The 2022 year is almost over. Our Authorlink columnists have looked back at our many author interviews this year to choose a title each contributor feels is the best book of the year or an interview that made a lasting impression on them. The choices are focused only on our author interviews rather than our outstanding reviews. Here are the four books and interviews we have selected as exceptional. We invite our readers to add your comments and ratings at the bottom of this post.
Interviewed by Doris Booth
The Fifth Act, America's End in AfghanistanWhy I selected this title as the best book of 2022: Elliot’s honesty and personal knowledge of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan provided provocative insights into a subject that should be highly relevant to every thinking Amerian should know.
Thee Maid by Nita ProseIt’s hard to pick a favorite, but I will go with The Maid by Nina Prose. Prose is an editor who has helped many other authors become best-selling or debut authors and credits all the “story-obsessed people” she has worked with for her own success with her debut novel.

INTERVIEW: BUILDING A STORY COLLECTION TAKES PATIENCE AND PASSION

Emily Wortman-Wunder
Interviewed by Ellen Birkett Morris

Not a Thing to Comfort YouI pick Emily Wortman-Wunder, whose book Not a Thing to Comfort You, contains stories that depict the interaction between humans and the natural world with grace and power. She developed the stories over her twenties years and tapped into her experience as a wildlife biologist. I love the melding of personal experience with craft and her generous tips for writers. 
 
Dean Koontz
Interviewed by Anna Roins
Quicksilver by Dean KoontzI chose my interview with Dean Koontz, about his book QUICKSILVER not only because his book kept me up most nights–it’s an absolute blast — but because he’s a living legend. Many of his books have appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list, with fourteen hard covers and sixteen paperbacks reaching the number-one position. It was great fun chatting with him.