Tag Archives: Sachem Public Library’s The Booth

Episode 43: How many threads connect the residents to a building? Author Jenni Fagan



How many threads connect the residents to a building? In this episode, Larry chats with author Jenni Fagan to discuss her latest book Luckenbooth. Jenny describes her life growing up in the Scottish foster care system, the empowerment writing gave her when she didn’t have a voice and how switching between homes gave her a unique perspective on people. Then she delves into Luckenbooth, illustrating how physical buildings stand witness to the stories of the people who live in them. Afterwards, Larry shares his thoughts about how issues like wearing or not wearing masks hints to a larger, more dangerous, political divide.

Jenni Fagan on Twitter


Episode 42: How Many Threads Connect us to Iconic Figures? Author Timothy Christian & Thomas Maier



How many threads connect us to iconic figures? On this installment of the podcast, Larry ponders Hemingway with author Timothy Christian to discuss his new book Hemingway’s Widow. Hemingway’s Widow sheds light on the fascinating life of Hemingway’s fourth wife Mary Walsh, who had often been maligned by historians. Timothy and Larry discuss Mary’s influence on Hemingway’s writing process, her work as a wartime journalist and her tense conversation with John F. Kennedy.

Timothy Christian on Twitter

After the break, Larry interviews returning guest and Newsday writer Thomas Maier, author of Mafia Spies about the iconic film The Godfather and surprising multiple Long Island connections. Thomas talks about modern opinions on The Godfather, Francis Ford Coppola’s fight to cast Al Pacino and the impact of The Godfather on Italian American culture.  Thomas Maier on Twitter


Episode 30 – How Many Threads Connect Us to the Past, Present, and the Future? Dr.Simon Morden, author of The Red Planet



How many threads connect us to the past,the present, and the future? Larry steps into the unknown and speaks with Dr.Simon Morden, author of The Red Planet: A Natural History of Mars. Larry broaches the topics of The God Particle, TheBig Bang Theory and the significance of theJames Webb Telescope. Dr. Morton then discusses the history of Mars, the presence of Carbon-12, why Mars soil is red, the enormity of its topography and the potential effect of human colonization. Afterwards, they return to earth to discuss global warming and how the future of our own planet might unfold.


Episode 27 – How Many Threads Connect Us to a Changing Way of Life – Ed Davis and Manda Kalimian



How man threads connect us to a changing way of life?  A boxcar, a spiral notebook and a pencil, the root of the “origin story” of author Ed Davis who has penned The Last Professional.  Larry explores that “origin story” and how Ed’s early life riding boxcars inspired him to write about a yesteryear of “hobos, tramps and bums” and which are wonderers.  Are the characters running away from something or towards something else and what the power of freedom is to the mind.  Ed also talks about how the soundtrack of boxcar life is the rhythm of the rails and how it is juxtaposed against the rhythm of writing. Is wanderlust part of a persons DNA?

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Rory Vecsey joins the program and has a conversation with Manda Kalimian founder of the CANA Foundation, political action committee Saddle PAC and author of Born to Rewild.  Rory, being a horse person herself explores what it is like to fall in love with horses, the treatment of wild horses by the Federal Government (including roundups via helicopter and confinement using taxpayer dollars) so wild lands can be used for fracking, farming or grazing cattle, slaughterhouses in Mexico and Canada and how this all contributes to climate change.  Manda also discusses solutions and introduces us all to her concept of “rewilding”, re-introducing wild horses back to their habitat.

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Episode 23 – How Many Threads Connect Us to Complicated Family Secrets – Author John Copenhaver & Singer/Songwriter Rorie Kelly



How many threads connect us to complicated family secrets?  In this installment, Larry, along with contributor Rory Vecsey chat with author John Copenhaver about his new book Savage Kind.  Larry explores how crafting a purposeful prologue can set the table to manipulate the readers perspective to then make it easier for the author to create plot twists.  John discusses 2 characters Phillippa and Judy, 2 teens and the perception of the stereotypical young person in the 1940’s.  Not all is what it seems.  One of Larry’s favorite topics is discussing “femme fatale” characters and he explores with John the concept of a male in that role.  Rory inquires about the power of foreshadowing, along with the use of poetry and mythology in the book.

Joining Larry is singer/songwriter Rorie Kelly.  Rory plays 4 original songs, talks about being a “Lady Beast”, how the female voice effects people, and how the guitar is an extension of her body.  Rorie talks about her beginnings with her family, the influences in her songwriting. Rosie also does a Facebook Live called “Monday Night Muses“.

Rorie’s setlist:

Magick Comin

Full Moon Charm Bracelet

This Girl

Liminal Spaces


Episode 20 – How Many Threads are Needed To Uncover the Truth – Reporter/Author Arthur Kent



How many threads are needed to uncover the truth?  Former NBC reporter and author Arthur Kent joins the podcast speaking about his new book Murder in Room 117: Solving the Cold Case that Led to America’s Longest War.  Arthur tells the story of Spike Dubs, ambassador to Afghanistan in 1979 who was kidnapped and ultimately assassinated by the KGB.  Arthur recounts the tale and his search for the truth behind the international incident that eventually led to the war in Afghanistan.

