Historian Mary Beard says many of our popular notions about the empire are based on culture rather than fact. Her new book is called SPQR. Originally broadcast Nov. 30, 2015.
Best known for her kids' and young adult books, Woodson has written her first adult novel in 20 years. Another Brooklyn is a dreamlike narrative about friendship, memory and dealing with death.
Elizabeth Greenwood has spent a lot of time researching the death fraud industry. She says the hardest step for many aspiring fraudsters would be cutting all ties with friends and family.
The National Book Award winner's new novel is based in part on her memories of growing up in Brooklyn in the 1970s. Woodson describes the teen years as an "amazing and urgent moment" in life.
As a child, Whitehead was surprised to learn that escaped slaves did not ride an actual subway. His new novel follows Cora, a young slave who has escaped a Georgia plantation and is heading north.
Irina Reyn's new novel focuses on two women in difficult marriages. Though they're centuries apart, both relationships are tied to the strong woman's struggle to fulfill gender expectations.
Jason Reynolds writes "slice-of-life stories" for youngsters. For our "Next Chapter" series, he talks about packing up his belongings in trash bags and moving to New York City to become a writer.
She's the YA author behind the fantasy series Song of the Lioness and The Immortals. For the Weekend Edition series "Next Chapter," she recalls how college helped her escape small-town poverty.