Literary Notes

Author and illustrator Amy Hevron sits down with us to talk about her Tiny Habitats books, a series of picture books that teaches kids about wildlife in peculiar places. She talks with WTBBL volunteer Rachel Glass about her illustrations and research, and they do a deeper dive into some of the habitats depicted in her books.

Writer Jonathan Tropper came by the WTBBL studios in 2009 to chat about his book This is Where I Leave You, about a family forced to stay under one roof after the death of their father. The interview was conducted by WTBBL volunteer Heidi Lang.

New York Times bestseller Robert Dugoni chats with WTBBL volunteer Courtney Maheras about the Tracy Crosswhite novels, a long-running crime procedural series set in Seattle. They talk about the origins of Tracy, researching for crime thrillers, and Seattle restaurants that may or may not be fictional.

Community historian Ellie Belew joins WTBBL volunteer Sara Ainsworth to talk about the first women to work at Seattle City Light and the severe challenges they faced due to racism, sexism, unfair management, and the dangerous nature of their work. She recounts the story in her book High Voltage Women: Breaking Barriers at Seattle City Light.

Urban planning and Asian American history professor Dr. Marie Rose Wong stops by to talk about her book Building Tradition: Pan-Asian Seattle and Life in the Residential Hotels, detailing the history of Seattle's International District and its single-room occupancy hotels. The interview was conducted by WTBBL volunteer Camille Blanchette.

Author and former WTBBL volunteer Kat Richardson sat down with us to chat about the third book in her supernatural mystery series, Greywalker. This interview was conducted back in 2008 by Jeff Cavanaugh.

Science writer Mary Roach joins us to talk about her latest book, Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy. She discusses the advancements made in replacing and enhancing parts of the human body and the people she's met from around the world to learn about them. The interview was conducted via video call by WTBBL volunteer Rachel Glass.

Historian Peter Blecha joins us to talk about his books Rock & Roll Archaeologist and Stomp & Shout: R&B and the Origins of Northwest Rock & Roll. He recounts his time as the senior curator for the Museum of Pop Culture and gives a brief overview of popular music throughout the Pacific Northwest. The interview was conducted by lead media technician Nathan Ureta.

Historian Frederick L. Brown discusses his book The City is More Than Human: An Animal History of Seattle with library volunteer Chris Snee. The book recounts the history of the city with a focus on the livestock, pets, and wildlife that helped shape Seattle into what it is today.

Writer and social worker Michael Keen visits our studio to talk about Notes From the Trauma Party, a novel taking heavy inspiration from his experiences with love, writing, addiction, and more. The interview was conducted by former WTBBL patron services specialist Izzy Fernandez.