"North Carolina Bookwatch" returns to prime time on UNC-TV with the premiere of its 15th season Friday, July 6, at 9:30 p.m., as host D.G. Martin interviews novelist and Western Carolina University professor Ron Rash about his latest release, "The Cove."

The program repeats Sundays at 5 p.m.

The guest list for the new season includes celebrated Tar Heel mystery novelist Margaret Maron, who discusses her new novel, "Three Day Town," the 17th in the series featuring her character Judge Deborah Knott.

Maron's appearance will be broadcast Friday, July 13. Other guests in July include Ben Fountain on July 20 discussing his book "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk;" and novelist Ann Ross on July 27 discussing the newest in her Miss Julia series, "Miss Julia to the Rescue."

UNC-TV's "North Carolina Bookwatch" is the state's premier literary series, bringing the Tar Heel State's best and brightest Southern writers to the small screen.

In every conversation, D.G. Martin, who has hosted the show since its third season in 1999, sheds light on authors' lives, books and the state's indelible imprint on their works.

Here is a list of guests and program dates scheduled so far:

July 6: Ron Rash ("The Cove")

July 3: Margaret Maron ("Three Day Town")

July 20: Ben Fountain ("Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk")

July 27: Ann Ross ("Miss Julia to the Rescue")

Aug. 3: Wiley Cash ("A Land More Kind Than Home")

Aug 10: Susan Woodring ("Goliath")

Aug 17: Jay Leutze ("Stand Up That Mountain")

Aug 24: Sarah Shaber ("Louise's Gamble")

Aug 31: Sandra A. Gutierrez ("The New Southern-Latino Table")

UNC-TV is North Carolina's statewide public television network, made possible by a unique combination of public investment and private support.