Jodi Picoult, author of the immensely popular novels you see tucked into bags at airports, open on laps in waiting rooms, and wedged into purses everywhere, boasts some impressive numbers: The #1 New York Times bestselling author has written 23 novels, with more than 40 million of her books now in print in 35 countries, including four that were turned into TV movies, plus one that made it to the big screen (My Sister’s Keeper, starring Cameron Diaz). People have different favorites among her books, but rarely do you run into someone who has read only one. Her readers are collectors, and they count down the days until her new releases. (Zero more days, folks. Leaving Time is available now.)
If you’re excited about Picoult’s visit to Nashville next week, you might want to read about her upcoming book and how the story came to be in her interview with The Tennessean and in the most recent “By the Book” column in The New York Times. Meanwhile, in the spirit of keeping things fun and quick on book tour, we invited the author to fill in the blanks for a lightning-round interview, and she was a great sport:
One thing I read every single day is: My email
The first section I walk over to in a bookstore is: New fiction
The thing I love most about the Internet is: Its immediacy. I mean, I used to have to WAIT to find out whether coriander and cumin were actually the same.
The thing I like least about the Internet is: People who leave snarky comments because they a) don’t believe real people read them and b) don’t have to post under their real names, so bullying is no longer tied to responsibility for one’s remarks.
Of all the animals at our house — dogs, geese, chickens, ducks, and the occasional cow — I most relate to: My dog Harvey. He’s a rescue from Turks & Caicos, and after a very scary beginning to his life, wound up in the equivalent of heaven: 13 acres of beautiful safety in NH. I didn’t have a scary beginning to my life, but I feel lucky to have wound up where I did. Unlike Harvey though, I am not afraid of doorways, staircases, or fireworks.
If I got two uninterrupted hours to do anything I wanted, I would: Take a long bath and read.
The books I’m always recommending to others are: The Life of Pi and The Dovekeepers
Three books in my to-read stack are: Us by David Nicholls, A Sudden Light by Garth Stein, and The Wonder of All Things by Jason Mott
The weirdest thing a reader ever said to me at a book signing was: Could you sign this? But she was passing a book beneath the bathroom stall wall.
If I could give one piece of advice to a young aspiring writer, it would be: Write what you want to write, not what you think will sell.
If I could give one piece of advice to myself 30 years ago, it would be: It’s all going to work out in the end, and you don’t have to submit that job application for Home Depot.
If I could give one piece of advice to someone in the media spotlight right now, it would be: Chelsea Clinton — I’d tell her to enjoy that baby, because those years go SO MUCH FASTER than we think. And I’d tell her mom to PLEASE RUN in 2016.
The last time I laughed: This morning. I read an article in Cosmo that was an interview between me and my daughter.
The last time I cried: Last Saturday. My son and his fiancé Kevin are getting married in 2016, but there was a wedding going on at the Mt. Washington Hotel when we visited…and I started thinking of how happy I am that Kyle’s found the most awesome guy to spend his life with!
The next thing I want to learn: How to produce a Broadway show.
In 10 years, I hope to be: In the Maldives on vacation!
 Salon@615 presents bestselling authors to the public through a unique partnership among the Nashville Public Library, Humanities Tennessee, Parnassus Books, and the Nashville Public Library Foundation.
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Note: Each ticket package includes an autographed first edition of the book, plus entry to the event. You must purchase a ticket package to attend, and we highly recommend purchasing tickets in advance, as seating is limited. A portion of the ticket proceeds will benefit The Elephant Sanctuary. Tickets can be purchased from Salon@615. |
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Go ahead, grab a few:
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Leaving Time (Hardcover)$28.00
ISBN-13: 9780345544926
Availability: On Our Shelves Now Published: Ballantine Books, 10/2014 |
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My Sister’s Keeper (Paperback)$16.00
ISBN-13: 9780743454537
Availability: On Our Shelves Now Published: Washington Square Press, 2/2005 |
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The Storyteller (Paperback)$16.00
ISBN-13: 9781439102770
Availability: On Our Shelves Now Published: Atria/Emily Bestler Books, 11/2013 |
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Nineteen Minutes (Paperback)$16.00
ISBN-13: 9780743496735
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days Published: Washington Square Press, 2/2008 |
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Between the Lines (Paperback)$12.99
ISBN-13: 9781451635812
Availability: On Our Shelves Now Published: EMILY BESTLER BOOKS/ATRIA/SIMON PULSE, 6/2013 |
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Leaving Time (Compact Disc)$45.00
ISBN-13: 9780804129015
Availability: Coming Soon – Available for Pre-Order Now Published: Random House Audio, 10/2014 |
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Change of Heart (Paperback)$16.00
ISBN-13: 9780743496759
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days Published: Washington Square Press, 12/2008 |
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Mercy (Paperback)$16.00
ISBN-13: 9780743422444
Availability: On Our Shelves Now Published: Washington Square Press, 4/2001 |
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Sing You Home (Mass Market Paperback)$7.99
ISBN-13: 9781476776873
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days Published: Pocket Books, 9/2014 |
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Handle with Care (Paperback)$16.00
ISBN-13: 9780743296427
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days Published: Washington Square Press, 9/2009 |
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Vanishing Acts (Paperback)$35.99
ISBN-13: 9781451612837
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days Published: Atria Books, 7/2010 |
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Lone Wolf (Paperback)$16.00
ISBN-13: 9781439102756
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days Published: Atria/Emily Bestler Books, 10/2012 |
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Picture Perfect (Paperback)$16.00
ISBN-13: 9780425185506
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days Published: Berkley Trade, 7/2002 |
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House Rules (Paperback)$16.00
ISBN-13: 9780743296441
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days Published: Washington Square Press, 11/2010 |
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Harvesting the Heart (Paperback)$16.00
ISBN-13: 9780140230277
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days Published: Penguin Books, 4/1995 |
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The Tenth Circle (Paperback)$16.00
ISBN-13: 9780743496711
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days Published: Washington Square Press, 10/2006 |
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Sing You Home (Paperback)$16.00
ISBN-13: 9781439102732
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days Published: Atria/Emily Bestler Books, 11/2011 |
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Nineteen Minutes: A novel (Hardcover)$26.95
ISBN-13: 9780743496728
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days Published: Atria Books, 3/2007 |
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Plain Truth (Paperback)$16.00
ISBN-13: 9781416547815
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days Published: Washington Square Press, 8/2007 |
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Mercy (Mass Market Paperback)$7.99
ISBN-13: 9781476796000
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days Published: Pocket Books, 8/2014 |
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Salem Falls (Paperback)$16.00
ISBN-13: 9780743418713
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days Published: Washington Square Press, 8/2002 |
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Songs of the Humpback Whale (Paperback)$16.00
ISBN-13: 9780743431019
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days Published: Washington Square Press, 10/2001 |
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The Pact: A Love Story (Paperback)$14.99
ISBN-13: 9780060858803
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days Published: William Morrow Paperbacks, 3/2006 |
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Keeping Faith (Paperback)$14.95
ISBN-13: 9780060878061
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days Published: William Morrow Paperbacks, 3/2006 |
Musing 