of wonderful stories by librarians but also several essays and interviews from bestselling authors including Neil Gaiman, Paula Poundstone and George R.R. Martin. As Kyle st...
Jun 19, 2017•40 min
On today's episode, Adam and Jill unveil their top 10 most bad ass female writers working today. Inspired by Wonder Woman, they decide to share this list of incredible ladies in the hopes that you'll discover some authors you may not have known about or never considered reading. You can click each name below to see that author's OverDrive page and borrow all their books. Once you've listened to the episode, be sure to send us some tweets or emails to let us know who would be on your list! Leigh ...
Jun 15, 2017•25 min
Episode Overview Today's episode is a conversation Jill had with Instagram yogi rockstar Jessamyn Stanley, author of Every Body Yoga. More than just a discussion about yoga, Jill and Jessamyn discuss body image, diet culture, and being an untraditional looking athlete. Episode was recorded live at the Parma-Snow branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library on May 18, 2017. Say Hello! Find OverDrive on Facebook at OverDriveforLibraries and Twitter at @ProBookNerds. Email us directly at profession...
Jun 12, 2017•1 hr 2 min
Adam and Jill are both back in the office this week! ::FLAILING KERMIT ARMS:: In our intro, Adam shares some of the adventures he had in New York City when he was visiting the Big Apple for Book Expo and then Jill has an interview with New York Times bestselling author Sarah Dessen! Her latest book Once and For All is out now. Say Hello! Find OverDrive on Facebook at OverDriveforLibraries and Twitter at @ProBookNerds. Email us directly at professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com Music "Buddy" provide...
Jun 08, 2017•40 min
Episode Overview: Today's episode is an interview Jill did with award-winning author and illustrator Marcus Sedgwick, whose latest book Saint Death was published back in April. Other Books Mentioned in this episode: The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson Say Hello! Find OverDrive on Facebook at OverDriveforLibraries and Twitter at @ProBookNerds. Email us directly at professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com Music "Buddy" provided royalty free from www.bensound.com Podcast Overview We're not just book nerds...
Jun 05, 2017•30 min
Episode Overview Adam and Jill are currently podcast hosts passing in the night, with Adam currently in New York City for Book Expo America while Jill is back in the office after having just returned from the Big Apple! In the first half of the episode, Adam gives some book recommendations to some of our listeners who emailed in and in the second half Jill talks all about her recent trip to New York and hitting the Great White Way for a musical. Book Recs: Nonfiction books for teens about the Ho...
Jun 01, 2017•32 min
On today's episode, Adam has the honor of chatting with Cat Clarke about her book The Pants Project. Cat has written a story about a Transgender student entering a new school where Liv is forced to wear a skirt even though he knows inside he was meant to be a boy. This powerful story about equality is something everyone should read. In their chat, Adam and Cat discuss what went into the decision to write this book, Cat's research process and so much more. Take a listen and then go borrow, buy or...
May 29, 2017•40 min
On this very special episode of the Professional Book Nerds podcast, we sit down with Marie Benedict once more to discuss The Other Einstein which was chosen by our readers as the next Big Library Read global eBook club! Marie came to our offices in Cleveland and the three of us bonded and now we're the best of friends. After you listen to this episode head to http://biglibraryread.com/ to join our global discussion around The Other Einstein as the Big Library Read kicks off once again on June 1...
May 27, 2017•40 min
Before Jill and Adam go on a series of travel adventures for work and play they get together to share the books coming out in June they're most excited to read. In this episode you'll hear discussions about new memoirs (HELLO EDDIE IZZARD), Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery, Young Adult and oodles more. Adam also reads a wonderful listener email and we lament how fast time is flying in 2017. Shout at us with the books your most excited for this month for a chance to be mentioned on the podcast! ...
May 25, 2017•33 min
On today's episode, Jill & Adam chat with debut author Caite Dolan-Leach about her debut novel Dead Letters. In addition to being an amazing writer and overall human, Caite is a literary translator who studied at Trinity College and the American University in Paris (Hashtag jelly). We discuss her life as a world traveler and, studying in the world's most beautiful university library and bucket loads more. Have a listen! Say Hello! Find OverDrive on Facebook at OverDriveforLibraries and Twitt...
May 22, 2017•32 min
We are an office full of readers and so for today's episode we decided to poll some of our co-workers and past podcast guests to see what everyone is currently reading or has recently finished. We love doing these episodes because they are always a great mix of titles so enjoy and be sure to let us know what YOU are reading by emailing us at professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com or by finding us on Twitter @ProBookNerds Books Mentioned In Today's Episode: Empire Storms by Sarah J. Maas Katherine o...
May 18, 2017•24 min
The Fierce Reads tour kicked off May 9, 2017 and Cleveland's own Cuyahoga County Public Library was the first stop! Adam and I got to moderate a panel discussion with three incredible Young Adult authors: Scott Westerfeld, Erin Beaty, and Taran Matharu. Kristen Orlando was originally scheduled but was ill the night of our event so she is not part of the interview. For more information about the tour and the authors we interviewed, visit www.fiercereads.com Episode was recorded live on May 9, 201...
