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Revisions, How Our Favorite Books Change Us

Author: Jen Nails

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© Jen Nails 2o24

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Las Vegas-Clark County Librarian/author Jen Nails chats with authors, actors, comedians and librarians about why certain books from growing up made such a splash in their lives!

Look for Season Three, out in late November, 2025, featuring local Las Vegas students Dara and Lyra, author Ken Lamug (National Book Festival Selection), author Willy Vlautin (Nevada Writers Hall of Fame), journalist Jane Borden (Carnegie Medal longlist), author Yamile Saied Méndez (Pura Belpré Award Winner), librarian Desmond London (Whitney Library, Las Vegas-Clark County Library District), author/illustrator Daria Peoples (Golden Kite Award Winner), and comedian Kurt Braunohler (Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon).

Season Two launched May 15, 2025, and features actor Jeff Hiller (Somebody Somewhere), author Kathy Erskine (National Book Award winner), memoirist Mark Ciccone (Obelisk Odyssey), book store owners Charlie and Rachelle Luster (Analog Dope book store), storyteller Dr. Micaela Blei (You Will Not Recognize Your Life) and Las Vegas library professionals Ms, China (the ultimate Community Auntie) and Billy Allen (Queer Eye).

Season One launched December 21, 2024 and features actors John Ross Bowie (Big Bang Theory), Negin Farsad (The Muslims are Coming), and Dana Snyder (Aqua Teen Hunger Force), authors Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (The War That Saved My Life), Chris Grabenstein (Mr. Lemoncello's Library), and Ellen Hopkins (Crank), and local librarian Kelsey Mazmanyan.

25 Episodes
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Revisions Teaser

Revisions Teaser

2024-12-0902:56

Grab a sneak peak into Season One!
"The Girl in the Mirror," Jen discovers Beverly Cleary's Ramona the Brave (1975)

"The Girl in the Mirror," Jen discovers Beverly Cleary's Ramona the Brave (1975)

2024-12-2111:41

Welcome to Revisions.In this first episode, I will talk about trying to impress my third grade teacher, Mrs. Cormier, and discovering the book that opened the door to reading for me: Ramona the Brave, the book that opened the door to reading for me.Beverly Cleary
"This is Something You Should Know," Kelsey discovers Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000)

"This is Something You Should Know," Kelsey discovers Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000)

2024-12-2144:21

Fellow librarian Kelsey Mazmanyan shares what happens when she and her stepdad compete to finish Goblet of Fire first.Book recommendations based on this episode!
"I Am Very Young," John Ross Bowie discovers Judy Blume's Then Again, Maybe I Won't (1971)

"I Am Very Young," John Ross Bowie discovers Judy Blume's Then Again, Maybe I Won't (1971)

2024-12-2137:09

Notorious JRB (No Job for a Man, Big Bang Theory) finds himself in Blume's Tony Miglione, who battles anxiety and panic during the year that his dad strikes it rich and his family moves from Jersey to Long Island.Book recommendations based on this episode!
"There's Hope on the Far Side," Ellen Hopkins discovers The Hobbit (1937)

"There's Hope on the Far Side," Ellen Hopkins discovers The Hobbit (1937)

2024-12-2141:15

NYT Bestseller and most banned author Hopkins (Crank, Sync) shares her sixth-grade discovery of Tolkien's classic and explores how the novel influenced her development as a writer.Book recommendations based on this episode!
"For the Dweebs," Chris Grabenstein discovers MAD Magazine (1952)

"For the Dweebs," Chris Grabenstein discovers MAD Magazine (1952)

2024-12-2139:17

NYT Bestseller (Mr. Lemoncello's Library, Stinky's Stories) Chris shares his joyful discovery in seventh grade of MAD Magazine which he subscribed to as a kid, back when the mag came in the mail wrapped in a brown paper bag (like porn).Book recommendations based on this episode!The 1989 Super Bowl ad that Chris worked on!
"I Didn't Even Know You Could Do It For Fun," Negin Farsad discovers Philip Roth's Portnoy's Complaint (1969)

