NPR Radio interview analysis

From listening to the NPR show Fresh Air and the interview with Scott Spencer I learned a lot about interviewing. First off just from listening to the interview, I now want to read his book Willing. The interviewer had obviously read the book and therefore she was able to ask Spencer many questions related to the book. She would ask him questions about what the character was feeling at the moment in the story, or why he decided to add certain parts into the story. Having read the book it make it possible for her to more easily transition into questions. She would also ask Spencer questions around his topic, for example from the interview I found out that much of his story was based on the war that is happening in Iraq.
The style of talking was more like a conversation between friends. The interviewer has obviously researched Spencer and so when she talked to him she was able to ask about things happening in his life with out seeming to pry. Many times she would site parts of the book or have him read excerpts from his book and then ask a question about the story. I was also surprised to see the number of personal questions she asked, like if the novel related to his life, or the loss of his father. She seemed to be very relaxed and the interview was much more like a conversation than anything really. She would read things from his book that made her laugh and she would joke with Spencer. Over all I found the interview very interesting and I look forward to reading his book.