I’m a little behind announcing this, but in case you haven’t heard, HarperCollins Canada is working with Foursevens Podcast Network to produce a podcast series.
The podcasts will be released twice a month and feature author interviews.
Among the authors tentatively scheduled:
* Gautam Malkani ñ Londonstani
* Jon Evans ñ Invisible Armies
* Sara Gruen ñ Water for Elephants (This is on my summer reading list. Circus life during the Depression. Here’s the description from the Harpers website: “Orphaned and penniless at the height of the Depression, Jacob Jankowski escapes everything he knows by jumping on a passing train and inadvertantly runs away with a struggling, second-rate circus. But Jacob finds work in the menagerie, where he becomes a savior for the animals. He also comes to know Marlena, the star of the equestrian act — and wife of August, a charistmatic but cruel animal trainer.” I’m looking forward to reading the book and then listening to the podcast. I like that the circus is second rate.)
* Lydia Millet ñ Oh, Pure and Radiant Heart
* Dennis Bock ñ The Communistís Daughter
* Rebecca Godfrey ñ Under the Bridge
I think podcasts are a great way for readers to engage with authors. Sometimes I want to listen to an author before I read the book, sometimes I want to listen after I’ve read the book. It’s dependent on who the author is and what I already know about them. Regardless, I’m always searching online for more information about authors I love and books that I’ve read or want to read.
While we’re talking podcasts, if you’re a fan of celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, part 1 of the 3-part podcast from Raincoast Books and At Large Media is available today. www.raincoast.com/podcast/. Have a listen: direct link to MP3. Bourdain talks about the crazy questions he gets about himself and his books. There’s some life philosophy, reader questions and little insider tidbits about Bourdain’s life.
UPDATE: My mistake, HarperCollins started podcasting in January with Jay Ingram. Steve Osgoode wrote me a note saying they did 21 episodes. Thanks for the correction Steve. You can hear the first podcast by visiting:
http://www.jayingram.ca/archive/2006_01_01_jayingram_archive.html