Bookmarked

Denise Diana Huddle talked with me about the first book in her lively, engaging Iris Raines mystery series, inspired by her own career as an investigator.

David L. Fleming talked with me about his stirring, tender Big Bend adventure, recounting the days of a River Rider, who patrols the river to enforce a quarantine on cattle from south of the border to stop an epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease. a lonely and sometimes dangerous job.

A Lone Woman homesteading in Montana in 1915 faces plenty of obstacles--but what's in that trunk!? Jennifer Kabay joined me for a journey into Victor LaValle's compelling Gothic Western.

We took a deep dive into this poignant science fiction classic about an intellectually disabled man who becomes a genius. Gregory Ross was my guest.

The subtitle reads: Magical Realism Meets Historical Fiction in a Stunning Novel of Indigenous Women's Lives. Gene Randall, host of Indigenous Voices on KZSM San Marcos, joined me for a deep dive into this powerful novel.

Chris Gardner talked with Annilee Newton about her forthcoming novel, Thessalonika.

"My body feels like a toy I can play with. Can I do this? Can I do that? Yes, I can. Watch."

Dance Professor Dr. Cindy Gratz and I discussed this compelling dancer's memoir.

How does one ancient language live on in half the languages we speak today? Dr. Rich Warms, Professor of Anthropology, joined me for a discussions of Laura Spinney's far-ranging book Proto.

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What has happened to the promise of America? Dr. Rebecca Bell-Metereau and I explore this profoundly thought-provoking collection of essays by highly acclaimed novelist and cultural commentator Marilynne Robinson.

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Noé Álvarez takes readers along as he learns about the accordion, his grandfather, and ultimately himself. Rolf Straubhaar, host of "Music and Revolution" joined me to discuss this powerful memoir.

Sherman Alexie's brilliant short story collection weaves memory, fantasy, and stark reality to paint a portrait of life in and around the Spokane Indian reservation. Gregory Ross and I explore these funny, disturbing stories.

Visit the Museum, meet the wonders, and experience 1911 New York City with us as Garrie Borden joins me to explore Alice Hoffman's extraordinary novel!

Narrow the Road chronicles an unforgettable journey through East Texas in 1932. Seeking his father, 15-year old William encounters bootleggers, conmen, and even a gorilla. Author James Wade joins me to talk about his powerful novel.

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Chris Gardner talks with Madeline Vosch, author of Undead: A Memoir of My Suicide, a revealing memoir about the complicated truths of surviving a suicide attempt.

Michelle Collins Anderson talked with me about her new novel The Moonshine Women, an exhilarating visit to the turbulent 1930s. The novel tells the story of the Strong family of rural Missouri—the family farms and makes moonshine, a practice that has become both more lucrative and more dangerous since prohibition.

Poet and educator Crystal White talked with Chris Gardner and read a selection of her published and unpublished poems.

Poets and contributors to San Marcos' community poetry and art journal--Carmen Rumbaut, Jim Trainer, Blaze Turley, and E. D. Watson read from their work and talked with Priscilla about the journal.

Chris Gardner talks with Professor Annilee Newton about This Rough Magic, by Mary Stewart, an exciting romantic suspense novel from 1964 that’s become a classic.

Priscilla and guest Rebecca Bell-Metereau explore Vladimir, Julia May Jonas' provocative academic novel, now a popular Netflix miniseries.

Chris Gardner talks with Justin Tapscott about Denis Johnson's Train Dreams, a critically acclaimed novel of the changing American West.

A memorable trip into the life and work of the British artist and poet William Blake. Gregory Ross joined me to talk about this lucid, powerful, timely book. "Before long you will find you are examining yourself as much as you are examining Blake" [The Times of London].

In Hollywood, Charles Bukowski turns a very skeptical eye on Hollywood with this ribald account of the making of the film "Barfly," based upon his life. Writer Anthony Head, host of "Texas Dives Radio" joins me on this alcohol-fueled journey through the Hollywood of the 80s.

