Librarians are amazing people to interview. So are authors, journalists, and other library lovers. Podcaster Steve Thomas, the host of Circulating Ideas, has had the privilege to interview these amazing people since June 2011. A library staffer himself, Steve is passionate about the work of libraries and uses his podcast to facilitate conversations about 21st century libraries.  

This June and July, we’re proud to once again sponsor the Summer Reading Spectacular series on Circulating Ideas. Listen to this series to hear directly from authors about new or upcoming books — and then stay at the end to hear from NoveList librarians during The Circ Desk segment. In each visit to The Circ Desk, two NoveList librarians will use their expertise and passion for books to find great read-alikes that appeal to different elements that fans of the episode's book might enjoy. Plus, they'll share their approach to matching books by explaining why each read-alike is a good match.

Mark your calendar for the days you’ll hear from us on Circulating Ideas. Find the authors and the books they're discussing below — and maybe find a new favorite author this summer!

June

• June 2nd: Hayley DeRoche, Dress Your Baby in Sage and Taupe: A Handbook for the Sad Beige Parent
• June 9th: Catherine Kurtz, Feast
• June 16th: Camille Perri, Social Animals
• June 23rd: Rob Hart, Three Hitmen and a Baby
• June 30th: Details forthcoming

July

• July 7th: Laura Sims, The Man
• July 14th: Kerri Maher, Summer of Love
• July 21st: Araminta Hall, Unreliable Narrator
• July 28th: Alma Katsu, Incarnate

If you want to listen to the Summer Reading Spectacular series, find the episode recordings on the dates listed above on the Circulating Ideas homepage. While there, you can find an archive of past transcripts. Steve has interviewed such authors as Gail Carriger and Gene Luen Yang. He’s interviewed ALA presidential candidates (including this year’s, Tamika Barnes and Becky Calzada) and library advocates like Ryan Dowd, author of The Librarian’s Guide to Homelessness. With names like this, you know it's a great podcast — and you can listen to the recordings, too. 

NoveList Plus makes superb read-alike (and listen-alike!) recommendations. If you’re 12th in line for The Fountain by Casey Scieszka right now, you might enjoy The City in Glass by Nghi Vo or Honeysuckle by Bar Friedman-Tell while you wait. Find more read-alikes on NoveList Plus today!

Leigh Gaddy is the Marketing Specialist at NoveList. She is currently reading Good Writing by Neal Allen and Anne Lamott.