Open Book with Maggie Downs & Tod Goldberg

We're back from a brief summer hiatus! We're joined in studio by award-winning artist Jeff Frost to talk about his career, his passion for fire, and how he's managed to stay creative when stuck at home.

We're back after a brief vacation to sit down with writer Tom Zoellner, whose new book, Island on Fire: The Revolt That Ended Slavery in the British Empire, was released to rave reviews in May. Plus, we fill you in on all the cool stuff we've been doing...in our houses, just like the rest of you...

This week we're joined again by writer Michael Scott Moore, author of the Desert and the Sea, about his 977 held captive by Somalian pirates. But this time, he's telling us strategies for long term confinement...something that seems more and more likely.

This week we're joined by the novelist Ivy Pochoda to talk about her acclaimed new book These Women...but also, we talk a lot about the weird food she's cooking during quarantine, because Maggie and Tod can't keep on topic.

In this very special episode, recorded in front of a live audience on Zoom, Tod & Maggie are joined by...well, this is awkward...Maggie! It's release day for Maggie's memoir BRAVER THAN YOU THINK, which you've heard all about over these last few seasons, and now it's here! So Tod sits Maggie down for a candid conversation about her hit debut.

In this very special show, we're joined by John Martin Fischer to talk about his book Death, Immortality and Meaning in Life...in front a of a live on-line audience.

Writer Kathryn McGee runs the popular horror book club at the Last Bookstore in Los Angeles, so we sat down to discuss how those things we love in real life can be replicated online, while we're all in our pajamas 24/7...

This week we veer a little off the path to talk with writer and teacher Rob Bowman about what life in a virtual high school classroom is like here in the Coachella Valley. It's a must listen to understand the broad challenges facing high school education in America today.

This week, Open Book @ Home brings Erin Khar to your earbuds! Erin is the author of the new memoir Strung Out: One Last Hit and Other Lies that Nearly Killed Me, which the NY Times raved about: "There is an honesty here that can only come from, to put it in the language of 12-step programs, a 'searching and fearless moral inventory.' This is a story she needed to tell; and the rest of the country needs to listen."

In our second edition from our living rooms, we're joined by novelist Edan Lepucki to talk about her new book, Mothers Before: Stories and Portraits of Our Mothers as We Never Saw Them, which she adapted from her popular Instagram page. Plus, we cover topics as important as bread making and our dreams!

We're on lockdown...but we're still here! So Maggie & Tod invited their pal Liska Jacobs over to talk about the books that might make YOU feel less alone, too...in an adult way. Recorded from our homes!

We're joined this week by novelist Courtney Maum, whose new book is a how-to guide for writers at the precipice of publication/emotional breakdown!

This week we're joined by author Gina Frangello, part of the brain-trust behind Bombay Beach Lit Week, which runs from March 23-29th.

We're joined in the studio by National Book Award finalist Susan Straight to talk about her new memoir In The Country of Women. And Tod and Maggie are in a fight.

We're joined this week by Zack Solomon from the Palm Springs International Film Festival, who will make his picks for the Big 8 Oscar categories. Also, Maggie talks about the only movie she saw all year, Little Women.

This week on the show we're joined by singer-songwriter-author Juliana Hatfield! Her new record is Juliana Hatfield Sings the Police. You should go buy it.

This week we're joined by NYT #1 bestselling author Lee Goldberg to talk about his new book, LOST HILLS. Lee also happens to be Tod's brother, so send your prayers to Maggie.

Maggie & Tod close out the decade by picking the most important books they read, year by year. They may not be the best...but they made the biggest impression on our hosts.

This week, we're joined by novelist JD Horn to talk about his life and his books, including his latest release The Final Days of Magic...plus, we get into some politics, since JD had a very special guest at his house this week...

In celebration of Halloween, we're joined by someone who talks to the dead, medium Patrick Harrington. Bonus: Tod and Maggie get their auras read!

This week we're joined by author and journalist Michael Scott Moore to discuss his book The Desert & The Sea, his harrowing account of being kidnapped by Somali pirates.

This week we're joined by the novelist and journalist Adam Popescu to talk about his debut novel NIMA, his path to publication, and, what we hope will be a part of all future episodes, Dog the Bounty Hunter.

Literary frauds are all the rage, so we sat down with Melissa Chadburn, who uncovered the Anna March fiasco last year, to discuss how and why this keeps happening.

This week on the show, we're joined by Desert Sun Arts & Culture writer Brian Blueskye to talk about his life and career in advance of his appearance at Coachella Valley Storytellers.

This week we're joined by Josh Heinz, lead singer of Blasting Echo and guitarist for 5th Town, to talk about his upcoming benefit concert, the 12th annual Concert for Autism. We also talk about Josh's own artistic process. For more info about the benefit: concertforautism.com

This week Maggie & Tod are joined by J Ryan Stradal, author of The Lager Queen of Minnesota to talk about his new book, his old book, reality TV, whatever sad weird things Tod and Maggie get caught up on, and all points in between! It's a great conversation.