Chris Gardner and Ken Ward discuss The Hounding, by Xenobe Purvis, "a rich, atmospheric, novel thrumming with menace," according to "The New York Times."

"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways: You've probably read this iconic love poem. But what about the woman who wrote it? Join my conversation with Dr. Denae Dyck. She'll debunk myths about Elizabeth Barrett Browning and give us new insights into this passionate feminist and her poetry.

Award-winning poet E. D. Watson reads from and talks about her new book. How do we cope with the flood of disparate images that confront us on a daily basis?

Rev. Gregory Ross and I discuss "The Awakened Brain," by Dr. Lisa Miller, "a groundbreaking exploration of the neuroscience of spirituality and a bold new paradigm for health, healing, and resilience."

Chris Gardner talks with historian Jimmy McWilliams about his extensive biography of radical Southern poet Frank Stanford.

Rebecca Bell-Metereau and I talked about this fascinating autobiography of Jacques Lusseyrand, who became a leader of the French Resistance in World War II despite his blindness.

Diana Garcia talked with me and children's literature expert Dr. Teya Rosenberg about her beautiful new bilingual book The Girl Who Wanted A Piano, drawn from the life of San Marcos legend Ofelia Vasquez-Philo.

Chris Gardner talks with poet Anne Halsey about her work, including found poems based on early twentieth century medical records of women.

Garrie Borden joined me to explore this fascinating account look at the life and work of the acclaimed science fiction writer James Tiptree, Jr.--the alter ego of a woman, Alice Bradley Sheldon.

A live in-studio reading of this Christmas classic, with comments and discussion, featuring KZSM Volunteers and Bookmarked guests: Carol Coburn, Mark Decker, Chris Gardner, Jennifer Kabay, Gene Randall, Gregory Ross, Jim Wagner, and E. D. Watson. Produced by Rob Roark.

"Why do people even live here?" asks a character in J J Rusz's engaging mystery set in the Big Bend country of far west Texas. My conversation with the author answered that question and many more!

If you thought there was nothing left to learn about the Beatles, you were wrong. Jennifer Kabay, host of "The McCartney Diaries" on The Mop Tops and the King, talked with me about this insightful new book.

Chris Gardner talks with playwright Christa French about "Calm Your Tits," a satirical musical about bodies, blame, and the pressure to hold it all together.

"'This world? And everything in it? Illusions, Richard.'" Greg Ross and I discussed Richard Bach's thought-provoking best seller, “a semi-autobiographical, semi-fictional account of Richard encountering a mysterious man named Donald Shimoda while barnstorming (offering $3 rides in an antique biplane) one glorious 1970s Midwest summer,”  as author Richard Bach describes it.

Film authority Dr. Rebecca Bell-Metereau joined me to explore this lively biography of producer Darryl Zanuck, a cinematic genius and a flawed human being with an outsized personality.

 Du Mez traces the history of a militant masculinity that has shaped white evangelism from the early 20th century until the first election of Donald Trump. She explains how “a nostalgic commitment to rugged aggressive militant white masculinity serves as the thread binding together” attitudes towards women, gays, immigrants, Blacks, and anyone perceived as other, along with support for military action abroad. 

Historian Dwight Watson talked with me about this insightful book.

Amelia leaves Germany for Texas, where she marries a man she barely knows. The Doctor’s Wife, part of a trilogy about German migration into Texas—from 1845-1875, chronicles her coming-of-age, along with the founding and development of the Texas port city of Indianola. Author Myra McIlvain talked with me about her vivid historical novel about German immigrants in Texas.

"Maud thought he hadn't figured out yet that Indian maidens weren't exactly the lovely wildflowers they were made out to be in books." Garrie Borden and I explored Margaret Verble's compelling account of an aspiring young Cherokee woman coping with life in Eastern Oklahoma in 1928.