Steve Bertrand on Books: James H. McCommons

Steve Bertrand on Books: Melanie Benjamin

Chicago writer Melanie Benjamin has made a career out of writing historical fiction with stories that largely center around women. Put another way, Melanie has given us fictional accounts of our non-fiction world. In her latest, The Windsor Affair, she looks into the abdication of King Edward Vlll. It’s a story that’s been told many times, but not like this. The Windsor Affair focuses on the rivalry between Wallis Simpson and Queen Elizabeth, the woman we would later know as the Queen Mum. Melanie talks with Steve about her writing, her love of Chicago, and more. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8424319/Melanie_Benjamin_2026-06-01-215319.64kmono.mp3 [https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8424319/Melanie_Benjamin_2026-06-01-215319.64kmono.mp3] RECENT POSTS STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-melanie-benjamin/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: MELANIE BENJAMIN [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-melanie-benjamin/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-djamel-white/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: DJAMEL WHITE [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-djamel-white/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-hannah-thurman/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: HANNAH THURMAN [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-hannah-thurman/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-charlie-schutt/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: CHARLIE SCHUTT [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-charlie-schutt/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-rachel-khong/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: RACHEL KHONG [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-rachel-khong/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for More [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/]

Steve Bertrand on Books: Djamel White

Djamel White is being called a powerful new voice in Irish literature. His debut novel, All Them Dogs, takes a look inside the crime underworld of west Dublin, focusing on a lost young man looking to be found. Unfortunately for him, his search for male guidance only brings more struggle. Djamel talks with Steve about the book and about his own struggles in west Dublin: dropping out of school, finding his way back with the help of the legendary Roddy Doyles foundation, and, now, the toast of Irish literature. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8410716/Djamel_White_2026-05-26-184516.64kmono.mp3 [https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8410716/Djamel_White_2026-05-26-184516.64kmono.mp3] RECENT POSTS STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-melanie-benjamin/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: MELANIE BENJAMIN [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-melanie-benjamin/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-djamel-white/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: DJAMEL WHITE [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-djamel-white/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-hannah-thurman/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: HANNAH THURMAN [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-hannah-thurman/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-charlie-schutt/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: CHARLIE SCHUTT [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-charlie-schutt/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-rachel-khong/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: RACHEL KHONG [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-rachel-khong/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for More [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/]

Steve Bertrand on Books: Hannah Thurman

Hannah Thurman’s smash debut novel is set in Raleigh, North Carolina, mostly at an under-pressure mental institution. At the center of Mercy Hill is a family of four daughters, their dad, and the mom who is the force fighting to save the hospital. The family grows up in the shadow of the institution, much in the way Steve grew up in the shadow of the Manteno State Mental Hospital. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8398157/Hannah_Thurman_2026-05-20-010257.64kmono.mp3 [https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8398157/Hannah_Thurman_2026-05-20-010257.64kmono.mp3] RECENT POSTS STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-melanie-benjamin/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: MELANIE BENJAMIN [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-melanie-benjamin/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-djamel-white/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: DJAMEL WHITE [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-djamel-white/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-hannah-thurman/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: HANNAH THURMAN [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-hannah-thurman/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-charlie-schutt/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: CHARLIE SCHUTT [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-charlie-schutt/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-rachel-khong/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: RACHEL KHONG [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-rachel-khong/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for More [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/]

Steve Bertrand on Books: Charlie Schutt

Charles Schutt is a former Chicago priest who left the Church after 17 years and then successfully moved to the world of corporate recruiting. And he wants you to know why. He’s got a new book out called “A True Story of a Catholic Priest: Why I Got In, Why I Got Out, and What I Learned Through It All.” https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8373090/Charlie_Schutt_2026-05-11-191130.64kmono.mp3 [https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8373090/Charlie_Schutt_2026-05-11-191130.64kmono.mp3] RECENT POSTS STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-melanie-benjamin/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: MELANIE BENJAMIN [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-melanie-benjamin/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-djamel-white/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: DJAMEL WHITE [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-djamel-white/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-hannah-thurman/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: HANNAH THURMAN [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-hannah-thurman/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-charlie-schutt/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: CHARLIE SCHUTT [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-charlie-schutt/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-rachel-khong/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: RACHEL KHONG [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-rachel-khong/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for More [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/]

Steve Bertrand on Books: Rachel Khong

Maybe it’s in our 30s that the rubber finally meets the road and it’s time to confront life, maybe accept the fact that you can’t be anything you want to be after all. In a way, that’s a way to read Rachel Khong’s short story collection. It’s called “My Dear You.” Rachel says each short story is like a song. Well, this collection sings. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8358927/Rachel_Khong_2026-05-05-163627.64kmono.mp3 [https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8358927/Rachel_Khong_2026-05-05-163627.64kmono.mp3] RECENT POSTS STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-melanie-benjamin/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: MELANIE BENJAMIN [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-melanie-benjamin/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-djamel-white/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: DJAMEL WHITE [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-djamel-white/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-hannah-thurman/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: HANNAH THURMAN [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-hannah-thurman/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-charlie-schutt/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: CHARLIE SCHUTT [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-charlie-schutt/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-rachel-khong/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: RACHEL KHONG [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-rachel-khong/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for More [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/]