We're joined this week by Alex Espinoza, author of the new book CRUISING: An Intimate History of a Radical Pastime, to talk about the history, present, and future of cruising.

Maggie & Tod are heading off on vacation...and they've got every possible book you should read. No really. They've broken it down by 12 different vacation styles. You'll never travel alone.

This week, we're pleased to be joined in studio by Anthony McCann, author of the blockbuster new nonfiction book SHADOWLANDS: Fear and Freedom at the Oregon Standoff, out now from Bloomsbury. This is primed to be one of the big books of the summer.

This week we're joined by award-winning author Natashia Deon to talk about her new non-profit, the Redeemed Project, which aims to help rehabilitated criminals clear their record. For more information about the project, visit https://www.redeemedproject.org/

This week we're joined by author Jared Yates Sexton to discuss his new book THE MAN THEY WANTED ME TO BE. Sexton is also the author of The People Are Going to Rise Like the Waters Upon Your Shore about his year following Donald Trump.

After the death of her husband, author Aimee Dufresne went in search of joy...and then spent 4 years on a book tour, doing just that. Listen as she tells her story...and then come out on May 22nd and see Aimee live at the Coachella Valley Storytellers @ the Rancho Mirage Library.

Pulitzer Prize finalist Laila Lalami stops by to talk about her new book The Other Americans.

This week, your faithful hosts went on a field trip to the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books and the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes and came back with ALL THE GOSSIP. So listen in as Maggie & Tod take you behind the scenes of America's largest book festival.

This week, in celebration of Coachella, we're joined by writer and musician Rob Roberge, to talk about books by and about musicians. Roberge's new book, LIAR, is out now. You can catch him on tour with his band The Urinals at some point very soon...

Arizona Republic writer Robert Anglen thought something was amiss with the closing of Toby Keith's restaurant franchise...and then, later, Rascal Flatts. What he turned up was a mob henchman in witness protection who maybe wasn't terribly reformed. The unbelievable true story!

This week Maggie & Tod are joined by Coachella Valley Storyteller Felina Danalis, who has an incredible story of her time in Belgrade in the early 00s. She'll be live as part of the Coachella Valley Storyteller March 21st at the La Quinta Museum. Also? Tod and Maggie are enraged by the college cheating scandal and can barely contain themselves.

This week we're joined by Steven Biller to talk about the fabulous new iteration of Desert X, the valley-wide art installation, as well as to hear all about his plans for the newly revamped Palm Springs Life Magazine. Plus: Maggie survived finishing her book.

Tod & Maggie are joined this week by Zack Solomon, Membership & Education Director of the Palm Springs International Film Society, who runs down the big 8 categories for the upcoming Academy Awards. Get your ballots ready!

This week we're joined by international bestselling romance writer HelenKay Dimon, to talk about her career, how she got her start, and the politics of writing romance.

Book critic Heather Scott Partington re-joins us to go over her picks for the hot new books of 2019. Plus: Maggie reveals she's going full Stephen King to finish her book...and more!

This week Maggie & Tod are joined by journalist Julie Makinen, the brand new Executive Editor of the Desert Sun, to talk about her career, her plans for the newspaper, and what it was like being 24 and running the Washington Post (kind of).

We're joined this week by bestselling author Paul Tremblay (A HEAD FULL OF GHOSTS, THE CABIN AT THE END OF THE WORLD), to talk about his life and times, and to help us pick our favorite books of 2018.

On this very special episode, Maggie & Tod break down the greatest -- and well, maybe kind of the worst -- Christmas story songs! Everything from Baby, It's Cold Outside to Last Christmas and all points in between. They fight. They agree. They sing. You'll want to tune in with the family.

On our latest episode, we're joined by the great and wise Ron Oliver, the mastermind behind a slew of fantastic Hallmark Christmas movies...which, we know, you're addicted to. If you've seen a Hallmark Christmas movie in a small town, with a magic twist, well, Ron is responsible. You don't want to miss this one!

This week, Tod & Maggie are joined by novelist Michael Craft to talk about his career and life and his new book FLABBERGASSED.

This week Tod & Maggie are joined by horror writer Kate Maruyama, author of HARROWGATE, to talk about scary books, scary things, and the scary world we live in. P

This week on the show, Maggie & Tod are joined by Edgar Award-nominee Tyler Dilts to talk about his career in crime fiction and his close personal friendship with Alex Trebek. No really.

In our latest episode, Maggie & Tod are joined by author and professor Caren Yglesias and landscape design legend Steve Martino to talk about their book Desert Gardens of Steve Martino.

In this episode, Maggie & Tod are joined by the acclaimed writer Elizabeth Crane, whose book WE ONLY KNOW SO MUCH has just been turned into a film, screening right now at festivals around the nation. Elizabeth is also the author of several collections of short stories, including WHEN THE MESSENGER WAS HOT and TURF, and the novel THE HISTORY OF GREAT THINGS.

On this special episode of Open Book, we're joined by Rob and Amy from Reel Disagreement to talk about the best and worst book to film adaptations.