Today’s guest, Hannah Rae Montgomery, is Actor’s theater’s dramaturg. Don’t know what a dramaturg is? Neither did we until we talked with Hannah Rae. A dramaturg is basically a literary editor on the staff of a theater who helps the directors interpret and research texts for their productions. She tells us what is new and fresh about the roles for women in this year’s Dracula, why people come to see it year after year, and how Bram Stoker’s book differs from the play adaptation. It’s close to Halloween and time to talk literature’s favorite vampire.

Today’s guest Bob Thompson, professionally known as Colonel Bob, is a master storyteller and producer of the Corn Island Storytelling Festival happening on October 19 at Blackacre State Nature Preserve just outside of Louisville. He is also the author of 2 short story collections and hosts a radio Show, Kentucky Homefront, featuring regional music and storytellers on WFPK 91.9 on Saturdays at 8 am. Bob Thompson is one busy colonel !

Today’s guest has an multi-faceted story to tell. Fadhia Mohamud is a member of a women of color bookclub that meets monthly to discuss a wide range of books; from romantic comedies to thrillers. But she is also a Somali immigrant herself who has taken her experience growing up in multiple countries feeling a little bit out of place and using that knowledge to help her students face many of those same challenges.

When you think about taking English classes in college, do you envision heavy dusty textbooks written by old dead guys, like Thoreau, Chaucer, and Dickens? Well perhaps that was true 20 years ago, but colleges now have changed a bit and we have a real live English professor with us today to talk about how teaching university English has changed and what things have stayed the same. Dr. Jon Blandford is an associate professor of English at Bellarmine University and also leads their Honors Program.

Shannon and Cheryl talk to carrie and I about how the club integrates books and art at the museum, why reading a novel can make viewing art less intimidating, which book/art pairing involves a former president solving mysteries, and which gallery in the museum makes all the schoolchildren imagine Harry Potter. Our discussion today just reminds me that visual art and the art of words on the page are just two sides of the same coin. Its a day at the museum on Perks.

Most avid readers at some time or another have dreamed of working in a small neighborhood bookstore. Our guest today, Sam Miller, has done just that for over 20 years in different parts of the country, from Alaska to Philadelphia. She has now set roots at Carmichael’s Books in Louisville KY. This year she championed a 20-year-old book she loves, Jim the Boy by Tony Earley, and has been a superwoman handselling it to everyone she knows.

Today we talk with guest, Amanda Ciejko, the creator behind the book blog, The Lexington Bookie. She works with horses as part of her day job but being a voracious reader is her hobby. . She even has the horses listening to her audiobooks. Amanda shares with us how a New Year's resolution helped her create her blog, why sometimes she needs a recovery period after finishing a particularly wonderful book, and how publishers recruit readers to help create buzz for their new releases. The world of social media and the internet play a big part in our guest’s story.

Today Carrie and I speak to Holly McArthur, a former news producer now local high school teacher who specializes in media studies including tv, radio, and yearbook. She also happens to be a mother of 4 children and belongs to two different book clubs. We talk about how a personal tragedy nudged her into joining her first group 10 years ago.

We are so excited to introduce you to our guest today, Rheonna Nicole, a spoken word artist and poet. 4 years ago she started an all female poetry slam In Louisville KY called Lipstick Wars. She started in a small theater that holds 600. That filled up and the next year she filled another theater that held 1200

Today we welcome Brandon Vigliarolo, a freelance writer who shares his love and books and reading by giving a slice of history. He is a historical reenactor at Locust Grove, a 55 acre estate and mansion from the late 1700s. He felt he needed authentically made books to enhance his performance as an 18th century gentleman. So, he decided to make them himself. Thus began his bookbindery Strano Books.