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Susan Coll combines the personal and the professional in writing Acceptance, her latest novel that is now out in paperback from Picador. In this interview, Coll discusses how she gathered material from her own experience as mother of children competing for admission to elite colleges and universities.

She also talks about how she came up with the idea of “Yates University,” the fictional institution that acts as her plot’s fulcrum — and how she learned about college admissions offices and officers through touring over 30 schools (whew!). She says at one point she actually knew a kid who could rattle off the famed U.S. News rankings list from memory…it’s all very daunting for those of us who haven’t gone through it, yet. “It just all becomes such a blur,” says Coll of the college admissions process.

Liar! Susan Coll is a liar…because she’s captured that “blur” perfectly in Acceptance.

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If you’re looking for a way to jump-start your summer reading, look no further. Not only do I suggest Susan Coll’s Acceptance as the perfect comic novel for your Memorial Day hammock time; we’ve got ten giveaway copies.

Acceptance is a sweetly serious satire about the college admissions process, set in the metro DC area. The three high-school senior protagonists, Maya, Taylor, and “AP” Harry, are all involved with fictional Yates University and its “interim head” of admissions, Olivia — to the inevitable slapstick scene at the end, which is nevertheless funny and satisfying. Even if you’ve never had a child who has gone through the increasingly complicated and convoluted college-admissions process (Coll has three college-age kids herself), you’ll find Acceptance rings true.

If you’d like to snag one of those copies, please leave a comment telling me about your favorite summer reading spot. Mine? I think I already mentioned hammocks…

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 I’m pleased to be able to present the second part of my interview with Alexander McCall Smith, who in this installment discusses his decision to give up his  position as a professor medical ethics at the University of Edinburgh to pursue writing full time. He also talks about the soon-to-be-released film of his first Mma Ramotswe novel, which was directed by the late, great Anthony Minghella. Was he pleased? Disappointed?

You’ll have to listen to find out…

May your weekends be full of happy reading hours. Thanks to all of you who sent in responses for our Alexander McCall Smith giveaway; I’ll be emailing you next week so I can send your books along!

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Over the years I believe I have interviewed Alexander McCall Smith five times; this is the sixth. The thing is, McCall Smith could tell me the same thing five times over and I’d still be delighted. He’s a natural raconteur and truly seems to consider his characters (both in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series, and in The Sunday Philosopy Club series) as people with lives of their own.

I love to hear him discuss Mma Ramotswe and her husband, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, as if they actually exist. I think, once you listen to him for a few minutes, that like me, you’ll start to believe that they just might actually be out there, living their purposeful and busy lives in a parallel universe. As you’ll see in this conversation, McCall Smith feels that his subconscious mind is tuned in to the Botswanan world his characters inhabit, and that he is just a “chronicler” of their activities.

I feel sure you’ll enjoy listening to McCall Smith here, but don’t forget to come back Friday, when we’ll post the second part of my conversation with him. Thanks for watching!

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Good morning all you Mmas and Rras out there — if you’re already fans of Alexander McCall Smith’s “No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” books, you’ll know that those are the courtesy titles used in Botswana for women and men.

 Through eleven books, Mma Precious Ramotswe has earned a solid place in the hearts of many readers for her “traditional build,” impeccable manners, and thirst for red bush (or rooibos) tea. Her careful detection skills and marriage to Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni have kept the story moving through its multiple volumes — and we’ve got 10 giveaway copies of the latest, The Miracle at Speedy Motors.

To “claim” your copy, tell us: what’s your all-time favorite book series? Agatha Christie? Tom Clancy? Tony Hillerman? Anne of Green Gables? We’d love to know. The first ten responses will get hardcovers of McCall Smith’s new book. Happy Reading!

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I’d like to give a shout-out to my endlessly patient producer, Mark (I’m not giving his full name because I haven’t asked his permission), who not only keeps this site going (i.e., sends me cyber-kicks in the keister when I need them, which is FREQUENTLY) but also produces all of the video and images you see here, including — and this is why he’s earned a place in my personal pantheon — having to listen to, edit, encode, and sometimes transcribe all of these interviews. Mark is talented, kind, and dedicated. And now, I hope that he will smile a little and forgive me for posting this interview several days late. THANKS MARK!

Here’s my conversation with Vikram Chandra, who is one of the most engaging authors I’ve ever interviewed. I could have talked with Chandra all day. He’s wickedly smart and witty. He has to be, to claim that he promises a “quick read” of Sacred Games, which is — wait for it — 992 pages!

Chandra explains why his novel is so long, and he has good reasons. He also had a lot of work to do in order to explore India’s underworld, and while he conducted many interviews of his own with crime bosses and others, ultimately he says that the story uplifted him and convinced him that the network connecting us all is our strength and not our downfall. He compares his technique to Buddhist mandala, in which many things are connected around a central image or theme.

I hope you’ll enjoy, and for those lucky three who won giveaway copies, we’ll be emailing shortly for your mailing info. Thanks for commenting!

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We’ve got just three giveaway copies this week of Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra — but their combined page count equals that of our usual ten! Yes, this is a LONG book. Reading it is an event and an undertaking, but it is worth it.

To snag one of our copies, tell us in the comments about the longest book you’ve ever read (and that can be in terms of page count, or of how long it felt, or even of years to finish). Come back on Wednesday, too, for our interview with Chandra.

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My apologies to all for taking so long to post the second half of this interview. I’m going to push it live now and then come back with some comments; that way you won’t have to wait any longer. I seem to have some kind of adverse affect on consumer electronics…this time it wasn’t my recording device, but my modem. Thank you for your patience!

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We think Tracy Chevalier is so cool, we’ve decided to publish my interview with her in two parts. You can look forward to another installment on Thursday, April 3. But first, watch this video and learn about why Chevalier decided to write a novel centered around the London of William Blake — and what she thinks is the best way for a novelist to find out about a research topic.

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I guarantee you’ll enjoy this week’s book and this week’s author. On Wednesday we’ll post my interview with Tracy Chevalier; she is one of my favorite subjects ever. Chevalier speaks carefully but easily, and you’ll never, ever guess which historical figure she’s chosen as the protagonist of her next novel (unless, of course, you’ve been reading those other interviews out there… ). 

Chevalier’s latest novel, which is now out in paperback, revolves around early 19th-century London and the poet/painter William Blake. We’ve got ten copies of Burning Bright to give to the first ten readers who leave us a message about which historical figure — author, artist, musician, scientist, anyone — you’d most enjoy reading about (preferably someone who has not been featured in a novel before).

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