After Words is an American television series on the C-SPAN2 network's weekend programming schedule known as Book TV. The program is an hour-long talk show, each week featuring an interview with the author of a new nonfiction book. The program has no regular host. Instead, each author is paired with a guest host who is familiar with the author or the subject matter of their book.[1]
The program airs on Saturday at 10 p.m. Eastern Time, with encores on Sunday at 12 p.m. and at 9 p.m., and Monday at 12 a.m.[2]
After Words debuted on January 2, 2005, with Norman J. Ornstein from the American Enterprise Institute interviewing Newt Gingrich about his book Winning the Future.[1] [3], After Words has produced more than 260 hours of programming.[4]
Noteworthy authors and guest hosts who have appeared on the program include: Jimmy Carter, interviewed by Douglas Brinkley;[5] Bob Dole, interviewed by Rick Atkinson;[6] Andrea Mitchell interviewed by Samuel Robert Lichter[7] and Simon Schama interviewed by Edna Medford.[8]
The program is an hour-long author interview-based talk show, focusing on non-fiction writers, with different participants each week.[3] On each program an author is interviewed about their book by a guest host who is an expert on the topic of the book. The goal of this format, as stated by C-SPAN, is to put a "different spin" on the usual format of author interview programs.[1] After Words is now a weekly part of Book TVs schedule, along with History on Book TV, Book Parties and Festivals, Public Lives and Encore Booknotes.[9]