"I Didn't Even Know You Could Do It For Fun," Negin Farsad discovers Philip Roth's Portnoy's Complaint (1969)

2024-12-2140:15

Superstar comedian Negin Farsad (How to Make White People Laugh, Fake the Nation) discusses growing up Muslim American in Palm Springs but learning the bones of comedy from Roth's Portnoy, a teenaged schmegegge from Newark.Book recommendations based on this episode!
"The Frog-March," Kimberly Brubaker Bradley and the Tasha-Tudor-illustrated Secret Garden (1911)

"The Frog-March," Kimberly Brubaker Bradley and the Tasha-Tudor-illustrated Secret Garden (1911)

2024-12-2145:29

Newbery winner Kim (The War That Saved My Life, Fighting Words) recalls taking the ten bucks her grandma sent her during freshman year at Smith and buying a copy of the Secret Garden (instead of beer or ramen).Book recommendations based on this episode!
"The Heartwarming Story of a Boy and his Cookbook," Dana Snyder and the ham loaf (Betty Crocker, 1969)

"The Heartwarming Story of a Boy and his Cookbook," Dana Snyder and the ham loaf (Betty Crocker, 1969)

2024-12-2142:17

Comedian/voice actor Dana Snyder (SpongeBob, Aqua Teen Hunger Force) discusses his attachment to the Foxfire Books, ham loaves, vintage menus, and collecting books that he's written in, inside the margins.Book recommendations based on this episode!
"The Think Tank," Jen joyfully reverse-ages to seventh grade while re-reading The Glad Man (Gloria Gonzalez, 1975).

"The Think Tank," Jen joyfully reverse-ages to seventh grade while re-reading The Glad Man (Gloria Gonzalez, 1975).

2025-05-1110:08

A weird and wonderful book conjures seventh grade Jen in "the library" of her home.Las Vegas-Clark County Library DistrictJen's website & IGJen's novel, One Hundred Spaghetti Strings (HarperCollins, 2017), will represent Nevada at the National Book Festival in DC on September 6, 2025!
"High Vibrational Energy" reverberates throughout Charlie and Rachelle Luster's three faves: Charlotte's Web (White, 1952), People Could Fly (Hamilton, 1985) and Sting's Lyrics (2007).

"High Vibrational Energy" reverberates throughout Charlie and Rachelle Luster's three faves: Charlotte's Web (White, 1952), People Could Fly (Hamilton, 1985) and Sting's Lyrics (2007).

2025-05-1150:35

Owners of the Analop Dope bookstore share how their joint dedication to music and books brought them together, and how their touchstone shop connects all of the Las Vegas community.Book recs based on our conversation!Analog Dope bookshopCharlie Muse's album, "Saturn"
"Stop, Think, Observe," Kathy Erskine defines her formula for success at any volume with Encyclopedia Brown (Arnold J. Sobol, 1963).

"Stop, Think, Observe," Kathy Erskine defines her formula for success at any volume with Encyclopedia Brown (Arnold J. Sobol, 1963).

2025-05-1444:56

National Book Award winning author Kathy (Mockingbird, Mama Africa, Seeing Red) revisits her love for solving problems bad, bad Leroy Brown style. Book recs based on our conversation!Kathy's websiteCore Knowledge, one of Kathy's publishers
"When She Walks Into A Room," a 9-year-old Ms. China Hudson begins climbing the stairs of creative living with "Mother to Son" (Langston Hughes, 1922).

"When She Walks Into A Room," a 9-year-old Ms. China Hudson begins climbing the stairs of creative living with "Mother to Son" (Langston Hughes, 1922).

2025-05-1446:51

Writer, director, performer and community advocate Ms. China (West Las Vegas Library Theater) tracks her career from performing Langston Hughes in 4th grade to being gifted a visit to Ghana on the cultural trip of her dreams.Book recs based on our conversation!West Las Vegas LibraryMs. China receives Trailblazer Award
"Unaccustomed Earth," Mark Ciccone roots the meaning of life in The Razor's Edge (W. Somerset Maugham, 1944).

