Fresh Air: Favorite Authors

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Award winning authors discuss their craft and some of their classic works. From Stephen King (after his near fatal accident) to National Book Award winner Hilary Mantel, to remembrances of greats like Updike and Philip Roth.

10/29/2025

Fresh Air: Favorite Authors Trailer

If you think the book was great, wait until you hear the author interview. In this collection, award-winning writers discuss their craft and some of their classic works. From Stephen King (after his near fatal accident) to National Book Award winner Hilary Mantel, to remembrances of greats like Updike and Philip Roth. Subscribe to Fresh Air+ to get exclusive access to this and other collections. Plus, you'll get exclusive Fresh Air+ archive episodes every Sunday, and sponsor-free listening for all available episodes. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
09/28/2022 • Fresh Air+ Only

Hillary Mantel

The British writer, who died Sept. 22, 2022, wrote a trilogy of critically acclaimed historical novels on the life of Thomas Cromwell, one of Henry VIII's most trusted advisors. Originally broadcast in 2012.
10/10/2020 • Fresh Air+ Only

Stephen King

Novelist Stephen King. In 2009, the prolific and popular horror writer experienced something that could have come out of one of his books: he was struck by a car while walking along a rural road in Maine and nearly killed. Six operations and a long recovery followed. Five weeks after the accident King started writing again. He discusses his book “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.”
09/24/2019 • Fresh Air+ Only

Ta-Nehisi Coates

After writing three non-fiction books dealing with race and identity, and relaunching Marvel's black superhero series Black Panther, Ta-Nehisi Coates wrote “The Water Dancer,” his first novel. Set during slave times, it re-imagines leaders of the underground railroad as having a magical power to help people out of slavery.
06/25/2018 • Fresh Air+ Only

Philip Roth

Philip Roth died Tuesday, May 22, 2018, we listen back to his interviews about his books 'Goodbye Columbus' and 'Portnoy's Complaint,' ‘The Plot Against America,’ and ‘Everyman.’ Roth died at age 85. He spoke with Terry Gross seven times over the years.
09/05/2017 • Fresh Air+ Only

John LeCarre

John le Carre wrote the classic novels “The Spy Who Came in From the Cold” and “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”, and discusses his own work as a spy for British Intelligence Services, and growing up with a father who was a pathological liar.
08/08/2016 • Fresh Air+ Only

Colson Whitehead

In his novel, “The Underground Railroad,” Whitehead returns to his childhood vision of the Underground Railroad as an actual locomotive that carries escaped slaves through tunnels.
08/23/2013 • Fresh Air+ Only

Elmore Leonard

Elmore Leonard was known for crisp dialogue and memorable villains. "The bad guys are the fun guys," he said in a 1983 interview. "The only people I have trouble with are the so-called normal types." He died at the age of 87.

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Trailer

Fresh Air: Favorite Authors Trailer

If you think the book was great, wait until you hear the author interview. In this collection, award-winning writers discuss their craft and some of their classic works. From Stephen King (after his near fatal accident) to National Book Award winner Hilary Mantel, to remembrances of greats like Updike and Philip Roth. Subscribe to Fresh Air+ to get exclusive access to this and other collections. Plus, you'll get exclusive Fresh Air+ archive episodes every Sunday, and sponsor-free listening for all available episodes. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Fresh Air from WHYY, the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues, is one of public radio's most popular programs. Hosted by Terry Gross and Tonya Mosley, the show features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries. Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including weekly bonus episodes and curated playlists of archive interviews from Fresh Air.And subscribe to our weekly newsletter, Fresh Air Weekly, to get interview highlights, staff recommendations, gems from the archive, and the week's interviews and reviews all in one place. Sign up at www.whyy.org/freshair

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Award winning authors discuss their craft and some of their classic works. From Stephen King (after his near fatal accident) to National Book Award winner Hilary Mantel, to remembrances of greats like Updike and Philip Roth.