Arthur Kent is affectionally known by his colleagues as the “Scud Stud” for his coverage of the first Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm for NBC News.  He is an internationally known and Emmy Award winning journalist who is well respected in the field.  His work can now be seen at skyreporter.com.

Arthur can also be found on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram.


Episode 19 – How Many Threads Connect us to a Series of Events – Author Amanda Fairbanks and Singer/Songwriter Stuart Markus



How many threads connect unto a series of events.  Joining the podcast is author Amanda Fairbanks, author of the book The Lost Boys of Montauk.  Amanda speaks to Larry about the process of writing this story and how it was a labor of love, being a resident of the South Fork of Long Island.  We learn about how the Montauk of1984 (a primarily fishing town) transitioned to a playground for the ultra wealthy along with the secrets that can haunt the families of the lost.

Photo Credit: Sharon Suh .

Also joining the podcast is singer/songwriter/seachanteyman Stuart Markus.  Stuart joined Larry in studio to play some tunes both popular and original, including The View from the Side of the Road and Gloucester Ladies.  Stuart spoke about growing up with music in Rochester, New York, his first experiences with music as a kid and what inspires him to write music and perform with his band Gathering Time.  You can get more information about where to find Stuart here.


Episode 15 – What is the Thread that Connects Human Behavior to a Range of Pathologies – Abigail Esman, Tom Clavin and Commentary by Peter Blauner



What is the Thread that Connects Human Behavior to a Range of Pathologies.  Joining Larry on this episode is Authors Abigail Esman and Tom Clavin along with a commentary by Peter Blauner.

Abigail Esman is the author  of Rage: Narcissism, Patriarchy and the Culture of Terrorism.  Abigail kicks off the episode with a short passage from her book and then explains why she needed to pen this work. She has a lively conversation about how personal experiences & the experience of the events of 9/11 inspired her to write about pathological narcissism and its roots in shame-honor cultures—both familial and sociopolitical—through portraits of terrorists and batterers.

Abigail R. Esman - Pen & Sword

Guest and friend of the program Tom Clavin, New York Times Bestselling author, returns to the podcast to discuss his new book Tombstone: The Earp Brothers, Doc Holliday and the Vendetta Ride from Hell.  Always a fun guest, Larry talks about his love for the old west stemming from the movies of his childhood.  This passion for the old west and storytelling drove him to turn his book Dodge City, Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, and the Wickedest Town in the American West into the first in a Trilogy which also includes Wild Bill: The True Story of the American Frontiers First Gunfighter.

Peter Blauner, author, journalist and friend to the podcast joins with commentary on the year we lost writing giants Journalist Pete Hamill, his brother and writer in his own right John Hamill and Pulitzer Prize winning Journalist Jim Dwyer.  Peter reflects on how 2020 took these important journalists how they shaped and influenced him and the profound effect of their loss is because their brand of writing will never be seen again.

Peter Blauner


Episode 14 – Is There a Thread that Connects Us to Our Own Sense of Well-being – Author S. J. Rozan, Gayle Fisher Stewart, Judith Finlayson & Pete Mancini



Is there a thread that connects us to our own sense of well-being.  Larry has a jam packed episode with author S. J. Rozan speaking about her new book The Art of Violence, her thought process in creating a character’s point of view, writer’s self doubt, the process of writing which is never smooth and a deep dive into the art and character development of The Art of Violence.

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Gayle Fisher Stewart author of Preaching Black Lives Matter re-joins the podcast with thoughts and observations about the January 6th insurrection along with her reflections and observations of the event.  She voices her perspective about law enforcement’s treatment of the participants of that day and how the event could have played out differently if black and brown participants had attempted the same actions and how there needs to be a meaningful discussion about race, racism and systematic racism.

Gayle’s Facebook

Judith Finlayson, author of You are What you Grandparent’s Ate talks about lifecycle and links among all kinds of disease and what happens to you before you were born, epigenetic  modifications, eating healthy and how climate change can effect your health along with how your genes effect the development of diseases.

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Judith’sFacebook

Pete Mancini plays out the podcast with his original song Millions More


Episode 8 – Is There a Thread that Connects the Past, the Present & the Future – Authors Phil Keith and Tom Clavin



Is there a thread that connects the past, the present and the future?

Larry welcomes authors Phil Keith and Tom Clavin, authors of All Blood Runs Red: The Legendary Life of Eugene Bullard―Boxer, Pilot, Soldier, Spy.  The authors discuss the extraordinary life of Eugene Bullard, an African-American who led a dynamic life under extreme and difficult circumstances of war, both in France and at home.  Phil and Tom discuss the dynamics of this amazing life.

Larry also gives his thoughts on the state of the United States today, the pandemic, the premonition of Lenny Bruce after the Berlin Wall falls, and a unique comparison between Donald Trump and Michael Jordan.