DMPL Podcast

Travel writer Sara Broers joins the DMPL Podcast today to discuss here 2022 book, 100 Things to Do in Iowa Before You Die. Sara talks about how she chose the items in her book, her favorite Iowa hidden gems, and what you should do in order to find some off-the-map hidden treasures when you travel.

Show Notes

• 100 Things to Do in Iowa Before You Dieat the Library
• TravelwithSara.com
• Midwest Travel Network
• Sara's Social feeds
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pintrest
  • Instagram

Welcome to Beyond the Shelves, a new podcast hosted by the Des Moines Public Library! This podcast is hosted by DMPL Librarians Brooklyn and Jes, both of whom are on the Book Chat team. In this first episode, they introduce themselves and talk about their reading goals this year, while also providing recommendations to each other in regards to those goals.

Beyond the Shelves will be released monthly. You can find it in the DMPL Podcast feed.

The latest episode of the DMPL Podcast features Des Moines author Sean Adams. Sean wrote the 2020 acclaimed novelThe Heap, and released his newest novel,The Thing in the Snow, this month. He's also the moderator for the upcoming author visit from Stephen Markley. Markley recently releasedThe Deluge,and previously has writtenOhio.

Adams talks about his book, his friendship with Markley, and what he's excited to ask Markley about.

Show Notes

• Author Spotlight: Stephen Markley | Saturday, January 28, 7 PM | Central Library
• Stephen Markley
  
  • Books at the Library
  • New York Times review ofThe Deluge
  • Interview with Seth Myers
  • Website
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
• Sean Adams
  • Books at the Library
  • Website

Victor D.O. Santos, author of several children's books, including My Dad, My Rock, joins the DMPL Podcast today. Victor will be taking part in the Des Moines Public Library's Iowa Author Series this Thursday, November 17. The program begins at 5:30 PM at the Central Library and is free to all!

On the podcast, Victor talks about getting started as a children's author two years ago, the process of independently publishing children's books, and why he and his wife are raising their children in a trilingual household.

Show Notes

• Victor at the Iowa Author Series
• Borrow My Dad, My Rock
• Victor on Instagram
• Victor's other books

Crashing waves, falling leaves, a shadowy forest - books that provide a strong sense a place are what we're talking about on the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast. Book Chat team member Rebecca talks about three new books that she thinks of when she thinks "atmosphere."

Rebecca's Picks

• What Moves the Dead, by T. Kingfisher
• Daisy Darker, by Alice Feeney
• Our Wives Under the Sea, by Julia Armfield

Other Book Suggestions

• Her Body and Other Parties, by Carmen Maria Machado
• Crooked House, by Agatha Christie
• Just Like Home, by Sarah Gailey
• White is for Witching, by Helen Oyeyemi
• Black Rabbit Hall, by Eve Chase
• Wilder Girls, by Rory Power
• Moon of the Crusted Snow, by Waubgeshig Rice
• Five Little Indians, by Michelle Good
• Once There Were Wolves, by Charlotte McConaghy
• Stephen Graham Jones books
  
• Alice Hoffman books

Iowa Author Award Honoree Heather Gudenkauf is the latest guest on the DMPL Podcast! She discusses her newest book, The Overnight Guest, as well as her 14-year career.

Gudenkauf is one of three honorees at the 2022 Iowa Author Awards Dinner, which takes place Friday, October 14, at 6:30 PM at the Embassy Suites in downtown Des Moines. The program, titled The Magic of Libraries, will also feature honorees Art Cullen and Nate Staniforth.

Show Notes

• 2022 Iowa Author Awards
• Heather Gudenkauf books
• Authors Heather mentions:
  • Kimberly Bell
  • Lisa Unger
  • Pam Jenoff
  • Kristina McMorris
• Books Heather mentions:
  
  • My Ántonia, by Willa Cather
  • Autopsy, by Patricia Cornwell
  • Night Will Find You, by Julia Heaberlin
  • Where Coyotes Howl, by Sandra Dallas

This week is Banned Books Week! Veronica Fowler, the ACLU of Iowa Communications Director, joins us to discuss Banned Books and the Freedom to Read.

This is one of many things happening at the library this week celebrating the Freedom to Read. Check out our social media accounts, including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter, to see videos from staff discussing banned books and which are their favorites.

Check out our Banned Books site,for a Q&A with our Director, Susan A. Woody. And then be sure to check out our new Raygun store, where you can purchase a “I Read Banned Books” shirt!

Rachel Mans McKenny, author ofThe Butterfly Effect, is the newest guest on the DMPL Podcast! Rachel stopped by as she gets ready to appear at the Iowa Author Spotlight Series on Thursday, September 15, at 5:30 PM at the Central Library.The Butterfly Effectwas selected as the 2022 All Iowa Reads book.

During the podcast, Rachel and host Aaron Gernes chat about writing about Central Iowa, the ways in which writing a novel is different than short pieces, and how the pandemic impacted the cover of The Butterfly Effect.

Show Notes

• The Iowa Author Spotlight Series Presents Rachel Mans McKenny
  • Thursday, September 15, 5:30 PM | Central Library
• The Butterfly Effectat the library
• Blind Date with a Book (a podcast Rachel co-hosts)

AViD author Karin Slaughter joins host Aaron Gernes on the newest episode of the DMPL Podcast! Karin will be in Des Moines on Wednesday, August 24, at 7:00 PM as part of the AViD series. Her best selling novels includeCop Town, Pretty Girls, The Good Daughter,andPieces of Her, among others. Her newest book,Girl, Forgotten, arrives at the library and in bookstores on Tuesday, August 23.

Show Notes

• Event Info
• Karin's Book Recs
  • Empire of the Summer Moon, by S.C. Gwynne
    
  • Things We Do in the Dark, by Jennifer Hillier

What's the "spark" that shaped the lives of our local leaders? Each month, librarian Elizabeth Hoover de Galvez as they share their "Spark Story," the specific experience that sparked them to create change in the community. In addition, we’ll hear details about the work they are doing and what keeps them motivated to stay involved. Previously a video series, Elizabeth is bringing the series to podcast form each month, found on the DMPL Podcast feed.

This month's guest is Dr. Richard L. Deming. Dr. Deming is the Medical Director of MercyOne Cancer Center in Des Moines and the founder of of Above + Beyond Cancer, a nonprofit organization dedicated to elevating the lives of those touched by cancer.