May 15, 2017•59 min
On today's episode we are discussing short reads and quick books! We love big books and we cannot lie but not everyone does or has the time so today's episode is all about shorter books that can be read over a long weekend (which is perfect for our American listeners with Memorial Day right around the corner). Books Mentioned In This Episode The Ocean at the end of the lane by Neil Gaiman The sleeper and the spindle by Neil Gaiman Fortunately the milk by Neil Gaiman Between the World and Me by T...
May 11, 2017•30 min
On today's episode, Adam chats with Kate Moore, author of the incredible book The Radium Girls. This work of nonfiction recounts the story of the women who worked with Radium-based paint, ingesting poison every single day, and their fight to make sure the tragedies they endured never happened again. Kate discussed the massive amount of research she did to bring this story to life and also shared her experiences as a ghost writer and editor. Take a listen and then borrow, purchase and recommend t...
May 08, 2017•29 min
We're back with round two of our Book Riot Read Harder Challenge suggestions! Completing this challenge is a lot of fun and can help broaden your literary scope but it can be tough to find books that fit the categories. That's where we come in! In ep. 82 we did five different categories and today we have 5 more for you. Below are links to all the books we discuss. Take a listen! Read a Debut Novel This is Where it ends by Marieke Nijkamp Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon Your Heart is a Musc...
May 04, 2017•54 min
It's Children's Book Week and we are celebrating with a three-in-one author interview episode featuring authors Pat Mora, Cynthia Leitich-Smith, and Don Tate. Interviews were recorded at the Virginia Hamilton Conference, April 6-7, 2017. Say Hello! Find OverDrive on Facebook at OverDriveforLibraries and Twitter @ProBookNerds. Email us directly at professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com Music "Buddy" provided royalty free from www.bensound.com Podcast Overview We're not just book nerds: we're profess...
May 01, 2017•52 min
May is just around the corner which means it's time for Adam and Jill to offer up their top picks for books coming out in May 2017! Books Mentioned In This Episode: We Are Never Meeting In Real Life by Samantha Irby This Is Just My Face: Try Not to Stare by Gabourey Sidibe The Stars Are Fire by Anita Shreve Into the Water by Paula Hawkins Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane Theft by Finding by David Sedaris Dragon Teeth by Michael Crichton The Last Neanderthal by Claire Cameron Astrophysics for Peopl...
Apr 27, 2017•31 min
In today's episode, Adam speaks with Scottish author Denzil Meyrick. Denzil's book, Whisky From Small Glasses was selected as our Together We Read Digital Book Club choice for our U.K. libraries. Together We Read is a Digital Book Club being featured through participating libraries in the United Kingdom from 11 – 25 May 2017. The club connects readers all across the United Kingdom with the same eBook, at the same time. Denzil discusses how he went from being on the police force to writing crime ...
Apr 24, 2017•37 min
On Today's episode, Jill & Adam sit down with John Scalzi, one of the most prolific and success Science Fiction Writers of our time. John provides an introduction to his new book, The Collapsing Empire, and then explains what makes a good Sci-Fi story in his mind. John even provides some great "gateway" books for newcomers to the genre while also offering some graduate level options for Sci-Fi veterans. John offers up some secrets to his writing process, where he sees this latest series goin...
Apr 20, 2017•44 min
On today's episode, Adam and Jill are joined by Christina, who tells us all about the titles included in this year's Summer Read program. OverDrive Summer Read is an annual program designed to encourage K-12 students to keep reading all year long. The titles selected can supplement other summer reading programs and will offer free, simultaneous access to students from June 7th - August 7th. More information can be found at http://resources.overdrive.com/summer-read/ Books mentioned in this episo...
Apr 17, 2017•35 min
It's National Library Week! As a library company, OverDrive knows the importance of libraries and as podcast hosts, we often ask our guest authors for their thoughts and memories about the importance of libraries as well. For this episode, we pulled together some of our favorite quotes from past guests. They talk about getting their first library card, the book that changed their life, the importance of reading, and so much more. Episode numbers are listened next to each author if you'd like to ...
Apr 13, 2017•28 min
On today's episode, Adam interviews Omar El Akaad about his debut novel American War, which tells the story of a second American Civil War taking place 100 years in the future. Omar has spent his professional life covering news in places like Iraq, Egypt and Guantanamo Bay and uses his incredible view of the world to shape this book. In our intro Adam chats with his brother Jason who also works at OverDrive. Yep, that's right, Adam's has a brother who works with him that has never been on the po...
Apr 10, 2017•37 min
On today's episode, Adam interviews Lesley Crewe, whose book, Amazing Grace, was chosen as the Together We Read national digital book club selection for Canada. From April 13-27, library card holders of Canadian libraries can borrow the eBook of Amazing Grace without any wait lists or holds and then join our discussion board at https://togetherweread.com. Lesley and Adam chat about her home in Cape Brenton, Nova Scotia where many of her stories are located as well as her love of wildlife and why...
Apr 06, 2017•40 min