"Unaccustomed Earth," Mark Ciccone roots the meaning of life in The Razor's Edge (W. Somerset Maugham, 1944).

2025-05-1449:15

As a teen, Mark (Obelisk Odyssey) observes his parents watching the 1946 film The Razor's Edge and his mom is crying and his dad is like, "huh?" Mark decides that he wants to get in on that conversation and picks up the novel.Book recs based on our conversation!Purchase Mark's memoir Obelisk Odyssey (Amplify, 2024)!
"Pickled In It," Jeff Hiller gets brined in Paul Monette's Becoming a Man (1992).

"Pickled In It," Jeff Hiller gets brined in Paul Monette's Becoming a Man (1992).

2025-05-1452:21

The absolutely amazing actor, comedian and author Jeff Hiller (HBO's Somebody Somewhere) talks about finding the right book at exactly the right time. Book recs based on this episode!Jeff on IGSomebody SomewhereLink to purchase Jeff's memoir, Actress of a Certain Age (Simon & Schuster, 2025)
"I Wanted to Be a Cartoon Character," Billy Allen animates his journey from nursing major to library school, starting with Lean Mean Urkell Machine (Bonnie Worth, 1992).

"I Wanted to Be a Cartoon Character," Billy Allen animates his journey from nursing major to library school, starting with Lean Mean Urkell Machine (Bonnie Worth, 1992).

2025-05-1457:47

Branch Manager, Mr. Billy (Queer Eye, James Partridge Award winner) jumps into Steve Urkell's time machine as a 9-year-old and emerges 30 years later along with his team at the Whitney Library, as a rising library star.Book recs based on our conversation!Whitney LibraryDaily Beast covers Billy's Queer Eye episodeBilly's IG
"Pulling Down the Journals," Micaela Blei reaches for the past to decode the present with Arcadia (Tom Stoppard, 1993).

"Pulling Down the Journals," Micaela Blei reaches for the past to decode the present with Arcadia (Tom Stoppard, 1993).

2025-05-1455:53

Multi MOTH-grand-slam champ, author and storyteller, Dr. Micaela Blei (You Will Not Recognize Your Life, Audible, 2024, Secret Life of Your Third Grade Teacher, HarperOne, 2027), assembles bits and pieces of wisdom on writing, love, and life.Book recs based on our conversation!Micaela's siteYou Will Not Recognize Your Life on AudibleMy favorite Micaela MOTH story
"Two-headed Snakes and Legless Lizards," Lyra and Dara school Jen in reptilian anomalies (and other stuff!).

"Two-headed Snakes and Legless Lizards," Lyra and Dara school Jen in reptilian anomalies (and other stuff!).

2025-11-2729:40

Within their discussion of all-time faves Eva and the Lost Pony (Elliot, 2018) and Girls I've Been (Sharpe, 2021), Jen and two of her reading buddies ruminate on all the undiscovered gems awaiting them in books!Book recommendations based on my conversation with Lyra and Dara!
"Something Sings in that Silence," Ken Lamug colors in the framework for creating graphic novels with The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, 1943).

"Something Sings in that Silence," Ken Lamug colors in the framework for creating graphic novels with The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, 1943).

2025-11-2744:20

Author/illustrator extraordinaire & National Book Festival selection Ken Lamug shares stories about moving to the U.S. as a teen after a childhood in the Philippines, his father's recipe for success, and gifting his high school crush (and future wife!) a book that would shape his artistic style: The Little Prince.Book recommendations based on my conversation with Ken!
"A Safe Place to Hide Out," Willy Vlautin takes cover inside the pages of Cannery Row (John Steinbeck, 1945).

"A Safe Place to Hide Out," Willy Vlautin takes cover inside the pages of Cannery Row (John Steinbeck, 1945).

2025-11-2741:59

Award-winning author/musician & and Hall-0f-Famer Willy Vlautin describes how, since he was a teen, escaping into Cannery Row and spending time with Mack and the Boys has always brought him solace and comfort.Book recommendations based on my conversation with Willy!
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